Rebecca Jenshak is an author I want to read more from this year, because I’ve loved the few romances I’ve read from her so far. Playing with Forever is a YA romance and it caught my eye. So today I want to tell you about this book and what I thought!
A big thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Jenshak comes the next in a brand new YA romance series that follows Frost Lake High School’s state champion soccer team.
Tutoring the captain of Frost Lake High’s soccer team isn’t on her bucket list. And neither is falling for him.
Seventeen-year-old Lacey Kerr is a lot of head cheerleader, an A+ student, vice president of student council, a loyal friend, and beloved by her classmates.
What she isn’t is a fan of star soccer player Vaughn Collins.
And he knows it.
Unfortunately for him, he needs her.
With his grades on the line, he’ll do anything to turn it around and keep his spot on the soccer team. Even if it means winning over his ex-girlfriend’s best friend and convincing her to tutor him.
They’re different. She’s sunshine and he’s…not. She has a bucket list of fun things to do before high school is over and he’s allergic to fun.
But as they spend more time together, studying and crossing things off Lacey’s list, they realize they’re more alike than either of them wants to admit.
She doesn’t want to fall for him, and he doesn’t want to fall for anyone. They’re both good at playing the game, but maybe this time it could be forever.
Review
After loving a few of Rebecca Jenshak’s adult romances, I was very intrigued by her YA romances. She didn’t disappoint. Playing with Forever was a great time and I can never say no to the tutor/athlete trope in romances.
So I haven’t read the first book in this series yet, but it’s clear from the start that Vaughn is Lacey’s best friend’s ex. I’m always a little careful with these romances, because dating your best friend’s ex is a bit sketchy. It didn’t feel like that at all though. She was all for Lacey following her feelings and already processed and forgave Vaughn about their relationship. Quite mature for high school seniors if you ask me.
Both Vaughn and Lacey have ideas of what the other is like and that’s not always correct. Even though Lacey didn’t want to tutor Vaughn, she does and they both learn that they may be wrong about the other. I think they both show each other things about themselves and other that they weren’t expecting. My favorite part of Playing with Forever is Lacey’s bucket list. These characters got to know each other so well and both grew so much. I couldn’t help the grin on my face while reading this.
Even though this is a lot about the developing romance, I appreciated the family aspects as well. Both loved their parents, but were dealing with some expectations and just how things were going. There was quite a bit of development in this aspect as well. All in all, I had a great time with Playing with Forever and I hope Rebecca writes more YA romances.
Playing with Forever is actually the second book in this interconnected series, so I will be going back to read the first book soon. Have you read any good sports romances lately? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
