Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game

Noah Sullivan's world is in pieces since the death of his best friend Jake. Attempting to cope not only with is feelings, but also with the fact that he didn't know his best friend as well as he though he did, Noah is understandably broken. When Jake's mom sets him off on a quest to find the girl the ring was meant for, he's reluctant at first. That's the beauty of Katie Ashley's story though. This journey creates a new Noah, and allows him to grow and open himself up to love.

That might sound a bit cheesy I know, but honestly this book is very well written and easy to fall in love with. I loved Noah from the very beginning, mainly because he seemed so real to me. The feelings he has about his loss, and about the way to deal with it, were what I truly believe a young teenage boy would feel. Then I met Maddie and my whole reading world was complete. She is kind, honest, and watching the two of them keep one another afloat was so sweet. I can say without a doubt that the characters were my favorite part of this book.

What kept me from fulling being immersed in this book was really just that it was so formulaic. I thought perhaps there was a twist coming around the corner. Something I wasn't quite seeing. Katie Ashley's writing is wonderful, and it is easy to see not only into the world of Noah and Maddie, but even into the thoughts of dear departed Jake. That's why I wished for more. I wanted to know more about Jake's past. I really wanted there to be a little more than what the story set up from the beginning. Sadly, there wasn't. My other slight issue was that there were times when the story dragged a bit. Nothing that kept me from reading on, but it was there.

Still, at the end of the read I was smiling. I'll admit I teared up a fair bit too. If you are a fan of sweet romances, with vivid characters, Katie Ashley's Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game is definitely one to add to your list. I may have to have a look into her previous books too.