This was a very cute, easy read!

I loved all of the characters, especially the friend group! Everyone was so kind and supportive :’) I was especially intrigued by the whole Sammy, Levi, Claire love triangle.

Ella and Hudson’s chemistry wasn’t the most believable at the beginning, but I really grew to like them together at the end. I wish we saw a bit more of their relationship development towards the end, but it ended up being a little rushed :(

I wouldn’t say this book stood out to me, but it was definitely very enjoyable and a fun little escape from reality! It did what it needed to do and ticked the boxes I knew it would.

It's a decent New Adult book. The first half felt a little slow paced. The second half was better. he side characters could’ve been more engaging and had more interactions with the main characters—this would’ve helped liven up the slower moments in the first half and offered more chances to connect deeply with everyone.

Sourdough was the star, though. :)

I just finished a great book. Game On by Ki Stphens is out this summer. Pick it up! This is one you won’t want to miss! It’s a great sports romance.

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat

✨️eARC Review✨️

4/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶

After Ella Davies suffers a breakup right before moving cross country, she vows to be serious about nothing except her 1 year study abroad at Whitland University's prestigious cheer program. She starts off her trip with a one night stand with Whitland's star quarterback, Hudson Fox who is also only serious about football and his future studies. When they can't get each other off their mind, they agree to keep things in secret with no strings attached but can they both follow through?

Even though things start off with a bang for Ella and Hudson, the tension resumes for a while. Both characters are very driven and Hudson hides a piece of himself you dont see until much later in the book. It was nice to see Hudson trust Ella with his secrets and for Ella to open up to Hudson as well once they know feelings are involved, even if it takes them a while to admit.

Tropes:
✔️ College Sports Romance
✔️ Southern MMC X English FMC
✔️ Football MMC X Cheer FMC
✔️ One Night Stand
✔️ Black Cat MMC & FMC
✔️ MMC with OCD

Slow burn romance between the out of town cheerleader and the quarterback of the college football team. Fairly quick read and pretty enjoyable, although there is a secondary story line that could use a little more fleshing out between the main character and her fellow cheerleaders. Pleasant little beach or vacation read.

Quick, easy, sexy, cute sports romance! He’s the star quarterback and she’s the new cheerleader 📣 I read this in one sitting. It’s a great read for football season 🫶🏻💓

🏈 “Ella Davies is driving me up the goddamn wall. It’s not often I meet someone who can throw me off balance, and Ella does exactly that, effortlessly.”
🏈 “Ella kisses me like I’m oxygen and she’s in desperate need of air.”
🏈 “I want you, too. More than anything. Loving you, needing you this much? It’s uncontrollable, but it’s also the only thing that feels right.”

Ella meets Hudson on the heels of a break up, when she studies abroad. Ella and Hudson put all kinds of stipulations on their relationship, but none of them stick when they pair up for a big national cheer competition.
I enjoy the bickering between the two of them, but the story fell flat about halfway through the book. I was ready to be done and I felt like the byline with Jamie, Claire, and Sammy would teeter between amped up and then dead.
It was an easy read, but not the most enjoyable book.

2.75⭐️’s: A light sports romance that didn’t quite stick the landing for me🤸🏽

British cheerleader Ella heads to the U.S. for a year abroad and ends up spending a steamy night with Hudson, the school’s star quarterback, only to find out that cheerleaders and football players aren’t allowed to mix. What starts as a one-night stand turns into a “no-strings” arrangement, but of course, feelings get in the way.

This was a cute, quick sports romance with some fun moments (Hudson’s cat, Sourdough, was a highlight!), and I appreciated the focus on cheerleading. But overall, the story lost my interest about halfway through. It felt a bit too long, and I found myself skimming much of the cheer and football content since it was hard to visualize, maybe a glossary of terms would have helped. The dialogue didn’t feel particularly natural, and I struggled to connect with the characters emotionally. Ella, in particular, came off a bit entitled at times, which made it harder to root for the romance.

Overall, it’s a light and flirty sports romance that some readers will really enjoy, but it just didn’t fully click for me. I’d still recommend it to fans of college romances and cheer/football dynamics who are looking for a fun HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!💕🫶🏼

Game On is a fun read. This is my first book by Ki Stephens and I can say will not be the last. I loved this so much. It is such a cute fun read I could not put down. Ella is a cheerleader doing her year abroad in the United States. She is coming off a break up and never imagined connecting with anyone. Hudson has a reputation and doesn't do relationships. He has a routine and rules he doesn't break until Ella. I love their banter and the pull between them. It's one of those cheerleader and quarterback romances that will have you glued to the pages. They are perfect together and I just love how Hudson steps up and shows off his own skills. There is so much heat and sweetness in this one that you are going to fall hard for Hudson and Ella. I love how two people not looking for anything but find their one. I could not put this down. You need to read this today.

This is a cute college romance with plenty of spice. Ella is from England and studying abroad for a year and doing college cheer. Hudson plays college football. This was a fun college sports novel with great chemistry and without a lot of angst. I enjoyed learning more about cheer and the other characters were great.

I really shouldn’t be too picky about romances but this one was a little too hot and heavy out of the gate for me. Best part about reading romance is the tension and there is zero tension when the characters have sex 2 chapters in. I do the characters were fun and interesting and liked their dilemmas and drama and the sports aspect but I wish they’re love story was crafted in a different way.

3.75 ⭐️

This is the first book I read from Ki Stephens and it didn’t disappoint.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ella and Hudson’s story. I did like how it deviated from the typical football college story, where Ella was also an athlete with cheerleading and Hudson also had history with it too.
I liked the world Stephens has drawn up and did a nice job of bringing the side characters in pretty seamlessly where I hope Levi’s story is next.
My only negative is I kind of got whiplash a few times with Ella and her feelings on her relationship with Hudson. Constant back and forth, that no wonder he was confused sometimes because I was too.
But otherwise, nice solid read and I’d recommend.


Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley and Ki Stephens for the ARC.
Game On releases 9/9/2025

A cheerleader, a quarterback, and a one night stand bring two strangers together for a wild adventure.

When Ella Davies arrived to the states she never imagined experiencing her year abroad alone. It's time to prove that she's got what it takes to survive and thrive before the year is up. Will she overcome her family expectations, defy the odds and her path before time runs out?

A strangers to lovers college sports romance with plenty of spice, heart, and lots of school spirit.

Will the star quarterback win the heart of the cheerleader?

It's game on for these two as they find a way to work together...but will they be able to keep their hands off each other long enough to win it all?

Ki Stephens’ Game On is a sparkling, feel-good romance that perfectly blends heart, heat, and ambition. The story follows Ella, a confident cheerleader from Oxford taking on a new challenge in Nashville, and Hudson, a star quarterback who’s all about focus and avoiding distractions. Their plan for a no-strings fling quickly unravels as real feelings surface, forcing them to confront what they want from each other and from themselves. The chemistry is undeniable, the banter is sharp, and the emotional beats hit just right.

What makes this book stand out is how balanced it is. It’s light and fast-paced, but still gives space for real character development. Ella isn’t just “the girl” she has goals, fire, and drive. Hudson, too, breaks the mold with surprising depth. Their romance feels organic, never forced, and the college sports setting gives it a fun, high-energy backdrop. If you're into swoony reads with smart, independent leads and a relationship you can root for, Game On is a must-read.


Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC!!

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this arc. I enjoyed this read! A quick, sweet, college romance. Characters start off as a one night stand, and the first half of the book is them saying they cannot be together while they develop a friendship. They overcome obstacles around them including distance, friends, and exes. There’s a little bit of sports with football and cheerleading, some spice, and some found family! A great read!

What a fun, quick read! I’m a sucker for a sports romance so I knew I would enjoy! This was a new to me author and I'll probably check out more of her work in the future.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was unique from other sports romances but still a very good plot and amazing characters. I appreciated that there was no third act breakup and that the main characters were mature enough to work through their issues. I appreciated the OCD representation in this as well. Hudson is a swoony southern charmer. I loved his character so much! And Ella, she is a very strong FMC and I had so much respect for her. I will be recommending this book to my friends and instagram followers. I really enjoyed the writing of this book. MY review is posted on my instagram -@paigetopagereads

This was an enjoyable and quick read with a lot of potential. The premise was fun, and the chemistry between the main characters was strong, which made for some entertaining moments. I found myself smiling at their banter and rooting for their relationship to develop.
However, the story did feel a bit predictable and didn’t quite offer the depth I was hoping for. Some of the character motivations and decisions seemed rushed or lacked explanation, making it harder to fully connect with them at times. The pacing was also a little uneven, with parts of the story feeling slower than others.
Overall, it’s a light, easy read that’s great if you’re in the mood for something fun and lighthearted. It didn’t quite leave a lasting impression, but it was still a solid read for fans of the genre.

Reading a book for the first time that has been released as an advance reader copy (ARC) can be so good. This was my first time reading an advance reader's copy (ARC). That was super fun! When I read this book, it felt like I was getting a sneak peek into something that I would be excited to share with other readers. I think I can be sincere and say that I loved it.

The MMC is one of my new favorite book boyfriends, I will have to buy a trophy for this book once it is published.