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Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
That said, I thought there’s barely any link between baking and ice hockey, so the fact that Delilah was a whole baker was a bit weird - they could have just said she was a tv personality and the contract between her and Ian’s teams for the next year would make more sense. There was barely any baking required besides those two featurings that Ian did anyway.
Relationship-wise, I would be more insecure about being in love with this dude since 16 but he only started liking you at adulthood, and I thought the author would incorporate that into the plot somehow, but I guess it differs for different couples.
Surprisingly or not, Jack is my favourite character. He’s so funny and his random comments/“relationship” with Ian added that humour factor to the story to balance out all the heaviness. I really really hope he gets his own story one day.
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders
Author: Lana Ferguson
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lackluster • Lighthearted • Relaxed
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase's team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate's little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.
Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking” on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.
Delilah's and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As an avid hockey fan, I often find myself pulled in the direction of hockey romances, such was the case with The Game Changer. I'd definitely heard of this author before, yet had never been interested enough to pick anything up, until this one. I didn't know much beyond the hockey aspect and it was definitely good I didn't.
I really enjoyed the dual perspective structure - it allowed a great look into the thought processes of both MCs. Delilah and Ian are forced together, although I could already sense things were heading that way, so it didn't feel necessary. Both their characters were fine, but nothing really jumped out to connect me with the story.
Not a whole lot happens happens throughout the first half, which felt like something I had already read. By the time the plot picks up, my interest had already waned and it ended up feeling way too long than it needed to be. If some of the plot had been inserted into the first half maybe it wouldn't have been as much of a chore to get through.
While The Game Changer was a nice escape from the realties of the world we are living in right now, it isn't one that has stuck with me. It had an element of déjà vu I couldn't shake, which impacted the entire reading experience. While I cannot say I didn't enjoy it, it isn't one I can see myself recommending time and time again.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• hockey romance
• fake dating
• brother's best friend
⚠️ CW: sexual content, toxic relationship, infidelity, gaslighting, abandonment, emotional abuse, death, death of parent, panic attacks/disorders, biphobia, alcohol, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Maybe love can only truly be held by two people, because it's too big for just one."
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol
The Game Changer is a funny, sappy, and smutty read that fully takes advantage of the tropes of fake dating, brother's best friend, and teenage crush getting a go in adulthood.
"I'm days away from doodling your name in my notebook. Teenage Lila has nothing on middle-aged me. "
It's sweet how emotionally intelligent and supportive both Ian and Delilah are with each other even in the beginning, when their friendship has been on a hiatus for years: they both agree to fake dating more for the benefit of the other than themself. They both gladly entertain the forced proximity due to the alleged or potential dating in the public eye, which gives them a chance to grow closer, and it is a delightful reading experience to see them connect both emotionally and feel insta lust toward the adult person they are seeing again for first time in years. That is a delicate dynamic to juggle, but Ferguson manages it well.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Incest, Infidelity, Violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Biphobia, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
🎧 This was dual POV with two narrators (switching off, not duet). I really liked both of them. They did an excellent job as actors and you could really feel the emotion in each scene. And the spice spiced with both of them.
🌶️4.5/5 a few explicit scenes that were pretty 🥵 especially with the narrators' performances.
🏳️🌈✊While the MCs were white and straight, there was a fair amount of both racial and lgbtqia+ diversity in the side characters.
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Shower Scene - Pearl Clutching)
TAGS: ROMANCE, SPORTS ROMANCE
STORY: FOR FANS OF SPORTS ROMANCE, FAKE DATING, BROTHER BEST FRIENDS ROMANCES, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, AGE GAP.
FAVORITE QUOTE "Maybe love can only truly be held by two people, because it's too big for just one.”
This is my first introduction to Lana Ferguson's work, and to the Sports Romance Genre.
I was so excited to win a copy via giveaway!
I was apprehensive about diving into the sports romance genre, worried that it might not be my cup of tea. However, beginning my introduction with this book by Lana has proven me wrong. Maybe I can get into the Sports Romance Genre without it being totally cringy after all.
This book was actually pretty nauseously cute. I adored it.
I found myself at times kicking my feet smiling. SWOON!
How can a book be cute and hot at the same time?
Book Hits:
* Chemistry between Ian and Lila felt authentic due to her being in love with him since childhood.
* The brother was great comic relief and a nice addition to the story.
* Brother Best Friend, Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, Age Gap, I MEAN come on. Could it be any hotter?
* Sarcasm, Dirty Talk, just does it for me, so I enjoyed the banter between these characters.
* Just enough Spice vs Relationship Development ratio- was perfect.
* Shower scene made me clutch my pearls. (Mamma Mia!).
Book Misses:
* I found the shift in Ian's feelings a bit abrupt—from being unsure and confused at the start of the book to quickly becoming obsessively protective and madly in love. The pacing of this development felt slightly off to me. Come on really kill us with angst!
* Relationship with Ex-Wife felt unnecessary, as it didn't add anything to the story for me.
* Cupcake. Worse pet name ever. I sighed outload whenever I read it. (Haha - With Love).
* Total miss not making Lila's brother date Ian's Sister for revenge. Ultimate burn.
(PT 2? A girl can try).
Overall, The Game Changer, was an enjoyable read for me. I look forward to reading more books from Lana Ferguson in the future. Maybe I won't walk past the Sport Romances from now on!
(Thank you, Lana Ferguson and Berkley Publishing Group, I received this copy as a giveaway, all thoughts expressed are my own).
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Lila and Ian are so cute! Once they actually start dating the book really picks up, and I couldn’t put it down. The beginning was a little slow for me, mostly because I don’t love insta-love, but after we got past that it flowed really well and I loved the story.
Read this book if you love
🧁 sports romance
🧁 baked goods
🧁 mutual pining
🧁 family drama
🧁 hot af spice (🥵)
I will definitely be reading Lana Ferguson’s next tier books! 4 stars.
Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC and the opportunity to share an honest, voluntary review.
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Biphobia, Infidelity, Death of parent
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol