Playing Her Secret Crush

by Casey Griffin

All her life, Katie has been chosen last for everything: the last picked on the playground, the last picked by her absent father, and definitely the last picked by boys—even her secret crush, Alex, friend-zoned her. This senior year, Katie is determined to come first.

But then Alex asks her to help him find a date?!

Alex has been living life in the fast lane, but he's ready to slow down—with a girlfriend. The last person on earth he’d consider? The girl his brother developed serious feelings for before he died: Katie. The only way Alex is going to get over Katie is by falling for someone new. And who better to help him find his new crush than the girl he can’t stop thinking about?

What can possibly go wrong?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Friends To Lovers

ebook

First published June 20, 2018

About the author

Casey Griffin spent her childhood dreaming up elaborate worlds and characters. Now, she writes those stories down. As a jack-of-all-trades, her résumé boasts registered nurse, heavy equipment operator, English teacher, photographer, and pizza delivery driver. She’s a world traveler and has a passion for anything geeky. With a wide variety of life experiences to draw from, she loves to write stories that transport readers and make them smile. Casey lives in Southern Alberta with her family, and when she’s not traveling, attending comic conventions, or watching Star Wars, she’s writing every moment she can.

Get your FREE story when you sign up for Casey's newsletter at www.CaseyGriffin.com

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin is a cute contemporary romance in which best friends have hidden feelings for one another. The one thing it seems the book blurb has left out is the setting being based around professional gaming.

Now that it’s their senior year Katie thinks she needs to break out of her shell and quit being the shy, quiet girl that others don’t notice. Katie and Alex have been best friends for the last few years but crushing on Alex has gotten her no where so she vowed to make some changes.

Alex has always had his own secret crush for Katie but Alex believed his older brother had feelings for her before he passed from cancer so Katie is the one girl Alex can’t bring himself to date. As Alex and Katie set their sights on other dates the pair also need to work together to get their gaming team into a big competition.

While this one isn’t an overly original story of best friends becoming more it was a fun, quick read. Both Alex and Katie have valid reasons for holding back in the friend zone for so long so it’s nice to see that type of relationship progress to more as they obviously already care. Plus the gaming setting with their group entering a tournament was also fun to follow and root them on. Definitely a cute story I’d recommend to the young adult fans.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Danielle's · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex and Katie; best friends, super gamers, nerds to the core and totally in love with each other. So, what's stopping them? Alex lost his brother and his brother liked Katie. Now he feels she is off limits. He dates a new girl every week and tries to walk in his brother's footsteps. He lives life to the fullest, but at heart, he's a gamer nerd.

Katie wants a boyfriend and believes Alex would have stepped up if he was interested. Now she's dating, Alex and Katie are fighting. They just can't stop bickering. Playing her secret crush is a little frustrating and totally nerdy 🤓. It has a sad undertone and a lot of gaming.

I'm not sure the title fits the book. I think it's referring to gaming and the fact they can't share their feelings. Lexi is the character to watch out for in this book. Events could have gone so wrong but she's a cool chick. Alex is only compatible with one girl, Katie. I felt Alex used girls to hide his feelings, and this didn't always come across in a good light, but the reasoning made sense. He reminded me of the guy who doesn't realise how lucky he is to get the girl.

This one is for the online pc gaming fans.

3 stars out of 5. Overall this book was good but certain scenes could have easily gone so wrong.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and I've joined the Chapter by Chapter blog tour.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Actual Rating: 2.5

Alright. Let me start with this. I'm a huge fan of some of these tropes: enemies to lovers, identity reveals, and the BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS storyline.

Playing Her Secret Crush is basically that, but with an extra hint of video games. Katie has been crushing on her best friend Alex for forever. But this year, she's determined to be more confident and more outgoing. Then, Alex asks Katie to help him get a girlfriend, and suddenly - everything becomes that much more confusing.

I really loved the video game subplot, which actually is a much bigger part of the story than the blurb lets you believe. Overall, however, I did think that it was still too predictable. It had a very Disney movie-esque happy ending, and the romantic plotline was also quite unsurprising. I felt like the official blurb, in addition to the sometimes third person omniscient writing style may have revealed too much. Knowing that Alex and Katie already liked each other and were going to end up together lessened a lot of the anticipation and the "slow burn," which is what I usually read these sort of books for. A lot of things that happened in this book were also pretty cliche in general.

I did like the characters, and the author indeed explored the backstories of the two main characters. I still wish that those histories and character developments could have played a larger role, rather than just appearing when it was convenient for the romantic plot.

The writing style was quite good; the book read like many typical YA contemporary romance novels by authors such as Kasie West or Morgan Matson.

Overall, this was a fun read but I did find it a little too predictable to be memorable, and therefore I can't round up my 2.5 star rating.

[Yoda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It´s an okay read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Playing her Secret Crush is a young adult contemporary romance by Casey Griffin. I have read an adult contemporary romance from Casey Griffin, called Must Love Wieners (a rescue dog romance) and it was so cute and funny. I really enjoyed it, but this was my first young adult novel I have read by her. And I am happy to report that this book was just a cute, though in a different way. Playing Her Secret Crush is a young adult best friends romance featuring best friends that love to play a role playing type of computer game together. It hit so many of the things I love to see in my young adult contemporaries- gaming, best friends romance, and the matchmaking tropes. Playing her Secret Crush is a fun read, perfect for summer time. 

Playing her Secret Crush is the story of best friends Katie and Alex. Katie and Alex have been best friends for years, they bonded over the illness and death of Alex's older brother and the game that brought the three of them together- Caroon. I really loved the computer game aspect of this novel. Katie and Alex, along with the rest of their gaming team enter to win a professional Caroon competition. The actual game itself seems massive and really cool, and I found myself just as excited to read this subplot and see who won the competition as I was in the romance in the story. 

The romance aspect was lots of fun, and yes, it was pretty predictable. Especially the Lexi aspect. Lexi is the new girl that Alex has a crush on, and wants to use Katie to help set him up. Katie meanwhile, wants to find a guy so her own love life is a success for her senior year of high school. I "called" what was really going on with Lexi/Alex/ Katie really early on, but I didn't mind that Playing her Secret Crush was predictable because it was satisfying in the way a quick lighthearted YA romance can be. It was fun and cute and the ending was satisfying and was just what I wanted. 

Bottom line: if you are a fan of best friends romances and you like gaming, Playing her Secret Crush is going to be a nice and easy win for you. A quick, cute read that you can finish in one sitting. 

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Wing (notesbywing) · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok, predictable, but still cute though!
characters are pretty cool to read about, liked the guy-girl perspectives
lots of gaming involved which was unexpected, but I enjoyed it!
thanks net galley for the arc!

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

**The publisher sent me over a free e-ARC for a review. It doesn't affect my opinion at all!**

Ugh, I'm so torn about the rating right now. I'm so in the middle of a two or a three, but I honestly don't know which one that it's leaning toward either. I'm going with a 2 for the moment, but it's was close to being up to a 3 - and I think the only thing stopping me was that I don't think it's going to be that memorable in the long run.

That being said, this book had some super fun moments and was pretty adorable. It had a slow burn romance that kept me forever teetering in that sweet spot of will-they-won't-they miscommunication.

I liked one of our main characters, Katie, a lot. I liked her voice. I got her. I thought she was a delightful character, and I thought she could definitely be a good friend. The other main character, Alex? Eh, meh. Idk, he was just kind of there. I really wasn't feeling him. I also really liked Lexi a lot! She was a really good friend, and her, Penny, and Trevor were a great gaming gang.

I'm also a bit torn on the message that the book was sending either. I think Griffin did a pretty good job of subverting tropes at times, and not so good at the other times. Usually in contemporaries, there is a ton of girl hate since some are so focused on romance. For the most part, there wasn't any girl hate at all when Katie was competing against Lexi for Alex's love. There were a few times I saw it peak its ugly head, but it was mostly not there. As for the whole changing your image for a guy? I totally felt there was a good moral of just being yourself but I felt like Alex's voice kind of contradicted some of those messages - which made me not like reading his voice as much, I think. And I kind of felt that there wasn't enough of a message said at the end to really drive it through. However, I do love how gaming was celebrated in this novel - even though I don't like gaming myself.

The ship was cute, although I totally think the true ship was missed, LOL. But it was cute. I could feel the feels, and they had me on the cusp of COME ON, LET'S GET TOGETHER BUT MAYBE NOT the entire time and I do love that edge. Griffin did it quite well. I love a good miscommunication to drag the ship out a bit more - it's where the feels are so real. However, I felt like they were just being so stupid at the end. There was WAY too much miscommunication for no point, and it just turned into a mess. It wasn't fun miscommunication anymore but just stupid and I just wanted it to get on with it.

The writing was nice and easy, though. It was super easy to read and I sped through the book so easily. Definitely a nice, breezy summer contemporary read.

Overall, I'm still a bit torn on the rating. I think there were some questionable things that left me wanting and expecting a bit more for this book. I think it just missed the potential it had to be great. However, there were some great parts including a good gaming game, a likeable main character, and easy, breezy writing. It has some good, but I'm not sure I would recommend if you're looking for something deeper. 2 crowns and a Cinderella rating.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review

This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled: Crush and Netgalley!

Playing Her Secret Crush is about Katie and Alex. They are both in love with each other but they both think that the other isn’t in love with them. Katie and Alex are both trying to find other people to fall in love with so they can forget each other, but it isn’t as easy as they may think…

Playing Her Secret Crush is such a cute and fun read! It’s so adorable to read that these best friends are in love with each other even though they both think the other isn’t. Playing Her Secret Crush is also a fast-paced book and easy to read. It’s such a light read and just perfect when you want to relax and don’t want to think too much!

There were some gaming scenes in this book, which were interesting but sometimes a bit too long. Other than that, I really enjoyed reading Playing Her Secret Crush and I cannot wait to read more books written by Casey Griffin!

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

more like 3.5 starts

REceived in exchange for a honest review.

The story overall was a feel good one that teaches us about friendships, loyalty and family.

You can tell that Alex likes Katie but he is trying to honor his brother who died. Only what Alex perceived may have been wrong and the whole time he was living life to its fullest with risks he was not taking the biggest risk and gaining the best reward because of a misunderstanding. Or at least that was my impression. Alex is sweet, funny, smart and kind. He and Katie were great together. They understood one another and respected each other. But he put her in the friend zone due to his thoughts that his brother liked her before he died.

Katie has always had a crush on Alex and is sitting watching him take so many risks due to a promise to his brother. ONly the one thing that is keeping them apart-to me she can clear up if she knew-is his brother. Katie is sweet, genuine and kind.

In this story we watch Katie and Alex work together and yet apart in so many ways. They mesh well and Alex is trying to become more settled. So he asks for Katie to help but in the process he falls in love with her. Meanwhile he is still taking crazy risks and we see him almost lose alot because of his risks.

I love Alex and Katie together and with their friends. You see how much they like one another and how much support they have from not only each other but their friends. The story is sweet and fun. Quirky and entertaining. A entertaining light read that just has you smile and feel good in the end.

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!

So it's a very basic young adult romance novel, girl likes boy thinks boy doesn't like her but he does. There is infinite books out there following the same plot type so no points for originality.

Although I really enjoyed the charcaters and the romance of course. It isn't the most original unique book but it's fun and enjoyable and that's what you need from it so I'm really happy I got sent this.

This title is released on July 5th!

[Arys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin is a friends to relationship story. Katie has a thing for her serial dater friend Alex and Alex has feeling for her too, but not only is she his friend, she is the girl his brother liked before he he died. They like each other, but are off limits. When Alex asks Katie to help him find a serious girlfriend feelings kept hidden are getting more complicated.

The gaming setting was a nice added aspect of this story and the reason behind their not getting together makes it seem the blinders that Alex has put up are grounded in a real reason. I felt that they developed a lot during the course of the story and that each became a better person in general and for each other as the story progressed.

Overall Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin was a fun, quick and quirky young adult story that takes a friends to relationship theme and adds its own thing.

(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

[. (not active on this account stop adding me) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synopsis for this book doesn't exactly give this book justice. Firstly, a lot of the story revolves around an online video game that the main characters play. Also, there's a wonderful coming out story with a side character that is done respectfully.

I originally picked this up because I love best friends to lovers stories and I'm a fan of the popular character teaches the nerdy character how to date trope. This ended up being a lot more than that.

Playing Her Secret Crush follows Katie as she revamps her style in an attempt to get a real boyfriend in her senior year of high school. She enlists the help of her best friend, Alex, who's a player and has had plenty of girlfriends. Seems like a typical, cliched plot, right? However, Alex lost his brother Jason to cancer two years ago, which formed a deep connection between him and Katie. Jason may or may not have had a crush on Katie while he was doing chemo, so Alex has officially categorised her as "off-limits".

The main reason why I enjoyed this was because of Lexi, the side character that comes out as a lesbian. I was hoping that the love triangle would turn into a boy and a girl vying for the attention of Katie, but a girl can dream. I loved that after Lexi came out to Katie, she stated that she still wanted to be friends and didn't find it weird that Lexi had a crush on her, and she respected her friend enough to not out her to their other friend.

However, I did find the angst aspect of the romance quite frustrating. The reasoning behind their inability to be together just felt stupid to me. I was praying the entire time that they could just have a conversation and tell the other how they were feeling.

I also wasn't a fan of the gaming aspect (though, I understand why this was an important ritual for the characters). I ended up skimming all of these scenes - especially the climactic scene - because I just didn't understand what was happening and felt I could still understand the plot without them.

In regards to Katie's makeover, at times it seemed like they were giving her the whole "girls who wear makeup and wear nice clothes have no real personality" spiel. It was quite irritating. Are girls not allowed to be intelligent and wear makeup at the same time?

Consequently, just an average best friends to lovers story where the side characters were more interesting than the main characters.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute. i love a good gaming romance. Full review to come

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Angie
Book provided by Entangled Crush
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

It’s been awhile since I’ve read YA, but Playing Her Secret Crush made me wonder why I had stopped in the first place.

​Although, truth be told, the title is a bit misleading; but it does go with the gaming theme of the book.

I have conflicting thoughts about the main characters. Katie struggled with self worth so badly, and as so many women can attest to, has turned to magazines to help her “feel” more confident and seemingly more attractive to others.

But most of all she really just wants to be with Alex, her best friend. Who, by the way, has been fighting his feelings for her over the past two years since his brother died; he feels guilty that he likes her when he was sure his brother wanted to do date her, and that Katie wanted to date his brother.

While Katie is trying to appear less of a nerd and more appealing, Alex is very confident and has a player reputation.

And then enter Lexi, Katie’s new neighbor and the girl Alex feels is perfect for him to get over his feelings for Katie with.

Ah, good old fashion teenage angst and drama!

There are things that are so completely in the reader’s face that you can’t believe that the others haven’t noticed. Especially about Lexi. There were no surprises about her whatsoever and I spent a good amount of time rolling my eyes at how oblivious everyone seemed to be.

Breaking up the teenage angst was what seemed to be more or less the center of the whole book: the multiplayer game that had brought Alex and Katie together in the first place (his brother was really into it and taught Alex and Katie how to play). In between the does he/she or doesn’t he/she were flashes of humor in Penny and Trevor, two other players of their team.

Overall I like how well developed the characters are and that the story flowed smoothly. If you’re looking for a quick read over the weekend or at the beach, you won’t be disappointed by this.

[throneofreaders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.8 stars

Disclaimer: This e-arc was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The story tackles about gaming, LGBT, teenagers realizing their feelings for each, coping up with loss, acceptance, and friendship. Predictable, yet it was a fun read for me.

The nerd in me is very happy about gaming and conventions!
I love how Katie and Alex's character started and of course how they ended!
I love how it talks about being you - is the best version of yourself. No need to try and be someone else you are not. People who truly love you will always, I SAY ALWAYS, ACCEPT YOUR FLAWS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS YOU.

I can imagine a chick flick - gamer genre movie out of this book!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I love how we know about Alex and Kaite's feelings for each other and yet they are oblivious to it! I am a sucker for this kind of character p.o.v's! Plus, dannggg! It's so obvious that Lexi is gay! How come they did not see the signs?! But all is well, all is well at the end. I love that Kaite and Alex realized their feelings for each other and at last, they did something about it. I love that Kaite and Lexi still became friends. I love their team! I love that they won the contest!!! They freaking deserved it!

P.S.
THAT DRESSING ROOM SCENE.
THE DANCE. I would like to see Kaite in a Pikachu onesie during the dance! But hey nevermind that! Something better happened! I love it that she wore the onesie during a dire situation in Alex's life and of course during the game!

[Candyce Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush was a fast and fun read. As a fan of contemporary books, this is a must read. Katie feels like she always chosen last. Her father left, at school she is last and even her secret crush doesn't seem to notice her. Her senior year is going to be different. Katie is a brand new person and wants to show the world. Alex's life has been turned upside down. After a tragic loss, he's trying to find his way in life. Living with no regrets and doing everything is getting tiring. A girlfriend could be something to calm him down? Casey Griffin wrote this book from Katie and Alex's POV and it was so cute! I loved the gaming aspect in the story as well. In a lot of books the main characters that game are boys. Playing Her Secret Crush represents the girl gamers and just shows that girls can love it just as much. I don't game myself, but always think it's fun to watch someone game. Katie and Alex have been close for awhile and it's fun to read that they both have feelings for each other but don't think the other feels the same. Alex wanting a girlfriend and Katie trying to flirt give some funny situations. I loved that Katie realizes that she is good the way she is and doesn't have to try and be someone else. This book may be a bit predictable, but the gaming element made up for that. Another fun summer read! I defnitely recommend this book to contemporary lovers!

[Shakera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, there are words that are better left unsaid… This was totally not one of those times! Katie and Alex have had a crush on each other for quite some time. For good reasons, they never said anything. Now that senior year is here, it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Katie wants to be more outgoing and get a boyfriend, Alex wants a steady relationship. Can they overcome their own obstacles and get out of their own way?

What I loved is this book is every nerd’s dream! Who doesn’t love talking about gaming!? Both Katie and Alex are sweet and endearing, but at the same time, they do frustrate you as a reader. You know there are things they should say but don’t, but you also know and understand why. Their chemistry was great, even with the secondary characters. I would love a second book… if it’s written in the stars!

[Keanna (JustKey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two gamer best friends who feel in a love with a game called Caroon where Alex wants to make his brother proud. But at what costs? Going through girls like a revolving door or taking so many risks that he may go too far ans maybe even the girl who's been by hos side since his brother died? I loved the game aspect of the this book and it was a balance pf them interacting both outside and inside the game together. I really liked how even though Katie wanted to change herself on the outside to make Alex 'see' her, she learned it was the confidence that the already possessed on the inside that he didn't deserve her if he didn't want her.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. It's a sweet YA friends to more story and Alex and Katie are amazing characters. While the gaming aspect of this story weren't to my personal taste (I'm old) I can see how that would appeal to some. It seems well done and researched. Both Alex and Katie are attracted to each other but neither has tried to take the relationship beyond friendship. Now spending so much time together preparing for a huge gaming competition proves to much and it's hard to keep their feelings under wraps. Is it finally their time??

I highly recommend this one to all YA readers.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story, girl likes boy but doesn't think boy likes her so she tries to build her confidence and change her appearance to snag said boy. Although I am not a fan of changing to capture attention (then he likes the you you made up, not the real you.. doomed) I also felt like there were two plots going on simultaneously. The on line gaming is almost a plot of its own. It took focus from the characters. It was a cute story, although somewhat predictable.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Sasha Says · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
This was a super-cute and fluffy YA romance, perfect for a quick summer read. Although not mentioned in the blurb, Alex and Katie are very into an online game and much of the book is centered around the game and their teammates, which was really fun to read about.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a cute, easy summer read.. Though the plot is quite predictable.

A perfect companion for summer days..

[ester marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"It wasn't a matter of finding someone who picked her first. She had to put herself first."

Katie feels that she has always been picked last in everything — from boys to school, and even by her father. That was until she decided that things had to change.

When I read the blurb, I was interested. There are many books with the best friend trope (I even read one before this) but what made this different from the others is that we knew how the guy felt. I was up for it.

Considering the blurb stood out to me, I shouldn't have been surprised that it had two POVs: Katie and Alex. To me, this is both a good and a bad thing.

The Good Thing :

We see both sides of the story. It was interesting to know how Katie and Alex felt in every situation. I understood their feelings and hesitations better than if I only knew one side of what's going on.

The Bad Thing :

It was frustrating. Some misunderstandings occur when people rely on assumptions and trust their insecurities more than the person. Having both sides of the story made you understand the situation but it doesn't change the fact that you have no control over it.

One thing I wished the book could have done differently regarding the dual POV is the lack of indication as to who is speaking. Sometimes, I had to read a few sentences to figure it out. It also had multiple POVs in one chapter which could be a little confusing.

What I liked :

► It was easy to read. It did not bore me and it kept me interested all throughout.
► It made me laugh for unexpected reasons.
► There's a twist in one of the characters (although it was quite obvious) which made things more interesting.
► Katie's self-improvement was handled well. I love how she found herself in the end instead of trying to be someone she is not.
► I liked how the story integrated an online game into the plot. It was narrated properly and I think the author could do well with a fantasy book in the future.

What I didn't like :

► It was predictable. You can almost see things happening from a mile away.
► The dual POV took out the mystery. Since we know both sides of the story, the events were hardly surprising.

This would have been a four-star read if not for what happened to Alex towards the end. I feel like it was a bit extreme and not very realistic. I would have preferred if Alex faced the consequences of his actions and learned through regret. If we're being honest, things don't go that well in real life. But I guess reading about it on a book could also be an escape. It all depends on your preference.

Overall, this was a great read and I highly enjoyed it. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Casey Griffin for this opportunity!

Review can also be found on my blog.

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/09/...

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

4.5 stars — Okay, I had NO IDEA that this was going to feature nerdiness and gaming!! While I’m not a gamer of ANY TYPE whatsoever, I really loved having another nerdy little book to read!! The elements of the game that Ms. Griffin added to the book were so real and rich and really added to the story…

I was super pleasantly surprised by this book! Not that I had low expectations or anything, I guess I just didn’t have ANY expectations, and I enjoyed myself so much! 1) I love a good friends to lovers trope. 2) I adore nerdiness. 3) Some secondary diversity, yay! 4) Dude, both characters went through so much development in this story. 5) I’m sure I have more, but enough with the numbers already.

I was SOOOOOO worried that I was going to get frustrated with the back and forth, as I had in my previous friends to lovers read…not to mention my heart immediately started aching with the introduction of Lexi, and I was so worried about the direction the book was going to take. BUT THEN something magical happened. The ups and downs of Alex and Katie’s journey to each other made sense for them, and totally worked out on a timeline I could appreciate. This is not to say that I didn’t grow frustrated with them, or that I didn’t groan at some choices…but I expect a bit of that. I was just worried it was going to be too much, you know?

Alex was hella damaged yo. Seeing him struggling with his grief by ignoring it just broke my heart. And knowing what his brother meant while Alex kept sticking to his misinterpretation was HARD!!! But the thing I appreciated about Alex’s struggles, and his “playboy” ways, is that it all had a purpose. And you could tell that even Alex didn’t really feel like it was him, but that he was trying to live up to a promise to his brother. Still…that boy was stubborn. But I think that’s what made his turnaround so satisfying — I felt it…I saw him starting to figure things out. I believed it when he did finally.

And Katie’s struggles with learning to love herself and pick herself first was equally as important! I sometimes find that one character’s story overshadows another, but I didn’t really feel that in this one. I FELT for Katie feeling like she was always picked last and looked over. My heart hurt for her as she struggled to figure out how to change that. I cheered for her when she finally figured out that it wasn’t about her outer appearance! Her journey was truly satisfying, and took the right amount of time to believe that her growth was realistic.

The two of them together were both ridiculously adorable and frustrating! But I actually understood each of their reluctance to admit their feelings for the other. It didn’t feel unreasonable, even as it made me want to smack them. I loved the way they cared for one another. I loved the butterflies I got when they had their moments…AND THAT KISS!! Or rather kisses! Their love story was truly adorable.

I had a few moments where I was worried about how the story was going to play out, and sometimes I still wasn’t super happy (uh concussion??), but in the end Ms. Griffin always brought back consequences so that I was appeased.

This book had a secondary cast whose appearances really added to the story. I adored Penny and Trevor, and their little motley crew. I loved the moments Katie had with her Mom. Ben was even kind of adorable, even if he wasn’t right for Katie. But MOSTLY I was super impressed with Lexi. The story with Lexi was so much richer than I was expecting, and I LOVED how it played out. I knew exactly what was happening practically from the first meeting, and I was just so impressed to have that element in the story. I thought it was very well done, and really added. I would love to see her story!

So yeah, like I said, this one was a super pleasant surprise! It was fun, had a great balance of light and heavy, and I always love me a good nerdy book.

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ Rate: 4,5 / 5 stars

Oh how I've missed reading YA. I need to start reading more from time to time.
This book, well the first chapter wasn't impressing to be honest but it was all do to the gamer talk. I've never been a gamer and all that description was a bit boring but once the story got going, I was hooked. Playing Your Secret Crush stars Alex and Katie who are best friends. They met 2 years ago on the hospital where Alex's brother Jason was at. Since then, they've been joined at the hip and playing the game that skyrocketed their friendship.

They both have been secretly harboring feelings for each other. Katie is scared of saying something only for it to ruin their friendship. She chose to be there for Alex after losing Jason, even if that meant they'd only be friends. Alex is still hurting over his brother's death and the words he left him with. By having feelings for Katie he thinks he is betraying his brother. He promised him to live so that's what he's been doing... by doing crazy things and by being with a different girl each week. But Alex has been getting tired of that so he decides it's time to find a girlfriend for longer than a week, and who better to help him than his best friend Katie.
Katie herself has made a recent change, she's trying to be more outgoing and less shy. So she updated her wardrobe and gotten a little confidence and is out looking for a boyfriend or just more friends.

When a new girl moves into the house in front of Katie's, Alex is immediately interested in her and Katie has found herself a new friend. Meanwhile the annual competition of their game is coming and Alex wants to go, specially since his brother never got to like he had wanted. But to qualify they need a fifth member on their team, and that's where their new friend Lexi comes in. They teach her the game and all hang out together; Alex all the while hopping she'll be his girlfriend but Lexi has a secret, a secret that will change Alex's game.

While Katie and Alex are both pursuing other people their friendship starts getting rocky because they both can't help but be jealous of each other and it shows. All of it comes to blows on the day before of the competition. Katie tells him she's always had feelings for him but Alex still thanks he can't be with her because of Jason. The next day Alex does one of his reckless adrenaline junkie things and puts his life and their participation on the competition at risk.

Will he get to play and avenge his brother? Will he and Katie get to be together? Or will it all be lost?
Find out in this sweet and compelling story about two best-friends who love each other but are still dealing with losing the person who brought them together, and are struggling with finding out who they are.


➳ARC kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

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[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short really surprised me. I had read some of the reviews and wasn’t sure what to expect. I am happy to report I that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am not a gamer and this being a teen book about two friends that are going into their senior year in high school who meet the end of their freshman year. When Katie a candy striper at the hospital where Alex’s older brother Jason was being treated for cancer.

When she found out they were gamers she tried to connect and ask about the game they were playing. Being that Jason had gotten some really bad news that day talking about his love of gaming raised his spirits. Katie admitted she knew nothing at all about gaming. So, both guys asked her to come back to show her how to play. Being that she was so shy she surprised herself and said yes mainly because she found that she was instantly crushing on Alex.

Alex was smitten on sight with Katie. He found out they went to the same school but she was so smart and shy. He really wanted to get to know her. So, they told her any time she wanted to stop by to come. She and Alex got close. He liked how kind she was to Jason and would just stop by to visit him.

At the end of Jason’s life, he made Alex promise to live life to the fullest, to take care of Katie for she was a great girl, and that he really liked her. In Alex’s mind, he was saying he was in love with her. Quickly, putting Katie in the friend zone. When Jason did pass Katie was there to Alex’s rock to cry on. Now two years later they are still just best friends. She’s tired of waiting for Alex to see her.

He has dated about everyone in the yearbook and she has just had to sit and watch and sometimes help him break up or run interference. No more it is her time now. All the magazines she has read this summer on how to improve herself are going to pay off one way or another. If not on Alex then there are other fish in the sea. She is ready to put herself out there talking to guys and not shy away.

When Alex gets back from his week away with his family he has a plan too. He has decided he wants a fulltime girlfriend. Guess what it’s still not Katie. But he does want her to help him find the perfect girl. What better person to do it that his bestie and crush, Katie, to help find her. There were a few slow moments in the book for me that was only when they were talking gaming things.

This is a good clean friend to couple story that is very sweet. It is filled with unforeseen heartache for the supporting cast. There are funny moments like at the paintball meetup. I loved Sugarplum. So grownup, yet, such a kid she was too cute. Yet, they treated her as an equal. I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Playing Her Secret Crush" follows Katie and Alex as they enter their senior year of high school. Katie has decided it's time for a makeover- she has had a crush on Alex for years, but she has been permanently friend-zoned. She has read the magazines, invested her money in make-up and new clothes, and this year will be different- she's going to get a date, make other friends, and put herself out there. She and Alex have been super close for years- since she met him in the hospital with his brother and started playing a multi-player game with them.

After his brother's death, Alex took his brother's forced promise to live life to fullest as a requirement to date a new girl every week and live life on the edge with adrenaline-pumping activities. Katie is his best friend- and though he used to have a crush on her, she is so much more now- she's his everything. But he still wouldn't want to date her. He feels like, based on the things his brother said before he died, that his brother had a crush on her, and he doesn't want to date his brother's girl. Now, he is asking Katie to help him find a real girlfriend- not one that will fade out in a week, but something more serious.

Although his request is heart-breaking, Katie is the best of friends and just wants him to be happy- even if it's with the hot girl next door, Lexi, instead of her. Katie is the ultimate wing-woman. However, now, Katie is willing to make some more moves and might find a boyfriend herself. Caught between misunderstandings, mishaps, and some hot and cold/back and forth, Katie and Alex are dancing around the truth.

Alex was a bit hard to like at times- he really steamrolls over everyone else's feelings, including Lexi, who is pretty clearly not interested in him (but why should that stop him?), but mostly Katie. Although he lost his brother and is clearly still grieving, I found him somewhat cruel and wished that Katie had gotten together with someone who really respected and noticed her more (it was kind of obvious who it was early on but still comes out as a "surprise," but the way it was handled was pretty good- I am being vague to avoid potential spoilers). Alex does improve and have some revelations towards the end that makes him more likable. The gaming/team was a nice setting, and I really liked following their team's path through the game. Also, the other team members were also really awesome!

Overall, it was a cute story and a fun setting. I'd be interested in hearing Lexi's story in the future... Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush is a cute YA contemporary about Katie, a 17 year old girl who makes a plan to get Alex, her best friend and crush to finally notice her. In terms of plot, this is a pretty generic scenario: nerdy girl and nerdy-but-hot guy are best friends secretly pining on each other, but holding back for different misguided reasons and over the course of the book they learn to loves themselves and each other.

I loved the romance aspect of the book. Katie's attempts to change herself where cute and the fact that she doesn't permanently change her behavior just to please someone and instead decides to just be herself was pretty stellar. However, I almost wished that she had ended up with Lexi instead. The way that that secret crush had developed was subtle, but adorable with Lexi pining for Katie, while she was completely oblivious to her surroundings. Ugh. Rather than having the plot twist be that Lexi CAN'T date Alex, not because she has higher standards and understands that Alex isn't actually committed to her as a person, but because she is a LESBIAN, which just felt like a ploy to make sure the two characters fell in love with each other and to get some diverse characters into the mix... I would have loved to have the plot twist of Katie slowly finding out that hey, maybe Alex isn't who she should be aiming for if he never could figure out his GD feelings after all these years... and instead having a bi-awakening and going after Lexi - whom she had been spending all this time with trying to hook her up with Alex, like the push-over best friend that she is.... Don't mind me I am only slightly bitter. It was never uncertain that they would get together and what happened at the end of the book just deepened what relationship had been developing throughout the story.

I had also wished that there was a bit less of the video game playing in the actual narrative of the book. I think it would have been more relatable if I myself was into Zelda or MMRPG-type games, but because I only have a vague interest in gaming at all [i.e. Kingdoms Hearts for the win] I couldn't get into the combative spirit that was trying to be portrayed. Like it made no difference to me if they won or not and their emotions couldn't connect. I'm sure that plenty of girls who are into these types of recreational activities would love that - but it wasn't for me. It almost felt reminiscent of Eliza and Her Monsters with the fan fiction and online forums type of deal - which I wasn't that into either.

Overall, it was a quick read that kept me hooked [if only for the romance] and I will say that there was a redeeming moment for Lexi's character in the end as well, so not all hope was lost. If you enjoy video games and conventions, then you might really enjoy this book.

[Sascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush is a cute friends to more young adult novel ready to be your next beach read if you're into gaming. Yep. No where does the blurb hint that there is a huge gaming aspect to this novel, which I think may have been a misjudgment, especially since I really enjoyed the gaming and the other geeky parts.

Katie is a great character. She has stoically been best friends with Alex even though he's been totally oblivious (possible oxymoron since he's a teenage boy) regarding her true feelings for him. She befriends Lexi, another excellent character, although Alex has chosen Lexi to be his girlfriend.

While I could understand Alex' quandary, feeling like if he gave into his feelings for Katie that he would be betraying his brother, I also couldn't understand it at the same time. I am not a huge fan of romances built around supposed "codes" like don't date your best friend's sister or live alone rather than pursue the love of your life because he/she once dated your best friend. Jason, Alex' brother, had remarked that Katie was a wonderful girl, and Alex had built that up to mean so many things, probably too many things. This could have all been cleared up earlier, but then no novel.

However, I think Casey Griffin did a great job of showing Alex' mixed up feelings. How he was both in awe of his "perfect" older brother and yet jealous and how those feelings and perhaps guilt because of those feelings made him shut himself off from real relationships.

There's a lot of miscommunication or non-communication in Playing Her Secret Crush, and it felt like a good deal of the plot hinged on this. I understand that communications issues can be a great device--hey, it probably started with Shakespeare and that can't be bad, right? But it leaves me feeling "meh."

Flipside: I loved the gaming aspect. The Conquerors of Caroon sounded like a game I'd like to play. The rock climbing and Comic Con geekiness and the wonderful ensemble of side characters (Penny and Trevor!) and the chance for the underdog to win were all things I enjoyed, and which, ultimately left me feeling good. 

A definite beach read for us geeks who love YA crushes.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Ricketts (Donnie Darko Girl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing Her Secret Crush was a cute story with a synopsis I couldn't resist. The fact that Katie and Alex are gamers had a lot to do with my interest in reading this book, I must confess. Plus I just love a good friends-to-lovers story!

Playing Her Secret Crush is told in third person alternating between both Katie and Alex. I've read some reviews of this book in which it's mentioned that knowing both characters' feelings made the ending of the book too predictable, and I'm afraid I have to agree.

Katie feels like she comes in last for everything with family, friends and school. She knows her father didn't fight to share custody of her, and that's where much of her insecurity lies; however, not much else is done with this knowledge. I think it could have been explored further because it played a huge role in Katie's unhappiness and her desire to change herself.

Instead of taking time to grieve his brother, Alex is busy living the way he thinks his brother would want him to by taking risks and becoming a player. His risk taking is out of such desperation, however, that it soon begins to spiral out of control, and there were several times when it becomes clear that Alex wasn't truly living life to the fullest like he thought. I hoped for more exploration of his grief and how it affected his decision making.

When Lexi was introduced, I was so surprised that she and Katie became good friends. It's so easy to write female characters who hate each other, and it was refreshing to see a real friendship between these two. There was a subplot here that I won't spoil but will say I wish it had been delved into. So, would it be too much to ask if Lexi can get her own book??

So as I mentioned earlier, it isn't a spoiler to say we know from the beginning how Alex and Katie feel about each other, but I would've preferred to be kept in some suspense. Nevertheless, Playing Her Secret Crush kept my interest, and I enjoyed the gaming aspect of the story. I believe the characters will stay with me even if the plot may not.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled Publishing!

For more of my reviews, check out my blog at Donnie Darko Girl.