A brand-new standalone novel in the New York Times bestselling Briar U series!What I learned after last year’s distractions cost my hockey team our entire season? No more screwing up. No more screwing, period. As the new team captain, I need a new philosophy: hockey and school now, women later. Which means that I, Hunter Davenport, am officially going celibate…no matter how hard that makes things. how hard that makes things.
But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says I can’t be friends with a woman. And I won’t lie—my new classmate Demi Davis is one cool chick. Her smart mouth is hot as hell, and so is the rest of her, but the fact that she’s got a boyfriend eliminates the temptation to touch her.
Except three months into our friendship, Demi is single and looking for a rebound.
And she’s making a play for me.
Avoiding her is impossible. We’re paired up on a yearlong school project, but I’m confident I can resist her. We’d never work, anyway. Our backgrounds are too different, our goals aren’t aligned, and her parents hate my guts.
Hooking up is a very bad idea. Now I just have to convince my body—and my heart.
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4.5 STARS
NO SPOILERS!
The Play was a sexy, funny, swoon-worthy, and entertaining standalone sports romance in the utterly addicting Briar U series from the fabulously talented Elle Kennedy!
I thoroughly enjoyed everything from the entertaining storyline, to the lovable and hilarious characters, witty and playful banter, and finally Elle Kennedy’s fantastic prose. I loved Hunter and Demi’s story in The Play, and while there were a few elements I didn’t like, I was very pleased with this addition to the Briar U series and was happy with the conclusion.
With plenty of sexiness, laughter, swoon-worthy romance, fantastic characters, and excellent writing, The Play is a MUST READ from Elle Kennedy! I honestly can’t get enough of this author’s brand of sports romance, and I’m so excited to devour more of her incredible stories!
The Play picks up with Hunter Davenport a few months into his self-enforced celibacy. He’s focused on hockey and redeeming his team’s performance that kept them out of the playoff last season. He’s committed to staying away from sex until he has his redemption.
When Hunter is assigned a class project with Demi Davis, he’s relieved that she has a boyfriend. It will keep the time they have to spend together on their project strictly in the “friend zone”. And that is exactly what happens. Hunter and Demi develop quite a nice friendship while working on their class project — that is until Demi and her boyfriend break up and she’s suddenly available. When Demi decides she wants Hunter as her rebound, his celibacy is challenged in a major way.
I loved these two together, most especially the building of their relationship from a solid friendship to something more. I think that was my favorite part of The Play — how their friendship gradually progressed. It was also very cute how the guys all saw what was going on, even though Hunter was determined to stay celibate. I also liked how Demi was able to get Hunter to vocalize what he wanted after college, and why that was a potential problem for him. The very open and honest discussion of sex was also a big plus for me in this book.
Overall, I devoured this book in less than 48 hours. Elle Kennedy’s writing creates such a wonderful reading experience that I just didn’t want to stop until I got to the end. Hunter is terrific and Demi is terrific for him and even though this book starts out as a friendship, there are plenty of sexy times available between the pages. There’s plenty of Summer, Brenna and the old gang from the Off-Campus series too, which I really appreciated. Loved it all!
6 Hearts
The Play is the third book in the Briar U series by the ever-talented, Elle Kennedy. It can be read as standalone but I highly recommend reading the previous books as well. They are amazing!! I was excited to find out that Hunter was getting his own book after what happened in The Risk.
Hunter knew he fucked up last year. And that was why he made a vow. A vow of celibacy. It was his junior year at Briar U and he was the new captain of the hockey team. He wasn’t going to fuck it all up because he couldn’t keep it in his pants. And he was going strong for five months. He even became friends with a sassy, smart, and beautiful woman who he would have jumped at if he had the chance. Working with Demi on a school project had been interesting. Becoming a friend meant the world to him. She didn’t want to have sex with him. She was happily coupled up with her long term boyfriend. She was such a good friend that they can be themselves around each other. Blunt. Totally hilariously blunt. And it was going great until the boyfriend was out of the picture.
He was fucked. She wanted a rebound and she set her sights on him. A friend she could trust. Except he had four more months of celibacy. Four long ass months. But Demi was no quitter. She would find herself a rebound. She needed to move on. With or without Hunter’s sexy ass. Being rejected more than once by him was hard to swallow but she had to give it to him. He was dedicated. Until…
Yep. That’s all you get. I will say that I fucking loved this book. So hard. I can’t believe how fast I devoured it. It’s not a short book but I couldn’t stop once I started. It’s full of emotions. It gave me all the feels. It’s fun, exciting, entertaining, sweet, dirty, and everything in between. I can’t wait for the next book. Whoever it is. I have my hopes but we shall see.
Overall…I love it! The banter. The hockey. The characters. The bluntness. The friendships. Loved. It. All.
P.S. I love Pablo!
Quotes:
“Oh my God, that’s the most conceited thing I ever heard.”
“It’s true.” He waves his hand around. “Look at them, Semi, look at them all! They’re all so fuckable and they all want me. Meanwhile, you’re like this beautiful neutral creature with no desire to bang me. It’s glorious.”
“Yup yup—”
“Don’t say yup yup.”
“Are you trying to picture what I look like underneath the bikini?” I accuse.
“Yes.” I lightly punch his shoulder.
“Hey, I already offered you the rebound. You declined. Therefore you’re not allowed to fantasize about me now.”
Oh my goodness. I am in absolute love with all the crazy characters from Briar U, but I’ve always known Hunter would end up being my favorite!
Hunter Davenport is a player. Well, a reformed, refocused player. I loved how he tried so hard to be a leader on and off the field. That he so wanted to put the last year behind him and look toward the future and the potential success for the hockey team.
What he didn’t count on was Demi Davis. She’s his ideal woman—smart, sexy, fun. And Demi’s falling just as hard for Hunter.
And while I absolutely loved Hunter and his crazy antics with the rest of his roommates and the hockey team—lordy, the egg-stravagance they go though this season is something to behold—I wasn’t immediately “in love” with Hunter and Demi.
Their relationship took a bit to grow on me, but once it did—most expecially after Demi had a bit of a come to Jesus chat with her family—I was all in and rooted for them through the rest of their story.
The Play is an excellent addition to the Briar U series and I’m hoping there will be more stories from these crazy kids. ~ Missy, 4 stars
I haven’t been in love with an entire series this much before. Not sure how, but Elle Kennedy always creates the perfect college romance and somehow we deserve the absolute delight of reading her brilliant stories! The Play delivered a delicious slow-burn, friends to lovers combined friends with benefits romance that left me emotionally gratified and romantically satisfied. Filled with humour, some favourite past faces (I fucking wept over Dean and Jake), the sassiest heroines and the greatest hockey players, I couldn’t want or need anything more.
“This guy is funny. And he’s much cooler than I’d thought, definitely not the arrogant asshole I expected him to be. I’m not gonna lie—Hunter Davenport is growing on me.”
Hunter Davenport captured my immediate attention in The Chase, it left me enamoured and desperate to have more during The Risk. He shares a similar womaniser characteristic to Dean Heyward Di-Laurentis and has the same cocksure attitude of Jake Connelly, my two favourite and greatest fictional boyfriends to ever be written, I found myself an absolute weark, utter mess unable to resist his charms. Discovering all the intricate, multi-facets beneath the humorous, sex on legs jock made Hunter even more irresistable and reminded me why this series is an absolute charmer.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t hook up this year, and the temptation to break that vow for Demi is overwhelming.”
We don’t just have a hero full of confidence—Demi Davis is just as self-assured with an equally bold personality; a heroine who possesses serious feistiness and the quickest, sharpest intelligence. Despite her experiences with a cheating long-term boyfriend, Demi doesn’t allow her issues totally diminish her dauntless character and her unabashed proposition to have a rebound with Hunter made me realise she’s an absolute compliment to this hero who’s deserving of so much.
“The moment our mouths make contact, a hot shiver rolls through me and settles between my legs. My dick is thick, heavy against my thigh. Motherfucker. This kiss is everything.”
Witnessing Demi and Hunter’s connection blossom from friendship into a titillating friends with benefits before naturally flourishing into a delicious slow-burn romance left me teeming with endless giddiness, my heart burst with infinite feel-good emotions. Sometimes it felt as if they wouldn’t traverse the friendship mountain, but when they did the heat intensified because of chemistry and sexual tension that brewed between them for such a long time. Mixed together is sweet moments and heated chemistry, tied together with some brilliant humour that left me chortling. Even when they’re bickering, the banter is absolute perfection!
The Play isn’t my favourite (as much as I’m in love with Hunter, no one can best Jake) as the ending felt contrived and somewhat unattached and disassociated with this overall narrative. However, I appreciated the tenderness this romance exuded because I have been officially ruined—shattered as well, because this series of college sports romance featuring some of my favourite fiercest heroines and the greatest hockey-playing heroes is at an end (for now, I hope). Briar U and Off-Campus have carved themselves a forever home in my heart and there is no indication that they will ever abandon me. I have every damn limb on my body crossed because I am desperate as hell to have a Weston romance featuring that bubble butt.
I feel like I have waited forever for Hunters story. After everything that went down with him and Summer and Fitz and then the whole broken wrist thing I have been dying for him to get a HEA.
And Demi was the perfect person for him. But omg Elle I am so glad that you didn’t go anywhere near where I thought this was going. I had such nervous butterflies in my stomach for half of this book waiting for the major drama to hit and when it did I was so far off the mark.
I loved the chemistry between Hunter and Demi. Even when they were firmly in the friend zone I loved the banter and communication between them. They made me laugh almost as much as they made me swoon.
Because damn as hot as the chemistry between them was the sex scenes were hotter. As always I loved catching up with the whole crew and I still love Hollis and Rupi. And I am really praying that Connors book is next or Maybe Matt’s or you know what? You do you Elle cause if you write it I am sure I will devour it in a single sitting like all the rest.
4.5 Stars for The Play which is book 3 in the Briar U Series.
Hunter’s story is the one I have been waiting for and it did not disappoint, it was everything I expected from this very talented author who is surely becoming the queen of NA sports romance.
Hunter used to be a manwhore a different girl most nights but the fun wasn’t worth the risk when it started affecting his game and career so when he finally realises changes need to be made he decides celibacy is the answer…..it all seems to be working well for Hunter until he is assigned to Demi for a class assignment that means they need to spend a lot of time working together. Demi may think Hunter is just another Jock but this assignment shows her the side to his nature most don’t see so will Hunter be able to remain celibate………..
This is a well written fun entertaining slow burn, it starts off with a friendship and it turns into so much more as this couple get to know each other and it was fun catching up with characters we had met in previous books. This is a book that ticked all my boxes and I’m looking forward to the next in what is fast becoming one of my favourite series. Great story, great characters and great read.
BOOM! Did you hear that? That was Elle Kennedy dropping the mic on another AH-MAZING N/A story and the finale to her Briar U series. The Play was the perfect mic drop as Kennedy signed, sealed and delivered the best damn story in the series!! Hunter and Demi were FIRE!! They were sexy and banterific and filled to the brim with the comedic snark that we love from this author. And we haven’t even touched their chemistry! Demi and Hunter’s sexual tension was palpable. Thisnwas hands down the hottest book in the series!!! My kindle sizzled at times!
I have been dying for Hunter’s story since The Chase and honestly could not wait to see who he was paired with! After taking a vow of celibacy to focus on his hockey game, team captain and former hockey playboy Hunter Davenport thought he could handle a few more months of no action. But enter Demi Davis – the hottest temptation in an even more perfect package to test Hunter’s will and sanity.
AHHHHH!! This story was fantastic! It was smart and funny and so damn delicious I could not stop reading!! It had the solid one-two knockout combo that has us falling in love with Kennedy’s stories every time – Banter and Heart!! I died of alllll the swoons and felt giddy with excitement while I read. There was tremendous character growth in Hunter from the previous books in the series and it was just amazing watching his transition to devoted friend and boyfriend. Likewise, Demi was all sass and spitfire and I was HERE FOR IT!! She gave as good as she got and before you knew it Hunter was laid flat out not knowing what hit him. Overall I DIED for this story. The friendships, the bromance and the sisterhood. This is one of the best series I have ever read and seriously loved every word!! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
There is no doubt that Elle Kennedy has a gift for these uber addictive, banterific, NA sports romances. I crave them. And when I found myself smiling dopily at my kindle, barely 10% into the story? I knew Ms. Kennedy was about to keep her streak alive.
The burn between Hunter and Demi was slow. Sometimes it felt like just a smidge more slow than burn. I adored them, but for a while I felt like I was witnessing the birth of a best friendship vs. a deeper connection. Which — is accurate, I suppose. That’s exactly what happened. It’s a slow burn friends-to-lovers story – but it did take me a while to really warm to their connection. I loved them, don’t get me wrong. But my love for them sometimes competed with my love for Hunter’s boneheaded teammates (and their unconventional little pet) who frankly stole my heart way faster than Hunter and Demi’s relationship did.
That said, I did adore them. I loved how they complemented each other and supported each other and good gravy but I loved the heck out of Hunter Davenport and his solid, steady presence, and great big heart. I loved the growth that he showed, and the confidence that he discovered. It wasn’t a romance that knocked me off my feet necessarily, but it was still so sweetly satisfying. And adorable. And ultimately utterly unputdownable.
It should come to no surprise, if you’ve read anything by Ms. Kennedy before that the writing is whip smart and completely engaging, the storytelling is compelling, and in the end it left me with that happy, sated feeling that is the mark of a truly good read.
„Promise me this will never change.”
Oh my gaaaaah, I had so much fun while reading this book! The Play is a perfect NA romance, full of witty banter, sexual tension and many laughable moments. I was waiting impatiently for Hunter’s book since The Risk, but I didn’t expect that his story will turn out this amazing. Honestly, Elle really outdid herself this time. The storyline is brilliant, characters wonderful and realistic and the romance is so delicious! I couldn’t put this book down!
Hunter is such a loveable hero! I admired his determination to stay celibate after last season’s fall out. His friendship with his female roommates was amazing. I also loved how protective of Demi he was. This guy will make you swoon!
Demi is the best heroine EVER! Confident, sassy, smart-mouthed, funny and intelligent! I loved her Cuban temper and her strong personality. She always speaks her mind and she’s simply INCREDIBLE! I have a massive girl-crush on her!
These two were so great together! Both as friends and later as lovers. Their constant bantering made me laugh out loud and their sexy moments made me blush. The sexual tension between them was palpable and the chemistry was electrifying. Demi and Hunter are my favorite couple in Elle’s Briar U series!
The Play is a perfect combination of steam, fun and sweetness. This slow burn friends to lovers romance will completely steal your heart. It’s an ideal read for every New Adult and college sports romance fan. Highly recommend!
Hunter Davenport is trying to leave his playboy past and bad choices with women behind and focus on nothing but school and hockey. Yes, he has gone celibate and is totally serious about it…but that does not stop all the girls from wanting him. But he is strong, determined and focused.
Demi Davis is his partner on a project and has become a new friend. And even though she is hot, funny, and smart, she has a boyfriend so that should make her safe. Until she doesn’t and thinks Hunter might be just what she needs to rebound.
I liked Hunter and Demi’s banter and friendship that was developed before anything more even became a possibility. And the changing dynamics and his attempts at resistance were noble. But Demi is one determined girl herself. And poor Hunter’s willpower can only take so many hits. But they also both have personal issues that affect their views on relationships. And they are also both figuring out what they really want in their own futures and dealing with family expectations. And of course there is some external drama surrounding them.
This is a fun and sexy friends-to-lovers romance with a bit of a forbidden element. I liked Hunter so much more in this book. He is really trying to be a better man and not fall into traps that could have consequences. And Demi is sassy, sweet, and in need of a man to shake her life up. They are surrounded by a lot of friends including some that we know from other books. I loved seeing more with previous couples and getting a glimpse into their futures.
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review
Hunter Davenport is my new favorite book boyfriend, what an amazing story, I knew Hunter’s story was going to be good, but well this is phenomenal. Demi was simply perfect for Hunter and I didn’t see that one coming until I started reading it. Elle Kennedy is one of my just read without even checking the blurb, I know I am going to enjoy it, but The Play is now my favorite of the Briar U series, I wasn’t able to put it down, I devour it and still wanted more.
Hunter and Demi had me laughing and rooting for them all the way, his honesty and her determination and being bossy proved to be the perfect combination for this couple. I am so looking forward for the next one. Definitely the end had me wanting more.
Like a combination of a soap opera and a kindergarten scene, this book had me in stitches and having a great time. Hunter and Demi start a psychology class together, get assigned to do a project together and end up being each other’s project.
Hunter is on a one-year sabbatical of sex, as in he decided to swear off sex for his senior year. Last year, his Briar U hockey team lost the race for the national championship because of him. An opponent wanted vengeance on Hunter for sleeping with his girlfriend and broke his wrist mid-game. The team captain fought with the guy and ended up thrown out of the game. With the two best players out of the game, Briar U lost the championship. Hunter feels so guilty he decided that on his last year his one and only focus will be hockey. No more sex!
From the moment Demi and Hunter start working on their project, the fun begins. Poor Hunter is hurting so much from his sabbatical that all conversations deal with his package and his lack of fun. Demi is snarky and doesn’t let the opportunity pass to tease and joke and poke fun at him. They develop a great friendship because both are awesome people. The advantage for Hunter is that Demi is in a dedicated relationship with a boyfriend of many years and she’s devoted to her guy. So no temptations, right?
The fun unravels and the sabbatical turns fiendish when Demi starts having problems with her boyfriend. And Hunter is expected to give support to an emotionally distraught friend. Rebound, anyone?
This book was so much fun! I love the youthful attitude of these young people and the joy of living they exude. The hockey team beg their coach for a team mascot and they specifically want a miniature pig. The coach gives them a boiled egg to care for and if the egg survives, he promises them a mascot. The care and egg-sitting schedule, and the egg-cozy they keep the egg in is hysterically funny. A laugh out loud tidbit is the egg’s name: Pablo Eggscobar. The pranks and language related to the egg is priceless and the guys are a hoot.
The love story is complete, with brawls, drunkenness, and a night spend in the drunk tank. It also includes some real life problems such as Demi studying pre-med to impress her father but secretly hankering for another major, and Hunter craving the opportunity to go pro but being afraid of what it will mean for him personally. It’s impressive to see how they help each other deal with their issues and come out as a strong couple at the end. Wonderful book!
ARC received for an honest review
Woohooooo we are back in Elle Kennedy’s hockey hottie world, and I couldn’t be happier!
It seems an age since we have been here!
If you have read the previous Briar U books, you have already met Hunter – if if you haven’t, you don’t need to have, but why haven’t you???
My heart hurt for him in the previous books, so I was so excited when I learned that he was going to get his own story and HEA.
However, he doesn’t want a relationship. His girl Demi isn’t looking for a relationship. And the celibacy thing means they can’t even have a one and done!
Oh, the tension between them is off the charts. I loved watching the become friends before they became more. So many books these days start with a bang before a relationship starts, so it was a refreshing change to go the opposite way.
I loved getting to see more of the guys and gals from the previous Briar U books, and oh my goodness Hollis and Rupi had me in stitches.
I am not one to read as much college aged books any more (nothing to do with the stories, just that I am an old fart and it makes it hard to relate to a lot) however Elle Kennedy could write the take away menu and I would read it.
Great NA romance, and I hope we get more Briar U in the future.