The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely

Duet Narration by Sean Masters & Brooke Bloomingdale

Last in a related series but stands alone perfectly

As someone who ‘says’ I don’t love hockey romance, Lauren Blakely has proven me a liar with her whole Love & Hockey series. Admittedly, Lauren never really fails me, but there was something about this series that completely captivated me. While I didn’t love The Flirting Game (now out only on audible, releasing 12/26 in other formats) as much as the earlier books, it was still a happy, feel-good romance that I didn’t want to stop listening to.

Ford was a hockey player and Skylar was his neighbor. Their meet-cute involved their dogs—the other main characters in The Flirting Game. At the start, Skylar came off as a hot mess and Ford as a douche with a stick up his ass. But as I got to know them, that changed a lot. When Skylar turned out to be the designer hired to redo his mother’s home using only upcycled pieces, they were forced to work together. So why not fake date to make his mom happy? But was it ever really fake?

“If we’re going to fake date,” he says, “we should probably…”
His eyes drift to my mouth. I feel it. The shift in the air. The way every nerve in my body goes on high alert. The pull. He doesn’t have to finish the sentence. But he does.
“Fake kiss?”
And all I can think is ‘Yes please. And Now’. “Don’t make it fake.”

This book was lighter and fluffier than the others in the series, and a few hours shorter. It was silly and fun with very little angst and lots of dogs.

Likes:

I laughed out loud a few times.
The dogs were great.
I loved her catio.
Their inner voices.
I liked her sustainable interior design business.
She had good friends.
A few cameos by other players.

Dislikes:

It was a little too surface level. They were together in their heads a lot more than they were actually together.
Lots of fluff without the depth that Lauren usually works in.
It almost felt like it was barely attached to the others in the series.

The Narration:

As always, Lauren Blakely casts her characters perfectly and delivers the story in duet format. She is one of only two authors where I always pick audio because she chooses the right narrators every time. Sean Masters and Brooke Bloomingdale were perfect for these characters.

The Down & Dirty:

Lauren Blakely audiobooks make me happy. I am never disappointed. Her characters are intelligent, hardworking, and usually pet lovers, and she weaves social issues into her books in subtle, natural ways. The Love & Hockey Series is one of my favorites of hers, and I’m sad to see it end. While The Flirting Game may not be my favorite in the series, I still loved it and recommend it if you’re looking for a light, fluffy pick-me-up with dogs. Lauren Blakely audiobooks are always my guaranteed happy place, and The Flirting Game is no exception.