Playing It Safe

About This Audiobook

Amy Andrews delivers a smoldering slow-burn romance wrapped in the brutal, sweaty reality of professional rugby—where the field is no place for vulnerability. Donovan Bane is the Sydney Smoke’s golden boy: ferocious on the pitch, meticulous off it, and terrified of the closet door swinging open. His carefully constructed life shatters when he bumps into Wes Carter, a cocky former rival turned sports journalist, whose sharp grin and sharper questions force Donovan to confront the lie he’s lived. What starts as simmering tension in dive bars and hotel lobbies escalates into something neither man can walk away from—if Donovan can stomach the fallout. Andrews doesn’t just flirt with the tropes of forbidden love; she body-slams them, blending tender introspection with the rough-and-tumble energy of locker-room camaraderie. The result is a story that feels as authentic as a last-minute try, with emotional stakes just as high.

Brie Jackman’s narration is the secret weapon here, transforming Andrews’ punchy dialogue into a living, breathing soundscape. Jackman nails Donovan’s gruff exterior and Wes’s teasing warmth, but it’s her handling of the quiet moments—Donovan’s late-night panic in empty showers, Wes’s frustrated admission of his own closeted past—that lingers. The audiobook crackles with the kind of chemistry that makes you want to lean into your headphones and forget the world exists outside the narrative. For readers tired of sanitized romances, this is a raw, unapologetic dive into the cost of playing it safe."

"review": "I went into *Playing It Safe* expecting yet another sports romance with a neat, feel-good ending—and I was humbled. Donovan Bane is one of the most frustratingly real heroes I’ve encountered in ages. His fear isn’t just about losing his career; it’s about losing himself, and Andrews doesn’t cut him a break. The rugby scenes are vivid enough to make you smell the liniment, but it’s the emotional stumbles that stick. Wes Carter, the love interest, is a delightful storm of arrogance and vulnerability, and Jackman’s narration sells every eye-roll and whispered confession with equal vigor.

That said, the pacing stumbles in the final third. The resolution, while satisfying, feels rushed, like Andrews knew she had to wrap up Donovan’s arc but couldn’t resist one last dramatic confrontation. And don’t get me started on the sideline characters—some feel like they exist solely to hold a beer can and deliver exposition. Still, these are minor quibbles in a story that’s as heart-pounding as a game-winning drop goal. Jackman’s performance elevates the material from solid to stellar, making this a standout listen even for those who don’t typically gravitate toward sports romances. If you crave romance that doesn’t flinch from messiness, this one’s a tackle-worthy listen."

"tags": ["LGBTQ+ sports romance