The Game You Play by L.A. Cotton Pages: 356
Series: Rixon Raiders #2
Genres: Young Adult
Setting: Rixon, PA
Source: ARC
Also in this series: The Trouble With You
Also by this author: Salvation and Secrets (Chastity Falls, #2), Salvation and Secrets, Fate's Love, Tribulation and Truths, Redemption and Regrets, Penance and Promises, Wicked Beginnings, Wicked Rules, The Trouble With You
Goodreads
The Raiders are back...
Cocky football players, school rivalry, and the girls who get in their way!
Felicity Giles has a list.
Lose her virginity.
Meet her knight-in-shining-armor and fall in love.
Have the best senior year a girl can have.
The only problem? Her knight isn’t a saint, he’s a villain, and she’s pretty sure he’ll destroy her before ever handing over a piece of his heart.Jason Ford has a plan.
Win State and go down as one of the most successful Quarterbacks in Rixon Raider history.
Head off to college and pursue his dream of being drafted to the NFL.
Avoid the girl under his skin. Felicity Giles, his stepsister’s best friend and perpetual pain in his ass.She’s annoying as hell.
Quirky.
She’s a game to him, nothing more.Until his arch rival comes after him and the few people he cares about ... and Felicity gets caught in the crossfire.
And suddenly hating her feels a whole lot like falling in love.
The Game You Play features the villain of sorts from book 1 of the series, The Trouble with You, and the best friend from that same book. Jason is a jerk. He is arrogant and cruel. He is also a major whore. Seriously, he had maybe 1 redeeming moment in book 1. But, Felicity on the other hand, was a delight! She was the always supportive best friend who reminded me of the BFF from 10 Things I Hate About You. She wanted to do typical high school things-dances, games, dating-but her only friend was anti-everything.
Felicity wanted to all the things on her list and she wanted her best friend’s help. What she was NOT counting on was her best friend’s evil stepbrother. There were hints in the previous book that Jason might have some feelings for Felicity, but I never would have thought they would have worked as a couple. Jason is singularly focused on football. His enemies are all due to football beefs. Felicity is kind and caring. Maybe its because they really are opposites that their relationship works. Jason is arrogant and hot headed and Felicity is calm and patient. Jason needs that in his life. Jason can give her some of the high school experiences she is seeking.
I struggled with Jason. He makes progress towards being a decent human being in this story, but I will never think he deserves Felicity and that was my hang up with this story. I also hold a grudge like none other, so keep that in mind. The story has some of the classic YA romance trappings: angst, drama, virginity. I enjoyed the book overall, even though my disdain for Jason has only slightly abated.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: best friend’s brother, hate to love
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: stand alone (maybe if you read this first you won’t hate Jason as much as me!)
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Angsty YA from authors like Abbi Glines, Tijan, Meagan Brandy…then you will probably like The Game You Play!
The Game You Play
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