A review by bookishkellyn
Playin' Hard by Whitney D. Grandison

hopeful reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Popular boy and his friends notice the cute girl that goes against the grain and see a challenge. I’ve seen way too many Lifetime teen movies and kept waiting for something nefarious to pop off but was pleasantly surprised with the author’s skill at writing teen characters with raw emotions and still making it age appropriate. There was a point or two where I thought I knew where the plot was going, but it turned in another direction and am not sure if it was a red herring or undeveloped plotlines, but I finished the book feeling like I gained more than I lost. This gave me late ‘90s teen movie feels and is definitely something I would’ve dug into when I was younger but still enjoyed now. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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