Heat Factor: Totally closed door (but she has 17 orgasms…)
Character Chemistry: She’s absolutely terrible to him and he keeps coming back
Plot: Gamer romance at a gamer tournament
Overall: The heroine was obnoxious, but it was still a good read

First, let me just say that this book was so engaging that I devoured it and I am super excited that the next book is about the heroine’s dad and her best friend. (I love an older man, younger woman romance!) But I had serious issues, like rage-inducing issues, with our heroine.

The Plot:
Gwen is part of an Explorers of Islay (it’s Catan...it’s basically Catan) tournament in her hometown of Boston. She’s gonna go all the way and win the championship in Las Vegas, earning $10,000 to pay a debt to her dad and continue running her travel blog. She doesn’t date other gamers because she has a host of issues. Unfortunately there’s a guy across the room who’s smokin’ hot...and the four time champion of the Explorers competition. They’re both winners, so they both keep progressing to the next round and running into each other.

The Romance:
It had the most promising beginning. Gwen was standing in the competition room thinking that this guy looked just like her first crush, Jonathan Crombie, a.k.a. Gilbert Blythe. If you don’t know who that is, please stop now and educate yourself about Anne of Green Gables.

Anyway, Gwen, who has red hair and wears braids (!), looked across the room, and saw dreamboat Gil Blythe, and (AND) she was wearing a t-shirt making a reference to when Gilbert called Anne “Carrots”. This sounds like an awesome t-shirt that I might need. And this hot gamer dude understands the reference. It’s adorable and I’m sorry, Gwen, why would you not just call it a day and keep this guy in your pocket forever?

Hot gamer dude a.k.a. Gilbert Blythe doppelganger is actually named Cody. Not only does he know Anne of Green Gables, he doesn’t flirt like a total jerk and he trash talks pretty appropriately, all things considered. I can’t imagine that if I’d won a national competition four times I wouldn’t also make little digs (to someone else who’s trash-talking to me!) about how amazing I am in a laughing-at-myself sort of way. Basically Cody is amazing and I love him.

So what does Gwen do? She assumes the absolute worst of him at absolutely every. Single. Opportunity. With one exception that for some reason demonstrated a completely out of character maturity that was shockingly refreshing. Until she ruined it by continuing to be a complete idiot. Hi. Millennial. If you’re gonna leave a note for someone, leave it next to the person’s phone. We don’t let those things go. We have panic attacks without them. She’s jetting all over the U.S., making a living as a blogger, and she doesn’t think of this? Please.

This book would have been hands down 5 stars if Gwen were not vacillating between being an idiot and a jerk from the get-go. Here’s Gwen: Cody’s a player because he’s texting all the time. Cody isn’t sincerely into her because he doesn’t try to talk to her between rounds of the competition. Cody sleeps with her and doesn’t give her the right kind of kiss afterward, so he was obviously playing to mess with her head in the competition.

I cannot. Everybody is glued to his/her phone--these people are in their 20s. She is horribly rude to him every time they talk and at one point lies to his face, so yeah, I think I would respect those boundaries if I were consistently getting a hard “no” message myself. And the kiss?! Are you kidding me? You’re both super competitive and you’re going to be late for the competition, which would lead to disqualification...what exactly were you expecting? You didn’t even have time to put underwear on before racing to the competition.

By the end of the book, when there was a situation that Gwen could have legitimately reasonably misread and felt terrible about, I disliked her so much I was instead like, “You’re dumb as a post. He told you this information months ago, and you just need to assume the worst of him so desperately that you can’t stop a minute to get out of your own way.” And no, she doesn’t get a pass because she was abandoned by her mom.

And then I just wanted to say: Dear Cody, please stop and find someone who actually values you, because you are amazing, and this woman is treating you like garbage.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I enjoyed this book, despite having some difficulty liking the main character, which is usually a death kneel. However the story concept was a relatively new one, and the characters well written enough for you to either love or hate them, so check it out for yourself and decide. Plus, games!

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

2.5 stars

I've went back and forth between rating this as a three star rating or a two and a half star rating but have finally settled on two and a half stars. This book had potential and for the first half of the novel, I really was enjoying it. I liked the unique plot of a travel blogger who also had a side hobby of gaming (pretty intensely too, might I add). It seemed different than what I've read before and I was very interested to see how the story would develop.

However, where I initially started out liking the main character of Gwen, that feeling sort of went away as the story progressed, or it at least petered out quite a bit. I felt extremely bad for the character of Cody and don't think many men would keep attempting a relationship after being rejected so many times in so many ways. Truly, as much as I can get behind a story of a man 'fighting' (figuratively, not literally) for his woman, there's a limit and the way Gwen treated him was beyond that.

Due to the way Gwen acted, it did take a toll on my enjoyment of the rest of the story. It was hard to keep invested in this duo working out when reading about their relationship felt like watching a tennis match. One moment they were great and flirty while the next instant Gwen was attacking Cody for something he did 'wrong' (yet again). Also, without getting into details, near the ending I felt myself cringing because it just seemed so wrong to be at a place like that so quickly with the way the relationship had developed. It was odd.

I wish I enjoyed this novel more because I really liked how 'quirky' the main character was. It felt like this novel was going to feature a character that was relatable and 'nerdy' (I mean that as a compliment) but instead of that I was disappointed with how Gwen acted.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

She's Got Game has such a unique, fun set-up, centered as it is around a board game tournament that advances to different cities as the finals approach. Gwen is determined not to get involved with other competitors, but Cody is so persistent that she simultaneously wants to break her rule while also fearing he's trying to distract her from her goal of winning. With a cast of characters come to life, ensuing books in the series promise to be every bit as engaging as this first.

Very good book. I like the main character! Such a kickass girl. Definitely one to read if you like a strong female lead.

Wow I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. I’ve read this book in just three hours! It is so good! I honestly don’t feel as though five stars is enough to show how fantastic this book really is. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to wait for the others.
This has been a fun and easy read which I have really enjoyed getting stuck into. The plot has many twists that I didn’t expect and I honestly had to know what happens next.
The characters in the book are likeable, I was pleasantly surprised how lovely Cody seemed right from the start. I wanted Gwen to give him a chance from the very beginning.
This is a wonderful read, I have loved it from start to finish. I cannot wait to read the next two books in this series. I have no doubt, I will love them as much as I have loved this one.
I would highly recommend this book to readers, the story is fun and light hearted. I guarantee you won’t regret reading this book.

~She's Got Game was provided to be as an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~

Everything about this book screamed "Jaclyn".
Board games? Check
Strong female lead? Check
Interesting plot scenario? Check

But for some reason, when putting all the pieces together, She's Got Game just fell short. The characters felt clunky and unbelievable at times and the stakes in the book just seemed contrived.

This was a quick read, and I will say there isn't any dull points. For me personally, the actual board game parts were the highlight of the book and I loved the spotlight on women in the board game industry. I also loved the representation of demisexuality in this novel.

All in all, She's Got Game had a lot of things that should have put it high up on my list of books, but unfortunately it missed the mark.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a cute, clean romance. I liked the concept of a gamer's competition it hightens the anticipation and tension. While I liked Gwen's fiesty spirit I couldn't stand her constant misinterpretation of Cody's actions. Once I understand but three times in the span of a few days that was too much. Cody was too sweetly persistent for my taste. This is a nice romance if you're looking for something with some grit bit not a lot of intensity.

Entertaining read, the story of Gwen and Cody.

They meet when they are both entering the same competition, both of them wanting to win the prize money. Will they end up together or will the game keep them apart?

I didn't understand all the gaming talk, but I don't think this mattered.

Easy, witty and full of humor, The book that is perfect for lazy Sunday afternoon when we just want to chill out.