Play Smart by Aly Stiles

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Title: Play Smart
Author: Aly Stiles
Series: Work for It #5
Published by: Smartypants Romance
Release Date: October 13, 2022
Format: eARC
Pages: 409
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Source: Smartypants Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Fall
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:

Blurb:

Nash Ellis knows music. Producing, performing, writing—if it involves the creative process he’s there for it. He knows nothing about copy machines. Or financial reports. Or anything related to the stuck-up business world his best friends have been chasing since they were kids. But Nash also needs money, so when his roommate gets him a paid internship at Reedweather Media, he reluctantly agrees. At least his know-it-all intern competitor is kind of cute in a nerdy-librarian sort of way—especially when she’s being tormented by an angsty rocker she can’t stand.

The only thing Paige Andrews hates more than failure? Nash Ellis. She has little patience for incompetence and zero tolerance for indifference. He clearly doesn’t belong in their corporate world, so why does he insist on ruining her dream job? And the worst part—he’s not what he seems. In fact, it’s all the things he’s hiding behind those electric blue eyes that make him straight-up captivating in an ironic-slacker sort of way.

But their smoldering friction bursts into open flames when the feuding interns are forced into a high-stakes mission that requires intimate knowledge of the music industry. Yep, what could go wrong when the least-qualified candidate to ever walk the halls of a major corporation becomes their only hope of success?

'Play Smart' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #5 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Review:

I received a free copy through Smartypants Romance in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3 stars — Let me start this review with a confession: I’m not really an enemies to lovers fan.  I KNOW!  So why did I request this book right?  The thing is, on occasion, I really love an enemies to lovers book, because there’s always exceptions.  And I DO love me a nerdy/rockstar romance, so I think that’s what pulled me in in the blurb.  I think I thought this would be one of those ones I enjoy where the enemies/hate doesn’t last past the chemistry.  Alas, it was not.  Which doesn’t mean the book is bad, just that it’s not a match for me.  I’m too sensitive to handle fighting, and bickering that for me felt more like legit bickering rather than bantering.

On the plus side, both of our MCs had some awesome things going for them.  I loved how unconventional of a heroine Paige was at times — she was forthright, motivated, and in certain things she went after what she wanted (ie Nash).  I appreciated that she still had her own fears to get over, and that just made me cheer for her when she figured it out and tried to do better in her life.  I also loved her relationship with her brother, how proud she was, how happy to see him succeed.

And while occasionally it felt a bit more telling than showing for Nash’s sensitive artist’s soul, I actually really loved when I did see it come to the forefront.  I loved how he cared for and protected his loved ones.  And most of all I loved how easily he included new people in his circle and wanted to protect them as well.  His lyrics really made my heart both ache and soar, I adored them.  He could also be pretty feisty and funny when he was egging Paige on.

I was conflicted by the two together — but again, mostly just in a personal taste way.  They had a lot of physical chemistry, and some solid friendship chemistry eventually too…I just had a hard time getting around the persistent passionate arguing I guess.  It’s just not my thing.  And I think at times, for me, the physical overshadowed what was developing underneath…I would have liked to see more underlying connection.

I was a bit bummed we didn’t have a more solid feel for each of their pasts, though mostly Nash.  It affected him in such a profound way, and I just found myself wanting something more there.  Even Paige’s relationship with her parents and brother…I just wanted something more from that too.

I will admit, and this is why it’s not 3.5, there were elements of the humour that just didn’t work for me and were too over the top.  The whole Chad and Mr. Reedweather stuff had me scratching my head.  Yet again, personal taste.

So yeah.  Some great elements, but all in all just not a match for this reader.