What a sweet, lovely book, in the world of concert pianists, pro baseball trainers, and private boarding schools. Feel good romance and so much heart. Highly recommend.

Grumpy vs sunshine with a heroine who has made a lot of mistakes. Opposites in a sporty heroine and an artsy hero.

Great premise. Loved the descriptions of he New Hampshire campus, but the story got log jammed and got really slow.

DNF after I started to skip to the end.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I had a lot of fun reading this one, it hits a lot of my favorite tropes! It was giving chick lit/rom com vibes where everything goes the female's way after her hardships (think Legally Blonde).

Play for Me follows a young woman who was recently fired from her job as the Red Sox trainer and dumped by her boyfriend (who she lived with) so she takes a job at a performing arts boarding school where she is the roommate to three men (New Girl vibes, anyone?) However, her and one of her roommates INSTANTLY don't get along.

I really enjoyed this one, one of my favorite romances of the year. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, opposites attract, roommates, family oriented people then I think this is definitely the book for you!

Play For Me by Libby Hubscher is a homerun book for me! I enthusiastically give it five stars!

Sophia Doyler had it all! A dream job as head trainer for the Red Sox, a dreamy, highly successful boyfriend and an endless supply of cannolis from her favorite bakery. But when she makes the call to keep a key player off the field and the Sox lose the series everything goes up in smoke. She is fired from her job, her boyfriend kicks her to the curb and, worst of all, her cannoli connection closes its doors to her. Ever the optimist, Sophia has no choice but to regroup.

Thankfully her movie star friend pulls a few strings and gets her a job as head coach and teacher at her alma mater in New Hampshire. A school known more for their plays on the stage not on the field. She shares a cozy quad with three other male teachers. She hits it off with two of them but Jonas, the school’s orchestra teacher, and her get off on the wrong foot especially after she discovers his star violinist has a natural pitching arm. Can she convince Jonas to trust her instinct about the teen and that she will work closely with him to hone his pitching skills without jeopardizing his musical aspirations?

They never seem to find the right footing but their close proximity and Sophia’s dogged determination to spread her own brand of sunshine works to turn Jonas’ frequent frowns upside down. This is a slow burn rom com with some tender moments. Both Jonas and Sophia grow as people and watching them fall in love is as satisfying as the decadent cream filling and crispy crunch of a cannoli.

I loved the setting so much and the premise was a lot of fun! I wish it had been a Fall release but that's just cause i'm a seasonal reader!

3.5

I love this author but this one was a bit of a miss for me. From the beginning I struggled to connect with the main characters. I kept pushing because I enjoyed the writing style and because the plot was cute. I would say if you're not a fan of baseball you might want to skip this one since there is a lot of sports talk. It almost pulls away from the main story at points. Overall, this one had some sweet moments from the two characters but not enough. I was expecting a bit more. I did love how quick of a read it was!

Thank you so much for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5, rounded up. This was charming and sweet. I loved the way it combined a little bit of a sports storyline with the arts, and Sophie was just the best character. Excellent, engaging side characters, a nice storyline, lots to enjoy.

DNF at 25%.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I tried my best to get into it, but a mix of the writing style not suiting me and the plot not engaging me, I just had to dnf it. The premise sounded really good, but unfortunately the execution didn't do it for me.

“You are like a song that my heart has been waiting for. I recognized your melody the moment we met.”

Sophie and Jonas. She just lost her job as the athletic trainer for the Red Sox, but now she works at a boarding school. He’s the grumpy, orchestra teacher at the school who also happens to be her roommate.

✨READ IF YOU LIKE✨:
- grumpy with a heart of gold x sunshine little spitfire
- forced proximity: roommates
- baseball lover
- opposites attract
- boarding school setting
- classical music
- workplace romance
- she’s an athletic trainer, he’s an orchestra teacher
- cannoli, waffles, apple cake, chocolate covered strawberries
- witty banter

cw: death of loved one, mention of parkinson’s, cyberbullying, emotional abusive parent

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free book! Play for Me is now available!

I really wanted to love this one. I was in the mood for a romance/rom com, but I liked this one, but didn’t really love it. I liked that Sophie has what is normally a male dominated job. I loved the baseball and music themes. I liked that Jonas was a Brit. I’m always a fan of close proximity. And I felt for Sophie dealing with her father and his illness.

I just didn’t feel a chemistry between Sophie and Jonas and I didn’t mind whether they got together or not. I liked them both and hoped things worked out for them, but I just didn’t feel the great yearning for the couple. But it looks like it was just me, so make sure and read some other reviews before you decide.

After losing her job as a trainer for the Red Sox and getting dumped by her boyfriend, Sophie applies for a job at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. Her new position includes housing - with three male teachers, one of which is grumpy orchestra teacher Jonas.

First things first, the title of this was so cute - play baseball and play piano - so clever! Second of all, I really liked this! This was my first Libby Hubscher book (even though both of her others are on my physical TBR), but it will not be my last. My only complaint would be the lack of Jonas’ POV. Home run!

I am a fan of Libby Hubscher. Since I read and loved Meet Me in Paradise, she is an auto buy author for me. I know I'll get a swoony romance with some emotional growth/resilience needed by the main characters. And there will be a fun setting, humor, family, friends, and maybe some healing along the way to a HEA. 💚

All of that was true in Play for Me. Sophie just lost her job and needs a place to land. She licks into a job as a physical trainer at an arts-focused boarding school. She ends up rooming with thee of her colleagues, one of whom is Jonas . He leads the music program. They're relationship starts with sparks- mostly of the antagonistic kind. But Sophie is determined to win him over.... I loved their journey as a couple just as much as I loved their individual journeys. Sophie's dad and best friend are excellent side characters as are the other teachers and students.

I listened to the audio for much of this and the narrators did an excellent job. Hearing Jonas's British accent definitely contributed to the story. Sophie's Boston accent wasn't strong, but it was present which was fun.

If you're looking for a rom com that will both make you smile and pull your heartstrings, pick this one up!

Thanks to the publisher for audio/digital copies. All opinions are my own- I also bought my own copy because I wanted a physical copy on my shelf.

Every time I read something by Libby Hubscher, I find myself so sucked into the story and can't put it down until I'm finished. Play for Me was no different, and if it's even possible, might be my new favorite from her.

For one thing, as a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan I loved that Sophie was also a die-hard fan for of her beloved team. I loved that the Sox were a very central part of the story throughout. But with all of Hubscher's books, she covers a lot of topics. In Play For Me, it's career loss, redemption, parental health, family life, and love.

I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers trope here, and when the romance finally happens I'm pretty sure I was pretty much swooning. This book will easily go down as one of my favorites of 2023!

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was a really fun read! I am not sure about you, but lately I find myself gravitating towards anything heartwarming and entertaining and Play For Me was exactly that!

From the opening chapter I loved Sophie. Growing up, my family bonded over baseball games, and Sophie’s love for the game and her reaction to an angry fan was EXACTLY what I would have done! Sophie is a trainer for the Red Sox and when she loses her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend all in one swoop, she gets a little help from her friend and becomes a trainer for an arts boarding school in New Hampshire. It’s clear Sophie doesn’t know what the heck she is doing helping art loving high schoolers, She moves in with her three roommates, one of which is grumpy Jonas.

Jonas reminded me a bit of Roy Kent from the television show Ted Lasso, and I absolutely adored their grumpy sunshine dynamic! I also really enjoyed Sophie’s roommates and her best friend, Astrid. The high school environment and all the kids was an added bonus and made me nostalgic for my old high school counselor job and made me love this book even more. I also really loved Sophie’s dad and their dynamic made me think very thoughtfully of my own Dad.

I love stories that make you feel happy. Books that remind you of all the lovely things in your life including the places you’ve traveled, the things you have learned, and the people you love. This is my first Libby Hubscher book and I can’t wait to dive into her backlist now! Her writing is thoughtful and tender and was the perfect balance of lightness while also exploring some more sensitive topics.

If you are into music, found family, a slower burn romance, and some really REALLY fun side characters, definitely read this book!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the early copy!

Thank you so much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”


Love the book! Also can we appreciate the gorgeous cover🤩

Sophie had it all. She had a dream job with the Boston Red Sox and a handsome boyfriend, but when she suddenly loses all of that, including her home she needs a new beginning. She finds that new beginning at a boarding school working as an athletic trainer. Sounds great right? Well, it’s an athletic trainer at an arts based boarding school. Perhaps a step down from Major League Baseball, but with her positive attitude she makes the best of it.
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She easily becomes friends with 2/3 of her roommate and falls in love with the school, which quite honestly I would do. Here is when I need to say this one is cute but I do think you need to go into it not questioning too much. Is it wierd that she is stuck in a dorm with 3 men, who are all strangers? Yes, I think it is. Is this normal practice for boarding schools? I have no clue. Either way I had to stop questioning and go with the flow to enjoy this story.
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I did enjoy the sports vs music aspect and how they don’t have to be one or the other. This was a breezy summer read!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After losing her job as an athletic trainer for the Red Sox, Sophie Doyle gets a job at a New England boarding school. The only available apartment is with three male roommates, one of which is the orchestra teacher, Jonas Voss, who doesn’t like sports or Sophie for that matter. She’s determined to win him over though, and is willing to play hard to make him like her.

This was such a fun romance. Being from Massachusetts, I absolutely loved that this book was set in New England, and the New Hampshire boarding school was the perfect setting for this story. It was refreshing to see an author reverse the gender roles and have Sophie be an athlete while Jonas was a musician.

The chemistry between Sophie and Jonas was palpable, and I loved the opposites attract storyline. Even though he was grumpy, I really liked Jonas. It was nice to see his character grow throughout the story. His feelings for Sophie were adorable especially because she didn’t realize he had them. It was fun reading about her figuring it out, and I loved how their other roommates helped to make her see it.

I liked that this book focused on both music and sports and showed how competition can get to people of all ages. It was nice reading about both Sophie and Jonas mentoring the students, and I really enjoyed the found family aspects in the book. This was my first book by Hubscher, and I plan to check out her backlist.

Read this if you like:
- Sports stories
- Books about music
- Campus settings
- Opposites attract
- Enemies to lovers
- Grumpy/sunshine

Thank you Berkley Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦, 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. 𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦. “𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
4-4.5⭐️

This story was the cutest, perfect summer read! Ali Hazelwood's academic characters and setting meets Elena Armas's brand of goofiness, slow burn and banter. Add to that all the forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, one car, he fell first, mutual pining tropes and you got yourself a winner for the season.🫰

Sophie is a baseball expert working for the Red Sox. After a PR fiasco, she tries to rebuild her image taking a temporary job with a boarding school's athletes program. But she gets invested in the lives of the kids, teachers and entire setting and what started as a short program to tie her over until she could get back to the big city and big league, turned into a lifestyle she doesn't want to leave behind.

Then there is Jonas (a total mouth-watering mystery, since the book is only in her POV) - ex major piano player, who can't play professionally anymore and throws all his talent and enthusiasm into the school music program. Grumpy, aloof, testy, rude, but with a secret cinamon roll heart. Also, HE HAS AN ACCENT. *cue swooning*

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘮𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

So of course, banter, tension, shenanigans, close calls, work rivalry and all that goodness ensue. Especially when topped off with a very fun, witty and meddling set of new roommates/friends.

I loved Sophie'a voice from the very first page. She is smart, caring, feisty and never backs off from a challenge. I loved how despite the lighter feel of the story, she always took her job seriously and we got some very realistic and interesting views on health situations.

These two had amazing chemistry and were a treat to follow around the campus (or on their impromptu roadtrips).

It's fade to black Romance which I honestly didn't expect considering all the intense chemistry and sexual tension but still sweet and hot. Overall a really fun, feel good book!

*thank you berkley for the ARC!

This was kind of the most adorable book Ive ever read? I really liked Hubscher’s last release so I was excited to read her new installment, but you never know how it’s going to turn out! Both of our lead characters were flawed in their own ways, but so willing to grow and learn. And their relationship with each other was just so perfectly written and played out in a way that fit them beautifully. I wish Jonas had a perspective mainly because I’m obsessed with him. AND NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP AND UNNECESSARY DRAMA! That may seem like the bare minimum but I’ve found it hard to find books that are just simple love stories as of late. This was a perfect read for me. Also, a great book to recommend for new readers or younger readers that are now transitioning into adult genres!