Play for Me by Libby Hubscher
Contemporary Romance
June 20, 2023- Berkley
ARC
Review by Angela
I’ve come to really enjoy this author’s books. While the first two were more women’s fiction and lighter on the actual romance, this book really focuses on the relationship between Sophie and Jonas.
When Play for Me opens Sophie has just been let go from her job as head athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox after pulling a pitcher from game 7 of the World Series. Now all of Boston blames her for the loss. Even her boyfriend, the team doctor, has broken off their relationship by leaving her a note. Now she’s unemployed, single, and has nowhere to go until her BFF Astrid recommends a job at a boarding school that offers living accommodations as part of their employment package.
Sophie accepts the position and quickly realizes her new roommates are three men, one who seems to dislike her intensely. In fact, he’s rather blunt and appears to hate the fact that she’s rooming with his beloved piano. But the energetic and positive Sophie is determined to win over the cranky orchestra instructor.
I really liked this opposites-attract, forced proximity romance. The chemistry between the main protagonists is palpable, and their interactions are more humorous than having any real animosity. Sophie is an athletic, upbeat FMC paired with a broody, artistic MMC, but their differences really mesh well with each other. I am a big baseball fan, so I was all in on the sporty aspects of the story but found myself taken with musical components as well. I especially enjoyed the way this author explored Sophie’s career as a trainer to help not only Jonas, but the children of the boarding school.
This is a closed-door romance, but I did really enjoy the romance and sexual tension between the main characters. The ending and HEA were perfect for this couple. Jonas turned out to be a swoony, romantic hero.
The secondary characters are well drawn and feel more like a found family. I really think readers need to get to know Astrid more. She was just so effervescent and I would read the hell out of anything she appeared in.
All in all, a good read that I think will win over fans of contemporary romance.
Grade- B
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