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Verdict: A standout traditionally published debut that pairs a slow-burn, forbidden coach-and-reporter romance with a gripping look at women breaking into men’s basketball. Many readers loved the basketball as much as the love story; a few found it cheesy or overcrowded.
Best for: Readers who want two ambitious adult women, a workplace secret and real sports stakes.
Heat level: Moderate
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.01 Goodreads average across 621 ratings, 4.02 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews, and 4.3 stars across 40 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Forbidden romance, workplace secret, slow burn, coach and reporter, women in a man’s world, dual POV.
Play You For It is Samantha Saldivar’s 2025 debut from Dell, a contemporary lesbian romance. When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men’s college basketball team, reporter Caroline Beck is determined to land the first one-on-one interview.
It holds a 4.01 average across 621 Goodreads ratings, with 76% of them four or five stars, 4.02 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews, and 4.3 stars across 40 Amazon ratings.
What Is Play You For It About?
Jordan is wary of the media and of the attention her historic appointment attracts, especially when her boss makes clear it is temporary: if she doesn’t win, it won’t become permanent.
Beck’s persistence wins her the interview, and the chemistry is undeniable. But journalists can’t fall for sources, Jordan can’t fully trust an ambitious reporter, and with the national tournament in sight, both careers are on the line.
What Works in This Romance
- Basketball: Readers are blown away by the game writing, and several rooted for the team as hard as for the couple.
- Women supporting women: Both leads face sexism in different ways, and readers praise how they learn to trust each other.
- Adults acting like adults: Readers found the relationship mature and the conflict realistic.
- Authenticity: One reader credits the author’s background in sports journalism for Beck’s convincing arc.
Book Synopsis
A history-making coach and the reporter who wants her story fall for each other when neither can afford to.
As the season builds, they must decide whether to take their shot or walk away.
My Review
This stands out for how seriously it takes its women’s careers. Readers call it a unique take — coach and reporter rather than two athletes — and one compares the dynamic to Ted Lasso’s coach and journalist, while another calls it Love & Basketball for sapphics.
The reservations are modest. One reader found it a tad cheesy, another felt it needed either more pages or fewer side characters, and another wished it showed more of the leads’ lives outside work. The depiction of misogyny is intense enough that one reader stopped early.
My honest note: One of the stronger sapphic basketball romances out there.
| Element | In Play You For It |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Jordan D’Amato, a D1 men’s basketball head coach, & Caroline Beck, a sports reporter |
| Core tropes | Forbidden romance, workplace secret, slow burn |
| Setting | Men’s college basketball and local sports media |
| Heat level | Moderate |
| Length | 343 pages (Kindle listing) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Sexism, sexual harassment, homophobia, misogyny, injury |
How Spicy Is Play You For It?
Moderately. It is billed as sizzling, and StoryGraph users mostly rate the sexual content as moderate.
StoryGraph users have flagged sexism, sexual harassment, homophobia and misogyny most often, along with injury detail.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a forbidden workplace romance with strong sports writing. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: depictions of workplace misogyny are hard for you right now.
In short: Smart, sporty and forbidden.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 29% five stars, 47% four, 20% three, 3% two and 1% one. On StoryGraph, 71% tagged it emotional and 48% inspiring, and 83% found the characters loveable. Audiobook listeners praise the dual narration.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The basketball first. Second, the forbidden romance. Third, the adult leads. Fourth, the themes of sexism in sport.
What readers argue about and complain about: Cheesiness, above everything. Second, crowded side cast. Third, heavy misogyny.
The comparison worth making first: Running Home to You, the author’s angstier softball follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Play You For It a forbidden romance?
Yes. Journalists can’t date sources, and a relationship could cost both women their jobs, so they keep it secret.
Who are the main characters?
Jordan D’Amato, newly named head coach of a Division 1 men’s college basketball team, and Caroline Beck, a local TV sports reporter chasing her big break.
How spicy is Play You For It?
Moderate. The publisher calls it sizzling, and most StoryGraph users who tagged it rate the sexual content as moderate.
What difficult themes does it cover?
Sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment and homophobia in sport and sports media, along with unaccepting families. One reader stopped early because of the misogyny.
Is Play You For It on Kindle Unlimited?
Not at the time of writing — the Kindle edition was listed at $11.99. An audiobook edition with dual narration is available.
If You Loved Play You For It, Read These Next
Try Running Home to You, or browse our sapphic sports romance list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Play You For It sets out to be a forbidden romance with real sports stakes, and it delivers both. What holds it back is occasional cheesiness. Recommended. Check Play You For It on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Play You For It ranks as a good sports romance — smart, grounded.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.01 average across 621 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 76% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 4.02 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews
- ✓ 4.3 stars across 40 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Forbidden
- ✓ Slow burn
- ✓ Mature leads
- ✓ Secret relationship
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Two driven women
- ✓ 83% loveable characters
- ✓ Beloved team
- ✓ Crowded side cast
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Superb basketball
- ✓ Authentic journalism
- ✓ Cheesy at times
- ✓ Style not for all
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Tagged emotional by 71%
- ✓ Tagged inspiring by 48%
- ✓ Sexism themes
- ✓ Tearful moments
Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Moderate
- ✓ Sizzling billing
- ✓ Moderate tags
- ✓ Slow build
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Tournament climax
- ✓ Careers at stake
- ✓ Standalone
- ✓ Wanting more
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ $11.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Dual-narration audiobook
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ 343 pages
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