Reviews

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

jackfrootloops's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

szucker6's review against another edition

This book felt like a rushed draft. So much happened off the page and then all of a sudden these two who hated each other have gone on three dates and are falling in love and we are only 25% into the book? It seemed like such a promising premise but the execution didn’t work for me. 

sebbyreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

samd99's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

brennap6's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

June is the worst, and her terrible personality took me out of the book a bit. I’d read more by this author though.

bellas__book_nook's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

picked this book up bc the cover was cute and i was not expecting to cry multiple times lol. it was soo good tho

jsjarvis71's review against another edition

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel from Jennifer Dugan. One of the primary things that I look for when I am reading a new book is how the characters are developed over time and whether I feel any emotion for them. This story did an excellent job of character development to the point that I thoroughly disliked a couple of the characters and loved the main characters.

I have seen so many kids go through what June did, where their parents try to mold them and shape them into star athletes without letting them grow up and enjoy their teen years. I experienced some of that growing up as well and the author did an excellent job of portraying the father and the aspirations he placed on his kid.

I loved the relationship building that was done between Ivy and June. They were bitter enemies at the start due to one being an athlete and the other being a player. But their attraction was magnetic. When they kissed in the book, I could feel the love as I read it. I found myself hoping for them to work through their trials and come out on the other side.

I enjoyed that this was a sweet romance and was very well written.

brex3313's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

katieminard's review against another edition

funny reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

bgibley's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

3.5