Unfortunately I’ve been in a reading slump recently and I just could not get into this book. I really think I would love this book in the future and will still definitely recommend to my followers.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.

In the small town of Redford, Jasper Wilhelm just passed away. As a wealthy man that loved his town, his will leaves a substantial amount of money to the people of the town, but there’s a catch…they have to play a game to earn it, and only one team will earn it! For Jess, the money would change everything, but when she’s paired up with a girl that hates her, she knows it’ll be a challenge. Meanwhile, Jasper’s grandson Carter was in town for the funeral and was also included in the game. The competition is fierce, but there could be something more to win than just the money.

This was a cute story. The townspeople are all so quirky, their personalities really stood out. Jess was sweet, and really cared about those around her.

The concept of the game and the events was unique, but I think the execution could’ve been better. There were multiple POVs, and seemed like too many to me. There were a lot of pieces to the story that seemed like too much. Things could’ve been simplified a bit.

Overall I’d give it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3!

This story was a bit of a let down for me. From the very beginning of this story, I was sure that I was going to love it. Maybe even a 5 star read! But then I got to the halfway mark and I honestly felt like the book wasn't going to end. It was so long and drawn out. The book would have been so much better at half the length. Unfortunately, I feel like this author just isn't going to be one I pick up in the future. All of her reads have been very 'ehh' for me.

This fun novel is set in a small town in Georgia, where the rich benefactor of the town dies and it’s announced that there will be a competition to inherit his fortune. The book is primarily told from three perspectives - Jess, a woman in her 20s who lives in the town; Nikki, her nemesis who she ends up paired with for the competition; and Carter, the grandson of the dead benefactor who has never come to the town before the funeral but stays for the competition and has an instant connection with Jess; with a few chapters from the perspective of Jess’s dad as well.

Unlike Lacie Waldon’s first two books which were more romances, this book is a bit of a combination of genres, though there is still a very cute slow burn romance too. But it’s also a quirky small town novel, plus the competition gives it a dash of The Westing Game and maybe a bit of the feel of a reality competition show too. But it doesn’t feel like too much, it still all adds up to a cute and light book.

Oh, gosh I just loved this book! It felt like I was reading a heartwarming Hallmark movie.

When Jasper Wilhelm passed away (the generous benefactor to the town none of them were aware was him) he has left ten million dollars to the town of Redford to be competed for in exactly the eccentric way he has dictated in his will. Including Jasper pre-arranging all the groups of two (and most of the people are less than happy with these arrangements). Jasper has also included his grandson, Carter, in these pairings to compete for the millions.

The pairings and the tasks Jasper has outlined have forced many of the townspeople of Redford to work together, resolve their differences and put the past behind both for the potential prize and the betterment of their community.

The book closely follows the pairings of Carter and Bryce and Jess and Nikki who demonstrate forgiveness and teamwork and Jess and Carter start to become closer than just friends.

5/5 stars this was a delight!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(ARC from NetGalley) As someone from a small-town in GA, I wasn’t the biggest fan. Although I do agree that the bars have awful music. This book leaned more heavily toward fiction than romance. It mostly focused on the townspeople and the relationships/interactions with the main characters rather than Jess and Carter themselves.
I think if you’re a fan of Virgin River (without the drugs) or Hart of Dixie you’d like this.

“To belong was all she’d ever really wanted. Not even to fit in or be liked, just to be connected to a group of people who were willing to live their lives with her.”

I feel the same way as Jess who is one of the main character in The Only Game in Town. This is a fun read and I fell in love with the colorful characters and the town of Redford.

Thank you NetGalley, GP Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this new book by Lacie Waldon!

Redford is a very Gilmore-esque small town. The families and people know each other. They have a very family type feeling to it - even down to the fights and rivalries. So when the town’s founder passes away and leaves his fortune as winnings for a town game, the claws come out!

Jess is a very colorful character - her teammate, Nikki, is an Instagram Influencer who hates Jess for cheating on her boyfriend in high school. Carter is the grandson to the town founder - he is not very well liked in the town, but his teammate, Bryce, is willing to give him a chance.

Friendships and romance is formed through the challenge and in the end, the challenge does more than give two people each 5 million dollars. It reminds the townspeople of their love & friendship for each other.

I really liked this book, but I’m also a fan of Lacie’s other books as well. I loved that this one was a mix of women’s fiction with some romance thrown in. I definitely give it a solid four stars.

Huge thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I am really enjoying Lacie Waldon’s books. I loved the small town and the competition that takes place . The main character is charming and live seeing her get her hea.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The Only Game in Town
by Lacie Waldon
Pub Date: 21 Mar 2023

I loved Lacie Waldon's "From the Jump..." and was excited to get this ARC. While I didn't have as strong feelings this time around, I did enjoy it. There are multiple points of view which was interesting especially since you get the "mean girl" as one of our narrators. I actually appreciated seeing some behind the scenes with her beyond just her mean girl persona. This book had quirky characters in a small town with community members competing against other for a monetary prize. Our hero, Carter, is the grandson of the benefactor who is an outsider to the small town. Jess, our heroine, is invested in the prize to help her newly diagnosed father who is sick. There is some insta-love stuff that goes on, but there is also a lot of cute and funny moments that happen. I would say the romance is not the main focal point either. The "game" and the happenings surrounding that is more the main story. This is a decent read, and I will still check out the next thing the author has to offer her readers.

3.5 stars

This cover caught my eye and then I saw that it was written by Lacie Waldon and I knew I had to read this one.

The premise for this novel is somewhat silly. A rich, muchloved member of this small town dies, but not before setting up a game to see who will win his fortune of 10 million dollars. Odd, a bit unbelievable, but has the potential to be heartwarming.

I really enjoyed the two main characters, Jess and Carter. They were charming and played well off each other. The downfall for this book, for me, was there were a few too many characters. There just seemed like too much was going on and it was hard to truly get to know Jess and Carter because of that.
Plus this book was over 400 pages...way too long, and it dragged at times.

This book was just ok for me. Enjoyable but forgettable.

The Only Game in Town by Lacey Waldon
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The aspect I enjoyed most about this cute, small town romance is that the third-person perspective allowed the reader to see inside the minds of several characters aside from the main couple. The reader is able to empathize with characters whose behavior is unpleasant at times and this strengthened the book.
What worked:
1. The shifting perspectives. Jess Reed and Carter Barclay might be the main couple, but there are many stories within their story.
2. Jess’s dedication to her small town of Redford, Georgia led her to make decisions that hurt her emotionally at times, but also ultimately made her a stronger person.
3. Jess and Carter’s relationship was adorable.
4. The game that Carter’s grandfather, Jasper Wilhelm, set up and the pairings he created leads to mishaps, hijinks, and often hilarious situations.
5. The reasoning behind much of Jess’ behavior and her desire to help her family and friends makes her a lovely character.
What didn’t:
1. Nikki and her friends are horrible to Jess in the beginning and she seemingly puts up with it, never fighting back. I could not understand why she would return to town when she was constantly bullied by the three women. Nikki was almost cartoonish in her villainy. Her character arc makes up for it, but it was a little ridiculous at first.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this funny, endearing read.

Thank you NetGalley, GP Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this new book by Lacie Waldon!

I adore a story about a small town! These characters felt like coming home to a big hug after a long day! Nikki was one of my favorite characters and she reminded me a lot of a character I read last summer in Katy Birchall’s book (The Secret Bridesmaid) very multi layered and “more than meets the eye”. I laughed out loud when Carter gave Jess the heimlich in one scene!

The romance is sweet and closed door, I didn’t really feel like the story focused on that as much as just a general sense of belonging and relationships/connections. This is the kind of story I look for when I want to reread a book and just feel comfort. I highly recommend and will be adding to my shelf forever. I look forward to reading more by Lacie in the future!

Book Review: The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: .5🌶️
This review may contain minor spoilers.

The Only Game in Town follows the town of Redford after the local millionaire Jasper Wilhelm leaves 10 million dollars of his inheritance to the winner of a town competition. He pairs rivals and unlikely friends together in teams of 2 - and if your partner loses out, so do you. This book includes small town romance, second chance friendship, and slow burn.

This story was a sweet Hallmark-style romance that focused on more than just the FMC & MMC relationship. I was very invested in the other "rivals'' and how each pairing was able to mend their bonds. And it was set to the fun backdrop of a field day style competition throughout the town.

I enjoyed Jess' character, and loved Nikki (plus it's my name!). Her character has more depth than I expected to see out of someone I thought was the antagonist from the start. Definitely feel a little jilted that we didn't get to see more of her romance through this book. I liked the option that was offered up in the story!

Overall I didn't love the story and some things felt predictable. The main characters didn't hold my attention like the secondary ones did. They got a few POV chapters but I would have enjoyed more from their perspective. The games and shenanigans did make me smile & I definitely think it is worth the read.

I received an eARC from NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for my honest review.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon is a funny, romantic comedy, set in a small town, that made me laugh.

Story Recap:
Redford Georgia is a quiet small town until it’s benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm, dies and leaves behind an opportunity for the residents. Jasper has devised an exciting high-stakes series of games where the winner wins Ten Million Dollars! The catch is that Jasper has already paired up the contestants, and nobody is happy with their partner.

Carter is Jasper’s nephew, and he arrives in town to coordinate and officiate the games to ensure his grandfather’s wishes are granted. He’s heard stories of Redford but never expected to spend a summer there to execute his grandfather’s will. Jess is a freelance editor who grew up with her single dad, Ross, a garage mechanic. Nikki is Jess’s arch enemy and mean girl and Jess’s partner in the games.

My Thoughts:
This book is just good old entertainment from cover to cover. I was immediately drawn into the book and I had a great time until it was finished. I loved the characters, the plot, the games, and the small town of Redford, Georgia.

I’m not sure that the plot is a believable one, but that’s just fine with me! I just went with it and so should you, otherwise, you’ll miss out on a delightful, and funny, heartwarming story. I loved how the teams were already formed by Jasper, who must have delighted in teaming up the arch-enemies. I imagine his only regret is that he couldn’t see the results of his machinations.

There are four points of view in the story, but they are well-marked and I never felt like I was confused. I liked how the different POVs gave me more insight not only into their character but all the characters in the story.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Only Game in Town to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a delightful read! Set in Redford, GA it follows Jess Reid, a freelance writer who is content with her small town life. That is until the town millionaire dies and leaves his fortune to whomever can win the game he has created. The catch? He’s already paired off everyone in town including his grandson, Carter Barclay, who is no local to Redford. The stakes are high and tensions are even higher, especially between Jess and Carter. Who will win the prize?

The author has done an excellent job of bringing the eccentric characters and small-town setting to life. The novel is full of spirit and I love the chemistry between Jess and Carter, a romance that has many ups and downs that keeps you turning the page. Overall, "The Only Game in Town" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a bit of humor and a unique twist. It's a funny, quirky, and heartwarming novel that will leave you feeling good long after you finish it.

Thank you Putnam for the advanced copy on NetGalley.

Thank you to @PHRAudio for a free audiobook and to Putnam Books for a digital ARC.
The Only Game in Town has a unique layout in that it's 4 POVs. Two POVs are the MC and the love interest. The other two POVs add some varying perspective on what's going on in the town. I think if I had known in advance that this wasn't as much of a romance story as it is about a town coming together, I maybe would have had different expectations. Or maybe I was just in the mood for romance and there wasn't enough for me in this book. The story started off kinda slow because it's all about the town and the competition they're in to win $10 million dollars. Once the romance got started, it was more interesting to me. Plus by that point I really wanted to know who was going to win the money and how. It's still a feel-good story which I always prefer and I thought the ending was really cute. The audiobook was interesting because I started listening after I had started reading. Some of the characters have thick Southern accents that I didn't expect. So of course, when I went back to the ebook, I tried to hear it in their Southern voice. If you like sweet small-town stories with an emphasis on the tight-knit community, you will probably like this one. There are some funny side characters that add a little flavor to the town. Although this wasn't my favorite Lacie Waldon book, I'll definitely keep reading her books because From the Jump is one of my favorites.
3.5 stars

This book was SO FUN to read. While there are serious topics mentioned (cancer, alcoholism) Jess, Carter, Nikki, Bryce, and more have so much fun playing the game and learning and unlearning the things they thought they knew about each other. It’s an homage to chosen families and communities that take care of each other. It’s heartwarming without being cheesy. And it’s funny! Highly recommend this hug of a book.

this book is a new fav. I loved the small town and everything that came with it. I adored the unique choice of narration and the range of POVs that we got. Each character was so unique and complex. I absolutely loved the friendships, unity, and love. not just in the romance but in the small-town relationships. Waldon has a way with words that makes it so easy to fall in love with the story and characters making time fly by.

When I read the synopsis of this book, it gave me Amazing Race vibes. That intrigued me enough to pick it up.

After the town's eccentric millionaire passes, his grandson Carter and the town's residents find that he has left $10 million...to the winners of a challenge he devised. There are predetermined teams that cannot be changed and pair up unlikely candidates.

There is a side story involving the romance between Carter and local resident Jess, but the emphasis of the story is on the town and its residents.

Quirky, unique, what a fun read!