Max Monroe always has a fun read & this one is no exception. Blake is sure about his feelings for Lexi but she doesn’t get it. Lexi is on the spectrum and struggles with emotions. Blake is so patient and treats her so well. It was fun to see a lot of familiar faces from other books.

4.5/5⭐️
I never knew that research and data input could be so useful and fun! I totally loved those hypotheses. Lexi is analytical while Blake is sporty. Despite them being opposites, Blake has the largest crush on Lexi. She is also older than him and is on her way to obtaining her second PhD while Blake is studying for his degree.

Despite all the challenges, I loved how persistent Blake was. He sets out to win her trust and to win her over. Texting her regularly? Check. Food delivery? Check. Trying to spend time with her at any possible chance? Check.

While it was fun to see Blake winning over Lexi, I also enjoyed the glimpses of Finn and Scottie here. It was great to see their love going strong. I can’t wait for Ace and Julia’s friends to lovers story.

As book two in the Dickson University series, I’m pleased to say you can read this as a stand-alone. I hadn’t read book one but found Playing Games easy to get into. Neurodivergent Lexi was a great FMC trying to widen her horizons in her own unique way, and Blake the lovesick MMC who’s persistence and patience makes him a loveable character. A good read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Ahhhhhhhhh.

I love sports romances and this book was no exception.

This was my first book by Max Monroe and they did not disappoint.

wow wow wow...just wow. I was absolutely hooked from the start. I LOVE the dynamic of Lexi and how her incredible mind works, but then add in Blake...chef's kiss.
Max and Monroe do it again! I started with the Learning Curve, so the 2nd generation is so much fun, but I am missing the earlier context. Honestly though, it's not a gap that has me upset. I am yearning to dive into the billionaire series and the anticipation is killing me. I've added Scoring the Billionaire to my TBR.
Lexi is neurodivergent and I love ever second of her; and although I can't personally relate to her there are definitely some highlight moments that pluck my heart strings.
Blake...oh Blakey Blake. Umm, what is there to say about this MMC? Swoony-check, muscular-check, spicy-check, patient-check...just all the checks. Love his recognition and determination in Lexi and their relationship.
Couldn't put this one down, hands down in love with these two. Can't wait for what's next at Dickson U.

This sports romcom delivers with excellent banter, especially in their text convos, and a charming romance between our MCs.
Blake, the golden retriever star quarterback, is persistent yet respectful in his pursuit of Lexi. Lexi, our neurodivergent queen, is both funny and relatable as she pushes herself out of her comfort zone. This pushes her straight into the arms of Blake, who has had a crush on her for a while.
With a strong support system on both sides, this lighthearted romance offers lovable, realistic characters and a fun, low-stakes college sports setting. I loved the opposites attract, secret relationship, reverse grumpy x sunshine dynamic.
Highly recommend for fans of Elle Kennedy, Rebecca Jenshak, and Becka Mack.

Blake is the all-star football player at Dickson University, and Lexi is a neurodivergent she is in the spectrum. Blake sees her and understand and have patience with her while she is finding herself. Having a child in the spectrum I love that their stories about them because you want hope someone will be their for them. you see the original character and the next generation and I cant wait to read more

This is my first book by Max Monroe, which has opened a path to reading all the previous books written by this author duo, particularly the one written in this series and the anticipated book to follow.

This story brings together two unlikely individuals, a brainiac and an athlete. But the chemistry between the two is instant.

Lexi Lou Winslow, the main female character, is not only intelligent but neurodivergent. I thoroughly enjoyed how the authors provided this space to Lexi to be exactly who she is. Lexi was resistant to being with Blake Boden (star college quarterback), but his persistence broke through every reason Lexi created not to be with him. She even went as far as to create an app to provide justification for her to be with Blake.

Lexi eventually accepts that she has deep feelings for Blake and allows him to be in her life and contrary to her initial belief, Lexi begins to understand and accept that she in fact has the ability to love and be in a relationship.

Thank you NetGallery for this advanced copy and allowing me to provide my review of this book.

Absolutely loved this book. It was great reading Blake and Lexie. The way she tried to make a science hypothesis out of her reactions to him. I loved it.

This was my first Max Monroe book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were well-developed, making them both likable and relatable. The plot was engaging, with enough excitement to maintain my interest throughout. The length of the book was appropriate, with climax executed well. I am a new fan of these authors and will definitely be recommending this book.

Blake Boden is the star quarterback and Lexi has eyes for him only when the time comes for them to be a thing, she's not sure that's what she signed up for. She's a neurodivergent and finds relationships hard but she has a pull to Blake and when he wants to go public she drops him. Only it's not really what she wants when she realizes a very important detail about herself after a conversation with her mom. Lexi and Blake's story is such a cute one and I'm thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

Max Monroe is an unbreakable duo, and this book did not disappoint! This is a first for me in the series, I need to go back and read book 1!

Max Monroe is back with another humor packed rom-com wrapped around steamy scenes and plenty of swoon! Max Monroe’s books never lack for entertaining characters, situations and attraction. The back and forth banter is almost continous throughout the book especially in the text messages between Blake and Lexi.

Blake had declared his love for Lexi in the previous book of this series. Their story is sweet and enjoyable yet, I enjoyed the opposites attract trope the best. Blake and Lexi are so extremely opposite that each time they manage to overcome another hurdle moving the relationship forward was a moment of smiles.

Unlike Blake, Lexi lives locked in a world of analysis and data. She has difficulty developing a relationships including the one with Blake. She needs time to process and analyze. When Blake pursues her, she is forced outside her comfort zone. And this is where all the swoon takes place! Blake is driven by his energy and his refusal to fail especially with Lexi. His desire to learn and understand Lexi with such patience and small steps makes him so adorable and perfect for her.

I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next.

*3.75 stars*

Blake Boden, the man you are 😮‍💨

this book was cute, fun and had solid emotional aspects to it.

I loved getting know to how Lexi’s brain works as a neurodivergent character - I think it was beautifully done and really enjoyed her POVs!
Blake definitely stole the show, I loved how attuned and patient was with Lexi - he is perfect and knew the love of his life at first sight (cries happy tears).
It was beautiful seeing Lexi take risks with Blake.
It was the small things like trying to step out of her comfort zone and change up her schedule to spend more time with him.

their chemistry - smokin’ hot 😮‍💨
banter - witty as hell!
the ending… beyond adorable!

overall an enjoyable read. just saying, everyone needs a Blake Boden in their life!!

*thank you NetGalley for this arc!*

It was so good!! Something that I really liked is that the fmc had a life outside of the way she was perceived by the people she knows. The mmc was so cute too.

Playing Games by Max Monroe is a laugh-out-loud, sizzling rom-com that delivers banter, chemistry, and just the right amount of chaos. With a swoony football star, a feisty heroine, and a game of love neither saw coming, this book is pure fun from start to finish. If you love witty romance with plenty of heart, this one’s a touchdown!

Oh, Max Monroe!!! Our Lexi Lou has grown up and found a love of her own. I've been a fan of your writing from the first book you published and do re-read a few of the backlist ones each year for the laugh, giggles and sighs. With each book you keep moving the goalposts for which is my favorite Max Monroe MMC.....Brock has entered in the top 5.

Thank you for the opportunity to download this advance reader and I apologize for the late read and review I've learned to space out my MM new reads so I am not left too bereft while waiting for the next one. Perfect timing as my Monday email this morning tells me of a special opportunity available on Friday to download some of the books missing from my e-library. As always, thank you for the great reads and so excited for the publishing opportunities coming your way to the Mass Merchants and Independent stores.

Grumpy x Sunshine and our FMC is the grumpy one? I’m sold. I love reading a good opposites attract love story and seeing how their relationship grows. This story starts with Blake having it bad for Lexi and Lexi not being into it as much. However, as the story progresses and the two start to interact more and get closer, their relationship grows. These two have some of the best banter i've ever read. Lexi is so witty and keeps Blake on his toes. I really loved that even though there were times that Lexi was missing social and conversational, Blake still was so patient and understanding throughout the story. He never treated her differently and ended up being super protective of her. Not only that but once they started to get closer their chemistry was so much fun to read and experience. Although this was my first Max Monroe book it will definitely not be my last. After reading this, I’m for sure going back to read the first book in the series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Max Monroe for this ARC.

Usually love Max Monroe books because they are downright hilarious but this book fell flat for me. Don’t get me wrong — I liked Lexi & Blake a lot. I found the story really endearing and above all just sweet. But also kind of boring at times. It was just missing something special.

Thank you NetGalley & Max Monroe for this advanced reader copy.

There's nothing not to love about a Max Monroe book - their writing is flawless. I'm so in love with Lexi and Blake - I can't deal. This had absolutely everything that I adore about a sports romance and I already want to read it again!

Playing Games by Max Monroe is an absolute winner.
Blake Boden is everything I love in a romance hero—cocky, charismatic, and completely relentless in his pursuit. He walks into every situation like he owns the place, but what makes him truly irresistible is the way he meets his match in a woman who refuses to be charmed. The dynamic between him and the razor-sharp, emotionally guarded heroine is electric from the very first page.
The banter? Perfect. Every conversation is a battle of wits, filled with sharp retorts and underlying tension that had me grinning like an idiot. The push-and-pull is addictive, and watching the heroine try to keep her emotions in check—while Blake is dead set on breaking down her walls—is pure entertainment.
But what really sets this story apart is how well it balances humour with real emotion. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but there’s depth beneath the snark and sarcasm. The slow unravelling of the heroine’s carefully structured world, the realization that maybe love isn’t just a “chemical reaction,” and the way Blake steps up when it matters most? Flawless.
This book is everything I wanted—funny, swoony, and impossible to put down. A total touchdown.