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Play You For It
In this sizzling sapphic romance, sparks fly between a sports journalist and her latest source—the first woman to be named head coach of a D1 men's basketball team—but are they willing to risk their careers for a shot at love?
When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men's college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story. After years of scraping her way into the world of sports reporting, Beck knows that snagging the first one-on-one interview with the elusive head coach could be her big break. But Jordan is wary of the media and the attention her historic new appointment attracts, especially as her boss makes it clear that it’s a temporary assignment—and if she doesn’t lead the team to victory, it won’t become permanent.
Beck's persistence, however, charms Jordan and she agrees to sit down for an interview. The two women have undeniable chemistry—but journalists definitely can’t fall for sources, and Jordan certainly can’t fully trust the ambitious reporter who has every reason to use her team secrets for the next big scoop. Though they both know it would ruin their reputations and likely also cost them their jobs if anyone found out they were romantically involved, they can't seem to stay away from each other.
With the national tournament in sight and both of their careers on the line, they must decide whether to take the shot on their budding love story—or walk away from the risky game they’ve been playing for good.
When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men's college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story. After years of scraping her way into the world of sports reporting, Beck knows that snagging the first one-on-one interview with the elusive head coach could be her big break. But Jordan is wary of the media and the attention her historic new appointment attracts, especially as her boss makes it clear that it’s a temporary assignment—and if she doesn’t lead the team to victory, it won’t become permanent.
Beck's persistence, however, charms Jordan and she agrees to sit down for an interview. The two women have undeniable chemistry—but journalists definitely can’t fall for sources, and Jordan certainly can’t fully trust the ambitious reporter who has every reason to use her team secrets for the next big scoop. Though they both know it would ruin their reputations and likely also cost them their jobs if anyone found out they were romantically involved, they can't seem to stay away from each other.
With the national tournament in sight and both of their careers on the line, they must decide whether to take the shot on their budding love story—or walk away from the risky game they’ve been playing for good.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2025
26 people are currently reading
8832 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
July 17, 2025
I read some other reviews of this book that described it as light and fluffy but I couldn't disagree more. "Play You For It" is a sweet, sapphic sports romance that also covers some deeper themes, like homophobia, sexism, unaccepting families, and toxic workplaces for women trying to succeed in professions dominated by men.
I devoured this one in one or two sittings. I don't see enough forbidden love romances between reporters and their sources and I'd love to see more of them. When her coach moves on to a new job, assistant head coach Jordan D'Amato is promoted to head coach at David Douglas, and becomes the first women's head coach of a Division 1 college basketball team. But she faces hostility at every turn, from management determined to fire her for every mistake to a team she's trying too hard to prove herself to.
But then she's pursued by a scrappy reporter for a regional news channel, determined to get a one-on-one. But sparks fly and Jordan, who's openly gay, and Caroline Beck, who's realizing she's bi, soon can't deny their attraction, despite their forbidden relationship needing to stay in the shadows.
I loved the idea of a coach and a reporter as love interests, and I liked how this didn't focus on the women's game. A lot of sports romances aren't really about sports and that is just a setting for the romance, but this book put sports front and center. So if you don't like sports you will likely find this tedious. As someone who loves basketball though, I appreciated the accurate references to the game. The love of the game really shone through these pages as the catalyst for a sizzling romance.
It was a little instalust, but the forbidden nature of their relationship still kept the tension high as they can only see each other through heated looks and secret dates.
I also appreciated how I could tell the author was a broadcast journalist, because her knowledge of the profession really shone through and added color to the story. I hope she never worked at a TV station like Beck's but as a former print journalist the toxicity is sadly common to the industry.
Beck deals with sexism and harassment on the daily, including an annoying man who keeps asking her out. I was rooting for her to get her big break.
I also loved the idea of them as a sports power couple and their safe space for each other. I found it inspiring how Jordan got the team on her side and was rooting for them to go all the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I devoured this one in one or two sittings. I don't see enough forbidden love romances between reporters and their sources and I'd love to see more of them. When her coach moves on to a new job, assistant head coach Jordan D'Amato is promoted to head coach at David Douglas, and becomes the first women's head coach of a Division 1 college basketball team. But she faces hostility at every turn, from management determined to fire her for every mistake to a team she's trying too hard to prove herself to.
But then she's pursued by a scrappy reporter for a regional news channel, determined to get a one-on-one. But sparks fly and Jordan, who's openly gay, and Caroline Beck, who's realizing she's bi, soon can't deny their attraction, despite their forbidden relationship needing to stay in the shadows.
I loved the idea of a coach and a reporter as love interests, and I liked how this didn't focus on the women's game. A lot of sports romances aren't really about sports and that is just a setting for the romance, but this book put sports front and center. So if you don't like sports you will likely find this tedious. As someone who loves basketball though, I appreciated the accurate references to the game. The love of the game really shone through these pages as the catalyst for a sizzling romance.
It was a little instalust, but the forbidden nature of their relationship still kept the tension high as they can only see each other through heated looks and secret dates.
I also appreciated how I could tell the author was a broadcast journalist, because her knowledge of the profession really shone through and added color to the story. I hope she never worked at a TV station like Beck's but as a former print journalist the toxicity is sadly common to the industry.
Beck deals with sexism and harassment on the daily, including an annoying man who keeps asking her out. I was rooting for her to get her big break.
I also loved the idea of them as a sports power couple and their safe space for each other. I found it inspiring how Jordan got the team on her side and was rooting for them to go all the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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January 9, 2026
Oh I'm a sucker for a good sports romance, and I INHALED this book.
Jordan is a no-nonsense coach who just became the first female head coach of a D1 men's basketball team after her mentor moved up to coach the NBA. Beck is an always-on sports journalist hoping for her big break in a world of male reporters. Sparks fly when the two meet, although it's definitely unethical for Beck to date a source.
OMG this book. Sports romance plus underdogs plus journalism plus sapphic romance plus so much heart?
Oh! Oh! Oh! AND it's set in Eugene (kinda) and is ALL OREGON, BABY. My kinda-hometown!!
It's like if The Ex Talk met The Prospects but make it sapphic.
Jordan is a no-nonsense coach who just became the first female head coach of a D1 men's basketball team after her mentor moved up to coach the NBA. Beck is an always-on sports journalist hoping for her big break in a world of male reporters. Sparks fly when the two meet, although it's definitely unethical for Beck to date a source.
OMG this book. Sports romance plus underdogs plus journalism plus sapphic romance plus so much heart?
Oh! Oh! Oh! AND it's set in Eugene (kinda) and is ALL OREGON, BABY. My kinda-hometown!!
It's like if The Ex Talk met The Prospects but make it sapphic.
October 24, 2025
this was the best sapphic sports romance i’ve ever read and up there in sports romances fs. really unique concept (coach + sports reporter) and executed in perfection. both characters were vividly portrayed and incredibly themselves. they both deal with major sexism which in another book would have made their plotlines feel too similar but in this it just showed different sides of things and who the characters are. brilliant characters all around, i especially loved the team. lots of different conflicts stemming from genuine things with good pacing and good resolution. i was stressed but also knew things would turn out mostly well. i really liked the news element of it and you can tell the author knows how to write that stuff, along with writing basketball. i was also scared there wouldn’t be a lot of basketball with the mc being a coach not a player but it was way more than some hockey player romances i’ve read. brilliant, enjoyable, lovely, and unique!
also shout out to UT, who lost in the sweet sixteen
also shout out to UT, who lost in the sweet sixteen
October 21, 2025
I’m a sucker for forbidden romances, more so when it feels inevitable, like they can’t fathom being apart. Jordan and Beck were so good together, their chemistry from the beginning was incredible. I loved that the reader also gets to know the main characters individually, we learn a bit about Jordan’s upbringing, we learn about Beck’s family and their expectations, the toxic workplace that they both face and just how much more difficult it can be to be a woman in sports, particularly in positions with a lot of publicity. There were some side characters that stole my heart (shoutout to Todd and Frost) and some truly insufferable side characters (I’m looking at you, Easton and Mark).
I loved this book so much! I could not put it down. I’m not the biggest basketball fan, I can watch a game but it’s not my favorite sport. The way the games in this book were written absolutely felt like it was a sports commentator. I feel like I lived the games in this book, truly so well narrated.
Some triggers to look out for: homophobia, sexism, sexual harassment, assault jokes and workplace toxicity. If none of those topics trigger you, give this book a try. Thank you to Samantha Saldivar, Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Rated 4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5
I loved this book so much! I could not put it down. I’m not the biggest basketball fan, I can watch a game but it’s not my favorite sport. The way the games in this book were written absolutely felt like it was a sports commentator. I feel like I lived the games in this book, truly so well narrated.
Some triggers to look out for: homophobia, sexism, sexual harassment, assault jokes and workplace toxicity. If none of those topics trigger you, give this book a try. Thank you to Samantha Saldivar, Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Rated 4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5
August 15, 2025
This felt like a unique take on a sapphic sports romance. I enjoyed how it was between a coach and a reporter, it felt like a nice departure from athlete focused stories. Jordan and Beck both had interesting personal journeys throughout the course of the book. Jordan is dealing with all of the pressure of becoming the first woman to coach a D1 men’s basketball team while Beck is trying to get her big break to become more important to her network. Of course it would be extremely complicated for a reporter and her source to get involved with one another…
Samantha Saldivar spends a lot of time fleshing out Jordan and Beck as individuals and giving you their backstories. It definitely makes them feel very real and you understand why they’re so dedicated to their careers. There is some good tension when they realize they have feelings for one another and when they’re deciding if they can try to make a secret relationship work.
However, I wasn’t fully convinced of their relationship or when they were telling each other “I love you” for the first time. I think that all of the focus on their individual stories took away from the development of the romance. Sometimes it just felt rushed or like it wasn’t being given the same amount of page time as descriptions of games or other struggles in their professional lives.
I still enjoyed my time reading the book. But I feel like it works more as a contemporary fiction story rather than a ROMANCE. If it sounds interesting to you I’d recommend giving it a shot. It does provide a different version of a sports romance story than what is typically available.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Samantha Saldivar spends a lot of time fleshing out Jordan and Beck as individuals and giving you their backstories. It definitely makes them feel very real and you understand why they’re so dedicated to their careers. There is some good tension when they realize they have feelings for one another and when they’re deciding if they can try to make a secret relationship work.
However, I wasn’t fully convinced of their relationship or when they were telling each other “I love you” for the first time. I think that all of the focus on their individual stories took away from the development of the romance. Sometimes it just felt rushed or like it wasn’t being given the same amount of page time as descriptions of games or other struggles in their professional lives.
I still enjoyed my time reading the book. But I feel like it works more as a contemporary fiction story rather than a ROMANCE. If it sounds interesting to you I’d recommend giving it a shot. It does provide a different version of a sports romance story than what is typically available.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 15, 2025
What a great book. Especially if you're a basketball fan. I had never heard of the author before. I still haven't checked to see if this was a debut or not but will as soon as I'm done with this review.
There really was so much to enjoy about this novel. We've got the great romance between a college men's basketball coach and a sports reporter. We've got the battle the coach and team endure over the sexist sports director/alumni/press. We've got various issues that the players are dealing with. And we've got a touch of family drama. It could feel overwhelming as a reader, but it all felt completely natural and believable.
I think the only stumbling block I had was some of the word choices used. Not that they were wrong, necessarily, but that some of them fucked up the flow for me. But at the same time, it was a delight to read something with a more grown-up vocabulary. Sometimes I want to read multisyllabic words and even have to look one or two up. Actually, I almost always want a more mature vocabulary in my romance novels, but it doesn't really seem like something that's done in the genre often. So, when I find a book that challenges my brain a little with words, I tend to love it even more.
I'm so glad Play You For It came up as a suggestion on NetGalley. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure I would have missed it. It'll definitely go on my re-read list.
Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the hook up!
There really was so much to enjoy about this novel. We've got the great romance between a college men's basketball coach and a sports reporter. We've got the battle the coach and team endure over the sexist sports director/alumni/press. We've got various issues that the players are dealing with. And we've got a touch of family drama. It could feel overwhelming as a reader, but it all felt completely natural and believable.
I think the only stumbling block I had was some of the word choices used. Not that they were wrong, necessarily, but that some of them fucked up the flow for me. But at the same time, it was a delight to read something with a more grown-up vocabulary. Sometimes I want to read multisyllabic words and even have to look one or two up. Actually, I almost always want a more mature vocabulary in my romance novels, but it doesn't really seem like something that's done in the genre often. So, when I find a book that challenges my brain a little with words, I tend to love it even more.
I'm so glad Play You For It came up as a suggestion on NetGalley. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure I would have missed it. It'll definitely go on my re-read list.
Big thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the hook up!
August 28, 2025
Thank you to Ballantine for this eARC! This was a delightful romance between two professional adults who act like actual adults about each-other! It was so refreshing and the basketball aspect of it added a fun momentum to the story that kept me hooked. I flew through this read in the very best way!
October 16, 2025
Play You For It is a delightful sapphic sports romance. We follow Jordan, the first woman to be named head coach of a D1 men’s basketball team. Determined to get the inside scoop, journalist Caroline Beck hounds Jordan for an exclusive interview. However with each encounter they discover an undeniable pull towards one another. But with both their careers and integrity on the line, this sizzling chemistry could be their downfall.
I love a good sports romance, especially when the sport is actually integrated into the plot instead of just being a backdrop. As much as I loved the romance, I also loved seeing the Bulldog’s season and Jordan’s relationship with her team.
I adored Beck and Jordan’s chemistry, I think they worked really well together. I really appreciated their drive and determination while in male dominated fields. The way they navigated doubt, pressure, and prejudice was admirable. Seeing how they struggled to juggle those passions with their growing romance added a lot of depth to their character arcs.
I do think their careers kind of got in the way of the romance. I felt like we speed ran through very key moments, leaving me wanting more. I wish we spent more time on their growing feelings and their interactions on the daily. They fell for each other very quickly, so i was hoping for a little more tension to keep me invested.
I love a good sports romance, especially when the sport is actually integrated into the plot instead of just being a backdrop. As much as I loved the romance, I also loved seeing the Bulldog’s season and Jordan’s relationship with her team.
I adored Beck and Jordan’s chemistry, I think they worked really well together. I really appreciated their drive and determination while in male dominated fields. The way they navigated doubt, pressure, and prejudice was admirable. Seeing how they struggled to juggle those passions with their growing romance added a lot of depth to their character arcs.
I do think their careers kind of got in the way of the romance. I felt like we speed ran through very key moments, leaving me wanting more. I wish we spent more time on their growing feelings and their interactions on the daily. They fell for each other very quickly, so i was hoping for a little more tension to keep me invested.
October 16, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this gorgeous book.
Guys, this book is the sports romance you've been missing in your life. It's full of fun, spunky moments, found family, teamwork, LGBT representation, women in sports, female struggles in the work place, and even, somehow, finds time to include a little romance. Sure, Jordan and Beck are the main characters, but that doesn't mean they are the only stories that matter in this novel. Samantha Saldivar is a beautiful author who never forgets the little guy, and seems to always find the right moment to flesh out each and every character just exactly right. If you need a warm, cozy feel good story that still rings true to life, this novel is for you.
Guys, this book is the sports romance you've been missing in your life. It's full of fun, spunky moments, found family, teamwork, LGBT representation, women in sports, female struggles in the work place, and even, somehow, finds time to include a little romance. Sure, Jordan and Beck are the main characters, but that doesn't mean they are the only stories that matter in this novel. Samantha Saldivar is a beautiful author who never forgets the little guy, and seems to always find the right moment to flesh out each and every character just exactly right. If you need a warm, cozy feel good story that still rings true to life, this novel is for you.
October 22, 2025
This was a standout Sapphic sports romance debut that has a reporter falling for the first female head coach of a college basketball team. There's a scintillating forbidden aspect to this slow burn that has the two women first becoming friends and later trying to maintain a secret relationship. I loved the insider look into college basketball and the strong female leads. This was excellent on audio and perfect for fans of books like Love and sportsball or How you get the girl. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
November 15, 2025
The romance in this was cute, but what really kept me interested was actually the sports?? And I'm not a basketball girly in the slightest, but the author did such a good job of immersing me in the world of this college basketball coach that I was rooting harder for her and her team than I was for the relationship. Not that the romance wasn't great, too-- there was good pacing and relationship development, realistic obstacles that both characters handled in realistically mature ways, and decent chemistry. And we had two romance leads who actually acted like grown adults!! I love to see it. Overall this was a really solid story and I'm excited to see any future sapphic sports romances this author writes. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be spicier, but that's just me being a perv I guess
September 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC e-copy of Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar.
Jordan D’Amato is the first female head coach of a D1 men’s college basketball team. Caroline Beck is a scrappy sports journalist looking to break the next big story. When their paths consistently cross, sparks fly—but can their relationship, a textbook conflict-of-interest, survive intact along with their precarious careers?
This is probably one of the best—if not the best—LGBTQ+ romance books I’ve ever read…. or maybe just the best romance book I’ve read in general, because it wasn’t just about the romance. There was an overarching plot that actually made sense, tons of fully realized characters, and for once, the author made me CARE about all of it. I absolutely loved the basketball team, Caroline’s allies in the journalism world, and the fact that at the end of the book, I was sad to leave the world the author had created. It was pure excellence.
I highly recommend this book to readers of sapphic fiction, sports romance, and those interested in plenty of basketball action. I already can’t wait to read Samantha Saldivar’s next book.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT
CW: homophobia, d-slur, bone rebreaking (maybe that’s just me), threats of sexual assault
Jordan D’Amato is the first female head coach of a D1 men’s college basketball team. Caroline Beck is a scrappy sports journalist looking to break the next big story. When their paths consistently cross, sparks fly—but can their relationship, a textbook conflict-of-interest, survive intact along with their precarious careers?
This is probably one of the best—if not the best—LGBTQ+ romance books I’ve ever read…. or maybe just the best romance book I’ve read in general, because it wasn’t just about the romance. There was an overarching plot that actually made sense, tons of fully realized characters, and for once, the author made me CARE about all of it. I absolutely loved the basketball team, Caroline’s allies in the journalism world, and the fact that at the end of the book, I was sad to leave the world the author had created. It was pure excellence.
I highly recommend this book to readers of sapphic fiction, sports romance, and those interested in plenty of basketball action. I already can’t wait to read Samantha Saldivar’s next book.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT
CW: homophobia, d-slur, bone rebreaking (maybe that’s just me), threats of sexual assault
January 13, 2026
great characters and the conflict was realistic for them I feel? especially given the personalities of these characters and the environment they work in and all that lol. honestly my favorite part was the team and the dynamic they had with Jordan. I thought the unique relationships the team had with her were so sweet! the sexism part was well done I think. and there was a great amount of basketball! love when sports books have actual sports in it lol !!
dnf
January 22, 2026DNF at 8% Just so much misogyny and I don’t feel like reading about that right now.
1.22.26
1.22.26
October 19, 2025
WOMEN! IN! SPORTS!
December 7, 2025
I want to say a huge thank you to Samantha Saldivar and Ballantine publishing for letting me read an early e-arc copy of Play You For It on NetGalley. (I’m now realizing that this book is out but it wasn’t when I got the arc. Soooo, yeah keep that in mind.) I rated this book 3.75 ✨. Our characters Jordan and Beck have a lot of challenges to get through to be together. I do kind of wish that there was more communication in this book because it would’ve felt more engaging because our characters are adults and should know how to communicate if there’s a problem.
Another thing that I wasn’t a fan of in this book was the back and forth of Jordan and Beck fighting and then immediately forgiving each other. I know this is fiction but we all know that arguments aren’t really like that in real life. I also think that Beck should’ve voiced her problems with Easton and Wyatt from the start because it was annoying how poorly she was being treated. And again, if she communicated with both of them and her boss we would have a less bittersweet ending.
But now into the things that I really adored in this book. Off the bat when I first met Jordan and Brooks I knew that he would be a son to her and she would be a mother figure. I also loved their dynamic of them supporting each other no matter what it was. They also always had each other’s backs and I felt like that really tied in to the found family with the Bulldogs basketball team and how well they played together.
I feel like everyone on the team were close to each other like family and I really loved that and everyone was supportive of Brooks being gay and of Jordan’s relationship with Beck. Even though Jordan had some doubts with Beck she always valued her team and how they were doing because she realized being the stickler coach wasn’t going to help the go all the way to the championship.
I feel like the relationship with our main characters went way too fast for me to catch up. Like there was no pining or any of the stuff that I was looking for. It was so insta lovely that I kinda wasn’t looking forward to their romance. I was mainly looking forward to the boys on the team and all of the side characters because they were more interesting. I also don’t think that Beck and Jordan should have said ‘I love you’ until the end of the book and not in between because this book takes course over a month and a half maybe more. I think they were rushing their relationship. But enough of my complaining. Again I want to say a big thanks to Samantha Saldivar and Ballantine books for giving me the e-arc of Play You For It.
Another thing that I wasn’t a fan of in this book was the back and forth of Jordan and Beck fighting and then immediately forgiving each other. I know this is fiction but we all know that arguments aren’t really like that in real life. I also think that Beck should’ve voiced her problems with Easton and Wyatt from the start because it was annoying how poorly she was being treated. And again, if she communicated with both of them and her boss we would have a less bittersweet ending.
But now into the things that I really adored in this book. Off the bat when I first met Jordan and Brooks I knew that he would be a son to her and she would be a mother figure. I also loved their dynamic of them supporting each other no matter what it was. They also always had each other’s backs and I felt like that really tied in to the found family with the Bulldogs basketball team and how well they played together.
I feel like everyone on the team were close to each other like family and I really loved that and everyone was supportive of Brooks being gay and of Jordan’s relationship with Beck. Even though Jordan had some doubts with Beck she always valued her team and how they were doing because she realized being the stickler coach wasn’t going to help the go all the way to the championship.
I feel like the relationship with our main characters went way too fast for me to catch up. Like there was no pining or any of the stuff that I was looking for. It was so insta lovely that I kinda wasn’t looking forward to their romance. I was mainly looking forward to the boys on the team and all of the side characters because they were more interesting. I also don’t think that Beck and Jordan should have said ‘I love you’ until the end of the book and not in between because this book takes course over a month and a half maybe more. I think they were rushing their relationship. But enough of my complaining. Again I want to say a big thanks to Samantha Saldivar and Ballantine books for giving me the e-arc of Play You For It.
November 7, 2025
thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced digital copy.
this book is available for purchase now.
--
a really great sports romance that reminded me a lot of ted lasso, maybe a little bit of rudy. jordan's arc as a coach breaking barriers in men's college basketball was both hopeful and maddening in the best way because wow, it's frustrating to read about how people still believe women aren't capable of doing certain things just because they're women. it's not surprising, but the way this book captures the exhausting double standard, the pressure to be perfect just to compete with mediocre men, really hit hard.
the basketball side of things was immersive and detailed, which i loved. you could feel how much the author loves the game, and it elevated everything. jordan's relationship with her team and the grind of the season gave the story momentum beyond just the romance.
and speaking of the romance, it's the reason this wasn't a full five stars for me. i absolutely bought the chemistry between jordan and caroline, but their dynamic as a coach and a reporter was always going to be tricky. i found myself frustrated at some of caroline's choices, especially when she clearly prioritized her job in ways that felt dismissive of what jordan was risking. maybe that's realistic, but it made their connection feel a little shakier to me. still, the tension and forbidden vibe worked well overall.
this was a solid, smart, and heartfelt sports romance with two driven women at its center, and i really appreciated the balance between professional ambition and personal connection. definitely worth picking up if you like a bit of fire with your basketball.
this book is available for purchase now.
--
a really great sports romance that reminded me a lot of ted lasso, maybe a little bit of rudy. jordan's arc as a coach breaking barriers in men's college basketball was both hopeful and maddening in the best way because wow, it's frustrating to read about how people still believe women aren't capable of doing certain things just because they're women. it's not surprising, but the way this book captures the exhausting double standard, the pressure to be perfect just to compete with mediocre men, really hit hard.
the basketball side of things was immersive and detailed, which i loved. you could feel how much the author loves the game, and it elevated everything. jordan's relationship with her team and the grind of the season gave the story momentum beyond just the romance.
and speaking of the romance, it's the reason this wasn't a full five stars for me. i absolutely bought the chemistry between jordan and caroline, but their dynamic as a coach and a reporter was always going to be tricky. i found myself frustrated at some of caroline's choices, especially when she clearly prioritized her job in ways that felt dismissive of what jordan was risking. maybe that's realistic, but it made their connection feel a little shakier to me. still, the tension and forbidden vibe worked well overall.
this was a solid, smart, and heartfelt sports romance with two driven women at its center, and i really appreciated the balance between professional ambition and personal connection. definitely worth picking up if you like a bit of fire with your basketball.
January 24, 2026
This was so cute!
When the head coach of a college basketball team accepts another job, he nominates Jordan for the position, an opportunity to be the first woman head coach of a men’s top level college basketball team. All the men don’t think she can do it, and she’s constantly battling to prove that she’s qualified for the job.
Beck is a local sports news reporter who is battling for respect in her own field, dealing with asshole men who don’t think she’s good enough.
When Beck convinces Jordan to give her an exclusive first interview, they fall for each other and the line between report and coach blurs, potentially causing problems with both of their careers.
This novel is fast paced, they fall for each other pretty quickly. Beck worries about her position for like a second and then throws it to the wind because she wants to be with Jordan. They fall for each other pretty quickly. But this novel has a lot of heart, just like any good sports movie/book does. If you like sports romance, I think you’ll love this!
Thank you @netgalley and @dellromance for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
When the head coach of a college basketball team accepts another job, he nominates Jordan for the position, an opportunity to be the first woman head coach of a men’s top level college basketball team. All the men don’t think she can do it, and she’s constantly battling to prove that she’s qualified for the job.
Beck is a local sports news reporter who is battling for respect in her own field, dealing with asshole men who don’t think she’s good enough.
When Beck convinces Jordan to give her an exclusive first interview, they fall for each other and the line between report and coach blurs, potentially causing problems with both of their careers.
This novel is fast paced, they fall for each other pretty quickly. Beck worries about her position for like a second and then throws it to the wind because she wants to be with Jordan. They fall for each other pretty quickly. But this novel has a lot of heart, just like any good sports movie/book does. If you like sports romance, I think you’ll love this!
Thank you @netgalley and @dellromance for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
February 1, 2026
This book kinda came out of nowhere—I hadn't heard about it, hadn't seen reviews, just stumbled upon it in the library system. And like many of us, I love a good sports romance. Bonus points for the fact that I played basketball for a couple years as a kid and thus have an operating vocabulary around it.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. The pieces tangentially related to basketball were my favorite. i loved the players and seeing Jordan come into her own as a coach, and having my eyes glued to the page as they played game after game. I also appreciated the way that neither of our main characters were players. It was an interesting take that really worked for me, and so did the focus on sexism in sports.
Another highlight was the conflict of interest between the main characters, because it was a problem and it was treated as such. That said, though I thought the romance was decent, it had less life and longevity and personality than other facets of the book. I wanted more banter, more time alone with the two of them outside of work, more of an idea about what might keep them together.
As individuals, I enjoyed the characters' drive, and their respective personal arcs. But I also felt like they were a little hollow outside of their careers. You could theoretically chalk that up to their ambition, but there wasn't really mention of friends they were letting down or movies they'd have to wait and see, things outside of work being pushed to the side for ambition. A relationship, yes, but nothing for them alone.
For some reason, something about the writing irked me just a little bit. It wasn't bad, but there was a little bit of a clunkiness to it, and an inconsistency or two within the narration.
Even so, I really enjoyed what they did with both Jordan and Beck at the end, both in their careers and their relationship. It felt like a nice bridge between ambition and love, and a realistic way they got to have both. If you can get your hands on this one, especially if you can speak basketball or love team dynamics, I'd truly recommend it.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. The pieces tangentially related to basketball were my favorite. i loved the players and seeing Jordan come into her own as a coach, and having my eyes glued to the page as they played game after game. I also appreciated the way that neither of our main characters were players. It was an interesting take that really worked for me, and so did the focus on sexism in sports.
Another highlight was the conflict of interest between the main characters, because it was a problem and it was treated as such. That said, though I thought the romance was decent, it had less life and longevity and personality than other facets of the book. I wanted more banter, more time alone with the two of them outside of work, more of an idea about what might keep them together.
As individuals, I enjoyed the characters' drive, and their respective personal arcs. But I also felt like they were a little hollow outside of their careers. You could theoretically chalk that up to their ambition, but there wasn't really mention of friends they were letting down or movies they'd have to wait and see, things outside of work being pushed to the side for ambition. A relationship, yes, but nothing for them alone.
For some reason, something about the writing irked me just a little bit. It wasn't bad, but there was a little bit of a clunkiness to it, and an inconsistency or two within the narration.
Even so, I really enjoyed what they did with both Jordan and Beck at the end, both in their careers and their relationship. It felt like a nice bridge between ambition and love, and a realistic way they got to have both. If you can get your hands on this one, especially if you can speak basketball or love team dynamics, I'd truly recommend it.
January 25, 2026
I really really enjoyed this one, the only thing keeping it from being 5 stars for me is that I wish it had been like 50 pages longer and that the extra length would’ve been spent on developing Beck and Jordan’s romance more because it felt just a tad underbaked to me (I honestly was more attached to Jordan’s relationships with the guys on her team I adored those dynamics). both Beck and Jordan had really great individual storylines and it’s not that I couldn’t understand why they were into each other or thought they didn’t have chemistry, I just would’ve liked to see a little more on page development since this is supposed to be a romance novel. but like overall this is a really minor complaint that didn’t derail my enjoyment of the book and I look forward to reading Samantha’s next one
September 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Saldivar, and Dell for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
There is something special about the way that Samantha Saldivar writes characters and their stories that drew me into this story. I'm a sucker for a found family story, which Coach D’Amato had with her team. I've noticed that in sapphic romance, even though it's my favorite genre, there tends to be at least one of the main female characters that I dislike. However, in this story, I loved Jordan and Beck; they are such relatable characters. I wanted both of them to succeed, whether they ended up together or not. That tells me how much I adored these characters. Many difficult topics in this book could be triggers for some, which include: coming out, "coming out after" rejection, sexism, and sexual harassment. Please, read with care. I liked the way that Samantha Saldivar handled these topics.
I look forward to reading more of their books in the future. I already noticed there’s another book coming out in 2026! There's one coming out in 2026! I can't wait! I highly recommend this book!
There is something special about the way that Samantha Saldivar writes characters and their stories that drew me into this story. I'm a sucker for a found family story, which Coach D’Amato had with her team. I've noticed that in sapphic romance, even though it's my favorite genre, there tends to be at least one of the main female characters that I dislike. However, in this story, I loved Jordan and Beck; they are such relatable characters. I wanted both of them to succeed, whether they ended up together or not. That tells me how much I adored these characters. Many difficult topics in this book could be triggers for some, which include: coming out, "coming out after" rejection, sexism, and sexual harassment. Please, read with care. I liked the way that Samantha Saldivar handled these topics.
I look forward to reading more of their books in the future. I already noticed there’s another book coming out in 2026! There's one coming out in 2026! I can't wait! I highly recommend this book!
November 4, 2025
I really enjoyed Play You For It! You can tell it was written by someone who truly understands both basketball and sports reporting—the details felt authentic and added so much depth to the story. I especially appreciated the side story focusing on Jordan’s relationship with her players; it gave her character extra heart and grounded the high-stakes setting.
Jordan and Beck’s relationship was a standout for me. They’re two passionate, driven women who felt like a total sports power couple—balancing ambition, vulnerability, and chemistry in such a believable way.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Samantha Saldivar.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Jordan and Beck’s relationship was a standout for me. They’re two passionate, driven women who felt like a total sports power couple—balancing ambition, vulnerability, and chemistry in such a believable way.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Samantha Saldivar.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2025
this is the second book of samantha’s i’ve had the pleasure of being able to do an arc of and she is quickly becoming one of my favorites! she is able to capture love, heartbreak and the guilt felt in between so expertly.
jordan and beck are two different parts of the same circle and are meant to stay on their respective sides, however life has different plans! the love of the game and the love of the girl could have jordan risking it all.
jordan and beck are two different parts of the same circle and are meant to stay on their respective sides, however life has different plans! the love of the game and the love of the girl could have jordan risking it all.
December 23, 2025
really really enjoyed this! the characters and their problems felt so realistic and flowed so naturally. my favorite parts of this were definitely the team interactions with jordan. i loved how much both jordan and beck grew throughout this too. the romance itself was good, not great. i'm a sucker for banter and would have appreciated a bit more of that but all other aspects of the book were great. 4.5 stars
August 2, 2025
I read this as an ARC via Edelweiss. Thank you to the publisher for access!
Play You for It was a deliciously cute romance, with a touch of genuinely thrilling sports writing. Coming into this, knowing that the premise involved a reporter, I was totally primed for the third-act conflict of this story to be Beck accidentally reporting on something she wasn't supposed to about Jordan, which causes them to break up, but actually it was a big misunderstanding and actually it was Beck's evil coworker who wrote something under her name, etc.. etc... but I was very pleasantly surprised when that wasn't the case at all! I won't spoil anything, but if you are like me and dread the frequently reused conflicts like that, you can rest easy knowing it isn't present here.
I want to touch on something I just mentioned, that being the sports writing. I don't mean in a journalistic sense, but the action that takes place during the few games that we get to watch through one of the characters' eyes are genuinely so well written. I don't know how to describe it properly, but the games had me on the edge of my seat. Maybe it's the tension from the stakes, maybe it is genuinely the tension from the game, either way it was super enjoyable. Often times when reading a sports romance the sports aspect is sorta skipped over or not very well done, so once again, it was a pleasant surprise that it was done as well as it was.
Give this one a shot, support a local PNW writer by reading this amazing PNW sports romance!
Play You for It was a deliciously cute romance, with a touch of genuinely thrilling sports writing. Coming into this, knowing that the premise involved a reporter, I was totally primed for the third-act conflict of this story to be Beck accidentally reporting on something she wasn't supposed to about Jordan, which causes them to break up, but actually it was a big misunderstanding and actually it was Beck's evil coworker who wrote something under her name, etc.. etc... but I was very pleasantly surprised when that wasn't the case at all! I won't spoil anything, but if you are like me and dread the frequently reused conflicts like that, you can rest easy knowing it isn't present here.
I want to touch on something I just mentioned, that being the sports writing. I don't mean in a journalistic sense, but the action that takes place during the few games that we get to watch through one of the characters' eyes are genuinely so well written. I don't know how to describe it properly, but the games had me on the edge of my seat. Maybe it's the tension from the stakes, maybe it is genuinely the tension from the game, either way it was super enjoyable. Often times when reading a sports romance the sports aspect is sorta skipped over or not very well done, so once again, it was a pleasant surprise that it was done as well as it was.
Give this one a shot, support a local PNW writer by reading this amazing PNW sports romance!
January 18, 2026
Well written book about a woman being named the first D1 men’s college basketball coach and the woman reporter that gets close to her. The trials, sexism and challenges they both face while being extremely competent in their jobs but having to prove themselves daily. Oh, and they fall in love in the process, but the story is much more than that.
January 26, 2026
I love basketball <3
November 21, 2025
My friend wrote this book, so maybe I’m biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Between reading “Play You For It” and “Beartown” this year, I’ve discovered I really enjoy sports fiction.
Thank you, Samantha, for writing a novel that accurately reflects the work of journalists, and many of the hardships in the industry — the hustle to climb the ladder, the travel and wacky hours, and the integrity they’re expected to uphold.
I will never look at the simple act of putting a lav mic on someone in the same way. 😉
Thank you, Samantha, for writing a novel that accurately reflects the work of journalists, and many of the hardships in the industry — the hustle to climb the ladder, the travel and wacky hours, and the integrity they’re expected to uphold.
I will never look at the simple act of putting a lav mic on someone in the same way. 😉
October 29, 2025
CANNOT SCREAM LOUD ENOUGH FOR THIS BOOK!!!!
This is Samantha Saldivar’s debut novel, and IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! ❤️
This is a sapphic romance, involving a Head Coach, Jordan D’Amato and Sport Journalist, Caroline Beck. From the moment you are introduced to these characters, you immediately drawn in by the headstrong, independent, yet welcoming reputations of both women in the work field, but also personally. Jordan is starting off as the FIRST WOMAN HEAD COACH of a top-level men’s college basketball team, and with that sparks the “big break” Caroline has been WAITING FOR.
Both women, in predominantly male career fields, are up against MAJOR pressure to succeed. For Coach, the media attention is attracting multiple reactions, and she is faced with being told if she doesn't win -she will be replaced/fired. (Immediately - ICK but ya know men...lol) . Her love for the game, her teams, and her career ?!
Caroline is trying to make a name for herself, but her ambition is what is truly remarkable. Her determination has her set out to land the first ever One on One interview with the First Woman Head Coach, no matter the costs. So, what can she do to persuade coach that she’s the right reporter for the job, and help her change the media’s narrative into a more postitive light? - place a bet. NOT just any bet, bet the former WNBA player, now coach to a game of horse ..... and you guessed it - “PLAY YOU FOR IT?”
This will by far by my top read of the year, I JUST KNOW IT. The writing, the quotes, the passion and love personally and with sports was truly so fun and engaging to read. I am so so so happy i got to read and experience this romance of Beck and Coach in a way that just pulled at every heartstring. I just cannot stress enough how everyone needs to read this, for the romance, for the friendships, for the emotions etc. ❤️
This is Samantha Saldivar’s debut novel, and IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! ❤️
This is a sapphic romance, involving a Head Coach, Jordan D’Amato and Sport Journalist, Caroline Beck. From the moment you are introduced to these characters, you immediately drawn in by the headstrong, independent, yet welcoming reputations of both women in the work field, but also personally. Jordan is starting off as the FIRST WOMAN HEAD COACH of a top-level men’s college basketball team, and with that sparks the “big break” Caroline has been WAITING FOR.
Both women, in predominantly male career fields, are up against MAJOR pressure to succeed. For Coach, the media attention is attracting multiple reactions, and she is faced with being told if she doesn't win -she will be replaced/fired. (Immediately - ICK but ya know men...lol) . Her love for the game, her teams, and her career ?!
Caroline is trying to make a name for herself, but her ambition is what is truly remarkable. Her determination has her set out to land the first ever One on One interview with the First Woman Head Coach, no matter the costs. So, what can she do to persuade coach that she’s the right reporter for the job, and help her change the media’s narrative into a more postitive light? - place a bet. NOT just any bet, bet the former WNBA player, now coach to a game of horse ..... and you guessed it - “PLAY YOU FOR IT?”
This will by far by my top read of the year, I JUST KNOW IT. The writing, the quotes, the passion and love personally and with sports was truly so fun and engaging to read. I am so so so happy i got to read and experience this romance of Beck and Coach in a way that just pulled at every heartstring. I just cannot stress enough how everyone needs to read this, for the romance, for the friendships, for the emotions etc. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
Play You For It is a slam dunk! Saldivar expertly balances romance and storytelling in her debut novel. The stakes are real, the spice is hot, and the characters are worth falling for.
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