Nell is seeing her room mate Dylan spread her wings as she is now happily dating Silas (All Broke Down). It makes her realize she has been so into studying and fulfilling her goals that she has missed out on some of the true college experience. She is a book nerd, isolated, shy, and has not become emotionally invested in anything. So she makes a college bucket list of things to complete before finishing college early.

Nonna says I'm picky. Dad says I'm stubborn. Mom thinks I just need someone who's as smart as I am. I say I'm better equipped for ideas than emotions.

Mateo Torres is the shameless, flashy, outgoing, outspoken, life of the party. He lives for football and is not afraid to take risks. He flirts, teases, and becomes quickly enthralled by Nell once Dylan convinces her to join in on some of their social activities. But she also reminds him of someone from his past that he wants to forget.

I don’t believe in censoring my thoughts. Some people just aren’t as fond of freedom of speech as I am.

Don't ask me why, but I've always had a thing for the shy ones, I like being the one to break them out of their shell.

Nell finds a an unlikely ally in Mateo who vows to help her make her way through her bucket list. And as they progress through the list, they begin getting more under each other's skin and into their heart.

I love solving problems. But not like this...not when there's no guarantee I can be right. Because Mateo Torres is loud, and I'm quiet. Because he's reckless, and I'm cautious. Because he belongs everywhere, and I don't. Because I think I'm in danger of falling in love with him.

Mateo is one of those characters that is just so endearing and so easy to like. He is sweet, charming, sexy, funny, but also has a vulnerability to him. And Nell is awkward, shy, and logical, but is also strong and determined once she is more comfortable. They have great chemistry and they really challenge each other and bring out the best in one another.

They have a fun, witty rapport, but they both also have their hang ups. Mateo uses football, girls, and his wild personality for distraction and to hide the fact that he had been hurt in the past. But Nell is different and he can't stop thinking about her, pursuing her, or pushing her out of her comfort zone. Nell has always focused on school and never really lived a full life or explored real relationships. But she is fascinated by her strong reaction to Mateo. They both have fears and insecurities. Sometimes they help each other get over them while other times shed more light on their significance. They are very different and seem like opposites, but are also a catalyst for change for each other. He makes her live life fully and brings her passion and excitement. While she grounds him and makes him feel.

I wanted a catalyst. He's more like an atom bomb.

But now everything could be about to change. And I'm scared to think about it because getting my hopes up over something like this? Over something that matters? That's a hell of a lot of hurt I'm risking.

That does not mean it is always easy. They have issues with trust and communication. And their futures are moving in different directions. But if they can just let go of fears and hold on to each other, they may have a chance of accomplishing all that is on their lists.

We get to spend more time with Dylan and Silas (All Broke Down) and Dallas and Carson (All Lined Up) and Stella, Ryan, Matty, and Zay. Their group is tight knit and love to taunt and tease each other, but they are protective and supportive too. Most of them did not even know the "real" Mateo until Nell came along and he decided to show what was hiding underneath his facade. This installment was fun, sweet, romantic, and thoroughly engaging without being overloaded with angst. It was not quite as deep and emotional as the last one, but still had heart. I love this series and these characters. I can't wait for more. I am really interested in more with Stella and Ryan since we have seen them struggling, and also the very private but intuitive Isaiah Brookes aka Zay.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. Quotes are from ARC and subject to change.

In this third Rusk University novel, readers return to this Texas college and the circle of friends surrounding the football team.

I love Mateo Torres. Torres is the one always quick to joke, rarely serious. He is fun, funny, and outgoing.

Nell. Nerdy and focused, she keeps herself so busy with school that she has never made time for friends or the traditional college experience. I enjoyed her focus and her sudden insecurity about the direction of her life. She read like a real person to me -- so focused on a single goal that once she is close enough to consider that goal reached she isn’t sure what’s next.

On paper (and to their friends) they seem like complete opposites. When Nell opens up to Torres with the hope that he can help her with her experiment to have a little bit of the “college experience” before she graduates, they begin to make sense. Each brings something completely different to their relationship, and though their friends worry that he will hurt Nell, they take that chance.

The attraction between them is off the charts. From Nell’s initial shyness and reluctance to befriend him to his realization that she fits into his life, these two are drawn to each other. That’s not to say things are easy, but the sparks fly often and brightly between them.

Carson, Dallas, Silas, Dylan, Brookes, Ryan and Coach Cole are back as friends, teammates, and supporting characters. This team works together and plays together, so readers get a lot from the group as a whole in addition to a great focus on the main couple.

And Stella. I love the part she plays in this book, and the bits that she lets Nell see about her past make me itch to get my hands on her story. Cora has already announced that All Closed Off with be Stella and Ryan’s book, and with the way these two interact, I can’t wait to see what happens between them. There is pain there, and a protective need, and I can’t wait to work through all the emotion and gutting I’m sure I’ll feel for her.

I love the football aspect of this series. It is a presence, but not so technical as to require a huge knowledge of the game. It’s just enough to create great camaraderie between the guys and add the extra commitment of practice, workouts, and games to the pressure of the characters.

All Played Out had great bits of humor that made this a fun read. Add great characters who look out for each other and rally around each other to that humor, and this was a book I didn’t want to put down.