Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC!

3.5 STARS

I was so excited to read this book! Now that I've finished it, I cannot wait for the next one.
If there's one thing you can count on with these authors, it's that they will tease you so much that in the end you'll be begging for more!
I missed these characters so much! And the payoff was so worth it.
Now, I wish we had had more of the friend group. That definitely was my favorite part of the first book, and I missed them hanging out together. I was dying to know Ace's reaction to Blake and Lexy, and I felt robbed when I didn't get to see that!

I will read the next one, and everything these authors publish.

Review: Playing Games by Max Monroe
⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

Playing Games is a college sports romance that follows a football star and the coach’s daughter in a forbidden relationship. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone—though the constant crossover references made it feel like I was missing an inside joke.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. The humor didn’t land, and the writing felt forced and very juvenile. And the moment I read, “I’ve had more pu$$y than Garfield,” I officially checked out. If you love college romances, there are definitely stronger options out there.

Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a great romance! I especially loved how patient and understanding Blake was as he pursued Lexi. 😍 Truly a stand up guy!

It’s also not common to read a story where the FMC is a genius, so it was super intriguing and really drew me in! 😊

I’m so excited to read Ace and Julia’s book!! ❤️

Max Monroe does it again with Playing Games, the second book in the Dickson University series—but it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. However, if you're looking to learn more about Scottie and Finn, I recommend reading Learning Curve before diving into book 2.

In Playing Games, Blake Boden, the star quarterback, experiences love at first sight when he meets Lexi Winslow. The catch? Lexi doesn’t do relationships or emotions, so Blake definitely has his work cut out for him. Their chemistry is undeniable, and there’s plenty of witty banter between them that had me laughing out loud more than once.

Playing Games is a reverse grumpy/sunshine romance, where the MMC (main male character) falls first. Plus, there’s a touch of a reversed age gap and a secret relationship to keep things extra interesting.

I really enjoyed the return to Dickson University. Blake and Lexi's story is full of not only romantic love, but also the love of family and friends. So grab your favorite beverage and a comfy chair, because you will not want to put down this book once you start to read it.

Lexi Winslow is the twenty-five year old daughter of Winnie Winslow Lancaster and the stepdaughter of Wes Lancaster, Sr. Lexi also is off the charts smart and neurodivergent. She analyzes everything in her life and breaks it down to points of data. While Lexi was running the secret Double C (Computare Caterva) Society at Dickson University she meets Blake Boden, star quarterback of the school's football team. Blake is instantly smitten and vows to make Lexi his. When Blake realizes that both Lexi and him will be on campus all summer he sees this as his chance to win Lexi over.

After Blake finally wins Lexi over by playing with her analytical side he knows he at least now has a chance. Lexi agrees and decides she can use her app she developed for her doctoral thesis to determine if Blake is someone she could be with. Blake wants all in with Lexi but she would rather keep things secretive. By the end of summer Blake realizes he is in love with Lexi but she cannot handle that emotion and throws a wrench into their lives. It will take a huge coming out of one's comfort zone to bring these two back together, but in the end it will all be worth it.

I just adored this opposites attract, secret relationship love story. Blake was the perfect guy. Everything about him screams....keeper! Lexi had a hard time dealing with emotions and couldn't understand what her relationship with Blake really was. Together these two fit beautifully. I loved the way Blake helped Lexi during times when she really needed it. The fun epilogue at the end gives us a little peek into Ace and Julia's story and it looks like it's going to be a doozy!

Thank you netgalley for this arc. so i read the first book,and thought it was ok. so this one was the about the same, i did like how blake and lexi were just so perfect for each other. i felt like all the characters are well connected.

Whenever I see a Max Monroe book it's an automatic click for me. I have to read it and it's even better if I get to post a review about it!! I just love these ladies, they are wonderful authors!

As for the story it is the second in a series and the first book was terrific so I wanted to definitely read this new one. This book is about an unlikely pairing of a star college quarterback, Blake and a nerdy, Uber smart doctoral student (older than Blake by a few years) Lexi. Lexi has her eyes on finishing her dissertation and her research but Blake has eyes on her. An immediate attraction he pledges he'll marry her to his friend when he meets her for the first time. This story is all about Blake, a typical golden retriever boyfriend, desperately wanting to be on Lexi's radar and finally succeeding. However, with being smart comes some social aspects of love that Lexi is afraid of and it takes a bit for true feelings to win out.

Loved this story! I love a golden retriever BF that just so wants to be seen by the the FMC you are rooting for him the entire time. I was looking forward to this story since I read the last book and it didn't disappoint. Definitely recommend for those like a guy who falls first, sweet romance with a little spice!

Thanks to NetGalley and Max Monroe for allowing me review this ARC!

Overall this was a good book. I liked this book more than the first one in this series. I really wanted to love this book, but college romances just are not for me. Sometimes I feel like these college age characters are too mature and it doesn't feel realistic to me.

Blake is a perfect MMC book boyfriend! Considerate, romantic, sweet and soooo steamy. I loved Lexi too because of her brains but didn't quite grasp how funny she was until this.

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

This series has my heart. Max and Monroe are hilarious as always, but this series has these really emotional moments that had me in my feels and I loved them so much. In Playing Games we have Lexi who thinks she's incapable of love with her scientific mind and her inner thoughts had me wanting to hug her big... Thankfully Blake was relentless in all the best ways. I loved watching these two fall in love.

Since the release of book one, I went back and read the first gen stories and somehow fell in love with these parents even more. Lexi's relationship with her mom and Wes was so sweet. The bed scene with her and her mom was just perfect.

I love all the little hints and peeks at Julia and Ace's story. We knew it was coming from book one, but there's an aha moment in this story that has me even more giddy for it, especially after the epilogue.

I not ashamed in the least to admit that I read this book in one single day. Thankfully it was the weekend. It was SO good. That I may have to read it a second, and even third time. And I am not a third book reader. But Holy cow!!!!

I knew any book with Lexi Winslow was going to be good and Lexi falling in love with Blake was out of this world!!!!! The app she built. Stop it. My slightly stalkerish little heart just loved that. I was obsessed with how much Blake loved her! How patient he was with her. How accepting. He saw every bit of her, all of her quirks and loved them. I just adored that. We may not all be as smart as Lexi but finding someone who loves you and your quirks and thinks that they are a bonus to you is just every womans dream. I might have cried a few times in this book. Not gonna lie.

I cannot WAIT for Ace and Julia's book. Oh my word! Waiting for that is going to be torture. Absolute torture. Much like the torture that poor Ace is going through.

I love that we are getting the second Gen of our people in this books and I hope it just continues and continues and we just keep getting the kids and maybe even the grandkids of our favorite group of billionaires.

I liked this one but not as much as the first. I feel like the book focused a little too much on the sex and there also wasn't enough of the friend group. I do however love them together and wish we could see the moment where all of their friends found out about them.

I received an arc through netgalley.

📚 Playing games- Max Monroe:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was definitely a fun read, we got a bit of a friends with benefits/ secret relationship going on that was very fun to read about. These characters have a lot of depth to them and are so interesting both alone and together. The secondary characters were my favorite though, I’m SO excited for the next book, Ace is definitely the star of the series, I don’t make the rules🤷‍♀️
“Did you need something, Boden?” She asks.
“Only you.”
Tropes:
🏈Found family
🧬Sports Romance
🏈He falls first
🧬Neurodivergent heroine
🏈Opposites attract
🧬Reverse grumpy sunshine
🏈Secret relationship
🧬Lots of banter

*Thank you Net galley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This one did not have the same feel for me as the first book, and for that reason, I didn’t like it as much but the story was still gripping and I loved the characters so it’s a 3 star for me!

Max Monroe delivers a refreshingly unique take on the college romance trope in Playing Games. This story is not just a sizzling romance but also a heartfelt exploration of love, identity, and self-discovery, centered on a neurodivergent protagonist navigating complex emotions and relationships.

The protagonist’s neurodivergence adds a deeply meaningful layer to the story. Through her journey, readers gain insight into her thought processes, creating a genuine and empathetic portrayal of what it means to understand and express feelings differently. Pairing her with a charming, utterly devoted football star who’s already head over heels in love brings both tenderness and intensity to the narrative. His patience, understanding, and determination to help her see her worth and recognize his love elevate this romance to something truly special.

What sets Playing Games apart is its balance of spicy, steamy moments with heartfelt emotional depth. The chemistry between the characters is electric, but it’s the underlying emotional connection and personal growth that make the story stand out from more conventional smutty college romances. The pacing is smooth, and the story deftly combines humor, passion, and vulnerability, making it both entertaining and deeply touching.

Verdict:
A spicy, sweet, and emotionally resonant romance that redefines the college love story. Max Monroe’s blend of heat, heart, and neurodivergent representation makes Playing Games a standout in its genre. Perfect for readers who crave a meaningful love story with plenty of sizzle.

Publication Date - 7 February 2025

Publisher - Max Monroe LLC

Genre - College

Spice level - Medium - there are several sex scenes but overall they were not, in my opinion, over-worked.

Happy ending? - Yes, although as a college romance possibly a Happy For Now rather than a Happy Ever After.

Pacing - overall a quick and enjoyable read, but a bit draggy during scenes with characters who aren't driving the plot forward.



The plot:



This is the second book in the Dickson University series written by the profilic writing duo that is Max Monroe. I hadn't read the first novel, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of Playing Games.



Twenty five year old Lexi Winslow is in the final stages of completing her stellar PhD thesis at Dickson University.



Blake Boden, Dickson's star quarterback and four years Lexi's junior is captivated by the aloof genius. Girls flock to Blake but in his eyes Lexi shines above them all.



However, there's a problem, Lexi is neurodiverse and has always struggled with making sense of her emotions, seeing logic and analysis as her refuge.



Blake works hard to break through Lexi's tough outer shell and, in small steps, they enter a relationship.



However, as Blake realises that he is falling hard for Lexi, she is unable to see a future for them both. Despite the intense physical chemistry they enjoy, she cannot see a way to open her heart fully and engage with that troublesome emotion called love.



With Lexi unwilling to be open about their relationship in public, Blake increasingly feels bruised and helpless in the relationship. They start to drift apart, and Lexi must confront her huge internal challenge - whether, for the first time, to let her unpracticed heart rule her brilliant, analytical head.



The story:



For me, the story is really about whether Lexi can see past her neurodivergence to accept that she is both worthy of accepting love from another and capable of giving love in return.



I found that the thread that held the novel together throughout. This novel is really about Lexi, first and foremost, and so her ability to accept Blake's love by the end makes for a satisfying conclusion.



Overall



I think it is a strong novel and I really enjoyed it. The main character Lexi jumps off the page as an academically brilliant woman who is struggling to make sense of love and whether she is able to offer that to a man, even one who adores her and appears, by the metrics of an AI programme that she develops, perfect for her.



Blake is more two dimensional, but that is fine. A superb athlete and generally nice and likeable person, who completely adores Lexi and wants her to love him in return.



Because they are so different, this makes for great banter between them, with Lexi's dry humour and very specific communication style, coupled with Blake's gridiron grammar and tendency to bawdy and suggestive language to describe their sex life.



The authors have done a great job in writing two very different characters and bring them together into an intense, romantic relationship in which they each have a distinct and compelling voice.



Max Monroe carries 'the will she, won't she' tension right to the end of the book in terms of keeping you guessing about whether Lexi will ever feel comfortable enough to enter into a full-blown, in the public spotlight, girlfriend-boyfriend relationship with Blake.



In the final third, I was genuinely concerned that the book might not lead to a happy finale, and was therefore pleasantly surprised when it did. This made the denouement both satisfying and also hard to predict, right up to the final pages. I didn't see the ending coming and it offered a very sweet surprise.



I loved the book overall and would recommend it. There were just a couple of things for me that make it a four rather than a five star read.



I found there was too much extraneous action and a multitude of other characters who dip in and out throughout, without adding to the plot or the story. I recognize that some characters have appeared in previous novels and will appear in future novels, but there were simply too many people and too many passages of text that weren't value adding to the plot. This often dragged me out of the story and I found myself skipping during sections that I didn't think added much.



Related to this, while the zoomed in passages with Lexi and Blake are often touching and, I found their relationship development focused too heavily on their sexual relationship. I don't think the sex scenes were overdone in any way; overall they were carefully handled. I would have preferred more time zoomed in on them both and their moments of emotional connection, instead of the large number of scenes with other characters who weren't driving the plot forward.



Rating



Four stars

Playing Games is another great read by Max Monroe. The book can be read as a standalone but the story and characters will make a little more sense if you have ready some of the previous books by Max Monroe. Our two main characters in this story are Blake and Lexi. The characters could not be any more different but work very well togther. Blake is a football star and junior in college. Lexi is a few years older than Blake and is finishing up her masters. Lexi is extremely smart and is on the spectrum of autism. Lexi does not have much relationship experience and has hard timing dealing with her feelings for Blake. Lexi and Blake bring out the best of each other. It was nice to see some familar characters throughout the story. I look forward to reading the next novel.

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.