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Game On
Not yet published
Expected 9 Sep 25'The perfect combination of heat and humour! Hannah Grace
'A fresh, fun and fast-paced sports romance that readers won't be able to put down' Becka Mack
_______________________
Ella Davies didn’t trade her life in England for a year in Nashville to let anything—or anyone—throw her off her game. She only has one to prove herself on her new school’s elite cheer squad.
What she hadn’t planned for was meeting a gorgeous stranger on her first evening in America.
Hudson Fox is Whitland’s prized possession, a star quarterback who’s never lacked admirers. But this year, he's sworn off temptation—especially the new English cheerleader who’s proving impossible to ignore.
When Ella and Hudson are forced to spend more time together, their "just one night" pact soon shatters.
Until tumbling from the pyramid becomes the least of Ella’s worries. Because instead of hitting the mat, she's falling hard for the quarterback. . .
_______________________
Praise for Game On:
'Sexy, fun and sprinkled with the best things of a sports romance, I devoured Game On!' Elena Armas
'A spicy and tender romance' Hannah Bonam-Young
'Game On tackles new beginnings, healing, and the thrill of unexpected love' Bal Khabra
'Game On flies high and lands with grace, the kind of sports romance that has you rooting for both leads—as individuals and as a couple—from the first page until the last' Simone Soltani
'A fresh, fun and fast-paced sports romance that readers won't be able to put down' Becka Mack
_______________________
Ella Davies didn’t trade her life in England for a year in Nashville to let anything—or anyone—throw her off her game. She only has one to prove herself on her new school’s elite cheer squad.
What she hadn’t planned for was meeting a gorgeous stranger on her first evening in America.
Hudson Fox is Whitland’s prized possession, a star quarterback who’s never lacked admirers. But this year, he's sworn off temptation—especially the new English cheerleader who’s proving impossible to ignore.
When Ella and Hudson are forced to spend more time together, their "just one night" pact soon shatters.
Until tumbling from the pyramid becomes the least of Ella’s worries. Because instead of hitting the mat, she's falling hard for the quarterback. . .
_______________________
Praise for Game On:
'Sexy, fun and sprinkled with the best things of a sports romance, I devoured Game On!' Elena Armas
'A spicy and tender romance' Hannah Bonam-Young
'Game On tackles new beginnings, healing, and the thrill of unexpected love' Bal Khabra
'Game On flies high and lands with grace, the kind of sports romance that has you rooting for both leads—as individuals and as a couple—from the first page until the last' Simone Soltani
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 9, 2025
14.1k people want to read
About the author
Ki Stephens
11books1,234followersKi Stephens is a romance enthusiast who finds comfort in the happily-ever-after . . . with just a little bit of angst along the way. She has a special interest in works that include neurodivergent characters like herself. When she’s not daydreaming about books, Ki enjoys working with kids, creating art in her backyard studio, and spending loads of time with her baby girl, her husband, and their three pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 26, 2025
ok, I'm going to say that I liked it. It was a good book, but idk if I have a lot to say because I'm still trying to process it.
Plot:
╰┈� Let me preface this by saying that I think 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! 💕
---------
pre-read: no strings attached has never been just no strings attached, let's see how long these two last!
Plot:
╰┈� Let me preface this by saying that I think 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! 💕
---------
pre-read: no strings attached has never been just no strings attached, let's see how long these two last!
March 17, 2025
3.5 ˖⁺‧✮
she’s an exchange cheer student from the UK and he’s an athlete at her new university. i can definitely recommend this book for fans of sport romances since it’s probably one of my favorite books in this category. if you have been following me for some you i could have noticed that i am not such a huge fan of sports in books, and i mostly read these books from the already known authors, however, this one was truly great.
i want to start my review with talking about chemistry and tension between main characters because it was soooo good. i can’t remember when was the last time i read a romance with such developed tension. also!!! i’d definitely say to avoid this book if you don’t like spice because this book is filled with those scenes. i wouldn’t classify them as super intense or hot but the chemistry was truly unique.
moving to the storyline. the book definitely follows an interesting plot since i finally got to see a professional cheerleader and an athlete. however, here comes something i didn’t enjoy as much. the moment of him finding out something at the end was so unnecessary. he has only found out about this news and of course he didn’t tell her but the moment was overly dramatic. why was she so angry for no reason?
the end was sweet and predictable but i’m definitely not complaining!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of the book.
she’s an exchange cheer student from the UK and he’s an athlete at her new university. i can definitely recommend this book for fans of sport romances since it’s probably one of my favorite books in this category. if you have been following me for some you i could have noticed that i am not such a huge fan of sports in books, and i mostly read these books from the already known authors, however, this one was truly great.
i want to start my review with talking about chemistry and tension between main characters because it was soooo good. i can’t remember when was the last time i read a romance with such developed tension. also!!! i’d definitely say to avoid this book if you don’t like spice because this book is filled with those scenes. i wouldn’t classify them as super intense or hot but the chemistry was truly unique.
moving to the storyline. the book definitely follows an interesting plot since i finally got to see a professional cheerleader and an athlete. however, here comes something i didn’t enjoy as much. the moment of him finding out something at the end was so unnecessary. he has only found out about this news and of course he didn’t tell her but the moment was overly dramatic. why was she so angry for no reason?
the end was sweet and predictable but i’m definitely not complaining!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of the book.
April 22, 2025
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
pre-read:
got this arc while i was reading conditions of will and i just knew i had to start it straight after bc i! love! this! cover!
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
pre-read:
got this arc while i was reading conditions of will and i just knew i had to start it straight after bc i! love! this! cover!
April 19, 2025
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 💕
Find my review on
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 💕
Find my review on
March 29, 2025
honestly this was a really cute college romance!
i cheered in high school so i really enjoyed the cheer aspect of it. the 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 LOL. 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.
i cheered in high school so i really enjoyed the cheer aspect of it. the 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 LOL. 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.
March 17, 2025
I didn’t hate this book but I didn’t love it either
It was probably the most unrealistic book I’ve ever read and I read shit with dragons
A British cheerleader studying in Oxford doing a year abroad to study in Nashville who is ostracized by her working class made good parents who never wanted her meets bad boy, turned good boy, who was rich boy, turned poor boy and is secretly a nerd who is also the football quarterback who wins sec championships and who’s father was a nfl star but abandoned them
Yeah ok�
The only saving grace is the MMC, who if you ignore the silliness of throwing trope spaghetti against the wall, is sweet to the FMC even if, and especially when she doesn’t deserve it.
It was probably the most unrealistic book I’ve ever read and I read shit with dragons
A British cheerleader studying in Oxford doing a year abroad to study in Nashville who is ostracized by her working class made good parents who never wanted her meets bad boy, turned good boy, who was rich boy, turned poor boy and is secretly a nerd who is also the football quarterback who wins sec championships and who’s father was a nfl star but abandoned them
Yeah ok�
The only saving grace is the MMC, who if you ignore the silliness of throwing trope spaghetti against the wall, is sweet to the FMC even if, and especially when she doesn’t deserve it.
April 17, 2025
5 stars !!!!! arc review <3
thank you netgalley, st martin and ki stephens for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
⁀� tropes
one night stand
black cat couple
ocd representation
no fraternization rule
southern boy x english girl
⁀� plot
imagine meeting the love of your life at a bar in nashville. that’s how hudson and ella met ! right place and right time but it was about to happen either way because he’s the quaterback at whitland’s team and she’s the new cheerleader who just moved from oxford !
so what happens when they have a one night stand even though there’s a no fraternization rule between football players and the cheer squad? will they play it safe or let the cards fall? read game on this summer and find out !!
⁀� characters
ᯓ★ ella davies
please meet ella “darling� davies girl !!!! she had her life completely turned upside down in just a few months, going from a five year relationship to being alone in a new city� who am i kidding, an entire new continent to her.
she knows no one and the only support she thought she had decided to drop her like she was nothing to him. i’d have murdered jamie if my boyfriend had treated me like that !
what this girl went through� i wouldn’t be this brave and survive but i gotta say that she impressed me !!!! she moved on and got to do what she most wanted, be the new cheerleader and join daytona !!! maybe not in a way she thought would happen� but she did it !
ᯓ★ hudson fox
please meet hudson “wild card� fox ! it’s his senior year which means his last year playing football because he doesn’t see himself going pro anymore so it’ll be a chill nerdy school year for him without distractions� as if !
never in a billion years i’d guess he was into cheer in the past but it was the best thing to happen, it was so fun to see him coming back to the sport and just having the best time of his life :,)
he also went through a lot during his life, besides having a terrible dad figure and what happened to his childhood house, he has ocd which a lot of people don’t understand and don’t even make an effort to be there for him.
i really thought hayes (from close call) was the most confusing character until i met this guy ! but jokes aside, there’s an understandable reason for his actions but don’t worry, at one point the hot and cold find its balance.
ᯓ★ ellahudson
i’m really proud of ella !!! even after everything she learned to trust hudson and be vulnerable with him and he did the same. despite what some girls have said about how he never opens up, he got to be vulnerable with her and that’s how they build their relationship.
i loved how hudson treated her, especially by asking what she needed at the time and when she realized that her past relationship wasn’t a good one he made sure that theirs was for legit.
both of them had every single reason to not want to be in a relationship especially because of their parents and past relationships but they committed to each other and made it work !!!
she made sure to show that his ocd wasn’t a burden just by realizing how uneasy he gets around fire and doing something so simple as doing his night routine, an effort that no one has ever done before for him which shows how well the ocd representations was portrayed :,)
him joining the cheer squad and daytona was everything to me !!!!! the drive ins nights were so sweet !!!! them knowing each other so well that they know when the other is bullshitting !!!!! PLEASE HALLOWEEN???? HELLO???? (i believe in levi supremacy.)
ellahudson have their moments and the letter moment wasn’t their best lol but the love confession???? i think about it daily !!!! okay can we also add “that’s my girl� and “darlin� to the equation? i’m obsessed !
⁀� side characters
i loved the cheer squad !!!!! of course ella will have her friends from oxford but ash, gabi and sammy?? lovely people !!!! ash was such a supportive friend and cheer partner :( literally wasn’t expecting his character arc but injuries happen and i’d say that he was an amazing side coach for the new duo in town !
and i need to get something out of my chest� i hated claire at the beginning, i get that she wanted to get her spot secured but she was so mean to ella. i gasped when i realized that things were changing but i’m glad they did because she’s such a misunderstood character, i’d love to see her redemption arc !!!
since we’re talking about claire, can i talk about her and levi? WHAT’S GOING ON?????? WHAT HAPPENED?????
please i need a sequel, i’ll beg on my knees. i need to understand what levi has with sammy and what went down between him and claire ! PLEASE. gotta see more of sourdough with his parents as well so please we want a sequel !
levi and hudson have such a beautiful friendship, full of laughs and support, so it would mean everything to me to see more of it !!!!! like come on, the guy was literally cupid !!!!
i think levihudson stole my heart and now i’m in love with them ! i was always laughing when they were together, how come two characters can be that funny?? gotta love texas !
⁀� thoughts
in my honest opinion, ellahudson was always right person at the right time but they were too much into their heads to realize it sooner but it’s okay !! i wondered if hudson would come back to cheer but i really wasn’t expecting ash getting injured for it to happen lol
talking about cheer, i love the whole sports aspects !!!! when you read the blurb you don’t expect that much information about cheer but it was so much fun !!! i’m glad the book had more focus on the cheerleaders and their competitions than the football players (who i also love)
by this point ki has published a couple of books and none of them have one night stand right at the beginning and guess what� i always wanted this trope to happen and here we are !!!!! she did it so well i’m proud !
*ೃ༄ pre-read
I LITERALLY GOT THE ARC THIS AFTERNOON AND JUST PRE-ORDERED THE SPRAYED EDGES NOBODY IS GONNA RUIN MY DAY
thank you netgalley, st martin and ki stephens for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
⁀� tropes
one night stand
black cat couple
ocd representation
no fraternization rule
southern boy x english girl
⁀� plot
imagine meeting the love of your life at a bar in nashville. that’s how hudson and ella met ! right place and right time but it was about to happen either way because he’s the quaterback at whitland’s team and she’s the new cheerleader who just moved from oxford !
so what happens when they have a one night stand even though there’s a no fraternization rule between football players and the cheer squad? will they play it safe or let the cards fall? read game on this summer and find out !!
⁀� characters
ᯓ★ ella davies
please meet ella “darling� davies girl !!!! she had her life completely turned upside down in just a few months, going from a five year relationship to being alone in a new city� who am i kidding, an entire new continent to her.
she knows no one and the only support she thought she had decided to drop her like she was nothing to him. i’d have murdered jamie if my boyfriend had treated me like that !
what this girl went through� i wouldn’t be this brave and survive but i gotta say that she impressed me !!!! she moved on and got to do what she most wanted, be the new cheerleader and join daytona !!! maybe not in a way she thought would happen� but she did it !
ᯓ★ hudson fox
please meet hudson “wild card� fox ! it’s his senior year which means his last year playing football because he doesn’t see himself going pro anymore so it’ll be a chill nerdy school year for him without distractions� as if !
never in a billion years i’d guess he was into cheer in the past but it was the best thing to happen, it was so fun to see him coming back to the sport and just having the best time of his life :,)
he also went through a lot during his life, besides having a terrible dad figure and what happened to his childhood house, he has ocd which a lot of people don’t understand and don’t even make an effort to be there for him.
i really thought hayes (from close call) was the most confusing character until i met this guy ! but jokes aside, there’s an understandable reason for his actions but don’t worry, at one point the hot and cold find its balance.
ᯓ★ ellahudson
i’m really proud of ella !!! even after everything she learned to trust hudson and be vulnerable with him and he did the same. despite what some girls have said about how he never opens up, he got to be vulnerable with her and that’s how they build their relationship.
i loved how hudson treated her, especially by asking what she needed at the time and when she realized that her past relationship wasn’t a good one he made sure that theirs was for legit.
both of them had every single reason to not want to be in a relationship especially because of their parents and past relationships but they committed to each other and made it work !!!
she made sure to show that his ocd wasn’t a burden just by realizing how uneasy he gets around fire and doing something so simple as doing his night routine, an effort that no one has ever done before for him which shows how well the ocd representations was portrayed :,)
him joining the cheer squad and daytona was everything to me !!!!! the drive ins nights were so sweet !!!! them knowing each other so well that they know when the other is bullshitting !!!!! PLEASE HALLOWEEN???? HELLO???? (i believe in levi supremacy.)
ellahudson have their moments and the letter moment wasn’t their best lol but the love confession???? i think about it daily !!!! okay can we also add “that’s my girl� and “darlin� to the equation? i’m obsessed !
⁀� side characters
i loved the cheer squad !!!!! of course ella will have her friends from oxford but ash, gabi and sammy?? lovely people !!!! ash was such a supportive friend and cheer partner :( literally wasn’t expecting his character arc but injuries happen and i’d say that he was an amazing side coach for the new duo in town !
and i need to get something out of my chest� i hated claire at the beginning, i get that she wanted to get her spot secured but she was so mean to ella. i gasped when i realized that things were changing but i’m glad they did because she’s such a misunderstood character, i’d love to see her redemption arc !!!
since we’re talking about claire, can i talk about her and levi? WHAT’S GOING ON?????? WHAT HAPPENED?????
please i need a sequel, i’ll beg on my knees. i need to understand what levi has with sammy and what went down between him and claire ! PLEASE. gotta see more of sourdough with his parents as well so please we want a sequel !
levi and hudson have such a beautiful friendship, full of laughs and support, so it would mean everything to me to see more of it !!!!! like come on, the guy was literally cupid !!!!
i think levihudson stole my heart and now i’m in love with them ! i was always laughing when they were together, how come two characters can be that funny?? gotta love texas !
⁀� thoughts
in my honest opinion, ellahudson was always right person at the right time but they were too much into their heads to realize it sooner but it’s okay !! i wondered if hudson would come back to cheer but i really wasn’t expecting ash getting injured for it to happen lol
talking about cheer, i love the whole sports aspects !!!! when you read the blurb you don’t expect that much information about cheer but it was so much fun !!! i’m glad the book had more focus on the cheerleaders and their competitions than the football players (who i also love)
by this point ki has published a couple of books and none of them have one night stand right at the beginning and guess what� i always wanted this trope to happen and here we are !!!!! she did it so well i’m proud !
*ೃ༄ pre-read
I LITERALLY GOT THE ARC THIS AFTERNOON AND JUST PRE-ORDERED THE SPRAYED EDGES NOBODY IS GONNA RUIN MY DAY
March 2, 2025
Thanks to penguin( evermore) on netgallery for giving me the arc!! thank you for approving me - this is an honest review ( I still can’t believe I was given the opportunity to read this book early !!
I devoured this in one day !! ( it was so easy to read and so fun too. I love the mix of cheerleading and American football. I love how it’s not your usual cheerleader x quarterback . IN FACT ITS SO DIFFERENT!! In many ways .
This is my first ki Stephen’s book - before this her other latest book ( currently published ofc as of their review ) high hopes - also has me intrigued . This was the perfect book as my first book by ki Stephen’s
I RARELY READ AMERICAN FOOTBALL ROMANCE im obviously more of a hockey romance girlie but ofc when I saw the beautiful cover of this book & saw it was available to request in NetGalley ( I had to request) I had to put in my interest anyway .
I want to start off by saying how pretty and beautiful the cover is ( it is so beautiful) like especially the uk cover I love that we have the purple colour on the font instead of the yellow one the us has !!
A us ( southern) quarterback x British cheerleader ( who is currently in the us for one year ). An mmc who � may or may not have in the past done cheer himself ( you need to read to find out . As a brit I love seeing British fmcs in books and it’s rare to see ).
One thing about this book is ( THAT the CHEerleaders and American football players aren’t meant to even fuck
Let alone date !! So this has some “forbidden aspect to some degree� . Not really but kinda
This book is fwb like DEEP END WAS ( however it has the emotional interactions and intimacy that that book missed . no hate to deep end ) I love Ali so much !! I really love ELLA AND HUDSON ALOT !!
I love the friendships in this book I love how Ella and ash are friends the same way Ella and gabi and Sammy are friends . I just love the friendships in books . I love Levi and Hudson’s friendship .
I have a prediction because idk if ki Stephens is planning on writing a second book but maybe it will be a book between Levi and Claire ??? Maybe . Kinda idk though .
This has a 3rd act breakup . We all know how much I’m not a fan of those but this one didn’t make me too mad . It actually kinda made sense and felt more like a i need time to think about things and then we can talk about it more than an actual breakup so
I devoured this in one day !! ( it was so easy to read and so fun too. I love the mix of cheerleading and American football. I love how it’s not your usual cheerleader x quarterback . IN FACT ITS SO DIFFERENT!! In many ways .
This is my first ki Stephen’s book - before this her other latest book ( currently published ofc as of their review ) high hopes - also has me intrigued . This was the perfect book as my first book by ki Stephen’s
I RARELY READ AMERICAN FOOTBALL ROMANCE im obviously more of a hockey romance girlie but ofc when I saw the beautiful cover of this book & saw it was available to request in NetGalley ( I had to request) I had to put in my interest anyway .
I want to start off by saying how pretty and beautiful the cover is ( it is so beautiful) like especially the uk cover I love that we have the purple colour on the font instead of the yellow one the us has !!
A us ( southern) quarterback x British cheerleader ( who is currently in the us for one year ). An mmc who � may or may not have in the past done cheer himself ( you need to read to find out . As a brit I love seeing British fmcs in books and it’s rare to see ).
One thing about this book is ( THAT the CHEerleaders and American football players aren’t meant to even fuck
Let alone date !! So this has some “forbidden aspect to some degree� . Not really but kinda
This book is fwb like DEEP END WAS ( however it has the emotional interactions and intimacy that that book missed . no hate to deep end ) I love Ali so much !! I really love ELLA AND HUDSON ALOT !!
I love the friendships in this book I love how Ella and ash are friends the same way Ella and gabi and Sammy are friends . I just love the friendships in books . I love Levi and Hudson’s friendship .
I have a prediction because idk if ki Stephens is planning on writing a second book but maybe it will be a book between Levi and Claire ??? Maybe . Kinda idk though .
This has a 3rd act breakup . We all know how much I’m not a fan of those but this one didn’t make me too mad . It actually kinda made sense and felt more like a i need time to think about things and then we can talk about it more than an actual breakup so
March 26, 2025
Just finished reading Game On by Ki Stephens, and wow, what a ride!
� 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!
� 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!
February 23, 2025
This is honestly the book my dreams, just like all of Ki’s books are. I’m feeling so grateful to have gotten to read this already! To have read her trad debut already! I remember knowing how special Ki was when I first arc read Spring Tide!
Ella and Hudson are perfection. A one night stand to no strings attached but also so many strings!! They also became such good FRIENDS! And I love watching them figure it out, and try to fight their feelings for as long as they could! But their instant connection was delicious and there was no getting away from that.
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. Hudson was able to open up about his mental health and Ella was able to tell to him about her strained family situation.
Also my favorite thing about Hudson, among many things obviously, was that football was not his end goal. It was still very much a sports romance, but the fact that he wasn’t hoping to make it to the NFL felt so refreshing. And I LOVED that they got to bond over cheer! It was SO FUN. And it was so important to both of them, and I loved that they got to share that.
I am a fan of Ki for life, I will always read her books! And I cannot wait for more from this series??!!
Thank you so much to SMP for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
March 15, 2025
I’m really sorry but struggle so much reading this. Simply this wasn’t a book for me.
March 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
This was such a fun, easy read with an adorable storyline! I literally could not put it down—I read it in a single day because it was that engaging.
The characters were so likable, and I loved their chemistry. It was refreshing to see them connect over cheerleading instead of the usual quarterback/cheerleader trope. That unique twist made the story even more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a light, feel-good read with great characters and a charming romance, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Can’t wait to read more by Ki Stephens 🩷
This was such a fun, easy read with an adorable storyline! I literally could not put it down—I read it in a single day because it was that engaging.
The characters were so likable, and I loved their chemistry. It was refreshing to see them connect over cheerleading instead of the usual quarterback/cheerleader trope. That unique twist made the story even more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a light, feel-good read with great characters and a charming romance, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Can’t wait to read more by Ki Stephens 🩷
March 19, 2025
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Ki Stephens for the ARC of Game On!
This was another book that I had seen on Instagram and Threads, so when it was added as a Read Now book, I had to snag it!
This was my first Ki Stephens book, and I will definitely be picking up more!
Ella is a British cheerleader about to leave for a year abroad studying at an American college, when her boyfriend of five years - who was supposed to go with her - breaks up with her over the phone. On her first day at her new school, she goes out with her new roommates and meets Hudson, the star quarterback, and they spend one steamy night together. Unfortunately, cheerleaders and football players aren't allowed to fraternize, and Hudson's attempt to pretend like they don't know each other doesn't go the way he planned because Ella is unforgettable. Eventually they make a deal; a no-strings-attached fling and they go their separate ways at the end of the year. But we all know how that works...
I really adored Hudson and Ella. I loved the way Ella stood up for herself, both to her ex and to Hudson, and I loved how Hudson owned his screw ups and stepped up to the plate when he needed to. I believed in the chemistry they felt and I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress from start to finish. I appreciated that the conflict in the third act didn't result in a breakup, and I think they handled it well together. I would have liked to see the confrontation with Jamie from Hudson's POV, but I think it was impactful to see it from Ella's and to see her handle it on her own.
I am so curious about whatever is going on between Levi, Sammy and Claire and I hope Ki writes another book in this series! I think there is a lot to explore with the side characters.
Thanks again to St. Martin's Press and Ki Stephens for the ARC!
This was another book that I had seen on Instagram and Threads, so when it was added as a Read Now book, I had to snag it!
This was my first Ki Stephens book, and I will definitely be picking up more!
Ella is a British cheerleader about to leave for a year abroad studying at an American college, when her boyfriend of five years - who was supposed to go with her - breaks up with her over the phone. On her first day at her new school, she goes out with her new roommates and meets Hudson, the star quarterback, and they spend one steamy night together. Unfortunately, cheerleaders and football players aren't allowed to fraternize, and Hudson's attempt to pretend like they don't know each other doesn't go the way he planned because Ella is unforgettable. Eventually they make a deal; a no-strings-attached fling and they go their separate ways at the end of the year. But we all know how that works...
I really adored Hudson and Ella. I loved the way Ella stood up for herself, both to her ex and to Hudson, and I loved how Hudson owned his screw ups and stepped up to the plate when he needed to. I believed in the chemistry they felt and I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress from start to finish. I appreciated that the conflict in the third act didn't result in a breakup, and I think they handled it well together. I would have liked to see the confrontation with Jamie from Hudson's POV, but I think it was impactful to see it from Ella's and to see her handle it on her own.
I am so curious about whatever is going on between Levi, Sammy and Claire and I hope Ki writes another book in this series! I think there is a lot to explore with the side characters.
Thanks again to St. Martin's Press and Ki Stephens for the ARC!
March 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ // �.� Thank you Ki, Netgalley & St. Martin Press for the opportunity to receive an arc
°❶�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:�
ׂׂ� 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.
°❶�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:･°❀�.ೃ࿔*:�
ׂׂ� 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.
April 19, 2025
ella davies and hudson fox are off to a nice start... one night stand on her first night in america. lucky. the both of them lol. anyways, then as it turn out, they go to the same college, and even more funny, they are football x cheerleader troping so hard it's great. so not only did they have the one night stand thing, they had to do the awkward, do we act like we know each other or pretend it never happened bc we're in the same circle type of deal? directions unclear and also, what next? how do they continue? do it again? not do it again but become friends? or both? or neither? if i were in that situation, i'd also be just as confused.
but alas, as the story progresses, and also as time together progresses, i'm sure you can guess what happens... and if not, i def recommend you read to find out hehe. anyways, these two were actually so cute and i loved their banter. i also loved how hudson had a secret talent that he eventually opened up to sharing with ella (along with the fact that hes a total cat dad), which ended up making them even closer. yeah, idk if i can share all the details at this particular moment, just know he was a big help to ella when she needed and it truly paid off.
not only did i love hudson and ella's dynamic, but i also loved the found family type of dynamic they all had going on. ella seemed to find her place in america as a foreign exchange student, seemed to make good friends and i was happy for her. i though hudson was actually such a softie and hello reformed playboy, we love. you know what else we love, hudson and ella eventually communicating with one another on how to continue forward and how they will make things work. yes, we love communication. so thus, the ending was very satisfying for me bc we also love a happy ending, idk if that's technically a spoiler, so sorry if it is. just read "game on" when it comes out in september hehe it's a fun and cute read!! ki has done it again!!
but alas, as the story progresses, and also as time together progresses, i'm sure you can guess what happens... and if not, i def recommend you read to find out hehe. anyways, these two were actually so cute and i loved their banter. i also loved how hudson had a secret talent that he eventually opened up to sharing with ella (along with the fact that hes a total cat dad), which ended up making them even closer. yeah, idk if i can share all the details at this particular moment, just know he was a big help to ella when she needed and it truly paid off.
not only did i love hudson and ella's dynamic, but i also loved the found family type of dynamic they all had going on. ella seemed to find her place in america as a foreign exchange student, seemed to make good friends and i was happy for her. i though hudson was actually such a softie and hello reformed playboy, we love. you know what else we love, hudson and ella eventually communicating with one another on how to continue forward and how they will make things work. yes, we love communication. so thus, the ending was very satisfying for me bc we also love a happy ending, idk if that's technically a spoiler, so sorry if it is. just read "game on" when it comes out in september hehe it's a fun and cute read!! ki has done it again!!
April 17, 2025
Game on was such a fun and heartfelt read! I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I ended up really enjoying it. The characters felt real, their chemistry was strong, and the story kept me invested the whole way through.
What I loved most was the dynamic between the two leads. Both were ambitious, independent, and a little stubborn—in the best way. Their relationship builds slowly, with great banter and emotional moments that really hit. I appreciated that it wasn’t just about romance, but also about personal growth, trust, and navigating life when things don’t go as planned.
The sports backdrop added some extra tension and excitement, but it never overshadowed the character development.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the eARC!
What I loved most was the dynamic between the two leads. Both were ambitious, independent, and a little stubborn—in the best way. Their relationship builds slowly, with great banter and emotional moments that really hit. I appreciated that it wasn’t just about romance, but also about personal growth, trust, and navigating life when things don’t go as planned.
The sports backdrop added some extra tension and excitement, but it never overshadowed the character development.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the eARC!
March 6, 2025
First, thank you Netgalley for an early copy to read!
This book was such an easy read, this is something that personally I really appreciate not everything has to be oversaturated with difficult language.
It was fun, it was refreshing to read a sports romance that focus� mainly on a different sport. I’ve personally never read a book about cheer/tumbling etc before and I liked that, it was new!
I liked both of the MCs (which doesn’t always happen) but I LOVED that Hudson was a cat dad, sour was too cute. I think there was a pretty good representation of mental health and support between the main characters as well which was nice to see.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this book to others and would read other works by this author!
This book was such an easy read, this is something that personally I really appreciate not everything has to be oversaturated with difficult language.
It was fun, it was refreshing to read a sports romance that focus� mainly on a different sport. I’ve personally never read a book about cheer/tumbling etc before and I liked that, it was new!
I liked both of the MCs (which doesn’t always happen) but I LOVED that Hudson was a cat dad, sour was too cute. I think there was a pretty good representation of mental health and support between the main characters as well which was nice to see.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this book to others and would read other works by this author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
4.5. rtc !!! thank you so much ki, evermore books and penguin random house for the arc 😭😭😭 what is life rn.
January 2, 2025
whatever ki writes>>>>>> f masterpiece
March 14, 2025
i'm forever unwell because of this one. oh how much i adored it. NOW REVIEW TIME!
game on by ki stephens follows ella, an english cheerleader spending a year in nashville, and hudson, the star quarterback who’s sworn off distractions. from the moment they meet, the tension between them is undeniable, and they agree to one night together only. but when they’re forced to spend more time together, their “just one night� pact completely falls apart and the lines begin to blur.
ella and hudson are just perfect for each other. their connection felt so real and effortless, and i loved every moment of their story. hudson was so caring and gentle with ella. he never made her feel like she was too much, never treated her struggles like a problem to fix. he showed up for her, again and again and i nearly cried at one point when he stepped in.
the ocd representation was also handled with so much care and thought and you can tell how much effort went into making it authentic, and it meant so much to see that on the page. i really loved how ella showed that trauma responses aren’t a burden, that love doesn’t mean having to be “easy� all the time, and that hudson deserves someone who meets him where he is. their relationship was everything, and i truly couldn’t get enough of them and wanted forty more chapters.
also, no third-act breakup??? PERFECTION CHEFS KISS A+ ALL THE STARS!!!!! i love when a story focuses on growth and love without unnecessary annoying drama, and this book did that so well.
this book is truly just everything i wanted and more. from the very first page, i was hooked and could not put it down. ki absolutely nailed it with this book, and i cannot wait for everyone to read her first traditionally published novel because she absolutely exceeded any expectations that could have been made (,: i am just so proud of her and ahhhh i'll shush now.
overall this book is fun, emotional, swoony, and just so well written. if you love sports romance with lovable black cat characters this is a must-read!!! and i have a feeling we'll be getting a certain couples story next 👀
game on by ki stephens follows ella, an english cheerleader spending a year in nashville, and hudson, the star quarterback who’s sworn off distractions. from the moment they meet, the tension between them is undeniable, and they agree to one night together only. but when they’re forced to spend more time together, their “just one night� pact completely falls apart and the lines begin to blur.
ella and hudson are just perfect for each other. their connection felt so real and effortless, and i loved every moment of their story. hudson was so caring and gentle with ella. he never made her feel like she was too much, never treated her struggles like a problem to fix. he showed up for her, again and again and i nearly cried at one point when he stepped in.
the ocd representation was also handled with so much care and thought and you can tell how much effort went into making it authentic, and it meant so much to see that on the page. i really loved how ella showed that trauma responses aren’t a burden, that love doesn’t mean having to be “easy� all the time, and that hudson deserves someone who meets him where he is. their relationship was everything, and i truly couldn’t get enough of them and wanted forty more chapters.
also, no third-act breakup??? PERFECTION CHEFS KISS A+ ALL THE STARS!!!!! i love when a story focuses on growth and love without unnecessary annoying drama, and this book did that so well.
this book is truly just everything i wanted and more. from the very first page, i was hooked and could not put it down. ki absolutely nailed it with this book, and i cannot wait for everyone to read her first traditionally published novel because she absolutely exceeded any expectations that could have been made (,: i am just so proud of her and ahhhh i'll shush now.
overall this book is fun, emotional, swoony, and just so well written. if you love sports romance with lovable black cat characters this is a must-read!!! and i have a feeling we'll be getting a certain couples story next 👀
March 22, 2025
Game on by Ki Stephens 🏈📣❤️
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Tropes:
- Friends with Benefits
- Sports Romance
- College
- Found Family
TW: Fire, abandonment
Thanks to Netgally for a free Digital Advanced copy of this book.
Ella, recently dumped by her long term boyfriend, meets Hudson on her first night in Nashville. After a one night stand, the don't think they will see much of each other. But Ella is a cheerleader at Whitland, and Hudson is the star quarterback.
Review:
I really enjoyed Game On. Ella and Hudson were both well developed in their own passions and goals. This wasn't just a story about them getting together; it was about them growing, coping with their pasts, and truly learning to let someone else in, even for a moment.
Hudson experiences some obsessive compulsive tendencies and I feel this representation was done well. The author has shared that she has personal experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and she wanted to show someone who experience OCD but is not defined by it, which I think really came through. Often when we represent Mental Health Disorders, it becomes the main point of that character's story. This isn't the case for Hudson. He is coping with his disorder and continues to achieve excellence.
I also really enjoyed the way the spicy scenes in this book were done. They were definitely there and spicy, but were also very focused on the connection and emotions between the characters. They also weren’t overly plentiful. There were fade to black moments and it didn't feel like we had to view every one of their sexual encounters on page. I also really enjoyed how consent was done; it was on page, active, but not awkward. Consent is sexy and I love to see it included explicitly and frequently.
I do wish we got to see more development for our side characters and got to know them a bit more. There was certainly a cast of them and while some had story elements about them, many felt like window dressing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend picking it up when it releases on September 9th, 2025. I've pre-ordered my copy already and cannot wait to annotate all my favorite parts.
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Tropes:
- Friends with Benefits
- Sports Romance
- College
- Found Family
TW: Fire, abandonment
Thanks to Netgally for a free Digital Advanced copy of this book.
Ella, recently dumped by her long term boyfriend, meets Hudson on her first night in Nashville. After a one night stand, the don't think they will see much of each other. But Ella is a cheerleader at Whitland, and Hudson is the star quarterback.
Review:
I really enjoyed Game On. Ella and Hudson were both well developed in their own passions and goals. This wasn't just a story about them getting together; it was about them growing, coping with their pasts, and truly learning to let someone else in, even for a moment.
Hudson experiences some obsessive compulsive tendencies and I feel this representation was done well. The author has shared that she has personal experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and she wanted to show someone who experience OCD but is not defined by it, which I think really came through. Often when we represent Mental Health Disorders, it becomes the main point of that character's story. This isn't the case for Hudson. He is coping with his disorder and continues to achieve excellence.
I also really enjoyed the way the spicy scenes in this book were done. They were definitely there and spicy, but were also very focused on the connection and emotions between the characters. They also weren’t overly plentiful. There were fade to black moments and it didn't feel like we had to view every one of their sexual encounters on page. I also really enjoyed how consent was done; it was on page, active, but not awkward. Consent is sexy and I love to see it included explicitly and frequently.
I do wish we got to see more development for our side characters and got to know them a bit more. There was certainly a cast of them and while some had story elements about them, many felt like window dressing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend picking it up when it releases on September 9th, 2025. I've pre-ordered my copy already and cannot wait to annotate all my favorite parts.
March 25, 2025
Ahh a sports romance that has stolen my very heart!
The cheerleader meets the footballer 🙊😍.
Ella moves to Nashville for a year of her studies to join an elite cheer squad at Whitland University. Having been dumped the night before her flight, Ella is leaving Oxford, heart broken, single and unprepared for a year in a new location.
Her first night out in Nashville, Ella propositions Hudson. They agree to a no strings attached relationship because Ella is leaving in 12 months and Hudson is not looking for a relationship. However, little does Hudson know that he is going to have to step up in more ways than one throughout their agreement.
Sparks were well and truly flying through the pages! The connection that builds between Ella and Hudson feels so genuine, their relationship is developed with excellent pace and this was done simultaneously with character the development. The side characters were included the right amount and I would LOVE a book for Levi!
The ending gave me actual goosebumps and put a smile on my face.
I love Ki’s style of writing, the book is written in dual POV and the transition was seamless. Ki has such a fantastic way to immerse you in the story and I felt like I was at Whitland Uiversity cheering on the football team with the cheerleaders. 📣
The cheerleader meets the footballer 🙊😍.
Ella moves to Nashville for a year of her studies to join an elite cheer squad at Whitland University. Having been dumped the night before her flight, Ella is leaving Oxford, heart broken, single and unprepared for a year in a new location.
Her first night out in Nashville, Ella propositions Hudson. They agree to a no strings attached relationship because Ella is leaving in 12 months and Hudson is not looking for a relationship. However, little does Hudson know that he is going to have to step up in more ways than one throughout their agreement.
Sparks were well and truly flying through the pages! The connection that builds between Ella and Hudson feels so genuine, their relationship is developed with excellent pace and this was done simultaneously with character the development. The side characters were included the right amount and I would LOVE a book for Levi!
The ending gave me actual goosebumps and put a smile on my face.
I love Ki’s style of writing, the book is written in dual POV and the transition was seamless. Ki has such a fantastic way to immerse you in the story and I felt like I was at Whitland Uiversity cheering on the football team with the cheerleaders. 📣
April 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for selecting me to receive a copy of Game On by Ki Stephens to review. I promise that this review is unbiased and reflects my own opinions of the book.
Ella is a cheerleader from Oxford University- England and is on a year abroad program as she moved to Whitland University - Nashville, USA. She meets football star Hudson on her first night and they both hit it off and have a one night stand. However, there’s a strict No Fraternisation rule between football players and cheerleaders.
I rated this book 4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The spice within this book hit! I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry and tension between the two main characters. At times I did experience a bit of whiplash as they move move through the course of their relationship, one minute they’re not friends and aren’t speaking and the next they’re all over eachother! There were parts which had me giggling and kicking my feet. I found several parts incredibly comical and thoroughly enjoyed which made the book go up in my estimations. The spice was brilliant! I love love love how it was written and found it incredibly descriptive!
There’s quite a few tropes covered within that will appeal to most readers such as forbidden romance. I recommend as a great feel good read where there’s plenty of tension between the two main characters.
Available on 14th August 2025. This one you don’t want to miss!
Ella is a cheerleader from Oxford University- England and is on a year abroad program as she moved to Whitland University - Nashville, USA. She meets football star Hudson on her first night and they both hit it off and have a one night stand. However, there’s a strict No Fraternisation rule between football players and cheerleaders.
I rated this book 4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The spice within this book hit! I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry and tension between the two main characters. At times I did experience a bit of whiplash as they move move through the course of their relationship, one minute they’re not friends and aren’t speaking and the next they’re all over eachother! There were parts which had me giggling and kicking my feet. I found several parts incredibly comical and thoroughly enjoyed which made the book go up in my estimations. The spice was brilliant! I love love love how it was written and found it incredibly descriptive!
There’s quite a few tropes covered within that will appeal to most readers such as forbidden romance. I recommend as a great feel good read where there’s plenty of tension between the two main characters.
Available on 14th August 2025. This one you don’t want to miss!
March 23, 2025
✮✮�
� “‘Thought you two weren’t together.�
‘We’re not� he says. ‘But she’s mine to look at.’�
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to get the arc for this and I was really excited to read it! Overall, the book was really cute and the last 30% were really good!
As someone that doesn’t really love the friends with benefits trope I unfortunately didn’t love this. I wish that we had less of them in this sort of relationship and more or them figuring out what they want for themselves, and for their friendship and relationship.
The characters were really nice and I really liked them! I loved how they had their goals and were going after them with everything they got. As someone who is also in college and trying to reach my goals, sometimes with a lot of struggle, it was really nice to see them going through the same.
Lastly, their chemistry was really good, even though I don’t love the firsts with benefits relationship I am still able to appreciate their chemistry. Ki Stephens was able to successfully show how much those Ella and Hudson yearned for each other!
� “‘Thought you two weren’t together.�
‘We’re not� he says. ‘But she’s mine to look at.’�
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to get the arc for this and I was really excited to read it! Overall, the book was really cute and the last 30% were really good!
As someone that doesn’t really love the friends with benefits trope I unfortunately didn’t love this. I wish that we had less of them in this sort of relationship and more or them figuring out what they want for themselves, and for their friendship and relationship.
The characters were really nice and I really liked them! I loved how they had their goals and were going after them with everything they got. As someone who is also in college and trying to reach my goals, sometimes with a lot of struggle, it was really nice to see them going through the same.
Lastly, their chemistry was really good, even though I don’t love the firsts with benefits relationship I am still able to appreciate their chemistry. Ki Stephens was able to successfully show how much those Ella and Hudson yearned for each other!
March 17, 2025
The book was fine. Not my most stellar read but I felt happy at the end of it. She's English and on an exchange program to be on a top cheer team in the states. He's a top football player but deeper because he's into the Classics and has a rough backstory. I'm not normally an inst love/lust kind of reader but I actually liked their initial interaction. The plot is predictable and in this low stakes game it's fine. I thought the author was more of a teller than a shower and that got a little frustrating to read at times. I also had an issue with the FMC and her friends from back home, they were supposed to be the best of friends but they were mentioned maybe twice and I don't think they ever actually found out about her and the MMC. It felt odd and disconnected that she boasted about these girls yet didn't talk to them at all during her YEAR away. All in all it was a fine read, predictable, low stakes, and just a happily ever after with no third act break up which was good!
March 17, 2025
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m so sorry, but this wasn’t for me at all. Everything went so quickly in the beginning with immediate lust but no chemistry?
I found that the characters felt flat, I didn’t feel anything between Ella and Hudson and couldn’t find myself caring for their relationship or goals. Their hesitation in starting a relationship makes sense. I did like Ella and her determination.
The dialogue didn’t feel real or natural to me, and the pacing in some scenes was so fast! I also couldn’t find any connection to the side characters or the friendships. I really struggled to keep picking it up.
I liked sourdough, it is a great name for a cat.
I really appreciate the opportunity to read this early, but just unfortunately wasn’t my cup of tea.
I’m so sorry, but this wasn’t for me at all. Everything went so quickly in the beginning with immediate lust but no chemistry?
I found that the characters felt flat, I didn’t feel anything between Ella and Hudson and couldn’t find myself caring for their relationship or goals. Their hesitation in starting a relationship makes sense. I did like Ella and her determination.
The dialogue didn’t feel real or natural to me, and the pacing in some scenes was so fast! I also couldn’t find any connection to the side characters or the friendships. I really struggled to keep picking it up.
I liked sourdough, it is a great name for a cat.
I really appreciate the opportunity to read this early, but just unfortunately wasn’t my cup of tea.
March 28, 2025
I was able to get a digital ARC copy of this book through Netgalley.
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.
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.
April 4, 2025
Really enjoyed this book! Hudson and Ella have my heart!! Love them making it work and finding their way together so naturally- nothing felt forced and there was no miscommunication! A really enjoyable cosy read!
March 21, 2025
a superb masterpiece but you don’t get anything less with ki’s writing :):):)
March 8, 2025
Thank you so much to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book, FOUR STARS ⭐️👏🏻
I absolutely loved this book! From the minute I started to the end, I couldn’t put it down. I loved following the love story of Ella and Hudson throughout. High school sweethearts with the twist of living on opposite sides of the world, shared passions and an ex that won’t get the message. Such an enjoyable read, can’t wait to discover more from this author - hopefully with a follow on series with the other characters or even more of E&H’s story.
Definitely recommend adding to your TBR 🤍
I absolutely loved this book! From the minute I started to the end, I couldn’t put it down. I loved following the love story of Ella and Hudson throughout. High school sweethearts with the twist of living on opposite sides of the world, shared passions and an ex that won’t get the message. Such an enjoyable read, can’t wait to discover more from this author - hopefully with a follow on series with the other characters or even more of E&H’s story.
Definitely recommend adding to your TBR 🤍
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