The Summer Playbook

Central State Football #2

by Jaqueline Snowe

Mackenzie Mallinson is an expert at two things—playing soccer and talking about soccer. Wait, there’s a third too. Crushing on her best friend’s twin brother, the star quarterback for the football team, but no one knows about that. Her senior year is her last shot at fun before entering the pros, and she refuses to let soccer be the only thing that defines her. She wants to live life to the fullest, and that requires a summer bucket list.

Dean Romano might have a line of people wanting his signature, but he’s been off his game since someone he trusted hurt him last year. Once the life of the party, he misses the old version of himself. Not the guy who slept around version, but the fun, carefree, let’s enjoy my time on earth version. With his senior year on the team starting, he wants to get back to having a good time, and the perfect opportunity arises: The Summer Playbook.

Mack needs to let loose but wants to do it with someone she trusts. Dean wants to find his mojo again with someone who doesn’t care about his potential NFL career. The two pair up to complete a bucket list of fun while ensuring there are no feelings involved. Some items are easy, like dance on a bar or go to a concert, but skinny dipping? Body shots? Things heat up, but they both agreed their deal ends once they check off every item on the list. The question remains: is love something you cross off a list or a game you can win?

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, Football, Soccer, Contemporary, College Romance

324 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2023

About the author

Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the "dry heat" really isn't that bad. She prefers drinking coffee all hours of the day and snacking on anything that has peanut butter or chocolate. She is the mother to two dogs who don’t realize they aren’t humans and a = mom to the sweetest boy. She is an avid reader and writer of romances and tends to write about athletes. Her husband works for an MLB team (not a player, lol) so she knows more about baseball than any human ever should.


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Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished an ARC of The Summer Playbook by Jaqueline Snowe which is #2 in the Central State Football series! 🏈

Things I loved: EVERYTHING!!!!
I haven't read the #1 yet, but this one can definitely be read as a standalone 📖

I adored Mack - she was such a charmer and very relateable. Her inner dialogue was hilarious 🤣 Dean was a breath of fresh air and was shocked that as sweet as he was, he was such a dirty talker! 🥵 I found myself rooting for them and absolutely loved how honesty and building trust played such a big part of their relationship.

I will say, it's only January but I'm already desperate to create my very own summer bucket list and enlist my friends for support 🤣 The crew (on both soccer and football teams) was quirky and entertaining. They were supportive of one another without any ill intent and I honestly couldn't get enough. I love when the MCs have people in their corner ♥️

I also connected with this book in a nostalgic way. I reminisced about my time as a young athlete (🏊🏻‍♀️). I empathized with both MCs on how their commitment to their respective sports came above all else.
This was my first book by Jaqueline and definitely won't be my last! I plan to read the first in the series asap and then jump into the rest of her backlist!! 📚

Tropes:
✨best friend's TWIN brother
✨she falls first, he falls harder
✨soccer player x football player
✨summer fling
✨reformed playboy
✨secret relationship

📕 Book releases 2/6!

[madds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book today. I also finished this book today, I couldn't put it down. The friend group was so fun and I loved the list. It felt like fake dating but with added tension!! Their chemistry was so magnetic and I loved the spice 😍😍 Bonus points for an AMAZING Epilogue 💕

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so great!! i thought the plot was super fun and cute; i love the idea of creating a summer bucket list to get you out of your comfort zone!

mack & dean were such good mcs & jaqueline made it so easy for me to root for them the whole time. their chemistry was 10/10, but they also had great growth & a lot of trust between them <3

i also really loved mack’s soccer friends! her relationship with them was so important and i loved seeing that :)

this book was just so good and i had so much fun reading it & i’m excited to see what’s to come!

thank you jaqueline for the arc!!

[Mishka Kandhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read; just what I needed to get through the week! I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Summer Playbook and let me tell you guys it didn't disappoint! We were introduced to Mackenzie (Mack) and Dean in the last book featuring Dean's sister and Mack's best friend, Lorelai, and Dean's best friend, Luca. Therefore, this book featured one of my favorite tropes, best friend's brother. The idea of having Mack and Dean complete a summer to-do list while also accidentally falling in love was really cute. I was able to feel their relationship growing chapter by chapter. To be honest, the only reason this wasn't a 5-star review was because of Dean's sideish problem of trust issues. I don't think this was necessary because it wasn't expanded further until the end and there could've been a better explanation for his crabbiness in the beginning. Other than that it was an awesome book and I would definitely recommend it to others!

[veraagoti · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a cute book!

[chelsreadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to this read since I read First Meet Foul a few weeks ago… and it did not disappoint! I LOVED Dean + Mack! I read this in less than a day, I just couldn’t put it down! You definitely need to give this a try if you like fun and spicy sports roms.

- soccer player x football player
- reformed player
- best friend’s brother
- secret relationship
- summer fling
- bucket list

There may be some triggers including alcohol, lie about pregnancy (previous, not on page, not FMC), etc...

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐️

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Book Mail Review✨
📖: The Summer Playbook
🖋️: @jaquelinesnowe
⭐️: 5 of 5
🌶️: 3 of 5
💬: “Mackenzie Mallinson wasn’t in my playbook to start, but she still made me feel like I won the game.”

Tropes & Themes:
🏈 Best Friends Twin Brother
⚽️ She falls first, he falls harder
🏈 Soccer Player / Football Player
⚽️ Summer Fling
🏈 Reformed Playboy
⚽️ Secret Relationship

Mack is focused on giving back to the community and uplifting girls who want to play soccer like her. With life as a D1 athlete, she has little time for fun.

As her senior year is approaching, Mack is ready to do things she’s never had the time for before. With the help of her friends and the football team. They come up with a summer bucket list.

“I hereby declare this is The Summer Playbook of dares to get you to live wildly before senior year starts.”

What Mack isn’t expecting is her crush and her best friend’s twin, Dean, to join in on the fun.

Dean was betrayed which left him hurt and no longer trusting others that he’s not close with. He finds himself starting to open up again any time he’s around Mack.

“You do the entire list with me. Only me.”

Can Dean move on from the past and allow himself to have fun again? Will Mack be able to push her feelings to the side to help get Dean back to how he used to be?

Find out if Dean and Mack finish the bucket list in The Summer Playbook! Grab it today!

I loved everything about this book. From the banter, the fun and supportive friend group, and how feisty Mack was.

Both Dean and Mack had their struggles but once the list was started. It changed them both for the better. Can’t wait to check out the next book in this series!🔥

Thank you Jaqueline Snowe for the beautiful PR package and for allowing me to be a part of your ARC team! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes
⚽️sports romance (soccer x football)
🏈best friends brother
⚽️summer fling
🏈college friend group
⚽️bucket list
🏈she falls first, he falls harder
⚽️reformed playboy

Life as a D1 athlete is hard work with little time for anything else and Mack (Mackenzie) Mallinson has dedicated her life to her love of soccer.
With her senior year approaching, Mack wants to let loose for once and have no regrets. With the help of her friends, she has a summer bucket list compiled to help push her comfort levels and have fun before her season starts up again.
When her long-time crush and campus football star, Dean, decides to help her with her list as he works through some personal things, they start to develop real feelings for each other. But as two athletes with little time for anything other than their sport, they agree that all they can have is the summer.

What a great read! I have to admit that I was a little skeptical because I’m not a huge fan of “bucket lists” but this was really cute! I also really loved seeing this side of being an athlete on the verge of going pro. They had fans and an image to uphold as role models. I absolutely loved that you could see the clear respect and understanding that they had for each other as athletes. Love that for them!

I must also mention that I adored Mack. Her dorky-ness was endearing and I loved how it fit well with Dean.

I very much enjoyed this story and you should check it out if you want a cute, summer read that involves friend groups, bucket list shenanigans , and the makings of a meaningful relationship.

**Thank you so much to Jaqueline Snowe for an advance ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **

[Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this review of The Summer Playbook on my blog, Heart's Content!

A big shout-out and thank you to the author for the complimentary copy! The opinions stated in this review are my own.

Have you watched the Japanese movie, “Our Secret Diary“? If you have, then my review of this book for you is that this book feels exactly as that movie did. It’s got all the things that throw the protagonists together, put them in heart warming and heart wrenching situations, tug at your tears and your heart strings and leave you feeling like you’ve been embraced by the best hugger in the world. It’s got all the dramatic situations that a plot would require, without any of the drama; because the resolution of all the situations happen with so much love and understanding that it really heals something inside you.

After I finished watching Our Secret Diary, I never presumed that I would read a book a week later that made me feel exactly as that movie did. The Summer Playbook is everything I never realised I wanted in a romantic comedy—though calling it only a rom-com feels like I’m doing injustice to the heartwarming and emotional journey of safety and comfort that TSP is.

I think I recall looking at the cover of TSP and the blurb and feeling like I wanted to read this book because I somehow felt as though I trusted the author even though I had never before read a work written by her. Well, my bookish instincts were bang-on.

Snowe brought to this book everything as a reader I would expect. Her writing—which to me was the single point upon which the whole book balanced beautifully—was one of the easiest I ever had to read. I had hit a mild slump following my last read, it had been a big read with lots of emotions and I needed to process. But Snowe really pulled me out of that. I started slowly, 10% at a time before I had jumped straight into the book and was done with it. The writing is warm, familiar and takes you to a place that makes you feel so safe that I never, at any point, felt the author was going to do me dirty and break my heart. I truly lived this book without one single moment of anxiety and to me there is no greater experience I could’ve had.

Here’s the deal, when I started the book I expected the plot to be straightforward. Some fun, then some serious, most likely a third act breakup or drama, rushed confessions and then a HEA. This is the usual template that is followed. So, imagine my surprise just the first scene had me feeling so very warm. It begins with what I fondly refer to as a Council of Ladies meet (the characters in the book call it a Girl Gang, but same difference). It’s when you take your vulnerabilities to your girlfriends and work on it together. It’s by far one of my favourite starts of a story. Then, imagine I see all the edges and dents on both the characters from chapter one as they lay their souls bare to themselves and thus the reader. Then, there’s friendship, trust, faith, emotions and understanding and all of it tied together so neatly with communication. Does this mean they do not make mistakes? Of course not, they do. But they talk about it.

*cries tears of relief*
*falling-apart sanity hands me a tissue*
*blows into tissue and hands it back*

(Sorry, I was having a moment.)

The pace was extremely even to me. I didn’t feel a single blip or drop and I was carried so gently and carefully through the whole book, feeling everything right along with the characters that my heart was breaking and mending with them. The book is over before you know it, but you will feel every moment of it.

The characters, oh God, the characters. The primary, secondary, tertiary, I loved them all. I likely love the characters I’m yet to meet. I love the nuance and layers in each of them, I loved that they were supportive of one another, I love that they apologised if they pushed their friends, and I loved that they took risks with them and calmed them down and built them up. Love, love, love.

I’m not saying the book is heavy. It’s not. It’s…deep, I guess. But you’re in safe hands, even if you don’t know to swim. That’s all I’m saying.

A very happy reading. Five stars, in case that wasn’t clear from my borderline incoherent gushing. Check trigger warnings! The Summer Playbook is out and available for FREE for KU subscribers!

[Jamie Engel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Jaqueline Snowe’s Central State football series. This was a sweet and spicy read that gives you all good vibes.

This story follows Mack and Dean, who you meet in the previous book. Mack is a soccer star at Central State and realizes before her senior year she has never really gotten the full college experience. So her and her friends create her a bucket list. Dean is her best friend’s brother and Mack has been crushing on him for a long time. He offers to help her complete items on her list. The more the spend time together the more the sparks fly.

Mack and Dean were truly meant for each other. Both seemed to be struggling in different ways that brought them together through the bucket list. I loved how strong and feisty Mack was. The bucket list was a great idea to give her some fun before life truly set in. The bucket list also helped Dean with his own struggles in life. I feel like both characters really grew throughout the story and came together in a beautiful way.
Absolutely love their friend group and the banter between all of them.

Thank you to Jaqueline and team for eARC. I cannot wait to continue the series.

Spice: 2

Tropes:
-Soccer FMC
-Football MMC
-College Romance
-Secret Relationship
-She Falls First, He Falls Harder
-Best Friend’s Brother
-Reformed Playboy
-No 3rd Act breakup

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im so excited to get the arc!

I loved this book. The plot was fun, I loved the idea of them working together on her summer bucket list and the chemistry between Mack and Dean was 10/10. I love how they had a connection and their attraction went beyond looks.

They had great communication which I appreciate because I hate when there is conflict between the main characters that could be solved with a simple conversation.

The friend group in this was also great. I enjoyed seeing the group dynamic when they would all hang out. I liked how the group remained a prominent part of the story and didn’t fall into the background of the romance.

[Karly Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute! You have best friend’s brother. A soccer player x football player. Friends to lovers.
Mack hasn’t done much with her college life because she’s been so focused on soccer, school and going big. Her friends help her make a summer playbook list to do things out of her comfort zone before college senior year starts!
Dean, her best friends twin brother has had a shit last 6 months. Dean finds himself drawn to Mack, and insists on helping her check the things on her list.

I loved the little relationship growth and trust built between Mack and Dean! Now onto Callum 😜👀

[radds · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5! i liked this one better than the first. i enjoyed reading about the relationship between mack and dean, and thought the idea of the summer playbook was super cute (and got me super excited for summer!). wish there was more football (i know it was summer but still) and like the first book, more depth to their relationship story.

also i was hoping we'd find out which team dean got drafted to but maybe that's for the third book?! fingers crossed we find out soon!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Sar · Rating 3 out of 5]

God Dean is so icky

[Leah Mikkelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the ARC and finished it in less than 24 hours. I really enjoyed the story and characters! It had enough spice to keep me entertained and I love dual POV books. Series are my favorite to read because I appreciate when the supporting characters have their own books so I can still keep up with them. Overall a good read with minimal conflict.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I can't give half the ratings here, I have rounded up. However, I would like to make clear that my rating is a 3.5 for this book.
Let me start by saying that Jaqueline's writing style is different than other authors I have read. The first book I ever read was First Meet Foul and, while I liked the book, I found the style of dialogue confusing. This is now the second book of Jaqueline's that I have read, and I read them both back to back, so I was able to get into it a bit more.
Other experienced authors are most consistent with the flow of their books. The technique that they use is structured, even when portraying a scene of confusion. Jaqueline's writing is more "chaotic". The character's thought process bounces around, it flows from topic A to topic B, is sidetracked by topic C, and then circles back to topic A. As a reader, it is a bit confusing but it's authentic. As humans, that is what our thought process is like. Reading 1 book with an unstructured structure is confusing but as I read these books back to back, I got used to the rhythm and enjoyed it more.

Now, as for the characters - I would rate this book a 3. I love the friendship between the girls and the connection they have with Callum, and even with Oliver. We know there is a connection between Luca and Dean because of the obvious relationships, but it was nice to see the larger group come together and hang out and be comfortable. And the girls, you can tell they are each other's found family. I was missing the humor that we saw in First Meets Foul. Luca's grandmother was pure gold in the first book of the series and I'm sad we didn't get that comic relief from anyone in this second book. It was a sweet, feel-good story where we learned to believe in ourselves, trust your people (you choose them for a reason), and enjoy life. However, I needed some laugh-out-loud moments. It's obvious that Mack is passionate about soccer, female athletic opportunities, and following her dream. Dean works hard but it feels like he almost takes his future as a given so it's nice to see how he has to humble his ego and allow people to get close to him the person and not him the athlete. I love how we were given more examples of the bond between Dean and Loralei. They really do have each other's backs, care about each other, and are BFFs as well as siblings/twins.
The spice is good but if you decide to pick up this book, know that it is going to make you feel all warm and tingly inside.

Oh, and to Jessica, the fame-seeking, man-using cleat chaser....we see you. We do not appreciate you. Good luck with that college drop-out (don't know if she actually dropped out), young mother life you found for yourself. Karma can be a bitch.

Also, I loved the teaser at the end confirming that Callum and Oliver are going to end up with girlfriends during some part of their senior year. I really hope the next book is on Callum and a certain athletic trainer. I'm so curious about their backstory.

[nikkyireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. It was fun, but the slang and abbreviations made me CRAZY. 🫠 I need Callums story 1 star for him alone.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Marissa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:
⚽️ Mackenzie Mallinson : All of Mack’s life she has been serious and “perfect”. She’s been uber focused on school and making it as a pro soccer player after graduation. Unfortunately, this has held her back from living outside of her comfort zone. Until.. her friends help her create a Summer Playbook full of all the things she’s never done. And gains her a partner for all the things in the process… She’s always had a crush on Dean but he’s always seen her as his twins best friend and labeled her as off limits.
.
🏈 Dean Romano : Dean Romano has been through a lot over the last few years. A once playboy now quiet and reserved because of just one night that he won’t talk about with anyone but his best friend Luca. He finds this playbook created for Mack intriguing and it has brought back a spark in him that he hasn’t felt in a long time.. so he decides to go along for the ride with her.
..
✨Thoughts :
This was such an adorable read. As an athlete myself, it’s refreshing to read about two athletes finding a connection. It was fun seeing Mack step out of her comfort zone, simply because I’ve been there. When you’re so focused on a sport, it’s hard to see outside of it. Dean was frustrating at times but it was encouraging to watch him work through his emotions and doubts. I LOVED how supportive they were of each other and how they are each other’s number one fan! This is book 2 in an interconnected series and it’s available as of today 2/6 👏🏽 : book one being First Meet Foul. ❤️
..
Read this if you like :
⚽️ Athlete romance
🏈 Best Friends brother (twin)
⚽️ Dual POV
🏈 Summer fun
⚽️ Secret dating
..
*I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and these are solely my opinions. I’m so thankful for to have been given the opportunity! Thank you Jaqueline, I loved it! ❤️

[Candace Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Spoilers ✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞/𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫:

The Summer Playbook - Jacqueline Snowe

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

- Mack Mallinson
- Dean Romano

𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

“No, I’ll always think about you because you helped bring me back to life in a way.”

"Is love thinking about someone all the damn time? Because I do. I see you in the sun and the way the fresh cut grass reminds me of you or rainbows."

"Is love feeling your actual heart beat faster around someone? Because feel my chest, Mack. It’s beating so fucking hard because of hearing you tell me you love me? Its… its maddening in the best way."

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Macks got everything in the world. It's going great, but why does she feel like something is wrong. Finally, reaching out to her friends they plan a bucket list of fun before the summer ends. Dean's been burned and he's over it all but he thinks he can help Mack with her list, just for the summer. Both catch feelings but the timer is clicking.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

I LOVED the friendship aspect of this book. They were all so close and fun. They took such good care of each other. The girls and the guys. Everyone had such funny banter. Mack was so sweet and innocent. I loved reading about her coming out of her shell. Then Dean was such a a mess but he started to fall hard for his girl. Then doing the bucket list together was so much fun. The slow building of this relationship was perfect. They both had so much room to grow. The ending had a little plot twist I wasn't expecting but it turned out to be good. I loved the ending and the way they made the list continue. This was a sweet but spicy story and I loved what I read.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:

• Best friends twin brother
• He falls hard
• Soccer/Football
• Bucket list
• Wonderful friendships

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞:

🌶️🌶️/5

[Jenn Knight (coffee.bibliophile.mama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Mallinson knows soccer; she’s dedicated her entire life to a tight schedule of practices, workouts & training. As her senior year of college approaches she knows this summer is her last opportunity to live a little & loosen up before graduation & entering the pros. She doesn’t want soccer to define her whole life so, with the help of her best friend Lo & her teammates they make a summer bucket list of fun & wild things for Mack to complete.

Dean Romano, star quarterback & Lo’s twin brother, was the life of the party until his ex hurt him. While he doesn’t miss being the quintessential playboy he hopes he can reconnect with a fun & carefree life before he starts his NFL career after graduation. When he hears about Mack’s summer bucket list he thinks that may his answer to getting his mojo back.

Mack wants to do this list with someone she trusts so she’s excited when her longtime crush Dean offers to complete the list with her. The problem? Both don’t want to catch feelings before they head off to their professional sports careers. With things like skinny dipping & make out with someone on the list things quickly heat up between the two. So they make a deal: whatever is happening between them ends when they finish the list. Will Mack & Dean be able to cross everything off the list before their summer fling turns into something deeper?

This book was so much fun! The plot was solid, the cast of characters were well developed & the spice level stayed at a 10 throughout. This isn’t a slow burn but you do have to wait a bit for things to develop…and trust me its worth the wait! Yes the spice was off the charts but care was taken to develop relatable main characters. This one had some of my favorite tropes as well, including:

Best friend’s brother
She falls first, he falls harder
Sports romance (football & soccer)
College romance

The Summer Playbook is the second book in the Central State Football series but can be rad as a standalone. This is my first book by Jaqueline Snowe & I have to say I’m an immediate fan! I’d definitely recommend this if you love fun sports romances & spicy reads!

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

This book was just downright adorable! I loved The Summer Playbook from start to finish. It was a breath of fresh air, and felt like summer nights and hopefulness and finding happiness in living! I can’t describe just how giddy this book made me, but I ate up every moment between Dean and Mack and loved everything about how good they were together.

TROPES ⬇️
✨ Best Friend’s Brother
✨ College Sports Romance
✨ Soccer Player FMC/ Football Player MMC
✨ Bucketlist
✨ Friends with Benefits
✨ She falls first/ He falls harder
✨ Reformed Playboy

Dean and Mack are student athletes entering their senior year of college. Mack is focused on her sport and wants one last chance at a summer of letting loose before she had to buckle down, so she and her friends make a list to get her out of her comfort zone. Dean is her best friend’s brother and the football captain who is struggling after emotional upheaval the previous year. When Mack is the one thing that still makes him smile, he offers to do the list with her and explore the chemistry bubbling between them just for the summer. But what happens when it turns from fun to so much more.

I loved these two characters so much! They just got each other on a fundamental level and they were so good together. I loved how they didn’t fight their attraction to each other, I loved how much they opened up and shared, and I loved that they weren’t afraid to experiment because they trusted each other. All of it just made me fall hard for both of them.

And the spice was so good! Hello red bandana scene! 🔥🔥

If you want a fun book that’s low angst, with no third act breakup and a ton of adorable moments, a great friend group and some excellent spice, read this one now!

[Whispering Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! Jaqueline Snowe has never disappointed me! This book was everything I wanted in a friends to lovers romance. I love how it starts off with Mack having a massive crush on Dean (he’s obviously oblivious). And with Dean having his trust broken and trying to move on from something that shook him to his core. Mack’s friends create The Summer Playbook list, which is a bucket list for the summer. Mack enlists Dean’s help, which leads to them becoming close friends, and ultimately, a summer fling.

Just…wow wow wow! Loved it! It was incredibly fun from beginning to end; very lighthearted. The chemistry is unmatched!! Mack and Dean are magnets! And the dirty talk had me blushing! I always forget how good Jaqueline Snowe is at writing romances and dirty talk, so I always end up surprised, even when I shouldn’t be.

One of the things I love about this author is her ability to create these wonderful, close-knit friendship groups; they’re some of my faves, and the friendship in this group is fantastic!

IF YOU LIKE
– reformed player
– fmc soccer player x mmc football player
– best friend’s brother
– summer fling
– bucket list
– slightly tortured hero

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Playbook is a fun, spicy, best friend’s brother sports romance, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved Mackenzie and Dean instantly. She’s tough, loyal, and just an all-around girls girl. He’s sweet, unexpectedly sensitive, and has the hot brooding thing locked down. Their chemistry was incredible and the tension between them was fantastic, but my favorite part about these two was reading along as they grew and healed together. This book was much more than a summer romance. It was two people with their own fears, insecurities, and struggles who made each other feel safe and secure and who brought out the best parts of each other. What a sweet love story they shared.

In addition to making me giggle and kick my feet, The Summer Playbook had me laughing. I love this friend group. I love the side characters. I love Dean’s inner delusional monologue. Him and his denial were fighting a losing battle the whole book. “It’s just a summer fling” but he uses every excuse he can to be near her, misses her when he’s not with her, and gets jealous when other guys flirt with her. The king of delusion, truly. I loved seeing him get over that and realize how madly in love with Mack he was. These two were made for each other!

[Cedy Redcay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to get the ARC of this book!. The story follows Mack who is a soccer star at her college. During her senior year, she realizes that she never got the full college experience and creates a bucket list. Her best friend’s brother, Dean, quickly offers to help her finish the list. Sparks fly as they begin to complete it together.

This was a cute and easy read that would be perfect for the summer. The chemistry that Dean and Mack have is undeniable. While the list is first meant to be fun, I like that we get to see them come into their own. Mack gets to let loose and we see Dean really start to deal with some of the problems he holds inside. I do wish it was a little longer and we could have a look into some of those deeper conversations, but overall I liked it!

Jacqueline Snowe creates a good balance of serious and funny moments. Seeing the side characters makes me excited for the rest of the series to be released!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mack and Dean are total goals.

Tropes:
💜: Best Friends’s brother
🖤: Soccer player/Football player
💜: She falls first, he falls harder
🖤: Summer Fling
💜: Reformed playboy
🖤: Secret Relationship


I was so exited to see I’d received an ARC of this book. Love the Central State universe Jaqueline had created and so happy to dove back into it.

Mack is so focused on soccer and getting to the next level she feels like she hasn’t been living her life to the fullest potential. Enter her friends/ teammate and the ultimate summer bucket list is born. A few risky things are added so Mack can have a fun last summer before senior year starts. Enter Dean Mack’s best friend’s brother, the schools quarterback, and notorious playboy around campus, who’s been in a funk that no one can figure out. When he hears about the list he can’t help but want to be an active participant. Especially for the ones that involve seeing a whole lot more of his twins bestie than ever before. Both agree it’s only for the summer but the two grow closer as they check more items off the list. And start to wonder it this summer fling could be the real thing.

Such a great story so excited for book 3!

[Arlette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I mean when I say sometimes I’m just here for the vibes.

Mack and Dean are cute; there’s nothing special about their characters, the romance, or the plot, but this also wasn’t super irritating, so this was still a nice experience.

Two things that did bother me:
1. The constant reminder that Mack is a dorky tomboy. The others kept saying “ah gee, this girl” for the most BASIC things that she would do. I noticed that the author tends to make her FMCs so quirky 🤪 and reminds you of it every other chapter.
2. The entire bucket list is repeated so many times—it’s a long list, too.

Overall, this worked just fine as background audio while I played my phone games. I smiled, rolled my eyes a few times, and then instantly moved on.

Audiobook side note: I really liked Andria Mae’s narration—her Dean voice was kind and gentle, I loved it. I didn’t enjoy Tyler Donne’s narration. He sounded like he was narrating a wildlife documentary.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so happy I was about to get an ARC of this book. I fell in love with book 1 and I feel in love with book 2. Mack is super focused on soccer she loves it but something is missing. She wants to have a life more than soccer. She wants to have fun. She wants to do something out of her comfort zone. This is how her summer playlist comes onto. This list is created by her friends and Callum a football player. Things get interesting when her best friend and teammate brothers Dean becomes involved with this list. Dean has always been a playboy and never been in a relationship. Thay changed when a girl messed with his mind and he wasn't the guy as before. Dean is helping Mack with this list and things happen in the process of things getting checked off. I love Mack and Dean's story. I can't wait for book 3.