With Play Along, Liz Tomforde returns to the baseball field and locker room drama of the Windy City Warriors, but this time she shifts the spotlight to Kennedy Kay, a fiercely independent athletic trainer, and Isaiah Rhodes, the lovable and persistent shortstop with golden retriever energy. This fourth installment in the Windy City series—following Mile High, The Right Move, and Caught Up—builds on Tomforde’s signature blend of slow-burn chemistry, emotional intelligence, and immersive sports settings.
As in her previous novels, Tomforde doesn’t just write about falling in love—she writes about earning it. In Play Along, Liz Tomforde cranks up the tension with a fake marriage, a workplace power imbalance, and one man’s mission to turn a drunken mistake into a very real forever.
Let’s unpack why this sports romance is a grand slam—while also exploring where it fumbles.
Plot Summary: What Happens in Vegas… Follows You Home
Kennedy Kay, the only female staffer for the Windy City Warriors, is on her final season in Chicago before pursuing her dream job elsewhere. She’s composed, capable, and determined not to let anything—especially her flirtatious players—distract her.
But then there’s Isaiah Rhodes.
After a fateful night in Las Vegas, Kennedy wakes up married to the man she’s been dodging for years. Isaiah, who’s crushed on her since day one, sees this as his golden opportunity. When the accidental elopement risks her reputation, Isaiah proposes a fix: stay married for the season to preserve appearances. Fake marriage. Real feelings. One long season.
The rest? A sexy, messy, deeply tender journey into love, vulnerability, and self-worth.
The Characters: Opposites Ignite
Kennedy Kay:
Kennedy is one of Tomforde’s strongest female leads yet. Sharp, introverted, and emotionally guarded, Kennedy is a woman navigating a male-dominated world while battling her own intimacy issues. She’s not just tough—she’s human, flawed, and quietly yearning to be seen. Tomforde handles her inner conflict with care, crafting a heroine who never sacrifices her career goals for love but learns to expand her definition of emotional success.
Isaiah Rhodes:
Isaiah is… a walking heart emoji. He’s earnest, goofy, patient, and intentionally romantic. Unlike the typical alpha athlete trope, Isaiah is not a player (in either sense). He’s in this for the long game—and he plays it with heart. His persistence is never aggressive; it’s endearing, respectful, and rooted in admiration. Tomforde cleverly lets Isaiah’s golden-retriever energy balance Kennedy’s cynicism.
Together, Kennedy and Isaiah spark, clash, and eventually burn brilliantly. Their banter is electric, their tension slow-simmering, and their emotional growth satisfying.
Strengths of the Novel
1. A Believable Fake Marriage Trope
The fake marriage trope has been done to death—but Tomforde breathes new life into it. The setup (accidental Vegas wedding) is outrageous, yes, but the emotional scaffolding underneath is authentic. Kennedy’s job is genuinely at risk. Isaiah’s motivations are crystal clear. The stakes are personal, not just romantic.
2. Deliciously Slow Burn
Tomforde is a master of the slow build. The physical tension between Kennedy and Isaiah is thick with anticipation. Every touch, glance, and near-kiss is deliberate. And when the payoff arrives? It’s earned.
3. Sports Setting That Feels Real
As in Mile High and The Right Move, Tomforde’s sports backdrop is more than just set dressing. The baseball elements—from locker room dynamics to trade rumors—ground the narrative. Isaiah’s relationship with his teammates, especially his brother Kai, adds depth and warmth to the story.
4. Emotional Complexity and Therapy-Adjacent Themes
Much like Caught Up explored burnout, Play Along by Liz Tomforde tackles intimacy blocks, fear of emotional closeness, and the loneliness of high-performing women in toxic environments. Kennedy’s growth doesn’t come from Isaiah “fixing” her but from her making difficult, self-aware choices.
Tomforde doesn’t shy away from showing how healing is messy, nonlinear, and sometimes painful. That vulnerability makes the romance all the more powerful.
5. Family and Found Family Vibes
Miller, Max, and the rest of the Windy City crew are back—and they’re not just supporting characters. They reinforce the theme that love, both romantic and platonic, requires showing up. Kennedy’s integration into this found family arc is subtle and heartwarming.
What Could Have Been Stronger
1. Pacing Issues in the Middle
While the first and last thirds of the book move briskly, the middle occasionally sags. There are a few repetitive internal monologues—especially from Kennedy—that might test a reader’s patience. While this does mirror real-life emotional hesitations, some tighter editing could have preserved momentum.
2. Heavy-Handed Metaphors
At times, Tomforde’s prose veers into telling rather than showing. Moments of emotional insight occasionally come via dialogue that feels too scripted—especially in high-stakes scenes. That said, the intent behind those moments still resonates.
3. Limited Exploration of Kennedy’s Career Future
The novel sets up Kennedy’s ambition as a central motivator, but we don’t get a lot of insight into what she truly wants beyond “a different team.” While Isaiah’s arc wraps satisfyingly, Kennedy’s professional story feels slightly unresolved by the end.
The Spice Level: A Slow Burn with a Smoking Payoff
Tomforde leans into the physical tension, building intimacy through eye contact, vulnerable conversations, and hesitant touches long before there’s any real bedroom action. When the steamy scenes finally land, they’re fiery but tender—rooted in character growth rather than just heat. It’s less about dominating and more about trust. That makes it sexier than most high-heat romances.
Series Context: Where Play Along Fits in Windy City
Let’s revisit the Windy City lineup:
- Mile High (2022) – Zander and Stevie’s bodyguard-athlete romance that launched the series with heat and humor.
- The Right Move (2023) – Ryan and Indy’s roommate-to-lovers tension and basketball magic.
- Caught Up (2023) – A single dad MLB player and a pastry chef who whip up the sweetest emotional angst.
- Play Along (2024) – A workplace faux-marriage with real stakes and emotional healing.
- Rewind It Back (2025) – Upcoming final installment (at the time of writing), presumably wrapping up the Rhodes brothers’ world.
While each book can be read as a standalone, fans of the series will appreciate the subtle crossovers, recurring characters, and emotional continuity. Play Along by Liz Tomforde feels more introspective and emotionally mature than its predecessors—less about grand gestures and more about emotional safety.
Similar Reads for Fans of Play Along
If you loved Play Along by Liz Tomforde, you might enjoy:
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams (fake dating + athlete hero)
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (slow burn with sports backdrop)
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy (college sports and smart banter)
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (for similar sports romance spice and emotional growth)
Final Verdict: A Charming Grand Slam with Minor Bumps
Play Along is a heartfelt, spicy, and emotionally intelligent addition to the Windy City series by Liz Tomforde. While it occasionally slows down or treads familiar ground, the romance at its core is compelling, layered, and worth rooting for. Isaiah will charm readers with his unwavering devotion, and Kennedy’s personal growth will resonate with any woman who’s ever felt the need to armor up to succeed.
This isn’t just a book about falling in love. It’s about choosing to love—and learning to believe you deserve it. A sparkling, spicy slow-burn romance that proves sometimes, you have to play along to win big.
