I wanted to like this book, I really did. The plot is interesting, and there's angst and pining and forbidden love with some spice thrown in. If you like books with lots of drama you will probably enjoy this. BUT. I can't get behind a book with so much cheating. (Spoiler alert!) The FMC is actively being cheated on by her boyfriend at the time and knows what that feels like, AND THEN SHE KNOWINGLY AIDS IN HER LOVE INTEREST CHEATING ON HIS FIANCEE?! There's just something so un-romantic about a relationship starting that way and it kind of ruined them for me. Cheating aside, I also feel like the two main characters had great physical chemistry, but I didn't really understand how they both went from being attracted to each other to being in love with each other. It felt like something was missing. Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

I liked the writing style and romance in this book--but I couldn't get over the fact that she was just cheated on and then proceeds to have an affair with an engaged man. It really gave me the ick.

In a sea of contemporary romance books, this is a solid entry.

I was pleasantly surprised by the length of the book, specially when the main romance plot started to unravel because I was unsure how certain actions were going to be redeemed and the extra pages gave the story room to breathe and to earn its happy ending.

While I don't think I had read any book by this author until now, I will make sure to be on the lookout for more of her work.

The few Spanish sentences on the book were okay sans maybe 2 or 3 words that need revision -grammatically wise, but other than that, it was good.

My only complaint is that this book would have benefitted from a dual POV because important decisions needed to be explored way more, and we needed to see the actual consequences of the mistakes that were made. Specially from the male POV.

Very easy to read, familiar archetype characters and good pacing. The two main characters did need more depth to them, but very solid.

Overall thoughts:
4⭐️
2.5 🌶️
354 (kindle edition) 📖
Release Date - 16th May 2024

‘part of me feels powerless, as though I’m being pulled into Nicky Salco’s own personal vortex where nothing matters but him.’

Tropes: Forced proximity, Forbidden Romance, Second Chance Romance, Boss x Employee, Cheating, Found Family.

Elle finds herself working as personal chef for the infamous tennis pro Nicky Salco, but things get a little too salty *pun intended*

Firstly, I enjoyed the book! It’s nice to see a sports romance which isn’t the typical (I’m looking at you ice hockey👀😂)subject matter! I also quite like tennis, so that’s a plus for me!
This book does not skimp on the plot, with sprinkles (I can’t help the puns, I’m sorry) of spice.
There’s some great characters in this book, the secondary characters really do shine the brightest for me! Syd being my favourite of the lot!
I also loved the ending, it felt like coming full circle which I loved!

*You can enjoy this book even if you know nothing about tennis*

However, there are things with the book which for me did stop it gaining that fifth star! Personally I wish there was more focus on the tennis in the first half of the book, it would help the story a lot.

I also know a lot of people don’t enjoy one of the main tropes in the book, which I agree with it. It can make for uncomfortable reading. That said, it’s so integral to the plot the story wouldn’t work without it. I think this just makes the book not for everyone.

That said I was gripped by the second half of the book, couldn’t put it down!
So overall an enjoyable sports romance, loaded with tension, a good amount of spice (but it isn’t the main focus) & a plot that would make a great rom-com!

Thank you to Emma Rae, Hera & NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t really care for the characters but that could in part be due to the cheating trope. The character development felt a bit lacking. Though I did love the FMCs sister. She felt like the voice of reason in the book.

Random Notes - There were some time jumps which felt a little bit jarring. Also, FMC refers to the MMC by his full name a lot.

Love Game was such a fun book! There aren’t that many tennis sports romance books so I was happy NetGalley approved this ARC for me to read. This was definitely a slow burn and at times maybe too slow but the story was fun and flowed well and main characters had chemistry- a lot of it! I would most definitely recommend this book as a kick off to the summer!

Thank you to Netgalley, Emma Rae, and Hera Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Elle is a professional chef looking for a new role when Nicky Salco, a highly ranked tennis player, comes to play at Wimbledon. She accepts a temporary role for him during the tournament, but after spending some time together Nicky hires her to be his full time chef both at tournaments and at home. Nicky requires a midnight meal because of his high metabolism, and Elle and Nicky develop strong feelings for each other over these meals. There's only one problem, Nicky is engaged.

I really wanted to like this book. The late night chats, the intense feelings for each other over a bowl of pasta, the sports dedication and the cast of characters that come with a celebrity athlete - it should have worked. But the cheating was a lot and turned me against all of the characters. Elle's in a relationship in the beginning of the book with a man cheating on her, then the romance between the main characters relies on Nicky cheating on his fiancé with a woman who knows what this feels like. I fully understand the pull of attraction and love in a romance novel, but knowing how little everyone outside of the couple seems to care about each other really detracted from the story.

If you can ignore the cheating, which is a big if since every interaction constitutes a physical or emotional affair, the book is entertaining. Nicky has issues on and off the court that he needs to deal with, Elle makes friends everywhere she goes, and there are some high drama moments that pay off big time. The book is well written and would have been a much higher rated book for me if the reason Nicky was off limits was because he was an athlete, not that he was engaged to his high school girlfriend who he'd been with off and on for a decade.

Elle, a passionate cook struggling to find her place in the culinary world, lands her dream job as a personal chef for tennis star Nicky Salco. Despite his off-limits status due to his engagement, Elle finds herself drawn to him as they bond over late-night meals during his rigorous training for Wimbledon. As their connection deepens, they must decide whether to risk their established lives for the possibility of a future together.
Prepare to be swept off your feet by the irresistible charm and sizzling chemistry of 'Love game' This delectable romance serves up a perfect blend of heart, humor, and heat that will leave you utterly captivated from start to finish. And oh my goodness the first sentence had me hooked!!
Elle's journey from struggling chef to personal culinary muse for tennis sensation Nicky Salco is a deliciously captivating tale of passion, ambition, and forbidden desire. As Elle navigates the culinary demands of the tennis world, she finds herself entangled in a tantalizing web of late-night rendezvous with the handsome and off-limits Nicky. Their forbidden attraction simmers beneath the surface, igniting a flame that threatens to consume them both.
But this novel is more than just a steamy romance-it's a story of self-discovery, courage, and the pursuit of dreams.
Elle's unwavering determination to carve out her place in the culinary world, despite the obstacles in her path, is both inspiring and relatable. And Nicky's struggle to balance his commitment to his career with his growing feelings for Elle adds a layer of depth and complexity to their electrifying connection.
With its richly drawn characters, tantalizing plot twists, and mouthwatering descriptions of food, 'Love Game' is a feast for the senses that will leave you hungering for more. Fans of Hannah Grace and Ali Hazelwood will find themselves utterly enchanted by this irresistibly addictive read. Prepare to be swept away by the passion and drama of 'Love Games'-it's a literary indulgence you won't soon forget!

I enjoyed reading this book! The banter was fun and I liked the characters. I also love tennis so that was fun to read. I’m glad I was able to read this book. My only comment is that I felt like it was a very fast falling for him and felt a bit unrealistic, which it is a book so I get that. I also felt like the chapters were a bit long and chopped up with the separations and felt like it could have just been shorter chapters.

okay this book was kinda hard for me to form an opinion on. I thought this was a really really cool concept. I liked the 'personal chef x celebrity' and forced proximity concepts and think something like this has really great potential. I thought this book was really cute however there were some things that I just could not look past.

For one, there was just wayyyy too much cheating. Everyone was cheating on everyone and it felt like it was made excusable because of that but really I just didn't like it. I understand the point and the reasoning of why its in the book but it was just way too much. It also felt a little too 'insta-love' for me. We were barely half-way through the book and Elle was saying how much she likes him and thinks about him. I understand having some kind of initial attraction but she fell for him so hard so quickly when for me, I didn't think they had enough interaction yet. I would have loved to see Nicky's POV just to see what he was thinking throughout the book.

Nevertheless, despite this I think the book was cute and a nice quick read. The last few chapters were probably my favourite when he was pining after her. Even though some aspects of the book weren't for me personally, I do think this book has great potential and will be loved!

Thank you NetGalley and Hera for this ARC of 'Love Game'!

Not into the cheating. Overall meh.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I've been thinking about this review for the last 24 hours and I'm still coming up torn. Spoilers ahead.
3.5 stars

If, as a reader, you don't want the mcs to be cheating/cheated on, don't read this book. You'll read it and not like it, and that's no one's fault but your own. I knew going into this that the MMC was engaged and I had convinced myself it was short-lived/fake marriage/etc and that just isn't the case. While it's not what it appears to be, the MMC is very much engaged for 2/3 of the book and the FMC is very much the other woman for this time period.

I think the cheating/affair was very well-written and handled; the double standard is not lost on the FMC and it is central to Elle's growth to self-acceptance and self-respect. Her character growth was strong and important, though I felt like her own growth into the resolution felt overshadowed by Nicky's own resolution. This book could have benefitted from more emotion or dual POV. There were times when it felt two dimensional and surface level.

The meat of the story and plot was compelling and I think the same thing could have been achieved differently. Their socio-economic differences, gender standards, etc are all there as pieces to create a very deep and emotional read. I will read more from this author because I do think that more writing and editing will only benefit someone who is as wonderful a plot-creator as Rae.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera for access to an early copy for review.

I grew up in a tennis family. Nothing professional, but we like to watch the matches and I played in school.

The first half of this book was a bit too much on the spicy side for my liking, but the second half of the book made up for it with an interesting storyline and the genuine care hidden by the physical intimacy.

Love Game by Emma Rae
2.75⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Emma Rae, and Hera for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Elle Caraway is a cool, working for an agency that helps her find jobs. She is in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend, who she knows is cheating on her, but she cannot do anything as she is financially dependent on him. When she gets a new job as a personal cook for the famous Tennis Player Nick Salco, she is grateful for the change as she has to live there instead of living with her boyfriend. However, it is a matter of time before they fall for each other during their midnight meals.

Trigger Warning~ cheating as a major theme.

First of all, the author's writing is very good. Though I disliked most of the characters in the story and was seriously rooting against Elle and Nicky, I admired how well the story was written. It was in first person point of view from Elle's perspective.

I think the novel would have been better with dual points of view because I really hated Nick for what he was doing, and since he was redeemed by the end of the novel, I would have been more amicable to his character if I had his perspective too.

Most of the story, I was cringing at the things Elle and Nick would do.

Elle has just been cheated on, and she proceeds to be in a relationship with an engaged person. I hated how she initiated sexual things and then got mad at Nick afterward because he too enjoyed it even though he has a fiancee. No matter if McKenzie was also cheating or not, it is not morally good to be disloyal and unfaithful to someone. I was hoping Nick would do something to stop this nonsense from happening - by at least breaking off the engagement or letting go of Elle. But he could not resist the pull between him and Elle, and he was too chicken to break it off with Elle.

As I said, I hated most of the characters except Oliver and Lonzo. I liked Syd for a bit, but when she started championing for Elle and Nick without finding the whole thing scandalous, I was disappointed in her too.

I seriously couldn't get over the fact that even Josie started supporting them and how Nick was comfortable cheating on his fiancee right in front of Josie.

If McKenzie had not been cheating on him too, then what would have been the story? Elle and Nick would be the horrible people that Elle painted her ex-boyfriend to be. Just because the other person was doing the same thing, it doesn't make it right.

The only good thing out of this relationship was that Nick got to win a grand slam. I really think that it is a matter of time before he and Elle fall out because they have unresolved insecurities and Nick really doesn't care much about anything else except what he wants.

Other than the fact that the writing was pretty good, I just wanted to see what the ending would be (though I wasn't exactly surprised, but disappointed), so I got to the end of the book.

It would have been a great book if the characters' personalities and morals were not so flimsy.

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Emma Rae for the opportunity to read and review this book ✨

Overall a solid romance, I really liked the comparisons to Jane Eyre drawn throughout the book. In my opinion I think it started off weaker than it finished, but I really loved the second half which is good for a four star read in my books!

I think the characters were both fairly likeable, although I would have loved a dual perspective so I could get a better sense of what was going on through the MMC’s mind, because there was character growth there and I think it would have added to the story to have a bit more exploration of that.

I also really enjoyed the side characters and would have loved to see more of some of those relationships…perhaps a sequel is in order for a certain two people 👀

Would recommend this to anyone who loves forced proximity and spicy sports romances.

2024 reads: 84/124

hmmmm the characters weren't horrible but I feel like there wasn't much going on.
red flag that she love jane eyre sooo much.
one of the main reasons I didn't like this that much was because she broke up with her boyfriend and was really annoyed with him for cheating on her but then she goes on to do things with nicky behind his FIANCEEs back??? that was just super annoying
I think its funny that she made such fancy meals for him at like 3 am
overall, it was a quick read and pretty enjoyable. worth checking it out and/or reading!

I loved this book! I thought that from the first page I felt invested in the characters and it was such an easy read. I think this will be a huge hit this summer!

I loved this book so much! Give me sexy tennis players any day of the week. Also enjoyed the moral greyness of the characters as well as the romance. Spicy, but not to spicy, if you get what I mean! A super fun lighthearted read. Would have liked to know more about the characters- where they grew up and more about their families etc but overall a good fun romance.

i'm sorry to say this, but i didn't enjoy this at all from the beginning. i was not the fan of the writing and the main character, elle, felt too childish. another thing i did not like was how fast she "fell" for him, the fact that she stayed with her boyfriend even though she knew he was cheating on her.

dnf.

So, here we are presented with the story of Elle, who has been dissatisfied in her recent relationship (where she is also being unfaithful) and has recently lost her job. Although Elle did not initially have a passion for cooking, she found herself in the culinary field and developed a deep love for it. In her new profession, she crosses paths with Nick Salco, a professional tennis player, when she is hired as his personal chef. Nicky is constantly surrounded by a group of individuals, including his assistant, coach, training partner, and fiancée. Despite this, he is discontent with his current circumstances, which is affecting his performance on the tennis court. Elle and Nicky spend a significant amount of time together and begin to develop feelings for each other. However, Elle is hesitant to pursue a relationship with Nicky as she does not want to be involved in an affair. The forbidden attraction and secret meetings weigh heavily on Elle, especially since she was recently betrayed by her ex-boyfriend. Nick is unhappy in his engagement but feels stuck in the relationship and unable to break free, despite his desire to be with Elle. They eventually go their separate ways until Nicky can demonstrate that he is deserving of Elle's love.

I was a bit hesitant when I started reading this book because the main character seemed too passive at first, lacking the assertiveness and agency that I typically look for in a protagonist. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I was pleasantly surprised by the gradual transformation and growth that the main character underwent. The initial ex-boyfriend drama, which initially seemed like a cliché plot device, turned out to be a catalyst for the main character's personal development. It was through this conflict that she found her voice and began to assert herself, refusing to be defined by her past relationships. This evolution was beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. But it was the connection between the female lead and the male lead that truly captivated me. Their chemistry was palpable, and their interactions were filled with tension and longing. Despite my usual aversion to cheating storylines, their forbidden romance gave me butterflies, as I couldn't help but be swept away by the intensity of their connection. The author skillfully portrayed the complexities of their relationship, making it impossible for me to resist becoming emotionally invested in their journey. However, just as I thought everything was falling into place, the breakup in the third act shattered my hopes and left me feeling a little disap because it was just unnecessary and didn't make sense! However it was a fun quick read that I had a good time with!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!