Plays Well with Others

This book can be read as a standalone. This friends to lovers, fake dating story gave us all the fun relationship parts without most of the angst. Carter and Rachael had been friends for years before an accidental nip slip led to more.The character development was fun and even the side characters added to the light banter in the story. I’m excited to read more by the author.

Who better to ask to go on fake dates with Carter than his best friend, Rachel? They've been best friends since high school, have a solid base of friendship based communication, and neither is looking for a relationship, so for her to go on these outings with him so he can fulfill this sponsor obligation, would mean the world to him. But what's a pro wide receiver to do when a sighting of his best friend suddenly has him thinking of her in decidedly more than friendly way? Is it possible these dates could mean their friendship evolves into MORE?Rachel's moved to San Francisco for a fresh start after a bad divorce to a cheating jerk of an ex. Her best friend is here, her other close girlfriends, and the start of a new expansion of her business. Things should be great. But in the area of love and relationships, she needs someone to treat her the way a swoony boyfriend would do. So when her best friend needs her to go on some dates to make good on his sponsorship, she can't say no. She had no idea that Carter would end up being such an attentive fake boyfriend, or that he'd make her view him in all kinds of deliciously more than friendly ways.Football players are yummy (hellllo Jimmy G!). When they're sweet, swoony, and deliciously talking in the behind closed doors and a cinnamon roll in public, they're even yummier. Carter is probably one of my favorite of all the author's heroes - he's all these things and more, flawed but loving and loyal. The way she presented his ADHD is so well done that it only made me love him even more. And then there's Rachel - she is adorable - sweet, quirky, and relatable. These friends to more with their snarky, witty banter, combined with their insanely delicious chemistry add up to one of her best couples and best stories to date.

Lauren Blakely is an automatic one-click author for me and this book was a no brainer. I loved Carter and Rachel, thought they were the cutest couple and I loved that they communicated in an adult way and there wasn’t some crazy misunderstanding that kept them apart. This book also has TONS of spice!!! Loved it!!

I love Lauren Blakely’s friends to lovers novels. They are always so fun and the friendships are the best. I love the way they tip into more, and despite all good intentions, can never tip back to “normal.” That struggle to return to “normal” makes her stories so good. Rachel and Carter are picture perfect best friends to lovers in this one. Add in some fake dating, and this balance of the friends or lovers line is even better.Rachel is a heroine you can relate to. Finding your footing and getting back to being your true self is hard. I couldn’t help but want the best for her. Carter is a hero to fall for. Good guy, funny, charming, and an alpha when he needs to be. These two were so good for each other. Their banter, kindness, chemistry, and communication were all top tier. They were never destined to be just friends! Another great one from Lauren Blakely!

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are engaging and amazing the connection is undeniable throughout the pages. The storyline flowed easily throughout the pages. A must read!

There's no doubt that Lauren Blakely does friends-to-lovers well, and you don't have to look any farther than her latest release for proof. As always, this can be read as a standalone, although it does share ties with several of Blakely's past work, including the How to Date series starter, My So-Called Sex Life. Rachel and Carter had a years-long friendship, one dating back to when they were in high school, and it was clear just how comfortable they were with each other. Of course, add in some lusty urges and romantic feelings, and welp, everything becomes complicated...or at least, they initially think it's complicated. There was certainly nothing fake about how Rachel and Carter felt towards each other, but the transition from platonic friendship to romantic relationship isn't free from possible pitfalls. But thankfully, there wasn't a whole lot of unnecessary angst or drama-rama with these two, so getting to their happy ending was inevitable and relatively painless for them. I'm giving Plays Well with Others an easy-peasy five stars.

In the end, this book was so good, but I have to say there were times when I felt the storyline was on the boring side.

I loved this story of Carter and Rachel!! They have been best friends forever. Rachel just moved back home because of a horrible marriage and divorce. I love the road these two travel together. They both have had heartache and are afraid of trying again. I love that Carter has ADHD. It is great to see how he lives with it! I love this book and highly recommend. I couldn’t put it down!! I would love to read Ava, Fable and Elodie’s stories!! Put those on your list Lauren!!

I love how Lauren’s book are so uniquely hers. She has such a way to spin the tropes and weave them into a story that has great heart, laughs and spice!Rachel is struggling in the beginning because she divorced her lying, cheating husband after finding out he had an entire family behind her back. She is ready to put the pieces back together and a drunken night leads to some confessions to her best friend.She wasn’t expecting the conversation to turn into a deal that would have them helping each other. Rachel would help him with his date obligations to please his sponsors and he would help her behind closed doors.She wants to build her confidence so she can get back out there and what a way to do it then with your good looking best friend.Carter slayed me in this book. You could tell how much he cared but he wanted to give Rachel the time she needed. Loved them together and happy for their HEA.

I love this story.I briefly had mentioned of Carter in his brother's book (my so called sex life) so I was keen to get to know how story more.And Lauren didn't disappoint when she realised this stellar best friends to lovers book.You can't go wrong when words like un-dates and ultra sexing get tossed about. Lucky cats good with his hands.. for his job..