Great book. I loved reading it. Thank you for letting me read this arc copy. Loved all the characters.

📖 Book Review 📖 It took me one Max Monroe book to learn that as soon as a new book arrives, it’s a drop everything and read situation. And their latest read is no exception! Playing Games is the second installment in the Dickson University series but can be read as a standalone (but let’s be honest, it is so much better to read the whole series). As Lexi is wrapping up her college career and getting ready to take on the world beyond Dickson, she certainly did not expect to fall for the charms of the handsome quarterback, Blake. He’s all in but can he win her over for good? Playing Games is a delightfully delicious addition to this series.

I’ve been really looking forward to this story because Lexi is one of my favorite MM characters. And before I gush about why I adore this story, please, please, please read *Learning Curve* first; its events are crucial to understanding this one. I know authors always say “this is a stand-alone,” but trust me, the intricate plot twists and character developments in this book necessitate reading it in order. The intricate relationships between characters, so masterfully crafted in Finn and Scottie’s book, are impossible to fully appreciate without prior knowledge of their story. Obviously, you should also know her parents, uncles, and their stories too. But, IMO, Learning Curve is required.

There’s a million reasons they shouldn’t be together. Blake, the college’s star quarterback, is a really popular guy. Lexi is hyper-focused on all things scientific, and being on the spectrum, she doesn’t form personal connections well. But isn’t it true that the heart wants what it wants? Blake is the man to bring it about. Even with her uncertainty, emotional unavailability, and aloofness, he remains determined and finds a happy ending with her. So sweet, so patient, so steamy, I loved how he loved her enough to wait for her to realize she loved him too!

All the things that make MM stories wonderful are present in these pages, with our favorite characters shining brightly. This book was incredibly addictive—plan your reading time accordingly, because you won’t want to stop reading. And you know what’s next?! ACE and JULIA!! One-click it now to be ready for release day! I received my ARC from Netgalley and the authors (thank you) and happily leave my review.

I am a Max Monroe fan. I've read many of their books before and will continue to read them. So, I went into this with high expectations, and it did not disappoint! The banter, the chemistry, and the authors handle Lexie's neurodivergence with such care! I highly recommend this book if you want a light, fun read!

This book was so good. Hot young college football star falls first and hard for a neurodivergent genius PHD student.
The journey they go through, and the character development of Lexie was everything. But make no mistake, this is no average college sports romance. The side stories going with their friends and family will have you invested and all in. This is one game you will be happy you played!

Max Monroe books have been a firm favourite of mine since their Billionaire Bad Boy series and this book just made me fall even more in love with them!

Lexi and Blake were just so perfect together. Truly opposites attract. I love how we got to see deeper into how Lexi’s mind works and the way Blake just melts for her. There’s just something about the “he falls first” trope that gets me every time. It was also the perfect balance of laugh out loud moments, spice and drama.

Loved how interlinked all the characters are with previous series! Now I can’t wait to read Ace and Julia’s stories ✨

This was such a sweet and cozy read. I love a boy obsessed and watching logical, analytical-minded Lexi come to terms with this new aspect of her life was so well done. It was so fun to see all of our favorites characters again, even if I'm salty I didn't get to see my main man Kline. Looking forward to Ace and Julia's book.

Read if you like: college romance, opposites attract, sports romance, stem romance, she’s older than him, he falls first, neurodivergent fmc,

I was super hesitant about starting this book because I didn’t like Learning Curve. However, the blurb hooked me in and decided to give it a go anyway. Yeah … I regret it 🥲

This was just not for me, maybe I’m just not into Max Monroe’s college romances. Everyone seems young so I just couldn’t get into any of the characters. I wanted to be sucked into a romance and this wasn’t delivering.
Also this book was so long 😭 like WHY??

This is my second book from these authors and I love it just as much as the first! Both were ARC’s and I feel really lucky. I was able to read both before they came out.
This one is a part of a series and I did not read the first book. I read this one as a standalone. But you can bet I’ve already got the first book queued up on Kindle right now..

I love all the characters and I absolutely love the representation here of autism love (or neurodivergence but I think it’s autism)
It’s very sweetly done
The main guy is so sweet and understand and loyal while letting his girl work through it all even when it’s killing him.

𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈
3 stars ✨
Spice level 🌶️🌶️
_____
“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘵—𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯.”

Ok I am currently watching single inferno season 4 and Theo from this show is the greenest green flag of men, kinda make me think of Blake? Not physically, but they are both green flags. They both pursue their love interest even tho they are rejected? Both are attentive and kind. And I reallyyy like Theo from inferno, so Blake being like him is a good things. He’s completely obsessed with her. He’s the football jocks who fallen for the nerdyy girl.

“𝘓𝘦𝘹𝘪 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱, 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭—𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭.”

Lexi is neurodivergent, she’s a loner and she’s fine with it. Her way of thinking of analyzing everything is funny and special, but not in a bad way. She’s four years older than Blake. When she’s with him she easily forget that the rest of the world exists and that’s not an easy things for her.

“𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘐’𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘦.”

The book is really fast paced, a little too much for my taste. & really short. I enjoyed it, but it could have been more in depth. The plot only center around Blake and Lexi relationship. We see a lot of side characters, but they feel like they are not doing much? I know Lexi has a way of thinking, but I didn’t like the reasons why they can’t be together. Like girl, you finally find someone you like spending time with & you say no because of his age? The age-gap was only 4 years!

“𝘈𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.“

Blake and Lexi were so great together. Lexi is about to be a college graduate and has been working on her final and busy running the Double C's. In between everything else that she has going on, she's trying to avoid the campus QB Blake Boden.
Blake has been trying to win Lexi's heart for a long time now, Blake is not sure if Lexi has feelings for anyone because it seems to him, she's not much of a relationship person.. Blake knows he could be setting himself up to be hurt by Lexi but decides to follow his heart. But he also needs to be careful. He handles her in the exact way she needed. Blake showed her his true character when he treated her with such kindness and patience as their relationship grew. They both had to learn to navigate this new relationship.
This was such a warm and fuzzy book from Max Monroe and one u don't want to miss.

I feel pretty neutral about this one. I did enjoy the characters, especially Lexi and her seriousness, but the drama in this wasn’t for me.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. I’m still looking forward to read Ace & Julia’s book!

I was thrilled to get the chance to read this ARC through NetGalley...as I read Learning Curve and immediately fell in love with Dickson University and the whole network of characters. Lexi and Blake's story was written so well. Being able to truly get a better look/feel into each of their minds really made me fall in love with each of them separately, and then together. I cannot wait for Julie and Ace's story!

Max Monroe books are a must-read in my house. I devour them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Playing Games. It was just as expected and full of witty banter, steam, dominant characters, and much more. The writing flows smoothly, and I got lost in this title.

Lexi Winslow is running a secret club on her college campus. Blake Boden is the campus sports star. He has been crushing on Lexi & wants nothing more than to get her attention but Lexi isn’t interested. Can this quarterback convince the math genius to give him a chance? Lots of laughs and sweet times within this college opposites attract romcom. There are plenty of cameos too from their friends and family. Told in first person and dual POV.

Take two people who are opposites on the surface and watch them fall in love. Max Monroe shows us how, with a ton of character growth and smart, hilarious banter. It was a lot of fun and a lot of emotional.

You have the football player, Blake, who wants to win and thinks of love in the same way.

You have the brilliant neurodivergent scientist, Lexi, who has a dry understanding of love, who uses terms like "ideal mate" and "fornication".

I found Lexi absolutely hilarious. The two of them together, pure gold. The spice was spicy. Their communication great. And the banter was too fun.


A little bit spoilery:
I didn't love the way Lexi tended to take and take while Blake gave and gave. Like I would have loved a little more balance. To make the love between them more believable. There's also a third act breakup but I think it's done in an interesting way and it really worked for the story and Lexi's growth. But I'm still going 4.5 or 5 stars because I was highly entertained and loved every page reading the two of them grow in love. It was a quick read and really cool to have a neurodivergent main star because my child has autism and sometimes I wonder about these type of relationships he'll have one day and I worry about people taking advantage. I think this story does a great job pointing out how she's capable of not being taken advantage of and Blake was a great communicator.

(2.5 rounded up to 3)

I love me a sports romance, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.

What I liked:

I liked Lexi & Blake as characters and for the most part I enjoyed their inner monologues. I honestly enjoyed the scenes of them with friends and family more than their scenes with each other.

The supporting characters were great. We love supportive friends and family over here.

What didn’t work for me:

It felt like a lot of telling and not showing.

I was hoping for a more natural relationship progression, and I found it difficult to get into the romance itself.

Playing Games by Max Monroe is romance perfection! It's swoony, steamy and hilarious.

This book has the quintessential Max Monroe funny witty charm that will have you laughing out loud but also grinning and rooting for their couple. She's the smart girl and he's the jock and he's down bad for her. I love a good grumpy black cat girl and golden retriever boyfriend dynamic and I thought their dynamic was so fun. I love how he was instantly obsessed with her and knew he was gonna get the girl and despite her best efforts to not fall for him, it happens. it's spicy and swoony. It's full of hilarity and sweet moment. I thought their chemistry was fun, full of banter and lovers of sport romances will eat this book up!

I've been a fan of Max Monroe's books all the way back to the Billionaire Bad Boys series, so to say I was excited to read Playing Games is an understatement. Little Lexi Lou getting her own book? Yes, please and thank you! And what a book it was!

Lexi Winslow is an adult now, finishing up her grad degree and running a secret society on campus. If you are unfamiliar with her character, Lexi is all about the facts and stats. Emotions rarely come into play. Blake Boden is a college quarterback on the path to pros and greatness. After meeting Lexi, he's obsessed with winning her heart. Too bad for Blake Lexi doesn't do love and has no interest in dating a younger football player. Luckily for Lexi, Blake isn't a guy to back down from a challenge. All her has to do is convince her he is worth taking a chance on.

Blake and Lexi were ADORABLE together. Blake was a sweetheart, and I loved how he pushed Lexi while also knowing when to back off. Lexi was...well, Lexi. Finally getting a look into that amazing mind of hers was so much fun. She was capable of more than she thought. Blake was the perfect guy for her with his patience and understanding. I loved how they approached their relationship differently and what they learned while getting to know each other better. Their romance was so sweet!

This book, and all of Max Monroe's others, wouldn't have been what it was without the side characters there to support and bring levity throughout the story. It was great to find out how Finn and Scottie were doing. Ace and Julia, too. I can't wait for their book! It's also always fun when Thatch and Cassy, Winnie and Wes, and Georgia and Kline are around, too. That being said, if you haven't read these characters books, you can read this one as a standalone. It will make you want to read the other books, but you won't be lost.

Playing Games was another fantastically funny romance from Max Monroe. I loved it and I am eagerly awaiting their next release.