Oxford cheerleader goes on a one year exchange program to Nashville, Tennessee, USA. One day she's leaving the country, her long-term boyfriend unceremoniously breaks up with her on the phone. The same day she lands, she hooks up with a rando. Who ever would have guessed, but that rando turns out to be the star quarterback, who is swearing off his regular booty-calls and one-night stands...except for this one chick, of course.

While not necessary, a background in cheer and tumbling does make this a little more enjoyable.

The entire book read a little like a pity party for Ella: she worked hard to get in to Oxford for cheerleading, her parents don't support her (yet foot the entire bill), she doesn't have many friends; and repeat cycle of complaints. She was also a bit selfish, pushing her parters/bases to keep practicing even after hours and hours of practice, and when they're all tired. That's when people get hurt. Hudson wasn't much better: dad left, I accidentally burned down the house, I keep walls up so no one gets close; repeat. This was especially disappointing because I feel the author missed an opportunity to address anxiety (or even PTSD). So, I didn't really like either character, though the spice was spicy!

Overall, I just found this story way too unbelievable. Almost everything - their entire backgrounds and personalities - are plot conveniences. Seriously, a quarterback who spent years tumbling and cheerleading but then left it to play ball so he could prove to his daddy that he's good enough....but doesn't actually want to prove anything after all? Again, it's not that it has never happened, just highly coincidental. It really bothered me that Hudson is a crucial member of the football team, and there on *scholarship*, but he decides to risk his physical health to stunt with Ella. Her partner just got injured and his first thought it, I can easily do this! Even though I have never partner stunted before (or at least it has been several years). Then Hudson somehow has the funds to purchase a last minute plane ticket right before Christmas?? But no explanation given, just gonna gloss over that. Ella was with her boyfriend for 5 (6?) years and yet she doesn't mourn their relationship at all, she's just instantly over it.

I think this book has potential, but needs a lot of reworking. Drop some of the unnecessary parts (she's supposed to be a top notch competitive cheerleader but stumbles doing a two step?), drop the repetitive complaining, and somehow make this a little more believable.

It does end in an HEA :).

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️

Game On follows the story of Ella and Hudson. Ella is an exchange student from the UK wanting to pursue higher level cheerleading. Hudson is the quarterback of their university.

I really liked both Ella and Hudson. I love their determination and competitiveness as well as their vulnerability. It was fun seeing them navigate life and growing. The romance is a bit insta-love, which I'm not normally a big fan of, but I do think that the author eventually was able to support the build up of the relationship. The pacing was good. The writing can benefit from some editing in my opinion. I felt like there were a couple of chapters where I feel like I'm re-reading the same sentences, specifically related to Hudson wanting Ella. There's also some conversation between characters that seemed out of place for their age range.

If you're looking for a cute college sports romance, this is the book for you!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! This is a feel good book with not too much relationship drama, and it matched my lighthearted mood. Seeing Hudson and Ella's connection grow naturally as they spent time together was great to see. This book is both football and cheer, but it was mostly focused on cheer. I haven't read many other cheer books, but I would definitely read more!

It has the following tropes: Sports romance, one night stand, friends with benefits,

title: Game On

author: Ki Stephens

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: September 9, 2025

pages: 336

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: broken arm, house fire (before story), absent and neglecting parents

summary: Ella, a student at Oxford, decides to study abroad in Nashville so that she can take advantage of the amazing cheer program of Whitland University. The plan is to go with her boyfriend and travel together after the school year ends, but when he dumps her on their departure day, her plans change...and when she meets Whitland's star QB Hudson on her first night in the USA, her plans change even more.

tropes:

QB and the cheerleader
he has to step in to save the day
unpacking past trauma
OCD

what I liked:

lots of technical cheer talk
actual scenes in class and training
QB is more than football
mental illness representation

what I didn’t like: 

could have been tighter -- too much telling about their feelings in ways that felt overdone, drawn out
inner voices didn't seem age-appropriate

overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

I was intrigued by this book as I love Ki Stephens previous works and writing style. “Game On” met all of my expectations: a quick, fun read that had an interesting storyline and well developed characters. While I did feel that the romance was a bit too fast for me, it was CUTE. The MMC has a special place in my heart, I really liked him as well! Overall, I believe that fans of sports romance and lighter romance would enjoy this book.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Ki Stephens and NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me 🥲 I could see why others might enjoy it, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea (hehe)!

The writing felt like there was more telling than showing. I thought that the storytelling was too straightforward. I personally love when authors find descriptive ways to tell their stories without being too direct, but I didn’t find that in this book.

However I did find myself asking “where are we going?” multiple times throughout the story because I didn’t know what the actual plot between the two main characters was until more than halfway through the book. I didn’t feel connected to the characters, so there was very little motivation for me to continue reading. But I did want to finish it so that I could give a complete, honest review!

The cheer vocabulary was too technical for me, someone who has zero cheer experience, to enjoy. But I do think that those with cheer experience would enjoy this part of the book!

Ultimately I wouldn’t recommend this one. I’d mention it to people who like cheer, and I do see its potential, but it sadly didn’t appeal to me. Nevertheless, I’m thankful to St. Martin’s Griffin for the early review copy in exchange for my honest review! I still see the value of being given the opportunity to have a different reading experience. :)

Yours in Yellow,
T 💛

4 ⭐️ 2.75 🌶️
While this did take me a while to get into, I did enjoy it! I liked Ella and Hudson and their story! Thankful for the ARC from NetGalley!

I liked that this book took a different spin on a sports romance, and since I have also done competitive cheer I enjoyed having a book talk about all the hard work that goes into it.

Ella and Hudson first bonded over their physical attraction to each other, but they both realized how much they enjoyed each other’s company. And while some moments would be frustrating on both sides, they’d overcome them. Hudson really stepped in when Ella needed him and that just solidified their feelings for each other, even though they tried to ignore it!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin Press for an ARC.

Game on follows Ella, an exchange student from Oxford, studying at Whitland University in Tennessee. She is recently single and has a one night stand with the apparent hottest guy on campus. They hit it off in bed, but out of bed they are cold towards each other. As they run into each other and entwine their lives with each other feelings grow and they must overcome their personal challenges.

This book felt half-baked and while the characters definitely had a lot of backstory and trauma it just felt underwhelming and odd when their trauma was brought up but nothing was really built up for it to make sense. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story really. I felt like so much was shoved into the book but no depth. They book was trying to span a year and felt the need to cover every important piece of the year like Halloween, Christmas, New Years but always ended a lot of scenes like the next chapter was going to continue to later in the day just to flip to the next chapter and it have skipped a week.

If you love college romance focused on cheerleadering and football in a more unique was, you might enjoy this book.

I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be for me, but I generally enjoy sports romances—so why not a football quarterback and a cheerleader?

It took me a few chapters to get hooked, but once I did, I really enjoyed the ride. I’m a dance teacher and coach student groups for competitive dance, so I’ve been to the kind of competitions described in the book. That made it all the more immersive for me.

The characters were well developed, both carrying their own wounds—ones that clearly need work in the long run—but as a couple, they see and understand what the other wants, and I love that.

This book also follows a trope that I don’t know the official name of, but I’ve realized I adore it: the “we had a one-night stand and now we’re forced together” dynamic. Add in the reluctance to fall in love—and then watching them cave? LOVE IT.

This book is for you if you like:
- College romance
- Sports romance (Football + Cheer!)
- Forced proximity after a one-night stand
- Dual POVs with emotional depth
- Healing through love
- Characters with real-life pressures and emotional baggage
- Competitive dance scenes that feel straight out of a real event

Thank you to the author and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC

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

I loved Ella and Hudson and their relationship. While it was slow and a little bumpy it was good. I also loved Sourdough but who wouldn’t love a cute cat.

From the beginning I felt for Ella because she was moving across the world and had planned to do it with her boyfriend but he decided the day they had to leave to change all of that. While I hated her going through that I’m glad she did or she probably wouldn’t have met Hudson the way she did.

While when they finally decided to act on their attraction they started no string attached it only lasted for a little which was expected seeing their chemistry. They both weren’t ready for a real relationship at that moment so it made sense for them.

Overall I really liked the book and would give it 4.5 stars. I do wish we got to see more of them once she went back to Oxford like him meeting her family and more of their relationship as a relationship. I did like how it ended but kinda wish we got a little more.

if you need a quick, fun, cute, easy romance read, then pick this up! i was not expecting to binge this at all considering i thought conditions of will was going to put me in a slump after i finished it, and honestly i think it would've if i had picked up basically any other book. this was no brain power, it was fast-paced and one of those books where the writing has you not even realizing that so many pages are going by. like, i swear i was at 40% then before i knew it bam i was nearly finished.

with all of that being said, this isn't anything special. it is a little instalove-y and the romance moved too fast for me to really get super connected or emotionally invested in it. but i did like the characters and like i said the book did what it needed to do. will def be reading more ki stephens after this!

thank you to netgalley & st martins press for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review
GAME ON by @kistephs

Release Date: September 9, 2025
Ella Davies and Hudson Fox

*Strangers to Friends with Benefits to Dating
*Quarterback and cheerleader
*Open Door Spice
*Cat named Sourdough
*Lots of family trauma on both sides.
*Crappy Ex-Boyfriend

Ella is in Nashville at Whitland University as a study abroad year and with a place on the competitive cheerleading team. She gets dumped the morning of her flight to Tennessee by her LONG time boyfriend (who is also doing the study abroad year). This gave huge Netflix Cheer™ vibes with Daytona and NCA College Nationals. Competing at the bandstand, running in the waves. Hudson is the star college QB, but he actually used to be cheer and steps in to compete with Ella after an injury plagues her partner.

Familial trauma kept these two apart, and they both doubted how a relationship would work for too long.
The book was cute with open door spice.

[I would have loved the epilogue to include a trip to Ella's parents' house. Hudson getting to meet her parents after how much they hated her ex-bf would have been fun to read about. .

I absolutely adored Hudson and Ella so much that i read this book in one sitting.
Ella was such a fun character who really knew how to stand up for herself when she needed to. It was also refreshing to see the MMC own up to his mistakes and apologize when he was wrong... especially in a sports romance. I really liked the chemistry they had together and how sweet Hudson was to Ella. I think i am going to definitely read more of Ki Stephens books!
Thank you again to St. Martin's Press and Ki Stephens for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book moved slowly but was still cute. I liked the chemistry between Ella and Hudson. I enjoyed watching them grow into their own and together while also learning to communicate. This book would have been better if it were about a pro athlete rather than a college/university romance. Because the book was set in a college setting, the drama felt juvenile, but it was a light and feel-good romance.

Read if you like:
- No third-act breakup
- HEA
- Slow burn
- College sports
- Dual POV

Game On is a delightful sport romance between a Southern boy and English girl that sets off all chemistry. Ki Stephens is an absolute powerhouse romance author.

I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I could not put it down and read it in a sitting. On a temporary program, Ella is a cheerleader that finds herself in Nashville but after a night of fun, finds herself flirting with the quarterback of the school. Their night shared is full of banter and chemistry and they match each others energy but when she finds out who he is and the issue with them being together again, they agree to being just friends and of course that works out well. I loved that they both had black cat energy. I love this dynamic and im glad Ki Stephens used it because the banter, the wit and tension between them worked so well. You cannot wait until they fall and fall hard. I loved the mix of cultures seeing the English side and American sports, how they all get along, side characters and friends you hope will get a book. It's such a fun sport romance that is easy to read and binge and full of romance, spice, sports and a couple that makes it work despite all odds. Its a must read!

3.5⭐

U know this wasn't that bad after all, just not enough drama. Usually I don't go for one night stand kinda books *except if it was accidental pregnancy which this book is not don't worry 😅*. The first half of the book was really slow and I got bored but it got better after the 65% mark

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

SKIP CHAPTER: 3, 20, 22, 23, 32, 35

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

My first sports romance in a while 🫶🏻 thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC 💕

Yes yes yes yes yes!!! This is the first book I've read by this author and now I need more of her books!! She writes college romance so well and it's easy to read, meaning it's a quick read that's filled with everything I loved and more. Plus, it's set where I'm from?!! Even better!

I was so excited for another release by Ki Stephens. I have read her other books and I think she writes college romances well. This book was an easy read and I was able to finish it in 3 days. This book has a unique plot that involves the main female character Ella who is a cheerleader moving from the UK to the US for college. I also thought it was interesting that the main male character Hudson helps her with her cheerleading. I enjoyed the pacing of the book. It was a good balance between slow burn and insta love. There’s no other woman drama which I was relieved about. I like that the author is able to describe Hudson’s past dating life without throwing it in our faces uncomfortably. I also like that there is minor other man drama because who doesn’t love to see the main male character get jealous and protective? I would have wanted more tension or angst in this book because some things got resolved too perfectly and quickly in my opinion. I also prefer dual POVs but I think this book could have benefitted if it was only from Ella’s POV. I would have been more captivated to learn more about Hudson through her POV.

Sports romances do it for me every single time.
An exchange student from the UK who is a cheerleader. A football player from her new college.
Bar in Nashville = love of your life.
Ella just came out of a relationship and has been through it!
Hudson has had his rough past and doesn't want to be in a relationship, but fate had other plans.
I enjoyed this book and I read it in one day!
It reminded me a little of Deep End by Ali Hazelwood - so if you liked that book, you will probably like this one. It also gave me Icebreaker by Hannah Grace vibes - if that tells you anything.
The emotions and depth in this relationship and in this book had me all in my feels.
The chemistry was there, I connected with them. and the plot is well-written and paced.
I won't say that there isn't some rough times for this couple and missteps, but worth the payoff.
Go read this if you are a sports romance girl like I am!!
Some of what you find in this book: one night stand, black cat couple, OCD representation!!, no fraternization but oh well, almost insta love.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!
I think I need to read all Ki Stephens books now....

As a big sports romance fan, I was so excited to receive this book! She’s a cheerleader that’s studying abroad and he’s the quarterback, how much more all American can you get than that? This book was steamy and fun, starting with a one night stand that led them to realizing they were so much more. With the no fraternization policy between the teams, this has a taste of forbidden romance as well. Thank you so much for the ARC, it was such a fun read!