Enjoyed! Not too much plot and while I appreciate a no-third-act-breakup, there could have been a little more conflict toward the end.

I’ve read and enjoyed many of sports romance. However, Game On just wasn’t for me.

Now don’t get me wrong the book started out pretty strong. But then after those first initial chapters the book just fell completely flat. It got so bad that there were several times I considered DNFing but I pushed through because mutuals expressed so much love for this book. And they kept telling me this book gives Becka Mack vibes. I regretfully inform you that was not the case for me.

Pros:
- I loved the cheerleading element. It’s not often we get a sports romance where the MFC is a cheerleader. I loved that element and how it was incorporated into the story.
- Hudson, Our MMC, was literally the only character I enjoyed from start to finish. His past trauma leading to his cautious nature towards relationships was relatable. Honestly the man deserves better than Ella. But what can we do.
- Sourdough the cat, enough said.

Cons:
- Speaking of Ella, our MFC, I could not stand her. She was a rash, immature and whiny. The whole time I kept thinking she’s supposed to be a college student yet she’s acting like a toddler. Plush the lack of respect and empathy she showed towards Hudson pissed me off to know end. Like come on girly give the man a chance to speak and explain.
- The romance. Ella and Hudson’s whole dynamic never clicked for me. They had a couple of nice spicy scenes but nothing truly memorable.
- The plot, you know it’s bad when a book constantly has you scratching your head going, “what’s the point of this again”. Multiple times throughout the story I lost what the point of the book actually was.

Overall, sadly this book wasn’t for me. Even though it wasn’t for me I’d still recommend it to sports romance genre fans. Lastly Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was definitely a fun cute read. There wasn’t a third act breakup, a slight altercation if you will but not a break up and I liked that. I loved the slight nod to OCD and her accepting and not trying to change him or offer solutions.

I want to thank the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

It was a cute story but definitely a little too YA for my liking. Feel like the fire part would’ve been a bit bigger given his anxieties. Also the cheer stunt parts were just a little too technical and confusing to follow. All in all a cute book but not necessarily a re-read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

One night stand + forced proximity= mutual pining 😍

Ella, originally from Englad, travels to Nashville to study abroad and participate in Whitland's cheer program. On her first night, she meets Hudson at a bar. Hudson plays football, and I loved that he wasn't your "normal" college football MMC.

This was the perfect mix of funny and serious, and the chemistry between these two was so well-done!

Tropes:
Forced proximity
Cheer x football
Strangers to lovers
MMC with OCD
Southern boy x English girl

I liked the concept for this book, but the characters felt flat to me. I didn’t ever care if they ended up together, and felt like the frequent time jumps did not help in the character development.

I did enjoy the end of the story, but it felt slow to get there.

I really liked the characters and their relationship dynamic. I do think the book will find an audience with those wanting a fun college romance. HOWEVER, the plot devices were crazy and took me out of it. A British cheerleader with a scholarship to cheer in the US? She barely sees her ex Jamie on campus but he is a huge part of her life story? Oh and MMC has a secret cheer past? Just was hard to settle in because a lot of things felt inorganic

Was it a semi predictable college romance? Yes. Did I love it? Yes. Give me a series, please! I'll devour an interconnected friends sports romance series every single time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC of Game On!

This is a fun, fast paced, and really enjoyable sports romance. With duel POV, a whole cast of characters with really great chemistry, and some spice thrown in, this book was hard to put down. I also loved that we get such a good look at cheerleading and the hard work that goes into the sport.

The negatives for me were that the MCs were both frustrating at times and the third act conflict just felt like childish, unnecessary drama. This is pretty typical of college sports romances though.

Overall, I enjoyed Game On and look forward to reading more from Ki Stephens in the future.

DNF @ 38%

I’m not the biggest fan of college romance in general so going in I knew there would be a chance I didn’t enjoy this book but I figured I’d give it a try. Unfortunately I just could not bring myself to finish it. I dreaded picking it up and I was struggling every time I read it because I was so bored. At almost 40% pretty much nothing had happened. There was no plot to keep me interested, leaving only rhetoric relationship which also fell flat for me.
The book starts out with the two main characters (whose names I can’t really even be bothered to remember) having a one night stand. FMC learns that MMC has a playboy reputation and gets mad at him. At the same time, he learns that she’s on the cheerleading team and they can’t date because of no fraternization rules (or something. Idk).
Despite blowing him off, FMC gets irrationally angry at MMC when he says they can’t date. Even though she literally said she didn’t want to. Also he could’ve just said it’s because of the rules. Despite this they decide to become friends but there’s some lingering tension and animosity between them. This is where I gave up. I just felt like they were being so irrational and immature (yes, even for college students). There was also the thing where MMC is considering studying abroad at FMC’s school next year which seemed a little impulsive considering they literally just met.
If you like college sports romance maybe you’ll like this one? It felt a little too ya but with spice which is not my fave. It always makes me a little uncomfy when I have to read about the characters acting very young and then having explicit on page sex. Just not my vibe

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Griffin for the ARC!

Game On was such a cute college sports romance story that I thought really delivered on the fun vibes. It’s the kind of book you can fly through in a day and it keeps your attention. Ella and Hudson are both incredibly likable leads with great banter, and their dynamic had me smiling as I read. I loved how their “no strings” plan very predictably spirals into something real. If you like this trope, you're sure to like this story. The spice level is definitely there, but it’s balanced with emotional moments too which I appreciated.

If I had one critique, it’s that I wish there had been just a little more drama or emotional stakes to push the characters further. Everything wrapped up a bit neatly which was great, but I wouldn’t have minded a few more bumps in the road. But that being said, I never felt like the story dragged..
Overall, this was a really solid, feel-good romance. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something fun, steamy, and all-around entertaining.

🚨ARC Review Drop!🚨
I’ve read my fair share of sports romance novels over the years, but this one? It completely surprised me—in the best way possible! 🙌
This book takes a bold twist on the genre with a footballer-turned-cheerleader storyline (yes, you read that right!) and somehow manages to be both totally unique and satisfyingly classic. I didn’t know how I’d feel going in, but WOW—I was hooked from the very first meet-cute.
It all kicks off with a one-night stand that sparks off-the-charts chemistry between Ella and Hudson 🔥 From there, you’re taken on a journey not just of romance, but of ambition, growth, and chasing dreams.
And okay, can we PLEASE talk about the side characters? cough Levi cough—I’m gonna need his story next 👀
If you’re into sports romance and looking for something fresh that still hits all the feels, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won’t regret it 💯💋

Tropes
One night stand
no strings attached
college romance
competitive sports
cat daddy
southern boy and English girl
OCD representation

Spice - 2 chili peppers

Game On is a flirty, fast-paced college romance full of swoony tension, fierce ambition, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Ella and Hudson are total opposites on paper—she’s a British cheerleader trying to make her mark in a new country, and he’s the all-American quarterback with strict focus and zero time for distractions. Naturally, they’re completely drawn to each other.

The “no-strings-attached” setup feels familiar in the best way, but what really worked here was the layered character development underneath all the heat. Ella’s drive to prove herself on the cheer squad gives her a refreshing sense of independence, and Hudson’s struggle with pressure, expectations, and control added depth beyond the typical sports-romance hero.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s the way they challenge and support each other that makes this story feel more than surface-level. Plus, the college setting—complete with team drama, late-night study sessions, and those “one bed” vibes—makes it the perfect escapist read.

Perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy, sports romance, or anyone who loves the “falling for the one person you swore you wouldn’t” trope.

2 stars out of 5.

I thought this book started off pretty good with the first chapter but then it fell flat. It was hard for me to pick this back up and I almost DNF. I did love all the cheerleading parts since I was a college cheerleader but I felt the book didn't really have anything going on. After the ending I still have many unanswered questions like what was going on between Levi and Sammy? Maybe I missed it. This also read like a YA to me so maybe this wasn't geared towards my age group (30s). Overall, this was a miss for me.

In Game On, we meet Ella who is spending a year in Nashville and joining the Whitland University cheer squad. Ella was dumped by her long time boyfriend right before she left England so she is trying to have a stress free time in the states. But then a hookup with the star quarterback Hudson changes things for her. She tried to stick to no strings attached with him but it got complicated. You can guess where this is going next.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute, low stakes college romance. I think this had the potential to be a really great book but fell a bit flat for me. I kept wondering when something was going to happen. Give me more drama! lol

We have Ella Davies who transfers from Oxford to a college in Nashville for the year. This opens up a new opportunity for her to cheer on a more competitive team and expand on her skills.

A fresh breakup leads to a one night stand with our MMC, Hudson. There is instant chemistry and pretty good spice. But, I really needed more from these characters. I felt like Ella was a bit rash and bratty at times. Maybe I’m too old, but the final time she got all worked up towards Hudson just seemed very immature, especially when he was trying to explain and talk about things. Back off the man, Ella! He’s doing his best, lol.

We also find that Hudson has some past trauma that has caused him to develop a cautious personality with a need for control over his environment. I think this would have been really great to expand on some more. He was my favorite character and I have a soft spot for him, but he was just missing that constancy and oomph to make me really fall for him.

The dreaded ex, Jamie, kept coming back begging for another chance and this had the potential to create some nice drama and tension! I really thought more was going to happen with him or that maybe he was hiking up with another cheerleader on the team. But, alas, nothing happened with him either. *sigh*

Sourdough, the cat was my favorite character I think. Because of the name of course. And the nickname “sour” was so cute!

As a former cheerleader, I have to say I appreciated all the technical details of the cheer routines, stunts and skills. I think with a general audience, it could be confusing though. I found myself skimming over a lot of these types of details after the first 25% of the book. My opinion is that a lot of the cheer (and football) details could be removed without taking away from the story at all!

I’m a bit confused about Levi and Sammy. I don’t know what was happening with them, though the book alluded to something? But, it was never really concluded in the end and I was left wondering what is going on or if there will be another book to explain what is going on between them, maybe? Things ended very abruptly and I wish there was more of a conclusion for the side characters.

Overall, I think this was a cute read, it just wasn’t for me!

DNF'd at 41%. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

I tried. I really wanted to get into this book, but I couldn't.

The good: I love the OCD representation in a way that's not "ha ha I like everything neat and tidy". I love Sourdough the cat, and I appreciate that the secondary characters had more depth. Almost too much depth actually: I found I cared more about the love story between Levi and Sammy (?) than I did Hudson and Ella.

The bad: The author did waaaay too much telling and not showing. Why did Hudson psychoanalyze himself to the reader in chapter 15? Why not just show us that Hudson is reluctant to start a relationship due to his familial history via uncertainty, hesitation, etc. No need to force feed us info, trust that your readers can get to your point without handholding.

This is an instalove-instalust book for sure. Chapter 1 was wild; we had a breakup, a setting change, and a one night stand in one chapter. Let us get to know the characters before putting them through the gambit!

A minor thing that was actually huge: The chapter that included the first football game was from Hudson's POV. Why is this important? Because apparently Hudson doesn't know that the quarterback is not on the field for kickoff. So man should've caused a flag and 15 yard penalty for excess players on the field or something. But what do I know.

Honestly, this book felt very surface level and like it was trying to just take advantage of the current sports romance craze. Just wasn't for me!

A fun and spicy fast paced sports romance!

Ella Davies, is all set and ready to leave Oxford to go on her study abroad year in Nashville with her boyfriend, when out of the blue he breaks up with her. Ella is determined to make the most of her time in America and refuses to let her broken heart get her down. Quickly making friends on her new cheer squad, things are already looking up for her when she meets Whitland University's star quarterback, Hudson Fox. When their one night of passion quickly turns into a morning disaster, the two decide to keep their distance, but can the two fight their pull towards one another or will they tumble?

Thoughts and Spoilers:

This book was fun and an easy read! I usually love a college sports romance and this fell a little flat for me? I enjoyed it but it wouldn't be on the top of a reread list for me. Ella was resilient and strong willed. Being dumped hours before a flight to a new country in which her and her ex had PLANNED to study abroad together?! She handled it really well honestly! Sometime her choices confused me. Being judgmental and storming out of Hudson's place after their one night, but then getting in his face a few days later when he's ignoring her in a small group setting? Seemed a little bit immature maybe? Her family dynamic was super interesting but brushed over a bit and I wish we could have dove deeper into some of that! Similar with Hudson, he had a really interesting back story with some trauma responses that were mentioned but not flushed out as much as i wish they could have been. The two together?! Talk about TENSION! The chemistry between the two was *chefs kiss* and I love when a "no strings attached" is setup, but from the very beginning there were always strings! The romance was a bit spicy, but I wouldn't go giving it tons of chilis, as the scenes were always pretty short or not super detailed or explicit.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

This book didn’t end up being for me, the premise seemed good but it just wasn’t delivering for me. For this being college characters in their early twenties, there seemed to be a lot of immaturity that I feel you’d see more in high school aged characters. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters, and the pacing of the book seemed off. Also a personal preference, but I don’t like pop culture references in books, and it seemed to happen every couple of pages.

3.5

So this book seemed right up my alley but fell a little short for my expectations. The middle was great but I didn't love the beginning or end...they just didn't feel as cohesive as the rest of the book. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced but the overall concept was interesting.

I liked the vulnerability in the MMC and the lack of toxic masculinity with cheerleading involved. I just wish some of the themes and characters themselves were a bit more developed.

Overall, it was an easy quick read but one I also was happy to finish as I was ready to move onto the next.

3.5⭐ (Rounded Up To 4)

"Game On" was a pretty cute and fast-paced read, I binged it in an evening.

I'm usually a sucker for a Sports Romance, the author did included some tropes that I don't particularly love but overall I thought this story was enjoyable. Ella and Hudson were very likeable main characters and I really enjoyed their story towards the second half of this book.

This was a new to me author and I'll probably check out more of her work in the future.

Thank you Ki Stephens , Net Galley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin Griffin for proving me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.