Rating: 3 out of 5.

I am a honored to be a stop on Romance me with Books’ book tour for this fun high school opposites-attract high school romance.

Malcolm is a star baseball player that is in danger of losing his eligibility to play due to bad grades. Malcolm’s father, the town’s mayor, hires another high school senior, Lennox, to tutor him. Malcolm is not interested in having a tutor or studying, but there is something about quirky, pink-hair, hippie-dressing Lennox that sparks his interest. Before long Lennox has Malcolm on a strict schedule and he’s making progress. But the gig does not come without problems. Bully cheerleader Melissa, who Malcolm had a one-night stand with, is jealous of Lennox and Malcolm spending time together. She and her minions set upon Lennox like the mean girls they are. When Lennox and Malcolm finally get together, they don’t know how to define their relationship, which causes friction between the two. Can an intelligent outsider and a popular athlete beat the odds and have a happily ever after?

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it, but there were definitely things about it that didn’t work for me. Weirdly, even though the book is only 237 pages, it felt long to me. Yeah, I know. Odd. Lennox is a combination of tough and vulnerable that is probably more realistic than teenagers in other books, but for some reason it just didn’t work for me. Lennox’s support system consists of her two cousins, grandmother and best friend Cody. Her cousins and grandmother are intelligent, strong and fierce women. In certain circumstances Lennox is just like her cousins – frank, tough, decisive and out-spoken. But at other times she freezes and is timid, mute, and indecisive. Perhaps it’s because the swings between the two personalities is so extreme that it seems forced to me. Melissa’s character is not well defined, so we don’t really understand her extreme animosity toward Lennox. A “one and done” didn’t feel like enough motive for her reign of terror. Also confusing and unrealistic was Malcolm’s ignorance of the enormity of Melissa’ bullying, and his ineptitude in handling it and protecting Lennox.

Malcolm initially acted like a bully toward Lennox, explaining that it was to protect her at school, but it just didn’t sit right with me. There have always been teenage mix-matched couples and this should have been no exception. I felt the author leaned on the enemies to lovers and mixed match couples tropes too much. The eventual growth of the characters and their relationship toward the end of the book seemed rush.

I will say that I really enjoyed the banter between Lennox and Malcolm. Some of their conversations made me smile and were fun to read. The premise of the book is tried and true and a good idea. Certain tropes were well executed, but others needed work. The author definitely has promise and I enjoyed reading a little bit about the next book of the series.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Romance Me with Books and the author. All opinions are my own.

For an excerpt of the book and author interview, click here: https://www.rmwbooks.com/properfun?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2023-03-19&utm_campaign=+Book+Tour+Links+Graphics+It+s+All+Fun+Games+by+P+Roper+

Buy the book on Amazon, or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Games-Avernus-Greys-Book-ebook/dp/B0BMV2ZCV1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39U4S6MN7FJGR&keywords=it%27s+all+fun+and+games+p.+roper&qid=1679277188&sprefix=it%27s+all+fun+and+games%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1

For more information and reviews about this book, check it out on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60166306-it-s-all-fun-games