Top Reasons to Read Playing for Keeps by Bree Hayden
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
When Piper Fontaine is cheated on, humiliated, and run out of her previous school, she sees her transfer to Marrs University as a fresh start. A chance to have the true college experience, something she had never had previously. What Piper didn’t sign up for was to be placed across the hall from Adam Russell, the football player her ex had been friends with and who had been in the tagged photo of him cheating on her.
Things go from bad to worse for Piper. Not only does she have to live across the hall from Adam but she also is his resident assistant (RA). Adam is a prankster, taking nothing seriously except football. But when Adam plays one too many pranks, Piper begrudgingly becomes his babysitter, ensuring he stays out of trouble. Piper doesn’t have a clue how to handle the playboy. However, Adam’s coach soon finds a way to make Adam focus: he should trail Piper around campus.
Adam quickly realizes that following Piper around isn’t as bad as he thought, as it allows him to spend time with her. He begins to reconsider his views on relationships, finding himself making decisions with Piper in mind and falling hard for her. Meanwhile, Piper starts seeing a different side of Adam and realizes she might have misunderstood the bad boy when he shows her his thoughtful side.
Title: Playing for Keeps
Author: Bree Hayden
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Pages: 623
Star Rating: 4 stars
Spice Rating: 1 chili peppers
Is Playing for Keeps Worth the Read?
I often don’t read sports romance novels. Not because I don’t like them but I am not often drawn to them (face it you can’t read everything). But, this year I want to expand a little more of my reading palette, reading things that I wouldn’t necessarily read. So, when author Bree Hayden sent me a message on Instagram asking me to read and review her latest novel Playing for Keeps I said yes. Simply for the reason previously mentioned and because the story felt like a good time.
“what a good girl.”
Going into Playing for Keeps I was a little taken aback by the fact that it was over 600 pages. It isn’t often that a contemporary romance is that long. Did it need that many pages? No, I don’t think so. For the majority of the novel Piper and Adam are playing keep away with each other. Building great tension, getting together, and then removing themselves from each other. Oftentimes it feels like Piper is trying so hard to be Adam’s enemy. Causing both her and the reader to be frustrated. Trying to convince herself that she hates him. They clearly have a good time with each other (sexually and as friends) but it felt drawn out for the sake of having a slow burn.
Despite these moments of frustration, I had a really good time with Playing for Keeps. The pacing was great for a story that is over 600 pages. Keeping you engaged throughout reading. Honestly, it was so good that I didn’t want to put it down. Forcing myself to get a good night’s rest and then picking it up first thing in the morning. I easily devoured it in 24 hours.
“Who do you belong to?”
You can imagine with its size that the author put everything into this book that she wanted to say. With a great storyline, subplots, and strong main and side characters. I appreciated that Bree made the college-aged characters exactly what they were supposed to be FLAWED. Making mistakes and finding their way through college. They were messy, wrong, and acted their age!
I must mention that there is a third-act breakup. And, while I understood why Adam broke up with Piper (thinking he should protect her), it could have been solved by just talking to her. Taking his development a little further, and giving Piper another reason to fall in love with him.
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” he whispered against my lips kissing me again and again.
There is no epilogue in Playing for Keeps, and I have to say that I wanted more. On the one hand, the author allows you to draw your own conclusion about what’s next for Adam and Piper which I loved. But on the other side, I was having such a good time with the plot I didn’t want it to end(the hallmark of a good read). I wanted to see them ten years later married with kids and being delirously happy.
Overall, Playing for Keeps is a captivating college sports romance that perfectly blends the thrill of football with the complexities of young love, making it a must-read for fans of sports romance books. Playing for Keeps releases on July 30th, and you should definitely dive into this fresh release and experience the ups and downs of Piper and Adam’s journey, a story that will surely be a favorite read.
Thank you to Bree Hayden for providing me with an ARC to review. And don’t forget to check out Playing for Keeps on Goodreads.
Check Out These Posts:
Blood and Steel: The Best Underrated Fantasy You Can’t-Miss
A Rivalry of Hearts: A Tale of Love, Conflict, and Redemption
‘Undone’ by Melissa Cassera – The Epic Culmination of the Lockwood Trilogy