I am so sad about this book. I was needing a football romance so badly and unfortunately I didn't get what I was looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Ella, a cheerleader who is studying abroad in Nashville, Tennessee, wants nothing more than to make the time she has in the U.S and live her life to the fullest. While there, she meets Hudson, a football player who is working through his own life and trying not to struggle from past memories. As they both see more of each other, Ella and Hudson decide staying in each others lives is inevitable and to make the most of the situation.

I enjoyed this cute book, but at some parts had problems with spelling and grammar issues. I also found that some scenes felt repetitive.

3.75 stars.

A no-strings-attached arrangement between people wildly attracted to each other? What could go wrong!? Sports romances can be a hard sell for me, but I'm happy to say that this one delivered! I loved the chemistry between Hudson and Ella, and the unexpected twists on the familiar sports romance tropes. I know a little bit about football and cheerleading, which made the story that much more fun. When you added in a healthy dose of spice, this one was a touchdown for me!

I struggled with this one. I felt like the initial meeting between Ella and Hudson was awkward and forced. It didn’t seem believable. I also felt like the occasional references to Jamie seemed out of place and though it tried to create tension it missed the mark. I also felt like the build of Ella and Hudson’s relationship was lacking. There wasn’t enough banter or tension or yearning for me. Unfortunately this one just overall missed the mark for me.

I love a quick easy sports romance to get my brain reset after a traumatic fantasy series leaves my brain mush. This is a friends with benefits to lovers trope and it has all the good feels you need. I love Hudson and Ella’s chemistry and how their relationship progresses. I love how they support each other and help heal past trauma. This is a quick easy read that will leave you feeling all giddy cute. A perfect summer read.

5⭐️

I really enjoyed this! It was a really cute read, even though it definitely breaks some NCAA rules. I LOVE dual perspective romance books, especially when the MMC is not a cocky bastard. Hudson is an All-American golden retriever gem of a man, who (of course /s) is perfect at cheer despite not practicing for years. Ella is a British cheer bombshell who uses her study abroad experience to expand her horizons outside of Oxford and her snotty ex-boyfriend. I kind of wish we saw more of Jamie (the ex) simply because he went too quietly. There was barely any drama, the drama we know about happened behind closed doors and through the words of Hudson (in the perspective of Ella). Sourdough was my favorite character and I looked for him everywhere! I love when romance books have cats, it really elevates the world building.

4/5 stars
This story was a wonderfully engaging mix of tension, fun, and slow-burning emotion that had me smiling nearly the whole way through. There’s something undeniably compelling about a no-strings-attached setup you know is doomed to catch fire, and watching Ella and Hudson struggle to keep things casual while clearly falling deeper with every glance was completely addictive. The writing flows with ease—witty, heartfelt, and full of charm—and the overall vibe is cozy and feel-good in the best way. While it didn’t hit every single high note for me, it was still a fun, swoony read that delivered most of what I hoped for.

This was the perfect summer read!

It’s sporty, spicy and the main characters are chef’s kiss 💋

I loved the thoughtfulness and tenderness shared between Hudson and Ella!

🏈 He’s the quarterback.
📣 She’s the cheerleader studying abroad.
🏈 He takes her home to his family.
📣 She’s ambitious and he fully supports her!
🌶️ Kick’s off early!

Game On is a great romance, but it also deals with some heavier topics. It is a sports romance in which the FMC Ella and the MMC Hudson each are athletes and each is dealing with his/her demons. This book starts out with a one night stand, turns into a forbidden romance, and is a college and sports romance throughout. There is not third act breakup, but there is a moment of tension. Add into all of that the chemistry between the main characters and this is definitely a book worth reading. Ella and Hudson make the perfect couple and Ella's ex is a character you love to hate. Hudson is a star athlete in more than one sport, is studying the classics and intends to obtain his master's degree in the classics. Clearly he is incredibly intelligent, driven and talented. Ella is a talented athlete with a strong sense of self, a sense of adventure and a competitive nature. At the beginning of the book, she approaches Hudson first and she calls him on his behavior right off the bat. I really enjoyed this book and am glad I found author Ki Stephens.

eeek thank u ki and team for the arc !!! this book was so cutesy, i feel like i needed a sports romance palate cleanser

ella and hudson are so cute and their chemistry is just THERE.

i feel like me personally a fwb trope can go one way or the other but this one pleasantly surprised me. bc why was hudson so down bad !! and i really appreciated that even in a relationship or a whatever you want to call it he still gave ella the space and autonomy to be her own person and her own time to settle into this new place

on another note FUCK her ex (derogatory)

honestly this book was a super quick and fun read, i read over half of it while i was at the salon (still at the salon as im writing this review actually) and i would recommend !!

This was my first read from this author, and overall, I’d call it a solid “okay.” The storyline pulled me in, and the main characters developed nicely. Their backstories were heartfelt, and I loved the way they showed up for each other time and again. However, it dragged a little in places, and while I enjoyed it, I don’t think I would pick it up again.

Game On by Ki Stephens | ARC Review

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This was my first Ki Stephens novel, and I was excited to see her writing style and the characters she creates.

3.5⭐️//1.5🌶️

There are few things that I liked about this novel. I liked the relationship between Hudson and Ella, how they were supportive of each other, and how much they helped one another achieve their dreams. The story idea was interesting, the backstory for the characters was well plotted, and it was nice to see how they came from different circumstances, but the sparks between them were burning bright.

I found that there were a little too many scenes, that were not necessarily important to the main story, and it felt a little crowded. The transitions between the chapters felt a little chopped, at it was a little hard to get through some of the scenes. Not sure if the story with Ella's ex was entirely necessary, as it didn't serve much to the plot, except for some conflict in the second half of the book. I think I would have clicked more with this book if it had a slower burn with more yearning, and gave the main characters the option to build a friendship based on trust (which is an important part of this book), before they got together.

Overall, it was an easy read. There were a few things that were not my favorite, but perhaps other might enjoy.

Genre 📚: New Adult Contemporary, Romance
Tropes 💁‍♀️: Sports romance, College romance, Friends with benefits, Football player x Cheerleader
Rep ✔️: Main character with OCD
CW ⚠️: Descriptive sex scenes, house fire, abandonment, emotionally distant parents
Rating ⭐️: 3/5

Jesus. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this much spice since Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. I kind of knew what I was in for, with the no-strings-attached premise, but damn. I was definitely clutching my non-existent pearls.

Rather than a hockey player and figure skater, like Icebreaker, the novel Game On follows a football player and cheerleader. The star quarterback Hudson is too focused on his studies to have a relationship, and the British exchange student Ella is too distraught over a recent breakup. But, ya know… they meet, they have crackling chemistry, and suddenly, all of that is out the window.

The first half was pretty hard to get through, as Hudson and Ella were constantly going back and forth — flirting and then ignoring, wanting to be together and then not. Once they finally agreed to try a casual relationship, things got moving and they got, admittedly, very sweet. Not exactly a sweeping romance, but sweet nonetheless. This is a great read for anyone who wants a nice, simple story with little drama and a whole lotta sexy time.

**Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Game On will be released on September 9, 2025.

If you're looking for a fun romance between a football player and a cheerleader with gread slowburn,chemistry and a fun group of characters then this is the book to pick up.
Ella and Hudson are so intense and delighftul

Game On hits the ground running as readers are thrust into the story with Ella leaving Oxford on an exchange program to Nashville for cheer amid a breakup with her longtime boyfriend.

I’m not exactly sure why Stephens felt the need to characterize Ella as freshly out of a breakup. It didn’t add anything significant or worthwhile to the story other than unnecessary drama near the end of the novel that was resolved quickly.

One of the reasons I rated Game On three stars is because there was too much detailed information about cheer and football. I skimmed through too many pages of the technicalities of cheer and football. A cursory overview of these scenes would have sufficed.

The chemistry between Ella and Hudson was good. It wasn’t explosive nor was it overly exciting. However, I will say that there were a couple of spicy scenes that were well done.

There was what I thought was going to be drama with Ella, Hudson, and another character, but that turned out to be something completely different and more compelling than Ella and Hudson’s story. If there’s a second novel, I could be convinced to read it if it’s about a certain character.

Overall, Game On was fine. There wasn’t anything great about it, but there wasn’t anything egregious about it either.

Ella, an Oxford competitive cheerleader, is moving abroad to Nashville for a year to join their renowned cheer team. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her, she meets Hudson at a bar on her first night, where she has an amazing one-night stand. However, with no fraternization rule, Ella just getting out of a relationship and both being busy trying to achieve their goals, decided to remain friends. But with their undeniable chemistry, this doesn't prove easy.

I'm giving a star just for Sourdough, the real star of this book.

I know nothing about either sport, so I couldn't understand most of the technical jargon, but I liked how it showed research was done. Hudson is a man of surprises. I was not expecting Mr. Quarterback to want to pursue a career in Classics; he also has a history of cheerleading, and his adorable relationship with his cat, Sourdough.

Hudson is a hot mess, but somehow, I did not get as annoyed as I thought I would because I found him endearing. Maybe I could see myself in him and his anxious habits, the way he overthinks and gets in his head. His heart is in the right place, but sometimes, his execution can be shaky. Did I mention he has a cat named Sourdough?

The relationship between Ella and Hudson involved a lot of back-and-forth, which sometimes got tiring, but I still think they were cute.

Trope List
- Sports Romance
- Cheerleader x Footballer
- Reformed Player
- One Night Stand
- Friends with Benefits
- MMC has Traumatic OCD

Thank you to Ki Stephens and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

3.5

Ella is looking forward to her study abroad experience. She'll get to cheer for Whitland and squeeze in some road trips with her boyfriend. Only he dumps her the day they're supposed to fly to America together. Still reeling from the breakup, Ella lets her roommates take her out, and she ends up meeting Hudson. The two have an instant connection, but their night together comes with a rude awakening the next morning when she learns of his reputation and he finds out she's off-limits.

Read if you like:
-ONS to FWB to Lovers
-Quarterback x Cheerleader
-Off-Limits
-He Supports Her Dreams

Game On was so much fun! It was well written, funny, fresh, and engaging. Despite never having managed to perfect so much of a cartwheel, I would Ella to be instantly relatable thanks to her competitive spirit. It was so satisfying to see her get everything she'd been hoping for out of her study abroad semester. I was rooting for Ella and Hudson, both romantically and in the gym. I'm still smiling over how he stepped up to help her chase her dreams.

Game On was such a sweet book! I loved the metal health rep and both of the main characters!! Would recommend 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️I love love love Ki Stephens she always delivers

Love love love how spunky and fun this book was! Will be reading the next if the author decides to write more in this universe! Also the cover is so cute?!

Firstly, I absolutely adore Ki and love her books. Unfortunately, I don't think I was the right audience for this one.

Thank you SMP for the opportunity to read this early!!