Scan barcode
beckyrendon's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. But I didn't. Older brother's best friend is a secret fantasy of mine (except my brother's friends were all gross). Egotistical Player had a lot of potential. I think the author got caught up in trying to make it angsty. The push pull made me feel like the heroine was a doormat instead of a love sick girl. How many times would you let "the One" break you!?! Apparently, its always at least one more time. Closed off from experiencing a life outside of him, she just exists. It's more depressing than romantic. I want to take her to therapy and explain a toxic relationship. Now, to be clear if this was a dark romance, that would totally work but as a contemporary romance it comes across as dragged out and drama just for the sake of it.
With eight parts depicting eight different time periods, I wanted to ask Harls when enough would be enough. I hate how negative this is becoming. In the end, I would say this definitely wasn't a hit for me.
Merged review:
Not for me
I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. But I didn't. Older brother's best friend is a secret fantasy of mine (except my brother's friends were all gross). Egotistical Player had a lot of potential. I think the author got caught up in trying to make it angsty. The push pull made me feel like the heroine was a doormat instead of a love sick girl. How many times would you let "the One" break you!?! Apparently, its always at least one more time. Closed off from experiencing a life outside of him, she just exists. It's more depressing than romantic. I want to take her to therapy and explain a toxic relationship. Now, to be clear if this was a dark romance, that would totally work but as a contemporary romance it comes across as dragged out and drama just for the sake of it.
With eight parts depicting eight different time periods, I wanted to ask Harls when enough would be enough. I hate how negative this is becoming. In the end, I would say this definitely wasn't a hit for me.
With eight parts depicting eight different time periods, I wanted to ask Harls when enough would be enough. I hate how negative this is becoming. In the end, I would say this definitely wasn't a hit for me.
Merged review:
Not for me
I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. But I didn't. Older brother's best friend is a secret fantasy of mine (except my brother's friends were all gross). Egotistical Player had a lot of potential. I think the author got caught up in trying to make it angsty. The push pull made me feel like the heroine was a doormat instead of a love sick girl. How many times would you let "the One" break you!?! Apparently, its always at least one more time. Closed off from experiencing a life outside of him, she just exists. It's more depressing than romantic. I want to take her to therapy and explain a toxic relationship. Now, to be clear if this was a dark romance, that would totally work but as a contemporary romance it comes across as dragged out and drama just for the sake of it.
With eight parts depicting eight different time periods, I wanted to ask Harls when enough would be enough. I hate how negative this is becoming. In the end, I would say this definitely wasn't a hit for me.
ameserole's review against another edition
1.0
You know how I was so young and naïve being in love with this series? Yeah, well now I feel super old and disappointed.
Egotistical Player was not my favorite book from this series. I don't think there's a competition for my least favorite book but this one is winning so far. Not trying to be brutal here but I was enjoying life and all the books that I've come across in this damn series. Then this book just stabbed me in the heart repeatedly.
Honestly, I didn't get the relationship. I feel like I have whiplash from this book and not the fun kind. The whole "I love you so let's have sex" thing to "I'm saying goodbye forever" was beyond frustrating to read about. It wasn't my cup of tea one bit. Then to see them heal and move on just to come crawling back to one another was a slap in the face.
To say I was angry and annoyed with everything is putting it very lightly. Not to be dramatic or anything but Harleigh and Preston were toxic to themselves and to me. I mean, I get it.. they "loved" each other but there was just always some stupid reason as to why they couldn't be together. Then there's the fact that people were dying left and right like it's the freaking hunger games.
In the end, I'm just disappointed by this one.
Egotistical Player was not my favorite book from this series. I don't think there's a competition for my least favorite book but this one is winning so far. Not trying to be brutal here but I was enjoying life and all the books that I've come across in this damn series. Then this book just stabbed me in the heart repeatedly.
Honestly, I didn't get the relationship. I feel like I have whiplash from this book and not the fun kind. The whole "I love you so let's have sex" thing to "I'm saying goodbye forever" was beyond frustrating to read about. It wasn't my cup of tea one bit. Then to see them heal and move on just to come crawling back to one another was a slap in the face.
To say I was angry and annoyed with everything is putting it very lightly. Not to be dramatic or anything but Harleigh and Preston were toxic to themselves and to me. I mean, I get it.. they "loved" each other but there was just always some stupid reason as to why they couldn't be together. Then there's the fact that people were dying left and right like it's the freaking hunger games.
In the end, I'm just disappointed by this one.
rinasreadsnz's review against another edition
3.0
Preston and Harleigh were very clearly made for each other. But, life got in the way, along with Preston's stupidity.
He really annoyed me. I liked him in the beginning but wanted to junk punch him several times throughout the book.
I enjoyed the fact that they finally figured out their issues, however, I felt that Harleigh kind of let him off the hook and was a bit of a pushover.
Overall I enjoyed their story and give it 3.5 stars.
He really annoyed me. I liked him in the beginning but wanted to junk punch him several times throughout the book.
I enjoyed the fact that they finally figured out their issues, however, I felt that Harleigh kind of let him off the hook and was a bit of a pushover.
Overall I enjoyed their story and give it 3.5 stars.
kfriend's review against another edition
2.0
I love the premise of the Cocky Hero Club- a chance for a diverse swarth of authors to play around in the worlds created by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard series. It’s a fun idea- seeing the different spins authors put on the premise, it expands the world and cannon of a well established series, and it gives readers a chance to discover new authors.
Egotistical Player is a slow burn brother’s best friend romance. And I mean SLOW- Harleigh has had feelings for her brother’s friend, Preston since high school. But, he’s a player, the cocky ladies plan, and while she’s attracted to him, she also can’t stand him. The classic love-hate draw. Little did she know, he was also attracted to her, but she was young and his best friend’s sister, so definitely off limits. This story spans their connection over several years as they battle the will-they/won’t-they dynamic, fall into bed together, deal with personal tragedies that become barriers to them taking the plunge, and grapple with moving beyond quickies.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me. I get the premise- these are “Cocky Heroes” after all, and I can handle a cocky leading man any day of the week- but I also need to like him, to get the attraction, for the swagger to be endearing and/or masked vulnerability. But, I just could not get behind Preston. I just wanted him to man up- because the issue is never the brother or the obstacles, the issue is him, his wishy washyness over being with Haleigh I love a good jerky hero, but I also need them to own it, for their to be a reason, other than the hero actually just is an immature jerk. Consistently hurting our heroine, not ever being willing to commit- over a long period of time? Yeh, just not feeling him. I loved Haleigh- but I wanted her to move on from him for much of the story, not be with him. He does redeem himself some at the end, but at that point I couldn’t be won over.
I think my feelings about him are also exacerbated by the really slow progression- this love story spans two decades, with a lot of quick time hops, so it is more than slow burn, this is slow-slow burn. I love a good push-pull but when it spans that much time and with a guy that I’m not loving, well, I felt myself disengaging. To be fair, slow burn isn’t my favorite approach- I love watching a couple get together, but I like also getting to spend time with them once they do. And this is a drawn out “getting together” story, less on the actual together- which I know many people love. My challenge thorough was that when they did get together, I didn’t see enough remorse, enough growth from Preston for it to feel gratifying.
The writing here is great, and I know many will enjoy this story- so pick it up and decide for yourself! For me personally, wasn’t my cup of tea.
2.5 stars
Merged review:
I love the premise of the Cocky Hero Club- a chance for a diverse swarth of authors to play around in the worlds created by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard series. It’s a fun idea- seeing the different spins authors put on the premise, it expands the world and cannon of a well established series, and it gives readers a chance to discover new authors.
Egotistical Player is a slow burn brother’s best friend romance. And I mean SLOW- Harleigh has had feelings for her brother’s friend, Preston since high school. But, he’s a player, the cocky ladies plan, and while she’s attracted to him, she also can’t stand him. The classic love-hate draw. Little did she know, he was also attracted to her, but she was young and his best friend’s sister, so definitely off limits. This story spans their connection over several years as they battle the will-they/won’t-they dynamic, fall into bed together, deal with personal tragedies that become barriers to them taking the plunge, and grapple with moving beyond quickies.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me. I get the premise- these are “Cocky Heroes” after all, and I can handle a cocky leading man any day of the week- but I also need to like him, to get the attraction, for the swagger to be endearing and/or masked vulnerability. But, I just could not get behind Preston. I just wanted him to man up- because the issue is never the brother or the obstacles, the issue is him, his wishy washyness over being with Haleigh I love a good jerky hero, but I also need them to own it, for their to be a reason, other than the hero actually just is an immature jerk. Consistently hurting our heroine, not ever being willing to commit- over a long period of time? Yeh, just not feeling him. I loved Haleigh- but I wanted her to move on from him for much of the story, not be with him. He does redeem himself some at the end, but at that point I couldn’t be won over.
I think my feelings about him are also exacerbated by the really slow progression- this love story spans two decades, with a lot of quick time hops, so it is more than slow burn, this is slow-slow burn. I love a good push-pull but when it spans that much time and with a guy that I’m not loving, well, I felt myself disengaging. To be fair, slow burn isn’t my favorite approach- I love watching a couple get together, but I like also getting to spend time with them once they do. And this is a drawn out “getting together” story, less on the actual together- which I know many people love. My challenge thorough was that when they did get together, I didn’t see enough remorse, enough growth from Preston for it to feel gratifying.
The writing here is great, and I know many will enjoy this story- so pick it up and decide for yourself! For me personally, wasn’t my cup of tea.
Egotistical Player is a slow burn brother’s best friend romance. And I mean SLOW- Harleigh has had feelings for her brother’s friend, Preston since high school. But, he’s a player, the cocky ladies plan, and while she’s attracted to him, she also can’t stand him. The classic love-hate draw. Little did she know, he was also attracted to her, but she was young and his best friend’s sister, so definitely off limits. This story spans their connection over several years as they battle the will-they/won’t-they dynamic, fall into bed together, deal with personal tragedies that become barriers to them taking the plunge, and grapple with moving beyond quickies.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me. I get the premise- these are “Cocky Heroes” after all, and I can handle a cocky leading man any day of the week- but I also need to like him, to get the attraction, for the swagger to be endearing and/or masked vulnerability. But, I just could not get behind Preston. I just wanted him to man up- because the issue is never the brother or the obstacles, the issue is him, his wishy washyness over being with Haleigh I love a good jerky hero, but I also need them to own it, for their to be a reason, other than the hero actually just is an immature jerk. Consistently hurting our heroine, not ever being willing to commit- over a long period of time? Yeh, just not feeling him. I loved Haleigh- but I wanted her to move on from him for much of the story, not be with him. He does redeem himself some at the end, but at that point I couldn’t be won over.
I think my feelings about him are also exacerbated by the really slow progression- this love story spans two decades, with a lot of quick time hops, so it is more than slow burn, this is slow-slow burn. I love a good push-pull but when it spans that much time and with a guy that I’m not loving, well, I felt myself disengaging. To be fair, slow burn isn’t my favorite approach- I love watching a couple get together, but I like also getting to spend time with them once they do. And this is a drawn out “getting together” story, less on the actual together- which I know many people love. My challenge thorough was that when they did get together, I didn’t see enough remorse, enough growth from Preston for it to feel gratifying.
The writing here is great, and I know many will enjoy this story- so pick it up and decide for yourself! For me personally, wasn’t my cup of tea.
2.5 stars
Merged review:
I love the premise of the Cocky Hero Club- a chance for a diverse swarth of authors to play around in the worlds created by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard series. It’s a fun idea- seeing the different spins authors put on the premise, it expands the world and cannon of a well established series, and it gives readers a chance to discover new authors.
Egotistical Player is a slow burn brother’s best friend romance. And I mean SLOW- Harleigh has had feelings for her brother’s friend, Preston since high school. But, he’s a player, the cocky ladies plan, and while she’s attracted to him, she also can’t stand him. The classic love-hate draw. Little did she know, he was also attracted to her, but she was young and his best friend’s sister, so definitely off limits. This story spans their connection over several years as they battle the will-they/won’t-they dynamic, fall into bed together, deal with personal tragedies that become barriers to them taking the plunge, and grapple with moving beyond quickies.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good fit for me. I get the premise- these are “Cocky Heroes” after all, and I can handle a cocky leading man any day of the week- but I also need to like him, to get the attraction, for the swagger to be endearing and/or masked vulnerability. But, I just could not get behind Preston. I just wanted him to man up- because the issue is never the brother or the obstacles, the issue is him, his wishy washyness over being with Haleigh I love a good jerky hero, but I also need them to own it, for their to be a reason, other than the hero actually just is an immature jerk. Consistently hurting our heroine, not ever being willing to commit- over a long period of time? Yeh, just not feeling him. I loved Haleigh- but I wanted her to move on from him for much of the story, not be with him. He does redeem himself some at the end, but at that point I couldn’t be won over.
I think my feelings about him are also exacerbated by the really slow progression- this love story spans two decades, with a lot of quick time hops, so it is more than slow burn, this is slow-slow burn. I love a good push-pull but when it spans that much time and with a guy that I’m not loving, well, I felt myself disengaging. To be fair, slow burn isn’t my favorite approach- I love watching a couple get together, but I like also getting to spend time with them once they do. And this is a drawn out “getting together” story, less on the actual together- which I know many people love. My challenge thorough was that when they did get together, I didn’t see enough remorse, enough growth from Preston for it to feel gratifying.
The writing here is great, and I know many will enjoy this story- so pick it up and decide for yourself! For me personally, wasn’t my cup of tea.
booksonstereo_o's review against another edition
5.0
Title ⤵️
Egotistical Player
Author ⤵️
Bella Emy
Rating ⤵️
Egotistical Player
Author ⤵️
Bella Emy
Rating ⤵️
sandizzlereads's review against another edition
5.0
Harleigh has loved her brother’s best friend since she was 15 years old. Preston has fought his feelings for his best friend’s little sister for just as long.
With a sense of misplaced responsibility Preston tries to stay out of Harleigh’s life, but he just can’t seem to do it.
This story spans over 15 years of tragedy, relationships, heartbreak and realizations. It has you rooting for these two. It is a sweet love story that will make you want to reach in the book and shake some sense into these characters to make them see what we know from day one, that all you need to do is trust in love, and every thing will be ok.
With a sense of misplaced responsibility Preston tries to stay out of Harleigh’s life, but he just can’t seem to do it.
This story spans over 15 years of tragedy, relationships, heartbreak and realizations. It has you rooting for these two. It is a sweet love story that will make you want to reach in the book and shake some sense into these characters to make them see what we know from day one, that all you need to do is trust in love, and every thing will be ok.
vera_allbookedup's review
5.0
I figured that any book in the Cocky Hero Club world would be good and this one did not disappoint! Preston and Harleigh have known each other for a long time. But this brother's best friend story was not all sunshine and roses. I like how the author started their story in the past--how they met and their connection to each other--and then had them meet up again as mature adults who were ready to tackle the misconceptions they had about each other. I was so engrossed in this story that I finished it quickly! The characters and story were well written. I'm so happy the author gave this couple a second chance to get their HEA.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
bookcaseandcoffee's review
4.0
This is a very typical plot for a Brother’s Best Friend Trope Non popular girl has a obvious crush on the sports star , who also happens to be also her brother best friend.
This was very predictable story and lacked originality, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good read. I think Preston got really hung up in his own head and the dynamic of a promise and that pesky Bro Code.
Harleigh knows who she loves and who she wants to be with. Her mind never faulters. She is constantly reminded of the possible heartache she could face if she continues to pursue Preston.
Harleigh must make some tough choice and it really does add a level of emotion to it.
Prepare yourself for a very slow burn romance. Like really slow burn. This story runs from high school to young adult timeline. This slow burn does have a very emotional and sad feel to it but never fear there is a HEA.
This was 3.5 star read for me. I just felt like the story dragged on a bit. To many years of pining for a guy. I felt like it stunted Harleigh’s character. I don’t mind a slow burn as long as there is movement and character development.
This was very predictable story and lacked originality, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good read. I think Preston got really hung up in his own head and the dynamic of a promise and that pesky Bro Code.
Harleigh knows who she loves and who she wants to be with. Her mind never faulters. She is constantly reminded of the possible heartache she could face if she continues to pursue Preston.
Harleigh must make some tough choice and it really does add a level of emotion to it.
Prepare yourself for a very slow burn romance. Like really slow burn. This story runs from high school to young adult timeline. This slow burn does have a very emotional and sad feel to it but never fear there is a HEA.
This was 3.5 star read for me. I just felt like the story dragged on a bit. To many years of pining for a guy. I felt like it stunted Harleigh’s character. I don’t mind a slow burn as long as there is movement and character development.
si0bhan's review
1.0
At first, Egotistical Player had me desperate to see how the story played out. Unfortunately, it’s one of those books that I enjoyed less the deeper through the book I worked.
There is one simple reason for this: the angst did not work for me. I love an angsty story, and this tried hard to deliver angst. There were lots of events that could have resulted in broken hearts, but it never worked for me. Each time something bad happened, we would skip forward in time. It happened, but we did not get the chance to appreciate and feel it. Add in the fact this happened over and over, dragging it out, and I stopped caring about what was happening.
It’s possible I’m in the minority, but this one didn’t deliver the angsty read I had expected.
There is one simple reason for this: the angst did not work for me. I love an angsty story, and this tried hard to deliver angst. There were lots of events that could have resulted in broken hearts, but it never worked for me. Each time something bad happened, we would skip forward in time. It happened, but we did not get the chance to appreciate and feel it. Add in the fact this happened over and over, dragging it out, and I stopped caring about what was happening.
It’s possible I’m in the minority, but this one didn’t deliver the angsty read I had expected.
simplynik's review
Oh this was a spicy little number. Harleigh had it bad for your brother's best friend Preston. You are smiling to yourself right now. You think you know how this is going to play out. Save your old ideas, this is a great story with a perfect and engaging story line. You'll have to read it to know if it breaks the mold or repeats the trend.
I really enjoyed it!
This book was provided to me for review.
If you like slow burning reads then I’ll certainly recommend this story to you.
Purchase Link:
US - amzn.to/3j4yGya
UK - amzn.to/2ZplRH
More...