I just finished reading Game On by Ki Stephens, and I absolutely loved it! This book was such an enjoyable ride from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. Super grateful to have been given an ARC of this book, I've loved everything Ki has written!! I loved how vulnerable they were able to be with each other. Despite the temporariness of their situation they couldn’t help but feel so comfortable and safe in their relationship!

This was 3.5-4 stars for me!

The start was a bit rough and rushed but as the characters were introduced and the plot thickened, I really enjoyed this one.

I love the characters dynamics and the way they helped balance one another plus the banter was enjoyable. I'm not the biggest football girlie, but I enjoyed tYOGASIXhe cheerleader x football chemistry as the FMC and MMC connected.

If you enjoy a sports romance, I do recommend this one.

i am in love with how cute this book was, this was my first book of ki’s and it certainly wont be my last 🤭

i dont typically gravitate towards books with cheer in it because i grew up doing competitive cheerleading and sometimes the inaccuracies of how the sport is portrayed can get a little grating BUT im really happy i decided to give it a go with this one! i loved the excitement towards the sport and enjoyed how this book didnt come off as a typical quarterback/cheerleader would in most other forms of media.

this was a fun, quick, fluffy read that also handled some harder topics well! the pacing was great and it felt engaging enough that i could have sat through and read the whole thing start to finish but forced myself to enjoy it a bit slower lol.

if youre looking for a fun newish take on a sports romance i cannot recommend this one enough 🤭

Overall I enjoyed this book. The story took off at a quick pace right from the start and I didn’t want to put it down.

At first it seems like insta-love with their first interaction at the bar and then again at his house but things quickly turn from insta-love to enemies to lovers. I liked how the author made both characters genuinely annoyed with one another and had Hudson even slam the door in Ella’s face after kicking her out of his house. In that moment you can just feel the tension/angst brewing between the two characters and you know it’s going to be a good book. Their chemistry was definitely palpable, more so from Hudson’s character than Ella’s. Hudson’s character felt a little more realistic to me. His mannerisms and personality shined through more than Ella’s. Ella’s personality fell kind of flat. It felt like all her character really offered up were constant eye rolls and lifting her chin in defiance. Her character was giving Anastasia from Icebreaker vibes… high strung and tightly wound.

The first half of the book was fun seeing their characters interact and grow from enemies to friends. Honestly, the enemies part didn’t really last long at all. After a while though the pacing started to slow down and I began to lose interest. I think Stephens did a really good job with writing her spicier scenes although once they started back up again they were a little too frequent. It was like back to back to back smut scenes.

If you are someone who appreciates the sports side of a sports romance then I think you will enjoy this book. The author did a really good job at bringing her readers into the world of cheerleading. She used a lot of technical terms and went into detail about the moves they were performing.

I would have loved to see Stephens dive just a little deeper with her conflict scenes in the books. It felt like everything was just mild and this is what made the book start to become a little boring after a while. We would get a taste of a conflict starting to take form but then it would fizzle out and go nowhere. I feel like there were a lot of missed opportunities. It would have been interesting to see Claire pull the mean girl card a little more than her character did or have Jamie bring on the ex-boyfriend drama a lot more than he did.

All in all it was a good book and I’m glad I got the opportunity to receive an ARC for Game On by Ki Stephens.

This was such a cute sports romance! I loved the cheerleading aspect and all of the nontoxic masculinity from Hudson with his participation on the cheerleading team. It was such a nice change from the 'star quarterback' trope. He was a really healthy, well adjusted MMC. I always enjoy the 'no strings attached trope' because both always quickly develop feelings and it's so tension filled. The chemistry between Ella and Hudson was OFF THE CHARTS. It was so, so good.

The ex drama and the Oxford drama increased the stakes and was just enough conflict and tension to provide a satisfying ending.

Thank you SMP Romance for the advanced review copy!

Game On by Ki Stephens is a fun, fast-paced romance that blends witty banter with sizzling chemistry. The characters’ dynamic is engaging, making it a lighthearted and enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ki Stephens and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book early. Girl from England does a study abroad in Nashville? Um yes it’s an in immediate intrigue. Ella and Hudson are our MCs in this book and it felt like a typical college romance in all of the best ways. I
We have our cheerleading FMC, and our football star MMC who one night meet, have a one night stand only to continue as an FWB relationship moving forward. This book definitely leaned into some of the classic college sports romance tropes, and it was still enjoyable. Ella, our FMC was headstrong and confident, especially as she moved from England for an entire year for a study abroad program. She is a student of Oxford which comes up later on in this book. Girl knew what she wanted, and eventually she got it. Hudson our MMC, was definitely the more sensitive one in their dynamic. He has dreams of taking on a master’s program. Which is part of the major conflict in this book of “where am i going?” after this school year. As Oxford is one of Hudson’s options, and drama ensues from there.

This book was fun, enjoyable and there was some decent spice in it as well.

The spice level for me would be: 2 🌶️

If you are a fan of sports romances set in a college setting, you will enjoy this one. This book comes out September 9th and would be a perfect read for that “back to school” feeling. I will definitely read more from Ki Stephen’s in the future.

⭑.ᐟ Thank you Ki, Netgalley & St. Martin Press for the opportunity to receive an arc

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

ׂׂૢ I really enjoyed seeing a new sport into these books, I haven’t seen many that include cheerleading & it was fun to be part of this experience & learning so much about it!

ׂׂૢ I love Ella, she was so badass & super cool. She knew what she wanted & she pursued her goals!! I’m so happy she got a fresh start at Nashville & was able to make a friend super fast! I loved seeing her friendship with Gabi blossom. Gabi was definitely a friend Ella needed.

ׂׂૢ I loved Hudson, he had his sweet moments & his stupid moments, like any male lolsss. I felt bad for him at the beginning because his reputation did him dirty but then again, who can we blame (we blame him!) I love sourdough, he’s my baby. Hudson’s family history is sad, heartbreaking to read & it’s so amazing how much he’s worked on himself to be better. Seeing his reasons why he wants what he wants makes sense & it makes the heart hurt.

ׂׂૢ Ella & Hudson slowing getting to know each other was so cute to see. Hudson was so nice to her, very gentleman like !! Ella was so cute. I loved how they were able to banter with each other quite easily but still have their buttons pushed muahahaha. Also I LOOOOOVE THE WAY THEY BOTH LOVE CHEER!!! KI YOU ARE A GENIUS FOR THIS. I loved how Hudson opened up to Ella little by little & he never pressured Ella to do the same. Bare minimum but an admirable quality!

ׂׂૢ let’s be real, sourdough was the real star. As a cat owner, I found sour so entertaining! I love him so much now & I hope ki doesn’t have any evil plans for him in the future.

Thank you to Ki Stephens, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

This was such a fun read! Ella is going on a student exchange program from Oxford to Whitland University in Nashville to explore her love of cheer and to spend time with her boyfriend. However, the day she is set to leave, her boyfriend wants to “take a break to discover herself” and she decides to move on. The night she gets to Nashville she goes out with her new roommate, she meets Hudson, who happens to be the star quarterback at Whitland, and they start to get to know each other.

Ella was a breath in fresh air. She gave herself a journey, so we were able to see her grow in herself and confidence, through her cheer journey.

Hudson was such a multi faced athlete, that knew he didn’t want to go pro, which is something I don’t always see in college based sports romances.

Their relationship is also one that builds, which makes it so believable.

Overall, I found this book great, and think this is one where the main sport is actually cheer, and breath of fresh air.

Thanks to Martin St. Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

honestly this was a really cute college romance!

i cheered in high school so i really enjoyed the cheer aspect of it. all the terms and competitions and excitement was captured SO well! ella & hudson were super cute & i liked watching their relationship grow. i personally struggled some with a few moments bc it just felt so juvenile & i was rolling my eyessssss but ya know sometimes those college romances just don't hit like they used to. i would recommend this book if you're looking for a fun cheer romance that's full of longing and all the college feels!!!

thank you smp romance & netgalley for the arc! this is my honest review.

Overall I really liked this book. Ella and Hudson had a sweet friendship and relationship once they became friends. They were very supportive of each other’s dreams, boundaries were respected where they drew them, and their banter was fun. I also enjoyed getting to know some of the side characters, and I’m really hopeful for where the next book could go! I loved the ending and that they were both able to pursue their dreams together.
The only feedback I have about their story is I felt like the Jamie drama was out of place and kind of unnecessary. I get that there needed to be some conflict, but I felt like that conflict could have come from their own personal growth instead. Other than the initial phone call where Jamie breaks up with Ella, I felt like every time he popped up (very rarely), it didn’t further Ella’s growth. She just tells him to go away every time. For me, I just felt like the story would be basically the same without him.
Otherwise, I thought it was cute and a fun read!
3.75, rounded up to 4.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was amazing. I could feel it through the pages. I love a good hook up turned more. Some of the storyline was formulaic, but there’s nothing wrong with that and I love knowing what I am getting myself into when I read a book. The characters complement each other and there’s so much growth between the two of them, but also so much of who they are at their core is kept intact too. The way the love story plays out works so well for the story and the characters. I think that the technical information about cheerleading and football was very interesting to read, as someone who has no inkling of any sport information at all, it was easy to digest. Their banter was amazing, the sexual tension, and the strong emphasis on consent and how sexy that can be was probably my favorite part of the book. I enjoy dual POV, it really helps to connect to the characters in a deeper way.

I love Ki Stephens and this one hit the mark for sure. I just wish I didn't read it so soon because we have forever til it comes out. I feel like it's such a treat getting it so early but it's just like-hey preorder now so you don't miss it. I will for sure be shouting it out at release.

This book was good! Cute, witty and a quick read. This is my first Ki Stephens book and I'm definitely going to be looking for other novels by them in the future!

3⭐️!! I have always loved Ki Stephen’s books so I was so happy when I saw this one. Of her books this one was not my fav. I loved the concept however the execution wasnt the best. Ella was from Oxford in the UK but I found it so hard to imagine her voice in a british accent and I tried so hard. It just felt like her lines were written in a way that made that a little hard to put together. I also found her to be annoying at times. The plot also felt a tad lackluster. Besides those parts I thought that they were cute together and I loved that we got to see the epilogue take place a few months in the future when they were in a new place.

I’ve really enjoyed Ki Stephen’s books in the past. Her attention to detail when it comes to mental health representation has always been a strong selling point for me, and has been used to progress her plots beautifully. That said, what I found most compelling in her other books was somewhat lacking here. While I enjoyed Game On, I didn’t find myself chomping at the bit to pick it back up, as I have with her others.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Just finished reading Game On by Ki Stephens, and wow, I loved it SO MUCH!

— My rating: 5/5 ⭐️

I just finished reading Game On by Ki Stephens, and I absolutely loved it! This book was such an enjoyable ride from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. Huge thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the early copy!

The story centers around Ella, an ambitious English cheerleader, and Hudson, the irresistible quarterback who’s sworn off distractions. The chemistry between these two was crazy and intense—I mean, the tension between them practically leapt off the page! Their "just one night" pact is anything but simple, and I loved how their relationship slowly built, leading to some incredibly steamy and hot moments.

Reading Game On felt like I was re-reading Icebreaker, but with a football player and cheerleader twist! The dynamic between Ella and Hudson reminded me of the Icebreaker trope where the girl’s partner gets injured before a major competition, and she has to rely on him for support. In this case, Hudson, who was an ex-cheerleader before switching to football, steps in to help Ella train and face a big cheerleading competition. The moments of them practicing together were so cute and added so much depth to their connection!

This book was such an easy read, with just the right mix of cheesy romance and fiery passion. The spicy scenes? 🔥 Absolutely on point. But what really kept me hooked was how the emotional depth between Ella and Hudson unfolded. Both characters had their own personal struggles and growth, which made their connection feel so much more real and powerful.

I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early—Game On has everything I want in a romance: drama, heart, and heat. If you’re in the mood for a fun, steamy, and heartfelt read, you won’t want to miss this one when it releases on September 9th, 2025!

ok, I'm going to say that I liked it and it was a good book.

Plot:
╰┈➤ Let me preface this by saying that this was a good book and I liked it as I stated above. However, I had just read a book where the couple has a one-night stand and he was also a sportsperson, so it just felt like I was reading a similar book when I started. If I had read it at the different time, then I would have probably enjoyed this so much more. That being said, it was 100% a me thing.
╰┈➤ They had some pretty hot scenes. Overall, I felt like their chemistry and relationship was a little too fast-paced for me, but it did work. Their first meeting was kind of wild the way it happened. The scenes with their friends and some of those secondary characters have me low-key intrigued because there's stuff I need to know about them.

Final verdict:
╰┈➤ I read this in one sitting. It just took me a while to actually get to reading this book, but it kept my attention enough to finish it, so it's a good thing. If you like books that have a friends with benefits situation, then I think you might like this book!

Thank you to Ki Stephens, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this arc! 💕

K.I. Stephens’ Game On offers a fun, uplifting take on the world of college football, relationships, and personal growth. From the very first chapter, the story’s blend of sports and romance quickly drew me in.

The protagonist, Charlie, is a likable quarterback who’s grappling with both the pressures of the game and the complexities of growing into her own identity. The author does a great job capturing the spirit of competitive sports and balancing it with the emotional tension that comes from life off the field. The camaraderie and conflicts between teammates feel authentic, reflecting the excitement—and occasional frustrations—of a close-knit team.

The romance element is engaging without overshadowing the broader narrative. Sparks fly between Charlie and her love interest in a way that feels both believable and heartfelt, and it’s enjoyable watching them navigate their personal challenges while figuring out if they can make things work together. The supporting cast, particularly Charlie’s friends and mentors, adds warmth and depth to the story, providing memorable moments that further shape her journey.

Stephens’ writing style is easy to follow yet detailed enough to paint a vivid picture of each setting, from practice drills to heartfelt one-on-one conversations. The pace moves briskly, though there are a few sections where the plot feels slightly rushed, leaving me wishing for more time to explore certain characters’ backstories. However, this minor shortcoming doesn’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

If you’re looking for a sports romance that mixes humor, heartfelt moments, and strong female empowerment, Game On is a great pick. It will leave you cheering for Charlie—both on and off the field. This entertaining read easily earns a solid four stars.