3.5 Stars

Katie and Alex have been best friends for years. They have so much in common but they both have been hiding their feelings for each other for a long time. They both have their reasons but it doesn't stop them from trying to find someone else so they can move on.

I really liked Katie and Alex but my favorite character in this story is Lexie!! I would love to see a book about her!! This story was cute and the gamer plot was interesting but there were way too many details about the game that didn't really seem like they added anything to the story.

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin is a friends to relationship story. Katie has a thing for her serial dater friend Alex and Alex has feeling for her too, but not only is she his friend, she is the girl his brother liked before he he died. They like each other, but are off limits. When Alex asks Katie to help him find a serious girlfriend feelings kept hidden are getting more complicated.

The gaming setting was a nice added aspect of this story and the reason behind their not getting together makes it seem the blinders that Alex has put up are grounded in a real reason. I felt that they developed a lot during the course of the story and that each became a better person in general and for each other as the story progressed.

Overall Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin was a fun, quick and quirky young adult story that takes a friends to relationship theme and adds its own thing.

(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Katie is our main character and she is just your regular girl who just happens to be crushing on her best friend Alex who is completely oblivious to this but what Katie doesn’t know is that perhaps Alex is feeling the same way and you can tell something is holding him back but what? As the story progress we learn more about Alex and what he is really thinking and feeling and it all makes sense.

But before getting there Alex asks for Katie’s help in finding a real girlfriend that will last instead of what he was doing in the past with going through girls like they were kleenex. This breaks Katie’s heart, because you can tell she just wants him to know that hey your looking at her and that she is in for the long run. She manages to put that all to the side because she wants him to be happy even if that is with another girl so be it. But can Katie truly be happy with that decision?

Katie is a totally reliable character and I could relate to her. As I am reading the book certain aspects I was sitting there and saying hey that was be 20+ years ago in high school and at times you feel like you were always meant to be just the friend and nothing more. I know I personally love reading Friends to lovers in books. I mean who knows you better but a friend?

I really loved this book!!! Such a cute YA novel. I haven't read much YA lately but after these past few I'm going to have to dive in again!!! I love best friends to lovers and Alex and Katie did not disappoint!!! I also liked the gamer aspect of this book. I myself play video games so I thought it was a cute aspect. It helped bring Katie and Alex closer. I also really liked the rest of the gamer team. I liked how we got to see them in action! I really liked the authors writing style. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!!!

The first book I've read by Casey Griffin, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A fantastic YA book I would have no problem recommending to my teenage daughters.

Loved Alex and Katie, and I guessed what was going on with Lexi soon after she was introduced! Plot twist!! Lol!

The gaming aspect of the story was great - it sounded fantastic!

Although very predictable, I didn't mind that all. It was just a lovely feel good story.

Like others have said, I found the story seemed to be geared more towards young teens. I usually prefer to read “Crush” books because they tend to be cleaner than some of the others from this publisher but this one was a bit too juvenile for my taste. Since I’m not into video games, that was another mark against it as far as my interests are concerned. I’m sure young teens or preteens will enjoy it but it just wasn’t my style. I also prefer to read stories that only involve heterosexual relationships... I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and these are my own thoughts.

Casey Griffin was a new author for me, and I think she did a terrific job introducing her main character.
Katie is different and similar to any other girl. She’s a little nerdy, a little geek, but also, she wanted to be accepted. She thinks she has to change to be better, and in the end, she realized she just needs to be the best version of herself.
I loved that the story was told from Alex the male protagonist and Katie POV, that’s one of my favorite narratives. It gives us a little more of the characters inner thoughts.
Playing Her Secret Crush is a cute, easy read, still with some sensitive issues well done handled by the author. And the plot is a little more complex than what we expected.
One of my concerns about this book is it the two stories inside one. Part of the book is developed in an online game and I think the author took too much time and chapters into this online world that it many times put me out of the real story, the real plot. In fact, I feel that the online world was better descriptive, better showing that the real one.
This is a beautiful story that I could be showed more than told.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, of course, it’s entertaining with adorable characters, romance, friendship, loyalty, self-discovery and an HEA ending.

So I didn't realise this book was about gaming - but then I read the first page and I GASPED OUT LOUD. SHE WAS PLAYING A GAME.
AND
I LOVED IT.
I play a lot of online pc games so the nerd in me was so, so happy. So very happy to have been given the chance to read this book. Gosh.

Despite the plot being predictable and not-so-unique, it was enjoyable! One of those books perfect for a pick-me-up, which is precisely what it was for me. There were so many things covered, so many lessons taught and learnt through the characters. How to cope with loss, LGBTQ issues, acceptance of yourself and your flaws. This all really hit me. I found them relatable, even at 21. Even high school me came out of its coffin just to say /ugh THIS IS SO ME/ and such.

I love, love, loved the romance! I didn't mind that it was unsurprising and obvious. I knew where it was going, but the journey is always the fun part. Sometimes, with plots like these where the characters are unaware of each other's feelings, their ending tend to be a hit or miss with me. BUT THIS ONE WAS A COMPLETE HIT. It was wholly satisfying at the end! I think the video game subplot really pulled it up for me - this, above everything else, felt unique to me. I liked that Alex and Katie's dilemma was a balanced mix of drama and lightheartedness - it made me root for them even more.

AND LEXI?
LEXI IS ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR. A wonderful friendship bloomed, despite it all. I loved LEXI. I /LOVE/ her.

The plot was well-paced and the writing style was typical to that of contemporary YA romance stories, but the author still added their own quirky flair to set themselves apart. Reading it felt a lot like watching a movie in my head, one that I directed myself.

This entire book was just adorable. Wholesome and sweet and wonderful. I'm still swooning!

Another cute novel from Entangled: Crush. This time I met Katie and Alex, two fans of the online game Conquers of Caroon.
Katei never wanted to catch the attention of the boys but this year, she wants to do everything differently, she wants to be noticed and adored and get a boyfriend.
Alex has a crush on Katie for a long time but never considered staying with her friend because he believed that she was the love of his late brother.
Among flirting, rides and thrilling games, this couple will gradually gain strength to face their biggest fears and fight for what they really want.
I loved the plot, the other gamers of their team ( Pizzalover, Sugarplum, Lady_L) and especially the final moments.
I found it interesting how the writing was subtle and creative in creating a third element to fiddle with the couple's feelings.

katie has been in love with her best friend alex forever, it seems, in playing her secret crush. now it's senior year and she's going to do something about it. step one is taking all the advice from magazines on how to hook your guy. step two, then, will be putting herself forward and making sure he sees her.

what katie doesn't know is that alex has liked her always. but he believes that she is his dead brother's girl. so he's permanently put their relationship in the friend zone out of respect for his brother. not realizing that he has it all wrong. when katie's new neighbor shows up and alex decides that she will be his new girlfriend, he ropes katie into helping him do it by getting her to recruit lexi to their gaming group.

as the relationship roller coaster between katie and alex rises and falls, the story also covers how their group of five goes about trying to win it all.

**playing her secret crush will publish on july 2, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (crush) in exchange for my honest review.

Alex and Katie; best friends, super gamers, nerds to the core and totally in love with each other. So, what's stopping them? Alex lost his brother and his brother liked Katie. Now he feels she is off limits. He dates a new girl every week and tries to walk in his brother's footsteps. He lives life to the fullest, but at heart, he's a gamer nerd.

Katie wants a boyfriend and believes Alex would have stepped up if he was interested. Now she's dating, Alex and Katie are fighting. They just can't stop bickering. Playing her secret crush is a little frustrating and totally nerdy 🤓. It has a sad undertone and a lot of gaming.

I'm not sure the title fits the book. I think it's referring to gaming and the fact they can't share their feelings. Lexi is the character to watch out for in this book. Events could have gone so wrong but she's a cool chick. Alex is only compatible with one girl, Katie. I felt Alex used girls to hide his feelings, and this didn't always come across in a good light, but the reasoning made sense. He reminded me of the guy who doesn't realise how lucky he is to get the girl.

This one is for the online pc gaming fans.

3 stars out of 5. Overall this book was good but certain scenes could have easily gone so wrong.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and I've joined the Chapter by Chapter blog tour.

The story tackles about gaming, LGBT, teenagers realizing their feelings for each, coping up with loss, acceptance, and friendship. Predictable, yet it was a fun read for me.

The nerd in me is very happy about gaming and conventions!
I love how Katie and Alex's character started and of course how they ended!
I love how it talks about being you - is the best version of yourself. No need to try and be someone else you are not. People who truly love you will always, I SAY ALWAYS, ACCEPT YOUR FLAWS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS YOU.

I can imagine a chick flick - gamer genre movie out of this book!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I love how we know about Alex and Kaite's feelings for each other and yet they are oblivious to it! I am a sucker for this kind of character p.o.v's! Plus, dannggg! It's so obvious that Lexi is gay! How come they did not see the signs?! But all is well, all is well at the end. I love that Kaite and Alex realized their feelings for each other and at last, they did something about it. I love that Kaite and Lexi still became friends. I love their team! I love that they won the contest!!! They freaking deserved it!

P.S.
THAT DRESSING ROOM SCENE.
THE DANCE. I would like to see Kaite in a Pikachu onesie during the dance! But hey nevermind that! Something better happened! I love it that she wore the onesie during a dire situation in Alex's life and of course during the game!

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin is a cute contemporary romance in which best friends have hidden feelings for one another. The one thing it seems the book blurb has left out is the setting being based around professional gaming.

Now that it’s their senior year Katie thinks she needs to break out of her shell and quit being the shy, quiet girl that others don’t notice. Katie and Alex have been best friends for the last few years but crushing on Alex has gotten her no where so she vowed to make some changes.

Alex has always had his own secret crush for Katie but Alex believed his older brother had feelings for her before he passed from cancer so Katie is the one girl Alex can’t bring himself to date. As Alex and Katie set their sights on other dates the pair also need to work together to get their gaming team into a big competition.

While this one isn’t an overly original story of best friends becoming more it was a fun, quick read. Both Alex and Katie have valid reasons for holding back in the friend zone for so long so it’s nice to see that type of relationship progress to more as they obviously already care. Plus the gaming setting with their group entering a tournament was also fun to follow and root them on. Definitely a cute story I’d recommend to the young adult fans.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Loved this story. It's a sweet YA friends to more story and Alex and Katie are amazing characters. While the gaming aspect of this story weren't to my personal taste (I'm old) I can see how that would appeal to some. It seems well done and researched. Both Alex and Katie are attracted to each other but neither has tried to take the relationship beyond friendship. Now spending so much time together preparing for a huge gaming competition proves to much and it's hard to keep their feelings under wraps. Is it finally their time??

I highly recommend this one to all YA readers.

I just didn't get how someone as "hot" as Alex was so into role-playing videogames. Typically that is not the case. And the plot was very predictable.

Actual Rating: 2.5

Alright. Let me start with this. I'm a huge fan of some of these tropes: enemies to lovers, identity reveals, and the BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS storyline.

Playing Her Secret Crush is basically that, but with an extra hint of video games. Katie has been crushing on her best friend Alex for forever. But this year, she's determined to be more confident and more outgoing. Then, Alex asks Katie to help him get a girlfriend, and suddenly - everything becomes that much more confusing.

I really loved the video game subplot, which actually is a much bigger part of the story than the blurb lets you believe. Overall, however, I did think that it was still too predictable. It had a very Disney movie-esque happy ending, and the romantic plotline was also quite unsurprising. I felt like the official blurb, in addition to the sometimes third person omniscient writing style may have revealed too much. Knowing that Alex and Katie already liked each other and were going to end up together lessened a lot of the anticipation and the "slow burn," which is what I usually read these sort of books for. A lot of things that happened in this book were also pretty cliche in general.

I did like the characters, and the author indeed explored the backstories of the two main characters. I still wish that those histories and character developments could have played a larger role, rather than just appearing when it was convenient for the romantic plot.

The writing style was quite good; the book read like many typical YA contemporary romance novels by authors such as Kasie West or Morgan Matson.

Overall, this was a fun read but I did find it a little too predictable to be memorable, and therefore I can't round up my 2.5 star rating.

When reading the description of this book I thought it sounded very similar to the movie The Duff, which I loved. It had all the elements: nerdy girl long-term crushing on her friend, a whole lot of conflicting feelings and misunderstood actions, and a nice HEA. However, Playing Her Secret Crush had a lot more storylines than expected and they weren't fleshed out well enough to leave me satisfied in the end.

A nice surprise was how the author incorporated the world of MMO gaming into the storyline. I liked the teamwork vibe and the creation of an alternate world that the characters and their relationships thrived in. But at times it felt like that world took up TOO much space and wording. I didn't really care to know about the every action sequence and change of scenery within the game. It became a bit boring and I did skip through portions of the book where it seemed to drag on and on about Caroon.

The characters were up and down for me. They didn't really stand out but they weren't horrible either. The back and forth dynamic between Katie and Alex really became grating after awhile. It felt like the drama and conflict were dragged out for much, much, much longer than they should have been, to the point where it became redundant and nauseating. It also made the characters seem like they were much younger than stated. In this regard, I wish that the storylines surrounding them would have had more substance than just their gaming life and how they felt about one another. Including school, other friends, and their family lives would have really enriched the characters and provided more depth to their characters.

All in all, it was an alright read that was quick and predictable. It would best be suited for younger readers in the teen years, as I think anyone older would find it pretty meh.

➳ Rate: 4,5 / 5 stars

Oh how I've missed reading YA. I need to start reading more from time to time.
This book, well the first chapter wasn't impressing to be honest but it was all do to the gamer talk. I've never been a gamer and all that description was a bit boring but once the story got going, I was hooked. Playing Your Secret Crush stars Alex and Katie who are best friends. They met 2 years ago on the hospital where Alex's brother Jason was at. Since then, they've been joined at the hip and playing the game that skyrocketed their friendship.

They both have been secretly harboring feelings for each other. Katie is scared of saying something only for it to ruin their friendship. She chose to be there for Alex after losing Jason, even if that meant they'd only be friends. Alex is still hurting over his brother's death and the words he left him with. By having feelings for Katie he thinks he is betraying his brother. He promised him to live so that's what he's been doing... by doing crazy things and by being with a different girl each week. But Alex has been getting tired of that so he decides it's time to find a girlfriend for longer than a week, and who better to help him than his best friend Katie.
Katie herself has made a recent change, she's trying to be more outgoing and less shy. So she updated her wardrobe and gotten a little confidence and is out looking for a boyfriend or just more friends.

When a new girl moves into the house in front of Katie's, Alex is immediately interested in her and Katie has found herself a new friend. Meanwhile the annual competition of their game is coming and Alex wants to go, specially since his brother never got to like he had wanted. But to qualify they need a fifth member on their team, and that's where their new friend Lexi comes in. They teach her the game and all hang out together; Alex all the while hopping she'll be his girlfriend but Lexi has a secret, a secret that will change Alex's game.

While Katie and Alex are both pursuing other people their friendship starts getting rocky because they both can't help but be jealous of each other and it shows. All of it comes to blows on the day before of the competition. Katie tells him she's always had feelings for him but Alex still thanks he can't be with her because of Jason. The next day Alex does one of his reckless adrenaline junkie things and puts his life and their participation on the competition at risk.

Will he get to play and avenge his brother? Will he and Katie get to be together? Or will it all be lost?
Find out in this sweet and compelling story about two best-friends who love each other but are still dealing with losing the person who brought them together, and are struggling with finding out who they are.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for a fair review.
It never fails that once summer hits, I start YA craving contemporary romance! This book fulfilled that craving in the best of ways! Katie and Alex are amazing MCs, with vibrant personalities and just the right amount of flaws. Best friends that secretly love each other is pretty much my Bookish crack. THEN we add in gaming and comic cons and a little bit of cosplay, and I’m a happy camper! This book made me laugh, made me cry (real tears!), made my chest ache, and made me smile! A must read for any contemporary YA fan!

"Playing Her Secret Crush" follows Katie and Alex as they enter their senior year of high school. Katie has decided it's time for a makeover- she has had a crush on Alex for years, but she has been permanently friend-zoned. She has read the magazines, invested her money in make-up and new clothes, and this year will be different- she's going to get a date, make other friends, and put herself out there. She and Alex have been super close for years- since she met him in the hospital with his brother and started playing a multi-player game with them.

After his brother's death, Alex took his brother's forced promise to live life to fullest as a requirement to date a new girl every week and live life on the edge with adrenaline-pumping activities. Katie is his best friend- and though he used to have a crush on her, she is so much more now- she's his everything. But he still wouldn't want to date her. He feels like, based on the things his brother said before he died, that his brother had a crush on her, and he doesn't want to date his brother's girl. Now, he is asking Katie to help him find a real girlfriend- not one that will fade out in a week, but something more serious.

Although his request is heart-breaking, Katie is the best of friends and just wants him to be happy- even if it's with the hot girl next door, Lexi, instead of her. Katie is the ultimate wing-woman. However, now, Katie is willing to make some more moves and might find a boyfriend herself. Caught between misunderstandings, mishaps, and some hot and cold/back and forth, Katie and Alex are dancing around the truth.

Alex was a bit hard to like at times- he really steamrolls over everyone else's feelings, including Lexi, who is pretty clearly not interested in him (but why should that stop him?), but mostly Katie. Although he lost his brother and is clearly still grieving, I found him somewhat cruel and wished that Katie had gotten together with someone who really respected and noticed her more (it was kind of obvious who it was early on but still comes out as a "surprise," but the way it was handled was pretty good- I am being vague to avoid potential spoilers). Alex does improve and have some revelations towards the end that makes him more likable. The gaming/team was a nice setting, and I really liked following their team's path through the game. Also, the other team members were also really awesome!

Overall, it was a cute story and a fun setting. I'd be interested in hearing Lexi's story in the future... Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.