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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I absolutely love this series, and all of Elle’s books! Read this latest book in the Briar U series (and the others). You won’t be sorry!
Loved it! Demi and Hunter have great chemistry. And the build up is just as funny as you’d expect. The coach is particularly hilarious in this one. It’s so much fun!
A reformed player
A vow of celibacy
A sassy girl to lure him to the wild side
What’s not to love about that? The Play was an unputdownable, hilarious, sexy romance with the right amount of intensity.
Hunter Davenport had me falling so hard for him. I could not resist him because he was just incredible- as a person, captain, friend and lover.
Demi Davis is one bad-ass, smart, driven and slightly insane (but I loved that side of her) chick who can hold her on ground.
I absolutely loved Hunter and Demi together as friends and eventually as lovers. Their chemistry was sizzling and off-the-charts even as friends, which made it all so beautiful. Their burgeoning friendship turned romantic relationship was an amazing journey from the heartbreaks to the push-and-pull to the individual struggles/family problems to the hot kisses.
To top it off, this bunch of hockey players were effing hilarious. Loved their shenanigans and total devotion to Pablo Eggscobar.
P.S. It was a real treat getting to see Garrett and Hannah, Logan and Grace, Dean and Allie from the Off-Campus series.
Hunter Davenport is trying not to make the same mistake twice. Taking a year long vow of celibacy, Hunter’s focus is firmly on school and hockey. But his own decision doesn’t mean there isn’t temptation all around him. If anything, the women on campus have become more interested in him since he decided to take a break.
Demi Davis is his new partner for a class project. The close quarters aren’t a problem though because she has a boyfriend she is devoted to. So even though they have flirty banter and he is insanely attracted to her, they develop a platonic friendship. That friendship comes to mean more to each of them than they anticipated, and makes their work together for their class even better. But when Demi’s boyfriend is no longer in the picture, she turns her sights to Hunter thinking he is just what she needs for a rebound.
I loved watching these two build their friendship. They are a sounding board and a listening ear when the other needs it. The closeness they build grants a trust that Hunter hasn’t found with a woman in a long time and as a result, he finds himself blurring the lines between truth, fiction, and fear as they progress through their school project. And when Demi tries to bend their friendship into a friendship with benefits, Hunter has to consider why exactly he took his vow and what it means.
This was a fun, flirty friends to lovers with a lot of building sexual tension throughout. The previous couples from the Briar series add to the story, as do some of Demi’s friends that play a part. There were a few deeper moments but overall it was a light NA sports romance. They had a few outside elements to contend with at various points in their relationship, but watching them build from friends to friends who were attracted to each other to more was a fun progression.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After that sucky last season Hunter wants this year to go perfectly. At least when it comes to school and hockey. He doesn’t need any distractions in the form of girls and/or sex. He’s going to be celibate for a whole year!
Enter Demi. She’s beautiful and funny and perfect. And she’s going to be his study partner for the whole year!!! They can just be friends, right? She’s got a boyfriend anyway. But what if she’s suddenly single??? And looking for a rebound??
Nope. Not Hunter. No way. Right?
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ….
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EEEEEEP!!! HUNTER!
We’re finally back in that amazing Elle Kennedy hockey world!
Time for Hunter to finally get his own happily ever after!
But he’s not looking for it … at all! What do they say? You’ll find it when you least expect it. And there she is: Demi.
I just adored those two! They’re just hilarious and so perfect for each other!
But of course we know that it’s not going to be easy what with Hunter being celibate. LOL!
I LOVED every single moment of their love story.
Perfect New Adult romance! With some very adorable and some serious and heartbreaking moments. And soooo many funny moments – many of them thanks to Rupi and Hollis – LOL – they are just the best. They need their own Netflix show!!!!!
And what is it with amazingly hilarious pets these days in romance books??! We have one in here too. LOL!!!
Nothing more to say! I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Well, there were some moments where I wanted to hit some parents over the head with my kindle – but most of them were good again towards the end.
I can’t wait to get more from this world – or any other world written by Elle Kennedy! GIMME!
THE PLAY was such an adorable & funny & sparky New Adult Hockey/College Romance! I adored every single moment! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Hunter – this one is MINE!!!
I think it’s a case of it’s not you, it’s me because I have no idea how to rate this. I want to give it two stars but I kind of enjoyed some parts? Idk
I hated how hunter was acting like a horny little boy in the first part. Every time he touched a girl, he got a boner? Every. Single. Time. When he was dancing with Brenna, he got one then and couldn’t get rid of it. Are you fucking kidding me? With Brenna?? It was disgustingly ridiculous. So you want your character to abstain from sex, why does he have to act so over the top? We see heroines in books who have not had sex in years and they still manage to not combust when a guy goes near them or touches their fucking hand. I was really looking forward to Hunter’s book but this shit was disappointing. I thought I left this over the top pig behaviour in 2013 na books.. I guess I was fucking wrong.
Also, hunter made the choice to be celibate so why was demi constantly trying to get him to break his vow, she was basically pressuring him and went about it in a manipulative way imo. She felt kind of guilty afterwards?? Yeah, that’s dickhead behaviour.
can i also say how much I HATE when authors have poc characters in their books but not go into detail about their backgrounds? They mention it once and never speak it about it again. Can I read about their cultures pls? How are you not going to delve deeper into this and use it to make the book that much more special? Authors love to tick boxes to ensure their books are diverse but lack the energy to do the actual research and incorporate it in their stories.
Anyway, i loved reading about the og characters, will re read those asap. And that little treat at the end of the extended epilogue??I loved hollis’s short pov!
“I’m not making a play for my friend. I can’t.”
Finally Hunter’s story is here. I was rooting for this one since the Off-Campus times.
Hunter is the definition of a jock. He’s rich, he’s a hockey player and a player on campus.
But at some time it all became too much to handle, the partying , the girls and everything in the middle, got in between him and the only thing he really cared about. So he decided to quit his habits and became celibate , basically a Monk , for the duration of the football season.
It wasn’t easy , but then he found a friend, a female friend who was very much taken , who could be himself with. And the best part he was sure she wouldn’t try anything on him.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t hook up this year, and the temptation to break that vow for Demi is overwhelming.”
But then the said boyfriend got out of the picture , and everything changed.
Demi has always been with the same guy since forever, she thought they were endgame, until they weren’t anymore.
Then she couldn’t help but acknowledge her feelings for her sexy, hockey player, very much attractive friend. Who happened to have became a monk.
“I’m with you, and I’m all in.” – His voice cracks. “I love you.”
Hunter fight so hard against this strong attraction between them, and Demi became really determinate in showing him what he was missing.
The chemistry and the passion was off the chart, I loved every second of it.
I gave it 4 stars
I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did!
Elle Kennedy writes witty books with lots of steam heat, but this one is hysterical. It’s unfair to merely call it funny. The whole temporary mascot thing with an egg, alias Pablo Eggscobar, is the funniest thing I’ve ever read, surpassing my all-time favorite laugh riot, MASH, the book version. If you’re feeling blah, this will brighten your day, even if you don’t like hockey.
This is actually my favourite so far in the Briar U series – spin off of the Off-Campus series.
This story follows Hunter Davenport, who featured in all precious Briar U books, and the previous Off-Campus series. I was actually surprised they didn’t do his coming of age and love story sooner! I adored him from the previous books and was real excited to read this, and it didn’t disappoint.
Demi is the heroine in this story and I found myself really connecting with her character. Her and Hunter start off as just friends and it becomes a slow burn love, to all in love within a couple of chapters. I thought it was written perfectly and I loved seeing the friendship they had before the love they truly shared.
Overall; 4.5 Stars!
I’m really enjoying “The Play” by Elle Kennedy. This has been a great series so far. I’m going to be sad to see it come to an end. These characters are so fun to read and she does a great job of coming up with unique and exciting storylines that aren’t the same recycled ones.
If you are a fan of the college romance with the sports sub-genre – you’ll really enjoy this book.
It’s a great addition to your book collection.
Happy Reading…enjoy!
I loved Hunter and Demi. They had chemistry and witty banter from the moment they met which made for an outstanding slow burn with tons of sexual tension and their banter made me giggle more than once.
I loved the friendship they started and then how it naturally progressed into more. Demi was a firecracker seemed to say anything that popped into her head. Hunter was incredibly charming and I fell in love with him immediately.
I can’t wait to read The Dare although I’m sad to say goodbye to this series.
After quite an eventful end-of-season last year, Hunter Davenport promised to himself and his team that it will not happen again. This year, he is the team captain, he needs to put all his concentration into hockey. Which means, no more sex, no more hookups. So, when he meets Demi Davis, in a longterm relationship, he is pretty confident that it will not be a challenge to his celibacy. How wrong… Demi is assigned with Hunter for a psychology class, while she is expecting to have to face a jock who will let her do all the work, she is quite amazed by who Hunter really is. They become friends, nothing more. However, when she breaks up with her boyfriend, things might not only be friendly anymore. But for that Hunter will have to let go of his celibacy, not an easy task.
Let me tell you, at the end of The Chase I was quite sad for Hunter. He actually seemed to really care about Summer and felt betrayed by one of his best friends. The Risk will not change a thing in the sympathy I have for him. But I would have never seen Demi coming, I am so happy that Elle decided to introduce an entirely new female protagonist. Demi is just perfect, she is so smart and funny, and, even if we would have never believed it at first, a bit naughty. Hunter and Demi’s couple is just perfect, it makes me think of the romance in The Deal where it felt just so natural for them to end up together.
This book is not only about the main couple, we can also read about Summer, Brenna and Rupi who are Hunter’s new roomates, that was the funniest twist of all! They all take a part in Hunter’s new daily life, and it’s so good to have a bit more estrogen in that house with Summer’s sweetness, Brenna’s sassiness and Rupi’s madness, what a lovely combo. I was also really enthusiast to see what could happen between Rupi and Mike as we know they will not have their own book, but that’s the point which disappointed me a bit.
After reading all three books in this series, I cannot choose my favourite one, they were just all so good. I feel like it is even better than Off Campus, but this doesn’t matter, because with this third book, we can now proclaim Elle Kennedy as one of the best sport romance writer!
What a wild & crazy ride! I fell head over heal for Hunter Davenport when we were introduced to in The Chase.
I hope & for Hunter to get his own book & thankfully Elle Kennedy heard those
Hunter Davenport is now that captain of his college hockey team, He feels guilty for his hand in Briar not making it to the national championship last year! So, Hunter Makes a vowel to his self that he is going to maintain his celibacy until the end of the season
when Hunter meets Demi Davis. he is already something like 7 months in his celibacy… Honestly after last years, hit it & move on action, I truly didn’t think that Hunter could keep his self-imposed abstinence up
Hunter & Demi are partners on the class project, so Hunter thinks that he is safe with Demi, due to the fact that she in long term relationship, so he feels it will be easy to keep things platonic. So there’s no temptation on his end.
What Hunter to do when Demi suddenly finds herself single, & she sets her sights on Him?
Oh, how great was catching up with characters you met in other series in this novella…
Lord Hollis & Rupi, that’s story in it’s self I truly can’t tell if they’re madly in love or hate each other’s guts. Maybe a mixture of both? Either way, they’re highly entertaining.
Elle Kennedy is an amazing writer &, but I feel like she somewhat failed me on this final book in the Briar U series . I only say this cuz I feel like she didn’t give us enough in the Epilogue. I got super excited about downloading & reading the EXTENDED Epilogue, only to be let down even more…. I believe that Elle Kennedy purposely left us wanting more ! So that she might write another spin off series… only cuz of that fact am I giving this book 4 stars
Briar U Series & reading order
The Chase (Summer & Fitz’s book)
The Risk (Brenna & Jake’s book)
The Play (Hunter & Demi’s book)
Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion+ Also I wouldn’t never discourage anyone from reading this book, This is my honest, voluntary review.
Happy Reading & Enjoy ——–Paulette thoughts
I highly recommend it to everyone.
Have Faith
The Play was a great read. I loved seeing the characters we have grown to love throughout the Briar U Series. The friendships are still front and center. The honesty and humor between Hunter and Demi was fun. I enjoyed their ease with one another. It was coupled with attraction, but their friendship was the most important element in the relationship. Ms. Kennedy made me laugh. There were some funny mishaps and sharp banter. This book also had emotional depth and growth for our hero and heroine. Overall it is a steamy, entertaining read.
This is Book 3 of the Briar U Series
This is the story of Hunter & Demi. Hunter is the captain of the Briar U hockey team, and has vowed to be celibate this school year. Demi is a junior in Briar U who belongs to a sorority and is a pre-med student, but she has a boyfriend since the eighth grade. Things happen and she breaks up with her boyfriend. Hunter and Demi are paired up for a project that lasts until the end of the course. I feel this book is the best one of the series. It’s hilarious, a laughing out loud book. I just loved it. There are other emotions that flow through, too, with their families and their feelings. I also love that all the other characters are also in this book. It’s just one of those books that you could read over and over again. This book deserves over five stars, for sure.
This was a sweet and heartfelt journey to go on with Hunter and Demi. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t hearts and flower, it was more of a slow burn, friendship induced, angst filled story. I enjoyed every second.
The Play is everything you expect from Briar U and more. Elle Kennedy lures us in with a pretty unbelievable and yet totally plausible celibacy pact. Yup yup. A hockey hottie who believes keeping it in his pants will turn the game around. I couldn’t make this up (Elle Kennedy can though ).
Nothing sexier than fighting incredible chemistry with a new friend. Semi and Monk are entertaining, fun, and HOT but they are just friends. For now… Add in the miscreants, crazy, and over the top personalities of our other favorite hockey hotties and their OTLs and it makes for an all around feel good read with crazy, sexy fine…everything!
Let’s not forget the unforgettable and eggtirely entertaining new team mascot. Elle Kennedy provides an unparalleled ridiculously epic mascot with more shenanigans than should be legal. (Also I’m totally going to be surfing Instagram for his profile!) As eggstatic as it makes me to say this, I am totally craving me some Extra Pablo time!
So far, this is the my least favorite in the series and I HATE saying that. I LOVED the first two books in this series and I was so excited to read Hunters book. I started the book and I’ll be honest, I skimmed the first several chapters until Demi broke up with her boyfriend… I mean, you know it was going to happen and you knew he was going to cheat. I got the gist that during this time Demi and Hunter are building a solid foundation of friendship. I just wish it didn’t take 17 chapters for Demi and Nico to end it….
My second complaint that I really didn’t like was when Demi decided she needed a rebound and after approaching Hunter about it several times he continues to say no–begrudgingly but still no…so what does he do? He sets her up on Tinder! He literally sets up her profile and helps her find a fuck buddy. The whole time I was reading this I was kind of like wtf…I wanted him to be more territorial and less enthusiastic about her meeting another dude….Good news…she doesn’t ever hook up with any one else and she goes on ONE date and nothing happens.
She finally DOES make Hunter jealous after flirting with his friends (enter Conor) but I will be honest, I got really skived and nervous there was going to be a threesome at one point. I mean Demi and Conor are making out hot and heavy on the couch while Hunter is sitting there with them and then when he goes to leave (UGH) Demi asks him to stay….I kept reading and to my relief—NO threesome occurs and Hunter FINALLY get his head out of his ass and claims Demi as his. This whole scene was a little much for me….it literally took his buddy sticking his tongue down her throat for him to come to grips that he likes her? Granted this is probably closer to reality but still—didn’t care for this at all!!!
Once Demi and Hunter get together and are in a relationship—things really wind down and they fall in love and there is really no drama after this…
I loved Demi and Hunter together (when they FINALLY did get together) but the story line itself was a bit shaky for me. I still enjoyed this book for the most part but I thought the first two in this series were better.
Hunter Davenport: Captain. Hockey Player. Celibate. Weakness: Demi “Semi” Davis Psych Research Partner. Unavailable.
THE PLAY by Elle Kennedy awesomely romantic and eggcellently funny. Pablo Eggscobar stole the show… just saying..
It was so nice to read about Hunter Davenport this time around. I know from the first two books, I didn’t really like him nor had I any sympathy for this quarterback. I thought his celibacy oath was a joke, until he met his match – Demi Davis. This smart Psychology major brought out the best and worst in Hunter and I liked her for that. Though their chemistry didn’t fizzle (for me, that is) like Hollis & Rupi’s cat & dog relationship, in the end, I loved how their slow burn romance finally kindled with fire.
Also, let me reiterate – my favorite scenes in the book is wherever, whenever Pablo Eggscobar was.. O.M.G. It’s hilarious!
I love this series!