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emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wouldn’t say there are spoilers in this review but it does discuss the general arch of the story and how the characters acted, so read at your own risk I guess ?
The first 60% was fine. Then it just got boring FAST and I ended up skimming the next 25%, from the 85% mark onwards I wanted to pull my teeth. I was just so bored but decided to finish it, honestly, wish I haven’t.
I had many compliments about this book, like the MMC was a WALKING red flag and everyone was aware of it but no one called him out for it?? The FMC was so bland, she had no character development whatsoever - she was also wayyyy too obsessed with him. In one heartbeat she was just so happy to be with him then in the next she was crying because he’d slept with other girls before her?? Ugh I didn’t care, because GIRL you KNEW he was like this. You’ve known him for years!!
It was all so rushed, the entire book takes place over a two week period and they go from 0 to 100 in about four days. I get that they have always had a crush on each other but in the flashbacks we learn the MMC hurt the FMC and I feel like it took too long for this to be mentioned and worked through. She was in his pants way too quick. I wish they had communicated better but instead it just felt clunky and awkward. Both the characters and the dialogue needed work.
There is also a LOT of smut in this book, which usually I don’t mind but by the end I couldn’t care and I just skipped scenes. Also because she’s a virgin and that’s a big deal (why thou?) and because he’s her first, he’s not allowed to betray her or hurt ever. ?? I’m sorry, he only f*cked you it’s not like he saved her from impending doom. I didn’t like the MMC but I also agree he didn’t owe her anything when it came to that. They were both consenting adults, this happens all the time and people never speak to the person they had their first time with after the fact. (Does this make sense?? I’m raging at this point and I don’t know if it’s coherent haha) Basically what I’m saying is sex is just sex at the end of the day and she needed to get over the fact he was her first because it doesn’t mean anything. (In my opinion!!)
Also the third act fallout was so stupid and she forgave him in like half a chapter ?? so was it really necessary. I am glad they didn’t draw it out but it also felt like no matter what he says or does she’s just going to forgive him regardless. But also he didn’t even TRY and fight for her?! Ugh men.
Anyways overall, you can tell this was published on Wattpad first as it’s full of clichés, 2d characters, predictable plot and poor writing. If I had known where it was first published I wouldn’t have picked up.
The first 60% was fine. Then it just got boring FAST and I ended up skimming the next 25%, from the 85% mark onwards I wanted to pull my teeth. I was just so bored but decided to finish it, honestly, wish I haven’t.
I had many compliments about this book, like the MMC was a WALKING red flag and everyone was aware of it but no one called him out for it?? The FMC was so bland, she had no character development whatsoever - she was also wayyyy too obsessed with him. In one heartbeat she was just so happy to be with him then in the next she was crying because he’d slept with other girls before her?? Ugh I didn’t care, because GIRL you KNEW he was like this. You’ve known him for years!!
It was all so rushed, the entire book takes place over a two week period and they go from 0 to 100 in about four days. I get that they have always had a crush on each other but in the flashbacks we learn the MMC hurt the FMC and I feel like it took too long for this to be mentioned and worked through. She was in his pants way too quick. I wish they had communicated better but instead it just felt clunky and awkward. Both the characters and the dialogue needed work.
There is also a LOT of smut in this book, which usually I don’t mind but by the end I couldn’t care and I just skipped scenes. Also because she’s a virgin and that’s a big deal (why thou?) and because he’s her first, he’s not allowed to betray her or hurt ever. ?? I’m sorry, he only f*cked you it’s not like he saved her from impending doom. I didn’t like the MMC but I also agree he didn’t owe her anything when it came to that. They were both consenting adults, this happens all the time and people never speak to the person they had their first time with after the fact. (Does this make sense?? I’m raging at this point and I don’t know if it’s coherent haha) Basically what I’m saying is sex is just sex at the end of the day and she needed to get over the fact he was her first because it doesn’t mean anything. (In my opinion!!)
Also the third act fallout was so stupid and she forgave him in like half a chapter ?? so was it really necessary. I am glad they didn’t draw it out but it also felt like no matter what he says or does she’s just going to forgive him regardless. But also he didn’t even TRY and fight for her?! Ugh men.
Anyways overall, you can tell this was published on Wattpad first as it’s full of clichés, 2d characters, predictable plot and poor writing. If I had known where it was first published I wouldn’t have picked up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent
Minor: Blood
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The highlights: brother’s best friend, childhood friends, dual POV, spicy.
The tension at the beginning of the book was so good, as was the spice. Then Cam dropped his flirty player vibe as soon as they hooked up. Tension, gone.
The first half was easily five stars. After the 60% mark it kind of dropped off for me. Maddie became insecure and whiny.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
Thanks, Wattpadbooks, for the arc!
I’m in my sports romance era, so the cover of PLAYMAKER by Deanna Faison 100% called to me with its cuteness. Maddie and Cameron staring at one another gives me all the feels of the moments they stare at each other in the book. And the book has a lot of teasing and sensual eye contact!
I was invited to the Wattpad Webtoon Book Group 2024 Influencer Preview in August, and Faison was a special guest! She spoke about the novel and answered questions from those of us in attendance. I loved hearing how PLAYMAKER went from being set initially with the characters in high school on Wattpad to having the characters aged up to college in the novel published by Wattpadbooks. You can tell that Faison put a lot of work into editing her story to age the characters and tweak the plot points to make sense. I think there were a few times that language or actions seemed a little high schoolish. Still, when I was in my first few years of college, I wasn’t suddenly a sophisticated colligate speaking eloquently with the obscure words from the Oxford dictionary.
Spoiler warning: The virgin trope is not one of my favorites. I’ll read them, but I don’t actively search for them. I like how it was handled in this book and how patient Cameron was with Maddie. But I HATED how it was after the fact, and it became this big thing, “but I took your virginity,” over and over again.
A significant content warning is a cancer death off the page; the grief aspect from it is handled in an excellent way. Faison really shows how grief can affect people differently and how grief is not linear - one person’s ride with grief can cover all sorts of pathways.
I liked PLAYMAKER. It entertained me, and I look forward to more from Faison. There weren't a lot of sportsball, but there was a lot of spice, which I’m okay with!
Content warnings: cancer, familial death, gaslighting, emotional abuse,
PS—On a personal note, this took me from 8/19 to 9/28 to read. It should have never taken me that long. I liked it way more than letting it take over a month to read. I’m not a fan of MMC’s name, so I just had to pace myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC of “Playmaker” by Deanna Faison.
I like a good college romance novel and when I saw the cover and read the description, I thought I was getting a sports romance novel. Unfortunately, aside from the fact that the MMC Cam is a football player, there is no mention of sports (aside from when he goes to work out or goes on a run).
This story follows the classic trope of childhood friends-to-lovers and the brother’s best friend. Given that they grew up together, I can understand how quickly they end up falling in love with one another. However, I did find the timeline for this story a bit absurdly tight. It’s supposed to take place over a few weeks on spring break and the sheer volume of outings and activities that take place over this time period seems implausible.
I feel like the flashbacks that were written into the story did a nice job of adding a bit of backstory to the characters and their motivations, but I would have liked to see a bit more of these sooner.
There are major flaws with both characters - it’s clear that Cameron really needs to go to therapy. The fact that he hasn’t spoken to a therapist after his mother died and he’s using alcohol and sex as coping mechanisms are major red flags. Maddie is also not without her faults - she is delusional when it comes to Cam and refuses to acknowledge any of the glaring red flags he’s giving off. She also needs therapy if she’s truly as “breathtaking” as Cam consistently claims she is and yet she doesn’t seem to have any real life aside from pining over him. She definitely gives off low-key stalker girl vibes with Cam.
Overall, it was a cute story and it had some good points, and if you’re looking for a bit of fun, you can give it a read. If you’re into sports college romances, however, I definitely would suggest looking for another book, because this one isn’t it.
I like a good college romance novel and when I saw the cover and read the description, I thought I was getting a sports romance novel. Unfortunately, aside from the fact that the MMC Cam is a football player, there is no mention of sports (aside from when he goes to work out or goes on a run).
This story follows the classic trope of childhood friends-to-lovers and the brother’s best friend. Given that they grew up together, I can understand how quickly they end up falling in love with one another. However, I did find the timeline for this story a bit absurdly tight. It’s supposed to take place over a few weeks on spring break and the sheer volume of outings and activities that take place over this time period seems implausible.
I feel like the flashbacks that were written into the story did a nice job of adding a bit of backstory to the characters and their motivations, but I would have liked to see a bit more of these sooner.
There are major flaws with both characters -
Overall, it was a cute story and it had some good points, and if you’re looking for a bit of fun, you can give it a read. If you’re into sports college romances, however, I definitely would suggest looking for another book, because this one isn’t it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol