Books Like Playing the Game
Families who loved Playing the Game by Cathy Cole often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Playing the Game by Cathy Cole often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your pre-teen or young teenager is navigating the complex social waters of friendship groups, first crushes, and the desire to reinvent themselves. Set in the breezy but emotionally charged Heartside Bay, the story follows a group of friends dealing with the pressures of loyalty and the excitement of summer romance. It provides a safe space for readers to explore feelings of being left out or the fear of not measuring up to peers. While it offers the light, escapist fun of a summer drama, it also touches on deeper themes of personal integrity and identity. It is a perfect choice for readers aged 11 to 15 who are starting to look for more mature, realistic social dynamics in their fiction while still needing a gentle, hopeful resolution.
