Oh my heart! This book was delightful and I was swooning the whole way through. I can't wait for the next rom com from Shameez!

What a cute romcom! The story follows Rose, who loves weekly game nights with friends which lead to a meetup with her brother’s friend and nemesis, William.

Featuring best friends brother, all the banter, enemies to lovers, and a slow burn romance. I loved the audio!

*many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This was a cute first book by this new author! I didn’t have the highest of expectations since I was unfamiliar with her work and this book did not disappoint!!! Very well written and thought out book with a believable story line and adorable back story. The female main character having a love of gaming and fantasy lore was such a fun twist on nerd-core and I really enjoyed her character’s trip to Comic-Con in San Diego and her meet-cute with her Gandolph. So much fun development of the FMC and MMC throughout the story, but not too much that it became boring. It was just the right amount. I would absolutely read more by this author in the future and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Hearts: 4
Review: Enemies to lovers / secret romance. I loved the nerdy game nights. The characters were interesting. The story was good but not great.

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel presents a romantic starring Rose Marie Jones, who finds her weekly game nights, a reprieve from her demanding MBA studies and disliked job, frequently disrupted by her "nemesis," William Ashdern. Their playful rivalry takes a turn when Rose seeks William's help for a board game design contest, leading to a developing romance.

Playing Flirty is a charming, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy brimming with heart, sass, and irresistible chemistry. Shameez Patel crafts a love story that’s equal parts playful and empowering, with characters you’ll root for from the first flirty banter to the last swoon-worthy page. A total delight!

I listened and read along with this delightful romantic comedy, and I’m so glad I did! The story of Rose Marie Jones and William Ashdern is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious—without ever crossing into anything too edgy or uncomfortable. Just good, clean fun with a touch of romance and a lot of heart.
Rose is practical, steady, and fiercely competitive (in the best way). Her weekly Game Night is her one escape, and her biggest challenge? William, her best friend’s half-brother and fellow board game lover. Their playful rivalry takes a meaningful turn when she asks for his help entering a board game design contest—and suddenly, the stakes are more than just winning.
The writing is sharp, the pacing is great, and I couldn’t put it down. The narrator does a fantastic job! Every character felt distinct, and the tone perfectly matched the light, sweet humor of the story. If you enjoy listening while driving, walking, or doing chores, this is an easy, uplifting listen that will leave you smiling.
If you're looking for sweet chemistry witty banter, and strong characters who grow together, then this is one you'll want to try.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and an audio version from Hachette Audio and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This romantic comedy is a fun and heartwarming read that blends geek culture with a touch of emotional depth. Rose and William are a lovable pair whose rivalry sparks with clever banter and growing tension. The game-night setting brings a unique and charming backdrop to their story, and the board game subplot adds a creative and personal touch. Rose’s journey from playing it safe to taking real risks feels authentic and satisfying. While some parts of the plot follow familiar beats and the middle section slows down a bit, the chemistry and character growth keep things engaging. A great pick for readers who enjoy a sweet, smart romance with a competitive edge.

This was super cute and nerdy! Loved the romance and the friend group. I just felt like the writing style was a little choppy and juvenile at times.

I loved the nerdy aspect of this one but the dialogue and plot was a bit lack luster for me. I am so so sad that it wasn't as big of a hit as I was hoping for...........................I will definitely keep up with Shameez Patel and see what else they publish! But unfortunately this was just not great...

Playing Flirty is a fun book that brings to light that nerd girls do exist and belong in spaces that are often male dominated! The relationship between Rose and William was a bit rocky, but wound up so sweet, very true to the enemies-to-lovers trope, though they really weren't enemies to begin with. There are some fun twists that are a bit on the nose and easy to recognize, but the way they are revealed is definitely worth the confirmation. This is a super cute story that made me feel a bit more seen as the massive nerd that I am!

Cute, quirky, geeky, romance novel. It had the right amount of flirting and tension to romance. It had great banter and communication between the characters and I would 100% read more by this author.

I loved the nerdiness of the characters and the idea of creating a board game was fun and different.

The narration was well done, interesting, and I would listen to them again.

2 Soot Sprite Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 0.5🌶️/5

I struggled with this book for multiple reasons, WHICH I FEEL IS TERRIBLE OF ME, because I feel some sort of camaraderie with the author being from the same country!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Rose Marie Jones is stuck in a job she hates while working toward her MBA. Her one reprieve? Weekly game nights with her workplace bestie Shaun, his fiancée i>(and also her bestie) Neema, and a handful of their friends. The only downside is that her nemesis William (aka Shaun’s brother and roommate) is always there too, making it his mission to beat, one-up, and annoy Rose at every opportunity. But when Rose decides to enter a board game creation contest with a game she’s been secretly developing, the only person with the skills to help her win is... William. And the more time she spends with him, the more she starts to realise that maybe he’s not the nemesis she’s always believed him to be.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
So why did I struggle? Firstly, the lack of chemistry in the "main" couple. Their characters felt weak, and it honestly felt like Rose had more chemistry with Shaun than with William, which made the intended romance feel forced. Then it felt like William was very superficial or surface level, and that the only reason he was her "nemesis" was because he had a typical schoolboy crush and believed that being mean to a girl and "pulling her pigtails" is how you show her you like her.

Then the relationship with her ex dragged super long in the story and made the plot feel incredibly slow because they took forever to break up before there could be any traction in her relationship with William.

Then I have a little gripe with how surface-level and almost insulting the depiction of geek culture was. It felt like the author had a checklist of “nerdy” things rather than an authentic understanding of all the fandoms it tried to incorporate. Instead of a thoughtful, immersive portrayal, the book leaned on outdated stereotypes and shallow references, almost like taking a bunch of nerdy "spaghetti" and throwing it to the wall hoping some of the aspects would stick.

An example of this is the characters were supposedly hardcore geeks, attending Comic-Con in full cosplay, yet their go-to board games were Monopoly, Cluedo, and 30 Seconds. Games that, while fun for the whole family, are NOT what dedicated board game lovers and RPG players reach for. People who design epic board games are NOT casually pulling out Monopoly every week. It felt like the book was written by someone who had only ever seen geek culture through a pop-culture lens rather than lived it.

Then there was the FMC’s cosplay to her year-end function she ORGANISED. If she was truly a passionate cosplayer, there would have been talk about the intricate costume planning, the materials, the design, and the dedication that goes into crafting an outfit months in advance. Now I understand Rose had a lot going on in her life at this time, but TRUST ME WHEN I SAY a person who loves to dress up and has a cupboard full of costumes (totally speaking from experience here) is not "last minute" a Catwoman "Casual Cosplay" from their wardrobe. It was the equivalent of saying someone is a “huge reader” but only mentioning that they’ve read Harry Potter.

It felt like she was throwing in a Lord of the Rings reference here, mentioning a popular superhero there, and boom, she had geek representation! But I feel that real fandoms have layers, passion, and niche interests that go way beyond what was presented, and it made me frustrated since I AM one of those people who is basically ROSE. I have over 30 award-winning board games and have won cosplay competitions, went to Comic-Con dressed in multiple cosplays, and have spent over 3000 hours in an online MMORPG. I am a big nerd and she made me feel silly how she portrayed us.

Also, I didn't like that the book couldn't really decide if it wanted to be a clean romance or wanted to be a more open-door romance, and that hesitancy held back the writing. I think it would have been better to fully embrace a clean romance style rather than straddling the line awkwardly if she wasn't as comfortable writing smut.

AND LASTLY... One of the reasons I often dislike the "best friend's brother trope" is because it reeks of hypocrisy. William is Shaun's brother, roommate, bestman and friend and you seriously have to hold someone in high regard to MAKE THEM YOUR BEST MAN... yet somehow he’s not good enough for his best friend? That same best friend who introduced Shaun to her best friend, trusted him and did nothing but support and CHEER FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP! But the moment there’s even a hint of something between Rose and William, Shaun pulls out the line "it’ll get awkward if things go wrong." It’s selfish and unfair, especially when Shaun did the exact same thing to Rose by starting to date her Best Friend... WOULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN AWAKARD FOR HER IF THEY BROKE UP? If anything, Shaun should be thrilled Shaun and Rose are getting together because it means two of the most important people in his life could become family. That should be the dream, not a problem!

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Best Friends Brother
▶ Banter
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Nicknames
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Cages her with his Arms
▶ Always been you
▶ "More"

Overall I think this book had amazing potential but with a little refinement and clearer direction (like picking only one fandom to be obsessed about as an example) would have made this miles better!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the Gifted Copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own

If you love rom-coms packed with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and a touch of emotional depth, Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel is a must-read! From the very first page, this book had me grinning like a fool, completely swept up in the playful, electric tension between the two leads.

The story follows a dynamic, headstrong heroine who isn’t looking for love but somehow finds herself in a game of flirtation she never expected to lose. And then there’s the hero—oh, be still my heart! He’s charming, cocky in the best way, and absolutely determined to turn their playful back-and-forth into something real. Their banter is effortless, their connection undeniable, and the slow-burn romance? Absolute perfection.

But Playing Flirty isn’t just about the swoons—it’s also about growth, self-discovery, and the vulnerability that comes with letting someone in. Patel’s writing is fresh, funny, and full of heart, making it impossible to put this book down. The supporting characters add so much vibrancy to the story, and the romance? It’s the kind that gives you butterflies.

If you’re a fan of flirt-to-love romances with sparkling dialogue, tension that builds deliciously, and a story that leaves you giddy, Playing Flirty will steal your heart. Highly recommend! 💕

This was a cute little romance but was kinda cheesy and pretty predictable. I loved that they all got together for board games and thought the couple was likeable but overall give the book 3 stars.

Une histoire sympa et mignonne, qui met en avant un univers rarement exploité en romance : les jeux de société et les jeux vidéos, et j'ai trouvé ça rafraîchissant et sympa.
J'ai également apprécié la place accordée à l'amitié, qui est pour moi autant au cœur du livre que l'univers des jeux. En revanche, je ne suis pas charmée plus que cela par la romance, et plusieurs fois au cours du livre, j'ai trouvé que l'histoire souffrait de nombreuses longueurs. 3.5 ⭐

I had just finished reading a heavy non-fiction book and was looking for something light hearted and easy to read as a palette cleanser. Playing Flirty was exactly what I was expecting The main characters were likeable and I got invested in them both, as well as liking the secondary characters. I thought the plot around the board games and meeting for game nights put a bit of an interesting twist on what is a fairly common romance trope. Was it predictable? Yes. Was it cheesy? Yes. But did I enjoy it? Also yes. If you're looking for a deep, emotional romance then this book isn't for you.

I actually listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job and she sounded like how I imagined the characters would sound.

Playing Flirty is a story about a group of friends who enjoy a weekly game night. The main character, Rose, creates a board game of her own, and her friends convince her to enter it into a board game contest. The problem is that Rose is a bit of a control freak and this game needs to be perfect. She enlists the help of William, a member of the friend group and game night rival, and professional game feedback provider.

This was a cute read, but I don't think I would read it again. I enjoy playing games, but it was a little too much on the gamer side for me. Very cute, witty banter between Rose and William, but definitely a slow burn. I think I missed the Gandolf story because it is mentioned several times throughout the book and I never quite understood the reference. The book does go through some more difficult topics, such as a Rose experiencing inappropriate advances from her boss, leaving her job, and deciding whether or not she should part ways from her current boyfriend, who is a 100% match on her spreadsheet.

The cosplay, gaming, and banter caused this opposites-attract style novel to feel playful and fun. The story itself reads more as a YA novel, although the character does experience some more adult themes. The narrator was easy to understand and entertaining. Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this narrator. This book is a love letter to nerds. featuring both board games and video games. Figuring out yourself and friends who seriously are there for everything. listening to this audiobook made the tension even more better.. 10/10

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Playing Flirty was nerdy cringe love done right! Rose and William had me kicking my feet and giggling and only cringing a tiny bit every now and then. The slow burn was excellent and I think this book worked so well as a closed door romance. I thought this was well narrated and I loved the whole cast of characters. I really enjoyed this book!
3.75⭐️