It’s about time that I picked up a romance featuring board game rivals who tread the line of love and hate and Shameez Patel’s Playing Flirty is all that and more. We have a best friend’s brother trope, as well as the sunshine-grumpy trope to an extent, but overall it is just too adorable and the tropes don’t matter. Playing Flirty is exceptionally cute and satisfying.

The game is on for two nerds who love to outplay each other, even when their hearts are on the line, in this charming and geeky romantic comedy perfect for fans of Olivia Dade and Jen DeLuca. For Rose Marie Jones, risks are a hard no–except for Game Night. For one precious evening a week, Rose can forget about her demanding boss and her lacklustre love life and focus on beating the pants off her friends. But none of them brings out her hyper-competitive side quite like William Ashdern. Her best friend’s half-brother, William is the paragon of a sexy nerd. The tall, dorky, and handsome game designer is Rose’s playing nemesis. But when Rose decides to enter a contest with the board game she’s secretly invented, there’s only one person who can help her win. Now what has always been a game between Rose and William is getting a lot more serious. And after spending her entire life trying not to lose, Rose might finally be ready to risk it all–and play to win.

First off, let us appreciate the fact we have a romance with characters who not only love games – video games, board games, DnD, and more – but love supporting each other. This friend group is accepting, open-hearted, and there for each other well into their twenties (not sure exact ages, but Rose makes note of her age at some point, so I’m basing it off that). Let us also appreciate the fact we have a romance novel that is also a representation of great platonic friendships and loves.

The interactions between Rose and William are so witty, sappy, and emotionally charged, bringing a variety of actions and reactions. Feelings are clear, but the deeper meanings and resulting introspections, observations, and outlooks makes this an intriguing read. The interactions between all the characters, be it with Rose, or William, or each other, provided many examples of relationships, friendships, and good family dynamics. There are also examples of bad relationships, bad work place situations, and bad family dynamics. It is a book with good and bad, and the way interactions unfold makes it an engaging and entertaining read.

This felt a lot like a slice-of-life read in the sense that, while there are many things happening, as the reader we were brought into the story very simply. Here’s what’s going on in Rose’s life. If didn’t feel like a story introduction, which in a way made it feel more easy-going and authentic as a contemporary romance. there wasn’t a big lead up to an inciting incident, though I guess I may be overlooking it (I know what it is, but it felt genuine rather than a staged event so in a way it was a soft inciting incident – does that make sense?) Then, as we go through the multiple conflicts and dramas, we get to the big “cat’s out of the bag” moment. Even this felt resolved before it really amounted to anything, and in a good way. I think Rose’s feelings on things were already noted by the reader, so the big conflicts didn’t feel as difficult to tidy up given the known trajectory.

I think Playing Flirty is cute, sweet, entertaining, and a wholesome way to spend an afternoon. The read is simple yet effective, resulting in a warm feeling in the chest and a giddiness that will keep you up at night. Romance readers – add Playing Flirty to your tbr list! It is a soft romance more than anything, a cosy slice-of-life to keep you warm, and a truly adorable reader.