ARC Review: Play for Me by Libby Hubscher

Play for Me
Author: Libby Hubscher
Publication: Berkley (June 20, 2023)

Description: When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.

Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three guys: Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.

Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.

With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.

My Thoughts: Sophie Doyle lost her dream job as a trainer for the Boston Red Sox when she kept the star pitcher out of a crucial game and the Sox lost the World Series. She also lost her live-in boyfriend who was the team doctor. She's become persona non grata in all of Boston.

She does find a new job as a trainer for a private school in New Hampshire. The only drawback is that the school focuses on the Arts and sports run a very distant second. She also finds herself sharing an apartment with three guys. Two of the guys are a couple and are very friendly and welcoming. Not so much the third. Jonas Voss is the director of the orchestra and is a real grouch.

Sophie generally has a sunny, optimistic personality, but losing her job and moving away from Boston and her father who is in an assisted living facility has been hard on her. However, she tries to make the best of things and even institutes some therapy for the music students many of whom are suffering from repetitive strain injuries.

She learns the Jonas used to be a concert pianist until an injury sidelined him. While orthopedic medicine doesn't give him much hope of a cure and return to his career, Sophie feels that therapy can possibly help him. As the two work together, they begin to fall in love but with Sophie's goal to return to Boston and the Red Sox and Jonas's goal to resume his career in Europe, it doesn't look like their relationship has much of a future.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I found the characters engaging and well-rounded people with compelling backstories. 

Favorite Quote:

My situation doesn't come close to yours, but I realize it's devastating. But none of us is just our job or our team or music or any single thing. We're more than that. We're a million dreams and possibilities. You are. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.