Review Detail

4.0 2
Young Adult Fiction 288
Player's Story Falls Short
(Updated: June 30, 2026)
Overall rating
 
3.0
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Eighteen-year-old Ed Rochester thinks he has it all. He and his friends movie production, Riot Grrl 16, is doing well in MTVs movie contest, and Ed thinks he has a good shot of winning and becoming the next Orson Welles. He is also a successful ladies man, something that he prides himself on but otherwise doesnt give much thought to. His family is oddhis mother abandoned him, his dad, his stepdad, and his young half-brother for an acting role in Miamibut he doesnt let that get him down.

Then he remeets Lucinda Dulko. Athletic, unknowingly sexy, and intimidatingly self-confident, Eddy is nearly overwhelmed by her. Shes not his usual delicate, needy, hookup type, but that doesnt stop him from falling head over heels for her.

However, just when he thinks his life is perfect, everything falls apart. What will Ed do in the face of so much disappointment and feelings hes never experienced before?

PLAY ME has nearly the same plot of Thu-Huong Has HAIL CAESAR, about a player getting his heart broken, and the story, once again, doesnt work for me. Maybe Im a sucker for happy endings, but there are many moments in the novel that I didnt feel were at all believable, and the first half of the book dragged. The book is chock full of movie references and easy-to-read narration, but I was left not caring for the characters, which is disappointing because I loved Laura Rubys first YA novel GOOD GIRLS so much. Perhaps I will enjoy future books of herselfs more. I certainly hope so.
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