franniereviews's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ileany's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ssamanthaat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whiptostic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The couple was really cute but I felt like they really built up the forbidden aspect and the climax felt like a bit of a let down. I did like seeing peeks into the previous couples.
admya's review against another edition
5.0
✔️ Forbidden Romance
✔️ College
✔️ Sports Romance
️✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ No 3rd Act Breakup
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✔️ College
✔️ Sports Romance
️✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ No 3rd Act Breakup
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
5.0
Ahh ace and ruby gave me all the feels this is a fantastic story, I devoured this book. These charaters are everything we needed in this series. Highly recommended
kfriend's review against another edition
4.0
Monica Murphy's young adult sports romances always hit the spot. The coming of age pressures, the first love butterflies, the flirtation of falling, and all of the college fun we know and love in our college series. Add in that Monica Murphy sizzle, here with a forbidden flavor, and Playing to Win was a bingable treat...and a bittersweet but fitting finale to the delightfully nostalgic The Players world.
The dazzling quarterback finally coming into his own, who's also the quintessential "big man on campus" falls hard for the alluring Ruby. But Ace leaving behind his playboy reputation is the least of their worries, as Ruby does social media for the team, a job that has a strict no canoodling with the athletes. Too bad feelings and a burgeoning deeper connection is already explosively blossoming between them- not to mention, a hard to deny attraction they just can't help but act on.
Being the third this series, we've had glimpses into some of these characters, including the cocksure Ace, who quite honestly I wasn't sure I could get behind as a leading man. One thing I always appreciate about Monica's young/new adult stories is how unapologetically flawed she allows her characters to be, especially her guys. And no, not in the utterly excusable, intentionally paltable way but more so in an authentic way. These stories involve kids growing up- and I love that at times she allows her characters to be immature, reckless, arrogant even. And Ace was all of those things at one point. He does a lot of growing in this book- and again, this is one of the trademarks of a Murphy story, her most confident, flirty, and naughty heroes turn into the most grounded book boyfriends. We just have to be a little patient with them- and Ace definitely needs a little as her grows into a worthy leading man.
Ruby also goes through her own arc as our leading lady. Like Ace, she too is living up her college experience. It allows them both to enter into their relationship with little baggage. I really enjoyed Ruby- she's flirty, she's self-assured, and she also balances fun and ambition. But once she starts to really connect with Ace, it makes things complicated for her especially, since her job is the one at risk.
The forbidden aspect of this story makes for a more emotionally intimate narrative in focus- with these two spending a lot of time in secret that means we get a lot of one-on-one moments, which allows for them to fall pretty quickly and transparently with one another, even if their interest in one another seems like it can go no where. While their "we can't be together" vibe could make things pretty angsty, this story is actually pretty low drama overall. And AMEN for lots of delicious spice! These two are flirty and entertaining- with plenty of banter and steam to keep the pages turning in this feel good, sexy romance. Hang on to your panties AND your hearts- these tear up the pages with their chemistry.
I'll admit I'm sad to say goodbye to this world- one that at times it only feels like we've dipped our toes into. Reading a Monica young adult sports romance always brings me that comforting familiarity, both because it takes me back to the stories that made me fall in love with Monica and takes me back to my own college shenanigans. But I'm glad our final set of players gets their HEA is such a charming and enjoyable way. And I can't wait to see what Monica cooks up next!
The dazzling quarterback finally coming into his own, who's also the quintessential "big man on campus" falls hard for the alluring Ruby. But Ace leaving behind his playboy reputation is the least of their worries, as Ruby does social media for the team, a job that has a strict no canoodling with the athletes. Too bad feelings and a burgeoning deeper connection is already explosively blossoming between them- not to mention, a hard to deny attraction they just can't help but act on.
Being the third this series, we've had glimpses into some of these characters, including the cocksure Ace, who quite honestly I wasn't sure I could get behind as a leading man. One thing I always appreciate about Monica's young/new adult stories is how unapologetically flawed she allows her characters to be, especially her guys. And no, not in the utterly excusable, intentionally paltable way but more so in an authentic way. These stories involve kids growing up- and I love that at times she allows her characters to be immature, reckless, arrogant even. And Ace was all of those things at one point. He does a lot of growing in this book- and again, this is one of the trademarks of a Murphy story, her most confident, flirty, and naughty heroes turn into the most grounded book boyfriends. We just have to be a little patient with them- and Ace definitely needs a little as her grows into a worthy leading man.
Ruby also goes through her own arc as our leading lady. Like Ace, she too is living up her college experience. It allows them both to enter into their relationship with little baggage. I really enjoyed Ruby- she's flirty, she's self-assured, and she also balances fun and ambition. But once she starts to really connect with Ace, it makes things complicated for her especially, since her job is the one at risk.
The forbidden aspect of this story makes for a more emotionally intimate narrative in focus- with these two spending a lot of time in secret that means we get a lot of one-on-one moments, which allows for them to fall pretty quickly and transparently with one another, even if their interest in one another seems like it can go no where. While their "we can't be together" vibe could make things pretty angsty, this story is actually pretty low drama overall. And AMEN for lots of delicious spice! These two are flirty and entertaining- with plenty of banter and steam to keep the pages turning in this feel good, sexy romance. Hang on to your panties AND your hearts- these tear up the pages with their chemistry.
I'll admit I'm sad to say goodbye to this world- one that at times it only feels like we've dipped our toes into. Reading a Monica young adult sports romance always brings me that comforting familiarity, both because it takes me back to the stories that made me fall in love with Monica and takes me back to my own college shenanigans. But I'm glad our final set of players gets their HEA is such a charming and enjoyable way. And I can't wait to see what Monica cooks up next!
averyjcmie's review against another edition
3.75
Ok so their chemistry and connection is way better than cam and blair, second to knox and joanna imo in everything. However, like the last one it felt like they were objectifying each other the whole time and it was weird. And when they got caught it wasn't a big deal and we didn't even get knox's reaction it all felt anti-climatic. And we got one owen and ace interaction I would've wanted more. But kinda like knox and joanna where they just brushed over them being together. But I also think it's a me problem where I hate the friends with benefits trope so it just became unenjoyable. I love the angst that comes with it but for a while it will just become stagnant. It has to be done right and most often than not it's done badly. What I didn't like about all three books was that it was all basically the same thing, there was a forbidden element to it, had sex for a while in secret and then people found out and it was brushed over. IdK usually with series books I like the couples and characters are vastly different and I felt sometimes it was too similar. I don't think I would've felt this way if I had just read blair and cam's story bc from the sounds of it they were different.