Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for a copy of this book. I loved the first book of this series and getting glimpse of Giselle' s there and now her story. This is a great slow burn and then it really heats up. Love Devon and how sweet he is. I hope we get more to this series.

TOUCHDOWN!!!! This is another hit for Ilsa! Devon and Giselle are freaking out of this world amazing!


I love that we got Giselle’s story bit more than anything I love her with Devon! They’re so beautiful! You got to experience their romance grow! I love the depth of these two! There was so much more to both of them than I ever could’ve imagined and I just loved every single word!

I also have to say that I loved seeing some familiar characters and I hope there are many more books in this series because I can not get enough!

I liked Devon and Giselle's dynamic, they had a lot of chemistry and there was so much angst between the two of them. However, like the previous installment, I wasn't fully invested in the story, especially when Devon and Giselle weren't together. Other than that, I liked Aiden's character so much more in this book and I hope he'll have his own because he's really funny. The epilogue was so cute and I loved it so much, epilogues like that really are my weakness!!!

This is a cute (don't let that fool you) story with plenty of sexual tension. It does feature that broken boy who is afraid to let himself fall in love. You may have met the characters in Not My Romeo, but have no fear, you don't need to read that book to follow this. though most of the characters are in both books, so if you do/have read them, it's a little bonus. He is a NFL star about to head into Pre-Season training. She is in school for her doctorate. She's a little nerdy when it comes to all things science and physics. She's also a bit quirky. Her sister is in a relationship with his best friend and teammate, so the two aren't really strangers, though they aren't necessarily friends. He is set with the task of watching over her while her sister and his buddy are out of state. Little does he know, he has his work cut out for him when he learns her secret. There are a lot of fun moments, some angst, some more emotional ones as well. This isn't really a friends to lovers romance, since they are barely friends, but she has had a crush on him ever since she saw one of his games years ago, long before she even knew his name. Most of the book is him pushing her away whenever he feels they are getting too close and her trying to come to terms that they will never be more than friends. There is some sexual content that may be deemed suitable for mature readers. It alternates POVs. It's easy to read and the story flows smoothly.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

➳ Rate: 5/ 5 stars
Not My Match was just as good as Not My Romeo. Ilsa is really killing it with this series. I am loving both the heroines and heroes so much.

Devon was so protective and cute with Giselle. The way he tried to fight his attraction towards her because she's Jack's sister-in-law but got so jealous when she was going on dates with other guys and how he just forgot about all that when she was in danger, swoon. Devon just might have been even more swoon-worthy than Jack, I swear.

Giselle was super cute. I loved her quirkiness and how geeky but cool she was. She had just been through so much and then when her building burned down she took Devon's offer and she worked all angles. I love how she took advantage of a bad thing and turned it around, fighting to get her guy and take down his walls. It was obvious these two shared an incredible attraction towards one another and the sexual tension oh lord *fans self*.

I just really adored this book and how their relationship developed. It was a bit of a slow burn but filled with so much tension and sexual chemistry, the build-up was perfect for these characters and the history they had. It was definitely another amazing read by Miss Ilsa. It's impossible not to fall in love with her characters, she writes some of the best ones and these two were just adorable.

“If you want to be happy, do what makes your heart fly. Every breath you inhale must be meaningful.”

Not My Match is another fantastic book by Ilsa Madden-Mills. She creates such layered stories with the perfect amounts of humor, love, and angst which alternately tear my heart out and make me smile. I have absolutely LOVED her last four books and this one is no exception.

In Not My Match, Devon and Giselle are two opposites who find that they have more in common than they think. Giselle feels sparks when she’s around Devon, but she doesn’t believe that Devon could ever be interested in her. When her apartment burns down, Devon offers to let her stay with him and their attraction becomes harder to resist.

“What do you want most in the world? Devon. You. Always you.”

I wasn’t sure I could like Giselle after Not My Romeo, but she really comes into her own in this book. She’s a lost soul trying to find her place in the world. She carries tremendous guilt for her role in hurting Elena and it’s hard for her to forgive herself. Spending time with Devon helps her come out of her shell and she begins to figure out what she really wants out of her life.

“Out of the hurricane of my life, out of everyone I know, she’s become a true constant, a calm breeze that eases me.”

Devon has been hurt in the past and he’s determined to not let anyone into his life again. He thinks everyone leaves so he pushes people away before they can get close, but the relationship that he develops with Giselle is different. With Giselle, he finds himself opening up, but he’s so scared that she will be another in a long list of people who leaves him.

“Oh, Devon. You are the best person in all my universes.”

“My crossroads? I’m going right, straight to her.”

I loved everything about these two. They just seemed to bring out the best in each other. They were funny, sexy, and had so much love between them. Devon was so protective of Giselle and he wanted to make all her dreams come true. Giselle just wanted to be the one that stayed, but what if her dreams won’t allow her to be that person?

Not My Match was beautiful love story with humor and a bit of heartbreak. Watching Giselle and Devon evolve and grow was perfection. I truly hope that Aiden’s story is next.

Giselle blew into his life and made him question absolutely everything. He tried to remain strong but every time he was near her it became a little harder and his need to consume her every thought grew. Pushing her away was the only thing that made sense but he could no longer remain strong. Something had to give and he was absolutely ready. Definitely another winner from Ilsa! A must read story that you’ll read long into the night desperate for the next word. .

Not My Match is the second book in The Game Changers series and Ilsa Madden-Mills does not disappoint with this installment.

Giselle Riley is a student and writer who finds herself homeless after a fire breaks out in the house where she lives. With her sister and brother-in-law on their honeymoon, her brother-in-law's best friend and teammate, Devon Walsh, comes to her rescue by offering her a place to stay - at his penthouse!

Giselle and Devon couldn't be more different. She's a physicist and he's a professional football player. She's a virgin and he's anything but. As these two begin to spend more and more time together, the sparks and the tension between them jumps off the page at you. Will they be able to admit to one another what they are feeling or will past hurts and outside forces end up breaking them up before they truly get going?

Giselle was not only brilliant, but she had a very good sense of humor, which I don't think we saw in Not My Romeo. By the time we really got to know her in this book, I was pulling for her to get her HEA. Devon was awesome. He was so caring, not only for Giselle, but for others in his life, including his Dad.

I enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to whatever is planned next for this series!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

I appreciate when an author takes a morally ambiguous character in an earlier book and redeems them and that's what happened here. I was pissed with the FL in the first book in the series but she own me over here. I was completely on Giselle's side by first quarter of book and Devon! Devon was so cool. And hot! I mean this is a contemporary romance so it has very familiar beats but where it shone was how Ilsa developed the friendship between the leads, I adored seeing them acknowledge and be a firm unit. Even the epilogue further solidified this and made me so happy.
The side characters were also so fun and I am looking forward to Aiden's story!

Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills is book two in The Game Changers series. It is a wonderfully, sweet book with some great characters. The book focuses on the nerdy Giselle and football player, Devon. Giselle is a wonderful character, trying to make her way in a world which can be quite hard for those who are passionate and a little different. I loved that she didn’t get how wonderful she was and just thought that she was quirky. When a fire breaks out in her apartment, Devon comes to the rescue and allows her to stay with him, even though he has some reservations to begin with.

Devon has been warned to stay away from Giselle as she is too sweet and not worldly wise, but she just has a connection to Devon which was great to read about. Devon is a soft, caring man who just wants the best for his family as well as Giselle. Even though they are good friends, you see them slowly becoming more throughout the book.

There are some wonderful parts in this story. It is at times hilarious and passionate but full of quiet understanding as both characters want to be the best in their profession and don’t always know how to balance out the work/life balance. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and their camaraderie with both Devon and Giselle.

All in all, a wonderfully sweet friends to lovers read with a great story and great characters.

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com

Oh, how I enjoyed this book! I had just read another book with basically the same tropes–sports romance, best friend’s (wife’s) little sister–and yet it was very different. The mood wasn’t the same at all.

Here, let’s face it, we have some drama, some angst. Nothing too depressive, but Devon has a few burdens on his mind, and they make it difficult for him to open up to Giselle, even though he has strong feelings for her.

There’s a good balance, in my opinion, between Devon’s dark side, and Giselle’s quirky behavior. They complete each other, Devon bringing some levity while Giselle has mostly a positive attitude, even when the cards she’s been dealt suck.

I loved the passion between them. I haven’t seen that much chemistry in a while. The result is a few steamy scenes that’ll melt your brain–and your heart. Though Devon is a sexy beast, an alpha male with a tender side who’ll make you swoon, Giselle is the one who stole my heart. Pretty, smart, funny, she builds her own path in life and doesn’t care for the boxes people are trying to put her in.

Quickie

- Series: Game changers #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #football romance #best friend’s wife’s little sister #opposites attract #playboy #virgin
- Triggers: mention of cheating
- Main couple: Giselle Riley & Devon Walsh
- Hotness: 5/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + Giselle is a fascinating character
- – those people have a problem with secrets…

So let me start off by saying I loved Devon and Giselle. She’s the beautiful virgin with a brain. He’s the handsome pro-football player. Tale as old as time, right?

This story was a little different than others because Devon was definitely the more sensitive of the two. He had his heart broken in the past, so he was terrified to be hurt again and Giselle was the one “gung-ho” about getting together in the beginning.

To be honest, I wish we would have heard and experienced more of both of their backstories. As far as I know, this book is a standalone, but I’m assuming with as much as they were mentioned, Elen and Jack have their own story out there and maybe some of Giselle’s background was shown in their story? I’m not sure. But I also felt like to understand why he was so hesitant, I would have really liked more to Devon’s backstory.

The story was good. I loved the characters, especially the crazy “dates” Giselle had throughout the book. It definitely took me back to the horrors of online dating lol!

WOW WOW WOW! Not My Romeo was amazing and Not My Match absolutely did not disappoint either. Devon and Giselle were such an perfect match.

Not My Match tells the story of Devon and Giselle, it's clear from the first time that we see them together at the start of the book that there's some serious chemistry between them. When they find themselves living together after Giselle's flat is damaged in a fire, they soon can't resist the fire between them.
This is the second book in the series, but I haven't read the first Not My Romeo. I understand from other reviews, that people were less than impressed with Giselle in the first book. That storyline is touched on here and for me it worked and made sense, whether that would be the case had I read the first book I don't know. As a standalone, this book was great though.
I enjoyed the chemistry and romance between Devon and Giselle and they seemed a really great match. I didn't really buy the idea of her being a virgin, partly because it just didn't seem very likely, but also because she seemed very worldly in other ways and she had certainly had plenty of partners before. I'm not sure why writers feel the need to have such inexperienced heroines, I'd prefer that they weren't to be honest.
Overall this was a gripping read and I loved the writing. Devon and Giselle made a great couple and I really enjoyed reading all about them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Left homeless after a fire makes her building uninhabitable, Devon extended an invitation for Giselle to stay in his home. His best friend had asked Devon to look out for Giselle, but forced proximity and a growing attraction may have weakened his resolve.

This was another great addition to the series, and I am glad Madden-Mills elected to feature Giselle. She was such a mystery to me in the last book. I struggled with understanding why she let her romantic life come between her and her sister. Here, she was allowed to explain herself, and let's just say - it's complicated.

Regardless, I really grew to like Giselle very much. I was under the impression that she was this put together PhD student, who was very straight-laced and uptight. I guess she had to show that side at times, but she was also a woman who was writing a romance novel and was in love with love. But, she carried around a lot of baggage, which was keeping her from enjoying a rich and satisfying romantic relationship.

Enter Devon, who she had been crushing on before she even met him. I had a soft spot for Devon in the last book, but seeing him with Giselle made me love him even more. He was sweet and caring and swoony. I actually found him quite remarkable given his upbringing, and I felt proud of what he was able to achieve on his own. Alas, Devon was also lugging around some baggage, and I can't lie, I was delighted to see him and Giselle unpacking it together.

Like the previous book in the series, this one was packed with lots of fun moments, mostly provided by the fabulous supporting characters. I really adored Giselle's landlady, Myrtle. She was fantastic! It was great to see Devon taking more of a liking to Aiden as well, and you know the Daisy Lady Gang was back in full force wrecking havoc.

I loved watching these two try to resist each other, while slowly undoing the damage of their pasts. Giselle being a super STEM heroine was a plus, and I really can't wait for everyone to get a peek at that epilogue. Definitely worthy of the happy tears I shed.

Giselle and Devon are just fire, romance, and everything good about romance books in general. I loved every laugh and sigh I had while reading this book. Just so very good!

I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Giselle is down on her luck. After a string of unfortunate events and a bad split from her fiancé, she needs a change. Enter Devon, football star and Giselle’s brother-in-law’s best friend. When Devon offers her a place to stay and to be her matchmaker, she can’t refuse.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I haven’t read the first book in the series, and if I had, my opinions might be a little different. But I enjoyed Giselle’s character and her interactions with Devon. The chemistry between them was spot on. I was rooting for the pair from the start and who can resist a roommates to lovers trope.

I’m definitely interested in picking up the rest of the series.

Giselle Riley has come a long way since her failed engagement to her sisters' ex-boyfriend, but she still remains helplessly lost in life. Brains and beauty is not always a one way ticket to success... as Giselle seems to know all too well. Plus, she of course has to deal with her birthday curse...

Devon Walsh is a star NFL wide receiver who never has a problem when it comes to the ladies.. but then again, Giselle is not his typical lady. Brilliant, fun, sexy and sweet, she is the whole package... and the worst possible threat to his heart. And even if he wasn't already warned away from dating her, Devon knows the best place for Giselle is firmly planted in the friend zone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not My Match was a sweet and sexy, opposites attract, super slow-burn(ey) romance!! Giselle and Devon's friendship was effortless and endless fun, but exploring more between them is expressly forbidden... for the sake of their vastly protected hearts...

Giselle is brilliant as a friend, a physicist and a sci-fi romance author, but she is also 100% clueless when it comes to her love life. One failed engagement and a string of failed dates, Giselle is also a very reluctant virgin. And after her apartment building catches fire, Giselle also finds herself homeless to top it all off. 

Devon is the talented and charismatic playboy of his NFL team, and he was explicitly warned away from all things Giselle Riley, by his BFF and teammate... and Giselle's brand new brother-in-law. Now, Devon is nothing if not loyal, but now that Giselle is staying with him, the task of ignoring their attraction is getting to be more and more impossible...

This was a really good read! While still being the slowest-of-slow-burns, these two friends heated up the pages with their constantly unspoken attraction. Giselle and Devon both held tight to their insecurities and avoided a relationship for as long as they could, but even sometimes the most independent and opposite of people will never be complete before they find their perfect match.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I didn't read the first book in the series (although I bought the audiobook and can't wait to listen to it, especially now that I've gotten a glimpse into this world.). I have to say, I'm a little apprehensive though, because apparently, the heroine of this book, Giselle, somehow was engaged to her sister's boyfriend? Maybe it's a better thing that I read this book first because I really liked Giselle's character- she was fun and geeky but still adorable. And Devon is swoon worthy and sweet. He helps her get back on her feet and steps in to help her in the relationship arena. But he likes her even though he doesn't think he's good enough for her. I loved the slow burn and I adored their relationship- they were so cute together and the banter was so much fun. I can't wait to relive this book in audiobook form! Thanks to NetGalley for such a fun read.

Giselle Riley is book smart (she is a physicist after all), but she's not having the best of luck with her dating life. It doesn't help that Giselle's brother in law, Jack (from Not My Romeo) has declared her off limits to his teammates including Jack's best friend Devon. When a bad date leads Giselle to Devon's night club, he ends up coming to her rescue and talks her into letting him set her up with a "perfect" date.

When an unfortunate circumstance leaves Giselle homeless for the moment, Devon comes to her rescue and lets her stay in his guest bedroom. Giselle and Devon slowly get to know one another - and Giselle even agrees to let Devon set her up on some dates. While roommates for the moment, Giselle and Devon end up spending a lot of time with one another. Will they stay friends or will their growing attraction towards one another lead to something more?

Immediately when Giselle and Devon were on the same page I could feel their electricity. I loved their sweet friends to lovers story. They truly took the time to get to know one another and that made me root for these two even more. Ilsa Madden-Mills definitely knows how to write steamy scenes and the sexy times between Devon and Giselle were so HOT! But underneath their physical attraction, both Devon and Giselle exposed their vulnerability and I loved that most of all.

Although I did read Not My Romeo, you don't have to read these books in order to enjoy them. Not My Match can be read as a standalone.

If you're looking for a forced-proximity, friends to lovers steamy romance - grab your copy of Not My Match when it releases January 19, 2021.