Review: The Dating Playbook – Farrah Rochon

Posted August 6, 2021 by Andi in Books, Review / 1 Comment

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon
Series: The Boyfriend Project #2
Published by Forever
Published: August 17, 2021
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When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs more than the support of her new best friends, Samiah and London. She needs a miracle.

And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The oh-so-fine former footballer wants back into the NFL, and he wants Taylor to train him. There's just one catch—no one can know what they're doing. But when they're accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor's game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win . . . or is he playing for keeps?

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I read the first book in this series, The Boyfriend Project, in 2020 as a buddy read with a friend. We both enjoyed it but had mixed feelings on how the end was handled. (You can read my thoughts on it HERE). So when I saw The Dating Playbook was the next book I was a little worried. I had no idea if I would feel the same conflicting emotion I did with the first book. But I went in and read it with an open mind. And I can now report that The Dating Playbook was really good!

The Dating Playbook is about Taylor, a personal trainer, trying to get her business off the ground. She had her 15 minutes of fame from going viral when her and her new friends dumped the guy that was doing them all dirty, but now everything is stagnate. And with bills piling up and no new business is sight, Taylor needs cash and fast. Enter Jamar, former NFLer that wants back in the game, and he wants Taylor’s help, but in secret. What starts out as a simple business arrangement soon becomes Jamar and Taylor fake dating. But when real feelings start to pop up maybe money isn’t all Taylor needed in her life.

Much like The Boyfriend Project, what I liked best in The Dating Playbook was the characters. Jamar and Taylor were solid characters which made them a solid couple (both real and fake). They both had their issues and quirks, but they also managed to work so well with each other and off one another. Because of their on page chemistry I found their story pacing to be solid and their story was flushed out perfectly. There are some serious things both Taylor and Jamar are dealing with so everything isn’t roses and sunshine. But they were respectful of the things the other was dealing with and that was what I liked the most about them.

The Dating Playbook was an unexpected surprise. I wasn’t sure what I would get when I started it, but I loved the end result. I’m really looking forward to London’s story and seeing what Rochon does. Add this to your TBR.