Title: Play
Author: Piper Lawson
Publisher: Victory Editing
Pub Date: September 14, 2016
Format: Kindle eBook
Pages: 255
Source: NetGalley
Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads || Pre-order on Amazon

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

I’m Payton Blake. A successful, balanced twenty-something girl living the dream.

OK. So it’s a big-ass lie. I could be all of those things. If I had friends outside of work. And if I didn’t mainline watermelon slushies like they were a food group. It wouldn’t hurt if I’d had sex in the last year, either. (My best friend insists Jorge the Nightstand Boyfriend doesn’t count.)

But when you know where you’re headed, who needs to enjoy the ride? Even if part of me longed for a little between-the-sheets adventure, Max Donovan would be the last guy I’d call.

Sure, he made the indie video game that broke the internet. His eyebrow piercing’s sexy, in an ‘are-you-in-a-band?’ way, and fighting with him gets me off faster than Jorge on bezerker mode. But he’s arrogant. Presumptuous. Colder than a cactus and twice as prickly. None of it changes the fact that I crave Max Donovan like a watermelon slushy on a hot summer day. I should ignore him. But I can’t, because he just became my biggest client. And whether he’ll admit it or not, he needs me even more than I need him.

Game on, Max Donovan.

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My review:

I received this eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the work.

“I’d been sure the game was me against Max, but I’d been wrong. It was both of us against this. While I was holding out against him, the tension threatening to overtake us caught me off guard like a riptide.”

I’ll try to keep this review short, sweet, and funny (just like the book). Keep in mind that I’m a lot less funny than I think I am though, haha!

This is it, folks. The best line in a synopsis I’ve ever seen: “Play is a quirky 70k word standalone about life, love, and the pursuit of orgasms. I mean, video games.” Not only is this statement hilarious, but it is also a very accurate description of this book. How could you not want to read this?

I had so much fun reading Play. I devoured it in one short sitting. Piper’s writing style is quirky, flirty, and fast-paced. All the makings of a good time.

The romance between Max and Payton had just the right amount of banter, sexual tension, and build-up. Both of them are so charming in their own way, so you just can’t help but to root for them to get together. Everything comes in due time, of course.

I also feel like I have to mention the “secondary” characters. Riley could probably have his own wayward story, but of course this would have to include him meeting the new girl that’s on his mind all day now. Charlie is the bestest friend you could ask for. She’s downright hilarious, and I can only imagine what other shenanigans she’d get up to if she had her own story (preferably involving Avery, despite his obvious douchey-ness). Avery is probably a decent guy underneath all of that obnoxious cologne from Hollister. Overall, all the characters are very likable despite the obvious antagonist(s) that are too minor to mention, in my opinion.

This is the first time I’ve read a story about video games (or more accurately, the development of video games) and this made the book a lot more interesting. I’m a fan of many geeky things, so the fact that our main character and her potential love interest went to Comic Con together was so great. I love that cosplay was involved… and I love even more what the cosplay led to. I have a stupid smile on my face just thinking about it.

With the synopsis, what you see is what you get, and I mean that in the best way possible. If someone asks me what this book is about, I’ll say: “Maybe co-workers who have deep and profound mutual respect but also talk about their dreams and really, really like to get each other off.”

Piper Lawson, you’ve got yourself a new repeat-reader. Consider me hooked.

That is all. Read this book. You’ll have fun (and no need for a Jorge).