Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Triggering content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault
It’s overall a good book but some triggering content and didn’t see content warnings. While much is in the past, there are flashbacks or dreams that describe it. And some on page struggling with drinking despite history of addiction.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had me laughing, crying, cussing, and cheering! I love EPIC stories. To be epic, I must feel something for all the characters, and I felt all of their emotions! Karina Hale truely wrote a steamy emotional roller coaster. Just be sure to take your time because this one gives you a major book hangover.
Lachlan was hot as hell and I learned too late he was modeled after Tom Hardy but it makes so much sense. I surprisingly didn’t start skimming the sex scenes until the last five chapters meaning the 163739273 times they fucked before then I fully read and would just like to say I am very proud of myself.
A lottttt of the Asian comments were very weird.
This was overall a cute time.
A lottttt of the Asian comments were very weird.
This was overall a cute time.
Holy cow. Yes!
I've gone reading the McGregor books in order (even though they're all stand alone spin-offs of each other) and in all honesty I feel like Karina Halle's writing has gotten better and better with each book. The Play being my favorite so far.
In The Play we dive right into Lachlan's story. For those that don't know who this is, Lachlan is Bram and Linden's cousin (from The Pact and The Offer). What I like about how this book started is that we're introduced to a frightened 5 yr old Lachlan and we're immediately thrust into one of the most heart wrenching situations you could possibly imagine. We then fast forward and meet him as the hot as hell Scottish-tattooed-rugby player whose beautiful green eyes hold a dark, dark past. Throughout the years Lachlan has tried to better his life (from what, is something that we go discovering as we read) and when his cousin Bram asks him for help with his non-profit housing organization Lachlan doesn't even hesitate. He comes to San Francisco to help out as best he can and in the process he meets Kayla Moore.
Yes this is an adult romance (with incredible sex scenes) but it's also so much more. This is a story about pain, love, loss, fear and growth. A story about taking chances. You can't help but want to understand Lachlan the more you read about him. Karina Halle fully had my attention the entire time with this read.
This book is written from the POV of both main characters which as always, speeds up the reading process for me. There were some parts toward the end where the characters did some self reflecting that took a little long, but overall the read is pretty smooth and fast. Recommended to 17+ due to sexual content.
I've gone reading the McGregor books in order (even though they're all stand alone spin-offs of each other) and in all honesty I feel like Karina Halle's writing has gotten better and better with each book. The Play being my favorite so far.
In The Play we dive right into Lachlan's story. For those that don't know who this is, Lachlan is Bram and Linden's cousin (from The Pact and The Offer). What I like about how this book started is that we're introduced to a frightened 5 yr old Lachlan and we're immediately thrust into one of the most heart wrenching situations you could possibly imagine. We then fast forward and meet him as the hot as hell Scottish-tattooed-rugby player whose beautiful green eyes hold a dark, dark past. Throughout the years Lachlan has tried to better his life (from what, is something that we go discovering as we read) and when his cousin Bram asks him for help with his non-profit housing organization Lachlan doesn't even hesitate. He comes to San Francisco to help out as best he can and in the process he meets Kayla Moore.
Yes this is an adult romance (with incredible sex scenes) but it's also so much more. This is a story about pain, love, loss, fear and growth. A story about taking chances. You can't help but want to understand Lachlan the more you read about him. Karina Halle fully had my attention the entire time with this read.
This book is written from the POV of both main characters which as always, speeds up the reading process for me. There were some parts toward the end where the characters did some self reflecting that took a little long, but overall the read is pretty smooth and fast. Recommended to 17+ due to sexual content.
medium-paced
The blurb of this book made it sound so good, which is why I picked it up but ever since the beginning, I could only feel that whatever was between Kayla & Lachlan was nothing but lust. There was definitely tension between them but I just couldn't feel the chemistry. And the revelation about Lachlan being an addict just shocked me. Kayla wasn't a likeable main characters either. She was whiny, jealous and impulsive. The story was also very slow and nothing much happened other than them sleeping together. I skimmed through lots of those scenes and I feel like I wasted my time on this book. It was definitely not my cup of tea.
3.5-3.75 stars. This was a good book. This was the story of Kayla and Lachlan. Kayla is friends with Lachlan's cousins' girlfriends. She meets Lachlan, who is visiting from Scotland for work, and is immediately attracted to him. Lachlan is the strong silent type and is a professional rugby player with a sad childhood past that he keeps a secret from most everyone. Kayla is a strong, sexy reporter, who is not normally interested in relationships, except for one night stands. But she feels a connection to Lachlan that is different than anything she has felt before. Since he is only in town for a short while, they begin a short affair. But neither of them are ready to let it go when Lachlan goes back to Scotland. Kayla decides to take a chance on love and go home with him to see where things go. But Lachlan has secrets and he doesn't really know how to be in a relationship, which adds more pressure on him to not screw up. The hard times keep coming for both of them. Will they crack under the pressure or can they survive together?
I really liked Kayla and Lachlan together when they were happy. I was rooting for them to overcome the tough hurdles they had to so that they could come out on the other side together. But when Lachlan was at his lowest point, it was hard to read. I understood how Kayla felt and why she reacted the way she did.
The story was different and interesting and writing is very good. The only reason I did not rate it higher was that, overall, much of the book was very depressing and sad. I felt very bad for Kayla and Lachlan. This book tackles some seriously heavy subjects (drug and alcohol addiction, death of a parent, child abuse, etc.). It was hard to feel hope for the characters' futures when they have so much to overcome. And even the times when they are happy, sprinkled throughout the tough times, had a feeling of doom because you knew more tough times were coming. I just have a hard time reading about such depressing subjects over the majority of the book, without a lot of lightness to balance it out. After I finished reading this book, I felt like I had been put through an emotional ringer.
I really liked Kayla and Lachlan together when they were happy. I was rooting for them to overcome the tough hurdles they had to so that they could come out on the other side together. But when Lachlan was at his lowest point, it was hard to read. I understood how Kayla felt and why she reacted the way she did.
The story was different and interesting and writing is very good. The only reason I did not rate it higher was that, overall, much of the book was very depressing and sad. I felt very bad for Kayla and Lachlan. This book tackles some seriously heavy subjects (drug and alcohol addiction, death of a parent, child abuse, etc.). It was hard to feel hope for the characters' futures when they have so much to overcome. And even the times when they are happy, sprinkled throughout the tough times, had a feeling of doom because you knew more tough times were coming. I just have a hard time reading about such depressing subjects over the majority of the book, without a lot of lightness to balance it out. After I finished reading this book, I felt like I had been put through an emotional ringer.
Her best one yet
I've read a number of Karina Halle's books, but none of them have gotten me like this one. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking and just perfect, I can't find enough good words to say how amazing this book was. Hands down my favorite from her so far.
I've read a number of Karina Halle's books, but none of them have gotten me like this one. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking and just perfect, I can't find enough good words to say how amazing this book was. Hands down my favorite from her so far.
Beastly love
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can not wait to read all the others. This story is fast moving with so many feels. What happens when two broken souls come together? Lachlan and Kayla have the sexual attraction but can they get through all their demons to be together? To find out you must read this!
This is the first book I have read from this author and I can not wait to read all the others. This story is fast moving with so many feels. What happens when two broken souls come together? Lachlan and Kayla have the sexual attraction but can they get through all their demons to be together? To find out you must read this!
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content