{OMG–MEH–WTF} Review: Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie Scott

Kylie Scott returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to international bestseller Lick.Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl. Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

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Source: Purchased because of The Bookswarm’s awesome review

The OMG

"Life is a song, Anne. Let’s play."

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It was FUN. So. Much. Fun. So many books that are funny are also too cutesy for my tastes. Not Play though. It’s hot, hot, hot but hilarious at the same time. I loved how Mal and Anne actually have a good time with life and each other. They do silly things like jump on the bed until it breaks.

This is a fake relationship trope that didn’t feel like a fake relationship story at all. In fact I didn’t’ even realize it was until it wasn’t anymore. lol Their chemistry is just that great.

Mal is great – Anne is great. They are total opposites but amazing together.

The MEH

Anne is a bit of a pushover with her friends at first. But that’s kind of the whole point of the book so it’s hard to complain. No worries, Mal is here to help with that. He pushes her to stand up for herself, even if it’s against him. Did I mention Mal was great?

Mal kind of has a secret. It felt a little forced to add some drama but honestly, it wasn’t his secret to tell and adds a whole lot of heart and emotion to the story so it’s not a big deal.

The WTF

Mal is a giant whirlwind of WTF but in the best possible way. In any other book, with any other guy, I would have hated this whole premise but Mal’s hyped up personality just works. He’s a drummer and his big (hot) body just can’t stay still. He says and does these outrageous things but he’s the sweetest, most loyal guy. As his feelings for Anne grow into something real he just lays it all out there. No game playing. And she steps right up next to him. Good lord that made me happy. I’m so sick of game playing with couples.

"Pumpkin, I'm always serious when it comes to you. Even when I'm messing around, I'm still serious as shit."

Since I read this first, I went back and purchased Stage Dive - book #1 - Lick immediately. It was good, but more the traditional angsty rocker meets ordinary girl tale. Even in that book, with David as the hero, I swooned more for Mal whenever he appeared. He just has this presence that takes over every scene he’s in.

If you like hot rockers but you’re looking for something a little lighter and fun I highly recommend this book.