Playmates (Mates, #2)

This was an emotional read for me. Nova crafted a story that addresses addiction and the healing journey. Rosalie is a burgeoning ballerina on track to star in The Nutcracker at Juilliard. One night of partying ruins it as she indulges in her vices of drugs and alcohol. There is a car accident and Rosalie is accused of the crime. As reality sets in, she turns to her brother's best friend, Jayce.

Jayce is retired from hockey after an injury and he nurses his hurt with alcohol. He and Rosalie already have familiarity with each other but their chemistry builds into a romantic relationship.

For a romance novel, there is enough information about addiction to serve the plot. Some of the content is hard to read so please check the trigger warnings. Some of their actions were annoying, particularly when they made those promises to not indulge in their vices but this is a real aspect of addiction. I've seen some of my family deal with these issues.

The mystery element kept the plot moving; you wanted to find out what happened the night of the accident. The ending felt rushed and I felt like certain parts could have been expanded upon for more clarity.

I felt like the romance was a bit forced as the connection between the characters was a trauma bond as they sought to heal and we read that there was a little childhood crush. Once the relationship is established though, Jayce was staunchly supportive of Rosalie and fiercely protective while facing his own demons. Overall Playmates shows the importance of having a good support system around you and being willing to work through life's struggles. A good read.

*Huge thanks to Nova and Grey's Promotions for the ARC