Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game by Katie Ashley

Book Description:

For Noah Sullivan being the best friend to a douchebag and player like Jake Nelson has never been easy. It's been a rocky road since kindergarten when Jake duct taped Noah to his chair before recess. With just six weeks to high school graduation, Jake accidentally blows his drunken ass up on his grandfather's tractor, and Noah finds himself immersed not only in a whirlwind of grief, but on a quest to find a mystery girl from Jake's past.

While cleaning out Jake's room, Noah and Jake's dad make a startling discovery. Instead of the obligatory porn collection or pot stash, they find a ring, but not just any ring. Its half a carat of commitment in a platinum setting-proving even man whores have taste. After Jake's mom pleads with Noah to find the girl who meant so much to Jake, Noah begins a modern day Grail quest to track the girl down.

Since Jake was a notorious player with a legendary collection of trophy panties, Noah finds himself in over his head. There are the usual suspects like Avery, the Ice Princess Jake dated for appearances, or Presley, the school mattress Jake dated for convenience. But the trail begins to point to the most unlikely of suspects: Maddie, the Valedictorian and choir girl who was trying to help the unmotivated jock graduate--the girl who also has surprisingly caught Noah's eye and meddled with his heart.

Hanging out with Maddie shows Noah a different side of Jake--one that was deeply human and surprisingly douche-free. And the more he tries to solve the mystery of the ring and of Jake, the more Noah starts to discover about himself and of love.

Christina's BookReivew

“Sometimes we just have two sides to us, Noah. One that we're willing to let the world see, and then the other that we hide deep within ourselves.” 

“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.” 

RECAP

When Noah Sullivan learns that his best friend has died his life is turned upside down. As he struggles to deal with his grief and his shock he also learns of a secret Jake was keeping from him. There was a girl...and he wanted to marry her. 

Now Noah must figure out who this girl is and let her know about Jake's secret. But when your best friend is the towns player its an impossible feat. And when clues lead to the one girl that cannot be "her", Noah is in denial. Maddie is completely opposite of what Jake is.As Noah grows closer to Maddie he realizes he just might have been wrong. His friend might have been affected by Mattie. And Jake isn't the only one.

Sometimes a secret can destroy the ones you love...

MY TAKE

WOW...what to say about this book! First, have a pack of tissues handy because if this book will pull at your heartstrings. Second, if you don't like public displays of emotions, read this when you're alone. And third, expect to be immersed in this story to the point of staying up to the wee hours of the morning.

Don't Hate the Player...Hate The Game, starts off with Jake's tragic accident. And although sometimes Noah and Jake didn't have the best relationship they were always there for each other. So when Noah finds out about Jake he is in a state of denial and shock and throughout the story he fights to keep himself composed and stay strong. He reminisces about his time with Jake and quickly pulls you into their life together. The good and the bad.  When he realizes that Jake was planning to propose to someone Noah sets out to discover who the girl was.During the investigation he meets Maddie and she is both infuriating and enthralling. She doesn't put up with Noah's bitterness and doesn't push him away when he needs her. The one thing they disagree on is Jake.

Maddie insist over and over again that Jake wasn't what everyone thinks he was. With the public he was one way but with her and her family, he was different. He was trying to change.  She tries to help Noah through his grief and the new changes happening in his life that Jake isn't there for. She was sweet and caring but also wanted to be seen as just a girl and not the pastors daughter. She also has her own grief in her life. 

Together Noah and Maddie learn to open up to each other and during the process fall in love. But Noah is pretty sure that Maddie was Jake's "girl" and struggles with the reality of the situation. And when its times to finally face the fact that his best friend is gone and that he kept his true self from him, Noah explodes.

When I say that I cried throughout the whole book I am not lying. Remembering Jake, Noah's anguish ad everyone's grief was written so beautifully that I felt their hurt. The author did a beautiful job writing this book and pulling the reader in. I loved this book and I hope that everyone does as well!I'm also advocating for a Jake prequel because I kind of adored him through Noah's eyes! 

Buy this. Read it. Love it! 

Happy Reading!