First of all, the cover is gorgeous and immediately drew me in. Playmates by Nova Banks completely blew me away. What I thought would be a steamy sports romance turned out to be so much more. It’s packed with raw emotion, suspenseful twists, and characters I fell in love with from the very first chapter.

Rosalie and Jayce are the kind of characters that stick with you. Their obsession with each other is off the charts and you really root for them. From childhood ties to forbidden chemistry, their connection felt inevitable in the most deliciously angsty way. There’s a magnetic pull between them that never lets up, and watching them fight their demons while falling for one another was both heartbreaking and beautiful.

This isn’t just about a ballerina and a fallen hockey star, but it’s also about addiction, recovery, healing, and redemption. There’s also a bit of mystery woven through the plot that had me on edge and flipping pages, trying to piece everything together. I loved how the suspense added another layer to an already rich storyline.

Yes, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit rushed and some scenes started to feel a little repetitive, but honestly? It didn’t take away from my experience. If anything, it just showed how deeply entangled Rosalie and Jayce’s lives had become.

Nova Banks proves once again she’s not just writing sports romances, but that she’s writing emotional rollercoasters with grit, heart, and a touch of darkness. And I’m so here for it.

Can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. 💙

Thank you to Nova Banks and Grey’s Promotions for the eARC of this book.