Max Monroe books are a must-read in my house. I devour them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Playing Games. It was just as expected and full of witty banter, steam, dominant characters, and much more. The writing flows smoothly, and I got lost in this title.

Lexi Winslow is running a secret club on her college campus. Blake Boden is the campus sports star. He has been crushing on Lexi & wants nothing more than to get her attention but Lexi isn’t interested. Can this quarterback convince the math genius to give him a chance? Lots of laughs and sweet times within this college opposites attract romcom. There are plenty of cameos too from their friends and family. Told in first person and dual POV.

Take two people who are opposites on the surface and watch them fall in love. Max Monroe shows us how, with a ton of character growth and smart, hilarious banter. It was a lot of fun and a lot of emotional.

You have the football player, Blake, who wants to win and thinks of love in the same way.

You have the brilliant neurodivergent scientist, Lexi, who has a dry understanding of love, who uses terms like "ideal mate" and "fornication".

I found Lexi absolutely hilarious. The two of them together, pure gold. The spice was spicy. Their communication great. And the banter was too fun.


A little bit spoilery:
I didn't love the way Lexi tended to take and take while Blake gave and gave. Like I would have loved a little more balance. To make the love between them more believable. There's also a third act breakup but I think it's done in an interesting way and it really worked for the story and Lexi's growth. But I'm still going 4.5 or 5 stars because I was highly entertained and loved every page reading the two of them grow in love. It was a quick read and really cool to have a neurodivergent main star because my child has autism and sometimes I wonder about these type of relationships he'll have one day and I worry about people taking advantage. I think this story does a great job pointing out how she's capable of not being taken advantage of and Blake was a great communicator.

(2.5 rounded up to 3)

I love me a sports romance, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.

What I liked:

I liked Lexi & Blake as characters and for the most part I enjoyed their inner monologues. I honestly enjoyed the scenes of them with friends and family more than their scenes with each other.

The supporting characters were great. We love supportive friends and family over here.

What didn’t work for me:

It felt like a lot of telling and not showing.

I was hoping for a more natural relationship progression, and I found it difficult to get into the romance itself.

Playing Games by Max Monroe is romance perfection! It's swoony, steamy and hilarious.

This book has the quintessential Max Monroe funny witty charm that will have you laughing out loud but also grinning and rooting for their couple. She's the smart girl and he's the jock and he's down bad for her. I love a good grumpy black cat girl and golden retriever boyfriend dynamic and I thought their dynamic was so fun. I love how he was instantly obsessed with her and knew he was gonna get the girl and despite her best efforts to not fall for him, it happens. it's spicy and swoony. It's full of hilarity and sweet moment. I thought their chemistry was fun, full of banter and lovers of sport romances will eat this book up!

I've been a fan of Max Monroe's books all the way back to the Billionaire Bad Boys series, so to say I was excited to read Playing Games is an understatement. Little Lexi Lou getting her own book? Yes, please and thank you! And what a book it was!

Lexi Winslow is an adult now, finishing up her grad degree and running a secret society on campus. If you are unfamiliar with her character, Lexi is all about the facts and stats. Emotions rarely come into play. Blake Boden is a college quarterback on the path to pros and greatness. After meeting Lexi, he's obsessed with winning her heart. Too bad for Blake Lexi doesn't do love and has no interest in dating a younger football player. Luckily for Lexi, Blake isn't a guy to back down from a challenge. All her has to do is convince her he is worth taking a chance on.

Blake and Lexi were ADORABLE together. Blake was a sweetheart, and I loved how he pushed Lexi while also knowing when to back off. Lexi was...well, Lexi. Finally getting a look into that amazing mind of hers was so much fun. She was capable of more than she thought. Blake was the perfect guy for her with his patience and understanding. I loved how they approached their relationship differently and what they learned while getting to know each other better. Their romance was so sweet!

This book, and all of Max Monroe's others, wouldn't have been what it was without the side characters there to support and bring levity throughout the story. It was great to find out how Finn and Scottie were doing. Ace and Julia, too. I can't wait for their book! It's also always fun when Thatch and Cassy, Winnie and Wes, and Georgia and Kline are around, too. That being said, if you haven't read these characters books, you can read this one as a standalone. It will make you want to read the other books, but you won't be lost.

Playing Games was another fantastically funny romance from Max Monroe. I loved it and I am eagerly awaiting their next release.