Playing It Cool

I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes at the ‘rugby hottie saves the day’ premise initially. But *Playing It Cool* won me over by refusing to play it safe. Harper isn’t just ‘curvy’—she’s unapologetically *angry* about the way the world treats her, and that rage gives the story a bite missing from so many rom-coms. When Dexter calls out her stepbrother’s fat-shaming in front of a crowded bar, it’s not just a meet-cute; it’s a declaration of war on Harper’s behalf, and the way Andrews writes their dynamic—equal parts playful and combative—keeps the tension simmering long after the fake-dating trope kicks in. Brie Jackman’s performance is a masterclass in romantic comedy narration. She avoids the pitfall of making Harper sound *too* breezy; there’s a weight to her delivery when Harper’s insecurities creep in, and her timing on the comedic lines is impeccable. (The scene where Dexter tries—and fails—to cook pasta had me snort-laughing on my commute.) That said, the audiobook isn’t perfect. The secondary characters sometimes blur together—Harper’s friends, in particular, lack distinct voices—and the conflict in the third act relies a bit too heavily on miscommunication. Still, the steamy scenes sizzle (Jackman’s husky tone sells Dexter’s dirty talk *hard*), and the emotional payoff, when it comes, feels satisfyingly earned. If you’re craving a rom-com with teeth, a heroine who fights back, and a narrator who makes every line pop, this one’s worth the listen. Just maybe skip it if you’re tired of the ‘alpha male with a heart of gold’ archetype—Dexter’s redemption arc is well-done, but it’s still familiar terrain.