The Player Next Door by Elizabeth Davis | Book Review and Blog Blast

 The Player Next Door by Elizabeth Davis

Published: 11th October 2022 by Headline Eternal

Other works: I Love You, I Hate You, The Huntress

Rating: 3.5 stars

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

Synopsis:

Finance bro Logan and tabletop game designer Clare couldn't be more different. They know this because their apartments face each other, and they've noticed. But not, you know, in a creepy way.

Still, when they get stuck in the elevator together, sparks fly and they each see an opportunity: Clare needs her co-workers to believe that she is capable of a one-night stand to get them to buy into her new role-play character, and Logan needs a steady girlfriend to prove his maturity to his boss.

After one night together, they're keen to get on with their respective plans. Except Clare can't understand why her hook-up seems to want to date her, and Logan is confused that Clare isn't responding to his flirting.

A kiss in the rain might clear up any confusion over their chemistry, but this whole 'relationship' thing is a two-player game, and both want to win. With their hearts and their pride on the line, could the prize be love?

Review:

Warning - potential spoilers!

This was such a pleasant surprise! I really wasn't sure if this would completely be my cup of tea, just because I'm neither a gamer nor someone who plays a sport in any capacity. I also started off being a bit apprehensive about how Logan and Clare would work together because they seemed to be such different people, as well as having such different outlooks towards relationships and romance. However, I could tell almost immediately that these two were made for each other and I found myself rooting for their success very early on.

I liked the parallel storylines centred around Logan and Clare's work lives, with both of them being told their personal lives were negatively affecting their performances at work, to an extent. Both of their workplaces and colleagues felt accurate in depicting the kind of people they would have to deal with, and it really rang true, unfortunately, that Clare put up with the inappropriate behaviour of her boss for so long before reaching her breaking point, as so many women have experienced in their own places of work. I also appreciated how Davis didn't shy away from portraying Logan in a negative light at times, especially in regard to how he had found himself slipping into avoidant behaviours and socialising with bad influences from work.

I loved reading the interactions between Clare and Logan and genuinely thought they were so cute together. They bounced off each other constantly and had a very natural-feeling connection, despite their differences. They both helped each other become more confident in themselves and at work, stepping out of their comfort zones and realising their respective worths. Any stereotype about the jock falling for the nerdy gamer flew out the window because they both had such respect for each other's interests, rather than any attempt to change them, or an indication that they fell for them despite these differences.

I felt that the development from a one-night stand, to slowly becoming firm friends, to a relationship, was done really well by Davis! It felt very realistic, especially the parts where Logan and Clare were finding their feet in both wanting to spend time with the other but didn't want to come across as too forward. Seeing Logan fall first through the dual narrative was very sweet, as was the fact that this was a bit more of a slow-burner romance than some others I've read recently. I'm definitely interested in reading I Love You, I Hate You by Davis as I've heard good things, and I'll be keeping my eye out for more from her!