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In this third, stand-alone installment of Amanda Black’s Apartment Novels series, sparks fly during a sexy party game.

When Eden Foster’s parents tell her they’re moving from Chicago to the Illinois suburb of Aledo, Eden is crushed. That is, until she runs crying to her jock boyfriend, who she finds on top of her so-called best friend. Moving’s not looking so bad anymore.

Now a senior at Mercer County High, Eden is ready to re-enter the dating scene. Still burned over the betrayal of her ex, she’s looking for someone sweet and innocent. With the help of her two new friends, Zoe and Amy, Eden makes a list of what she’s looking for: an eager virgin, ready for training—and no jocks.

Eden thinks she’s found what she’s looking for in Logan Black, a shy and geeky classmate. But why are Zoe and Amy convinced that the answer to her search is a party game…with kissing?

Eden better get ready, because she’s about to play the Single Game.

The Single Game is the latest addition to the erotic Apartment Novels series, which began with Lily and Ethan in The Apartment and The Blank Canvas.

288 pages, ebook

First published July 15, 2015

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About the author

Amanda Black

15 books74 followers
Amanda Black was born and raised in the Midwest, where she still lives with her husband and spoiled-rotten dogs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art before deciding that she actually needed to pay some bills, which is when she took a position as an ophthalmic technician.

For the past few years she’s been a closet romance writer in her spare time and would love nothing more than to make it a full-time career. When she’s not writing her next steamy love scene, her interests include reading, sketching, and annihilating her friends and family in movie trivia.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for SamJ ★Needs a HEA★.
609 reviews896 followers
May 2, 2016
Check out this and my other reviews at My Blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest

Copy received via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

★Book Basics★

Genre : - NA/YA
Series : - 3rd in the series, can be read as a stand alone.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 5 stars


★Review★

Now, I have to admit, I am not the biggest fan of YA/NA, not my preferred genre at all, but I really liked the look of this one.

And I loved it it was too freakin' adorable!

I actually got to about 70% and was reading with such a goofy smile on my face I just re started it again, and have probably re read it 3-4 times from the actual "Single Game"

The heroine was ok, she was neither her nor there for me, she was a teenage girl, and she was fairly solid.

But she could have been the best heroine ever and I would have been "meh" because this book has "LOGAN BLACK" and yes he deserved bolded capitals!

I just loved him. I think I may actually have a teenage girl like crush!! At my age!

Yes, it was all a bit insta lust/love, but I actually do not care, it just made me smile and feel happy and I loved it. It may have had me rolling my eyes at times, since you know - teenagers - but it is in general a very feel happy book very low on angst and as I say, just adorable.
Profile Image for Kay (❦ ᴗ ❦ ✿) BooksandMe.
470 reviews7 followers
September 29, 2015
“Marriage is a partnership, and partnership takes work.”



I had a hard time organizing my thoughts because really, I didn’t know how to express everything that I’m feeling. I’m still so giddy and excited I can’t contain it. But anyhow, here it is…

The story start in a typical fashion, the popular girl in high school dating the popular guy. A bitch friend who backstabs you into sleeping with your boyfriend, being not yourself because your standing in school dictates it, and you have to accustom yourself to peer pressure. Like I said, typical.

But the excitement and fun starts at “The Single Game”. Never heard of it? That’s what I thought.

Eden transferred at the new school where her dad has found a new work that pays better and near to where he grew up. As I said, typical. But then in this new school, nobody really gave a crap who you were or what you did, as long as you were true to yourself. So, in the new school, she met Amy, a new friend, who was this tiny little thing with spiky red hair, freckles, and straight A’s and who’s boyfriend is Owen, a stoner. Cute couple. And the other friend, Zoe, the popular cheerleader who is caring, honest, and extremely loyal and who’s boyfriend is Devon, who holds the most amazing party in his basement where The Single Game is supposed to happen.

The mission? Find eager virgin ready for training .

And then she notices Logan Black.


Nice meeting you again Professor Black. Oh right, it was a fantasy.

Logan Black, who’s a nerd and sexy, and sweet and adorkable who always says the right thing, or wrong one. Whatever. I wished I met someone like him, too.
“Yeah, well… It’s just a bunch of songs that make me think of you.”
I stand corrected. He just blew way the hell past cute and was bordering on adorkable.

“I love you, too, Eden. I don’t care if you believe this or not, but I intend to love you for the rest of my life. I know I’m knew to this and I know it’s way too early to say this kind of stuff, but I can only tell you what’s in my heart.”

“Besides, I should thank you for helping me avoid dating. I’ve never wanted that. All the guessing and head games and drama, it’s never been attractive to me. I think people who romanticize that stuff are full of shit, because every time they break up it’s all crying and whining and even more drama before they start all over again on the next one. I can’t stand wasting time on lost causes.”

My thoughts exactly. Gad, Logan, you always say the right things to me.

All I can say is that this is a beautiful love story. With the right amount, or more, of smuttiness, and maybe too cheesy, but what the hell, I love it.


***I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kika.
153 reviews
June 8, 2015
Title: The Single Game
Series: -
Author: Amanda Black
Release Date: 15 July, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:

*3 adorable, cute but a little bit boring stars*


LOGAN



EDEN



When your life stories are more interesting and exciting than the book you're currently reading then obviously you are reading the wrong kind of book...
I hate it when i have to give a 3 star rating to a book because it means that it was a "meh" kind of read and i'd pretty much rather hate a book than having this "it-was-decent-enough" feeling.

With that being said, i have to admit that i had high hopes for this book. It's exciting when the roles are reversed. Instead of a shy, clueless virgin heroine we have a shy, clueless, virgin hero and that fact alone is refreshing!

but...

Everything happened so damn fast, at least in the beginning, and then the pace changed and everything was moving so slow...

conclusion 1: the writing was confusing

Then we have the whole character development issue... Eden was a pretty solid character but Logan not so much. When we were first introduced with Logan he was a shy, kind of awkward hero but in a matter of days we are faced with a dirty-talking virgin.

conclusion 2: the characters were not portrayed right

Also, the dialogue was kinda sappy and sometimes tacky. I'm not against insta-love when it's presented elegantly and with some originality but every conversation with Logan and Eden felt like a competition about who's more in love with the other.

conclusion 3: the dialogues were flat

But i'd be a fool if i didn't recognize the level of hotness of some scenes, especially in the first 50% of the book. Logan might be a virgin but he's very eager to learn and apparently a very good student! :)

conclusion 4: this book was hot!

And i can't deny the fact that this book was a page turner. I wanted to see what would happen next but most of the time i was disappointed because nothing was happening!!!! I mean I'm not a supporter of major drama and angst but there has to be some kind of twist in a story just to keep the reader interested right? Well, with The Single Game you get a big fat nothing guys...

conclusion 5: issues with the plot

So, for me this book falls in the "not-great-but-not-bad-either" category.



**I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**


Profile Image for rj.
677 reviews335 followers
July 16, 2015
This was so damn adorable! Just what I needed at the moment. I seriously could not put this book down! And I absolutely love me some shy, virgin heros!

---

Eden moves to a whole new city after her dad gets a promotion and she catches her jock boyfriend in bed with her best friend. She is ready to make a clean start and isn't too into dating anyone for a couple months. She finally realizes that she misses sex (although it was always mediocre with her ex) and the closeness that comes with it. Let me just say how refreshing it is to have a heroine for once interested in sex and it is not something that she discovers is wonderful with the hero.

She is definitely not the type to sleep around so isn't sure how to go about dating. She's not even interested in anyone, but makes a list with her friend about the ideal guy, which is: an eager virgin--ready for training. And boy is Logan ready for some training!

After that it's her realizing how perfect Logan is for her after being lab partners for months and them coming together and finding a forever kind of love.

---

My thoughts:

- Logan was "adorkable." He was shy and Eden had to take the lead early on but he turns into a little alpha boy quickly. Lol. The things they say could be very cheesy but I ate it all up! I swear I had a smile on my face the entire way through! Eden was Logan's first everything and I loved that. There was no ow or any pushing away from either of them.

- No angst at all!! I was waiting for some stupid breakup or cheating misunderstanding but they only had one small hiccup that was solved in a page. I loved that they communicated instead of running off. Some reviewers wanted more drama but I loved how drama-free it was. I don't always want to read books that put me through the wringer. Sometimes I just want to sit back and enjoy a cute little romance.

- Insta love!! Again, some reviewers complained about this, lol, but I don't mind insta-love. They were in love in weeks but it just worked for them.

- Thank god I didn't know this before going in but apparently this is Twilight fanfic? I did not get any Twilight vibes from this at all so I don't mind.

- Yes, there is a lot of sex. If you're not comfortable with 18-year-olds sneaking off in their parents house then this might not be for you. I loved it all. It was surprisingly hot as well!

- I loved the epilogue and the glimpse we got into their future.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this book! I know I'm loving a book when I'm highlighting like crazy on my Kindle and I have many passages highlighted from this book. If you're in the mood for a low-angst, adorable kind of book, then this is for you!
Profile Image for Samantha.
571 reviews43 followers
July 5, 2015
I do love high school romances and that's part of the reason I picked this book. The Single Game was what high school is all about with raging hormones, disappointing jock boyfriends, fast track love, and the sweet promise of a future together. This novel gets 4.5 I'd rather be some place private...studying your body and all the ways I can make it sing for me stars!

Logan Black is a rare gem that must be treasured and adored. He was just such a sweet, gentle, witty, snarky, and amusing character that it was easy to fall in love with him. Logan is the shy type of guy that can be overlooked for not being an extrovert or the hottest but definitely is attractive and fabulous in his own way. Logan really comes out of his shell when with Eden and that is probably one of the best things about the story. Their relationship and love make each other better versions of themselves.

Eden transfer into Logan's high school as a senior when her father takes a new position. Eden had been cheated on at her old high school and decided to swear of boys until Logan Black turns her upside down. She's more experienced than he is but that doesn't matter when he's not only a quick learner, but also a darling human. Logan makes her feel things she didn't think she could and ensures she falls in love with him fast and hard.

I just all around liked the story. It wasn't laced with ridiculous amounts of drama but just enough to ensure a bit of real high school to come to life. There was love, passion, tenderness, and the sweetest happy ending. I will definitely be reading more by Amanda Black.
Profile Image for Mercedes.
565 reviews106 followers
February 8, 2017
This book was really sweet. It was a heart-warming first love story and I was grinning like a fool for 90% of the book.

Eden was the heroine of the story and she had just broken up with her boyfriend (who had cheated on her) before moving to a new town. She started out her senior year of high school in a bit of a funk from the betrayal of her ex-boyfirend but she quickly found new friends and eventually decided she was ready to try dating again. She ends up dating Logan and they share all of his firsts together. There was very little drama between the two and I really liked that.

Logan! He was amazing. I will be honest, I’m a bit jealous of Eden. He was sweet and kind and loving and really enjoyable to read. I liked that he was a virgin in the story. It’s not often you read a story where the guy doesn’t have loads of experience so this was quite refreshing. I felt like it was done really well, he still had those normal hormonal teenage boy urges, and he let Eden lead them in this department. After he became a bit more comfortable in their relationship he wasn’t afraid to tell her about the things he wanted to try, and he was always eager to please. Their relationship was definitely on the fast-track but I felt like it worked for the two of them.

Oh! I wanted to say that scene when they’re in Logan’s room, exploring some of the things he has on his computer was insanely hot. It was probably one of my favorite scenes in the book!

I really enjoyed this book, and I would suggest it to anyone looking for something sweet and happy. I’m sure I’ll end up checking out some other books from this author.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Profile Image for h.
51 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked: Eden is really confident and comfortable with her sexuality, which is something I found totally refreshing. She knows what she wants, she isn't ashamed of wanting to have sex or thinking about it. She's well rounded, and comes off as a real 18 year old. Logan is very sweet; he's an awkward nerdy virgin but nobody makes fun of him for it--I hate when characters are shamed about their sex lives or lack thereof. Amanda Black's writing is pleasant enough, even if she is a big fan of unnecessary exclamation points and describes everything as sexy.

What I didn't like: Insta-love, like less than two weeks insta-love. They get engaged after like two or three months of dating. They get MARRIED like a month after that--keep in mind that all of this happens before they go to college and within the span of less than six months. Some of the sex scenes were super cartoonish and far-fetched, especially considering they're meant to be in high school and of them was a virgin 5 minutes ago. I thought it was kind of weird that Eden and Logan started calling each other baby only after making out one time. Even though the characters sound like teens most of the time, there's also times where they said things no 18 year olds ever say--like Eden refers to her vagina as her "cooter" (???? what). The pacing of the story was really strange; there was no sense of where things were taking place in time. Eden doesn't know how to use Facebook (tbh the weirdest thing to me considering she's an 18 year old living in the now). Eden calls other female characters skanks for no reason, which is both embarrassing and offensive--I'm really tired of sexist language and internalized misogyny in NA books.

What I hated: This book is Twilight fanfiction. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with fanfic. I love fanfic--the opportunities and communities and friendships fanfiction helps foster are incredible. I have absolutely zero problem with fanfic writers taking their stories and reworking them or expanding the worlds they've created into original novels, but that's not the case with 'The Single Game'.

I'm not super familiar with Twilight or its fandom; I read the first two books way back when and saw the first movie whenever it came out, but that's the extent of my knowledge of it. I had no idea this book was based on a fanfic until I googled "the single game" (the very first result takes you to where it's located is on fanfiction.net--it's still up there as of May 27th, 2015, less than a month and half until the book is published...like really...) but knowing that now, it's really, really obvious that these aren't original characters at all.

Amanda Black says that she reworked her story but like...she didn't? At all? This book is literally word-for-word identical to the fanfiction it's based on. I went through the fic and compared it to the book, and the text is verbatim (like the ENTIRE book, not just passages here and there) what it is on fanfiction.net, she just swapped out Edward for Logan and Bella for Eden. The way Logan and Eden meet is exactly the same as how they meet in the real Twilight too--Eden (Bella) is the new girl, Logan (Edward) is her science lab partner, he acts uncomfortable and weird around her because surprise surprise he really likes her. Their special place is a meadow, just like in actual Twilight. You're thrust into the setting basically instantly without much of an understanding where you're supposed to be because the original audience was already familiar with Forks (Aledo, Illinois in the book) which is disorienting. Character descriptions are identical to their corresponding Twilight character (example: the Jacob character is a mechanic, her dad's friend's son, never wears clothes, is in love with Bella/Eden, "runs hot". Logan's dad Douglas aka Carlisle is a blond haired blue eyed hot doctor, etc). Some of the character names haven't even been changed from whatever Stephenie Meyer named them (is that illegal? It feels illegal). The title of the book is exactly the same as the fanfic. Like????? Really???

Like I said, I don't have any problem with fic writers expanding on or reworking their stories to something original. But I honestly think that this book is insulting to those who actually put the time and effort in reworking their fanfic, in addition to the authors whose work theirs is based on. It feels lazy and cheap--this is literally just a money grab. There's no reason to buy this book, you can just go to fanfiction.net and read it there.

Even though some of the things that happen in this book are completely ridiculous, I wouldn't have hated it if it wasn't such a blatant ploy to make some $$$/didn't feel like straight up plagiarism, but I don't think I'll be reading any more of Amanda Black/AwesomeSauce76's books anytime soon if they're all like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for AnnMarie .
278 reviews36 followers
July 15, 2015
My Super Star "Fangirling the Author" Review

Sweet, humorous, 1st love story bursting with teenage hormones!!!

Amanda Black writes with her heart. You can always feel the love she pours in to her characters and her words just wrap around you like an old comfy blanket.

This isn't going to be a long review, because it doesn't need to be.

The Single Game is YA at it's finest.

Eden is the new girl, recently located to Aledo from Chicago. She's devastated and let's her parents know this. But...not so devastated after learning her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend.

Logan is shy, sweet, kind and just the epitome of what you want in a boyfriend.

They meet through their mutual friends and the sparks are there, but both are hesitant, until one night they all play the single game, a much more fun version of spin the bottle.

Naturally their friends make sure they have chosen each other, and soon after, they start dating.

Their relationship was sweet, slow moving, filled with sexual tension, and lots of romance.

What's not to like? No heavy drama. No crazy situations trying to force them apart.

Just an easy fun read filled with warmth, romance, love, and sexy smutty times.

Amanda Black hit's it out of the park again with her newest story leaving you with lasting smiles and fun times.

This is an author I will fangirl forever!!


ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for sophua.
98 reviews7 followers
July 29, 2021
i’m gonna be honest i only read this for a mental cleanse on manwhore/virgin girl trope and it did it’s job!

the book was kinda dragging at the end tho
Profile Image for Kristin.
78 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2015
*Thank you to Netgalley for kindly providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I had high hopes for this book from the summary. It sounded like a fun, sexy read.

And then I read it.

This book was absolutely all over the place, never showing any sort of potential to become a well written story. The entire thing was poorly written, executed, and wrapped up.

The Dialogue:

Clunky and unrealistic. This story avoided conflicts like the plague, trying desperately at last minute to throw in a quick fight over Eden's ex-boyfriend that was instantly resolved on the next page and never mentioned again. Every conversation in this book went the exact same way. From parents that were far too easily agreeable to friends that always seemed to have the right answers, nothing really felt genuine here. Every conversation felt like the kind of conversation that you practice having with someone, where everything goes perfectly and you have all of the right words to say, before you have the real conversation where things are far more difficult.

The Characters:

One dimensional mysteries. Even after reading 33 chapters plus an epilogue, I still didn't feel like I knew these characters any better than the first time I met them in the book. They had no personalities, revealed nothing that made them truly tick, and because of that, the story suffered. I couldn't care less about their story because I couldn't connect with any of them.

The Sex Scenes:

Cringeworthy. I don't think I've ever cringed so much reading a book, but this one taught me that it was possible. The sex scenes were borderline embarrassing to read. Between the cheesy dialogue, abuse of the exclamation point, and generally poorly written descriptors, these scenes were the opposite of sexy.

The Insta-Love:

Eye-roll Inducing and unbelievable. What was that? One day Eden decides she's ready to date and literally four days later she's struggling not to tell Logan (who she didn't even truly notice until less than a week earlier) that she was in love with him? I'm sorry, but no. I can read and enjoy stories with the insta-love concept if they're properly executed. This story, however, was not only executed badly, but also written horrifically. We do not get to meet Logan until the day Eden decides she's ready for a boyfriend. There's no initial introduction to him, or even a hint that there might be an attraction between the two of them, but suddenly with in a few days they're both insanely attracted to each other, dating, and in love. I couldn't buy it. Coupled with everything else wrong with the book this just pushed everything into even worse territory.

Overall, this book was just a train wreck. As much as I hate to say it, I think I have to -- this was the worst book I've ever read.
Profile Image for Ali .
663 reviews153 followers
July 1, 2015
I'm very conflicted over The Single Game. Admittedly, I almost DNF'd it after the prologue, which was immature and whiny. I think, because of that, I had a harder time warming up to Eden.

However, if you can get past the first 20% of this story, past the junior high type antics and the complete turn around from 'I never really noticed this boy before' to 'I really am attracted to this boy', you will find an adorable and sexy story.

Once Logan actually graced the pages of The Single Game, my attention was grabbed. Logan is shy, a virgin, never been kissed, small town boy. He knows what he wants though, Eden. He just doesn't have any clue on how to get her.

Now, Eden. I said it took me some time to feel anything towards her. Eventually, I ended up loving how sexually free she is. Not in the manner of sleeping around, that isn't her at all. She is very responsible with sex but she isn't afraid or ashamed by the fact that she likes it and wants it. I love when authors write women like this. LOVE it. Eden is only eighteen and she's in high school so it was a bit to wrap my mind around, lets be honest, most high school girls aren't like that. I loved it no less though.

I also loved the way Eden handled Logan. You can take that statement any way you want, it will still be true. She knows he is new to relationships, he comes with no experience and taking first steps is hard for him. She guides him through it with care but Logan's ummm...eagerness to learn...was hot as hell.

Logan made this book. With his awkwardness, his nerdy glasses and cardigans, his raw need and his absolute knowledge in what he wants. It's getting a higher rating for him alone.

Regardless of the immature moments that were thrown in here and there throughout the story, I still really enjoyed The Single Game. Quite a lot. I think it could have used some thorough clean up and finesse and even a bit more conflict. However, it's a sweet story with some extremely, explicit and hot sex which left me thinking that Logan Black may just be a book boy I remember for quite some time to come.
Profile Image for Maryna aka Ryna.
202 reviews6 followers
July 10, 2015
*Advanced Reader Copy given by Netgalley for an honest review*

This is going to be a short review.....This book I read this weekend but I don't know how I feel about this book. I didn't like the beginning so I nearly stopped reading but I hate not finishing books so I rallied on. Thankfully so because it got a bit better later in the book. Like most of us are use to the girl being a virgin and shy but in this book Logan is the virgin and shy and he never been kissed but he know what he wants. He wants Eden but he has no idea how to get her. Eden reminded me more of an college student than a high school girl being so sexually free. I loved how Eden guided Logan in what to do, it was hot as hell.... I would have loved more conflict. This book had strange character development I mean Logan was first a shy, kind of awkward virgin but in a matter of days he turned into a dirty-talking virgin. So basically the characters weren't portrayed right to me. This book was HOT. I will never deny that this book was a page turner but like I said before I would have liked more conflict or drama because I needed that. Anyway this book was okay, I did enjoy it but I needed more.
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Profile Image for Habiba Hasabo.
975 reviews38 followers
December 23, 2015
Perfect.
Flawless.
This was a breath of fresh air. Too much love in one book. It had nothing wrong with it. You smile all along while reading and fall easily in love with the characters.
The shift in Logan's character was apparent. Thanks to the confident Eden.
Even their highschool wasn't horrible, sure thats a weird bonus.
I loved the cover and how simple it was.
I didn't think their marriage would work, but surprise surprise, it went on well and it would blossom from that point.
Logan is to die for. I think someone like him doesn't exist in real life, there has to be a catch.
Eden was confident, but not cocky. She needed Logan without knowing.
I love that it was emotional for them from the start.
Their parents were really nice, it was different.
No drama, no bullshit and no lies.
And if everybody who plays the single game , would end up with a future like Eden and Logan , please my turn would be next!
Profile Image for Megan.
Author 18 books436 followers
August 20, 2015
This was a great little escape - super sweet, yet incredibly sexy. Logan was so adorkable - loved him! Like, seriously couldn't get enough of him! It was a refreshing change to have the male be the nervous and shy virgin of the book. I liked that the roles were reversed and Eden did the chasing.

It's a well written story, cute at times and so very, very hot for most. It was told with plenty of laugh out loud moments as well. I have to admit I did find it a bit predictable, and I found the beginning a little stilted and unnecessary to the story, but it didn't take away from the book. It's really worth the read!

I recommend you get on this one and become a Riley hater like me! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Chesca (thecrownedpages).
314 reviews165 followers
January 13, 2016
The Single Game is one of those books that puked butterflies, unicorns, and rainbows all over me. It is so sweet and the story is too fast. It's okay. The book is like every other contemporary-romance's extended happy ending.

Logan is a very sweet boy, but I think he was rushing things. Because of that, I was waiting for something bad to happen to Eden! I mean, who does the things that Logan did? He’s so perfect, I guess?

Their story was just way too perfect! It was lacking the drama and the heartache that Lily and Ethan’s story had in the first two books.

So, if you want a stress-free book, read this!
Profile Image for Teresa.
474 reviews39 followers
July 16, 2015
I loved The Apartment so I was excited about reading The Single Game and was happy to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I need to clarify that New Adult is not usually my preferred genre in romance books but, having read Amanda Black’s writing before I knew I’d like it.

Read the rest of my review here: http://wp.me/p18bP3-2p8
Profile Image for D. L. Foley | My Last Romance.
529 reviews14 followers
January 13, 2023
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? It was on Netgalley, so I thought why not.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, I didn't realize this was the third in the series. Having said that, I wasn't lost in the novel. I really thought it could have been the first in the series.

I went into this one without high expectations. I figured it would be an average, fun, and cute read. That's what I got.

Eden was ticked when her parents told her that they were moving her senior year, but when she found her best friend had cheated on her with her boyfriend, suddenly she wasn't so upset about moving. She wrote off guys completely until she decided to give Logan a shot.

The plot is one we've all read about or seen in movies. I can think of about ten books/movies with this plot. About 7 of them I liked significantly more than this one.

However, having said that, I did enjoy the novel. It was fun and an easy read. The novel had unexpected humor at times.

It's definitely meant for an older audience. It's young adult in nature but new adult in content.

The Characters: I thought they could have been more complex. They seemed a little bit flat and fit into stereotypes. However, I did enjoy reading about them.

Major Strengths: Unexpected instances of humor.

Major Weaknesses: Same old plot we've read a million times.

So why 3 stars? It lacked the depth to make it really stand out from the pack.

Can I read the series out of order? Yes, see previous comments. It reads as a standalone novel.

Warnings/Side-notes: For more mature audiences, 17+ for strong language and sexual references.
Profile Image for Cams.
210 reviews4 followers
April 30, 2020
Review in a nutshell

The Single Game is my go-to book for when the real life gets tough. Lighthearted, bone-achingly sweet, this book will bring you back to the time you meet your forever love, or if you're single like I am, would make you giggle and wish for a love like Eden and Logan has.

Full review
Profile Image for Sylrica.
5 reviews
July 20, 2022
DNF at 67% when they start watching porn together and getting all excited by the exploitation of other women.
Profile Image for Jamie (Books and Ladders).
1,429 reviews204 followers
July 2, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders

I did enjoy this one just not as much as I thought I was going to originally. I feel like I was expecting Eden to play a bit more than she did especially with the title of the book.

I loved Eden. I loved how confident she was and how she was the experienced one and not the other way around. Most of the time I was like yas girl get it. It was so refreshing to have a female character not be ashamed of wanting or having sex. And her relationship with Logan on this front was very intriguing. The sex aspect is all that I liked about them. Especially Eden taking command and getting things done for herself.

Logan was alright. He seemed kind of flat to me at times, just a blank slate for girl's to project their own fantasies onto. I also thought he was a little cheesy at times and that Eden was way too into him being so nice. There is something called the "contrast effect" where you meet someone who is horrible so the next person seems amazing in comparison. This is what I felt Logan and Eden's relationship was like: she had a bad experience with Riley, so dating Logan next made him incredible. She says so often that he is perfect and he was like too perfect.

The worst was the slut shaming. Like Eden was all about having sex and was totally okay with the sex thing if it was her or her friends, but deliberately called other girls skanks??? That's not okay Eden. Until that point, she could have been someone for people to maybe see as a sex role model, but that type of misogyny just doesn't bode well for me.

I really hated the insta-love. Like this book took place over six months before the epilogue. I think it was just ridiculous how quickly things moved along. I was all for their relationship until they said I love you. I feel like it was actually a semi-accurate depiction of high school romance until then and the whole prom thing was just...no. And the sex scenes were a little iffy. I always feel awkward when they say an orgasm "tore" through you, like is she okay? It shouldn't feel like that??

Overall: 2/5 stars. I feel bad for not liking this one as much as I thought I was going to. I did like Eden's character, I just wish some things had gone differently.
Profile Image for Pooja.
63 reviews15 followers
June 12, 2015
Oh WOW! I had butterflies in my stomach while reading The Single Game by Amanda Black



Eden Foster is crushed when her parents inform her that her father accepted a new job at small town and that they'll be moving there. She is upset that she' ll have to spend her senior year of high school in a small town. And irritated by her parents decision, she goes running to her boyfriend's house, only to find him naked and occupied in bed with none other than her own best friend. After being betrayed like that, moving seemed like a newly opened door of possibilities to Eden.

After two months of settling in the new town and new school, Eden is ready to start dating again. But this time she doesn't wan't to make any mistake in choosing the right guy. So along with her friend Amy, she creates a list to narrow down her choice of guys. And the list goes like this : No jocks, Eager Virgin ready for training.
Eden finally finds all the must haves in the list in Logan Black-her shy geeky classmate. And to bring them together, Amy and Eden's other friend Zoe decide that Eden should go to Zoe's boyfriend Devon's party and play The Single Game.

I hadn't expected to love this book as much as I did. I liked Eden, even though she was horny throughout the book, she was funny and cute. But Logan Black stole my heart, every page when Logan said or did something I had this wide smile plastered on my face. His character is cute and totally adorable. This book brought back all the school memories and all those feelings I had experienced while crushing on someone. Even though this book is YA, some of the scenes were seriously hot.
Secondary characters Amy and Owen-the stoner couple, Zoe and Devon- The hot couple were great, I loved their part in helping Eden and Logan.

This book is sweet, sexy, adorable and all kinds of cute that will make you feel warm and giddy inside. It has an amazing and beautiful love story too. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in one sitting! I recommend it to everyone who loves a sweet romance and a cute cheesy couple!

ARC received via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

This review can also be found on - http://wp.me/p6jr76-R

Profile Image for Night Reader.
638 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2015
Review: 4.5 Stars

My full review can be found here!

Once I realized where this book was heading -- falling for a shy guy -- I was all in! Part of me felt guilty for being so invested in a high school relationship and the other part of me was too busy reading with a cheesy grin on my face to even care.

After a bad experience with an asshole ex-boyfriend, Eden was ready to find a good guy who is pretty much the opposite of her exe. No jocks. No manwhores.

"...I'm tired of smarmy guys who think they're all that. I'd rather have someone who didn't know what he was doing, but was honestly willing to learn."

Well Eden, you're in luck. I think I'm in insta-love with Logan. Book boyfriend alert!

"He's not the kind of guy you play games with or try to outsmart. He isn't looking to hit it and quit it."

There's something that is simultaneously nice but scary about meeting your forever guy early on in life. "Nice" because you don't have to deal with the dating scene bullshit. "Scary" because you're so young and everyone talks about how much you change in your 20s. I met my husband when I was 20...We count our anniversary as the day we started living together (which we did within a few weeks of meeting each other). There's more to that story...but it was a bit scary to think about all the ways that arrangement could go wrong.

This book is a straight-up romance. Minimal angst and drama. It's refreshing, if you're cool with a low-drama read.

I love this quote (and the fact that it actually originated from the author's husband):
"I feel like I won the million dollar jackpot the very first time I played. Why would I keep trying to get something better? There is no better. I'm not stupid - I know how to cherish the treasure I've been given."

Oh Logan - I love you....and Luke (the author's husband) -- if you inspired that quote, points to you too!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jen.
3,255 reviews
July 13, 2015
Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.

Note: This ARC was provided by Full Fathom Five in exchange for an honest review.

Both Eden Foster and Logan Black may be high school seniors, and there are definitely some sweet and cutesy moments between the two, but there's a lot more steam than you would expect to find in a regular young adult (YA) novel. I'm at the age I am, so all the sexual activity that goes on between Eden and Logan didn't bother me one bit. Plus, if we're being totally honest here, countless teens already know about the birds and the bees firsthand. Just don't go into this thinking it's a YA novel because it's not and there are more than the innocent hugs and kisses and flirtatious glances exchanged between the lead characters.

I liked that this book has that element of erotica but with both Eden and Logan being eighteen-year-old individuals. Pretending that a lot of teens their age don't engage in the things they get into here would be blissful ignorance and I'm glad that an author like Amanda Black took a risk by writing this story. It was also interesting to have Eden be more experienced than Logan and I think that's what helped to make their love story feel more sincere and real. Eden's relationship with Logan was different from her previous one and they were both more than ready to discover new things about themselves and about one another.

This was a lighthearted read and one that I enjoyed. Yes, it isn't anything like The Apartment or The Blank Canvas but it set itself apart in a good way with two lead characters that endeared themselves in totally different ways and a story that was so much more than I expected. With this latest book, I can happily say that I've loved everything that Amanda Black has ever had published. I'm certainly curious as to whether there'll be another book added to the series or if she has something else in mind. Either way, I'll be eagerly anticipating what she's got next in the pipeline. For now, I'm going to give The Single Game five stars. ♥
Profile Image for Charlee .
199 reviews49 followers
September 16, 2015
3.5 Fence sitting stars!

I went into this book with no expectations, I had never heard of the author before and I hadn't read any of her 2 previous books. The cover (which is gorgeous) caught my eye and the plot sounded fun, and it was fun. However I did have a few important ssues with it.

The first and probably most important issue I had was that I didn't find the characters all that believable. Teenagers don't really think like Logan and Eden do. At some points they were one hundred percent believable and had me a little nostalgic about first loves and how that felt (which honestly wasn't that long ago) and then they would say something ridiculous and throw everything off. I also found a couple of the comments their parents made to be really strange, particularly the scene where Eden brings Logan home for dinner to meet her dad. They have been dating for a week and after dinner here dad asks "He's the one, isn't he?" Ummm what?.....

The insta-love got on my nerves at first, but then it had me thinking again of first loves and how the majority of teenage relationships go through that real rush of "OMG I love this person, they are the one" phase. So in the end I felt it really added to their story.

Once I moved past all of the I hate insta-love I started to really enjoy the book, it was a real page turner and as the scenes started to heat up I could not put it down! I really loved the role reversal and I think she did that really well.

Overall I think Amanda Black would write really good Adult Romance novels and her sex scenes prove that she was born to write amazing love stories, the majority of my issues were in trying to believe they were teenagers.

I have checked out the summaries for her first 2 books in this series and I think I am going to give them a go. I am looking forward to seeing how she writes older characters. So this isn't actually a bad review, just a sitting on the fence but whiling to read more review.

**I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**
Profile Image for Jeraca.
2,495 reviews26 followers
February 15, 2017
I really, really, really, really wanted to like this!

I initially saw this on NetGalley, though I didn't get an Advanced Reader Copy from them so I went and bought it on Amazon when it was released.

The reason I wanted to read it? It's set in ALEDO, IL! (Yes, I know most will not know what or where this is, but Aledo is 20 minutes from my hometown!)

So yes, the familiar area is why I was attracted to this book. Also, the synopsis sounded great.

But I definitely did not fall for this book. In fact, I'm surprised my eyes didn't get stuck in the back of my head from all of the eye rolling.

1. EDEN IS SO ANNOYING! Honestly, she goes from boy hating to wanting a shy virgin. Has known Logan for the first two months, but once "shy virgin" is in her head, BAM Logan is THE ONE.

No. Just no.

2. Logan. While Logan is a sweet boy who clearly loves Eden (for whatever ungodly reason), he most certainly changes once he has his first orgasm with a girl. I dunno. I grew to be annoying as well as the novel went on.

3. They made Aledo seem sooooo close to the Quad Cities, but it's a 45 minute drive there. Just remember that... No one would be crazy enough to venture through our winters for 45 minutes from work to home. Crazy people.

4. The sex. Now, don't get me wrong. I love stories with sex in them. I'm not a prude. But these two are in high school and the things they were talking about, doing, and fantasizing seemed a bit much for me. It's almost like the author was trying to make this a YA novel with the characters but make it risque like a New Adult novel... The mix just did not work for me.

So yeah, I think it's safe to say I was disappointed by this book from the get go. I wish I could say I loved it, but I could barely tolerate it. I definitely will reconsider getting another book based on the setting... Oh, who am I kidding, if a book is based near the QC I'm totally going to read it!
Profile Image for Amber.
216 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2015
ARC provided by netgalley for an honest review. I might have missed the firsts book in this series. But this story by far was so sweet. I swooned over Logan throughout the whole book. Him and Eden were so perfect for each other. I could feel the love they had for each other pouring off of the pages and I smiled the whole time I was reading this story. So Eden's dad decided to take a job close to his hometown and that meant they had to move. Of course Eden wasn't happy about it but then who can blame a teenager moving when she had one year left in school. But when she got the news of moving she did act a little like a spoiled brat. She tried call the guy that she was dating and her best friend. Both went straight to voicemail. So she goes to the boyfriends house and what she finds is more terrible then then the news of her moving. So when she moves and starts a new school she makes friends really quick with Amy and Zoe. Logan is her lab partner and a perfect candidate for her to date. He isn't a jock and is so sweet that you would get a toothache. One night she goes to a party and is introduced to the single game. I loved the idea of this game. Logan never plays it and when Eden plays he decides to give it a try. From that point on Logan and Eden become a couple. If you want to know how it happened then you really need to read this too cute sweet read. This is another book that I will enjoy reading again.
Profile Image for Alex Sosa.
69 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2019
Wait... Did I just find the perfect book?
YES, I DID. Omg, this book is everything!
It has some sexy scenes, some cute lovey scenes, some drama, not overboard tho. I can't believe how much I loved this book! I'm gonna read it again, actually. There's only been a handful of books that I've read that are like, perfect, to me at least. And this one fits in that category for sure. This is a must read for any Romance lover.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
557 reviews3 followers
July 15, 2015
*** arc kindly provided by netgalley/publisher - thank you!!! ***

the single game was a pleasant surprise for me. when i read the blurb on netgalley, i thought: ok, wth? new adult (and from the sound of it more young adult) but also erotica???? but that made me curious - and let me tell you, it made good on it's promise; new adult and erotic it was indeed!

yeah, it was a bit controversial - but i'm the type of woman, who admits that her first sex was at the age of 15 (just shy of 15 to be exact) and that sex always was an important part of a relationship for me. so, that picture authors always try to paint from young adults/new adults at the age of - let's say 16 to 20- that have serious relationships but don't get it on maybe for years... yeah, that happens. but how realistic is that? so i'm happy, that an author finally has the balls to write a book about two 18 yesr-olds who go at it like bunnies. cause that's realistic! thank you for that, dear author ;-)

the single game was - all in all - a tooth-achingly sweet new adult tomance with loooots of sexy scenes and an cute-to-hell epilogue. i'll give it 4,5 stars and can recommend it to everyone, who likes to be reminded once in a while of how it was when we were young and a bit more careless and free! very sweet.
Profile Image for Jessica.
2,128 reviews52 followers
July 29, 2015
3 1/2 stars.

After hearing that news that she'll be relocated from Chicago on her Senior year of school Eden was devastated. That was until she caught her bestie and boyfriend doing the deed that she finds that this would actually work in her favor. New start, New school year. She was going to go for the whole single thing after having a bad experiance with her ex being someone of a selfish lover as well as a sucky cheater she decides to find something different. Its when a geeky but hott classmate Logan shows a bit of hints of his attraction towards her that her friends use the Single Game to break the ice between the two. From there everything getting hotter between the two.

I mean I liked the book. It was a typical HEA the thing I didn't like was that there wasnt much drama. If you are looking for books that primarily focus on sex then this book is for you. The book seemed to perfect. I was waiting for problems to arise something to happen, when things started to look towards trouble nothing much came of it. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the book but I was hoping for a bit more out of this book.
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