From page one, the connection and sizzling bond between firefighter Adina Wright and hockey player Solomon Young is palpable, profound, captivating and heartwrenching.

This book is rich in content and drama! There was grief but healing, hate and love, and most of all, a real family emerged. The slow burn love between Dina and Solomon was absolute perfection as they each dealt with their past to be able to move forward. Well done.

I have mixed feelings on this book. If you're expecting any hockey in these pages, you might want to find another book. Solomon is a professional hockey player, but aside from it being his job, it doesn't play a part.

It was an entertaining read, and I really enjoyed Khalil and other secondary characters like the back and forth Adina had with Noni. Adina's family was great as well. The dialogue was fun and snippy.

Both Solomon and Adina come with their grief, baggage and emotional unavailability after becoming recent widows. That drove the story for a majority of the book, there was no romance, only spice, then they just flip it and love each other after a few weeks? I did enjoy the individual growth of each character, but them together was a bit toxic.

Adina should've iced out Solomon after the way he responded to the revenge p*rn. This plot line missed the mark for there to be no consequence or resolution. It felt like a very rushed ending. An epilogue could have added a bit of substance to the way it ended.

*fans self* Played is a very hot, but also sweet read! I loved getting to know Adina and Solomon, even if parts of their background made my heart hurt for them (and bleed for them!)

The way they met was unconventional to say the least, and it really didn't seem like they would ever see eye to eye. They were very good at catching each other's mouth, though *winks*. There were so many layers to their story, and I enjoyed all of them. Life can be messy, and Simone didn't shy away from that in telling Solomon and Adina's story.

This is a big yes!! from me.

I have read other books by this author which I enjoyed - unfortunately the descriptions of loss of loved ones were too much for me and I was hoping for more of the sports aspect

Naima Simone's Played is an emotionally charged romance that beautifully intertwines themes of grief, healing, and unexpected love. The story follows Adina, a resilient firefighter grappling with the loss of her partner, and Solomon, a brooding hockey player navigating his own heartache after the death of his wife. Their paths cross in a way that sparks both tension and undeniable chemistry, making for a compelling read.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the depth of the characters. Adina's journey through her grief is portrayed with poignant authenticity, allowing readers to feel her pain and resilience. Solomon, with his icy demeanor and hidden vulnerability, complements her perfectly. Their initial encounters are charged with a mix of animosity and attraction, which Simone expertly develops into a passionate connection as they navigate their shared struggles.

One of the standout aspects of Played is Simone's writing style. She deftly balances heavy themes with moments of levity and humor, creating a narrative that feels both heartfelt and engaging. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, enhancing the romantic tension between Adina and Solomon. Additionally, the inclusion of supporting characters, particularly Solomon's young son, adds warmth and richness to the story.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional depth and character development, I found some plot elements to be predictable. Certain aspects of their relationship progressed quickly, leaving me wishing for more gradual buildup in key moments. The pacing felt uneven at times, especially towards the end where some resolutions seemed rushed.

Overall, Played is a powerful exploration of love after loss that left me both moved and satisfied. With its blend of humor, heartache, and steamy moments, I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a romance that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeper emotional level. Naima Simone has crafted a story that lingers long after the last page is turned.

I loved this - so fun to have a Naima Simone hockey romance. It was enjoyable, with an engaging relationship and plot.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I went into this thinking that it was a sports romance, hence the cover. Be aware it is not a sports romance, which immediately turned me off. I dnf this book.

“Played” by Naima Simone is such a good read! It hits all the feels with a great balance of heartbreak, hope, and plenty of heat. The story follows Adina, a tough-as-nails female firefighter, and Solomon, a pro hockey player, as they try to move forward after some heavy losses. They’re both still grieving when they meet, and watching them heal and find love together is so well done.

And Solomon? Let’s just say his dirty talk is next-level. You might need to fan yourself a few times (or call your own firefighter).

There’s also some juicy drama with Solomon’s in-laws. His late wife’s parents help take care of his son but are NOT ready for him to move on. Oh, and they own his hockey team—talk about awkward! The tension is real, though the ending with the in-laws felt a little too neat for me. Also, since Solomon’s a hockey player, I was hoping for more hockey action.

This book is spicy for sure, but it’s not just about the romance. It’s got depth, dealing with grief, family, and finding happiness again. If you love romance with a bit of everything, definitely give this one a go!

Thank you Naima Simone, Montlake and NetGalley for the #gifted ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love a good hockey romance!

Naima Simone is a brilliant storyteller. Adina and Solomon’s second chances at love after they both lost their first (his wife, her fiancé) tragically two years earlier was very sad, but this is a beautiful tale of moving on.

Both struggled with newfound feelings for a different person in their lives and pushback from their families, but the outside forces they had to fight against was their biggest challenge.

I enjoyed this story a lot, like all of Simone’s previous books I’ve read. I remain a big fan of her works and definitely recommend to everybody - but be prepared for a bit of an emotional ride.

Thank you to NG and Montlake for the early copy. This is my honest feedback.

<b>…having you, loving you, is worth the risk.</b>

double the love after loss. We have Solomon, a hockey player, who lost his wife, and is pretty much run by his in-laws because they help out with his young son and he’s still grieving. Then we have Adina, a firefighter, who lost her partner and works with most of her male family members so she feels a little over protected in her field. These two are brought together by a fire in the locker room and a journal that was saved and returned. Played is a fun read, but it also gets heavy and frustrating at points because you’re following two people who are attracted to one another but are in different stages of grief. If you enjoy love after loss, banter, friends with benefits, and “let’s get this out of our systems,” then Played is a perfect read for you.

*ARC

This story is about a firefighter and a hockey player...BUT, the unique twist is that Adina is a Black female firefighter and Solomon is a Black hockey player, which you don't typically see happen in the real world. Both individuals are suffering major losses and not doing a great job overcoming their grief. Can they work through the pain together or will it be enough for them to lose out on a second chance at love?

I absolutely adored this story! This was my first time reading anything by Naima Simone and she blew me away. I loved everything from the descriptions of each character to their inner thoughts that let their personalities shine through. There was excellent mental health representation throughout and even comments about how therapy is stigmatized (in general and even more so with Black communities). The quotes in this book were *chefs kiss* and now I will be reading anything Naima Simone puts out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up

Played is a sports romance, with dual perspective of Adina and Solomon. This book has a more series tone with some heavy and important subjects throughout, please check trigger warnings before picking up. Adina is a strong independent woman, who has dealt with a lot, she got some great family support. I liked following her perspective, especially following her as a firefighter. It was very cool. The romance was ok for me, most of the time I was not really feeling their connection on a romantic level but more of a connection focused on both of them dealing with traumatic loss of a loved one. I did like the plot and the flow of the story, there was repetitiveness in regards to several subjects. Overall, I found this book interesting and I really liked a number of aspects as well as somethings that did not work for me that's why I rated it a 3.5 stars
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Plot: This book follows a firefighter, Adina, who finds someone's personal journal when she responds out to a fire at the local hockey stadium. Instead of, I don't know, not taking it, she takes it and reads it and discovers someone else (Solomon) who is grieving and his thoughts echo her own. Adina does return the journal to Solomon and he is understandably angry, but very slowly, the two of them wind up becoming a lot closer. Solomon's wife died prior to the start of the book (hence the journal where he's talking about grief) and Adina is grieving the loss of her fiancé. I wouldn't say there's a ton of plot beyond that set up, though it should be noted, there's also a sub-plot of workplace harassment from a fellow firefighter that is heavily rooted in misogyny.

What I Loved About It: I like Naima's writing a lot. She does angst quite well.

What I Struggled With: The characterization in this book just... Something about it meant that I never quite believed in these two together. But more than that, I really need authors to stop including harassment for no good reason in their books. It's so hard to read. Plus, honestly, Solomon is such an asshole sometimes and 90% of the time it seemed like he wasn't even trying to be? I just didn't really love him.

Would I Recommend This: Yes, if you're in the mood for an angsty read and the workplace harassment subplot won't bother you the way it did me. And, well, if you have KU. The audiobook was a pleasant enough listening experience.

I really enjoyed the narrators of the audiobook.

It took me a minute to get into the story. Once it started to take shape I enjoyed it.

Book contains
- second chance at love
- woman in a male dominated field
- grief management

Heart wrenching Grief
Single dad
Love
Pain
A black firefighter x black NHL player

This wasn’t a sports romance to me. I feel like it focused more on the main characters dealing with grief and them both going through the process of dealing with that grief. Which isn’t a bad thing at all, I just thought there would be more of a sport’s romance

see now, you can't have a cover like this and call this a sports romance when there is literally no sports mentioned at all. one of my biggest pet peeves with sports romances is when the sport is hardly mentioned or we see no sports action and this falls under that category. i also wasn't a huge fan of the how much religion was included in this (but i know that's more of a personal issue than anything). and finally, where was the romance? these two had zero actual chemistry. their "romance" was purely lust. and there were several subplots that were handled the wrong way. this was a disappointment!

This had a bit of a rough start because I didn't like the way he spoke about her. It got better as the book went on but it just threw me off. They were actually cute together and were clearly dating without calling it that. The way she interacted with Khalil was adorable and she's going to be a fantastic stepmom.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I feel a little like I am in the wrong lane (or too much in the right lane?) to give a review on this book. I am a hockey wife so I think the lack of actual hockey and ins/outs of the professional hockey world was hard for me because there is a LOT to write about. Also, I'm not sure if it is fair for me to give feedback on a book surrounding a black couple. Personally, the use of "lil mama" gave me shivers in all the wrong places but I completely understand that I am reading this as if I were the female because duhhhh, who wouldn't want to be ;)
I love the diverse characters and I LOVED the banter. I think this book was extremely well written. For most sporty spice girlies, this will be very well received!

I didn’t finish this book fully, I got about 50% through and just couldn’t do it. The religion I felt was being pushed at me, and as someone who is non religious I didn’t enjoy it in the slightest. I also feel like the book lacked the sports aspect of a sports romance, which is highly disappointing given that I love sports romances. I also feel the only diversity in this book is that some of the characters are black, no other diversity to be seen, which is upsetting. Overall I definitely didn’t feel like this was the book for me. Would I pick it back up? Maybe! If it was revamped!

Not sure I would call this a hockey romance but the second chance at love trope hooked me and kept me reading. The therapy representation was nice to see but I wasn’t always a fan of Solomon’s behavior which made it hard to be fully invested in the relationship.