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Play You For It
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Expected 21 Oct 25Win a free print copy of this book!
19 days and 11:42:51
25 copies available
U.S. only
In this sizzling sapphic romance, sparks fly between a sports journalist and her latest source—the first woman to be named head coach of a D1 men's basketball team—but are they willing to risk their careers for a shot at love?
When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men's college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story. After years of scraping her way into the world of sports reporting, Beck knows that snagging the first one-on-one interview with the elusive head coach could be her big break. But Jordan is wary of the media and the attention her historic new appointment attracts, especially as her boss makes it clear that it’s a temporary assignment—and if she doesn’t lead the team to victory, it won’t become permanent.
Beck's persistence, however, charms Jordan and she agrees to sit down for an interview. The two women have undeniable chemistry—but journalists definitely can’t fall for sources, and Jordan certainly can’t fully trust the ambitious reporter who has every reason to use her team secrets for the next big scoop. Though they both know it would ruin their reputations and likely also cost them their jobs if anyone found out they were romantically involved, they can't seem to stay away from each other.
With the national tournament in sight and both of their careers on the line, they must decide whether to take the shot on their budding love story—or walk away from the risky game they’ve been playing for good.
When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men's college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story. After years of scraping her way into the world of sports reporting, Beck knows that snagging the first one-on-one interview with the elusive head coach could be her big break. But Jordan is wary of the media and the attention her historic new appointment attracts, especially as her boss makes it clear that it’s a temporary assignment—and if she doesn’t lead the team to victory, it won’t become permanent.
Beck's persistence, however, charms Jordan and she agrees to sit down for an interview. The two women have undeniable chemistry—but journalists definitely can’t fall for sources, and Jordan certainly can’t fully trust the ambitious reporter who has every reason to use her team secrets for the next big scoop. Though they both know it would ruin their reputations and likely also cost them their jobs if anyone found out they were romantically involved, they can't seem to stay away from each other.
With the national tournament in sight and both of their careers on the line, they must decide whether to take the shot on their budding love story—or walk away from the risky game they’ve been playing for good.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 21, 2025
2 people are currently reading
6691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 17, 2025
I read some other reviews of this book that described it as light and fluffy but I couldn't disagree more. "Play You For It" is a sweet, sapphic sports romance that also covers some deeper themes, like homophobia, sexism, unaccepting families, and toxic workplaces for women trying to succeed in professions dominated by men.
I devoured this one in one or two sittings. I don't see enough forbidden love romances between reporters and their sources and I'd love to see more of them. When her coach moves on to a new job, assistant head coach Jordan D'Amato is promoted to head coach at David Douglas, and becomes the first women's head coach of a Division 1 college basketball team. But she faces hostility at every turn, from management determined to fire her for every mistake to a team she's trying too hard to prove herself to.
But then she's pursued by a scrappy reporter for a regional news channel, determined to get a one-on-one. But sparks fly and Jordan, who's openly gay, and Caroline Beck, who's realizing she's bi, soon can't deny their attraction, despite their forbidden relationship needing to stay in the shadows.
I loved the idea of a coach and a reporter as love interests, and I liked how this didn't focus on the women's game. A lot of sports romances aren't really about sports and that is just a setting for the romance, but this book put sports front and center. So if you don't like sports you will likely find this tedious. As someone who loves basketball though, I appreciated the accurate references to the game. The love of the game really shone through these pages as the catalyst for a sizzling romance.
It was a little instalust, but the forbidden nature of their relationship still kept the tension high as they can only see each other through heated looks and secret dates.
I also appreciated how I could tell the author was a broadcast journalist, because her knowledge of the profession really shone through and added color to the story. I hope she never worked at a TV station like Beck's but as a former print journalist the toxicity is sadly common to the industry.
Beck deals with sexism and harassment on the daily, including an annoying man who keeps asking her out. I was rooting for her to get her big break.
I also loved the idea of them as a sports power couple and their safe space for each other. I found it inspiring how Jordan got the team on her side and was rooting for them to go all the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I devoured this one in one or two sittings. I don't see enough forbidden love romances between reporters and their sources and I'd love to see more of them. When her coach moves on to a new job, assistant head coach Jordan D'Amato is promoted to head coach at David Douglas, and becomes the first women's head coach of a Division 1 college basketball team. But she faces hostility at every turn, from management determined to fire her for every mistake to a team she's trying too hard to prove herself to.
But then she's pursued by a scrappy reporter for a regional news channel, determined to get a one-on-one. But sparks fly and Jordan, who's openly gay, and Caroline Beck, who's realizing she's bi, soon can't deny their attraction, despite their forbidden relationship needing to stay in the shadows.
I loved the idea of a coach and a reporter as love interests, and I liked how this didn't focus on the women's game. A lot of sports romances aren't really about sports and that is just a setting for the romance, but this book put sports front and center. So if you don't like sports you will likely find this tedious. As someone who loves basketball though, I appreciated the accurate references to the game. The love of the game really shone through these pages as the catalyst for a sizzling romance.
It was a little instalust, but the forbidden nature of their relationship still kept the tension high as they can only see each other through heated looks and secret dates.
I also appreciated how I could tell the author was a broadcast journalist, because her knowledge of the profession really shone through and added color to the story. I hope she never worked at a TV station like Beck's but as a former print journalist the toxicity is sadly common to the industry.
Beck deals with sexism and harassment on the daily, including an annoying man who keeps asking her out. I was rooting for her to get her big break.
I also loved the idea of them as a sports power couple and their safe space for each other. I found it inspiring how Jordan got the team on her side and was rooting for them to go all the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2025
This felt like a unique take on a sapphic sports romance. I enjoyed how it was between a coach and a reporter, it felt like a nice departure from athlete focused stories. Jordan and Beck both had interesting personal journeys throughout the course of the book. Jordan is dealing with all of the pressure of becoming the first woman to coach a D1 men’s basketball team while Beck is trying to get her big break to become more important to her network. Of course it would be extremely complicated for a reporter and her source to get involved with one another…
Samantha Saldivar spends a lot of time fleshing out Jordan and Beck as individuals and giving you their backstories. It definitely makes them feel very real and you understand why they’re so dedicated to their careers. There is some good tension when they realize they have feelings for one another and when they’re deciding if they can try to make a secret relationship work.
However, I wasn’t fully convinced of their relationship or when they were telling each other “I love you” for the first time. I think that all of the focus on their individual stories took away from the development of the romance. Sometimes it just felt rushed or like it wasn’t being given the same amount of page time as descriptions of games or other struggles in their professional lives.
I still enjoyed my time reading the book. But I feel like it works more as a contemporary fiction story rather than a ROMANCE. If it sounds interesting to you I’d recommend giving it a shot. It does provide a different version of a sports romance story than what is typically available.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Samantha Saldivar spends a lot of time fleshing out Jordan and Beck as individuals and giving you their backstories. It definitely makes them feel very real and you understand why they’re so dedicated to their careers. There is some good tension when they realize they have feelings for one another and when they’re deciding if they can try to make a secret relationship work.
However, I wasn’t fully convinced of their relationship or when they were telling each other “I love you” for the first time. I think that all of the focus on their individual stories took away from the development of the romance. Sometimes it just felt rushed or like it wasn’t being given the same amount of page time as descriptions of games or other struggles in their professional lives.
I still enjoyed my time reading the book. But I feel like it works more as a contemporary fiction story rather than a ROMANCE. If it sounds interesting to you I’d recommend giving it a shot. It does provide a different version of a sports romance story than what is typically available.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 28, 2025
Thank you to Ballantine for this eARC! This was a delightful romance between two professional adults who act like actual adults about each-other! It was so refreshing and the basketball aspect of it added a fun momentum to the story that kept me hooked. I flew through this read in the very best way!
August 2, 2025
I read this as an ARC via Edelweiss. Thank you to the publisher for access!
Play You for It was a deliciously cute romance, with a touch of genuinely thrilling sports writing. Coming into this, knowing that the premise involved a reporter, I was totally primed for the third-act conflict of this story to be Beck accidentally reporting on something she wasn't supposed to about Jordan, which causes them to break up, but actually it was a big misunderstanding and actually it was Beck's evil coworker who wrote something under her name, etc.. etc... but I was very pleasantly surprised when that wasn't the case at all! I won't spoil anything, but if you are like me and dread the frequently reused conflicts like that, you can rest easy knowing it isn't present here.
I want to touch on something I just mentioned, that being the sports writing. I don't mean in a journalistic sense, but the action that takes place during the few games that we get to watch through one of the characters' eyes are genuinely so well written. I don't know how to describe it properly, but the games had me on the edge of my seat. Maybe it's the tension from the stakes, maybe it is genuinely the tension from the game, either way it was super enjoyable. Often times when reading a sports romance the sports aspect is sorta skipped over or not very well done, so once again, it was a pleasant surprise that it was done as well as it was.
Give this one a shot, support a local PNW writer by reading this amazing PNW sports romance!
Play You for It was a deliciously cute romance, with a touch of genuinely thrilling sports writing. Coming into this, knowing that the premise involved a reporter, I was totally primed for the third-act conflict of this story to be Beck accidentally reporting on something she wasn't supposed to about Jordan, which causes them to break up, but actually it was a big misunderstanding and actually it was Beck's evil coworker who wrote something under her name, etc.. etc... but I was very pleasantly surprised when that wasn't the case at all! I won't spoil anything, but if you are like me and dread the frequently reused conflicts like that, you can rest easy knowing it isn't present here.
I want to touch on something I just mentioned, that being the sports writing. I don't mean in a journalistic sense, but the action that takes place during the few games that we get to watch through one of the characters' eyes are genuinely so well written. I don't know how to describe it properly, but the games had me on the edge of my seat. Maybe it's the tension from the stakes, maybe it is genuinely the tension from the game, either way it was super enjoyable. Often times when reading a sports romance the sports aspect is sorta skipped over or not very well done, so once again, it was a pleasant surprise that it was done as well as it was.
Give this one a shot, support a local PNW writer by reading this amazing PNW sports romance!
April 30, 2025
Play You For It has a lot going for it. It's a fast paced, engaging read with a compelling plot centered around a sapphic romance between a sports journalist and a trailblazing college basketball coach. I especially appreciated the strong LGBTQ+ representation and the empowering message about women holding their own and excelling in male dominated spaces. It’s refreshing and important to see stories like this getting told.
The romance between Beck and Jordan is both sweet and full of tension, with plenty of chemistry and moments I really loved seeing. I loved reading about two ambitious, passionate women navigate the pressures of their careers while slowly letting down their walls for one another.
That said, I did find the writing style a bit difficult to follow at times. The third person perspective, while consistent, occasionally made the emotional depth and internal thoughts of each character feel distant. Since each chapter tended to focus on either Beck or Jordan, a first person dual POV might have helped the story flow more smoothly and made the characters’ inner worlds more vivid. With that being said, I still had a great time reading this and appreciate any sapphic romance I can get my hands on.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and its themes of perseverance, love, and professional ambition. With a bit more structural polish, it would have been a five star read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Saldivar, and Dell for the eARC of this book.
The romance between Beck and Jordan is both sweet and full of tension, with plenty of chemistry and moments I really loved seeing. I loved reading about two ambitious, passionate women navigate the pressures of their careers while slowly letting down their walls for one another.
That said, I did find the writing style a bit difficult to follow at times. The third person perspective, while consistent, occasionally made the emotional depth and internal thoughts of each character feel distant. Since each chapter tended to focus on either Beck or Jordan, a first person dual POV might have helped the story flow more smoothly and made the characters’ inner worlds more vivid. With that being said, I still had a great time reading this and appreciate any sapphic romance I can get my hands on.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and its themes of perseverance, love, and professional ambition. With a bit more structural polish, it would have been a five star read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Saldivar, and Dell for the eARC of this book.
April 26, 2025
Jordan D’Amato , la primera mujer entrenadora de un equipo masculino de baloncesto universitario de alto nivel, y Caroline Beck, una periodista deportiva decidida a conseguir la exclusiva que impulse su carrera. Lo que empieza como una entrevista profesional se convierte en una relación prohibida, marcada por la pasión, la ambición y los riesgos de enamorarse en un entorno donde todo está en juego.
Con química irresistible, diálogos ingeniosos y una mirada honesta a los desafíos del machismo en el deporte, esta novela combina romance sáfico, tensión laboral y superación personal. Aunque algunos temas delicados como el acoso podrían haberse abordado con más profundidad, la historia destaca por su fuerza emocional y el crecimiento de sus protagonistas.
Ideal para quienes buscan un romance deportivo con corazón y coraje.
---
La semana pasada intenté leerlo, pero por alguna razón no me gustó y no pasé de los seis primeros capítulos. Afortunadamente, fue solo cuestión del momento equivocado, porque al final terminó gustándome.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.
Con química irresistible, diálogos ingeniosos y una mirada honesta a los desafíos del machismo en el deporte, esta novela combina romance sáfico, tensión laboral y superación personal. Aunque algunos temas delicados como el acoso podrían haberse abordado con más profundidad, la historia destaca por su fuerza emocional y el crecimiento de sus protagonistas.
Ideal para quienes buscan un romance deportivo con corazón y coraje.
---
La semana pasada intenté leerlo, pero por alguna razón no me gustó y no pasé de los seis primeros capítulos. Afortunadamente, fue solo cuestión del momento equivocado, porque al final terminó gustándome.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.
April 28, 2025
Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Play You For It has a lot going for it. It’s a quick, easy read with a great plot. I really liked the LGBTQ+ relationship and how it showed that women can do the job just as well as men — love seeing that. I also really appreciated the fresh take on a sports romance. Finally, a book that focuses on the coach instead of the player! That creative angle made it stand out.
My main issue was with the writing style. The whole story is told in third person, and it sometimes made things confusing. It felt like each chapter was mostly about either Beck or Jordan, so having split POV chapters and using first-person narrative would have made it flow a lot better. I think it would’ve helped bring the characters to life more, too.
Overall, I liked the story and the message — just wish the structure had been a little tighter.
Play You For It has a lot going for it. It’s a quick, easy read with a great plot. I really liked the LGBTQ+ relationship and how it showed that women can do the job just as well as men — love seeing that. I also really appreciated the fresh take on a sports romance. Finally, a book that focuses on the coach instead of the player! That creative angle made it stand out.
My main issue was with the writing style. The whole story is told in third person, and it sometimes made things confusing. It felt like each chapter was mostly about either Beck or Jordan, so having split POV chapters and using first-person narrative would have made it flow a lot better. I think it would’ve helped bring the characters to life more, too.
Overall, I liked the story and the message — just wish the structure had been a little tighter.
April 26, 2025
I loved the LGBTQ+ representation that there was in this novel and how the book was able to portray the reality of the situation for LGBTQ+ athletes and those in a high-pressure workspace. I love the sweet romance between Jordan and Beck, and how both women strived past their problems to be together. I really admired how Jordan was such a strong, brave woman despite the pressure of her job and how Beck was the same, standing up for herself in the end and being the spitfire she is.
June 24, 2025
Y'all. Y'ALL. This book is EVERYTHING. I am completely obsessed. Clear your schedules because you are going to want to drop what you're doing and read it in one sitting. JORDAN AND BECK 4EVER!
September 2, 2025
The relationship felt forced... no chemistry between the two women. Could have been really good if the romance itself was as developed as the characters were individually.
August 15, 2025
This was such a fun read! Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews