Playmates

Mates #2

by Nova Banks

Rosalie Huntington is a rising ballerina with a wild side—parties, poor choices, and a toxic popstar boyfriend. After a chaotic night, she wakes up with no memory and a crime pinned to her name.

Jayce Thornton had it all—fame, fortune, and a promising NHL career—until a devastating injury ended everything. Now he’s left with nothing but a deep dive into cheap whiskey bottles. When Rosie, his best friend’s little sister, shows up begging for his help, he should say no. Instead, he helps her cover up a crime, getting his hands dirty right along with hers.

And the closer they get to exposing what really happened, the more they realize they’re not just fighting the law—they’re fighting their growing feelings for each other too.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2025

Reviews

[Chiara^•^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playmates by Nova Banks
4/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️

This book is different compared to other hockey romance stories I've read! There’s not a lot of hockey action because the main character, Jay, is dealing with a tough injury that cut his career short. Instead, the focus is on the healing journey of two people who are struggling to find themselves again.

Jay, at 31, was a captain of the hockey team, but after his injury, he fell into a deep depression. He feels lost without hockey, pushes away his loved ones, and turns to alcohol to cope. Then there's Rosie, a talented ballerina from Juilliard who's just landed a big role. But with her demanding schedule, she turns to parties and drugs to unwind. When she finds herself in a tough spot and doesn’t know who to turn to, she reaches out to Jay for help.

I felt connected to Jay, especially as he struggled with the fallout from his injury. My heart broke for him every time he faced his pain. I understood why he pushed his friends away and avoided watching hockey. But what stood out to me was his protectiveness towards Rosie, even while he was dealing with his issues. It was inspiring to see him decide to take steps toward healing and allow others to support him.

Rosie’s character development is incredible! After facing the consequences of her drug use, she realizes she needs to change. I loved that, despite coming from a wealthy background, she’s not spoiled and genuinely strives for independence. Watching her surround herself with caring people and be a big part of Jay's journey to stop drinking was uplifting.

The chemistry between Jay and Rosie is off the charts! I loved how comfortable they were being vulnerable with each other. They help one another heal and become better versions of themselves. Their struggles felt real and relatable, making their journey together so compelling. Also, there’s a bit of mystery woven throughout the story that kept me hooked from start to finish!

[Madison (madinotmaddiereads)]

dnf at 40%

i love how this started and felt like the higher stakes presented true promise but the main characters’ relationship progressed so sporadically and so early in that the intrigue unraveled for me.

thank you to greys pr for the opportunity to review a digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌

[María · Rating 2 out of 5]

Todo iba bien hasta que A MENOS DE 50 PÁGINAS se ponen a hacerlo de la forma más anti climática de la historia. Verdaderamente DECEPCIONANTE.

[Avery · Rating 2 out of 5]

i wanted to like this book but the plot was all over the place. we don’t really get to see the MC’s fall in love you just keep reading and all of the sudden he loves her and its always been her and she just automatically loves him back. also i don’t really like how the author portrayed addiction. i think if you want to dive into a hard, dark topic you should give it your all and instead it was just i party and drink and do drugs bc i’m stressed but i feel bad after and he just drank and drank and drank and then got in a relationship and stopped??? just like that?? please. also there were so many loose ends like what happened with vaughn or even charlotte for their involvement? it just wasn’t fully thought out and seemed rushed.

[beep · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOVED the idea, HATED the execution. The only solution I can think of is that I should've written this instead, next time just hand me then pen.

beta readers need to stop lying to you.

[Rachell Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never truly got the ick in a book until this one . Idk what it was . It was going so good until it wasn’t . Like one moment the MMC just felt to dependent on the MFC. Also he just seem way older then what he was at time then other times seen young idk . Maybe it was just me . Also got the ick when the MFC called him daddy . It just felt so random and not like her at all . Idk but I did enjoy the plot and it’s truly the only reason why I finished .

I do want to thank Greys promotion for the ARC !

[Katelyn Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Rosalie and Jayce. Jayce is a NHL player who has a career ending injury and Rosalie is a ballerina who likes to take the edge off. Rosalie gets herself into trouble and calls Jayce to help her and so begins their relationship . This has mentions of drug and alcohol addiction. This is a great brother best friend and age gap trope. The spice scenes were good and it was a great book overall.

[Felicia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Kindle Review ✨
Playmates book 2- (Mate Series)
Nova Banks
22/04/25
322pgs
🌟🌟🌟 🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️

🩷Fave Quote🩷-"I'm fucking that attitude out of your system. "


⚠️ Check trigger warnings before diving into this book.. ⚠️

This is book 2 in the mates series so please go read the first book. First of all  Rinkmates was so good  &  this book didn't disappoint either I absolutely loved it, I have never been a fan of Brothers Best Friend trope or Age Gap too much but I seriously loved it in this book. Rosalie & Jayce are made for each other both of them struggling with their own personal  demons to addiction, both completely lost within themselves but together, they just work so well, they support & lift each other up & no matter what they never give up on one another they mended each other's souls. 🥹 I seriously love them so much. The spicy scenes were hot AF, Jay being all dominated & shit,🥵 but one thing I didn't like is the god dam word "Daddy" I just can not it turns me off the story straight away I actually nearly stopped reading  the book  it's just so cringeworthy. Thank god it wasn't used too much only twice I think it was..  😬  I'm  actually excited for the next book cannot  I need it asap, Nova Banks is becoming  a new favourite author of mine. I highly recommend you run to read this series because it's amazing.🥰

Trope's-
🩰Ballerina FMC
⛸️Hockey Player MMC
🩰Healing Journey
⛸️Forbidden Romance
🩰Mental Health Rep
⛸️Age Gap
🩰 Forbidden Love
⛸️Brothers Best Friend
🩰Angst
⛸️Grumpy+Sunshine
🩰Secret Romance
⛸️Sports Romance
🩰Hockey x Ballet
⛸️It's Always Been You
🩰Touch Her & Die
⛸️Drug Use
🩰 Trigger Warnings

[Tijana Jovicevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book you guys! From the very start the something about the mood drew me in. Age gaps, addiction, hockey, ballet, mystery, romance that’s sort of forbidden… it has it all!!

Rosie is as strong as they come. Ballet is a rough loyal game, same as hockey. It takes all you’ve got and then asks for more if you want excellence. Her struggles are so relatable in a way, the need for attention, for love, for more time to achieve something. She’s wiser than her young years and that’s also part of why she got stuck on an older man who was hurting like her.

Jay is just like Rosie but in male form. Trying to figure out how he can still be him without doing that one thing he thinks is the only way he can be the man people look up to. He wants Rosie, he needs help, he needs change and being with Rosie gets that fight out of him.

I love that they are each others anchor. Though it’s a trauma bond of sorts, they make the best out of it and fight to surivive together. They want to be better, they each want the other to be their best self and that’s how they help each other. It’s honestly one of the best reads! All the tension, the wondering with that mystery sub plot ties it all together with a perfect bow! Nova Banks is new to me but I will definitely be adding her to my anything by list!

She gave us everything in this one and it was a blast! A living, loving, powerful story that just shows us all we can get out of bad habits and that love can come from unlikely places. That achievement is not everything and that life is worth living! Thank you Nova 🖤 these two stole my heart and your writing was amazing!

[Becsbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie Huntington is a rising ballerina with a wild side-parties, poor choices, and a toxic popstar boyfriend.
After a chaotic night, she wakes up with no memory and a crime pinned to her name.
Jayce Thornton had it all-fame, fortune, and a promising NHL career-until a devastating injury ended everything. Now he's left with nothing but a deep dive into cheap whiskey bottles. When Rosie, his best friend's little sister, shows up begging for his help, he should say no. Instead, he helps her cover up a crime, getting his hands dirty right along with hers. And the closer they get to exposing what really happened, the more they realise they're not just fighting the law-they're fighting their growing feelings.


This isn't just about a ballerina and a fallen hockey star, but it's also about addiction, recovery, healing, and redemption. There's also a bit of mystery woven through the plot that had me on edge and flipping pages, trying to piece everything together. I loved how the suspense added another layer to an already rich storyline.

𝕊𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤:
"She's my sin. My poison. My virtue. My antidote. My everything."


Thanks to Nova & Grey’s promo for the ARC 💕

[Briana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Nova for letting me be apart of this ARC Team!
Rate: 5/5⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶️

What to expect when reading Playmates;
-Forbidden Love
-Age Gap
-Forced Proximity
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Brothers Best friend
-Ballerina x Hockey

Ohhhhhhhh this was SO GOOD! Jay & Rosie might be my favorite couple in this series so far. I enjoyed Riley & Liora from book one, but these two took the cake! The mystery had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was happening. I devoured this book, I couldn't put it down! Even with the heavy topics it talked about, I couldn't get enough of them, I do wish we got to see them together more as a couple, that being said the storyline was chef's kiss so it makes up for it. 

This is definitely going into my top favorite books of 2025.


Fav Quote: “Do you trust me princess” & “Ruins….. my aesthetic”

Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases April 21st🩶
#bookstagram #romance #review

[Sarah Poulton-Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She’s my sin. My poison. My virtue. My antidote. My everything."

I love a romance with some gritty undertones. This is the story of Jayce who is forced to retire from his beloved ice hockey after an injury. He seeks solace in the bottom of too many bottles. And then there is Rosie. Brilliant ballerina and drug addict. When she finds herself in a car accident with no memory and an injured rockstar in the passenger seat, the only person she can turn to is Jayce.

These two have a connection born of familiarity and a long history together as friends. They both have their trauma and they find strength in each other to overcome their dependence. I loved that they both wanted to get themselves healthier to function as a couple.

I think the realities of dependence were glossed over a little. But then it was explored enough for a romance novel. I didn't necessarily need the pain of withdrawal to know the emotional impact their addictions were having on them. This story is more about their motivation to be better.

These two have great chemistry and the story was compelling. I loved the intrigue and investigation elements. I also loved the hints at what is to come for the side characters and teammates. A fun and sometimes steamy sports based romance.


Themes:

Recovery from addiction
Finding strength from your person
Longterm sports injury
Brothers best friend

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
📕: Playmates by Nova Banks
Why you’ll love this book!!
Brother’s Best Friend
Ballerina FMC
Hockey Player MMC
Forbidden Romance
Mental Health Rep
Healing Journey

This was my first book by author Nova Banks and it did not disappoint this was a roller coaster of a book and I ate it up!!
Rosalie and Jayce have both been through a lot they are very protective of each other after something happens to both of them.I loved getting to see them find their strength after going on such dark paths..

[Mahalia Coad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Jayce and Rosalie and thought their relationship was cute. But the plot was so over the place. I feel like the plot and characters were described at a base level and we didn’t really get to know enough about them all. I understand the relationship between jayce and Rosalie, and why it felt rushed, because of their situation as brothers best friend. But I wish that there was more to their relationship. It was very much like oh now I have you I love you and I’ll marry you. Which I can understand but it was definitely missing something.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided the arc for a honest review of the book.

This was such an interesting read. I fell in love with the characters since chapter 1, the obsession they have for one another is out of this world.

The story felt specially interesting because the plot is not only a romance book but there’s also a little of a mystery in there, that made the plot even more appealing.

If I had to point something out it would be how at some point things felt a little rushed and repetitive, but nothing out of this world that would impact the experience of it.

[lena_likes_to_read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the realistic portrayal of addiction, especially because it's such a big part of the story.

I wanted to see more flashbacks where we maybe could see more of their pining for each other. I did like their sneaking around and how oblivious Riley is. He is such more of a goof in this book than in his own one.


Thank you Nova Banks and Greys Promotions for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalie + Jayce

-brothers best friend
-forced proximity
-injured hockey player
-professional ballerina
-healing journey
-age gap

i loved them!!! idk how nova does it but she writes so much more than just typical sport romances!! they have so much suspense & plot & i just love them so much!! these two were soooo down bad with each other & i was so. here. for. the piningggg ahhh!!

[Jen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone needs a Jay in their life. While he is not perfect, and sure he comes with his own struggles and baggage, he is fiercely protective and never once let Rosalie down. This was a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[gabriela torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW.
This book was actually painfully hard to read. Everything felt rushed and like i wasn’t given enough information at times.
As soon as I saw the conflict coming I realized I wasn’t going to like the book. There was no lead up to anything it was just 1,2,3.
Chapters were mislabeled with which person was narrating so I had to second guess whose perspective I was reading.
I wasn’t engaged or interested in the characters. It just felt like something I had to finish.

[Tatum Harkavy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! love these characters! I love LOVE this series!! great character arcs, interesting, fast-paced story, and great spice! I can't wait for the next one. Thank you so much for this ARC!!!

[Jess M · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Nova Banks, I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for the next one!

[Emma Vacek · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun book with a twist of mystery that isn't your usually mystery. characters are kind and forgiving and the theme of addiction is handled well. I really like the tension with our male and female leads!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Tropes:
Brother’s best friend
Tortured characters
Age gap
Sports romance
It’s always been you

Loved 🥰:
- the “you’re finally mine” moments 🫠
- the realistic feeling of how substance abuse and addiction was addressed

Liked ☺️:
- the wider cast of characters & the set up for the next book
- good communication between the characters
- not 3rd act break up

Drawbacks (for me personally) 🤷🏻‍♀️:
- the ending for me felt rushed. I would have liked to see a certain incident not happen and have other incidents fleshed out with a bit more depth

Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Range & rep:
Adult romance
Drug & alcohol addiction

[Stef(midnight_reads_addict) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this read. It was my first by this author and I look forward to reading more books from her. It had it all drama, spice, a brother’s best friend, and so much more. I’m excited for the next book in this series! Happy Reading.

[D. L. Foley | My Last Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice Meter: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥.5

General Thoughts: First, can we talk about the cover? Isn't it stunning! I loved so much about what Nova did here. She created really deep, multifaced characters. They felt real to me. I also loved the careful way she explored addiction and mental health and trying to get better and how people deal with grief. The writing itself was great, and I really enjoyed it. I flew through this one. Nova is a great writer, and I will definitely read more by her. If you like books that tackle real themes and issues, then this is a great one. Probably best read in order, but you could jump in like I did here. I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Grey's Promotions.

Romantic Tropes and Things of Note:
-dual POV
-romantic suspense
-sports/hockey adjacent
-drugs/alcoholism/addiction
-brother's best friend/best friend's sister
-off-limits
-secret romance
-close proximity
-ballerina FMC

You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

[Jalene Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie and Jayce are two sides of the same coin. Jayce is struggling with no longer being on the ice and Rosalie battling her own will when it comes to drugs and partying. When Rosalie finds herself in trouble after a night out, she calls Jayce to help her. 


Throughout the book, the two work together to figure out Rosalies' night and navigate their obvious feelings for one another. 


Nova Banks touched on some very real issues that many will relate to. It was a beautiful story with the perfect amount of spice, mystery, and trauma. 

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine)]

Already a BIG yes. 😍

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta review for Playmates by @authornovabanks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Back in March I was lucky enough to be able to beta read for Nova and still over a month later I still find myself almost daily thinking about Jay, Rosie and their story.
When I read Nova’s debut Rinkmates last year I found myself so immersed in this little universe she had created and was so excited when she announced Jay and Rosie’s story would be next.

My favourite part about Playmates was that it was SO different to Rinkmates and although we didn’t get much hockey in this one I found it fit their story perfectly. With Jay being injured it made so much sense for the story to focus on his life after his injury. This story was so incredibly raw and emotional I found myself throughout so many parts of this story just soaking up all of Jay and Rosie’s pain and emotions that came from both their struggles. The way Nova handled both of the MC’s addiction struggles was very well written and even though the topics were heavy I didn’t feel like it overpowered the rest of the story to much. I highly enjoyed watching them both be vulnerable with each other and help each other through their own battles with their addictions and all the other trouble that was thrown their way.

Rosie’s character development really surprised me I was so happy to see a different side of her to what we had seen in the little snippets in Rinkmates. The soup scene was my absolute favourite!! This read was a highly emotional read for me I found myself giggling then the next I was crying, these two were just so beautiful together.
Throw in the mystery aspect and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

This is still my most highlighted and written notes I’ve ever left in a book. Sorry to Nova for all my spam messages while reading haha but I had the best time beta reading this one and am already dying for the next book!
I don’t want to say to much more about the plot because I don’t want to spoil anything but please go check it out once it’s released.

Thanks so much @authornovabanks for letting me be apart of this and beta reading Rosie and Jay’s story I can’t wait to see what you do next 💋

[Ashley Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's a ballerina who is spiraling in addiction and he's the damaged older hockey player who is her brother's best friend... both of them are forbidden from each other, especially dealing with their own addictions... yet when she is framed for an incident she has no memory of and he's the only person she can turn to... keeping their hands off each other might be impossible. Rosalie Huntington has it all, she's a rising ballerina who is also the daughter of a wealthy mogul... yet she's got a wild side, going to parties, doing drugs, and having a toxic popstar boyfriend. Yet one party ends up with her in a car crash with someone she definitely was not suppose to be with along with the fact that she has no memory of what happened that night... and now she's positive she's been drugged and the only person she can turn to is her brother's best friend, the one guy she's always had a crush on who has been off limits, Jayce Thornton. Jayce had it all, he was famous, rich, and had a promising NHL career... until his devastating injury that has left him with a cane and a new addiction to alcohol. Jayce has cut off everyone... except when Rosie calls him he will do anything for her. Jayce has always loved her but he knew he couldn't be with her because 1. he's way too old for her (he's 8 years older) 2. he's her brother's best friend 3. his life is over but she has a promising career ahead of her... yet he can't say no to her. Rosie and Jayce have to figure out what happened and get Rosie's memory back while also trying to clear her of the scandal... and of the police coming after her. All the while Rosie has decided she's no longer going to delve into her wildside... instead she's found her new addiction and that is Jayce and she'll do anything to not only help him but make him see she's done waiting and she wants a future with him. This was such a great read. I adored the romance between Rosie and Jayce. They're both two people working through a lot but they love one another and support one another no matter what. It is the second book in the series but you can absolutely read this as a standalone! It's a fantastic read with a great age gap/ brother's best friend romance and I loved the mystery element too!!

Release Date: April 22, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Grey's Promotion for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Kelsey-rose💘 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to nova banks and greys promotions for the earc copy of playmates

Rating :4.75⭐️

The playlist I made for Jayce & Rosalie - the second couple - I’ve read the arc of the book they are from in & made a playlist for them : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Ql...

I absolutely loved this - I devoured it in one day. I knew the moment I read the arc for rinkmates back in September that I would absolutely love whatever nova bank wrote. I was right because god I loved This. Was it the same kind of book? No but was it perfect yes!!

This couple was one i fell in love with - Rosie the drug addict and Jay the alcoholic- falling in love / battling their addictions together - being sweet to each other . This was everything fr .

There were many moments in this book that I had tears in my eyes . That was because of the scenes that were sweet + sad - the diaglogue between Jay and Rosie !! Them just being so open and honest with each other !! One minute you will be in giggling and happy & the next you will be crying / at least feeling sad and because of the emotion / depth of this book.

This book made me realize I need to read more books like this because I absolutely seem to love them .

The spice in this book was actually hot & made sense because of the communication between these two was just aaah !!!

The fact Jay calls her princess & an assortment of the classic but sweet and cute and swoon worthy nicknames . I absolutely loved that every time he called her princess I was out here swooning so hard

Rosie & Jay are just it for me !! What makes it even better is that there is no 3rd act breakup - no unnecessary drama . The conflict wasn’t really a conflict but something that happens .


Now i love romance but i especially love romance when there’s a plot that’s like a romantic suspense!!

Something happens to Rosalie one night - she wakes up in a car not knowing what’s happened . She calls Jay and they find out there are pictures of her - that she doesn’t even remember happening . A CRIME HAPPENS AND they try and find out what truly happened that night. SHE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS SHE DOESNT USUALLY TAKE. It’s got a good mystery plot and I love it.

The romance although not the main plot line ( by that I mean the book focus’s on their relationship- not The buildup) + the cool mystery plot line of finding out what happened that night . The romance still plays a big part of the book !!!

We got to see the hockey team again and see Riley and Liora ( the love interests) from the first book. Seeing them again was fun .

The ending was just perfect like so perfect .
I’m excited for priya and her love interests book . That will definitely be a fun ride.