Unfortunately this is the first arc I have to dnf… i made it 55% but the characters are a hot mess. The plot is so repetitive I feel like it’s going no where. I’m not a huge fan of a super insecure MMC because he just keeps saying the same thoughts over and over and over. Feels super young and I just can’t connect with it.

I am usually a huge fan of sports romances, but this one is not for me!

If you are a fan of
- second chance
- anxiety rep
- insecure mmc
- sassy fmc
This might be for you if you want to try it!

Thanks for the arc NetGalley but I can’t do it I’m sorry 🥴

-Dual pov, dual timeline
-Second chance romance

Maya and Ethan have had a pull toward each other ever since Maya came home with Ethan's little sister. When they finally hook up, Maya ghosts Ethan. Months later, they end up being neighbors at a dorm in college, and all the memories and feelings come back.

I got frustrated with both main characters. They kept making excuses to not be together. Ethan never felt like he was worth it, and I am not a fan of men with no confidence. So it came off as a little whiny to me. Maya feels a responsibility to her parents. She wants to make them proud, even if she is unhappy. She just wants to apply her beauty school education, not get a business degree. 3.5/5

I loved Playmaker and was super excited to read a new title by Deanna which did not disappoint!
Game Changer is book 2 in the Hidden Attractions series by Deanna Faison.
I loved this authors writing and the chemistry between the MMC’s.
A fun, sweet and adorable college sports romance.
The pacing was good and her writing is just perfect.
This story is a must-read for anyone who loves a good sport romance with a side of heartfelt moments. This book will keep you entertained, engaged, and eagerly turning the pages.
I hope I can read book three!

Thank You NetGalley and Wattpad Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A second change romance, that will make you cry but it won't break you apart like that ex of yours. These two maneuvering between old feelings and trying to respect each other by being friends. They remained loyal to one another even when being apart and helped each other grow as they developed stronger feelings. Their relationship grew, just like the they did mentally and emotionally. The book has a soft edge, where the hard chapters of being apart hurt you but don't destroy or how you view the characters and their growth. This is must read and it gives you an insight on the author's next book which I am excited for!

This is a fun read with tons of heart and a couple to smile with.

I haven't read the other book connected to this one, but that isn't a problem since this works very well as a read-alone. The characters are easy to like: Maya is sweet and Ethan is determined yet compassionate. The two make a cute couple, and it's enjoyable to follow them every step of the way. There aren't really any frustrating moments, but rather, their problems are handled in a way which grabs but didn't have me wanting to slap one of them (like sometimes happens in this genre for this audience age group).

The author also weaves in some more difficult themes and touches upon things such as self-confidence and body imaging issues. These are handled in a realistic way and add needed depth along the way. I was expecting more on the sports end, but the plot doesn't lean in that direction as much as I thought it might. Which is totally fine, too.

The tale flows nicely, and while not offering anything earth-shattering, is an enjoyable, relaxed read for those quieter moments. There are several sexier moments to add a little spice, but it doesn't go overboard and adds a dash of fun. Romance fans who enjoy sweet relationships and warmth are sure to like this one.

A cute read! I haven't read the first book yet, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this one. Ethan and Maya's story was a classic best friend's brother/little sisters best friend romance. I loved the growth that Ethan showed. There were times that I felt like he reverted back to his insecurities and let them win at times. Which honestly, is pretty relatable. Ethan was incredibly sweet and respectful, and despite the history between him and Maya, he was always there for her when she needed him. Can we talk about how much of a goner Ethan was for Maya? like learning Spanish for her and to fit in with her family? Paying for her to go on the trip to Disney without any expectations or praise? Or how about the trip to Vegas to support her dreams? A MAN! I loved getting to see Ethan find what he was passionate about. I think that this is such a relatable thing for people this age and the fact that the people around Ethan were so supportive and didn't put any extra pressure on him was great to see. I wish Maya would've stood up to her parents because Ethan deserved at least that much. however, I understand how her family dynamic made that difficult. This is a fun read and I can't wait to dive into the next one.

I did not want to put this book down. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I really enjoyed the main characters as well as the secondary characters, they felt like a tight knot group of friends, and I want to know and read about all their stories.

We met Ethan and Maya who had a previous short-term relationship before they met up again in college, living next door to each other no less. They had an undeniable chemistry between the two of them. You felt their electric pull to one another. There was a lot of flirtatiousness and a bit of spice in there that I enjoyed reading.

Unfortunately, Maya kept some secrets, and with Ethan’s anxiety there was only so much she wanted to divulge. I feel like the main point of this book was to follow your dreams, believe in yourself and remember your happiness is important. Sure, it is great to do things for others but sometimes you just must do things for yourself. I feel like that is the biggest lesson that Maya learned.

Ethan’s anxiety was touched upon several times, and it is a real thing that people must deal with. It is hard but he pushed through it and finally realized what he wants out of life and going for it, which was great.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and wanted to continue reading their story. The writing flowed nicely, the plot flowed easily, and it was believable. Would recommend this read, and now I have to check out the first book in this series.

Love Tabi and Mark and I hope to read their story as well as Leo’s.

Game Changer is book 2 in the Hidden Attractions series and it can read entirely fine as a standalone. I really loved Playmaker when I read it earlier this year so I was really excited for this one and it didn't disappoint. As soon as I started it I was hooked, obsessing over Ethan and Maya. I couldn't put it down, I devoured this one in 2 sittings. They are just such great characters and I loved following their journey. This is a very character driven/relationship driven storyline which I found myself truly enjoying. I just loved navigating their past and present relationship with them, seeing them evolve through it.

Ethan is a very insecure MMC but for me it worked in this book, I thought the author approached it well and made him relatable. I didn't find it annoying and it didn't make him feel less attractive to me. I actually saw myself in him, with my insecurities and anxiety. He was an absolute sweetheart, the way he cares for Maya, the sweet things he does for her… he made my heart melt 🫠 Maya is a firecracker, I loved her confident energy and the way she always made her man feel wanted and boosted his confidence. Their chemistry was absolutely off the charts, their banter was so much fun, the messiness of it all felt real and both character growths were great. It just had the right balance of everything for me.

Overall, this was a fun, sweet and cute college sports romance that made me fall in love with another fictional couple that I won't forget about. I loved how relatable the characters were, how the author brought the heart and the heat to the storyline. I can't wait to see what she writes next 😍

✨ ️ Thank you to @netgalley, @wbywattpad & @deannafaison for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5
When I read Deanna Faison’s Playmaker, I thought having more of Cam’s brother, Ethan, and Maddie’s best friend, Maya, would be great in the next book. And Deanna delivered in Game Changer!

Ethan has been pining for Maya for years. However, her parents are not big fans of him. The person he shows everyone he is is not who he truly is, and Maya is the only one who knows that. I loved their connection and how Maya was the more experienced and talked him through things during the spicy scenes. I’ve said this before and’ll repeat it: don’t be fooled by these illustrated covers that seem all cutesy and innocent. Deanna did not short us on the steamy scenes at all in this story!

When they both reconnect at college, Ethan shows he has been working on himself. Deanna did a great job showing Ethan’s challenges with his anxiety, depression, and overall self-doubt. It wasn’t an easy road—it never is. Having Maya's story, with her standing up for herself and her family, was also quite empowering. I enjoyed Game Changer.

“Your skin care routine is right up there with your fascination with The Bachelor.” -Ethan Davis

I thought nothing could beat my love of Playmaker but boy this book was so good I couldn't put it down!

Ethan has had a crush on Maya, his sister Maddie's best friend, for years and finally he did something about it only for Maya to then blank him for five years.
When they reconnect the spark is still there but they're both going through a lot.
Will that spark fizzle out or will it draw them back together?

The sequel to Playmaker and just as amazing and gripping.
I couldn't stop reading, Ethan and Maya's story was so intrecut and twisty that I couldn't not turn the page and find out what happened next.
Similar to book one I breezed through each chapter due to them being short and sweet. They flowed into one another so well, which is a testament to Deanna's incredible writing ability.
She's able to bring each scene, each character, each moment to life in the readers head.

I liked Maya in this book, she had a good depth to her. She had dreams and aspirations but was scared of letting her parents down and doing something that would make them disappointed in her. She wanted to be a cosmetology student and study to her a hair dresser but her parents wanted a lawyer daughter so she studied business. Yet, she found a way to continue to learn and grow doing what made her happy.
I loved her friendship with Tabi, I'm praying we get Tabi and Mark's book next because Deanna, I need them to get a happy ending!!

Ethan had a lot of layers to him. He went through a lot before this book and so we see this darker side of him when the book starts. He's lost and not sure what he plans to do with his life or how he'll find it. But over the course of the book we see him come into his own as a coach. This side of him, a happy and proud side, comes to light and suddenly Ethan was my favourite character. His strength showed just how incredible he was, he crushed through his pain to be there for the people that needed him. And when it mattered most he let those people in, and in return he was there for them in their darkest moments.
I loved his banter with Leo, and I hope we see more of them in future books.

I loved Maya and Ethan's relationship. It felt real!
In so many romance books nowadays(especially YA Romance) the relationship feels very fake. But Ethan and Maya were raw, emotional, they got mad they had fights. they had moments where they stepped up and defended each other. They had the cute reunion.
They were real, and it made the book even more enjoyable.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and hope we get more from Deanna in the future.

Game Changer is an easy, steamy read - a second chance romance between Maya and Ethan, who crushed on each other all through high school, only for Maya to leave Ethan behind once they finally hooked up.

I was a little disappointed that the book did not spend more time with Maya's family and exploring her immigrant background. Her close family was treated primarily as a barrier - both for her exploring the relationship with Ethan as well as to her career goals, but I wish the book had spent some time making her experiences a bit more well rounded.

This one will be great for new adult fans who love spicy romances like Hannah Grace. Thanks for Wattpad for the early copy.

"Because sometimes, the girl has to chase the guy, and I'm totally all right with that."

For a YA/college setting, this book was surprisingly great and so relatable?! It was such a raw, emotional but sweet story between Ethan and Maya. I am also such a sucker for forbidden / any type of family member's best friend so this ate in that regard.

I actually devoured this book. The forced proximity + the chemistry + the yearning + the spice made for such a unputdownable read. I loved it, it was so good.

Ethan, my heart, I just wanted to hug him and tell him that he is exactly who he is meant to be and theres nothing wrong with him. The way he shows up for Maya after everything is such a green fkn flag. And at the same time, I wanted Ethan to myself cause ummmm excuse me dirty boy?! He had a mouth on him that I was lovinggggggg very much! Maya you are one lucky gal!!

Also, I loved the flashbacks and getting the glimpses of how Ethan and Maya came to be and their banter with each other was perfect. The fact that she was all for him and he was so oblivious yet also so in love with her was the cutest thing. And her being his teacher!!!???! Girl, I applaud you like yes ma'am!!!

This was a book all about growth, finding yourself and living out your dreams and I highly recommend the read. Thank you NetGalley, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group and Deanna Faison for the arc!

• Second Chance
• Sister's Best Friend
• Forbidden Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Friends to Lovers
• College Setting
• Dual POV

Spice level: ♥ ♥ ♥ ½

Maya and Ethan’s story? Whew. It’s messy, emotional, and full of that slow-burn growth that makes you want to scream into a pillow. They’re both dealing with their own struggles, but the way they show up for each other just made my heart melt.

What I really loved is how real it felt—this book actually digs into anxiety, body image, and self-esteem instead of just brushing it off. And because of that, Maya and Ethan felt so genuine and easy to root for. I just wanted to shove them into a bubble where nothing bad could touch them.
Overall, Game Changer was such a solid read. You can pick it up as a standalone, but honestly? Do yourself a favor and read The Playmaker first—it makes the experience that much better.

Tropes:
Best friend’s brother
Forced proximity
College romance
Found family

huge thanks to netgalley & Deanna for the arc!

The thing about me is I love a sports romance. The other thing about me is that my favorite trope is second chance romance. So when I saw that this had both, I was so excited. I ate this up and absolutely loved it! Game Changer is a must-read for those who loved Playmaker. Ethan and Maya are impossible not to root for. The spice was also GIVING with just the right amount.

I appreciated how this book handled mental health regarding anxiety and insecurities. It made Ethan in particular so relatable and I fell in love with him as the MMC. Maya also grew on me as I could understand where she was coming from! It helps to have relatable and likable characters because you don't always get that. I liked how this book didn't have either character acting outrageous to where you couldn't see their perspectives; both of them were valid in their feelings (especially Ethan, I'm so obsessed). Their chemistry mixed with the past trauma of their relationship had me so excited for them to end up together. I also loved the family dynamics they had to navigate. Even though the characters are younger, I think a lot of people in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s can relate to the themes of this book.

This is a fun yet touching read for those who need a reminder that not everything falls into place perfectly at first and thats okay. Love means finding someone who accepts you, no matter what your anxiety or spectators tell you, and makes you a better and more authentic version of yourself.

4.5 stars!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Deanna Faison, and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group!

Game Changer is a cute, college romance with a hint of sports romance. I think Maya and Ethan’s relationship is sweet and I did quite like the sense of humor they share. I also really appreciate having an anxiety rep MC and the multi-cultural aspect. Aside from the spice, it does give more of a YA vibe.

Unfortunately I did DNF around 20%; the writing style just wasn’t for me. I prefer much less inner monologue/thoughts, and enjoy having more dialogue and general location descriptions. At times I found it difficult to keep up with the flashbacks (I think this may have just been due to the ARC formatting, it was quite jumpy on my kindle).

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A heartfelt, steamy friends-to-lovers romance full of second chances

Game Changer is the perfect follow-up to Playmaker—and I loved getting to see Ethan and Maya step into the spotlight. This is a friends-to-lovers story with plenty of steam, heart, and the kind of emotional tension that keeps you flipping the pages.

Ethan is at a turning point in his life, finally taking charge of his future, while Maya is learning what it means to live for herself instead of bending to family expectations. Their chemistry has always been undeniable, but the messy history between them makes their reunion next door in the dorms even more complicated. I appreciated how their struggles felt grounded and real—balancing independence, family pressure, and the fear of opening themselves up again after past hurt.

The romance is both swoony and sizzling, with moments that reminded me of Elle Kennedy and Tessa Bailey’s best work. At its core, though, it’s about second chances—not just in love, but in life. Ethan and Maya both have to decide if they’re willing to take risks, be vulnerable, and ultimately choose each other, even when it isn’t easy.

I did wish a few of the conflicts resolved a little less quickly, but overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, steamy, and heartfelt romance. If you love friends-to-lovers with real emotional stakes, Game Changer is definitely worth reading.

Loved this. When an author depicts anxiety in the correct light, I somehow feel understood because it’s such a relatable subject.

This was one of my most anticipated releases after reading the first in this interconnected series, Playmaker, and it didn’t let me down!

What I loved:
1. I am a sucker for forbidden romances, including best friend’s brother!! I loved watching these two be super sketchy around each other in Playmaker and then getting to see their side of things in this book! I felt like the puzzle was completed a bit on some of the things I was curious about, and it was done well.

2. I loved the anxiety rep we saw through Ethan. His anxiety was crippling at the worst of times and he detailed different ways that he had tried to control it and work with it, knowing that it would always be part of him and something to be managed. I love anxiety rep in books, especially when it is handled in this manner instead of something that magically goes away when you find the right person.

3. I loved the realistic male body representation as well. Ethan struggled with insecurities because Maya was a gorgeous and fit girl, while he was “five eleven with a dad bod”. He noted how she always went for the big buff dudes, but didn’t seem to realize how none of them kept her attention for very long. I love a dad bod just as much as a muscular bod, so it was great to see this rep and see how Maya loved it too.

4. This book was all about finding yourself and growth, and I loved it!!

I understood and appreciated Maya’s journey and why she felt she had to ghost Ethan before. I loved watching her fight to get him back and then work up the courage to tell her parents what she wanted in life, even though it was different from their dreams for her. I especially loved the mother-daughter connection we got when all the cards were on the table because it made a lot of sense and added depth to the parent’s original thoughts.

I loved how Ethan started out as someone who didn’t know what he wanted in life and who didn’t really have goals because he was so afraid of life, but he ended up finding his exact place coaching young kids in football. This was such a great journey to watch him find his true life goal and embrace it.

5. Ethan was such a green flag MMC!! Even after she ghosted him, he showed up for her EVERY SINGLE TIME she needed him. He picked her up from sketchy locations, walked her home from work late at night, secretly paid for trips she couldn’t afford but he could, let her practice makeup on him, and even took off her makeup when she had been drinking because he knew how important her skin care routine was to her. FREAKING SWOON!!!

6. I loved all the flashbacks between their past leading to them sleeping together, to the current with them in college months later after she ghosted him. I loved seeing how they connected behind the scenes with their late night conversations over ice cream. It was so adorable and so perfect that they HAD TO END UP TOGETHER!!! We knew the HEA was coming, we just had to stick with them while they got there 😊

7. This book in the series expanded the friend group quite a bit, and I seriously can’t wait for the next book(s)! I think I read this was going to be a three book series, but honestly, I’m going to want more haha! I can’t wait for the fiery passion that is single-mom Tabi and adoptive (kinda) brother Mark. I also need a love interest for Leo who has way more to him than meets the eye!!

8. Lastly, there was plenty of spice. Don't let the cute cover fool you 😉

Thank you to NetGalley, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group, and Deanna Faison for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

4.25 stars!

This was a cozy comforting book about second chances and following your heart. It took a little for it to kick off for me, but eventually I got there! It was unique having a more insecure MMC. I’m so glad that everything worked out for them by the end!

I had a fun time reading this book! It was easy, lighthearted, and overall just a good romance. I absolutely loved Ethan and thought it was nice seeing a guy character have a lot of image issues and anxiety because you do not see it very much. The only issue I had with this book which made it so it was not a 5-star read, was that I hate the misinformation trope in books and unfortunately that was a really big thing in this book. Other than that it was great book with great characters and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the advanced readers copy!