What do you think?
Rate this book
Play for Me
When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.
Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.
Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.
With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.
Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.
Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.
With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2023
61 people are currently reading
10993 people want to read
About the author
Libby Hubscher
5 books819 followersLibby Hubscher is an author and scientist. She studied biology at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and holds a doctor of philosophy in molecular toxicology from North Carolina State University. Her work has appeared online and in textbooks, scientific journals, and literary journals. Her short story “The Unwelcome Guest” was long-listed for the Wigleaf Top 50 in 2018. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two young children, and a menagerie of pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
May 14, 2023
This swoon-worthy, poignant romance lifted my feet off the ground! Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract and friends to lovers tropes harmonized into heartfelt concept with adorable main characters and sweetest, huggable supporting characters.
It also approaches to many sensitive issues and health disabilities including Parkinson, emotional abuse, grief in most realistic and informative way.
I proudly announce this as my favorite Libby Hubscher book!
Sophie Doyle is hot blooded, competitive, giving, badass, determined, optimistic heroine each reader may easily adore. At the beginning of the book, we witness how she loses her job as head athletic trainer of Red Sox after giving a decision not to let team’s star athlete to play which costed the team losing World Series again!
She loses her job, her boyfriend and her temper at the same day which results with finding herself arrested for putting her cannoli to a place where an obnoxious Red Sox fan’s head was located!
Thankfully her best friend/ movie star Astrid not only saves her spending more time behind the bars, she also finds a quick solution for her unemployment, homelessness ( she was living with her ex before he packed her suits and kicked her out) by arranging her a sports trainer position at arts focused boarding school in New Hampshire where she’s also graduated.
Without thinking further, Sophie accepts the job which requires a different living arrangement she didn’t consider: she has to live with three school teachers who are male! Thankfully two of her roommates are cinnamon buns, a lovely gay couple but her third roommate: a music prodigy, teaching music, looking like model is grumpy, grouchy as hell. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s meet and greet to Jonas Voss who berated Sophie at first sight for playing something on the piano and acted like he hated her guts!
Sophie is adamant to win him over, even though he did something unacceptable by eating all those waffles at breakfast bar!
Their forced proximity pushes them to spend more time together. Sophie realizes Jonas is generous, kind hearted, emotional man disguises behind his brooding behavior. He suffers from a hand disease that the doctors couldn’t diagnose preventing him play piano.
Sophie slowly destroy the walls he built around himself by extending her helping hand to find a best treatment for him as she also deals with her father’s worsening health condition, gnawing with guilt feeling for not telling him the real reason behind her moving to New Hampshire.
The growing romance between Sophie and Jonas is genuine, heartwarming. I loved how their characters evolved, how they broke their barriers to help each other’s burdens.
The ending was also beautiful, deserving many happy tears! My emotions are everywhere. I absolutely recommend this sentimental, well written romance, self helping, healing story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this poignant book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
It also approaches to many sensitive issues and health disabilities including Parkinson, emotional abuse, grief in most realistic and informative way.
I proudly announce this as my favorite Libby Hubscher book!
Sophie Doyle is hot blooded, competitive, giving, badass, determined, optimistic heroine each reader may easily adore. At the beginning of the book, we witness how she loses her job as head athletic trainer of Red Sox after giving a decision not to let team’s star athlete to play which costed the team losing World Series again!
She loses her job, her boyfriend and her temper at the same day which results with finding herself arrested for putting her cannoli to a place where an obnoxious Red Sox fan’s head was located!
Thankfully her best friend/ movie star Astrid not only saves her spending more time behind the bars, she also finds a quick solution for her unemployment, homelessness ( she was living with her ex before he packed her suits and kicked her out) by arranging her a sports trainer position at arts focused boarding school in New Hampshire where she’s also graduated.
Without thinking further, Sophie accepts the job which requires a different living arrangement she didn’t consider: she has to live with three school teachers who are male! Thankfully two of her roommates are cinnamon buns, a lovely gay couple but her third roommate: a music prodigy, teaching music, looking like model is grumpy, grouchy as hell. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s meet and greet to Jonas Voss who berated Sophie at first sight for playing something on the piano and acted like he hated her guts!
Sophie is adamant to win him over, even though he did something unacceptable by eating all those waffles at breakfast bar!
Their forced proximity pushes them to spend more time together. Sophie realizes Jonas is generous, kind hearted, emotional man disguises behind his brooding behavior. He suffers from a hand disease that the doctors couldn’t diagnose preventing him play piano.
Sophie slowly destroy the walls he built around himself by extending her helping hand to find a best treatment for him as she also deals with her father’s worsening health condition, gnawing with guilt feeling for not telling him the real reason behind her moving to New Hampshire.
The growing romance between Sophie and Jonas is genuine, heartwarming. I loved how their characters evolved, how they broke their barriers to help each other’s burdens.
The ending was also beautiful, deserving many happy tears! My emotions are everywhere. I absolutely recommend this sentimental, well written romance, self helping, healing story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this poignant book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
April 25, 2023
4 stars
I had such a good time reading this book! It was fun, swoony, and heartwarming. I loved the grumpy hero, forced proximity, and the family/friend group in this book. Overall this one was such a win!
Sophie lost her dream job as a Red Sox trainer and is now working as a sports therapist for a private high school. She ends up with 3 teachers as roommates, and one is Jonas Voss, the musician. From the moment Sophie meets Jonas, she can tell he doesn’t like her and she doesn’t really know why… but with time, she starts to grow on him.
Jonas is the type of hero I adore. I loved him and Sophie together. Becoming friends, then more. It was so sweet. I also loved all the students in this story, and Sophie’s dad was amazing. This was such a great read for me. It’s my second Libby Hubscher book and I’m looking forward to reading more!
“You are like a song that my heart has been waiting for. I recognized your melody the moment we met.”
I had such a good time reading this book! It was fun, swoony, and heartwarming. I loved the grumpy hero, forced proximity, and the family/friend group in this book. Overall this one was such a win!
Sophie lost her dream job as a Red Sox trainer and is now working as a sports therapist for a private high school. She ends up with 3 teachers as roommates, and one is Jonas Voss, the musician. From the moment Sophie meets Jonas, she can tell he doesn’t like her and she doesn’t really know why… but with time, she starts to grow on him.
Jonas is the type of hero I adore. I loved him and Sophie together. Becoming friends, then more. It was so sweet. I also loved all the students in this story, and Sophie’s dad was amazing. This was such a great read for me. It’s my second Libby Hubscher book and I’m looking forward to reading more!
June 22, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“I find it hard to breathe around you.”
A light-hearted read with minimal angst, Play for Me was a soft palette cleanser that my reading material needed. It was a gentle romance between Sophie Doyle and Jonas Voss, two unlikely people, who, despite their unpleasant first meeting and varying views on life, they had one thing in common - both of them had been dealt the heavy hand of life, knocking them down, hitting them where their hearts found happiness the most. And neither of them were expecting that while their time as roommates at Monadnock, they would come to share a lot more than just that.
Sophie was a fun, bubbly, narrator. Even when the chips were down, she never lost spirit - she never lost heart - she never lost her drive to help her new students hone their talents and skills at their respective sports - how she genuinely cared about their well-being, regardless of the outcome of the game. 💜💜 And yet, she never could be comfortable when someone did not like her, someone like Jonas Voss - who she could never tell if he was teasing her or not. Someone who was 'a curmudgeon, but also an enigma,', who she wanted to untangle the secrets and mysteries behind his aversion to ever playing the piano again.
I loved how sure she was about her skills as a therapist, how eager she was to try and help Jonas recover from his own innate nerves of never being able to play the piano again. The therapy sessions, as she gently kneaded the muscles of his hands were so sensually written that it became almost impossible to deny that he, too was getting uncomfortably hot around her - no matter how hard he acted as if her very presence repulsed him. 😌😌
“You played. You played so well,” I said. Tears blurred my vision, splintering the stage lights into a starburst, but I didn’t care. “You said you wouldn’t again.”
“You made me feel brave.”
Jonas was 'a tortured artist who pined for an exquisitely beautiful music', but with the heart of a teddy bear and the gift of a magpie. He was loved by all - students and teachers alike, and yet, Sophie could not win him over right from the start. It would have been nice to get a little glimpse into his mind - how much he was affected by her presence, how much he wanted to write something special for her, what the therapy sessions meant to him, what devious things he would like to do with her on the piano. 🥺 But, what we got were entertaining moments shared between the two that started off prickly and full of tease that softly turned into something gentle and tender, laced with a hint of kindness and a sprinkle of understanding that they were perhaps two kindred spirits that were meant to find their way to each other. 💗💗
“But that’s the thing about getting what you want: the moment it’s in your hands, you have to make sure you don’t lose it.”
Of course, with forced proximity comes plenty of uncomfortable touches and sneaky glances and unwanted moments of annoyance, but it was in those repressed tension of attractiveness that Jonas and Sophie fell for each other more. 🥰🥰 And when they finally fit together, when they finally voiced that the feelings were there, right from the start, it was as it two puzzle pieces were finely being fit together. I'm glad there wasn't too much angst - rather, it was simply two people, trying to figure out what to do with their lives, where did they want to go from here, what future suited them best - both professionally and romantically. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“What does it mean when someone says that they find it hard to breathe when they’re around you?”
“It means they’ve got it bad.”
“Are you judging me?”
“I would never judge you.”
“Then what? Say something.”
“Nothing. I’m just wondering if you’re having a few breathing problems of your own, that’s all.”
I enjoyed the supporting characters, too - Astrid, Andy and Raf were a fun, meddling, and caring trio with a great sense of snide and playful humor that was off-set by their lovable concern for their friends' well-being. I also appreciated how Sophie's father's part in the story wasn't too forced or out of place and that Jonas was such a genuine kind soul that he made an effort to get to know him better, even without Sophie wanting him to. It was all just a very good-spirited and good fun, that might seem boring at first, but, sometimes you just have to appreciate that life can be good, if you allow it to be. 😊😊
“Was that not totally apparent to you? I thought you were astute.”
“No,” I laughed. “It was not apparent. I’m still getting used to you not hating me.”
“I never hated you. Not for a single moment.”
“But you didn’t like me at first, remember? When did your feelings change?”
“They didn’t. I’ve felt the exact way I do now since the moment I met you.”
It's sometimes nice to read something that doesn't require you to judge everything or think there's some hidden conflict that's going to lead to break-up angst in the third act. ☺️ Libby Hubscher wrote a very sweet and simple story that approached love in a mature and believable manner that made me curious to see what else she has to offer.
“I find it hard to breathe around you.”
A light-hearted read with minimal angst, Play for Me was a soft palette cleanser that my reading material needed. It was a gentle romance between Sophie Doyle and Jonas Voss, two unlikely people, who, despite their unpleasant first meeting and varying views on life, they had one thing in common - both of them had been dealt the heavy hand of life, knocking them down, hitting them where their hearts found happiness the most. And neither of them were expecting that while their time as roommates at Monadnock, they would come to share a lot more than just that.
Sophie was a fun, bubbly, narrator. Even when the chips were down, she never lost spirit - she never lost heart - she never lost her drive to help her new students hone their talents and skills at their respective sports - how she genuinely cared about their well-being, regardless of the outcome of the game. 💜💜 And yet, she never could be comfortable when someone did not like her, someone like Jonas Voss - who she could never tell if he was teasing her or not. Someone who was 'a curmudgeon, but also an enigma,', who she wanted to untangle the secrets and mysteries behind his aversion to ever playing the piano again.
I loved how sure she was about her skills as a therapist, how eager she was to try and help Jonas recover from his own innate nerves of never being able to play the piano again. The therapy sessions, as she gently kneaded the muscles of his hands were so sensually written that it became almost impossible to deny that he, too was getting uncomfortably hot around her - no matter how hard he acted as if her very presence repulsed him. 😌😌
“You played. You played so well,” I said. Tears blurred my vision, splintering the stage lights into a starburst, but I didn’t care. “You said you wouldn’t again.”
“You made me feel brave.”
Jonas was 'a tortured artist who pined for an exquisitely beautiful music', but with the heart of a teddy bear and the gift of a magpie. He was loved by all - students and teachers alike, and yet, Sophie could not win him over right from the start. It would have been nice to get a little glimpse into his mind - how much he was affected by her presence, how much he wanted to write something special for her, what the therapy sessions meant to him, what devious things he would like to do with her on the piano. 🥺 But, what we got were entertaining moments shared between the two that started off prickly and full of tease that softly turned into something gentle and tender, laced with a hint of kindness and a sprinkle of understanding that they were perhaps two kindred spirits that were meant to find their way to each other. 💗💗
“But that’s the thing about getting what you want: the moment it’s in your hands, you have to make sure you don’t lose it.”
Of course, with forced proximity comes plenty of uncomfortable touches and sneaky glances and unwanted moments of annoyance, but it was in those repressed tension of attractiveness that Jonas and Sophie fell for each other more. 🥰🥰 And when they finally fit together, when they finally voiced that the feelings were there, right from the start, it was as it two puzzle pieces were finely being fit together. I'm glad there wasn't too much angst - rather, it was simply two people, trying to figure out what to do with their lives, where did they want to go from here, what future suited them best - both professionally and romantically. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“What does it mean when someone says that they find it hard to breathe when they’re around you?”
“It means they’ve got it bad.”
“Are you judging me?”
“I would never judge you.”
“Then what? Say something.”
“Nothing. I’m just wondering if you’re having a few breathing problems of your own, that’s all.”
I enjoyed the supporting characters, too - Astrid, Andy and Raf were a fun, meddling, and caring trio with a great sense of snide and playful humor that was off-set by their lovable concern for their friends' well-being. I also appreciated how Sophie's father's part in the story wasn't too forced or out of place and that Jonas was such a genuine kind soul that he made an effort to get to know him better, even without Sophie wanting him to. It was all just a very good-spirited and good fun, that might seem boring at first, but, sometimes you just have to appreciate that life can be good, if you allow it to be. 😊😊
“Was that not totally apparent to you? I thought you were astute.”
“No,” I laughed. “It was not apparent. I’m still getting used to you not hating me.”
“I never hated you. Not for a single moment.”
“But you didn’t like me at first, remember? When did your feelings change?”
“They didn’t. I’ve felt the exact way I do now since the moment I met you.”
It's sometimes nice to read something that doesn't require you to judge everything or think there's some hidden conflict that's going to lead to break-up angst in the third act. ☺️ Libby Hubscher wrote a very sweet and simple story that approached love in a mature and believable manner that made me curious to see what else she has to offer.
June 22, 2023
Hmmmm I really just didn’t connect with this story. Why was he such a prick to her for so long?? He really had no reason to be that rude and it was very confusing. The author clearly wanted a curmudgeon hero so she made him fit the mold, when he really didn’t feel like that. I think the Britishness was also supposed to give him personality and heartthrobness, but that too also fell flat.
Idk I just really never warmed up to him and I def could’ve used his POV…which is not something I say often. I liked Sophie and I liked the baseball aspect, but overall just a meh story. It was cute and I definitely didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t memorable. Ya win some, ya lose some, and then there’s the some where you’ve just gotta go “well that happened” and walk away.
As for the audiobook, I really enjoyed the narrator. She did good voice work, and I liked her British accent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 0🌶️*/5
*Closed door; I wept.
Thanks to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
Idk I just really never warmed up to him and I def could’ve used his POV…which is not something I say often. I liked Sophie and I liked the baseball aspect, but overall just a meh story. It was cute and I definitely didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t memorable. Ya win some, ya lose some, and then there’s the some where you’ve just gotta go “well that happened” and walk away.
As for the audiobook, I really enjoyed the narrator. She did good voice work, and I liked her British accent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 0🌶️*/5
*Closed door; I wept.
Thanks to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.
March 5, 2023
Summary: When Sophie Doyle loses her dream job (trainer of the Red Sox), her boyfriend (who happens to be the team doc) and her apartment all in one day, she is left with nowhere to go. When her friend gets her a job as the trainer at an arts boarding school, Sophie quickly learns she will be sharing an apartment with three guys, one of whom can’t seem to stand her.
Thoughts: This book has everything you could possibly want in a romance. Fiesty and fun enemies to lovers/sunshine grump vibes? Check. Forced proximity with a one bed moment? Check. Found family vibes to rival none? You guessed it. Check. Will Play for Me leave me with a gigantic book hangover? Check, check and check!
In addition to the wonderful romance tropes we all love and adore, this book offered so much more. Set in part at a small New Hampshire arts boarding school, we were treated to the inner workings of how some of the greatest musicians achieve their greatness, while also learning about the significant abuse/ptsd brought upon by overly controlling parents. In addition, this book offers a sneak peek into the world of baseball and the pure love of it found in Red Sox Nation.
My favorite aspect, aside from the swoony romance of course, were the incredible friendships featured in this book. So many of our characters struggle deeply with parental relationships, but find the ultimate family within their close friends. In addition, the relationship between Sophie and her dad was so beautifully written and I could feel the depth of that connection from the start of the book through until the end.
And as for our pivotal MCs, Sophie and Jonas both shone as the stars of this story. Told entirely in first person, I still felt as though I knew Jonah completely. I was so impressed with their ability to tackle miscommunication head on in such an adult way and that was the freshest breath of all.
Read if you like:
•enemies to lovers
•roommates/forced proximity
•sunshine/grump
•found family
•New England charm
•strong father/daughter relationship
Thank you Berkley Romance for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I just adored this book so much and will be pre-ordering it immediately.
Thoughts: This book has everything you could possibly want in a romance. Fiesty and fun enemies to lovers/sunshine grump vibes? Check. Forced proximity with a one bed moment? Check. Found family vibes to rival none? You guessed it. Check. Will Play for Me leave me with a gigantic book hangover? Check, check and check!
In addition to the wonderful romance tropes we all love and adore, this book offered so much more. Set in part at a small New Hampshire arts boarding school, we were treated to the inner workings of how some of the greatest musicians achieve their greatness, while also learning about the significant abuse/ptsd brought upon by overly controlling parents. In addition, this book offers a sneak peek into the world of baseball and the pure love of it found in Red Sox Nation.
My favorite aspect, aside from the swoony romance of course, were the incredible friendships featured in this book. So many of our characters struggle deeply with parental relationships, but find the ultimate family within their close friends. In addition, the relationship between Sophie and her dad was so beautifully written and I could feel the depth of that connection from the start of the book through until the end.
And as for our pivotal MCs, Sophie and Jonas both shone as the stars of this story. Told entirely in first person, I still felt as though I knew Jonah completely. I was so impressed with their ability to tackle miscommunication head on in such an adult way and that was the freshest breath of all.
Read if you like:
•enemies to lovers
•roommates/forced proximity
•sunshine/grump
•found family
•New England charm
•strong father/daughter relationship
Thank you Berkley Romance for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I just adored this book so much and will be pre-ordering it immediately.
March 15, 2023
PERFECTION! This book absolutely blew me away!
Sophie had her dream job working as an athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox. That is until she made a call during the World Series that got her fired and dumped. Needing a place to live and work, she ends up at an artsy New Hampshire boarding school not knowing a thing about working with high school kids, especially those that prefer music over sports. Further, when she moves into staff housing, Sophie finds herself with three male roommates, one of them being grumpy Jonas and from day one, she is on his bad side. That is until she starts helping him overcome his fears and slowly his walls begin to break down.
What I loved:
-The grumpy/sunshine dynamic and he falls first
-The New Hampshire prep school setting and all of the students on campus
-The full cast of side characters, including Sophie’s best friend Astrid, her roommates Revi and Andy, and her father and his nursing home crew
-The father/ daughter relationship, which was was tender and heartwarming
-How the story combined sports, specifically baseball, and music in the most perfect way. I have never read anything like this and couldn’t get enough
-The concept of musical fitness where Sophie treated and prevented injuries in devoted musicians and improved physical resilience. It was so interesting !
-Jonas’s transformation from the grumpy, closed-off roommate to the soft cinnamon roll hero
-All the forced proximity, library dates and training sessions between Sophie and Jonas
-How the story dealt with some heavier topics but the overall tone was still light, making it a perfect summer beach read
Thank you Berkley romance for the ARC!
Sophie had her dream job working as an athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox. That is until she made a call during the World Series that got her fired and dumped. Needing a place to live and work, she ends up at an artsy New Hampshire boarding school not knowing a thing about working with high school kids, especially those that prefer music over sports. Further, when she moves into staff housing, Sophie finds herself with three male roommates, one of them being grumpy Jonas and from day one, she is on his bad side. That is until she starts helping him overcome his fears and slowly his walls begin to break down.
What I loved:
-The grumpy/sunshine dynamic and he falls first
-The New Hampshire prep school setting and all of the students on campus
-The full cast of side characters, including Sophie’s best friend Astrid, her roommates Revi and Andy, and her father and his nursing home crew
-The father/ daughter relationship, which was was tender and heartwarming
-How the story combined sports, specifically baseball, and music in the most perfect way. I have never read anything like this and couldn’t get enough
-The concept of musical fitness where Sophie treated and prevented injuries in devoted musicians and improved physical resilience. It was so interesting !
-Jonas’s transformation from the grumpy, closed-off roommate to the soft cinnamon roll hero
-All the forced proximity, library dates and training sessions between Sophie and Jonas
-How the story dealt with some heavier topics but the overall tone was still light, making it a perfect summer beach read
Thank you Berkley romance for the ARC!
June 23, 2023
Sophie’s life implodes when her decision to keep the star pitcher out of the game ends with the Red Sox losing the World Series. Sophie is fired, and her boyfriend breaks up with her, kicking her out of his apartment. Her name is mud in Boston, so her best friend suggests she take up a job at her old boarding school in New Hampshire for a change of scenery.
However, things are not all bad, as Sophie is a glass-full kind of gal. The boarding school, Monadnock, is beautiful and so is the location. She has a closet sized bedroom in the apartment she shares with three other men, and all are nice except for one: Jonas Voss. The handsome but grouchy music teacher seems to take an immediate dislike to her, but Sophie’s determined to make the best of her situation.
As they cohabitate Sophie begins to see another side to Jonas and he seems to soften towards her, here and there. Sophie discovers her training may be able to help Jonas get back on the career path he had to abandon, and they start working together. Sparks fly, although Sophie’s not sure Jonas feels the same.
Play For Me was a wonderful, slow-burn romance, but there was so much more to this lovely story! Both Sophie and Jonas had their dream jobs taken away and the story examined the repercussions and whether a job alone brings happiness. I was delighted to see both Sophie and Jonas help each other to recognize they had value and could find happiness in many different ways and that there wasn’t just one career path that could bring joy. They had complicated issues, but they supported each other through them, and I just loved that!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
However, things are not all bad, as Sophie is a glass-full kind of gal. The boarding school, Monadnock, is beautiful and so is the location. She has a closet sized bedroom in the apartment she shares with three other men, and all are nice except for one: Jonas Voss. The handsome but grouchy music teacher seems to take an immediate dislike to her, but Sophie’s determined to make the best of her situation.
As they cohabitate Sophie begins to see another side to Jonas and he seems to soften towards her, here and there. Sophie discovers her training may be able to help Jonas get back on the career path he had to abandon, and they start working together. Sparks fly, although Sophie’s not sure Jonas feels the same.
Play For Me was a wonderful, slow-burn romance, but there was so much more to this lovely story! Both Sophie and Jonas had their dream jobs taken away and the story examined the repercussions and whether a job alone brings happiness. I was delighted to see both Sophie and Jonas help each other to recognize they had value and could find happiness in many different ways and that there wasn’t just one career path that could bring joy. They had complicated issues, but they supported each other through them, and I just loved that!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2023
this was so stinkin’ cute
June 22, 2023
4.5/5 stars
This is a contemporary romance that focuses on both sports and music. It was absolute perfection!
The narrator is Sophie (1st person POV). She has her dream job as head athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team. But something happens and she ends up at an arts focused boarding school in New Hampshire.
I honestly could not put this book down. I just enjoyed everything about it! Jonas was such an interesting character. And the romance was so good.
But my absolute favorite thing was the supporting characters. Sophie's best friend/famous actress Astrid was perfection. Tyson, a kid that Sophie works with was everything. Sophie's fun kind roommates Andy and Revi added so much to the story. But the best character was Sophie's dad who has Parkinson's and lives in assisted living. Their relationship is probably my favorite fictional father/daughter relationship. It was everything!
I also adored Sophie's job as athletic trainer. It was so interesting to see her do her job. It was such a different job. But I loved it so much!
Overall this book made me feel so much. There were some fun moments. But the book also deals with some serious topics. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I absolutely loved this book!
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley Romance for allowing me to read this book!
This is a contemporary romance that focuses on both sports and music. It was absolute perfection!
The narrator is Sophie (1st person POV). She has her dream job as head athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team. But something happens and she ends up at an arts focused boarding school in New Hampshire.
I honestly could not put this book down. I just enjoyed everything about it! Jonas was such an interesting character. And the romance was so good.
But my absolute favorite thing was the supporting characters. Sophie's best friend/famous actress Astrid was perfection. Tyson, a kid that Sophie works with was everything. Sophie's fun kind roommates Andy and Revi added so much to the story. But the best character was Sophie's dad who has Parkinson's and lives in assisted living. Their relationship is probably my favorite fictional father/daughter relationship. It was everything!
I also adored Sophie's job as athletic trainer. It was so interesting to see her do her job. It was such a different job. But I loved it so much!
Overall this book made me feel so much. There were some fun moments. But the book also deals with some serious topics. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I absolutely loved this book!
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley Romance for allowing me to read this book!
June 23, 2023
I love Libby Hubscher, especially her debut Meet Me in Paradise. Sadly, this one is my least favourite of hers. Don't get me wrong, it's a great story. With its mashup of sports and music within a boarding school setting, it was wonderfully unique. But I didn't care for the romance.
After getting blackballed from the Red Sox, athletic trainer Sophie Doyle takes a job at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Training student athletes is a far cry from professional baseball, but she'll take what she can get. On top of that, her only option for housing is rooming with three men. One being Jonas Voss, the handsome but grouchy orchestra teacher. And whatever you do, don't touch his piano.
I felt constantly confused by Jonas. I adore a grumpy character, but his personality felt inconsistent to me. His meanness was very much targeted towards Sophie. I never understood why. Because of that, I struggled to feel the chemistry as their relationship progressed. It was a slow burn, yet it also felt like it came out of nowhere.
I loved the peek into their careers, though! The parallels between musicians and athletes (and how they both overexert their bodies) was really interesting. I loved seeing Sophie use her knowledge outside of the sports world. Within that was a really lovely, heartfelt story about second chances and not allowing yourself to be defined by one thing.
"We're a million dreams and possibilities."
(heat level: fade to black / closed door)
After getting blackballed from the Red Sox, athletic trainer Sophie Doyle takes a job at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Training student athletes is a far cry from professional baseball, but she'll take what she can get. On top of that, her only option for housing is rooming with three men. One being Jonas Voss, the handsome but grouchy orchestra teacher. And whatever you do, don't touch his piano.
I felt constantly confused by Jonas. I adore a grumpy character, but his personality felt inconsistent to me. His meanness was very much targeted towards Sophie. I never understood why. Because of that, I struggled to feel the chemistry as their relationship progressed. It was a slow burn, yet it also felt like it came out of nowhere.
I loved the peek into their careers, though! The parallels between musicians and athletes (and how they both overexert their bodies) was really interesting. I loved seeing Sophie use her knowledge outside of the sports world. Within that was a really lovely, heartfelt story about second chances and not allowing yourself to be defined by one thing.
"We're a million dreams and possibilities."
(heat level: fade to black / closed door)
February 12, 2023
PERFECTION! This book absolutely blew me away!!
Sophie had her dream job working as an athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox. That is until she made a call during the World Series that got her fired and dumped. Needing a place to live and work, she ends up at an artsy New Hampshire boarding school not knowing a thing about working with high school kids, especially those that prefer music over sports. Further, when she moves into staff housing, Sophie finds herself with three male roommates, one of them being grumpy Jonas and from day one, she is on his bad side. That is until she starts helping him overcome his fears and slowly his walls begin to break down.
What I loved
-The grumpy/sunshine dynamic and he falls first
-The New Hampshire prep school setting and all of the students on campus
-The full cast of side characters, including Sophie’s best friend Astrid, her roommates Revi and Andy, and her father and his nursing home crew
-The father/ daughter relationship, which was was tender and heartwarming
-How the story combined sports, specifically baseball, and music in the most perfect way. I have never read anything like this and couldn’t get enough
-The concept of musical fitness where Sophie treated and prevented injuries in devoted musicians and improved physical resilience. It was so interesting !
-Jonas’s transformation from the grumpy, closed-off roommate to the soft cinnamon roll hero
-All the forced proximity, library dates and training sessions between Sophie and Jonas
-How the story dealt with some heavier topics but the overall tone was still light, making it a perfect summer beach read
Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley. Pub date 6/20/23
Sophie had her dream job working as an athletic trainer for the Boston Red Sox. That is until she made a call during the World Series that got her fired and dumped. Needing a place to live and work, she ends up at an artsy New Hampshire boarding school not knowing a thing about working with high school kids, especially those that prefer music over sports. Further, when she moves into staff housing, Sophie finds herself with three male roommates, one of them being grumpy Jonas and from day one, she is on his bad side. That is until she starts helping him overcome his fears and slowly his walls begin to break down.
What I loved
-The grumpy/sunshine dynamic and he falls first
-The New Hampshire prep school setting and all of the students on campus
-The full cast of side characters, including Sophie’s best friend Astrid, her roommates Revi and Andy, and her father and his nursing home crew
-The father/ daughter relationship, which was was tender and heartwarming
-How the story combined sports, specifically baseball, and music in the most perfect way. I have never read anything like this and couldn’t get enough
-The concept of musical fitness where Sophie treated and prevented injuries in devoted musicians and improved physical resilience. It was so interesting !
-Jonas’s transformation from the grumpy, closed-off roommate to the soft cinnamon roll hero
-All the forced proximity, library dates and training sessions between Sophie and Jonas
-How the story dealt with some heavier topics but the overall tone was still light, making it a perfect summer beach read
Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley. Pub date 6/20/23
June 1, 2023
I freaking loved this book y'all. Libby Hubscher is just so talented when it comes to writing romances that tug on your heartstrings and feel like they could play out in real life. Sophie and Jonas are perfect foils to one another, as they transition from frenemies to lovers. We also get some of my favorite tropes - one bed and forced proximity. I enjoyed seeing aspects of Sophie as a trainer, especially as she develops cross-training programs for the musicians. It was so cool to hear her talk about muscular groups and the scientific journal paper she was working on. Honestly I was hooked on this book from beginning to end and would take a cannoli to the cornea for these two goobers, my heart.
*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
dnf
July 19, 2023ehhhh dnf @ 40%
kinda stale and there was zero chemistry between the mc’s and nothing gripping about any of this
kinda stale and there was zero chemistry between the mc’s and nothing gripping about any of this
June 13, 2023
4⭐️
This book was so good! Jonas is the blueprint for a man in every way! He is kind, British, calls her by her last name and love, and is a musician. I have concluded he is just perfect. Sophie is the cutest human being ever! I strive to have the optimism she has as well as how much she cares for everyone! I love how they both bond through the kids and help each other through their issues. They are both so caring and kind, there were made for each other! I loved Andy, Revi, and Astrid because they pushed so hard for Sophie and Jonas to get together. All my he little things that Jonas did in the beginning of the book made my heart melt with how sweet he is! This book was super cute and I definitely recommend it!
Favorite Quote:
““Remember to breathe, Jonas,” I said. He met my gaze. “I find it hard to do that around you.””
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so good! Jonas is the blueprint for a man in every way! He is kind, British, calls her by her last name and love, and is a musician. I have concluded he is just perfect. Sophie is the cutest human being ever! I strive to have the optimism she has as well as how much she cares for everyone! I love how they both bond through the kids and help each other through their issues. They are both so caring and kind, there were made for each other! I loved Andy, Revi, and Astrid because they pushed so hard for Sophie and Jonas to get together. All my he little things that Jonas did in the beginning of the book made my heart melt with how sweet he is! This book was super cute and I definitely recommend it!
Favorite Quote:
““Remember to breathe, Jonas,” I said. He met my gaze. “I find it hard to do that around you.””
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2023
4.5 STARS
Set at a prep school in New England, Libby Hubscher’s new novel Play for Me follows Sophie Doyle, an athletic trainer, who has just been fired from her dream job with the Boston Red Sox. Sophie had recommended that their injured star pitcher not play, which cost them a World Series title, and it did not go over well with Red Sox Nation. To add insult to injury, Sophie’s boyfriend, the team doctor, kicks her out since her recommendation contradicted his. Needing both a job and a place to live, Sophie takes a job at a prep school in New Hampshire. Here she can lay low, regroup, and come up with a game plan on how to get her job back. What Sophie doesn’t realize is how truly life changing this experience will be.
I adored Sophie from the moment we see her bean a rabid Sox fan in the face with a cannoli after he spits on her food. I loved her feisty spirit as well as her determination to find a new path forward after getting fired. I also really liked how she took it in stride when she finds out she’ll be rooming with three male teachers at the school due to an unforeseen housing issue. She makes fast friends with two of them, the most adorable gay couple ever, and they become like brothers to her. The third roommate, Jonah, a surly music teacher, is a different story. From their first meeting, Jonah is gruff and rude, and makes it all too clear he doesn’t want Sophie there. Or is something else going on there?
If you enjoy romances that feature tropes like enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, and he fell first, as well as lots of witty banter, you’re going to love watching Sophie and Jonah in action as their relationship evolves from hilariously awkward to something so moving that it actually brought tears to my eyes a few times.
I truly loved everything about this book, but something that especially stood out for me was the found family vibe at the school. Sophie gets the love and support she needs and she also pays it forward to the students she coaches, particularly a charming young man named Tyson, a gifted musician who also happens to have one of the best pitching arms Sophie has ever seen. That found family vibe isn’t just at the school either; Sophie’s dad also creates a found family of his own, by treating all of Sophie’s friends as if they were his own children. It was so sweet how they all forged relationships with him and would call him for advice and to chat. He and Sophie are also very close, and their heartwarming, tender moments were some of my favorites from the book.
Play for Me is filled with lovable characters, a swoony enemies to lovers romance, and just so many wonderful “found family” vibes. It’s truly a heartwarming gem of a book!
Set at a prep school in New England, Libby Hubscher’s new novel Play for Me follows Sophie Doyle, an athletic trainer, who has just been fired from her dream job with the Boston Red Sox. Sophie had recommended that their injured star pitcher not play, which cost them a World Series title, and it did not go over well with Red Sox Nation. To add insult to injury, Sophie’s boyfriend, the team doctor, kicks her out since her recommendation contradicted his. Needing both a job and a place to live, Sophie takes a job at a prep school in New Hampshire. Here she can lay low, regroup, and come up with a game plan on how to get her job back. What Sophie doesn’t realize is how truly life changing this experience will be.
I adored Sophie from the moment we see her bean a rabid Sox fan in the face with a cannoli after he spits on her food. I loved her feisty spirit as well as her determination to find a new path forward after getting fired. I also really liked how she took it in stride when she finds out she’ll be rooming with three male teachers at the school due to an unforeseen housing issue. She makes fast friends with two of them, the most adorable gay couple ever, and they become like brothers to her. The third roommate, Jonah, a surly music teacher, is a different story. From their first meeting, Jonah is gruff and rude, and makes it all too clear he doesn’t want Sophie there. Or is something else going on there?
If you enjoy romances that feature tropes like enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, and he fell first, as well as lots of witty banter, you’re going to love watching Sophie and Jonah in action as their relationship evolves from hilariously awkward to something so moving that it actually brought tears to my eyes a few times.
I truly loved everything about this book, but something that especially stood out for me was the found family vibe at the school. Sophie gets the love and support she needs and she also pays it forward to the students she coaches, particularly a charming young man named Tyson, a gifted musician who also happens to have one of the best pitching arms Sophie has ever seen. That found family vibe isn’t just at the school either; Sophie’s dad also creates a found family of his own, by treating all of Sophie’s friends as if they were his own children. It was so sweet how they all forged relationships with him and would call him for advice and to chat. He and Sophie are also very close, and their heartwarming, tender moments were some of my favorites from the book.
Play for Me is filled with lovable characters, a swoony enemies to lovers romance, and just so many wonderful “found family” vibes. It’s truly a heartwarming gem of a book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2023
There is something about Libby Hubscher's books that just speak to my soul and Play for Me was no different. Sophie was having the worst day ever. After being fired and thrown in jail for "assult" she knows she needs to get out of Boston and find a new path.
Enter her best friend Astrid. She has the best idea, her alma matter needs a new trainer and Sophie would fit in great, but the school isn't for athletics, it's for the arts so there may be a little bit of a disconnect. She moves into staff housing with Andy, Ravi and the grumpy Jonas. From day one she is on his bad side and has no idea what she did to deserve it but she is determined to get him to like her.
Liking her isn't the problem for Jonas, overcoming his fears is. As Sophie begins to break down his walls and help him achieve the thing he wants most, will he leave her for his dreams or are his dreams right in front of him.
This was told in Sophie's POV, but I didn't have a problem understaning Jonas and how gone for Sophie he was. We could tell early on that his gruffness towards her was just him fighting feelings. As he opened up, he was the softest cinnamon roll hero and I was absolutely in love with him. These characters were so flawed but so relatable. They had open discussions and miscommunications but dealt with them in such a mature way that I loved reading. If you want a romance that will give you all the butterflies and a hero you can mark as your next book boyfriend, pick this one up now.
Enter her best friend Astrid. She has the best idea, her alma matter needs a new trainer and Sophie would fit in great, but the school isn't for athletics, it's for the arts so there may be a little bit of a disconnect. She moves into staff housing with Andy, Ravi and the grumpy Jonas. From day one she is on his bad side and has no idea what she did to deserve it but she is determined to get him to like her.
Liking her isn't the problem for Jonas, overcoming his fears is. As Sophie begins to break down his walls and help him achieve the thing he wants most, will he leave her for his dreams or are his dreams right in front of him.
This was told in Sophie's POV, but I didn't have a problem understaning Jonas and how gone for Sophie he was. We could tell early on that his gruffness towards her was just him fighting feelings. As he opened up, he was the softest cinnamon roll hero and I was absolutely in love with him. These characters were so flawed but so relatable. They had open discussions and miscommunications but dealt with them in such a mature way that I loved reading. If you want a romance that will give you all the butterflies and a hero you can mark as your next book boyfriend, pick this one up now.
June 23, 2023
Music teacher and major snob, Jonas wants nothing to do with sports, so when Sophie ends up as the new coach at the boarding school he works at, he is none to pleased.
Sophie used to have a dream job working as a trainer for the Red Sox but her life imploded and she needed to get away. Her friend hooks her up with a gig at a boarding school, and it comes with a free room. Unfortunately said room is one of 4 in an apartment with Jonas the grump. Luckily 2 other great roommates love there too.
This is my first book by this author and I've definitely been missing out. I loved these characters. I also appreciated how unique this story line is. Talk about a strong woman! Sophie is seriously rocking it in a man's world.
What I loved most about this book is the communication. I am so tired of poor communication in books, and IRL, so it was so refreshing to see people be open, honest and vulnerable.
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, including Sophie's dad and his relationship with Jonas. I also loved the other teachers, and their roommates, Revi & Andy. They were such a positive couple and so supportive.
Sophie used to have a dream job working as a trainer for the Red Sox but her life imploded and she needed to get away. Her friend hooks her up with a gig at a boarding school, and it comes with a free room. Unfortunately said room is one of 4 in an apartment with Jonas the grump. Luckily 2 other great roommates love there too.
This is my first book by this author and I've definitely been missing out. I loved these characters. I also appreciated how unique this story line is. Talk about a strong woman! Sophie is seriously rocking it in a man's world.
What I loved most about this book is the communication. I am so tired of poor communication in books, and IRL, so it was so refreshing to see people be open, honest and vulnerable.
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, including Sophie's dad and his relationship with Jonas. I also loved the other teachers, and their roommates, Revi & Andy. They were such a positive couple and so supportive.
July 27, 2024
It was ok. Not the best but not the worst. Definitely better than that James Patterson book I just read...
June 20, 2023
I loved Meet Me In Paradise so I was extremely excited to get the chance to read Play For Me! I thoroughly enjoy Libby’s character development and storytelling, and, spoiler alert, this book was absolutely lovely.
After making a difficult call to bench an injured player in an important World Series game and then getting dumped, Sophie needs a new job and a new place to live. Her best friend finds her a position as a sports trainer at a New England boarding school, solving both problems. The room comes with three male teachers as roommates - two cinnamon rolls and an absolute grump.
Sophie is adamant to win over Jonas, who is a music teacher. As they are forced to spend increasing amounts of time together, they both realize they may have misjudged the other and they may even like spending time in each other’s company.
Libby is so good at writing wonderful characters. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Sophie’s father and his friends. There were so many touching moments balanced with great humor. I found the romance to be both heartwarming and believable, and this is a couple I genuinely believe will have a happily ever after.
I highly recommend Play For Me to fans of romance stories with depth and more series topics. This is a beautiful book, even more so because of the depth and growth that Libby added for Sophie and Jonas as a couple as well as individually.
Thank you to @berkleyromance for an opportunity to read an eARC of Play for Me! All thoughts are my own.
After making a difficult call to bench an injured player in an important World Series game and then getting dumped, Sophie needs a new job and a new place to live. Her best friend finds her a position as a sports trainer at a New England boarding school, solving both problems. The room comes with three male teachers as roommates - two cinnamon rolls and an absolute grump.
Sophie is adamant to win over Jonas, who is a music teacher. As they are forced to spend increasing amounts of time together, they both realize they may have misjudged the other and they may even like spending time in each other’s company.
Libby is so good at writing wonderful characters. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Sophie’s father and his friends. There were so many touching moments balanced with great humor. I found the romance to be both heartwarming and believable, and this is a couple I genuinely believe will have a happily ever after.
I highly recommend Play For Me to fans of romance stories with depth and more series topics. This is a beautiful book, even more so because of the depth and growth that Libby added for Sophie and Jonas as a couple as well as individually.
Thank you to @berkleyromance for an opportunity to read an eARC of Play for Me! All thoughts are my own.
July 10, 2023
loved these two characters - there was a lot of heart and I loved that :)
May 24, 2023
This quiet contemporary romance packed quite the punch! It was soft, funny, sad, inspiring, and swoon-worthy all at once. Baseball, music, supportive friends and parental figures, grand gestures, and the grumpy/shine trope are among my favorite things so, obviously, this book was a win for me. Oh, and now that I've read the book, the title is very clever!
Thank to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2023
This book was an excellent first draft. The premise had a lot of potential but at the end of the day, the research and plausibility of some of these characters circumstances are way too far fetched and you need to suspend your disbelief quite a bit.
1. The reason Sophie was fired doesn’t seem realistic and if it is something that would happen IRL, she wouldn’t have been the only one to take the fall. The fact that all the blame was put on her as if she has final decision making privileges. No.
2. Sophie was doing a lot of unlicensed medical work. The author clearly didn’t research enough.
2. Jonas is a world famous pianist. He has access to industry professionals, the best in class… but it’s Sophie in the library who figures out what’s wrong with him? 🧢 BFFR.
3. Sophie’s internal monologues were way too long winded and repetitive plus the dialogue was ramble after ramble and unnatural. People don’t speak the way the characters were speaking.
This book would’ve been great if it was researched better, edited down, did more showing than telling.
1. The reason Sophie was fired doesn’t seem realistic and if it is something that would happen IRL, she wouldn’t have been the only one to take the fall. The fact that all the blame was put on her as if she has final decision making privileges. No.
2. Sophie was doing a lot of unlicensed medical work. The author clearly didn’t research enough.
2. Jonas is a world famous pianist. He has access to industry professionals, the best in class… but it’s Sophie in the library who figures out what’s wrong with him? 🧢 BFFR.
3. Sophie’s internal monologues were way too long winded and repetitive plus the dialogue was ramble after ramble and unnatural. People don’t speak the way the characters were speaking.
This book would’ve been great if it was researched better, edited down, did more showing than telling.
June 18, 2023
Happy Sunday, you crazy kids…
It’s Father’s Day for a select few and I hope y’all celebrated with cold beers and grilled burgers. For those of you who suffer through this holiday as I do, I see you, I feel you. It doesn’t get easier but together, we can support one another.
Since losing my dad suddenly, I use today to remember him, do stuff he would want to do with me (taking the dog out on the boat) and then relaxing with a good ole heart warming romcom…
Enter, Play For Me.
Thank you for the laughs, Libby Hubscher, you truly don’t know how much I needed it.
What did I love?
These characters were incredible, I laughed alongside them the entire time. This was a heartfelt book that hit on all emotions. Not corny, not a “full house” like sitcom but true genuine emotions that really had you all up in your feels.
What I didn’t like..
Gahhh, I’m a Yankee fan so the Red Sox just aren’t for me but hey we can agree to disagree.
Teaser:
When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.
Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three guys: Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.
Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.
With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.
It’s Father’s Day for a select few and I hope y’all celebrated with cold beers and grilled burgers. For those of you who suffer through this holiday as I do, I see you, I feel you. It doesn’t get easier but together, we can support one another.
Since losing my dad suddenly, I use today to remember him, do stuff he would want to do with me (taking the dog out on the boat) and then relaxing with a good ole heart warming romcom…
Enter, Play For Me.
Thank you for the laughs, Libby Hubscher, you truly don’t know how much I needed it.
What did I love?
These characters were incredible, I laughed alongside them the entire time. This was a heartfelt book that hit on all emotions. Not corny, not a “full house” like sitcom but true genuine emotions that really had you all up in your feels.
What I didn’t like..
Gahhh, I’m a Yankee fan so the Red Sox just aren’t for me but hey we can agree to disagree.
Teaser:
When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.
Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three guys: Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.
Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.
With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.
May 15, 2023
A fun, easy rom-com that hooked me from the beginning.
A disgraced MLB sports trainer finds herself working at a performing arts boarding school where baseball is not king and the grumpy orchestra teacher is a little more than she bargained for.
Play For Me is a light hearted romance that easy to escape into. Although it handles some tougher issues like sick parents, abusive parents, and perfectionism, the characters and premise stole the show.
Sophie, our hard working and loving FMC, is fun to follow alongside. She's fiesty, a little oblivious, but easy to love. Jonas, our talented MMC, is just enough of a grump to be endearing and his story was so relatable and understandable. I had no doubt these two would and could make it!
Plus a fun cast of side characters and a great execution showcasing the love of music and sports sold this oen for me.
Only downsides to this read were:
- Pacing. Although it had smooth transitions that help move time, it did drag and take to long to get to the inevitable resolution
- Fade to black. All that tension and not even a little bit of smut!? Color me disappointed...
Overall, a solid romance that I'm sure others will enjoy!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A disgraced MLB sports trainer finds herself working at a performing arts boarding school where baseball is not king and the grumpy orchestra teacher is a little more than she bargained for.
Play For Me is a light hearted romance that easy to escape into. Although it handles some tougher issues like sick parents, abusive parents, and perfectionism, the characters and premise stole the show.
Sophie, our hard working and loving FMC, is fun to follow alongside. She's fiesty, a little oblivious, but easy to love. Jonas, our talented MMC, is just enough of a grump to be endearing and his story was so relatable and understandable. I had no doubt these two would and could make it!
Plus a fun cast of side characters and a great execution showcasing the love of music and sports sold this oen for me.
Only downsides to this read were:
- Pacing. Although it had smooth transitions that help move time, it did drag and take to long to get to the inevitable resolution
- Fade to black. All that tension and not even a little bit of smut!? Color me disappointed...
Overall, a solid romance that I'm sure others will enjoy!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 3, 2023
A feel-good grumpy sunshine roommate romance between Sophie, a disgraced former personal trainer for the Boston Red Sox who takes a new job at a boarding school where she finds a new passion for helping the students with their various sport (and music) related injuries.
She also finds herself warming up to Jonas Voss, the grumpy former music prodigy turned teacher as she helps him with his problem and he increasingly finds ways to help her with her ALS diagnosed father.
Funny and heartwarming, this is another win from Libby Hubscher, especially for anyone who loves a good he falls first, cinnamon roll hero. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
She also finds herself warming up to Jonas Voss, the grumpy former music prodigy turned teacher as she helps him with his problem and he increasingly finds ways to help her with her ALS diagnosed father.
Funny and heartwarming, this is another win from Libby Hubscher, especially for anyone who loves a good he falls first, cinnamon roll hero. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
February 23, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
4.5 stars rounded up
this was absolutely adorable! i loved the characters, the plot was fabulous, and the meshing together of sports and music was really interesting to read about. the book was super fast-paced (i read it in a day), and the romance was so, so cute! the grumpy-sunshine trope is one of my favourites, so that definitely added to how much i loved this.
this was my first read from libby hubscher, but I'll definitely be adding her other books to my tbr now! overall, i would definitely recommend this book :)
4.5 stars rounded up
this was absolutely adorable! i loved the characters, the plot was fabulous, and the meshing together of sports and music was really interesting to read about. the book was super fast-paced (i read it in a day), and the romance was so, so cute! the grumpy-sunshine trope is one of my favourites, so that definitely added to how much i loved this.
this was my first read from libby hubscher, but I'll definitely be adding her other books to my tbr now! overall, i would definitely recommend this book :)
March 7, 2023
Hubscher's new enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine romcom will be sure to hit all the right notes (pun intended) and hit it right out of the park (pun also intended)! Sophie loses her dream job as a trainer for the Boston Red Sox after she makes a call that loses them the World Series, but protects a player. So she ends up taking a job at a small private school who is not known for their athletics. There, she ends up rooming with three guys. Two are fantastic and the other, she's sure, hates her. Jonas teaches music, but doesn't play himself and refuses to talk about it. But Sophie is determined to win him over.
July 8, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡, 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙣 – 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙨.
📍 Read if you like:
• Sports & Music
• Enemies To Lovers
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Friend Groups
• Opposites Attract
Oh man, this was such a delightful and heartwarming romance. I loved the forced proximity when our main character, Sophie, gets a job in a New England boarding school - the only issue is her roommates are all men, and Jonas is not too happy about it.
There are a huge amount of sports and music references throughout the book. It was so interesting seeing opposites attract with both hobbies. I’m not too familiar with baseball, nor the Red Sox, but I enjoyed the talk about it.
Jonas is such a grumpy character, but it was so heartwarming to see his feelings for Sophie develop throughout the book. They’re so different from one another, but it was fun following their chemistry.
There were a few serious topics throughout the book I wasn’t expecting: ill parents, medical content, abuse, family situations, grief, and the amount of pressure and stress one can get.
I loved the found family/friends, each one of the roommates had something unique and interesting about them. I wouldn’t be opposed to each one getting their own story.
The only issue I had with the book was that it’s completely told through Sophie’s POV. I always prefer to get dual POVs when it comes to romances, however, I did wish we got a POV from Jonas. I do think his character was developed so well, so it’s not super underwhelming - I just prefer dual POVs.
This was such a fun read, I enjoyed the setting and amount of music/sports references. I definitely think the characters themselves are worth the read, and the amount of chemistry they have with one another. I enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read future books from this author.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Medical Content, Medical Trauma, Chronic Illness, Grief, and Death of Parent
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡, 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙣 – 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙨.
📍 Read if you like:
• Sports & Music
• Enemies To Lovers
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Friend Groups
• Opposites Attract
Oh man, this was such a delightful and heartwarming romance. I loved the forced proximity when our main character, Sophie, gets a job in a New England boarding school - the only issue is her roommates are all men, and Jonas is not too happy about it.
There are a huge amount of sports and music references throughout the book. It was so interesting seeing opposites attract with both hobbies. I’m not too familiar with baseball, nor the Red Sox, but I enjoyed the talk about it.
Jonas is such a grumpy character, but it was so heartwarming to see his feelings for Sophie develop throughout the book. They’re so different from one another, but it was fun following their chemistry.
There were a few serious topics throughout the book I wasn’t expecting: ill parents, medical content, abuse, family situations, grief, and the amount of pressure and stress one can get.
I loved the found family/friends, each one of the roommates had something unique and interesting about them. I wouldn’t be opposed to each one getting their own story.
The only issue I had with the book was that it’s completely told through Sophie’s POV. I always prefer to get dual POVs when it comes to romances, however, I did wish we got a POV from Jonas. I do think his character was developed so well, so it’s not super underwhelming - I just prefer dual POVs.
This was such a fun read, I enjoyed the setting and amount of music/sports references. I definitely think the characters themselves are worth the read, and the amount of chemistry they have with one another. I enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read future books from this author.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Medical Content, Medical Trauma, Chronic Illness, Grief, and Death of Parent
April 18, 2024
4.5 this book was so cute! definitely what I needed to hopefully finally be out of my reading slump. I really enjoyed it and if you have any connection to or affinity with Boston/New England this one is for you
January 10, 2024
I absolutely adored this book. Adored it!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews