I love this books so much. All the feels with this love story. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to see what comes next!

4 ⭐

“I’m in love with you, Maddie Davis. I always have been, and I always will be.”

This was such a fun sports romance book with sizzling chemistry and the perfect blend of emotions. Maddie, her brother Ethan, and his best friend Cameron are back for spring break. Maddie has had a crush on Cam since forever, but they haven’t talked since after his mom passed six years ago. Spring break changes everything. She has always spent her time focusing on school or reading rather than going out. She decides to go to a party and ends up in a closet blindfolded for 7 minutes in heaven. They know who the other person is but that only fuels into the connection that has always been there. They agree to explore their relationship and keep it a secret so her brother doesn’t get mad. Maddie and Cam find themselves falling for each other. The forbidden romance trope adds a level of excitement to it. Everything comes full circle for Maddie and Cam and giving in to the feelings was probably the best thing they could’ve done.

This BookTok-favorite delivers exactly what it promises: a steamy, trope-filled friends-with-benefits romance that slowly (and deliciously) shifts into something deeper.

Maddie and Cameron have instant chemistry—she’s smart and focused, he’s the charming NFL prospect with a not-so-secret soft side. Their flirty dynamic turns into a secret affair full of sizzling tension, and watching them catch real feelings was both fun and frustrating in the best way. The brother’s-best-friend angle adds some great conflict, but it never overshadows Maddie’s growth or Cameron’s slow-burn realization that he might be in too deep.

While some plot beats are predictable and the drama leans a bit heavy at times, the characters are likable, the banter is solid, and the steam level is exactly what fans of this subgenre are looking for. This isn’t just a beachy fling—it’s about figuring out what you want, standing up for it, and taking the risk to rewrite your own love story.

Flirty, emotional, and undeniably bingeable—this one’s going on my “fun reads with heart” shelf.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Playmaker is a delightful summer read that perfectly blends romance, nostalgia, and the joy of reconnecting. This book is a heartwarming journey that will make you feel all the feels.

Set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked Spring Break when Maddie and Cam come home and end up reconnecting after years of not speaking. I really enjoyed the way in which they come together and work through there past and problems that caused them to get there. The added aspects of being a sport romance and having the trope of brothers best friend all adds to the enjoyment of this book!

Faison introduces us to characters who are as charming as they are relatable. The chemistry between both Cam and Maddie is undeniable, and their journey of rediscovery and romance is filled with sweet moments and emotional highs that will keep you hooked. Faison does a fantastic job of exploring themes like love, loss, grief, second chances, friendships and the magic of being understood, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with readers.

One of the standout features of this book is Faison's ability to create vivid and immersive scenes. Whether it's a lazy day on the lake or a heartfelt conversation under the stars, you feel like you're right there with the characters, soaking up every moment. The writing is warm, engaging, and full of emotional depth, making it impossible to put down.

Playmaker is a must-read for anyone who loves a good sport romance with a side of heartfelt moments. It's a book that will keep you entertained, engaged, and eagerly turning the pages. I can not wait for the next one!

This was a cute second chance/brothers best friend romance. Maddie and Cameron have known each other forever, but when his mom died, Cameron changed. He thought he was unable to love and be loved, so he did the only thing he could think of to keep Maddie from getting hurt. Unfortunately pushing her away the last 6 years did more harm then good. I liked the couple, but I got a little confused with the flashback scenes when they happened in the middle of a chapter with no indication of what was happening. The spice was hot and overall it was a good book for contemporary romance lovers.

**3-Star Review of *Playmaker: A Hidden Attractions Novel* by Deanna Faison**

*Playmaker* by Deanna Faison is a charming, sports-themed romance that delivers a mix of passion, humor, and a bit of drama. The story follows Riley, a woman who finds herself falling for a professional athlete, the "playmaker" of the title, despite her initial reluctance to get involved with someone in the spotlight. The chemistry between Riley and her love interest is palpable, and Faison does a solid job of building their connection.

The book offers a lighthearted take on romance, with some fun moments and steamy scenes that will appeal to fans of the genre. However, the plot can feel a bit predictable, and at times, the pacing slows down, leaving the story to drag in certain spots. Some of the secondary characters are enjoyable but lack the depth to make their storylines particularly memorable. Additionally, while the romance is central to the narrative, it doesn't always feel as emotionally layered as it could be.

Overall, *Playmaker* is an easy, enjoyable read for those who love sports romance and steamy love stories, but it doesn’t quite reach the level of emotional depth or complexity that would elevate it to something truly standout. It's a fun escape, but it lacks the surprises or rich character development that could make it unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️💫

This book was pretty predictable and unfortunately it just kept going around and around the same thing. If we cut out the main characters fumbling their relationship we would have a very short novella that was mostly smut. I went into this thinking there would be more substance and I think I just had the wrong idea of what the book really was.

Thank you netgalley for this early release! This was such a cute one - loved the main characters banter and the sporty vibe. Would highly recommend and loved this author’s way with words! 4 stars!

Playmaker is cute and witty. The NFL trope is fun, the best friend's brother is one of my favorites, and Playmaker works well with both of them.

Nope. this guy is a manwhore who will fuck anything that breathes, wdym he fucks another women is the FMCs house. using sex as a therapy? no thank you.

brothers best friend / friends to lovers / secret romance
this was a great, easy read - good palette cleanser if you're in-between books

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Deanna Faison and the publishers for letting me & review this advanced book copy. This was a four star sports (football) romance read that releases Tuesday October 22nd 2024. This novel follows the love story between Maddie and Cameron. Cameron is college athlete dreaming to go to the NFL and play for his dream team in Arizona. He is also best friends with Maddie's older brother. Maddie is a dedicated student who doesn't go out to parties working hard to be a doctor. She has always liked Cameron and at one point they might've became more but his mom got sick and sadly passed away, Cameron pushed Maddie away for two long years. Suddenly their back at the same time for spring break spending more and more time together. Sparks fly. I do wish there weren't so many spicy scene because i feel like the book needs them to have more time together without that stuff.

This is good but the pacing of the book was super weird and as a result wasn’t my favorite way to read. I do love brother’s best friend and was incredibly happy with the angst and tension between the two.

Thank you to NetGalley and W by Wattpad books for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am a sucker for brothers best friend and sports romance so picking up Playmaker was a no brainer. I don’t have a lot to say except that this was a fun read full of spice and witty banter.

Rating: 3/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: cute romance; happily for now ending; 3rd act break up; brother's best friend; steamy spicy scenes

Huge thank you to Deanna Faison, Wattpad Webtoon Book Group, and Netgalley for free access to this ARC. My review is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.

This was a super cute, spicy, and at times emotional read. There were some tried and true tropes-- the football jock and the book nerd being the biggest. The characters were realistically written and true to their stories, both surprising and not in turn.

The happily for now ending complimented the ebbs and flows of this story, partnered with the 3rd act break up. I felt like the characters were given adequate time and opportunity for readers to get to know them and their motives, but also for them to get to know themselves. This also helped the happily for now to feel realistic.

I had a fabulous time reading this, and would recommend it to lovers of brother's best friend romance and steamy love scenes.... with some friends to lovers thrown in for good measure.

DNF'd. Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I did not post to any websites as I didn't want to leave a negative review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing and captivating experience, and I found the writing to be both engaging and accessible. The story flowed smoothly, making it easy to stay connected to the plot and characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed. The author struck a perfect balance, keeping things interesting while still making the content feel approachable. Overall, it was a wonderful read, and I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and easy-to-digest book.

I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece but I had hope for an entertaining, attention keeping, fun story. This was predictable and like so many other romance stories. In the future I’ll avoid anything connected to Wattpad.

I loved this book. Could not put it down! Loved the dynamic between Maddie and Cam! The trope of raised around each other then falling in love as adults is one of my favorites. This was well written and really enjoyed it! Great job Deanna Faison!

Ok I have to preface by saying that I didn't love this book. Parts of it felt really rushed to me, and there wasn't as much character development as I would have liked.

tropes:
- sports romance
- "forbidden" romance
- best friends sister

themes:
- sneaking behind brothers back
- player/virgin
- longtime crush

I really genuinely love sports romances andw as excited about this book. I think the issue was that it felt more YA to me, but wasn't YA because of all the spicy scenes. Part of me wishes it went either FULL YA or stepped out and fleshed the "new adult" angle more than lusty teen angle. (For reference books that succeed in the new adult vein are the off campus series by Elle Kennedy, and Game on Series by Kristin Callahan). I didn't love how the FMC's brother reacted to his sister's relationship with his friend. The Spicy parts were good, and spicy, but if the book was more fleshed out I would've liked it more.