You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
I was really lucky to receive an ARC for Broken Play and was hooked from the get go!
this book was really well paced, and I thought the development of Jaxon and Madison's story felt real. It was nice to see a MMC who wasn't the usual reformed playboy im used to reading in sports romances. He is in it from the get go, and there was no time where it felt forced. It was also nice to see a MMC walk away because they deserved better than what the FMC was giving them, and for the growth of the FMC to seem realistic. there was no quick fix and they grew together.
for a debut novel, Riley Paige sure knows what she is doing and I can't wait for Carter and Lyla's story!!
this book was really well paced, and I thought the development of Jaxon and Madison's story felt real. It was nice to see a MMC who wasn't the usual reformed playboy im used to reading in sports romances. He is in it from the get go, and there was no time where it felt forced. It was also nice to see a MMC walk away because they deserved better than what the FMC was giving them, and for the growth of the FMC to seem realistic. there was no quick fix and they grew together.
for a debut novel, Riley Paige sure knows what she is doing and I can't wait for Carter and Lyla's story!!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The dropped 0.5-star is largely due to the miscommunication trope not being my personal preference. However, it made perfect sense in the setting and with these characters.
Madison, our FMC has had a complicated and traumatic past that leaves her jaded and insecure. This leads to her making some questionable decisions while 18-22 years old. She is well written and her character development is amazing towards the end of the book. Her internal struggles and process to heal are depicted pretty accurately, although not in-depth.
Jaxon, our MMC, is all in on his best friend from the very beginning, and uproots his life senior year of college to get back to her. His story arc isn't as definitive as Madison's, but he does some growing and learning as well.
The ultimate conflict is nicely resolved and ends in a satisfying HEA.
I'm excited to see where the rest of the PCU cast is taken in future stories!
Received book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Chasing Books PR in exchange for an honest review.
Madison, our FMC has had a complicated and traumatic past that leaves her jaded and insecure. This leads to her making some questionable decisions while 18-22 years old. She is well written and her character development is amazing towards the end of the book. Her internal struggles and process to heal are depicted pretty accurately, although not in-depth.
Jaxon, our MMC, is all in on his best friend from the very beginning, and uproots his life senior year of college to get back to her. His story arc isn't as definitive as Madison's, but he does some growing and learning as well.
The ultimate conflict is nicely resolved and ends in a satisfying HEA.
I'm excited to see where the rest of the PCU cast is taken in future stories!
Received book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Chasing Books PR in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Chasing Books PR for the ARC of Broken Play. I'm a sucker of a friend's to lover trope. Jax and Mads were friends forever and they have been dancing with their feelings over the years. They haven't seen each other for 3 years and one voice mail made Jax move colleges to see his girl. Mads has never let anyone in except her best friend Lyla. Mads been through a lot and lost everyone she loves and she didn't want Jax to be one of them. In Jax's eyes he doesn't see Mads a broken but the girl he has feelings since he was 6 years old. The hard moments in this book really tugged my heart and made me cry. But this book does have HEA and the pain I felt in this book between these two are worth it! I feel in love with Jaxon Montgomery right away! The way this man loves Mads! I'm adding this book to my top friends to lovers book list! I'm really excited for the next book in the series!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow. Wow wow wow. What a way to kickstart a career. Riley Paige knows football and as the daughter of a coach, and former manager of my high school team that means a lot to me. I was cheering for Jaxon and the boys both on and off the field, and the raw, real, and relatable description of Mads mental struggle was both comforting and inspiring. I am in fact so upset I will have to wait for so long to read Carter’s story. If you love football, love real characters, and have ever felt like you were too broken to be loved, this book is the one for you.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved this debut novel by Riley! It was sweet, emotional, funny, romantic, and spicy! Jaxon and Madison have always been meant for each other. It took Madison a bit longer to accept that she deserved Jaxon and his love. There were many great characters in this story, and I can’t wait for more from this world. Loved it!!!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
✨️ Received as an ARC ✨️
Jaxon Montgomery is for sure in the running for best book boyfriend 😍 Most of my favorite tropes and micro-tropes? Yes please
- Childhood best friends ✔️
- He falls first and HARD ✔️
- Supportive MMC ✔️
- Mental health rep ✔️
Plus many more details!
Madison did Jaxon dirty a few times, but needed to figure out her stuff first which I understand and support. Jaxon made me swoon and I just adore him (can you tell who my favorite was? 😂😉) Madison had a rough past and he was the safety she needed.
Can't wait to see if Carter and Lyla get a book??
Jaxon Montgomery is for sure in the running for best book boyfriend 😍 Most of my favorite tropes and micro-tropes? Yes please
- Childhood best friends ✔️
- He falls first and HARD ✔️
- Supportive MMC ✔️
- Mental health rep ✔️
Plus many more details!
Madison did Jaxon dirty a few times, but needed to figure out her stuff first which I understand and support. Jaxon made me swoon and I just adore him (can you tell who my favorite was? 😂😉) Madison had a rough past and he was the safety she needed.
Can't wait to see if Carter and Lyla get a book??
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Riley I cannot wait to see what you do next because you hit this one out of the park. The characters were so easy to fall in love with, especially our side characters. Madison was so easy to relate to. Throughout the book
she’s dealing with trauma and the feelings of not being good enough. I really enjoyed seeing her character development from where the book started to where it ended. (I’m so sad it ended. I think I could’ve read about them forever.) The book did its job for sure. The writing, the story, just everything was chefs kiss.
I cannot wait to see what’s next!!