Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Play With Me

Garrett is one of Carter's best friends and teammates. Everyone knows the rule: Carter's sister is off limits. Carter surprises his sister Jennie with a condo which happens to be 4 floors down from Garrett's. After an awkward interaction (iykyk), they agree to a committed friends with benefits situation. After spending time together they both realize that this is so much more.

GARRETT. OMG Garrett. He is a cinnamon roll. He is so patient, supportive, encouraging, understanding, and sweet. At first he is so intimidated by Jennie that he could barely form a coherent sentence, but once he became more comfortable around her.... Wow did he ever gain his confidence. He leaves space for Jennie to be herself and never holds her back. He becomes her support system, her shoulder to cry on, her number 1 fan. He listens to what she needs and never pushes her beyond her comfort level. Plus he isn't intimated by her box of "toys". We all deserve a Garrett.

Jennie has been through so much. She has lost her father and

her highschool boyfriend betrayed her in a completly unimaginable way. Frankly, he should have been arrested. Plus her dance partner is a total creep.

Her trauma as lead to severe trust issues to the point where she hasn't been intimate with anyone since her highschool boyfriend. She is, understandably, closed off and scared of being hurt. She has always felt like the second Beckett, in the shadow of her brother and that all her friends only were her friends because of him. She suffered from a lack of confidence and withdrew from people. Garrett helped her learn to trust again and let people in. Eventually she realized that being in a relationship with Garrett added to her life, she could still be herself and find love.

The development of this relationship is so cute and fun. Their friendship slowly progressed as they learn to open up to one another and trust each other. They gradually develop feelings for each other, as Jennie said they didn't really "fall" in love.

Again the supporting characters are so much fun! I LOVE Hank and liked that we got Ollie and Carter throughout the book. Unfortunately, Carter continued to be a controlling man-child.

Also NO 3rd act breakup! Win!

I felt the book, like the last in this series, was a bit too long and repetitive. Also the who Toronto storyline was kinda pointless, she was never going to leave, that could have been taken out.

Tropes: hockey romance, secret relationship, "friends"with benefits to friends to lovers, found family, brothers best friend

Content Warnings