This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

REVIEW: Playing Flirty by Shameez Patek

Playing Flirty is a cute rom-com about board games, video games, best friends, family, and other nerdy things, like cosplay. Rose is trying to plan her future, but things seem to change for her. Things at her job aren’t going well; her boyfriend, Patrick, is becoming more distant, and she is helping her best friend plan her wedding with the best man, Will, who happens to be her other best friend’s brother and her enemy.

Playing Flirty is a contemporary rom-com with a twist of nerdiness. I love that it follows a group of nerdy friends with weekly game nights. There were a bunch of nerdy references, such as Lord of the Rings, cosplaying, and video games. The friend group dynamic gave a strong, found family vibe, and their relationships were fun to watch. I also enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers trope within the story.

Unfortunately, Playing Flirty missed the mark on parts of the story. I had difficulty connecting to the characters, especially the main character, Rose. Part of that could be the story, and the characters mainly were on the surface level with little depth. There were hints of good character and story development, but they only scratched the surface. Also, I wasn’t getting much chemistry from the main two characters, especially with how quickly things seemed to move. Lastly, the ex-boyfriend becomes too much of a plot point when there should have been more time on Will and Rose. Even with many red flags, Rose still considers him an option.

Overall, I did enjoy the nerdiness, the found family, and some of the cuteness of Playing Flirty.
I just felt it lacked some depth that could make this story better.

Thank you, Hachette Audio | Forever, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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I like the idea of the book, but I can only hope this is a debut and the author improves in the future. This book comes off as sophomoric - the main character falls flat, there isn’t believable chemistry, and there are way too many subplots. I love that the author included diverse perspectives but many of the lines felt cliche and not genuine. It honestly feels like this is all an idealized version of the perfect nerd world, with the perfect friends, the incredibly hot and adoring MMC, but it was written by someone who doesn’t have many lived experiences with these things. I might give this author a chance in the future, but I hope they improve their writing before then. 2.5⭐️, 2🌶

What a cute rom-com! Rose Marie loves game. Her hyper competitive side comes out whenever she’s around Willam, her best friend’s half brother. I really loved the banter between these two. I also liked how they talked about roses struggles with her job. A lot of this book was very relatable which I enjoyed.

I do wish that trigger warnings had been spoken about the beginning of the book.

I think the narrator did a great job. It did feel like it was recorded slow so I made sure to set the speed higher!

If you love rom-coms or stories about board games, id definitely recommend this book. Thank you so much NetGalley, Shameez and Hachette Audio for the E-ALC!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️

#NetGalley #PlayingFlirty

Playing Flirty was a fun and quirky rom com, and excellent escapist read.

I loved Rose’s bolshy, competitive but slightly reserved character, and the way she played off William. Their gradual build of chemistry felt authentic and made for a more satisfying storyline. I enjoyed their unapologetic nerdiness, and their passion for board games and gaming.

The story was well paced, but I did find it took me a little while to get used to the rhythm and style of narration. Once I did though, I thoroughly enjoyed the dramatisation of Rose and William, and thought the narrator did a wonderful job of capturing their emotional experience and personalities.

Overall, a relaxing and enjoyable read, with two very loveable main characters.

Thank you Hachette Audio for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

The story is charming and engaging, making for a delightful read from start to finish. If you're in the mood for a cute and fun romance, this book is a perfect pick!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

My geeky heart is so full !!

This was such a cute romcom and found the fmc sooo relatable.
First her parents are the sweetest and I love them and second ! Can I please get a bf like William !! Ugh I’m obsessed with him!

The fmc love video games, cos playing , board games, and all geeky things! Especially her obsession with the Tolkien world because SAME!!
I love how the MMC is always calling her hobbit 🥹💖

I highly recommend you picking this book up if you’re looking for a cute dorky romcom 💖💖

This book shocked me in the best way possible. I loved William and Rose so much along with all the side characters. These characters at some moments felt like genuine, real people.

🎧: Playing Flirty -a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Shameez Patel-new to me author

📅Publication date: 1-14-25 | Read 1-29-25

Genre: Rom-Com, Adult Fic

Tropes:
• Rivals
• Best Friend’s Brother
• Found Family
• Forced Proximity
• Gaming

🗣️Narrator: Nirvi Shah voices all the characters with standouts from characters: Rose and William. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 8:51

🌎 Setting: San Diego, CA

👆🏾POV: 1st person single-Rose

⚠️TW: sexual harassment-h, blackmail-h, toxic parent-H

Summary: Rose secretly invented a fantasy board game when she was eighteen but never pursued it. She is getting her MBA and became an investment analyst where she works with her best friend Shaun. William is Shaun's half-brother and also a game designer who turns everything into a contest with Rose. When Rose decides to submit her game into a tournament, she seeks William's help.

👩🏾 Heroine: Rose Marie Jones-27, works at M&G Group

👨🏾 Hero: William Ashdern-27, Shaun's roommate

🎭 Other Characters:
*Neema-Rose's BFF
*Shaun-Rose's BFF, co-worker
*Patrick-Rose's boyfriend
*Jeffrey Markham-Rose's boss


😊 What I liked:
• Weekly game nights with friends
• Ongoing competition and witty banter between Rose & William
• Rose’s parents were hilarious
•pet names for each other


😞What I didn't:
• I wanted some of William's POV
•Rose missing all the red flags with Patrick-a little too naive

Rating: 3.5/5⭐
Spice level 2/5🔥 kissing, fade to black

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio| Forever, and Shameez Patel for this ALC 🧙🏾‍♂️ I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Shameez Patel for the ALC of Playing Flirty! This was such an easy listen—I couldn’t put it down even when I tried (and I tried). The characters were fun and relatable, especially Rose. The way she thinks and acts felt refreshingly real—she’s flawed, and that just made her more likable. The story follows Rose Marie Jones and her romance with William Ashdern. Told entirely from Rose’s POV, it was engaging, but I really wished for a William POV. The way he talks and acts around Rose made me so curious about his inner thoughts, and without them, his character felt a little one-dimensional. A glimpse into his perspective would have added more depth. At the start, Rose is dating Patrick—handsome, stable, but never truly putting her first. On top of that, she’s stuck in a dead-end job with a boss who constantly harasses her, and Patrick doesn’t seem to see the problem. When she realizes the spark is gone, she initiates their breakup. Enter William—Rose’s long-time playing nemesis and the paragon of a sexy nerd. They’ve always had a competitive dynamic, but when Rose decides to enter a contest with a board game she secretly designed, she turns to William for help. Suddenly, their game rivalry is turning into something much more serious. I loved the nerdy elements—the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit references, the board games, the video games—it all added a fun touch. But something still felt missing. A dual POV would have helped bring William to life, and I also found myself wanting a little more spice to amp up the tension. Even in the audiobook, which had a great narrator, a male voice for William’s dialogue might have made the story feel more dynamic.Overall, Playing Flirty is a quick, lighthearted read with great diversity and a charming nerdy romance. While I wished for more depth and dual POV, I still had fun with this one!

This book feels like the perfect book to pull you out of a reading slump. Initially I was a bit worried because the writing felt procedural and the narrator sounded like they were reading off a page rather than telling a story. However, I very quickly fell in love with the characters and all of that was forgotten. All of the characters were the perfect balance of absurd and realistic. I could relate to them or identify someone in my life that they reminded me of, while they were still silly enough to make the book more fun than real life. The repetition of the majority of the chapters taking place in William and Shawn's apartment made it a comfortable, familiar place which really supported to cozy game night vibe. The romance felt a bit unbelievable. It seemed like a flip was switched on their relationship, rather than giving them a chance to really connect. It seemed like William was a fun rebound fling rather than the next chapter of her life, but either way it was fun! The quick pace, the cozy setting, and the whirlwind romance made it an easy speedy read that I recommend to a lot of nerds when it's released!

Shameez Patel's Playing Flirty is a delightful romantic comedy that comes alive in its audiobook format. The engaging narration enhances the witty banter and chemistry between the protagonists, making their playful interactions even more captivating. Patel masterfully balances humor and heart, crafting a story that's both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Listeners will find themselves smiling throughout, charmed by the authentic characters and their journey to love. This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of lighthearted romance.

Rose Marie Jones is working on her MBA in a job she doesn't really love with an icky inducing boss who gives her the heebeegeebees. Her boyfriend is disappointing. She's grateful for her two best friends and game night. Rose loves board games, video games and cosplay. Her best friend's brother is her gaming nemesis.

This audio book was fantastic. I loved the narrator and enjoyed the gaming romance. This video game nerd was enchanted. Rose's parents were hilarious. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what else the author writes.

Playing Flirty is a fun romcom that delves into the world of board games vs. video games. There is a fun twist on the enemies to lovers trope as well.

Told in single POV, this book embraces the growth of the female character, while also capturing the growth of the male love interest. This was a very fun and engaging story, that kept me compelled throughout the story.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done by a single narrator. The narrator brought the female character to life, giving her personality a way to jump off the page. I listened to this audiobook at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75x).

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listening copy.

As a lifelong fan of board games, Star Wars, and LOTR, this book was a must read and it did not disappoint. Playing Flirty was a delight to read and having the chapters called ‘rounds’ was such a clever idea.

The idea of pairing a frenemies to lovers with the natural flow of competition in each game played worked so wonderfully as it led to fantastic banter, verbal sparring (always friendly and never mean!), and some delectable tension between Rose and William.

Seeing the progression of Rose’s character as she gained confidence - to finish and submit her game and to stand up to a jerk at work - was moving and I was so proud of her. I love how her friends rallied around her at every point to hype her up and always lend support and a listening ear.

I had so much fun getting lost in the audiobook narration and thought the narration did a phenomenal job bringing these characters and this story to life!

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio of this highly anticipated book. The narrator did a brilliant job in bringing the various characters to life.

Rose is crazy busy at work and she has to endure comments and glances from her boss as well. Things are also not going well between her and long-time boyfriend Patrick. Luckily, she always has Game Night to look forward to every week. Her best friend, Neema, who happens to be going out with Shaun, her best friend at work, always host Game Night at Shaun’s flat.

Shaun shares his flat with his step-brother William. William is a game designer who is the nerdy version of tall, dark and handsome; and he gets on Rose’s nerves. They always try and outdo each other in the games. When Rose wants to enter a contest with her board game which she has been working on in secret for years, William is the only person who can help her make her game better.

I enjoyed the banter between Rose and William and seeing how their rivalry turned into flirting over time. If you are looking for a cute and flirty book, this is the one to read.

I love that this is a South African author. We must learn to embrace and promote our local authors more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for this cute and swoony romcom!

My nerdy heart was so happy with the setting of this book. A story centered around board games? Yes, please! As a huge LoTR and GoT fan, I felt like this book was made for people like me.

The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed beautifully. From the very first page, the chemistry between Rose and William was undeniable. They’re both such green flags—sweet, lovable, and totally swoon-worthy.

🌶 William… where do I even begin? I loved him. I wish we had his POV, even just for the epilogue—not to spoil the story, but damn, being inside his head would have been a treat! He’s dark, mysterious, sweet, and insanely hot. And while this book isn’t smutty (the spicy scenes aren’t on-page), don’t be fooled—every time William opened his gorgeous, sometimes filthy mouth, the temperature skyrocketed. 🔥

💖 Rose was equally wonderful. She had her life meticulously planned, and watching her personal growth—learning to let go, take risks, and embrace happiness—was truly satisfying. I resonated so much with her journey.

Another huge plus? The side characters! The best friends, parents, even the pervy coworker—they all added so much depth. Some romances focus only on the couple, making the world feel flat, but this book had a rich, well-rounded cast that made the story even better.

Overall, Playing Flirty is a fun, nerdy, and heartwarming romance that I absolutely recommend! 💕🎲✨

This was a good and light read with a charming board game theme and delightful friendships, especially between Rose, Sean, and Neema. Rose’s lists and spreadsheets added a relatable touch, and Sean and Neema’s love was a sweet highlight. However, the romance between Rose and William felt surface-level, lacking depth and proper development. William didn’t quite give “book boyfriend” vibes, though he had his moments, like dealing with Rose’s toxic boss. Some unnecessary plotlines, like workplace harassment, distracted from the story’s focus, but the banter and lighthearted tone made this an enjoyable read.

4.25⭐️
Update:
So I was so thankful to get the ALC to listen to from Hachette audio through NetGalley and I’m so happy I did as the reread made me like the book even more , enough to round up my rating to a 5.

What I think I appreciated about this book was that it wasn’t insta love. It was built over a period of time. I love reading books where the main characters truly support each other. You can see the love well beyond the slice or declarations.

The narrator Nirvi Shah did a wonderful job. It was a bit too slow for my liking as recorded so I sped it up quite a bit and at 2x speed it was still very clear to listen to.
This is a perfect book to get you in the mood for Valentines Day so go grab it!

Overall I enjoyed the book in a fun read that has great ties to “geekdom” fan bases. However it did have some misses for me personally along the way which had me taking longer than typical to read it.

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Forever Publishing through Netgalley to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I like the sort of enemies to lovers trope and how it unfolded as well as the game board special interest and cosplay/ convention mentions. The game board mentions were older simpler games but I think it suited it for a world wide audience where anyone could identify.

I liked that the FMC doesn’t fit a stereotypical mold and is fiesty. My biggest pet peeve was a particular subplot that didn’t really get resolved so it seemed like it was just thrown in for conflict sake but that’s me being picky.

The representation in the book was great to read just a “regular” girl who happened to be a person of color was refreshing and that the book had a depth to it beyond a fluffy romcom.

This can be the perfect read for romance readers looking for something a bit different and clean to start off their new year as it comes out January 15th 2025.


My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again