A review by hanreadssbooks
Make The Play by Hailey Rodger

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

“because it’s one thing to want her close. but it’s everything to keep her safe.”

this is single-handedly one of the best books i have ever read, and no, i am not exaggerating. 

you know when a book just hits? when the banter is top tier, the tension is palpable, the spice is spicing, and you’re literally swooning over the characters? that’s exactly what happened in this book for me. 

i have been yearning for zoe’s book since i finished seal the deal, and hailey absolutely DELIVERED!! the amount of highlights i have for this book needs to be studied, because i truthfully could not get enough of zoe and chase. 

zoe was one of the best fmcs i’ve ever read, and i really loved that her personality didn’t change throughout the book, because it was such an important part of who she is. she could go toe to toe with chase on any given day and win the banter battle, and i was living for every single time she ate him up with her retorts and comebacks. i love when a “i don’t do relationships” person meets their soulmate who is so clearly down bad for them that they can’t hold it in, and that’s exactly what zoe and chase were. if anyone embodies black cat and golden retriever, it’s them. 

chase, my sweet little golden retriever… i don’t think i’ve ever met a man who is more obsessed with their partner than he was obsessed with zoe. these two were simply made for each other, even when their arrangement was “fake”. his internal battle against himself had me giggling and kicking my feet because of how much i loved it. i love when men pine in books, and boyyyyy did he ever. the way he called zoe’s bluff every time she said she hated him was ridiculously hot for no other reason than his obsession with her was to die for. he couldn’t not be obsessed with her, and that was one of my favourite things about him. 

some of my favourite lines that are definitely necessary to include (not in order):

“you’re disgusting…take off your pants.”

“i’ve been in love with zoe for years. quietly. pathetically. in that aching, too-scared-to-act-on-it kind of way. and tonight was the moment i realized she’s going to break my fucking heart.”

“she kissed me like it meant nothing, and i kissed her like it meant everything.”

“you always do that.”
“what?”
“find me in the noise.”

“you gonna punish him later?” 
“i’m gonna strangle him with his own jockstrap.”

“i can’t breathe without her.”

thank you so very much to hailey for the e-arc! i will be yearning for books three and four from here on out until they’re released! 🏒

♡︎ fake dating
♡︎ found family 
♡︎ one night stand
♡︎ frenemies to lovers
♡︎ black cat x golden retriever 
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