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!!

**📖✨ An Unforgettable Read! ✨📖**

I fell in love with this book from the very first page. It’s an *amazing* read, and it completely won me over the moment I discovered that Lexi is on the autism spectrum—just like my daughter. That personal connection made the story even more meaningful, but beyond that, I have to say this book is **extremely well written** and filled with so much **passion**.

💙 **Lexi’s journey is beautifully portrayed**—her perspective, her struggles, and her triumphs feel so real, making her a character you can’t help but root for. And then there’s **Blake**—what an absolute sweetheart! His **patience, understanding, and protectiveness** toward Lexi touched my heart. He knows her world is different, and instead of trying to change her, he embraces her for who she is. That kind of love and support is something truly special.

Reading this book made me feel *hopeful*. It reassured me that my daughter, too, can have a beautiful and fulfilling life, just like Lexi. If you haven’t read this book yet, **you absolutely should**—it’s powerful, emotional, and simply unforgettable.

📚💙 **Go for it! You won’t regret it.**

I really liked this book. I loved the difference in the characters, and just fell in love with Blake and Lexi. Very easy read, as usual!

It's Blake's confidence for me. He was consistent and patient since the first book. I loved watching these two love birds story unfold, although Lexi was trying so hard to fight it. I never knew how much I would love a reversed Grumpy Sunshine story!

Thank you for theARC!

ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 - 𝔻𝕚𝕩𝕠𝕟 𝕌𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝟚 - ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨

Author: Max Monroe

Couple: Lexi Winslow & Blake Boden

Tropes:
💖 Secret dating
🧠 Neurodivergent heroine
🏈 Sports (football star hero!)
✌🏼 Opposites attract
🦮 Golden retriever MMC 
💙 He falls first 
😏 Longtime crush + intense first love

Review: ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 was everything I thought it would be! Blake Biden brought the sauce and the resilience in this book and oh man did he NEED IT! Max Monroe teased about this book for a minute and I cannot say how much I ADORED, DEVOURED, AND YELLED about this one while reading. Lexi Winslow finally…FINALLY got her HEA and it feels like an end to a very long, very loved ERA after hitting the words “The End” in ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤. I cannot express how much this book left me reeling (especially with this twists at the end!) and how satisfied I was with Blake and Lexi as they navigated their romance.

ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 was a book that had it all for me. It had a tiny bit of mystery (enter mysterious secret society that Lexi was in charge of) and a ton of laugh out loud moments and banter. Blake was not just a cocky player but also the guy who pushed Lexi to become her best self while also refusing to let her stay in her head. Lexi was also someone who tempered Blake enough for his best strengths to shine through and what a beautiful match it was! These two could not have been more opposite but in true Max Monroe fashion - THEY MADE IT WORK.

While Blake and Lexi were the star of the show getting to see some old faces made this book 100% better. Winnie, Cassie, Thatcher, Nick, Finn - and everyone else who we had fallen in love with in older books had cameos and it was so amazing to see all of them back tighter and causing mischief again (especially Cassie!!). ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 was a binge worthy book for me and it left me NEEDING Thatcher’s book ASAP!

Rating: 100+; ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 is another knockout romcom by Max Monroe and finally brought us Lexi Winslow’s romance!

Thank you Max Monroe & Hambright PR for the eARC!

✨ Publication date: February 7, 2025✨

Playing Games is the second book in Max Munroe’s steamy new adult Dickson University series. I did not read the first one, so the books can be read standalone.

Blake Boden is the star quarterback of the Dickson University football team. He’s definitely going places and can have any girl on campus he wants….but he only has eyes for Lexi Winslow. Unfortunately, she doesn’t date football players and has no interest in Blake.

Lexi is the genius neurodivergent good girl next door. Of course she finds Blake attractive but she doesn’t date football players and he certainly doesn’t fit in her future plans. Blake doesn’t give up so easily though and slowly starts to work his way into Lexi’s life.

He’s the campus golden boy and she’s the nerdy genius but somehow, they work. They start to see each other in secret but when Blake is ready to tell the world about them, Lexi gets scared off.

Lexi needs to learn to navigate her emotions and get the courage to tell Blake how she really feels, before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this authors writing. I like Lexi and Blake and thought they had pretty good chemistry ( and steamy sex scenes), I also enjoyed reading about a neurodivergent FMC and her struggles with emotions, it was well represented. This is a 3.5 (rounded to 4) read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #maxmunroe #playinggames

Loved Blake and Lexi! Blake is charmingly earnest, loyal and eager to please Lexi. Lexi is genius, neurodivergent and trying to make sense of her feelings for Blake. Entertaining, funny, heartwarming and steamy - this is another great read by Max Monroe! I loved also that the other characters (friends and family members) are central to the story and we get to follow along with their lives as well. Can't wait to read the next in this series!

Loved Blake and Lexi! Blake is charmingly earnest, loyal and eager to please Lexi. Lexi is genius, neurodivergent and trying to make sense of her feelings for Blake. Entertaining, funny, heartwarming and steamy - this is another great read by Max Monroe! I loved also that the other characters (friends and family members) are central to the story and we get to follow along with their lives as well. Can't wait to read the next in this series!

I knew I was going to laugh out loud reading this but I was surprised that I got really emotional at the end. I have a soft spot for the funny cinnamon roll type H so I fell in love with Blake from the beginning. Blake and Lexi had good banter and chemistry which is a plus. I haven't read all the previous books so I was a little confused with who everyone was and how they were related but I definitely really enjoyed this one. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the books in the future!

It was meh, not my favorite and I am not sure if i'm glad I read it or not at this point. It just couldn't keep my attention it was to the point I was winding up finding something else to do but finish this.

What a treat this book was! Longtime fans of Max Monroe will be familiar with Lexi Winslow, as she is the daughter of Winnie from a previous book. I love we are now getting some second generation characters (which gives us a little peek at some old favorites!)

I loved the way the authors shined a light on Lexi's quirks, all the while not making her seem weird. Her quirks made her who she was, and that was perfectly fine. She was relatable, and most of all, loveable.

Blake....sigh. He was just perfect for Lexi. He was patient, yet persistent. Even when Lexi's quirks left him heartbroken, he never gave up on her. The way he supported Lexi made him book boyfriend perfection!

Playing Games by Max Monroe is a delightful, witty, and heartwarming contemporary romance that combines humor, sizzling chemistry, and a refreshing take on the “opposites attract” trope. The second book in the Dickson University series, it introduces readers to Blake Boden, the cocky, charming quarterback with a reputation for winning both on and off the field. Enter Lexi, a brilliant, introverted student whose scientific approach to life and love initially leaves Blake perplexed—and intrigued.

The chemistry between Blake and Lexi is palpable from the start. Blake is used to getting what he wants, but Lexi is unlike any woman he’s encountered. She’s not impressed by his athleticism or good looks; instead, she views relationships through a logical, almost clinical lens. The way Blake pursues her is both hilarious and endearing. His relentless pursuit of Lexi doesn’t feel forced or clichéd—it's grounded in genuine curiosity about a woman who doesn’t fall for his usual charms. As the two get to know each other, sparks fly, and the playful banter and escalating tension between them keep the pages turning.

What sets Playing Games apart from other romance novels is Lexi’s neurodivergent perspective. Her scientific approach to life brings a unique layer to the story, adding depth to the relationship and making Lexi’s character feel real and authentic. Max Monroe does an excellent job of highlighting her quirks and intelligence while never reducing her to just her “differences.” Lexi is smart, funny, and ultimately very relatable. Watching her grow emotionally as she navigates her feelings for Blake is a rewarding experience for readers.

Blake, on the other hand, is a perfect mix of charm and vulnerability. While he’s a confident, successful athlete, he has a depth to him that goes beyond the stereotypical “jock” persona. His pursuit of Lexi is not just about winning her over but about discovering someone who challenges him in ways he never expected. His character’s development, from cocky quarterback to someone capable of real emotional growth, is a testament to the dynamic, engaging storytelling Max Monroe is known for.

The pacing of the book is excellent. The blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments makes for a fast, enjoyable read. Max Monroe excels at writing characters who feel like real people, not just romance novel archetypes. Their interactions are natural, with moments of genuine humor, emotion, and vulnerability.

Playing Games is a perfect read for fans of opposites-attract romance with a dash of humor and a lot of heart. It’s the kind of book you can’t put down because you’re rooting for these characters from the first page to the last. With its clever writing, endearing characters, and emotional depth, it’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a romance that goes beyond surface-level attraction. Highly recommended for those who love smart, funny, and genuinely heartfelt stories.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the autism rep for the FMC. This was such a cute read and definitely will be reading more of your books. Blake & Lexi are adorable and fit so perfectly together!

I liked this! it was a fun, steamy sports romance. it was the perfect pallet cleanser after reading some pretty heavy books. I will say that the plot was a little lacking at some points but honestly, who reads sports romances for a plot throughout an entire book.