This is the kind of book that makes you fall in love and smile through your tears at the the end. It has a lot of lovely things: friendship, found family, Barbie jeeps, and even a little bit of romance.

In The Only Game in Town, residents of Redford, Georgia are mourning the loss of one of their most influential members, Jasper Wilhelm. That mourning is joined by merriment when they learn they have a chance to win Jasper’s fortune. He’s devised a plan to keep the town smiling even after his death, but as the townspeople are split into teams, the townspeople aren’t so sure they want to be a part of the scheme. To make it worse, a Redford outsider also joins the game to try his hand at winning the fortune.

This story has a whopping four POVs. When I got to the third character, I thought “this is gonna be a lot”, but it worked. I really liked being able to read more than just the two perspectives you’d encounter in a romance novel. It just solidified that that this was so much more than a romance. All the characters that were featured got a chance to shine, and the story was better for it.

I really liked the setting of this story (and yes, I may be impartial because it was fun to hear the Georgia references, but I stand by that.). It was a true small town, with everyone in everyone else’s business, and the petty feuds that come with having nothing better to do. It was nice to see the world as it could be, with people supporting each other and loving each other and giving each other the second chance we all deserve.

There was a relationship that gave me pause while reading, and it kept me from giving the book five stars. I’m happy with how the author resolved it, but it made me a little uncomfy along the way.

I really liked this book, and I was sad when it came to an end. Luckily, this is my first book by the author, so I’m excited to read whatever else I can get my hands on.

I really liked the setting of this story (and yes, I may be partial . It was a true small town, with everyone in everyone else’s business, and the petty feuds that come with having nothing better to do. It was nice to see the world as it could be, with people supporting each other and loving each other and giving each other the second chance we all deserve.

I really liked this book, and I was sad when it came to an end. Luckily, this is my first book by the author, so I’m excited to read whatever else I can get my hands on.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Lacie Waldon for this ARC copy of The Only Game in Town in exchange for my honest opinion and review!

This was my first Lacie Waldon book, and I was initially drawn in by the Inheritance Games vibes! I love the illustration on the cover - which promised this reader a ride of a lifetime.

This small town romance was a cute adventure that seemed to give piece of everyone. There were so many lovable side characters in this small town - and it was quite interesting to get some of their POV's within the read.

This story was very interesting, and had me turning the page to find out more - but I will admit I was a tad let down that there was not more actual romance in it considering it was advertised as a romance! This was a cleaner read which many will love - but be aware of this when going in if you may have other expectations going in.

thank you to netgalley and putnam for the opportunity to read an advance copy. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

there genuinely isn’t a single thing about this book that i liked, which is incredibly disappointing because i really enjoyed from the jump. the premise of the only game in town is fun, but it’s unsuccessful on just about every front.

jess, our main character, is immediately ‘not like other girls.’ she doesn’t like traditional fashion, bc she’s so quirky and weird! she’s sooooo clumsy! she’s so jess from new girl that even her name is the same! she’s even a redhead like every boring not like other girls MC. carter in the beginning is—fine. bland. much like jess, he’s your archetypal romance LI. he’s a Man so he doesn’t feel Emotions, of course. while i found him insufferable, it wasn’t even close to the same level as jess.

but let’s talk about how, at 5% in, i almost dnf’ed. jess is 26 years old, and her high school bully is still bullying her over some slight from when they were kids (and when you find out the slight the bully is still mad about, it gets even more ridiculous!). these are whole entire adults. it’s a tiny town and these girls never really left, so it is admittedly pretty realistic, but god is it infuriating to read. and, to make it better, carter has to save her from the bully the first time they meet? which, fine, i get it, but let’s really start out early with jess having no agency. jess’s fixation on a high school rivalry continues further into the book, because of course we can’t have her or the bully emotionally age beyond 18.

and let’s continue on the bully for a minute. the bully, nikki. is only a bully bc her dad left and her mom’s an alcoholic and she’s jealous of jess :/ can you please make a mean girl mean without daddy issues, emotional abuse, and envy? or at the very least not reduce her character to just that? and, of course, since jess is just a copy paste of jessica day, she just forgives nikki for bullying her the second she stops doing so without any apologies or even addressing it at all. and the worst part is i actually like nikki! she’s definitely the only character i can tolerate!

as for the romance, it’s lust at first sight, but it’s mutual, so it’s actually kinda fun switching povs and having both their opinions on each other just “they’re hot”. but it turns to insta love quickly, because of course it does. the problem is that they don’t really interact all that often, especially in the first half, and there isn’t much chemistry largely because it jumps right into these big feelings without any development. similarly, the main conflict is ridiculous, overblown, and annoying. it’s also resolved in like, five pages. their first kiss and first time both happen the same night immediately after jess gets a concussion. with the most absurd conflict in between where neither of them acted like an actual human being.

(and i have to share this fun line: “Beneath his perfectly buttoned shirts, Carter had become an insatiable beast who had ravaged her until she was left whimpering with satisfaction.” what the actual hell.)

as a note, too, i’ve seen other reviews point out that this isn’t actually a romance book despite being marketed as such, and i can confirm, it’s definitely contemporary fiction with a romance subplot. definitely misleading.

the main plot centers around the will of the town’s zany benefactor who’s recently passed. jasper’s game is—kinda fucked up too? he poses it as some big generous donation to the town that he’s supposed to have loved, but instead it’s a donation to two people who jump through his hoops well enough. he pairs up everyone who hates each other in some weird arrogant belief that he can fix everyone’s problems from beyond the grave. and getting everyone’s hopes up just to either callously or maliciously schedule the game so that most of the town can’t play is a little cruel to boot. it’s gilmore girls meets the inheritance games which maybe could’ve worked but didn’t.

in the vein of this not, in fact, being a romance book, there are too many povs. including jess’s dad as a pov character was very uncomfortable, and nikki’s pov really pushed it over the line of too many. it went from being a romance novel, as advertised, to some hodge podge ensemble cast.

oh! and then it gets super weird! for a while it’s set up like she might make the dad and the daughters HIGH SCHOOL BULLY love interests. horrific. it’s one sided (technically—they have surprisingly good chemistry and many of their interactions do not come across as platonic on either side) but jesus god what the hell. part of this plot includes jess getting slut shamey, which is predictable but still disappointing. nikki and ross have great chemistry which is extra frustrating.

also there’s inexplicably a subplot where someone tries to commit actual murder, and someone keeps it a secret, because girl code.

and, finally, i have to speak my truth. carter and nikki have better chemistry and would make more sense.

I think some readers will really enjoy this one, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. The story itself was interesting, I liked the small town vibe, but I was so bored throughout this whole book. It just never clicked for me. There was never a moment where I was excited to see how things would play out. Jess felt really immature to me for being an adult woman. If she had been a YA protagonist, MAYBE she could have gotten away with it, but it was just annoying in this context. Nikki really frustrated me. I didn’t find her bullying and meanness funny at all. She did redeem herself a bit towards the end, but not enough to fully change my thoughts on her. Carter was the only one that didn’t actively bother me, but he had the opposite problem: he was so bland. There was not one interesting thing about him. Honestly, the books’s one saving grace was the townspeople like Luanne and Sally and Ross. They reminded me of the people of Stars Hollow and I found them really entertaining. But the main characters, pacing and execution of the story just left me dragging through most of the book. There were a few cute moments, but overall this missed the mark for me. I wish I liked it more. I was really excited for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't my favorite of her novels, but overall I did enjoy it. The story felt fresh with a plot line that hasn't been overdone by other authors. There were a few areas that felt a little muddy but that may have been because I was reading to quickly, wanting to find out how it would all come together in the end.

Jasper Wilhelm has passed on. He was a wealthy member of the town of Redford. His grandson Carter has come to Redford for his funeral. Jasper was estranged from Carter's mother and Carter was disowned by his parents when he didn't want to work in the family business. Jasper is leaving 10 million dollars to be split between two residents of Redford and he had devised a game to determine the winners. Jess is a resident of Redford and meets Carter when he arrives in town. There are several feuding members of the town and Jasper pairs some feuding people together as a team to participate in the challenges to win the money. Good story!

Sucha fun and lighthearted read! I really enjoyed that there wasn't a big issue that they had to work out; It was nice to see that there was a problem and they were able to get through it. The games were such fun and all the characters are a hoot! I only wish I was able to witness all the games.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! It has everything: friends, enemies, small town charm, romance, competition, and great characters! The Only Game in Town starts when Jasper, a rich man in Redford, dies. At the reading of his will, the town discovers he has set up a game for them to play - in pairs he has chosen - to compete for 10 million dollars. No one is happy with who they are paired with. Sworn enemies, business rivals, ex- friends, are all put together. And everyone is suspicious when Jasper’s grandson gets to play and he’s not even from Redford! What follows is a story filled with amazing characters, clever humor, and a small town coming together and having fun.

This is my third -and favorite- Lacie Waldon book, and I can’t wait to read more. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Nothing ever changes in the small town of Redford, Georgia. Ever since Jess got her degree and came back home, she can count on the steady safe life of her hometown. But then Carter Barclay comes into the bar, charming her and defending her against her childhood bully and she can't help but be drawn to him.
Carter is only in town for the funeral of his grandfather Jasper, the town's secret benefactor. Instead of a traditional will, Jasper has devised a competition where the townsfolk are paired off for a series of games. The winners will receive 10 million dollars. Even though Carter is an outsider, he's included in the game and the longer he stays in town, the more he falls in love with the town and its quirky residents, especially Jess. How can he even think of returning to his boring, lonely life in Atlanta?
This is a story of finding home where you last expect it, of coming together for a purpose, but especially about forgiveness and love. I thought this was a really sweet clean romance. The competition was really fun to read about, especially the scavenger hunt and Barbie jeeps!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nothing ever changes in Redford, Georgia. That's what freelance editor Jess Reid loves about her hometown--and part of what keeps her from leaving. Content taking care of her father, a car mechanic who singlehandedly raised her after her mom skipped out, Jess is resigned to a safe, unremarkable existence...until Jasper Wilhelm, the town's eccentric benefactor, dies suddenly and leaves behind the opportunity of a lifetime. Financial advisor Carter Barclay has been too busy to visit his grandfather in Redford, but he's heard countless stories about the town and its zany residents from Jasper. A small, insular town in Georgia is the last place Carter expects to be spending his summer--but it seems his grandfather had one final trick up his sleeve. At the funeral, it's revealed that Jasper has devised a massive, high-stakes game for the people of Redford, with the winning duo taking home his entire fortune. The catch? He's already taken the liberty of pairing them up. As tensions of all kinds rise between Jess and Carter, and the life-changing prize looms closer, the two must decide what they're willing to risk to change their lives. A love story full of spirit and hijinks, The Only Game in Town is a funny, quirky homage to the people we get to call home.

I really enjoyed Lacie Waldon's last book From The Jump and was so excited to get her next book. The premise seemed cute, but I just had a hard time getting invested and staying interested. I found myself skimming a lot. The premise was just too wacky and predictable. I enjoyed. Jess and Carters love story, but it was very slow and relatively uneventful. It felt like a secondary plot to the games itself. If you are looking for a quirky small town, slow burn romance, this book is def for you!

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book started off strong. I was curious to see how things progressed between Jess and Carter, especially with the whole game that was put into play. But then the story went a different direction. Instead of seeing Jess and Carter together, I had to read about Nikki and Jess and their feud. I really didn't like Nikki and honestly didn't want to spend the whole book on a redemption arc for her. It also got kind of confusing with all the characters and POVs. This book really had potential but just fell flat after the first few chapters.

Jasper, the town eccentric who happened to be very rich, has just passed away. Instead of leaving his money in a traditional way, he decided that the residents of his beloved small town must compete in a series of games to "win" his money. The townspeople are paired up according to Jasper's predetermined instructions. The pairing choices come to a surprise to most people as they are a bit unexpected. Complicating matters is Jasper's grandson, Carter, who is allowed to play in the game. The residents are suspicious about Carter's participation in the games. What they don't know is that Carter and his grandfather worked together to anonymously help people using Jasper's money. Carter was unsure what to expect when he came to this small town in GA to attend his grandfather's funeral. Even more unexpected are the connections he'll make while in town.

I've also read The Layover and From the Jump by Lacie Waldon and I really enjoyed them both. The cover and plot for The Only Game in Town intrigued me right from the start. This was such a cute and unique spin on a rom-com. I loved the characters, the small town setting, and the ending. Shout out to Jess Reid - she is the best friend that every person should have in life. I can't wait to see what Waldon does next!

I loved the competition aspect of this book. And I was intrigued about the competitor to lovers trope.

The challenges were unique and fun. I wanted to keep reading to learn Jasper’s motivations and obviously the winner.

But unfortunately this book fell a little flat for me. It was dry and hard to root for the main characters. I wanted more chemistry. More details into their interactions. I honestly found Nikki and Ross’ relationship more intriguing and they were supporting characters.

It’s marketed as romance and it’s not that. Women’s fiction, maybe?

This was a heartwarming, funny, feel-good, small town romance that sees the residents of Redford, Georgia paired up to compete for a 10 million dollar bequest. The catch? They have to work together with their assigned partner and figure out a way to get along as they compete in a series of challenges.

Full of heart, this book had me smiling the whole way through and gave off great Stars Hollow vibes! If you like low steam love stories full of a quirky cast of characters this book totally delivers, with one of the most unique plots I've read in a while.

Great on audio with a full cast of excellent narrators. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for an early ALC. This was by far my favorite book by Lacie Waldon to date and I can't recommend it enough, especially for fans of Christina Lauren's Something wilder.

The Only Game in Town
Lacie Waldon
4⭐️

This was such cute and entertaining read! I have loved everything of Waldon’s thus far, and The Only Game in Town was no different. She does such a great job at setting the small-town vibe, you feel like you’re right there with all of the meddling residents.

Blurb: Nothing ever changes in Redford, Georgia. That's what freelance editor Jess Reid loves about her hometown--and part of what keeps her from leaving. Content taking care of her father, a car mechanic who singlehandedly raised her after her mom skipped out, Jess is resigned to a safe, unremarkable existence...until Jasper Wilhelm, the town's eccentric benefactor, dies suddenly and leaves behind the opportunity of a lifetime.

I enjoyed so many things; the small town, the great mix of unique characters, the multiple POV’s, and the game! The story was unique and so well written. I loved that the sweet romance wasn’t the main focus and instead it was the family & friendships of Redford. There were so many quirky relationships and I loved watching them develop and grow thoughout the competition. This one had me feeling all the feels, and laughing out loud so many times. So much great banter. 😂

What I adored;
💚 Small Town Romance
💚 Opposites Attract
💚 Found Family
💚 Closed Door

The Only Game in Town publishes 3/21/23 and you’re going to want to grab a copy!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon is a delightfully sweet romance sure to give any Hallmark rom-com a run for its money.

Style: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Spice: 🌶️
Story: 📚📚📚📚
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Waldon does a great job painting a picture of a homey, small town where everyone is in everyone else’s business. The Only Game in Town was a cute read that had me experiencing the gamut of feels. ❤️🥹😂🥺

Jess and Carter (along with the rest of the residents in Redford, GA) are in competition to win their share of a ten million dollars prize left to the town—or rather left to the pair who score the most points by participating in ridiculous challenges—by Jasper, a wealthy resident who recently passed away. Though not paired up, Jess and Carter find themselves in each others paths and even working together as feelings begin to blossom between them.

This novel will appeal to readers who love small town, opposites attract rom-coms that have completely closed door intimacy scenes. If it weren’t for the ages of the main characters, I would almost have thought I was reading a YA style romance. So, those that prefer a little spice may not appreciate this book as much, though it has many qualities to offer such as colorful character portrayals, redemption, minor twists, a loyal male protagonist, lots of low stakes action, humor, and quality scene building. I enjoyed this read!

While this had a fun concept, it didn’t quite hit for me. Perhaps there were too many narrators, perhaps I didn’t feel connected enough to Jasper to understand why this game even came to be, or perhaps it was the sheer amount of old men flirting with women that could be their daughters (both Ross AND Bobby…). This was quick, at least, I’ll give it that. The ending was unsatisfying, though I enjoyed the prologue.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really really REALLY loved this book of quirky characters in a weird town with a millionaire calling the shots from beyond the grave. It was both funny and heart breaking, and I made myself read it slowly to savor the plot as it unfolded. Super cute story with all the small town charm you could ask for.

I wanted to give this a shot. It was an interesting premise and the multiple POVs was fun. It was nice to see everyone in the town, I was interested to see how it all played out. A lot of other reviews said it was a good book.

But Jess’s dad is young, and sick. And I just don’t want to read that.

DNF at 36%

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This was unfortunately not for me. I'm not a fan of Jess and the beginning of the story felt so over written. Like the author want Jess to be sooo charming and funny but instead I get irritated. I didn't finish it :(