A review by justmevictoria
The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

4.0

 

Cooking up a relationship with your forever crush… 

 

TV baker Delilah Baker has been crushing on her brother's best friend Ian Chase since the moment she met him. And just when she thinks her twenty-eight year old self is over her crush, Ian is back in town for the first time in years to rejoin the Boston Druids for what is potentially his final season playing hockey. After trading to Calgary after his divorce and negative press attention, Ian's PR team in looking to help give the press something positive to focus on when it comes to his return, meanwhile Delilah's PR team is needing her show's numbers to increase, so it's decided to bring Ian onto her show as a guest. Their onscreen chemistry is undeniable and both PR teams urge them to play into a potential relationship that leaves social media in love with the are-they-aren't-they narrative playing out before them. But with Delilah's highschool crush still bubbling under the surface and Ian realising that Delilah isn't the kid he remembers, there's a fine line between faking it for the media and giving into their real attraction to one another. But Ian's past press drama is forever circling, threatening to destroy not only their budding romance but their careers and the relationships around them. 

 

She's done it again ladies and gentlemen! I genuinely think Lana can do no wrong - she's three for three when it comes to swoony and spicy romances, and it only makes me even more excited for every new release! Lana has filled this book with everything to love about the brother's bestie/bestie's sister trope with a fabulous sprinkling of spice, banter, and a side of family drama. 

 

The brother's best friend/best friend's sister trope is always a favourite of mine, and Delilah & Ian embodied all the banter and chemistry that I love about this trope. From the get-go you can feel that there is a lot of history between the duo, a history that Ian in particular has to reconcile with when it comes to the kid he knew years ago and the woman he has reconnected with in the present. This history leads to lots of fun banter that leads into cute flirting as they both lean into their attraction to one another. And topping it all off is some top-tier spice that has become quintessential in Lana's books - the shower scene? YES. 

 

Compared to Lana's previous two books, this didn't quiet hit the mark like I was expecting it too, although I did still thoroughly enjoy the romance she has cooked up. I felt like I wanted more out of Delilah & Ian's relationship - I'm all for low/no-angst romances with no third-act breakup, but I felt like these two needed a little something-something to just kick things up a notch a little. Regardless, I'm hanging out for a potential Jack book as he's an absolute riot and I predict his potential pairing will be top-tier chemistry! 

 

For my sports romance girlies, add this beauty to your TBR and fall in love with Delilah & Ian, as well as Lana's writing - you won't be disappointed! And if you haven't already, make sure you catch up on all of Lana's backlog before Under Loch and Key is released (already counting down the days!).