I wanted to like this but could not connect with either character, so a meh read to me. Great for fans of board games, grumpy x sunshine, very nerdy couple.

I gave this geek-driven rom com 2 stars for a couple of reasons; mostly that I did not like the main character and I didn't believe her. The MMC, William, was a little one dimensional. Although I found his actions endearing and lovable, I didn't know him like I like to. I was missing the chemistry. The relationship between Rose and William's half brother Shaun was a solid one, Shaun gets engaged to Rose's female best friend early on in the book. I liked that Rose was good friends with both of them equally and also as a pair.

Much of the middle was boring, we don't see her attraction to her boyfriend Patrick, he treats her terribly and they aren't right for each other. Although there is a rivals-to-lovers trope, it comes along slow and drags in parts. I couldn't get used to the prose and it was challenging for me.

So while I didn't love the content, I do want to give the audiobook 3.5 stars- I was gifted an audiobook from Hachette Audio and NetGalley. To separate the content from the narrator, I did feel like the audiobook narrator did a good job of the Rose dialogue. There were longer pauses so I listened at 2.0 speed although I listened 3 times through because I wanted to give me diligence to the audiobook narration separate from the content of the book. While I probably wouldn't pick up another book from this author, I would happily choose another book by this narrator.

Thanks again to Netgalley and Hachette audio. Book was published January 14, 2025.

This book is such a cute nerdy romance. The banter is so good. All of the key characters were super likable. Did I predict some of the elements? Absolutely. But I still enjoyed every moment.

I received an audio copy and the narrators were perfect. I look forward to seeing future work by this author.

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel, narrated by Nirvi Shah, is a fun and nerdy romantic comedy about love, competition, and taking risks. Rose, a cautious but passionate game enthusiast, finds herself teaming up with her witty rival William to bring her secret board game idea to life. Their playful rivalry evolves into something deeper, but Rose’s hesitance holds her back at times. While the story is charming and filled with geeky banter, Rose’s reserved nature early on might frustrate some listeners who crave the confident spark she shows later. A light, entertaining listen for fans of clever rom-coms.

Great book. Couldn't stop listening. Thank you for giving me the chance to read in advance. I was in love with all the characters.

Cute story about Rose and her best friend’s brother William. Other tropes include rivals to lovers and secret dating. I would suggest checking for trigger warnings- Rose’s boss makes her uncomfortable and there’s some inappropriate behavior there.

Overall I thought it was cute- I like that Rose is making a board game. I love that William is protective of her and he helps her make her game amazing.

Cute. Cheesy. Swoony.
Did get to be a bit cringy at points but over all a simple sweet romance. Very heavy on board games and board game references

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Playing Flirty now.

This book was the perfect mix of nerdy, sexy, funny, and heartwarming! I loved William and Rose's banter and hate-to-love relationship. Their bonding over games of all kinds was so sweet and right up my alley, Even though the spicier scenes were behind slightly closed doors, the tension that Shameez Patel built up was delicious, and I appreciated the moments of "will they/won't they" more anyway.

I also didn't expect this book to convey so much about feeling stuck in your life and feeling like you're not accomplishing the goals you set out for yourself. Rose's struggles with her job and lackluster relationship were relatable and understandable, helping us see her character growth vividly.

I can't wait to read more from Shameez Patel!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. This is a cute nerdy romcom. She is in a dead end relationship and after spending more time with her best friend’s half brother putting the finishing touches on her board game that she created they start “playing” a game of flirting. She ends her dead end relationship, and only after her ex publicly purposes marriage does she really realize that a life that she had with him was not what she wanted anymore. Super cute romcom filled with witty banter and closed door/ fade to black romance scenes.


🔹Nerdy
🔹Banter
🔹He falls first

Audiobook Narration Review: 3.5/5 - Solid performance. Definitely a decent listen, but lacked that extra oomph that would make me give it 5⭐️. This is one you will need to speed up, the narrator speaks rather slow and the pauses felt a bit excessive. I do wish the narrator would have spoke with a little more spirit some places felt like they lacked inflection.

Book Review: 4.5⭐️

Filled with tension, A+ banter, and all the nerdiness your heart could desire, Playing Flirty was the perfect romcom to sooth my game-night loving soul.

What I loved…
- plenty of tension
- A+++ banter
- Lord of the Rings references
- nerdy vibes
- Video game designer MMC
- curvy, smart, and organized FMC
- closed door/fade to black spice
- all star side characters
- plenty of depth
- read in a single sitting!
- (view spoiler)

What I didn’t love…
- the writing style/prose drove me slightly nuts with the use of -ing words rather than direct past tense versions.
- see below spoiler re:workplace harassment subplot

One of the main subplots is a workplace harassment, and while I didn’t love a particular aspect of the subplot, I loved how her male BFF/coworker handled the situation!