The Games We Play

by Alyssa Martin

Friends to lovers. Roommates. Two athletes chasing dreams and each other.In The Games We Play, practice makes perfect, but falling for your best friend might be the most dangerous game of all.

TAYLOR COLEMAN
I don’t have time for distractions. Balancing college baseball, classes, and keeping my younger sister out of trouble is enough.
But sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I ever had time for things like dating.
The only problem? I’m inexperienced. As in, completely.
So when my best friend and star basketball player, Todd, offers to help me practice, it seems like a good idea. He’s always been there for me, so the last thing he’ll do is distract me from what’s important . . . right?

TODD BERGMAN
I’m in love with my best friend, and she has too much going on to notice. I’ve always had her back and been the safe place she can run to. So when she asks for help with dating, it feels natural to say yes.
But the longer we practice, the more the lines blur . . . are we still friends, or something more?

Genres: Romance, Sports, Contemporary

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Alyssa Martin adores love stories in every form—from candlelit ballrooms to modern locker rooms. She writes both historical and contemporary romance, inspired by her studies in 18th and 19th century literature. She holds a BA in Education Studies and English Literature, an MA in English Literature, and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Winchester. Whether she’s writing about rakes or basketball players, she’s always looking for her next book boyfriend.

Connect with Alyssa:

TIKTOK & INSTAGRAM: alyssatheauthor_

FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Fluffy Spice Society)

Reviews

[Trianna/Treereads]

DNF @8%

My quest for basketball romances has lead me to some dark places. Jokes aside I was already bored by this book in the first couple of chapters and did not have it in me to continue. I am not a big friends to lovers reader so maybe this is the norm, but when he was comforting her it felt very boyfriendly to me so like where is the tension? (the way I've been reading better friends to lovers arcs in fanfic lately!!!)

Also I thought the writing wasn't the best.

*thanks to Love Notes PR for the gifted eARC; all thoughts are my own*

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ooh doggie, this was a wild ride. The Games We Play featured the romance between two long time best friends who realize they want something more in their relationship. Our hero, Todd, also happens to be six foot nine?! Excuse me! I know he's a basketball player, but rarely have I encountered this height outside of werewolves or other paranormal creatures. I know it was most likely a throwaway descriptor, but I couldn't get it out of my mind. The logistics alone had me scratching my wee head. Gigantic love interests aside, this book was very emotionally heavy and it didn't even fully focus on the main couple. The heroine has a lot of familial baggage including an alcoholic mom and a pothead teenage sister who winds up pregnant. There was too much focus on the sideplot while the main romance suffered in comparison. Our hero offers sex lessons as a way to build up Taylor's confidence, but we all know it's self-serving. Come on, Todd! This was a very odd romance that felt more drama than romance, personally. If it was more Troy Bolton less Iron Claw, I would be a happier gal. The love scenes were intimate, but also incredibly awkward. I don't think I'll continue with this author, but major props for writing a gargantuan hero so casually. I'll be thinking about that aspect for a long time. My only tip for future books: get'cha head in the game!

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I recommend this book.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book I devoured it

[Our Spicy Book Club · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Games We Play by Alyssa Martin (ARC)
⭐⭐⭐🌶️🌶️

This Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of The Games We Play by Alyssa Martin was my first read by this author. It follows the baseball star FMC, Taylor Coleman, and her best friend, star basketball player and MMC, Todd Bergman, as they navigate their friendship becoming something more. It's set in their final year of college where Taylor is dealing with ongoing family issues and the end of her baseball dreams (since she can't play in the major leagues due to her gender), and Todd is dealing with his love of Taylor and the upcoming NBA draft where he's expected to become an NBA rookie following the end of his college career.

I really liked the characters. I felt they were pretty well developed and the book was an easy read. There’s also a fun height difference trope, where she feels small, but he’s 6’9” and she’s 5’10” making them taller than most of the height difference romances out there. Todd was kind, supportive, but also took things into his own hands when necessary, and Taylor was a hardworking, family-motivated, strong female lead. She wasn’t seen as “too much” for once and was encouraged to pursue her baseball dreams (instead of the traditional love of softball girls are often forced into because of the patriarchal norms in sports.)

What I enjoyed about the book was that it was well written, but where it lost me a bit is the whole subplot around the romance. It felt unnatural - solely as a plot device. Todd is in love with Taylor and everyone close to them can see it but her. She wants practice being physically intimate and Todd agrees, since he thinks that's all she can offer him in a relationship. But he never tells her how he feels along the way, so how can he be sure? It's clear the author knows their stuff when it comes to sports, but maybe could develop their romance writing skills more for where the genres intersect.

Typically, when I read a sports romance, it's more romance than sports - I tell people "I read hockey smut, but it's not really about the hockey." That is not the case with The Games We Play. It's definitely about the sports - including terminology, detailed descriptions of gameplay on both the baseball field and the basketball court, and the demands and headspace that athletes of those sports sink into to become the top of their respective games. The romance definitely feels secondary to the plot of the last year of college experiences that both main characters face. It's for these reasons that I gave it 3 stars and 2 peppers. It's not particularly spicy and when it's there it's mostly in service to the plot, and as someone who doesn't read sports romances for the sports, I liked it but didn't love it. If you love baseball or basketball then you will likely love this book and rate it 4–5★.

[Jennifer Y. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
3.75 Stars

The Games We Play is a sweet and spicy read about best friends, sports, and family drama that I really enjoyed.

Collegiate athletes and roommates Todd and Taylor have been best friends for years. He’s been there to support her in her baseball pursuits and with family problems, just as she’s been there supporting his basketball dreams. But Todd’s feelings for Taylor have changed and he finds himself wanting something more romantic from their relationship. Things take an unexpected turn when they become friends with benefits as Todd agrees to help virgin Taylor “practice sex.” Despite the changes in their relationship, Todd can’t seem to be honest with Taylor about how he feels about her. And as her family drama becomes even more complicated, Todd and Taylor seem fated to take separate paths in life. However, can such a strong bond truly ever be broken?

I really liked this bond between Todd and Taylor and the friendship they shared. I also liked how both characters had their own individual interests and goals and how supportive of each other they were even as just friends. In addition to this, I liked how the author highlighted sexism in baseball or traditionally “male” sports and sport-related careers and showed Taylor’s determination to succeed in her sport and beyond college even while struggling with family issues.

As for Todd and Taylor’s romantic relationship, although at times it seemed destined to remain one-sided, I enjoyed watching it grow and change as they did. While Todd struggled with his growing romantic feelings for Taylor, she was dealing with a very complicated family dynamic that included an alcoholic mother and rebellious teenage sister that left her oblivious to Todd’s feelings as she seemed poised to sacrifice her own happiness for her family. Todd truly was her rock and baseball her escape from everything stressful in her life.

And while I truly enjoyed watching as these friends became lovers, as it is my favorite romance trope, things seemed to move really fast between them once they agree to “practice” with each other with not much discussion about how it would affect their friendship. In fact, there’s not a whole lot of discussion between them at all about their feelings throughout the book as it felt like it mostly focused on Taylor and her family drama rather than Todd and Taylor which was a little disappointing. While there is spice, the story is pretty light on the whole romance and feelings side of things, which is not really my preference.

Despite this, I still enjoyed the story and characters and would recommend it to those who like reading books with sports, family drama, and a little spice/romance where he falls first.

Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. No AI was used in any part of this review.

[Franky · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0⭐

(+):
Yay girls in baseball! It’s dumb that there’s a gender segregation with softball and baseball. But oh boy could I have done with more baseball (and we will be *getting to the baseball*)
I think that the FMC is done far better than the MMC. Her drive to be all that she can be is much clearer, based on her family trauma and her star athlete status all while fighting an uphill battle against bureaucratic standards and red tape.
The title is fine, sure.

(-):
OH BOY do I have feelings about the baseball in this book. I love baseball. Deeply. And I know that not everyone understands baseball as intimately as I do, and that’s fine. I know sports romances don’t need to be 100% accurate (though I’ll still struggle with them if they’re not, but that’s a me thing). But WOW is the baseball in this book just…incorrect?? This girl is supposed to have .438 batting average. A POINT FOUR THREE EIGHT. That is inSANE. And I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be a career average? Which is even more unbelievable. No club would care if she were a woman at that rate - they would sign her and have her wear a glue on mustache at that rate. For reference: Babe Ruth had a .342. A .438 is getting a hit nearly every other at bat. That’s just wild and I have not stopped thinking about how ridiculous that is since I finished this book days ago.
The MMC is made of cardboard. We know next to nothing about him except that he loves this girl and has for years, he goes behind her back to talk to her brother about her, and that he also…kind of hates basketball but still goes pro? Give him SOMETHING.
How and why are these two friends. They have nothing that seems to connect them. They just have history or something.
Remove the brother character. He adds nothing. Or rather, what he does add is just contrived and/or confusing. He does not need to be there.
This cover is…uncanny to me. I don’t like the shading and I am just not a fan of this “two characters standing next to each other without any dynamism that Romance covers have been leaning towards in the last few years.

(?):
A FOUR THREE EIGHT BA???


Will I read the next one? : No.

(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : They’ll open up their relationship when they hit 40 and then they’ll separate but never get divorced. But they’re rich as hell at that point so who cares.

*Thank you to Kingsley & NetGalley Influencers for providing this ARC!


Similar Books :
- 'Unloved' by Peyton Corinne
- 'Catch Her If You Can' by Tessa Bailey
- 'Blind Side' by Kandi Steiner

[Elia Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this story I really enjoyed and then parts that frustrated me. The book started off strong, I enjoyed seeing Todd and Taylor’s friendship and seeing how Todd secretly loves Taylor and that he also has a strong friendship with Taylor’s brother Chase. It was very emotional seeing Taylor’s family dynamic, dealing with an alcoholic mother who is just plain mean and trying to care for her sister while being at a college two hours way. I felt so bad for Taylor, but I could also see how she thrived being needed especially when she had so many unknowns after college since she could not go into the MLB as a woman (stupid btw). I wish we could have seen more about Taylor’s dad and how that rift happened and more about the family dynamic in general.

I enjoyed seeing both Todd and Taylor thrive in their sports and seeing both basketball and baseball. I appreciated the details on the sports and games and the reality of a woman in baseball and how they are limited even if they are extremely talented.

As I said before, I enjoyed Todd and Taylor’s friendship in the beginning and how Todd surprised Taylor with Super Bowl tickets. I was frustrated that he did not admit his love like he planned but ok, I could see why and the trope of practicing was fun. What started to bother me is that Todd had so many opportunities to be honest with Taylor even when they graduated, but NOTHING. Also, I could really feel the friendship at the beginning and they talked and had conversations as friends but soon after they started hooking up, I feel like the friendship disappeared. They did not have many conversations that didn’t have to do with hooking up or Taylor’s frustration with her family. I just feel like the friendship lacked about halfway through.

I appreciated it being fast paced to cover their last semester and into their new adult lives. I feel like some of the plot was lacking and could have been built upon but I did appreciate seeing them go into their adult lives and figure it out.

All in all, the story was good and I wanted to know what would happen, I just think it would have been better if the plot, characters, and relationship was more developed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kingsley Publishers, and Alyssa Martin for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Games We Play is a charming addition to the college sports romance genre, offering a sweet and engaging narrative that resonates with the earnestness of young love. As an ARC reader, I found the story to be a delightful exploration of the friends-to-lovers trope, enriched by the dynamic of a male main character (MMC) who falls first.The novel centers on Taylor Coleman, a 5'10" baseball catcher navigating the demanding world of college athletics, academics, and family responsibilities. Her counterpart, Todd Bergman, is a 6'9" star basketball player and her best friend. The premise, where Todd offers to help Taylor with her dating inexperience, cleverly sets the stage for their evolving relationship. This "help me practice" scenario, combined with their roommate status, creates a simmering tension that is characteristic of well-executed sports romances.One of the most compelling aspects of the story, is Todd's early and profound affection for Taylor. His "he falls first" dynamic adds a complex layer to their interactions, making his internal struggle particularly poignant. His fear slowed their progress together. Todd's apprehension, stemming from the risk of jeopardizing their deep-seated friendship, is a central conflict that drives much of the narrative tension. His journey to overcome this fear and openly pursue the woman he desires forms the emotional core of the story. While the setting is a college environment, the sentiment that it seems more a teenage love story than college is a reasonable one. This perception arises from the characters' innocence, their initial inexperience with romance, and the overarching theme of self-discovery that often accompanies adolescence. However, this aspect can also be viewed as a strength, offering a refreshing take on the new adult genre by focusing on the purity and uncertainty of first loves, even amidst the pressures of college sports and future aspirations. The narrative effectively captures the essence of young adults still figuring out their paths, both individually and as a couple. Ultimately, The Games We Play delivers on its promise of a sweet romance where the protagonists, despite their initial hesitations and fears, eventually "work it out." Alyssa Martin skillfully weaves together elements of sports, friendship, and burgeoning love, creating a heartwarming and satisfying read for fans of the genre.

[Jyoti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Games We Play by Alyssa Martin is a short novel in the Sports Romance genre.

Childhood best friends Todd and Taylor share a close bond but as graduation looms, their paths diverge. While Todd’s standout season has him projected as a top NBA draft pick, Taylor—an equally gifted baseball player—faces the harsh reality of a professional ceiling that doesn’t yet exist for women in the Major Leagues.

Deeply in love but terrified that a confession might shatter their friendship or distract Taylor from her own struggles, Todd makes a risky proposal: a friends-with-benefits arrangement. By offering intimacy without the perceived weight of "forever," he hopes to provide the support she needs while keeping his truest feelings safely hidden behind a no-strings-attached mask.

Taylor has a turbulent home life, defined by a dysfunctional family, history of alcoholism and the looming responsibility of her sister’s teenage pregnancy.

I found it difficult to like the book when the female lead remained completely oblivious to her best friend’s feelings, especially while actively pursuing other romantic interests like Justin and Adam. Similarly, the male lead’s choice to endure years of unrequited love and jealousy without ever confessing felt more like a contrived plot device than a realistic character choice.

I found the mother’s arc unsatisfying; although her time in rehab was included,
The deep-seated resentment and family issues stemming from her addiction were never truly confronted, leaving the relationship feeling unresolved.

What worked for me -
The sports sequences were a highlight of the book. Both the basketball and baseball games were written with such vivid detail and high-stakes energy that they felt truly immersive and cinematic.
The brother’s character (Chase) was well developed. His unwavering support for Taylor and Todd’s relationship provided a much-needed emotional anchor. Beyond being a loyal brother, his steady mediation of the family's internal chaos made him feel more dependable and likeable as a character.

In the category of Sports Romance I would rate this as a 3.5 rounded off to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Friends with benefits


I received this book from the author as an ARC for an honest review.

[Paula Vargas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this one, but it ended up being a bit of a disappointment.

The plot is fine - friends to lovers, both FMC & MMC involved in sports. It has a good premise, but there was so much that needed to be developed AND omitted.

Todd (MMC) is a bit boring, if I'm being honest. He has the makings of a "yearning" character, but it keeps falling short of the microtrope. There's isn't enough history about him to warrant him being unable to express his feelings to Taylor (FMC). It's presented as him not wanting to scare her away, but they've been friends for over a decade, during which I'm SURE they've had difficult conversations. It just didn't seem as realistic to me.

Taylor (FMC) is just as bad. She has one insecure moment which led to a makeover by a random mall employee and that was the end of it. It was her first time getting a makeover, and it was never mentioned again after this day. It's unclear if she continued to dress up and put on makeup like she learned on this day, or if she went back to her old ways. Absolutely no hate on either scenario, but it was just weird that it was never addressed again.

There's a TON of sports statistics presented. While I'm all for representing women in sports, not every reader is well-versed in sports terminology. I don't know what a hitting a "weak chopper" or a ".438 batting average" is. I'll be honest - I couldn't get through these chapters. I skipped most of the writing at these points because I couldn't imagine what was happening. It needs to be re-worded so that readers of any level can understand what's happening.

The ending really bothered me. The chapters about her and Justin felt rushed through, even though he's not integral to the story. I understand Todd and Taylor didn't have their moment before parting ways, but if Justin wiggled his way in then I would have hoped Todd did something bigger than just hopping on a plane. It just seemed like the book was leading up to something big and at the very end it just fizzled out.

Overall, this was an okay read. This is the type of book that can easily hook you in if you're not too worried about the details. I wish I could have given it a better rating, but it just wasn't the book for me.

[Dimitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Games We Play 🏀
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Alyssa Martin for trusting me with this ARC!💛
Taylor's life is constantly going back and front with balancing baseball,college,and keeping her sister out of trouble.So,having time for love and dating?Not the case.But sometimes,she wonders what if...
What if he could tell his best friend that he loves her?No way,Todd cannot ruin her only safe place.Ever.

That was one of the best college romances of 2026.FOR SURE.
Not only did I absolutely loved the trope,but I also adored our main characters too.You see,Martin did not only wrote an amazing romance but she let them shine and generally be as individuals,helping us to love and understand them even better.
Taylor, represents the older sister's life to the best.She constantly has to look back,to make sure everything is alright and every one behaves the way that they should be,with that leaving her behind in her own life,and trust me she knows that,it hurts her but she is deep into the mindset that this is what she should too.So trust me,when I saw her life to blossom outside from that,because she IS much more than that,I was extremely happy.
On the other side,Todd is in REAL love with our girl,& you will not understand this in the🌶️ scenes or in the romance,but in his decision to not to tell her,because she needs her support system and he knows that him as her boyfriend is not how she needs him for the most of the story.So,when you tell me about true love I will answer with Todd Bergman.
But,WHEN the romance happened I can say that it was AMAZING & my personal favorite :THE EPILOGUE.In the last page I almost cried.Not because I did not expect the ending,but I understood that Taylor for the most of her life did not,she didn't thought that she would have this ever,until she accomplished it.🥹
Out On Mar,26th 🏆
4⭐

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgally, publishers and author for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

I can honestly say when I finished this book my first thought was, “That was beautiful.” And I had tears in my eyes because it really was. The epilogue was everything.

We met Taylor and Todd who have been the best of friends since they were little, currently they are at the end of their college careers about to embark into the real world. Where one is a hopeful NBA star, the other is an MVP in baseball. It’s fun to see how the two of them navigate the two different sports and support each other, but really that’s not the point of the story, it’s just bonus.

Taylor has never been with anyone and decides one day with Todd that he is her best friend they should “practice.” One thing leads to another and there are some quite spicy parts throughout the book, but they are well done without oversharing too much, which is my preference. I like to add my own imagination to the plot without so much description. Either way it didn’t bother me, which usually I skip over but this time I did not. So, it is very well written for my taste. I do feel like even though they are best friends and have known each other forever they still seemed to jump into it a little quickly. But I adore them together. So perfect.

I love reading books when one person is so in love with the other and the other has no clue but everyone around them sees it. It’s just so entertaining when the realization happens. I really enjoyed the book and couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down. There were family dynamics throughout the book that were explored, their friendship/situationship/relationship, there were sports references and most importantly there was love and understanding and a bit of spice. Delightful book overall.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor is about to graduate and is a generational college baseball player. Unfortunately for her, there are no opportunities to actually play professionally, so she has set her sights on getting a job somewhere else in the field. She lives with her best friend Todd, star basketball player, who she’s known since they were kids. Both have feelings for the other (him more so than her), but have hidden it to not mess up their friendship, particularly on her side, as Todd is one of the only good, stable things she has in her life.

Since Taylor has her hands full with school, baseball, caring for her younger sister who always finds herself in trouble, and an alcoholic mother, she has no experience with (and no time for) relationships. Todd offers to help, which she initially brushes off, but eventually comes around to. She trusts him and figures, what’s the harm in a little practice?

This is exactly the kind of book that I was in the mood for- low stakes, steamy, quick, and a lot of fun! There aren��t enough romance books about baseball (though I have been noticing a few more than usual lately so maybe we’re starting to hit a peak here) and considering it’s my favorite sport, I loved that this one not only revolved around it, but had a girl playing it! (Have to shoutout to the tv show Pitch here, RIP, gone too soon, and it’s such a shame) I really liked Taylor and Todd both, they’re perfect for each other in the way that it’s obvious to everyone else around them.

Compared to other romances, this one is relatively short, so there’s not a lot of filler, which I appreciated. I’m also not usually a huge fan of college romances, as it often runs into the problem of feeling a little too juvenile, but this one won me over!

[Sophie L | TeaLeavesAndChapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Taylor, a strong and confident FMC who plays baseball. She’s selfless and actively goes out of her way and her day-to-day to take care of her family, willing to put her career and everything she’s been working towards on hold to look after the people she cares about. Then we meet Todd, our MMC is a basketball player and also Taylor’s best friend. The two of them live together whilst at college and have been friends and around each other for most of their lives.

The long-term childhood besties care a lot about each other, maybe a little more than the other realise 👀 after some tension at a party, and due to their life experiences. Taylor and Todd agree that nothing with their friendship will change, BUT the two agree to start “practicing” in order to let Taylor experience more whilst she’s at college 🌶️ (iykyk).

Todd and Taylor definitely have feelings for each other and it’s just a barrier the two of them can’t seem to get past to explain their feelings to one another past the physical part of their now “friends with benefits” relationship. But it’s so cute seeing how the two truly care for each other despite the curveballs and trauma thrown into the characters lives.

I really enjoyed the sports sequences, focusing specifically on the playing baseball and basketball elements. And also Taylor, being a female in a mostly male dominated sport, nevermind industry and managing to persevere through really hit home with me and the struggles and some comments women can face in these fields.

Although a little shorter than my usual reads I really enjoyed this and managed to read it in a couple of hours.

Thank you so much to Alyssa and LoveNotes PR for this ARC!!! 🫶🏻

[Minding My Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

I enjoyed reading this book! Taylor and Todd were great characters. They are best friends and roommates at university. Taylor plays on the university baseball team while Todd plays on basketball team. Taylor, in addition to juggling baseball and classes, has to help take care of her younger sister and alcoholic mother although it is not well received. Todd is working on classes, basketball, and trying for the draft. Todd has also developed feelings for Taylor and has a grand plan to ask her out on a weekend away at Taylor’s brother’s house. Things go awry on arrival when Taylor is embarrassed by a comment from her brother about how she dress (comfortable, not cutesy or extremely feminine). She resolves to change, tries to hook up with her brother’s friend, but ultimately freaks out and runs. Back home Todd and Taylor decide to “practice”. A FWB rarely stays that way and both start developing more feelings. At the same time, Taylor’s mother starts becoming more out of control and her sister finds out she’s pregnant. Taylor, with Todd’s support (and secret communication with Taylor’s brother), tries to take care of everything, only to start burning out herself. Everything comes to a head, truths are told, and only then does real clarity start to occur for Taylor and Todd.

Like I said, I did enjoy this book. However, I felt sometimes things were repetitive or there was just too much going on in a moment. I know that was to give the chaotic feeling that Taylor was experiencing but it kind of slowed things down for me.

Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Roommates
Sports Romance
Baseball Player x Basketball Player
FWB to “Practice”
Plus Size FMC
Gold Retriever MMC

Thank you to Love Notes PR and Alyssa Martin for the ARC!!!

[Ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Games we play ' by Alyssa Martin is a beautifully written sports romance novel. It was emotional, heartwarming and the transition from Friends to lovers was just amazing to read.

The female lead 'Taylor Coleman' plays baseball and is a strong, confident woman who takes care of her family members selflessly. The character of Taylor is such that mostly women who are primary caretakers and givers can easily relate to it as they are the ones who never prioritize their dreams or career and just give all the love and care without thinking about themselves. It was refreshing to see the stereotype of a female baseball player broken and at the end she was successful in her field . The whole character of Taylor was inspiring and as a woman I like seeing such a strong female lead. Her relationship with her sister Emma was emotional to read and I did like the bond of them.

The Male lead 'Todd' was a basketball player and as a friend to Taylor was just amazing. The friendship between them was portrayed beautifully.He was always there for Taylor and took immense care of her. The chemistry between them was just terrific and their 'Practice' sessions were just mind-blowing 🙈

The character of 'Chase' as a big brother to Taylor and his bond with Todd was something I just adored in the whole story. I did like the character growth of Emma and at the end she became my favorite side character.

The sports scenes from the book were really good it felt like I was watching Taylor and Todd play the game , really intriguing.

Overall I did enjoy the whole novel and I did like how the Family dynamics were presented in a realistic manner. This was an amazing read😊

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded and your girl sends it out of the park right in the nick of time. All this to say, I finished this ARC right at the buzzer. My first sports romance. It was fun, authentic, and spicy. As someone who knows absolutely nothing about baseball and just a smidge more about basketball lol, it was fun learning a little bit about how the games and players work. I loved this best friends to lovers relationship and how much love and respect the two main characters, Taylor and Todd, have for one another. I was rooting for Todd to get the girl even after the description of Justin and his grey sweatpants. Todd's POV right away starts with him telling the audience that he loves Taylor and I love that. It fun to know it up front and to see how it will come together. I am a girls girl and a first daughter so I am ridiculously empathetic to everything Taylor went through in this story. With a not so perfect home life, a near extinct dating history, and a dream of succeeding in a male dominated industry, Taylor is the girl to root for, I just wanted to see her succeed and blossom!
I rated this book a 4 out of 5 because the pacing was just a little off for me. The spice went from 0 to 100 and I love spice but this being a more contemporary piece and the FMC being a novice in relationships and I feel like we need more of a build up. I also needed more Todd. I loved Taylor and we learn so much about her but what about Todd? I need more Todd.
Thank you and a big congratulations to Alyssa Martin on her new book and thank you to Alyssa and @lovesnotespr for the ARC.

[Florencia Candela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one so much, sadly it will be a 2 ⭐ for me. Received it as an ARC and the plot really caught my interest. It had its good parts but overall there were lots of things that didn't make sense to me personally.
Taylor is a college student who has a lot of family issues and is trying to get by dividing her time between school, baseball and taking care of her sister. Todd is her best friend who's been in love with her and is ready to confess his feelings but proposes a deal to "practice".
Characters were a little bit confusing and some logistics were exaggerated I believe, in regards of physical qualities, for example. Another ones felt like over-the-top cliches and maybe childish, like she is baseball player so she is not like other girls, more of a tomboy, and also she never wore make up before and thinks jeans are fancy but suddenly she finds a random guy sexiest of all times and decides to do a full make over? Also she was short on money and couldn't pay rent but sure let's spend money on clothes to impress a guy she just met.
Todd was awkward for me, lacked bravery for some stuff and all of a sudden he became somehow super confident. I wasn't sold on his character, he's in love with her but gives permission to his "friend" to ask her out, for instance. He's also getting ready to be drafted but is hesitant about leaving Taylor. Who in their right mind would base their entire future in a person? But also, we don't really know him and Taylor is not really a friend of him in my opinion. They don't really talk about anything deep and when they do is cut short.
This one just didn't do it for me.

[Alicia F · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Games We Play -ARC Review
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

I love a good friends to lovers story. Todd was down bad from the beginning and I loved watching Taylor figure it out. I also loved the he wasn’t afraid to do the hard things. He was prepared to let her go if it meant she was going to live her life. However, it was nice seeing him pull his head out of his 🍑 and tell her he loves her anyway. Taylor is a strong, independent, fierce woman, but she was still a bit insecure on the inside and I feel like so many of us can relate to that. On top of it all, I think one of my favorite things about her is her size. I know looks are not important, but being 5’11 and a size 14/16 myself, it’s nice to be able to relate to characters sometimes. The baseball aspect of the game was also just important enough, along with the basketball. I think my biggest “complaint” is really just that I couldn’t figure out where they lived. Its not that important in the grand scheme of things, but there was a lot of talk about KC being home (teams and place) but also about the quick drive to Cleveland, and a few mentions of Ohio. Every time the location was mentioned it was something I ended up focusing on a bit and became kind of distracting. Seeing Taylor interact with her family was a great insight to who she is, I would have loved to see/hear about Todd’s family more. Last, I enjoyed the epilogue being so far in the future it felt like a genuine wrap up of the story, and I feel that Taylor and Todd just being the best aunt/uncle vs parents was exactly where I saw the story going, and was a nice, realistic touch. I really enjoyed this book and will likely pick up more from Alyssa in the future!

[•Cici• Theory of A Dreamer Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to pick this book up as soon as I read the blurb! Baseball has been my favorite sport ever since I was a kid. I’m new to this author’s work as well. I got right into this story. I enjoyed it so much!

Taylor and Todd’s journey immediately had my attention! Todd is a basketball player and Taylor is a baseball player. These two are roommates and have been best friends for many years. The thing is though, Todd loves Taylor. As certain lessons shake things up between them, will they take a chance on their feelings?

Todd and Taylor got me right into their story! I really enjoyed their friendship and the fact that they were roommates as well. I thought it was so cool how they were both athletes and what it all brought to their story. From their friendship and lessons to everything they made each other feel, I couldn’t wait to see how it’d all play out for Taylor and Todd.

Taylor was such a strong character that I felt for. I related to her in so many ways, especially when it came to her passion for baseball. I adored how Todd loved Taylor. He was really there for her which was so wonderful to see. Their chemistry and lessons together were so good! I felt every bit of Todd and Taylor’s journey with them!

The Games We Play was an awesome best friends to lovers romance that brought baseball player FMC x basketball player MMC, realness, and feels!! I’m looking forward to picking up more of this author’s work. ⚾️❤️🏀

Check out the author’s note about the content.



*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

When would be the perfect time for Todd to confess his love for his best friend, Taylor? With Taylor juggling life as a star baseball athlete and dealing with family drama, “never” might be the answer. To help her gain more experience, Todd offers to “practice” romance with her… because no feelings will get involved… right?

I loved that Taylor was portrayed as a strong, respected athlete, and Todd had that lovable golden-retriever MMC energy.

But… I think this book was a strikeout for me.

Strike one: Because it’s such a short read, there’s a heavy focus on Taylor’s family drama. At times, it felt like the main storyline, with the romance taking more of a backseat. Taylor takes on a self-imposed, motherly role with her sister and tries to be the “fix-it” person in her family. While I understand wanting to support your family, it became a bit frustrating that she didn’t seem open to help from either her older brother or her father. I found myself skimming some of the family scenes.

Strike two: As adorable as Todd is, I wish we got more depth to his character. We know he’s in love with Taylor and that he’s good at basketball but doesn’t really enjoy it… and that’s about it. I wanted more insight into who he is beyond that.

Strike three: Overall, the book felt like it was missing something. There was a lot of miscommunication (or lack of communication), and at one point I just wanted to scream at Todd and Taylor to talk to each other about their feelings.

Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for providing me with an eARC of this book.

[Sarah Putrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a cute story and I really enjoyed it. I've never been a sports fan irl but for some reason I actually enjoy reading about it in romance stories. I have no idea if things are accurate but they made it sound interesting at least.

Taylor and Todd are best friends who have grown up together and are in their last year of college. Todd is the hopeful NBA player who's been in love with Taylor. Taylor is an MVP in baseball struggling to also take care of family issues no time for dating. Instead of telling his feelings Todd offers to enter an arrangement with Taylor where they practice sexual things to gain her more confidence as she has little to no experience and Todd has always been her safe place. What could possibly go wrong?

It's definitely not hard to miss Todd and Taylor have chemistry even though Taylor is clueless most of the time to any feelings. They have so many steamy spicy scenes throughout. Todd of course was always trying to put Taylor first and Taylor was always trying to put her family first. Eventually they got their HEA and I was definitely sweating it but the ending is so worth everything!

It definitely makes me sad that women can't play as men do. That Taylor couldn't continue her dream in playing professionally and I definitely think that needs changing.

This was a fast paced friend's to lovers romance with lots of sports mixed in. It was very heartwarming and cozy. I definitely recommend this one!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Games We Play by Alyssa Martin it had the friends-to-lovers trope!

Taylor and Todd are the main characters, and their dynamic really carries the story. Taylor is a standout college baseball player the best on her team with the top batting average, and she even takes on a mentoring role with her pitcher. I loved seeing a strong, driven female athlete in that space. At the same time, her personal life is chaotic. She’s constantly stepping up for her younger sister, taking on more responsibility than she should have to, which adds a lot of pressure to her life.

Todd, on the other hand, is an all-star basketball player with a future headed toward the draft. He comes from a great, supportive family, which contrasts nicely with Taylor’s situation. He’s been in love with Taylor since they were kids, giving this story that “he falls first” element that’s always so satisfying. Their long history and deep friendship make the shift into something more feel natural and really sweet.

This is a true friends-to-lovers romance, but it also highlights Taylor learning to put herself first instead of always taking care of everyone else. That personal growth added a meaningful layer to the story.

While I found the book cute and enjoyable overall, there were a few moments that felt a bit repetitive, and I wish certain parts had been developed a little more. Still, it’s a solid read with a heartfelt relationship at its core.

[Books.For.Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 estrellas

Primeramente quiero agradecer a NetGalley, Alyssa Martin y Kingsley Publishers por permitirme leer el ARC de esta historia a cambio de una reseña honesta.

The Games We Play se nos presenta como un friends to lovers donde nuestros protagonistas, Taylor y Todd, se embarcan en una relación con ciertos "beneficios" con el fin de "practicar", al no ser capaz de aceptar lo que sienten o debido a las presiones familiares que ella esta atravesando.
En un comienzo, este libro tenia demasiado potencial para ser un 5 estrellas, pero a medida que la historia iba avanzando, se volvía aun mas lenta y un tanto repetitiva, especialmente con las escenas spicy.
Otro punto que tampoco fue de mi agrado es la resolución que se le da a la historia. No soy para nada fan de aquellos libros donde toda la trama central se resuelve en pocas paginas y durante el capitulo final (este libro posee capítulos cortos). Sinceramente me esperaba alguna confesión un tanto mas romántica o que lo haya demostrado de otra manera...y sinceramente lo arruino todo con la mención del hotel.
De igual manera fue una buena lectura, rápida y fácil.
Lo recomiendo si lo que buscan es algo rápido para pasar el tiempo.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Friends to lovers. Roommates. Two athletes chasing dreams and each other.”
❤️‍🔥
Taylor doesn’t have time for distractions between baseball, college and making sure her sister behaves she doesn’t have the time to think about dating and if she’s honest she’s a little inexperienced in it all. So when her best friend Todd offers to help practice 😉 it seems like the perfect idea. Todd’s only problem.. he’s in love with her his best friend and she’s too distracted to notice so he jumps at the chance to practice.
.
I could not put this book down! I read it over two days which is fast for me and I only broke it up between two days because I fell asleep while reading! I love sport romances and especially baseball so for it to be Taylor’s sport I couldn’t wait to read it.
.
I loved the duo POV so we could feel how both of them were feeling and the exact same moment. Alyssa kept you hooked from chapter one and the tension remained through the whole book. The ending was perfect and I had a big cheesy grin on my face the last couple of chapters.
.
If you’re looking for your new favourite sports romance this is the one for you! ❤️
.
Thank you to lovenotes.pr & Alyssa Martin for giving me the opportunity to read this one! 💌💘

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sports romance that absolutely knocks it out of the park, this is the one. This book delivers the ultimate best-friends-to-FWB-to-lovers arc, set against the backdrop of college athletics.

Taylor is a total badass, a collegiate baseball MVP who fiercely leads the charge both on and off the field. I absolutely loved seeing a strong female main character take point in this dynamic. Her best friend, Todd, plays college basketball, and top drawer prospect. He is the walking definition of a green flag. He is incredibly supportive, patient, and everything you could want in a book boyfriend.

The chemistry between them is off the charts when they finally cross that line into FWB territory. However, the real emotional hook of the story is their mutual, paralyzing fear of losing each other. They are so deeply terrified of ruining their foundational friendship that they hold back from admitting their true feelings, making the emotional payoff so much sweeter when they finally break down those walls.

I absolutely loved this read. The angst of them trying to navigate their fears is written beautifully, and the epilogue is pure perfection. It is a must-read for anyone who loves a fiercely talented FMC and a genuinely good, supportive MMC!

[Angela van Breemen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor Coleman and Todd Bergman are ultra-talented college athletes who have been friends since childhood.

Taylor is frustrated by the glass ceiling she faces after graduation, knowing she’ll never be a pro baseball player in the major leagues, even though she’s better than her male counterparts.

Todd has loved Taylor since they met as young kids but respects her too much to tell her. He doesn’t want to get in the way of her future in sports. Her driving belief that family obligations come first and that career aspirations should be sacrificed worries him, since he wants the best for her.

The sweet part of this story is that the two love each other but won’t admit it. Through a strange “friends with benefits” relationship, they soon learn the truth and finally acknowledge what they have known for years: they were made for each other.

The story shows how they ultimately find a way to achieve both: admitting their love for each other while balancing family and careers with commitment and dedication.

I would have considered this a young adult book. However, it has very steamy romantic interludes that I found somewhat over the top in their detail, and which some readers might find too graphic.

All the same, it’s a sweet coming-of-age story.

[Najda Mesinovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advance copy reader received from LovenotesPR!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

The Games We Play by @alyssatheauthor_ is coming March 26th!

I had the amazing opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book & it was such a fun read! This book is about best friends who become friends with benefits & then finally confess their love to each other. Todd & Taylor have been best friends for majority of their lives & end up at the same college together & are roommates, Todd is always there listening & willing to help Taylor but Taylor wants to be independent. She wants to handle her family & school & baseball practice & so much more on her own. Todd will do anything to help her.

There is a good amount of spice to the book & what’s best is that the main female character ends up where I used to live, St. Louis, MO! I enjoyed this book & it was such a quick read for me!

I loved the way that the author had shorter chapters for the dual POV & we are able to see the other POV.
 
What to expect:
🥰 Best Friends to Lovers
👀 Roommates
🌶️ Sex Lessons
🧡 Found Family
⚾️ Dual Athletes: FMC on Men's Baseball Team x Star Basketball Player MMC
🐶 Golden Retriever MMC

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone had told me when I picked up this book that I would be this infatuated with a sweet, six-foot nine basketball player named Todd I would have said ... mmmm... do you know me?

Yes, I like golden retriever MMCs but usually they're also secretly stalkers or serial killers so this guy hit me like a truck with his good heart, overall sweet demeanor, and just generally being the BEST HUMAN BEING AND BEST FRIEND EVER.

He's Taylors best friend, emotional support person, and all-around good guy. They're roommates in college where she plays baseball and he plays basketball. When her life goes a little out of control, he does the VERY best stand by your gal routine possible and also ... helps her practice certain things she doesn't have a lot of experience with. That's where I said OH MY TODD.

This book has heart, laughs, and some truly blush worthy scenes and aside from a truly spectacular MMC the FMC? She's an utterly incredible woman. Sure - she's a bit of a hot mess with everything going on in her life but she's also smart, witty, funny, and incredibly talented in a male dominated field.

Home Run. Kobe. Nothing but net. #EnterSportsMetaphorHere