Book Review: Playing Games by Max Monroe

Happy release day to Playing Games! I loved how sweet Blake was with Lexi and the growth Lexi experienced in the story. There was an awesome build leading to a wonderful HEA. Find out more below!

Playing Games (Dixon University #2) by Max Monroe

Dickson University’s star quarterback and campus golden boy is used to winning on and off the field…until he meets the one woman who changes the game.

Blake Boden is the ultimate distraction—annoyingly handsome, enigmatic, and confident enough to make my teeth grind.

He’s the kind of guy who could charm anyone with a single smile, and somehow, I’ve become his latest challenge.

Only, I don’t do challenges—and I don’t do love. Emotions? Just chemical reactions. Distractions? Not on my agenda.

But he has a stubborn streak that won’t leave me alone, and I have a dissertation due at the end of the semester on computer-assisted research that I could put to the test a little more.

I’ll analyze his charm, track my reactions, and prove once and for all that attraction is nothing but science…and love is a mere figment of the imagination.

Hypothesis: Time with Blake Boden is purely scientific.
Conclusion: He’s not just breaking my rules—he’s rewriting them.

Other Book Info:
🏈 New adult standalone romance
🤓 He’s the star quarterback. She’s the cute genius (and neurodivergent).
💘 Opposites attract with intense first-love vibes
💕 He falls first
🤫 Secret relationship
😂 Witty banter & laugh-out-loud moments
🔥 Off-the-charts chemistry
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine (Reversed)
🛡️ Protective Hero

4 out of 5 stars

Playing Games was such an entertaining story filled with so much heart and humor, and just the right amount of emotion. I loved Lexi and Blake coming together and finding their way. There were ups and downs, some mild drama, and a whole lot of fun. This was such a great read!

I loved really getting to know Lexi. She's smart and determined but had issues with connecting with others and dealing with social situations because she's on the spectrum and things process differently for her. I loved her wanting to push herself out of her comfort zone and experience life more. Blake had an inta-crush on Lexi when he first met her and it was so flipping cute, even though she constantly shot him down. He was such a sweetheart, patient, and kind, and so into Lexi, it made me melt. I liked Blake’s pursuit of her and the build of their relationship. It takes Lexi a while to understand what she's feeling but when it happened, it was awesome. I loved her growth and how she worked through new situations. There were a lot of amusing scenes and bits of humor mixed in and a nice amount of heat and drama.

I really liked all the different characters. Ace and his over-the-top self cracked me up and I loved the moment he figured out his feelings for his best friend Julia. I was thrilled about the updates for Finn and Scottie, those made my heart happy. There were a lot of other character mentions about people from other books and it was fun, though at times overwhelming because there were a lot. They're definitely a rowdy group that brings the entertainment that’s for sure.

I really enjoyed this story and thought the building details were great. For the most part, there was a decent pace though occasionally it felt slow at times but just when I needed it to pick back up, it did. I loved the growth, love, and acceptance Blake and Lexi experienced and was happy they got their HEA. I can't wait for what will happen between Ace and Julia in the next book.

Complimentary copy received.