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amandakoz's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little unsure at first how I felt about nell, she was a little hard to relate too. As time went on I really liked their dynamic and the concept of her list. probably became my favorite rusk book by the end.
lenoreo's review against another edition
5.0
http://celebrityreaders.com/2018/07/16/all-played-out-by-cora-carmack/
4.5 stars — This was definitely my favourite of the Rusk University series!!
Mateo was just as adorable as I was expecting…and he was covering such a big hurt, my heart felt for him. Wish the fact he was hispanic had played into it somehow…never really knew much about him outside of Lina…except that one glimpse into wanting to have something of his own. I loved that. He was bright, effervescent, he just knew how to put others at ease. And he could be hilarious. I was worried about the medical stuff, but so glad he figured it out.
Nell was not at all what I was expecting, though I’m not sure *what* I was expecting, you know? I loved that she was so different from both Dallas and Dylan. I loved that we got to see someone not as comfortable in social situations, a definite introvert…and someone with damage from being on the outside in high school. I could vibe with parts of her, she was just a more extreme example. Occasionally it felt like she almost changed as the book went on, and it was a shame to lose those parts of her. But really she was just growing. I loved how straightforward she could be, even if it came with the negative side effect of occasionally being too honest and hurting people.
The standout in this book was definitely the chemistry between Mateo and Nell. It was PALPABLE. Like, the whole skinny dipping section was tingle city. FUCK, just thinking about it, hoowee!!! Seriously, I loved them together. I loved how Mateo was able to bring Nell out of her shell, and he just wouldn’t let up on the flirting! And I love a man who can appreciate a smart woman. I also loved that Nell really tried to understand Mateo, what made him tick, what was important to him. Their steamy chemistry was obviously off the charts, but I also loved the friendship chemistry they developed.
I also appreciated the sis-mance that developed between Stella and Nell. Makes me want Stella’s story even more, which is a bummer since it seems to be on a long term hold. Ah well.
4.5 stars — This was definitely my favourite of the Rusk University series!!
Mateo was just as adorable as I was expecting…and he was covering such a big hurt, my heart felt for him. Wish the fact he was hispanic had played into it somehow…never really knew much about him outside of Lina…except that one glimpse into wanting to have something of his own. I loved that. He was bright, effervescent, he just knew how to put others at ease. And he could be hilarious. I was worried about the medical stuff, but so glad he figured it out.
Nell was not at all what I was expecting, though I’m not sure *what* I was expecting, you know? I loved that she was so different from both Dallas and Dylan. I loved that we got to see someone not as comfortable in social situations, a definite introvert…and someone with damage from being on the outside in high school. I could vibe with parts of her, she was just a more extreme example. Occasionally it felt like she almost changed as the book went on, and it was a shame to lose those parts of her. But really she was just growing. I loved how straightforward she could be, even if it came with the negative side effect of occasionally being too honest and hurting people.
The standout in this book was definitely the chemistry between Mateo and Nell. It was PALPABLE. Like, the whole skinny dipping section was tingle city. FUCK, just thinking about it, hoowee!!! Seriously, I loved them together. I loved how Mateo was able to bring Nell out of her shell, and he just wouldn’t let up on the flirting! And I love a man who can appreciate a smart woman. I also loved that Nell really tried to understand Mateo, what made him tick, what was important to him. Their steamy chemistry was obviously off the charts, but I also loved the friendship chemistry they developed.
I also appreciated the sis-mance that developed between Stella and Nell. Makes me want Stella’s story even more, which is a bummer since it seems to be on a long term hold. Ah well.
brookishbrunette's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED IT! Can't want for the next Rusk University novel!! :))
andiabcs's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
I can’t lie. All Played Out was in a tough spot from the start. It was a given that I would read it and enjoy it, but there was no way it would live up to my love for Silas’ story in All Lined Up. And truthfully, it didn’t. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. Actually I liked it more than I had anticipated.
All Played Out continues the story of the boys on the Rusk University football team focusing on wide receiver Mateo Torres. Torres is anything but serious. He’s a party guy that can never be tied down. The only thing he takes seriously is football and he’s happy that way. That is until Antonella DeLuca is brought into the fold. Nell is anything but a party girl. She has had one goal from the get go and that is to finish college (early even) and move on to the real world. But Nell has missed out on one thing, the true college experience. When she makes a list of things to do before she graduates and Torres offers his services, Nell may be in for more than she bargained for. And Torres may find out it could be time to get serious about something else…love.
True that Silas is still my favorite I found Torres very endearing in All Played Out. He was totally goofy and light hearted, but he also had a really emotional side to him that he kept hidden. I liked learning that layer of him. And I really liked him dynamic with Nell. They were definitely a ying and yang, but they somehow balance each other out. They also has great banter which made them going through Nell’s list a really fun experience. But what I really likes was how Nell brought out the serious side of Torres and how Torres made Nell relax and actually enjoy college and not be so perfect.
Although All Played Out could never live up to my love of All Lined Up, it found a new place in my heart. Torres and Nell told a story of their own and it was a story I liked. It wasn’t my favorite in the series but one I was happy to read. Now can I finally have Stella’s story??!!
I can’t lie. All Played Out was in a tough spot from the start. It was a given that I would read it and enjoy it, but there was no way it would live up to my love for Silas’ story in All Lined Up. And truthfully, it didn’t. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. Actually I liked it more than I had anticipated.
All Played Out continues the story of the boys on the Rusk University football team focusing on wide receiver Mateo Torres. Torres is anything but serious. He’s a party guy that can never be tied down. The only thing he takes seriously is football and he’s happy that way. That is until Antonella DeLuca is brought into the fold. Nell is anything but a party girl. She has had one goal from the get go and that is to finish college (early even) and move on to the real world. But Nell has missed out on one thing, the true college experience. When she makes a list of things to do before she graduates and Torres offers his services, Nell may be in for more than she bargained for. And Torres may find out it could be time to get serious about something else…love.
True that Silas is still my favorite I found Torres very endearing in All Played Out. He was totally goofy and light hearted, but he also had a really emotional side to him that he kept hidden. I liked learning that layer of him. And I really liked him dynamic with Nell. They were definitely a ying and yang, but they somehow balance each other out. They also has great banter which made them going through Nell’s list a really fun experience. But what I really likes was how Nell brought out the serious side of Torres and how Torres made Nell relax and actually enjoy college and not be so perfect.
Although All Played Out could never live up to my love of All Lined Up, it found a new place in my heart. Torres and Nell told a story of their own and it was a story I liked. It wasn’t my favorite in the series but one I was happy to read. Now can I finally have Stella’s story??!!
justenjoy's review against another edition
3.0
“Making a stupid decision doesn’t make you stupid. Just as making a smart decision doesn’t necessarily make someone smart.”
katrinamarie's review against another edition
4.0
lizs_book_nook's review against another edition
5.0
If I could give this book an infinite number of stars I would. This book is hands down, no joke, no exaggeration, one of my all time favorite reads ever! There are so many things I loved about this book. Firstly, I like the idea that I could/can connect with Nell on a number of levels, and to be able to relate to a character in some way is a nice surprise. Second, I LOVE MATEO!!!! He's quirky, flirting, sexy, loyal and extremely loveable (with many more ways to describe him). I love the connection Nell and Mateo have from the beginning. It's like they are drawn together by some unexplainable force and they can't stay away. I love the fact that even though Nell is beyond uncomfortable she steps outside of her comfort zone and makes a list of things she wants to accomplish. Things she wants to do to fully get her college experience they way she wants, even if they weren't things she realized she wanted to do in the first place. I also loved how slowly you see how Torres coaxes Nell out of her shell, but also how Nell changes Mateo too. How she gets him to let go of his past and believe in himself, but also be the one to believe in him as well. Overall I f**king loved this story from beginning to end. All I could think was I never wanted this book to end and I got slower and slower toward the end of the book because I didn't want to finish it and their story be over. One hing is for sure though...Cora Carmack knocks it out of the park AGAIN! This woman is a pure genius! Love this book and all of her others. She will always be my go to author!
sarcrawsh's review against another edition
3.0
Another cute story over the series. The beginning was a bit rocky for me; I had a hard time believing the connection between the characters. But it got better as the story continued.
melbsreads's review against another edition
3.0
I have a complicated relationship with new adult books. Periodically, my brain informs me that WE DESPERATELY NEED TO READ A NEW ADULT BOOK, PLEASE AND THANK YOU. And yet whenever I read new adult books, I inevitably find myself eternally frustrated over the way that the romantic relationships are written or the fact that there ALWAYS seems to be a secondary female character who gets raped by some douchenozzle and it's used as a way of furthering the storyline for a male character??
But I digress.
This one has been sitting on my Kindle for months now, just waiting for my brain to tell me that it was new adult time, thank you very much. And as far as the plot goes, I quite enjoyed this one. The gist of it is that Nell is about to graduate from college two years early thanks to overloading when she realises that she's never had, like, ANY of the traditional college experiences. And she decides to spend her last couple of months rectifying that. And when football player Mateo finds out about the to-do list she's made, he's determined to help out.
I liked Nell as a character. She's very shy, prone to blushing, incredibly studious, and constantly worried that she's making the right choices. Nell, girl, I can relate. Mateo was...generally sweet with Nell? And I loved that this book featured a Latino love interest.
However.
I could have done without being inside his head. There's a limit to how many times you can read "OMG HER TITS ARE AMAZING *heart eyes emoji*" without wanting to smack your head into a wall. Also, I don't think he went to class once. At all. Ever. Like, he went to a bunch of parties. And to football training. And played a handful of games. But class? Nah.
There were also occasionally some slightly cringey moments in the writing. The one that stands out the most was something about how Mateo had Nell's hands pinned while he "continued the assault on my neck". And yeeeeeah, maybe don't use the words "pinned" and "assault" that close together and expect your reader to find it hot? Because it wasn't. It was just...uncomfortable.
So yeah. It was fine. It was occasionally cute. It had a Latino love interest, so bonus points for that. I'll be veeeeeeeery interested to read Stella and Ryan's story when it eventually happens. But that's about it. (Also, the dudes in new adult books need to stop literally tearing their love interest's underwear off them. That shit is expensive, you ass.)
But I digress.
This one has been sitting on my Kindle for months now, just waiting for my brain to tell me that it was new adult time, thank you very much. And as far as the plot goes, I quite enjoyed this one. The gist of it is that Nell is about to graduate from college two years early thanks to overloading when she realises that she's never had, like, ANY of the traditional college experiences. And she decides to spend her last couple of months rectifying that. And when football player Mateo finds out about the to-do list she's made, he's determined to help out.
I liked Nell as a character. She's very shy, prone to blushing, incredibly studious, and constantly worried that she's making the right choices. Nell, girl, I can relate. Mateo was...generally sweet with Nell? And I loved that this book featured a Latino love interest.
However.
I could have done without being inside his head. There's a limit to how many times you can read "OMG HER TITS ARE AMAZING *heart eyes emoji*" without wanting to smack your head into a wall. Also, I don't think he went to class once. At all. Ever. Like, he went to a bunch of parties. And to football training. And played a handful of games. But class? Nah.
There were also occasionally some slightly cringey moments in the writing. The one that stands out the most was something about how Mateo had Nell's hands pinned while he "continued the assault on my neck". And yeeeeeah, maybe don't use the words "pinned" and "assault" that close together and expect your reader to find it hot? Because it wasn't. It was just...uncomfortable.
So yeah. It was fine. It was occasionally cute. It had a Latino love interest, so bonus points for that. I'll be veeeeeeeery interested to read Stella and Ryan's story when it eventually happens. But that's about it. (Also, the dudes in new adult books need to stop literally tearing their love interest's underwear off them. That shit is expensive, you ass.)