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A Play for Love
Sometimes Cupid shows up exactly when—and how—you least expect him in this deliciously witty romance from #1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author Trilina Pucci.
Years ago, during a college production of Romeo and Juliet, Rory and Oliver shared one unforgettable stage kiss before fate pulled them apart. Now, while drowning her Valentine’s Day sorrows at brunch, she spots her former Romeo, wearing nothing but gold shorts and wings, playing Cupid for the lovelorn masses. Their chemistry still sizzles, but even with the stars finally aligning, these former leads will need more than Shakespeare’s guidance to turn their second chance into a true romance.
Trilina Pucci’s A Play for Love is part of The Improbable Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
Years ago, during a college production of Romeo and Juliet, Rory and Oliver shared one unforgettable stage kiss before fate pulled them apart. Now, while drowning her Valentine’s Day sorrows at brunch, she spots her former Romeo, wearing nothing but gold shorts and wings, playing Cupid for the lovelorn masses. Their chemistry still sizzles, but even with the stars finally aligning, these former leads will need more than Shakespeare’s guidance to turn their second chance into a true romance.
Trilina Pucci’s A Play for Love is part of The Improbable Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
3 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 20, 2026
1025 people are currently reading
4688 people want to read
About the author
Trilina Pucci
27 books4,735 followersTrilina Pucci, a #1 Amazon and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, is a connoisseur of pop culture and SANPELLEGRINO, but her true passion lies in crafting tantalizing romantic novels that delve into the depths of desire, emotion, and even hearty belly laughs.
When she's not penning steamy love stories, you'll find her indulging in Netflix marathons with her husband, Anthony (Residence is a fan fave), and their three not-so-little ones.
When she's not penning steamy love stories, you'll find her indulging in Netflix marathons with her husband, Anthony (Residence is a fan fave), and their three not-so-little ones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 850 reviews
January 11, 2026
3.5 ⭐
I didn't like the first half, but the second half with them having an all-day date and everything that came after was really good!
Rory and Oliver got stuck doing a Romeo and Juliet scene in college, sparks flew, but they didn't see each other after that.. Fast forward five years, they meet again in a restaurant, while he's dressed as a Cupid.. It's her last day in New York though, so they decide to spend it together. Will it end the same way it did the last time?
It was sweet and funny, but also a little cringe at times..
The first half was rough, there was too much second-hand embarrassment for me, personally, to handle.. But, their date all around New York, checking things off her list, was really fun. That was my favourite part of the novella and the end was really cute too!!
Overall, I did like Rory and Oliver as a couple, I feel like they worked together well.
This author is new to me and I'll definitely check out her other books!
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
I didn't like the first half, but the second half with them having an all-day date and everything that came after was really good!
Rory and Oliver got stuck doing a Romeo and Juliet scene in college, sparks flew, but they didn't see each other after that.. Fast forward five years, they meet again in a restaurant, while he's dressed as a Cupid.. It's her last day in New York though, so they decide to spend it together. Will it end the same way it did the last time?
It was sweet and funny, but also a little cringe at times..
The first half was rough, there was too much second-hand embarrassment for me, personally, to handle.. But, their date all around New York, checking things off her list, was really fun. That was my favourite part of the novella and the end was really cute too!!
Overall, I did like Rory and Oliver as a couple, I feel like they worked together well.
This author is new to me and I'll definitely check out her other books!
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
January 26, 2026
I loved this one! Chemistry was good, the Romeo and Juliet trope worked, and it also provided the perfect ending. This was also the perfect lenght to give me everything I wanted for a Valentine's romance.
January 27, 2026
Thoughts
This was a mixture of cringe, funny and cute. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded, will definitely be coming back to this author
Plot Summary
Years after a college production of Romeo and Juliet ended with a single unforgettable kiss, Rory unexpectedly crosses paths with her former leading man while nursing her Valentine’s Day heartbreak. Now playing Cupid in a decidedly unconventional way, Oliver reminds her that their old chemistry never truly faded. With timing finally on their side, they’re faced with the challenge of turning a long-lost connection into something real—without relying on Shakespeare to write the ending.
My Bookstagram
This was a mixture of cringe, funny and cute. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded, will definitely be coming back to this author
Plot Summary
Years after a college production of Romeo and Juliet ended with a single unforgettable kiss, Rory unexpectedly crosses paths with her former leading man while nursing her Valentine’s Day heartbreak. Now playing Cupid in a decidedly unconventional way, Oliver reminds her that their old chemistry never truly faded. With timing finally on their side, they’re faced with the challenge of turning a long-lost connection into something real—without relying on Shakespeare to write the ending.
My Bookstagram
January 23, 2026
4 ⭐
Okayyyyy... The first chapter was super cringey, but the rest of the book??? I was totally surprised. I think I'll read more by this author to see if I really like her.
Okayyyyy... The first chapter was super cringey, but the rest of the book??? I was totally surprised. I think I'll read more by this author to see if I really like her.
January 23, 2026
This one was okay. It started off really good but then it was just okay after that. One of the better ones of this little Amazon series, but nothing special.
I think I wanted a better, more exciting story of them meeting again. Oh well.
I think I wanted a better, more exciting story of them meeting again. Oh well.
January 21, 2026
It’s 2026, and somehow a romance written by a woman, predominantly for women, is still using MeToo and feminism as cheap punchlines
January 29, 2026
gareth the alpha needs to be locked up.
January 27, 2026
dnf at pg 50 (this was 75 pages and I couldn’t tolerate 25 more pages, that should tell y'all something).
After the previous novella in this collection, I didn't think it could go any lower but it did. I gave zero fucks about the story and the characters who had absolutely no chemistry whatsoever and the most absurd scenes ever. If I had to read one more description about how hot he is and how quirky, nerdy and shy she is and how they aren't compatible, I'd lose my mind.
After the previous novella in this collection, I didn't think it could go any lower but it did. I gave zero fucks about the story and the characters who had absolutely no chemistry whatsoever and the most absurd scenes ever. If I had to read one more description about how hot he is and how quirky, nerdy and shy she is and how they aren't compatible, I'd lose my mind.
February 1, 2026
3.5 Romeo and Juliet stars
I rounded up because… duet narration AND Romeo and Juliet (coincidentally, I’m currently reading this with my freshmen 🤣).
Rory’s (22-27) in class with her friend when the professor asks her friend to perform a scene, a kissing scene more specifically, with another actor. All of a sudden, handsome AF man walks in, and the rules are changed: now Rory is going to perform the Romeo and Juliet scene with him, Oliver (22-27).
They’re supposed to end the scene before they kiss, but Oliver says F it and does it anyway 👀🔥.
Almost 5 days later, they see each other again… in the most unexpected way 🤣.
But now, Rory is gonna be moving to California the following day 😬, so Oliver’s gonna show her around New York to all the places that she wanted to visit while living there…
And it’s gonna be memorable 👀
What I liked:
— audiobook is duet narration 😮💨😮💨😮💨
— the times I laughed
— the kisses 🔥
— the Romeo and Juliet scenes 👏🏻 (I’m still in in act one right now 👀, so I’m almost at the scenes that appear in this book 🤣)
— the way they reunite 🤣👀👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— how protective Oliver gets
— the mild OMD 😈. Oliver basically takes his girl back 🤷🏻♀️
— the way that it’s divided into acts 👏🏻
— the third act ❤️ (which almost feels like an epilogue🫶)
What I wanted more of:
— both of them felt some type of way almost 5 years before, I wish they had wasted so much time 🤷🏻♀️
— while I understand that the City is huge, it’s a little hard to believe that they couldn’t connect sooner 😑
— there is an FTB scene 😑😒😒😒 we were robbed
— more info on what happened in the five years they weren’t together
— a true epilogue 😭 (but I do appreciate that we get a feeling that this is really an HEA ❤️)
Overall, I liked it ❤️
I rounded up because… duet narration AND Romeo and Juliet (coincidentally, I’m currently reading this with my freshmen 🤣).
Rory’s (22-27) in class with her friend when the professor asks her friend to perform a scene, a kissing scene more specifically, with another actor. All of a sudden, handsome AF man walks in, and the rules are changed: now Rory is going to perform the Romeo and Juliet scene with him, Oliver (22-27).
They’re supposed to end the scene before they kiss, but Oliver says F it and does it anyway 👀🔥.
Almost 5 days later, they see each other again… in the most unexpected way 🤣.
But now, Rory is gonna be moving to California the following day 😬, so Oliver’s gonna show her around New York to all the places that she wanted to visit while living there…
And it’s gonna be memorable 👀
What I liked:
— audiobook is duet narration 😮💨😮💨😮💨
— the times I laughed
— the kisses 🔥
— the Romeo and Juliet scenes 👏🏻 (I’m still in in act one right now 👀, so I’m almost at the scenes that appear in this book 🤣)
— the way they reunite 🤣👀👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— how protective Oliver gets
— the mild OMD 😈. Oliver basically takes his girl back 🤷🏻♀️
— the way that it’s divided into acts 👏🏻
— the third act ❤️ (which almost feels like an epilogue🫶)
What I wanted more of:
— both of them felt some type of way almost 5 years before, I wish they had wasted so much time 🤷🏻♀️
— while I understand that the City is huge, it’s a little hard to believe that they couldn’t connect sooner 😑
— there is an FTB scene 😑😒😒😒 we were robbed
— more info on what happened in the five years they weren’t together
— a true epilogue 😭 (but I do appreciate that we get a feeling that this is really an HEA ❤️)
Overall, I liked it ❤️
January 27, 2026
This one had me giggling
January 31, 2026
It was sooo cute.
like an 00x romantic movies
like an 00x romantic movies
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was very cute from start to finish!
This was very cute from start to finish!
January 22, 2026
2.5⭐️
I wish I could be more positive here but I straight up hated this. We start in some sort of Shakespeare English/possibly drama class that our main character Rory was "forced" to take by her friend. For some reason the midterm test is to read out a scene with a partner, in front of the whole class.
I don't know why this trope with Romeo and Juliet always includes the kiss scene? Like, there is a difference between reading the scene and acting it out. You don't kill your scene partner when you read Macbeth, so I don't know why the kiss is always involved when shows/books have this? Noone I know in real life had to do this. Anyways turns out that's a pet peeve of mine, I digress
Rory's entire inner monologue in Act I is just her going down the men in her class, and superficially saying why she thinks she's better than them. Terrible tattoo, bad breath, bad haircut etc. And look, we've all been shallow on the inside. But it definitely doesn't make your main character more likeable. Especially when the 'hot guy' (this is the only thing she knows about this man) walks into class and Rory turns into a bumbling mess, immediately eager to do the kiss scene.
The second half, with Rory and Oliver hanging out in New York was better, but not good enough to make up for how much I loathed Act I.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wish I could be more positive here but I straight up hated this. We start in some sort of Shakespeare English/possibly drama class that our main character Rory was "forced" to take by her friend. For some reason the midterm test is to read out a scene with a partner, in front of the whole class.
I don't know why this trope with Romeo and Juliet always includes the kiss scene? Like, there is a difference between reading the scene and acting it out. You don't kill your scene partner when you read Macbeth, so I don't know why the kiss is always involved when shows/books have this? Noone I know in real life had to do this. Anyways turns out that's a pet peeve of mine, I digress
Rory's entire inner monologue in Act I is just her going down the men in her class, and superficially saying why she thinks she's better than them. Terrible tattoo, bad breath, bad haircut etc. And look, we've all been shallow on the inside. But it definitely doesn't make your main character more likeable. Especially when the 'hot guy' (this is the only thing she knows about this man) walks into class and Rory turns into a bumbling mess, immediately eager to do the kiss scene.
The second half, with Rory and Oliver hanging out in New York was better, but not good enough to make up for how much I loathed Act I.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2026
3.5⭐️
This was a cute story, but I don't know that the writing was fully for me. I liked the second half better than the first but some moments were a little cringey and I didn't like the amount of pop culture references that flooded the first few chapters. The present day timeline in the second half was a lot better. This was still an easy read and had some fun Valentine's Day vibes.
This was a cute story, but I don't know that the writing was fully for me. I liked the second half better than the first but some moments were a little cringey and I didn't like the amount of pop culture references that flooded the first few chapters. The present day timeline in the second half was a lot better. This was still an easy read and had some fun Valentine's Day vibes.
January 26, 2026
At first I thought this was solely a college romance, and I was a little bummed, but I quickly realized the story had a dual timeline! Beginning first with a meet-cute in theatre class, with Rory and Oliver performing a scene from Romeo and Juliet together, and then four years later, leading to a playful day of adventure in New York!
I thought this was SO funny! I loved the ridiculous pestering of their friends forcing them into embarrassing situations. It was just a silly, unserious, good time! I do think the duet narration via audio played a big part in my enjoyment, though! Jesse Vilinsky and Stephen Dexter truly brought the characters to life!
(heat level: closed door + language)
I thought this was SO funny! I loved the ridiculous pestering of their friends forcing them into embarrassing situations. It was just a silly, unserious, good time! I do think the duet narration via audio played a big part in my enjoyment, though! Jesse Vilinsky and Stephen Dexter truly brought the characters to life!
(heat level: closed door + language)
January 30, 2026
•Dual POV
•First kiss as Romeo + Juliet
•Second chance romance
•Bucket list
3.75⭐️
•First kiss as Romeo + Juliet
•Second chance romance
•Bucket list
3.75⭐️
January 26, 2026
4.5⭐️
A Play For Love one of my other faves of the series! This was a cute, fun, and so lovable story. This one had humor and sweet moments. the perfect second chance vibe. I loved this story & characters so much!! The added Romeo and Juliette aspect definitely made this one more fun!
Narration by Jessie Valenski and Stephen Dexter, absolutely loved their emotion and the way they pulled this story together!!
A Play For Love one of my other faves of the series! This was a cute, fun, and so lovable story. This one had humor and sweet moments. the perfect second chance vibe. I loved this story & characters so much!! The added Romeo and Juliette aspect definitely made this one more fun!
Narration by Jessie Valenski and Stephen Dexter, absolutely loved their emotion and the way they pulled this story together!!
January 29, 2026
me encantó.
cortito pero divertido y super romántico.
cortito pero divertido y super romántico.
January 23, 2026
“Pick me, choose me, love me” ass narration, with a sparkle of the same old stereotypes of Italians being mobsters — love me some representation!
↠ 2 stars (DFN @49%)
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
↠ 2 stars (DFN @49%)
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 21, 2026
An all day date that’s a second chance romance. It was fine. The characters were likable but I didn’t love the plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked the story and thought this one was super cute from start to end. I loved how they were just fated to be together and kept finding each other!!
January 31, 2026
A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Synopsis:
Years ago, during a college production of Romeo and Juliet, Rory and Oliver shared one unforgettable stage kiss before fate pulled them apart. Now, while drowning her Valentine’s Day sorrows at brunch, she spots him: her former Romeo, wearing nothing but gold shorts and wings, playing Cupid for the lovelorn masses. Their chemistry still sizzles, but even with the stars finally aligning, these former leads will need more than Shakespeare’s guidance to turn their second chance into a true romance.
My Overall Thoughts:
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Synopsis:
Years ago, during a college production of Romeo and Juliet, Rory and Oliver shared one unforgettable stage kiss before fate pulled them apart. Now, while drowning her Valentine’s Day sorrows at brunch, she spots him: her former Romeo, wearing nothing but gold shorts and wings, playing Cupid for the lovelorn masses. Their chemistry still sizzles, but even with the stars finally aligning, these former leads will need more than Shakespeare’s guidance to turn their second chance into a true romance.
My Overall Thoughts:
January 29, 2026
This one was fine. Honestly it was a big cheeseball so good for people who like that, but I found it pretty predictable and a little bland.
January 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
So cute 🥰
So cute 🥰
January 28, 2026
The Me Too joke put me off right from the start
January 23, 2026
So cringe I DNFd a novella 😂
January 23, 2026
This was such a cute, feel-good read! I hadn’t read anything by this author before, but this one completely charmed me. The premise of two former college stage partners reconnecting on Valentine’s Day was adorable, and the scene where they have to reenact Romeo & Juliet to pass a midterm was such a fun, creative setup. Their all-day date that follows was the highlight for me. It felt natural, flirty, and full of those little moments that make you root for a second-chance romance. There were genuinely funny moments, and I really liked both main characters and their chemistry. Overall, this was a quick, lighthearted rom-com that left me smiling!
January 22, 2026
“I nod, just staring at her before we hang up, because this girl is extraordinary, and I know she’s going to change my life.”
✔️valentines novella
✔️second chance
✔️college crush
✔️long distance
✔️no breakup
✔️closed door romance (things are referenced but not seen on page)
I’m going to be blunt here, I didn’t care for the first part of this novella at all, and while part two (the “explore NYC” day date) and part three (the start of their happily ever after) are better, this one just isn’t for me. The cringe level and secondhand embarrassment is off the charts, the FMC is cruel and unlikeable (especially in part one), and some (most) of the humor just doesn’t land the way the author hoped it would. Why are we using the Me Too movement as a cheap punchline (and it doesn’t really even make sense in context of the rest of the scene) in 2026? In a romance novella written by a woman when she knows her main audience is other women? We’re okay with being flippant about and comparing SA and harassment to not wanting to take a college theater exam? Got it. Anyway, this one was a disappointment after reading the first three in the collection. Here’s hoping I like the two that I have left to read more.
✔️valentines novella
✔️second chance
✔️college crush
✔️long distance
✔️no breakup
✔️closed door romance (things are referenced but not seen on page)
I’m going to be blunt here, I didn’t care for the first part of this novella at all, and while part two (the “explore NYC” day date) and part three (the start of their happily ever after) are better, this one just isn’t for me. The cringe level and secondhand embarrassment is off the charts, the FMC is cruel and unlikeable (especially in part one), and some (most) of the humor just doesn’t land the way the author hoped it would. Why are we using the Me Too movement as a cheap punchline (and it doesn’t really even make sense in context of the rest of the scene) in 2026? In a romance novella written by a woman when she knows her main audience is other women? We’re okay with being flippant about and comparing SA and harassment to not wanting to take a college theater exam? Got it. Anyway, this one was a disappointment after reading the first three in the collection. Here’s hoping I like the two that I have left to read more.
January 28, 2026
Standalone collection of Amazon Originals Meet Cutes! Super punny romcom! Audible book included on KU! 4th book out of 6! I loved this super cute novella. His/Her POVs. Second chance crushes! Undeniable chemistry! Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 850 reviews