Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I should not have waited so long to read this one. Not sure why I hesitated. It is a great book.

Not my typical read, but i enjoyed it and learned a lit in the process.

Playing Games by Max Monroe is a 5 star read for me. I loved the first book in the series, Learning Curve and this one does not disappoint. This is the story of Lexi Lou a beautiful, smart, strong and independent student at Dickinson University. She is the daughter of the Mavericks NFL team coach and the leader of the Double C underground games. Lexi has Autism and relates to the world in a very logical and planned out way. Until Blake Boden messes up her perfectly planned out future. and turns her world upside down.

Max Monroe writes her neurodivergent point of view and internal dialogue in a very sensitive and accurate way. I love to see representation of characters who are not neurotypical as the main character. It is refreshing to read of a FMC with autism and be able to fall in love with her as a person and not only see her as her disability. Thank you for this beautifully written love story. And Blake Boden is chef's kiss for a book boyfriend! Its also, funny, spicy and fun!

Max Monroe never disappoints and I love everything they write and I think you will too!

Thank you!

MFG im dying this was soso good.
it was reverse age gap buttttt shes only 4 years older so its not that bad.
this had me giggling!!!
the spice was pretty good and it had me bushinggg.
THE ONLY bad thing was that she was like "i love you, wait no im not, wait yes i am."
anyyyywayyyyyy other than that it was a fun, quick read

An interesting premise that, unfortunately, didn’t quite deliver for me.

After reading the first book and feeling underwhelmed by the second, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that this author’s style just isn’t for me.

I actually found the synopsis of this one more compelling than the first, but once again, the story and its development felt flat. I’m not a fan of insta-love, and I honestly couldn’t understand what drew the characters to each other. It felt like they were “in love” after a few pages—despite barely speaking and spending most of their time rolling in the hay.

I also struggled to connect with either character and didn’t find them particularly likable. That said, I did appreciate the inclusion and representation of neurodivergence—it added a thoughtful layer to an otherwise lukewarm romance.

<i> Thank you at Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. </i>

A fun, quick read!
Light and enjoyable, the story focuses mostly on the couple and their relationship. Sweet, simple, and perfect for when you want something easy and heartwarming.

Remember, 3 stars means I *liked* the book. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot was solid. There are a lot of side characters, so it helps to have read book #1. It was nice that the authors had an older FMC (25) with a younger MMC (20?I think). There's a LOT of spice, but also quite a lot of romance.

The banter in a Max Monroe book is priceless. They really know how to bring the humor and the heat. I love the MMC golden retriever energy and I absolutely love a neurospicy FMC.
this was great on its own, even if you haven’t read the first!

I'm really enjoying this series. The way Max Monroe has blended these storylines with the families and their kids along with the sports aspect and so on. This book focuses on the college QB, Blake Boden and his undying love for Lexi Winslow. Lexi is the older woman (by four years) and the extremely gifted brain child who has written programs that will probably make her millions once she graduates from her graduate program. They are the most unlikely couple but don't tell Blake that because he is determined to win her over and Lexi is equally determined that their relationship can't work. But opposites definitely do attract in this fun romantic story and it makes for an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of this ebook.

Flirty, fast-paced, and laugh-out-loud funny, Playing Games is a rom-com touchdown that blends reality TV drama with off-the-charts chemistry. When sexy, confident River gets thrown into the wild world of The Love Game dating show, he’s all ego and one-liners—until he meets a no-nonsense producer who’s so not falling for his charms... or is she?

This book serves up hilarious hijinks, sharp banter, and swoon-worthy moments with a side of emotional depth that sneaks up on you. Max Monroe knows how to balance steamy tension with sweet moments, making this more than just a game—it’s a feel-good love story that hits all the right notes.

Reality dating may be scripted, but this romance? 100% the real deal.

This was just as cute as the first book in the series. A solid romance. I would recommend, loved the chemistry between the mains.

My first read from the author - thank you for this ARC! It was great to have a main neurodivergent character! New age college romance! Who knew I'd like this genre?! A real good read!

I was captivated by this book even before the first chapter—right from the dedication! As an overthinking, spreadsheet-loving, introverted engineer, I felt a strong connection to the characters.

The star quarterback of Dickson University, known as the campus golden boy, is accustomed to winning both on and off the field—until he meets the one woman who changes everything.

I absolutely loved Lexi and Blake! They were complete opposites, yet their chemistry and witty banter were fantastic. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling throughout the book. I truly appreciated the themes of acceptance woven into the story.

Lexi's perspective was portrayed in a way that felt honest and authentic. She was smart and snarky, and I admired her confidence. Blake was fully invested in Lexi—he fell for her hard, and I cherished every moment of their relationship. He was sweet, supportive, and accepting of her.

I was thrilled by the cameos from friends and family, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

I wish i had a better review of this e-arc but unfortunately i simply did not like this book.
firstly, why on God’s green earth does an epilogue have 3 separate parts? at that point just weave it into the actual story.
next, why were there so many damn characters??

“My grandma and Howard. My other uncles Flynn and Ty and their wives. My mum and stepdad Wes and brother Wes Jr. My dad Nick and my stepmom Charlotte. My parents’ best friends, Thatch and Cassie and Kline and Georgia. All of my cousins—Hawk, Meadow, Emily, Izzy, Carmen, Roman, and Ryder. Even Ace and Julia—and their respective brother and sister—and Finn and Scottie are here, along with Finn’s mum Helen and his siblings Reece, Travis, Jack, and Willow.”

i’m so sorry but who the hell is reading this and actually registering these people? and this wasn’t the only paragraph like this as well, i understand that the character’s big family is a major characteristic but this is just far too much unnecessary detail.

The book was also very dialogue based and frankly that is a bit of a turn off for me.

It’s not a one star as at some points when i wasn’t physically reading the book, i would miss the characters and their relationships- even reading as soon as i woke up. i enjoyed it sometimes but the ending was far too drawn out for me to qualify as a 3 star read.

also blake was such an unrealistic character, i actually wish he didn’t forgive her and actually moved on or at least made lexi grovel a bit after all she put him through. i don’t know how the writers expect me to believe that sort of apathy towards a romantic partner is acceptable and worth being pined over

Such a fun read . Always love reading Max Monroe. Banter , humor, enemies to lovers with a reality show angle. This was a perfect read for my mood!

As a long time fan of Max Monroe, I was so excited to read this book. I've been waiting for Lexi's story. She's such an interesting character. I thought the authors did a fantastic job of describing in a respectful manner her neurodivergence. And Blake? The way he navigated her and her emotional struggles was SO real. He came off so genuine.

Read it. Love it. If you love Max Monroe's stories, this is up to par with the rest.

He’s the star quarterback at Dickson University.
She’s the super intelligent lab nerd, finishing up her second doctorate in computer science.
I enjoyed reading about a neurodivergent FMC, who in trying to figure out her emotions by creating an app for her own self discovery about their secret relationship and attraction.

I was so happy that characters from book 1 were included in this story so that we had some major follow ups on Finn and Scottie.

This was super sweet with pinches of spice, against, drama, steam and overthinking.

Playing Games by Max Monroe is a fun opposites attract story where the charming, cocky star quarterback Blake Boden meets Lexi, a smart, no nonsense genius. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their dynamic is both hilarious and sweet. I really enjoyed the secret relationship angle and the twist on the grumpy sunshine trope, with Lexi being the more serious one and Blake bringing the charm. It’s just a super entertaining and feel good read!

Finally, we get Lexi’s story, and I loved every second of it. I’ve always been curious about how Max and Monroe would write her as an adult, and they absolutely delivered. Lex’s emotional intelligence struggles were written with care and authenticity, and her neurodivergence was thoughtfully represented throughout. It never felt like a plot device; it was just part of who she is, and it added real depth to her character.

Blake was the perfect MMC for her. He’s confident, grounded, and from the very beginning, it’s clear he knows what he wants – and what he wants is her. He’s patient, respectful, and works with Lex every step of the way to build something real. Their dynamic? Perfection. He is a real cinnamon roll, and we're here for it.

Just like in the previous book (Scottie & Finn), one of my favourite things about this series is the way Max Monroe has written the next generation. Each character feels like their own person, but you can still see the influence of their iconic parents (where relevant) from the Billionaire Bad Boys series. It’s such a satisfying world to be immersed in if you’ve followed the series from the start. That being said, I would have liked a bit more interaction from Lexi with her family, as I think to see how that had evolved over time would have been nice. There were a few moments with Winnie, but not as many as I would have liked.

If you were to read this as a standalone, it would still totally work – the romance is strong, and the emotional beats land. But without the nostalgic pull of the legacy characters and their history, it might fall closer to a three-star read for some.

For me though? With all the layers, banter, and the nostalgia… it just worked. 💜

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for this book. This was a new Author for me and I will definitely be reading more of her books! Lexi and Blake are amazing main characters that I was able to relate to quite easily. She is a super smart girl and he is the all-around golden boy quarterback of the high school. He is absolutely obsessed with her and it takes a while until she finally realizes her feelings for him as well. I loved the neurodivergent representation of Lexi being on the autism spectrum. I love to see how the character was able to overcome her struggles and make great successes in her life. It was also very enjoyable to see how Blake was aware of her issues but he was kind to her. He was understanding and very protective which I thought was very admirable, and I fell in love with his character!! I loved the tropes in the book such as opposites attract, and when she is grumpy and he is sunshine, and I also love the secret relationship. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a beautiful romance with a lot of depth and heart.!

Playing Games by Max Monroe brings us back to campus, this time, with our focus on the star football player and the quiet brainiac, Lexi. Blake has wanted Lexi from the first time he saw her, and she refused his advances. Lexi, being a woman who is working to complete her PhD has a hard time with emotions, hers, but also those around her. Blake, obsessed with Lexi, to the point he made the bold statement, "I'm going to marry that girl one day", can't seem to stay away from her and slowly works to break down her barriers. And boy, does he ever. What Lexi failed to realize is that Blake managed to weasel his way into her heart, and when she breaks it off, finds she can't stop thinking about him and dare I say, even misses him. Kudos to Max Monroe for another wonderful story. I can't wait for the next one already!!