Short and sweet! Even thought this is a short book, the author did a great job of developing the characters, would definitely recommend if you're looking a fun quick read.

So this one was a very short book but I loved the characters that were introduced, Oliver Huang and Fay Liu. I just thought that the book should have been longer since you don't get a lot of time to see fully developed characters. We had a lot going on with both Oliver and Fay and think that it would have been a more cohesive book if we allowed the secondary characters to shine and we had more insight into Fay and Oliver's past. We just glimpses and remarks here and there.

"Playing House" by Ruby Lang follows urban planners Oliver Huang and Fay Liu. The two run into each other at an open house where Fay is being harassed by a guy that won't leave her alone until she tells him that she's waiting on her boyfriend. Luckily Oliver and Fay know each other because of past get togethers and friendships. However, during the open house they both start thinking of each other in a more romantic way and they both wonder about the other. There's an added complication that Oliver has applied to work at Fay's firm where she is a partner.

I loved Fay's backstory. She's been divorced for about a year and is finally realizing her ex husband resented her success and she really didn't know what to do anymore to make him happy and vice versa. She remembers Oliver and flashes a lot to moments they had over the years. She doesn't want to be with someone not serious, but she keeps calling up Oliver to tour open houses with her.

Oliver is working freelance after his firm went under. He's living with his younger brother and dealing with the fact that his mother and sister see him as being too similar to his supposed feckless father. I honestly wish that Lang had developed that more since I didn't get what happened with Oliver's father. He ran off? Does anyone know where he is? I mean I was so confused.

I loved the idea of focusing on a romance between urban planners. The characters know their stuff and I loved reading about the homes they were touring and the architectural details they had. And I could have enjoyed a heck of a lot more of that, but alas, this book is only a little over 100 pages.

The flow of the book gets a bit stuck towards the end. We have Fay and Oliver come to an impasse and it just seems beyond silly and I don't know we just woosh to a HEA. I just needed more steps in between I guess for me to rate this higher than 3 stars.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But, I had some problems; I felt like the book just kind of pushed me into the deep end of the pool and expected me to keep up. Also, the whole structuring if the book was weird to me and threw me off a bit. And upon completion, my thought was “cute, like a poor man’s The Kiss Quotient.”

Heat Factor: It’s...warm and fuzzy
Character Chemistry: They are very cute together--and very polite.
Plot: Fay is recently divorced and Oliver is recently unemployed. When the meet up in an open house, sparks fly and a romance progresses--but Oliver is up for a job at Fay’s company. Miscommunication ensues, etc.
Overall: I’m a very proper person and this one might have been a tad too proper for me.

Sometimes, I really love what I call a “bland” book--I want plot but when life is just too much I need something really low-key. I can stress about my own drama perfectly well, thank you--I don’t need anyone else’s. Even if it’s fictional drama. This one threw me for a loop, because it’s definitely a sexy book, and Fay/Oliver are definitely an adorable couple, but they’re just SO WELL BEHAVED.

For example, I kept expecting some mishaps when Fay and Oliver were hooking up, but it was just very smooth. Even when Fay falls into a bathtub and rips down the shower curtain when she and Oliver are about to get kissy in an open-house bathroom, they’re just very...forgiving and proper about it. I’d laugh so hard I peed my pants were I to find myself in that situation, but not Oliver. He’s just 100% gentleman. And when they do hook up, Fay politely asks Oliver up and politely gives him a tour of her home, and politely invites him to stay.

And the big tension in the plot ends up being more mildly uncomfortable. They talk it out very politely (with a sprinkle of calm excuses and a smidgen of cool avoidance) and then it’s just kind of ends. I don’t want to suggest the writing is anything but well-done (it is a VERY visually appealing book) or that the characters were unlikable. I even liked the plot! It was just like being at a house party and meeting two very polite and good-looking people you catch smooching in a corner later. You think, hey, good for you two! And then try to see if you can find some more onion dip. You know? Good stuff, but it didn’t really stop me in my tracks. If you want a chill, low-key read, you might really enjoy this--but if you want the satisfaction that comes with a hard-fought and hard-won happily ever after, this one may not scratch that itch.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I wish I had known this was a novella before requesting it! Not that there's anything wrong with a novella, but I find it best to read them when they're from authors you know and love rather than authors you've never experienced before. Playing House would have been a good full-length book but as a novella it was rushed and under-developed. I could see myself liking Oliver (Fay, not so much) but in this circumstance it was hard to connect to the characters or the overall story.

3.5/5

I haven't read anything from Ruby Lang before, but I've been meaning to read her books because they sound super cute. When Playing House showed up on Netgalley, I was quick to download a copy. I simply could not resist the cute concept as well as that cute cover. I did not realize going into the book that it was a short story, so it felt a little shorter than I would have liked. However, Lang's writing was very lovely, so even though I wished the book were longer, I still quite enjoyed my time reading it. Oliver and Fay are urban planners in NYC who get into a fake-dating situation. You all know how that's one of my favorite tropes, so naturally, I devoured that up. I liked both Fay and Oliver's personalities. They were both smart and kind individuals dealing with just a bit of baggage. The flow to their relationship was very smooth for me personally, but I would have liked to see more of them together - that's just a sign that I enjoyed these characters and their chemistry very much. I also liked seeing all the side characters in this book and I'm hoping we get to see books for some of them. Playing House was a nice little introduction to Ruby Lang's writing for me. I most certainly will be reading more of this series and this author in the future.

Short (honestly felt like a novella rather than a novel, I don't know the exact word count but it's definitely on the short side for a non-category) but EXTREMELY sweet and enjoyable! Everyone is refreshingly adult about conflicts and their problems are very adult, too -- getting over a divorce, navigating a career change, coping with aging parents. I'm not personally into architecture or house hunting for fun, but Oliver and Fay enjoy geeking out over their house tours so much that it's impossible not to get carried along for the ride! Without giving spoilers, I felt that this story resolved the central conflict (Oliver is a candidate for a position in Fay's firm) perfectly, and I really appreciated the thought given to the ethics of the situation, which a lot of workplace romances gloss over. If you like fake dating or debates about urban planning or both, give Playing House a shot!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Fay and Oliver had been running in the same circles for over a decade, but his buried feelings for her emerge, when she unexpectedly kisses him in an attempt to put off another suitor. Their afternoon together blossoms into more, but their insecurities may keep this relationship from taking root.

I really enjoyed meeting Fay and Oliver, and thought the set up for this story was great. Two urban planners, living in NYC, who were both experiencing some sort of transition in their lives. The shared career gave them lots to talk about, and the fact that they had already known each other for so long, allowed the chance meeting to plausibly progress to more, quickly, without all that awkwardness associated with getting to know the basics about someone.

I actually enjoyed taking the architectural tours of the city, and I thought the moments shared with Oliver's family were great. I appreciated the little bits about urban planning, that Lang peppered the story with, and I found both Oliver and Ruby to be interesting and fully formed characters.

I think the only problem I had with this book, which kept my rating in the "good" zone, was that I needed more of their story. What was there was great, and I enjoyed seeing these two wade through their personal baggage and to each other, but I needed a little more.

That said, I am happy with my first Ruby Lang experience, and would love to read a full-length by her. She created characters I was able to embrace, incorporated things that were new and interesting to me, and I would love to read more of her stories.

A delightful romance novella. I love how important their careers were to the story. Sweet and fun, I'm excited to read more books from Ruby Lang.

Arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I don't have a ton to say about this book since it's a novella, it's short and doesn't feel super developed. I'm not really invested in the characters but I did like the setting and all of the urban planning stuff that was shown. I feel like I can only recommend this if you're into those themes, otherwise you can really take it or leave it.

Playing House is a contemporary romantic comedy by Ruby Lang. The sweet witty repartee is funny and s satisfying as we watch this budding romance flower. Oliver and Fay are urban planners who bond over their profession as the play house while touring architecturally interesting houses as if they were married. Oh and it is sexy too! I would recommend this novel to my patrons.

I really wanted to like this story, but it was way too simple to develop any sort of attachment to the characters.

The book does a poor job at building up everything. Not only did I feel like I was reading book 2 in a series or a flashback kind of novella. I felt like I already should’ve known the characters and their backstory. That’s how little the book explored them.

It was cute, don’t get me wrong but it was so short (like under 10 chapters short and the chapters are not full packed either) and that really took a lot from the story. I cannot pinpoint any characteristic, nor I can say I remember a lot of the plot.

It’s such a pity this ended up being this meh because I was very excited to read a cute and sexy contemporary romance.

There's honestly not a lot for me to say about this book. This is a short romance novella (which I didn't know before requesting the ARC but thankfully found out before I started reading) with two Chinese-American protagonists.

It is an enjoyable and fun little novella if you need something light for an afternoon read. Both characters are interesting and have a surprising amount of development in this small novella.

I liked their relationship a lot, even though you should definitely not go into this one expecting much of a fake relationship trope. It is there in the very beginning but it gets pretty real rather quickly, which I appreciated simply because of the length of this book. This didn't really have much time for a fake relationship if you want to build an actual relationship in only 100 pages but it was a fun start to the story.
And just a heads up for all the smut fans out there – this isn't a very smutty read. There's one small sex scene but it's not very explicit and fades to black after the oral sex.

As with most novellas, I just find it hard to be invested in the characters, if I don't already know them from another series or book, which is why I ultimately could not give this more than 3 stars. And in all honestly, had I known that this would only be a novella, I probably would not have requested the ARC in the first place.
In the end I enjoyed the reading experience but will probably not return to this series.

The story of Fay and Oliver. They work in the same industry so have known each other for a long time, but one Saturday at a house tour changes their relationship. It moves fast, but it’s really not until they slow down that it becomes real.
These characters were very interesting. Day is a partner in a urban planning firm while, Oliver is a freelance planner specializing in historical preservation. They are both driven in their own way, but also with many doubts about their failures in life.
The plot moves very quickly, but it does not read unrealistically. It keeps you moving through the book and wanting to know what happens next.
There is humor and introspection in good balance.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants a light read or enjoys architecture or home renovations along with their romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oliver Huang is flabbergasted when acquaintance and fellow city planner Fay Liu plants a big smooch on him after he arrives at a home tour. Olive has always had a crush on Fay but he thought she was married. And he just submitted a resume to her team and she just may be his boss soon. Doesn't she know?

As it turns out Fay needed a fake boyfriend to stop the unwanted attention of a fellow tour attendee, and Oliver is more than happy to play the part. Plus, Fay is divorced and doesn't seem to know Oliver applied at her firm.

Fake dating for the day turns out to be way more fun then they expected, but when real feelings enter the mix, both Oliver and Fay will need to figure out which parts are real and which parts are simply play.

I adored this novella and gobbled it up in one sitting. I especially enjoyed the details about being a city planner, the different tracks that can take. and how different familial pressures can lead one to make choices, or not. I liked that Oliver wasn't a super high driven career guy; he is a hard-worker but needs to find his own path.

Also, major bonus points for showing Fay masturbating! Huzzah!

Thank you to the author for the advanced reading copy!

If you like realistic romances this is definitely the book for you. There was never a moment this was cheesy or rushed. This was a romance between two adults that takes place at a realistic pace. This is a short read and added to the how well it’s written and all that takes place it makes it one fast fun read. Highly recommend!!

This was a very lovely read about two people who revolved around each other professionally for years who end up falling in love! I loved Oliver and Fay, but I wish it was longer! I would absolutely read a full length novel about them. I feel like some parts were a little rushed and could have been fleshed out a little more.

Two Asian leads?!! Holy smokes, I think this is the first time I've read anything with two Asian leads from a traditional publisher. And I LOVE this. The way being an urban planner mixed with their relationship was so perfect and made me laugh. MORE ASIAN LEADS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Cute story just way too short. This is definitely a novella. I think if it had been longer it would have worked. Thanks Netgalley for the Arc

I received an e-ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks as always to Netgalley for sending me a copy!

Playing House is a super-sweet novella about two Chinese-American urban planners – a profession I personally wasn’t familiar with, but it makes sense that this is a thing! I always enjoy it when characters in books have professions outside of the norm, it’s nice to learn something as you read. We follow Oliver and Fay, two people who’ve been running in the same circles for a while due to their profession, in which everyone seems to know everyone. When Fay is accosted by a guy at a house viewing who is determined to date her and won’t take no for an answer, she spots Oliver and improvises, pretending he’s her boyfriend in order to escape this stranger’s advances. The two of them then decide to continue the charade and they start having a great time running around Harlem pretending to be a newly-wed couple looking for a house, when really they’re just a couple of nosy parkers (in the best way!)

To be up-front, this book is very short and I feel like that was to its detriment. If Playing House had been developed into a full-length novel, I feel like we could have really leaned into all the things it was doing well – the fake dating aspect, for example, was kind of neglected after the initial incident, and since that was my primary motivation for picking up the book (fake dating is a god-tier trope, fight me) I felt a little let down. The characters were great, the concept was cute, their relationship was solid and I felt they had fantastic chemistry, but ultimately it felt like fast-forwarding a movie. There simply wasn’t enough room to develop this story to its full potential, and that led to things like slightly choppy time-jumps, a surprisingly fast-developing relationship and some instances of showing instead of telling, where events were being summarised instead of shown to us.

Don’t get me wrong, this book was fun and cute and it had some special moments – the characters’ first sexual altercation springs to mind, I felt that was perfect and I really believed in their connection during that scene – but ultimately I would have preferred it as a full-length in order to help it achieve its true potential.