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tchien's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
Some of the reviews mention how slow this story feels to them. I get it, and in a few sections, I even agree. But I also feel this is one of the more realistic friends-to-lovers stories. This trope is quite difficult to pull off but Bay does it in a way that makes both characters' behavior completely believable. Not to mention the sex scenes were pretty hot. It was a great balance of sexy and sweet.
kara_hildebrand's review against another edition
5.0
Audio Review
International Player is my first book by Louise Bay and she has a new fan! I'm already a fan of Shane and Saskia and I thought they did a fabulous job with this story and these characters. Noah and Truly met years ago but they are just friends. They haven't seen each other in years, but Noah is back in London. Truly needs his help with her business but being around him again is going to be difficult. She had a major crush on Noah and she knows her feelings are going to come flooding back. Noah always thought Truly was gorgeous. She's real, fun, smart, sweet and shy. He wants her and for more than just fun in the bedroom. But he has to convince her he's all in before he loses her forever. I loved this story! I loved Noah and pretty much everything that came out of his mouth. Truly was frustrating at times, not realizing her worth and her beauty, but everyone is like that sometimes! Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and will definitely be reading/listening to more from Louise!
International Player is my first book by Louise Bay and she has a new fan! I'm already a fan of Shane and Saskia and I thought they did a fabulous job with this story and these characters. Noah and Truly met years ago but they are just friends. They haven't seen each other in years, but Noah is back in London. Truly needs his help with her business but being around him again is going to be difficult. She had a major crush on Noah and she knows her feelings are going to come flooding back. Noah always thought Truly was gorgeous. She's real, fun, smart, sweet and shy. He wants her and for more than just fun in the bedroom. But he has to convince her he's all in before he loses her forever. I loved this story! I loved Noah and pretty much everything that came out of his mouth. Truly was frustrating at times, not realizing her worth and her beauty, but everyone is like that sometimes! Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and will definitely be reading/listening to more from Louise!
kara_hildebrand's review against another edition
5.0
Audio review
International Player is my first book by Louise Bay and she has a new fan! I'm already a fan of Shane and Saskia and I thought they did a fabulous job with this story and these characters. Noah and Truly met years ago but they are just friends. They haven't seen each other in years, but Noah is back in London. Truly needs his help with her business but being around him again is going to be difficult. She had a major crush on Noah and she knows her feelings are going to come flooding back. Noah always thought Truly was gorgeous. She's real, fun, smart, sweet and shy. He wants her and for more than just fun in the bedroom. But he has to convince her he's all in before he loses her forever. I loved this story! I loved Noah and pretty much everything that came out of his mouth. Truly was frustrating at times, not realizing her worth and her beauty, but everyone is like that sometimes! Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and will definitely be reading/listening to more from Louise!
International Player is my first book by Louise Bay and she has a new fan! I'm already a fan of Shane and Saskia and I thought they did a fabulous job with this story and these characters. Noah and Truly met years ago but they are just friends. They haven't seen each other in years, but Noah is back in London. Truly needs his help with her business but being around him again is going to be difficult. She had a major crush on Noah and she knows her feelings are going to come flooding back. Noah always thought Truly was gorgeous. She's real, fun, smart, sweet and shy. He wants her and for more than just fun in the bedroom. But he has to convince her he's all in before he loses her forever. I loved this story! I loved Noah and pretty much everything that came out of his mouth. Truly was frustrating at times, not realizing her worth and her beauty, but everyone is like that sometimes! Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and will definitely be reading/listening to more from Louise!
jlwright04's review against another edition
3.0
This story was written to be slow burn mixed with not slow burn. It was a bit hard for me to grasp the ups and downs until about the last two hours.
The last two hours were great though.
The narrators are Shane East and Saskia Maarevelad —I very much enjoy anything these two are in. They are each great voice actors and very pleasant to listen to!
The last two hours were great though.
The narrators are Shane East and Saskia Maarevelad —I very much enjoy anything these two are in. They are each great voice actors and very pleasant to listen to!
whatcha_listening_to's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm Truly wasn’t my favorite female character at all, she needed a man to show her, her worth. I just don’t buy that. She and her sister both have their strengths sure but I don’t know I just didn’t get it.
I understand her need to keep what she and Noah have in this box but it was almost too boxy. That probably doesn’t make sense but I don’t know I guess I wanted something more. The chemistry was there but the friendship for me wasn’t and with the way, this book was presented I missed that I guess. I mean he helps her sure but maybe we are missing parts of the story because it felt rushed and not complete.
I enjoyed the narration. It didn’t scream out to me.
I understand her need to keep what she and Noah have in this box but it was almost too boxy. That probably doesn’t make sense but I don’t know I guess I wanted something more. The chemistry was there but the friendship for me wasn’t and with the way, this book was presented I missed that I guess. I mean he helps her sure but maybe we are missing parts of the story because it felt rushed and not complete.
I enjoyed the narration. It didn’t scream out to me.
catxbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed some things in this story but it took me a while to connect with the characters and their relationship. The story is not that long but I got bored with some scenes and I definitely expected more of this book because I’ve always loved the author’s previous stories and characters.
Truly and Noah were friends before he went to NY and they had a crush on each other but they never acted on it. Now 4 years later they see each other again and Noah starts helping Truly so they spend more time together and while they still are attracted to each other, Truly knew Noah wasn’t into long time relationships so she proposed just casual sex between them. Her proposal felt kind of rushed to me in the beginning and despite them being friends it took me a while to see them as more than friends.
Noah was a good hero but I wanted to know more of him and his background story, we only knew about an accident he had and a few things about his job in NY. With Truly we also know a few things so that’s why probably it took me a while to connect with them and their story.
In general the book had some good scenes, Truly and her sister had a good relationship and they did some great things for people. Noah wasn’t very interested on being in a relationship but Truly changed that for him and at the end they both got a happy ending.
Truly and Noah were friends before he went to NY and they had a crush on each other but they never acted on it. Now 4 years later they see each other again and Noah starts helping Truly so they spend more time together and while they still are attracted to each other, Truly knew Noah wasn’t into long time relationships so she proposed just casual sex between them. Her proposal felt kind of rushed to me in the beginning and despite them being friends it took me a while to see them as more than friends.
Noah was a good hero but I wanted to know more of him and his background story, we only knew about an accident he had and a few things about his job in NY. With Truly we also know a few things so that’s why probably it took me a while to connect with them and their story.
In general the book had some good scenes, Truly and her sister had a good relationship and they did some great things for people. Noah wasn’t very interested on being in a relationship but Truly changed that for him and at the end they both got a happy ending.
sami_leigh's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
And now I saw it; loving Truly wasn’t a goal or challenge, she was a way of life. She was, and would be, at the heart of everything.
🟢 Friends (to FWB) to lovers
🟢 Brother-in-law’s best friend
🟢 Long-time crush
🟢 Forced proximity; he fills in for her sister at work
🟢 Introvert / Player
🟢 Head of a charity / Millionaire entrepreneur
🟢 MC growth; commitment, self worth, risk of relationship
🟢 Epilogue
This book is available on Audible Plus & Kindle.
⚠️ Dementia (parent), pregnancy/pre-eclampsia (not MC), car accident (off page, in past), medical trauma (in past), physical therapy/rehabilitation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Dementia, and Car accident
00laura23's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and its characters. Their growth during this story is awesome – that’s my jam. Truly doesn’t have enough confidence in herself or abilities and compares herself unfavourably to her twin sister. The is blind to her strengths and attributes. Noah, lives for the moment due to an accident that he was in as a child. He is a swoon worthy hero – strong, loving, kind, confident, smart, tall.
Their chemistry singes the pages right from the start. They have the best start to a romantic friendship, they start as friends, even though they have both been attracted to each other since they first met. I enjoyed the progression of their romantic relationship. I really love stories where the hero completely “gets”/understands the heroine, who she really is and shows it to her – that he loves all of her, warts and all.
I listened to this book on audible, and given that it’s set in London England, I’m glad I did, because listening to a man speak with a British accent, well it’s not to be missed. I did struggle at times to make out which male characters was speaking, but overall, I like both narrators and found them easy to follow, regardless how fast the speak.
This is a really good friends to loves with high steam.
Their chemistry singes the pages right from the start. They have the best start to a romantic friendship, they start as friends, even though they have both been attracted to each other since they first met. I enjoyed the progression of their romantic relationship. I really love stories where the hero completely “gets”/understands the heroine, who she really is and shows it to her – that he loves all of her, warts and all.
I listened to this book on audible, and given that it’s set in London England, I’m glad I did, because listening to a man speak with a British accent, well it’s not to be missed. I did struggle at times to make out which male characters was speaking, but overall, I like both narrators and found them easy to follow, regardless how fast the speak.
This is a really good friends to loves with high steam.
fiftyshadesofgreymatter's review against another edition
5.0
International Player is not a second chance romance, it’s an alternative attempt love affair! International Player by Louise Bay brings her readers to the world of the London charity scene to explore the re-connection love story of Noah and Truly (I adore that name). Five years after Noah left London to make his millions in New York City, he is back to discovery his next business calling. Little does he know, his search leads him straight to his former best friend’s charity organization. Truly has been carrying a torch for Noah all these years, but her reservations about herself and her belief that she is all wrong for Noah holds her back. Noah helps reignite Truly’s passion for the cause, but will they share a passion for each other? My recommendation, one click International Player to find out if Noah is Truly’s player or man of her prayers!
bookedandbusybookblog's review against another edition
4.0
International Player is a enjoyable friends to lovers romance! Noah and Truly relationship had everything from the perfect conversations, the right amount of chemistry and sexiness. When Truly and Noah started to have feelings for one another, those emotions just jumped right off the pages at you. This slow burn romance story was the perfect light and sexy read!