Playing Flirty

Fantasy author Patel (the Selene trilogy) pivots to romance with this heartwarming rom-com. A childhood spent with loving but flighty parents has left nerdy Rose Marie Jones deeply risk averse and eager to follow the life plan she has plotted out on an Excel spreadsheet. When her best friends get engaged, beating her and her boyfriend to the punch, Rose is ecstatic for them but also feels compelled to reevaluate her goals. She quickly realizes she’s stuck in a loveless relationship, fed up with enduring sexual harassment at her workplace, and hates the MBA she’s working on. The only bright spot in her life is a weekly board game night with friends where she and her best friend’s smart, geeky, and annoyingly sexy half brother, game designer William Ashdern, love to antagonize each other. When Rose is given the opportunity to submit a board game she’s been working on in private to a contest, she knows she’ll need William’s help to whip it into shape. Patel keeps things light and sweet throughout this cozy and banter-filled love story. Nerdy references to TTRPGs, Lord of the Rings, and cosplay add to the charm. Fans of Cathy Yardley and Seressia Glass will be pleased. (Jan.)