Midterms took a toll on me. In fact, I was so immersed in philosophy readings that I barely had time to read. Which forced me to face the thing I’m most terrified of– a reading slump. For a week in October, I could not finish a single book. No story held my attention long enough to garner me racing across the literary finish line with a new exciting blog post. 

Then enter Garrett and Jennie.

The Playing for Keeps series by Becka Mack released its third book, Unravel Me, in April of 2023. Today, I’m reviewing the second book in the interconnected standalone series, Play With Me. The first thing that drew me to this series was, of course, the Canadian hockey team it follows: the Vancouver Vipers. I read Consider Me – the first book in the series – earlier in October but didn’t enjoy it enough to write a blog post about it. However, if you want to embark on Mack’s newest hockey adventure, I’d highly recommend starting with Consider Me. The only qualm I had with it was that the conflict mentioned in the third act wasn’t as dramatic as it should have been. I wanted the couple to have to work through their shit. In other words, the happily ever after came a bit too easy — and I’m a girl who likes to work for it. 

But, as you’ve probably guessed, this book was powerful enough to rip me right out of a reading slump and launch me back into my happy, sappy romance homeostasis.

Carter Beckett, captain of the Vancouver Vipers, has a younger sister named Jennie. She’s interacted with her fair share of hockey players because of her brother’s career, so she’s unphased by their failed pick-up lines and the prevalence of hook-up culture. That is until a shy, very awkward Garrett Andersen wanders into her life and puts her patience to the test. When Jennie moves into the same apartment complex as Garrett, the two are forced to spend more time together; however, there’s no denying the attraction they both feel — they’re just terrible at expressing it like normal people.

One of my favorite quotes that encapsulates this horrific awkwardness they both possess is from a scene where Garrett approaches Jennie’s apartment after Carter reveals that she’s heartbroken that her favorite childhood toy was lost in the move. Our favorite pink bunny Princess Bubblegum is hiding in one of the many boxes plaguing Jennie’s new apartment. When Garrett opens the door, a crying Jennie is dressed casually in a sports bra and leggings– Garrett’s eyes transform into UFOs and start rambling. And it’s horrible.

“‘You should… a shirt. Please?’ Why is this happening to me? Dark brows rocket up her forehead. ‘Oh, you’d like me to put on a shirt? Would that please you? Well, I’d like you to get fucking lost!’ She’s screaming but still crying, swiping at her tears free-falling down her cheeks, so it’s kinda more funny than scary.”

I think the thing I really needed (more than the spicy, friends-with-benefits relationship that comes with this plot) was some well-written humor. Humor makes or breaks romance books for me. I like to think about it like this: if you were to cut out the smut, would you still read the book? And don’t look at me like that, I know we all read these books for the detailed sex scenes… but stay with me! If the characters aren’t human— awkward, a little dumb, and embarrassed 90 percent of the time— why should we care about their love/sex lives? So, when I found out Jennie Beckett also cries at almost every Disney movie, has horrible mood swings, and isn’t nice to a single man in this book other than her brother and (sometimes) Garrett, I felt an instant connection.

In case you’re not convinced, Becka Mack writes killer smut. Mind-numbing, stomach-fluttering, feet-kicking smut. Not only is there a scene where Garrett finds a box filled to the brim with dildos and vibrators (and he gets slapped in the face with a vibrating penis), but my favorite trope of all time occurs: Garrett walks in on Jennie masturbating while saying his name. 

Whoo! Hot stuff. 

Along with the mind-blowing smut, the love story will make your heart hurt with how vulnerable both Garrett and Jennie are. After Jennie’s traumatic experience with an ex-boyfriend, she decided to not have penetrative sex for several years. Garrett always makes sure to ask for consent when doing anything sexual with Jennie and we see how his respect for her body and her decisions allows for deeper intimacy between them. Sadly, some of us can likely relate to this and may also be survivors of assault, having had to deal with post-assault trauma in the bedroom. But, Garett is a great model of what all partners should be doing– asking for consent, extending grace, and loving us a little extra. And, when they finally make that leap, their love for each other is so potent and clear that it almost healed a little part of me that needed to see that type of relationship represented on the page.

There are five books in the Playing for Keeps series, and the next two are set to come out in 2024. I’m going to devour the third book (Unravel Me) soon and will report back on my scientific findings…

See you next read,

Charlotte

Photograph: Pinterest