I know this book might be promoted as romance but the romance is really on the back burner in this book. I wasn’t mad about that but I do wish it had been a little bit more in the forefront. This was a cute read but didn’t blow me away. I love a small town setting with eccentric townspeople and this definitely delivered on that. This is actually a multi POV where we hear the two main characters (Jess and Carter) sides plus Jess’s dad and frenemy Nikki. I love a multi POV but I really felt like this book didn’t need the additional voices outside the main characters. I loved the themes in this book of putting down roots, overcoming misunderstandings, and find community.


Read if you like:
▫️small town settings
▫️slow burn romance
▫️father/daughter storylines

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC copy—I’ve been wanting to read a Lacie Waldon book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥 (0-5) Closed door.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 That book cover totally gets my attention. I just love it. It’s the perfect mood for small-town springtime and summertime adventures.
🤩 Redford, Georgie—so much small-town fun (and games galore).
🤩 Multiple POV—clever and varied personalities but clear characterization.
🤩 Photo scavenger hunt competition plus so many other great competitions.
🤩 Purposely paired partners—enemy banter abounds.
🤩 Fabulous flirting between MCs Carter and Jess. They are so cute but just such good, caring people too.
🤩 This book is a fun, silly, and flirty romcom. But, it’s so much more—it’s about friendship, family, and home.
🤩 Nikki is a lot. But she totally makes the book movie material. There’s got to be a Sharpay, right?!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I wanted more of those flirty, lusty feels towards the end too.

The Only Game in Town was a welcome change from the usual small town romance. I think this was because of our heroine, Jess. She was so charming in her quirkiness, just living life with a sunny disposition, not really letting anything get her down. When she’s paired with her arch nemesis in the contest, she struggles to find a kernel of good in Nikki’s hard core and manages to keep her sunny disposition. It’s not surprising that Carter can’t resist Jess because I couldn’t either! I wanted to transplant myself into that town and/or find my own Jess best friend in my own town because she is just irresistible and good.

Did I believe that Carter’s more stoic nature and Jess’s rainbows and butterflies personality would be irresistible to each other? YES! As the book went on and more kooky scenes unfolded he loosened his tie and found himself smiling at her antics and looking forward to her personality. There’s something about a straight-laced man loosening up that is also hard to resist and in the end I think they were perfect for each other.

There was, of course, a lot of conflict in this novel. It wasn’t just a fluff contest and a small town romance. There was death, alcoholism, and rivalries to overcome, but it was all told in a way that touched my heart and made me want to keep turning the pages to see how that storyline would end. Truly, this was a well crafted novel with great characters. What’s not to like about that? ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

I could have done without the multiple POVs as it took away from the romance. It also had me thinking that Jess’s dad might get with the person that needlessly bullied her for years. Also she never apologized for doing so? I just couldn’t handle how Jess just forgave her without Nikki showing any remorse.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥

Carter Barclay's grandfather was the rich benefactor of the small town Redford. Jasper Wilhelm was very wealthy and also very eccentric. When he passed away, he set up the passing of his inheritance into a contest: the couple who wins a series of games will take the prize.

The catch? He has created the pairs himself. Among Carter's competitors for the inheritance is town journalist Jess Reid, and while winning is his ultimate goal, he cannot help but be drawn to the townie.

This book was a love letter for small towns. It is about finding a home that is more than a roof over one's head. It is about belonging and being embraced by your found family. Add a layer of competition, and you got yourself a fun read!

Unfortunately, the romance takes a backseat to the main theme, but the focus on the community of Redford is so overwhelming that I completely forgot about it. While the love story is understated, the chemistry between Carter and Jess is undeniable. The rivals-to-lovers vibe amidst intense competitions was so fun to read.

Even though we get closed-door romance, this standalone read should entertain small-town fans.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Lacie Waldon, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

A multi-millionaire from a small town sets up a game to win his inheritance— pairing up everyone who has beef with each other and forcing them to play together for the fortune.

This was a fun story full of games and adventures. The author says it’s about putting down roots. If there’s one thing I know about small towns, it’s that everyone knows everyone else’s business— and we get into it all here. That meant there was a lot going on, which made this a little long and I found parts of it to drag.

Read this if you…
- don’t mind a longer romance
- you like lots of subplots
- you’re a fan of themes surrounded small towns and a sense of community
- you’re a big Inheritance Games fan
- if you like the author’s previous work

Bonus points for…
- a fantastic father-daughter relationship
- a community that takes care of their own
- letting the past go and focusing on the future

Overall, I did enjoy this one but I don’t know if I’d be clamoring to recommend it or read it again. It was fun and would be a decent summer read.

This book unfortunately didn't work for me. I think it would be great as Hallmark movie but the cast of quirky characters just didn't work for me and everything felt very one dimensional. The premise sound great and I loved the concept, even if it fell short.

This book was really fun! I really enjoyed the small town feel of this one. I loved the premise of this book. It felt like something very unique and different when I read the description.

When the town’s wealthiest benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm, passes away he creates a competition amongst the towns people to compete for his fortune. A game with a $10 million dollar prize. Who will win the game and take home the big prize?

I did really enjoy the multi POVs, not just the MC’s but a couple of others as well which I haven’t experienced in a book yet. It was a bit confusing at first, but I easily caught on. The opposites attract relationship between with Carter and Jess was enjoyable, though at times I wished it focused more on their romance than the actual competition. This was definitely more women’s fiction than romance (which seems to be occurring a lot these days in the romance genre and us a bit frustrating). This was more a story about Jess’s personal growth and the town coming together as one.

Overall it was a good book and I did enjoy reading it.

This one was cute. This author has quickly become an automatic read for me. The premise was super cute and for the most part this book delivered. It was well written with an adorable small town. We hear from multiple POVs which is usually not my favorite, but it worked in this book. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters. It brought more depth to the storyline. I do which it would have been a little bit more about the romance. It did drag just a bit fir me at times.huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon was not what I expected. I really loved the synopsis and thought I was going to get a really cute small town romance but instead this book was so much more. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. I can’t remember the last time we got to see the secondary characters point of view in a romcom. I wish someone in my life would throw a massive scavenger hunt based on all my friends and family gossip! Super cute with Gilmore girl vibes and interesting characters!.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am so tied on this book. Let me say what I loved: I loved the premise. As someone who loves the Knives Out franchise and The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, this seems like this would be right up my alley. But so much fell flat. First of all, there are way too many POVs. If it's a romance, then keep it between the two main characters. I didn't need to hear more points of view because then I just got confused. Also, the romance seemed like an after thought. Sure, the writing on how the games went down were good, but I wanted more tension between the main characters, the stakes to be higher, and it just wasn't there. I have to admit, I read this book very quickly, but maybe it was because I wanted to be done with it more than I was interested in what happened.

This is my 3rd Lacie Waldon book, and she is quickly becoming an author that I feel I can count on. Based on the description, I assumed Jess and Carter would be paired together for the game Carter's grandfather created. But my assumption was wrong. Here's the deal:

Jess had the opportunity to work at a larger publishing companies in New York, but she missed her dad, her home. She decided to move back and took a job with a smaller publishing company. Sure, the pay is less, but she's where she wants to be with the people she wants to be with. The only person that doesn't include is Nikki--a girl she went to high school with and who chooses to torment her at every opportunity. Jess meets Carter, and she gives him a tour of the town. They have a small connection, but Carter isn't planning to stay in town.

Carter has been helping his grandfather behind the scenes for many years. His grandfather was wealthy and enjoyed using his wealth to anonymously help people in his town. Carter thought his grandfather would leave his fortune to him so that he could continue the work they did together helping people. He now feels certain his mission is to compete in the game and win the money so he can do just that. He doesn't count on meeting Jess and developing a connection to her or the town of Redford that he tried to avoid for so long.

Through the course of the game many relationships are mended, and the town becomes a better place which was Jasper's ultimate goal. Of course, each character has an arc, and I appreciate that Lacie Waldon didn't just write from Jess and Carter's perspective. Nikki was a surprisingly likeable character, given how things started between her and Jess. I wouldn't mind exploring her story a little more, but maybe the wrap up was enough.

Favorite quotes:
-"I'd just like to congratulate you for doing such a great job with this distance plan of yours. You're really killing it."

-"You're not sliding back and forth between too much or too little. You're you. The perfect amount. And the people who are meant to be in your life will appreciate that, and they'll hold onto you. I know I, for one, intend to."

I highlighted a few other quotes , but they're spoilers. I also highlighted a quote about a character priding himself on his refusal to take instructions from anyone. And boy howdy did that one hit home! That's not me at all. I am a rules follower through and through. But I apparently married a man who can't stand being told what to do and birthed one too. And I've got to say that it's an annoying trait at times.

The Only Game in Town was a good book. I liked the premise. A benefactor throws an entire town into a game to see who might be the most worthy of his leftover wealth. Jess and Carter were so easy to root for. I hurt for Jess at times. I think I even got teary over her relationship with her dad. Nikki even turned out not to be so bad. And I enjoyed her additional narration. The Only Game in Town gets 4 Stars, and I can't wait to see what Lacie Waldon might publish next. Have you read The Only Game in Town? What did you think? Let me know!

When the richest man in small town Redford, Georgia, passes away, the townspeople expect a funeral and then food. They do not expect a multistep competition for his fortune. Jasper Wilhelm was always eccentric, though, and he loved that town.

A game with a $10 million prize? Who wouldn’t want to participate, even if it means being paired up with your enemy?

Jess Reid has the small town spirit. She’s bubbly, full of life, and helpful, and she left a job in New York to come back to her hometown, to her father, to the people she loves. And, despite being paired with the woman who has made it a mission to make her miserable since high school, Jess is motivated to win that prize.

Carter Barclay is buttoned-up, proper, and from the big city. Estranged from his parents, his grandfather, Jasper, was the last family that Carter had, and now Jasper seems to have plans for him from beyond the grave. Carter expected to return to Atlanta shortly after the funeral, but now he’s stuck in Redford as part of the game for the foreseeable future. And he finds himself continually drawn towards outgoing Jess.

Who will win the game and take home the big prize? Will Carter and the townspeople remember what truly matters?

This one will give you the warm fuzzies.

If you are a fan of small town romance, check this one out. The small town here is not just the backdrop of the story; the community itself and how its individuals respond to the demands of the game are central to the plot. Redford is full of colorful characters, as we see in many small towns and small town settings, and they can be outspoken, stubborn, and entertaining. They can also be caring, supportive, and heartwarming.

The opposites-attract relationship between Carter and Jess warmed my heart. From him coming to her rescue when they first meet, to a starlit boat ride, to a caretaking scene, they kept me grinning.

I would be remiss, however, if I did not mention the multiple points-of-view used in the book. Much of it is written in dual POV—Jess and Carter—but there are a handful of chapters written from the perspectives of two secondary characters. I can see why those choices were made but don’t know that those perspectives were necessary to the overall narrative and character development of the story.

I received an advance copy of the book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Thanks to Putnam for a copy of The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon.

The Only Game in Town had a cute premise, but it missed the mark for me. I love women's fiction and wished this book had been marketed as women's fiction and not romance as the romance was only a small part of this book. This book was more about Jess's growth and the town coming together.

It was a cute small town with quirky side characters, but overall I was bored and I didn't like Jess as a character, she was way too immature. This book seems more New Adult to me and this was just not a book for me.

Small town story full of quirky characters, shenanigans and with a side of romance. Redford, Georgia is a very small town where everyone knows you and your history. When town patriarch and benefactor Jasper Wilhelm dies he leaves behind a golden opportunity. The prize is $10 million dollars but to win it you must win his game. He has decided who everyones partners are, the game plan and the scoring system that his lawyer is keeping it to himself. In a twist he teams up people who have had ongoing feuds for years. The exception is including his grandson Carter Barclay. Carter is a successful financial advisor and has been helping his grandfather fund scholarships and other anonymous philanthropic activities that benefit Redford. But he never visited in the town his grandfather loved.

Jess Reid is independent book editor. She returned from her big NYC job to be near her father and her best friend. Small sparks fly between she and Carter but she has her own personal reasons for wanting a share of the money. The elimination contests include things like scavenger hunts, pie eating and trail hiking. A romance between Jess and Carter happens and isn’t the main focus. Nikki is the partner for Jess and get’s her own storyline. She’s had a grudge with Jess since high school and comes off like a petty mean girl until you realize underneath she has her own insecurities and a good heart.

Surprisingly the story is told from multiple POV's including the MCs but also Jess's father and Nikki. I'm not sure I needed more than the duel characters narratives.

Like the authors two previous books, which I’ve read, I think of this as general/women’s fiction with a romance bonus. And like the previous books it is clean for language and includes only a couple kisses and a mention of spending the night together. This is a feel good, small town story and I think the contest is in fun concept. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

The Only Game in Town is fun. I could use a lot of fancier adjectives to describe it, but that's just what it is. After all, what's more entertaining than reading about an entire town participating in Barbie jeep races and scavenger hunts to win a $10 million inheritance from the town's wealthiest benefactor. It's a rom-com, and so there's the mandatory romance, but there's also lots of friendship and small-town loyalty, making Lacie Waldon;'s latest book a true light-hearted pleasure to read! Thank you so much for the opportunity to review!

I liked the small town feel and most the people in the town, but there were a few thigs that didn't work for me. For example when Jess's dad tells her he's sick it all happens off the page and you're just kind of left to guess/infer what he said, and then later Jess says he has cancer and there isn't anything more the doctors say they can do, but then at the end he's magically better. It seemed like the author wanted that storyline to be Jess's motivation, but didn't really want to go into it too much or do much research into cancer. Also, it really bothered me that Lexi poisoned the one guy, and Nikki knew it but she just didn't say anything. Yeah he ended up okay, but he could have died and Lexi just got away with it. And then the thing with Nikki thinking Jess's dad was hot and it seemed like the author wanted to hook them up, but didn't have the nerve to do it. It just seemed like there were a lot of threads that the author left hanging and I was frustrated by that. It was fine for what it was, but I definitely won't be going out of my way to recommend it to anyone.

This was a good read. Small town, rom com with characters who had some depth.

Was it slightly predictable? Yes. Did I enjoy reading it? Yes. Would I recommend it to others? Yes.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯.
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦.
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.

This was such a fun book! I loved the competitions especially the scavenger hunt. Waldon came up with so many fun games and I thought they were all great.

The small town of Redford, GA was the perfect setting for this book. I loved all the eccentric characters and felt like I was part of the town while reading. Redford was a character of its own.

Although this is a romcom, it’s not overly heavy on the romance which I actually enjoyed. For me this story focused more on the people of the town which was a refreshing change for a romance. My favorite character was Nikki, Jess’s lifelong enemy and partner in the competition. Nikki starts off as a bully, but her character grows so much throughout the story, and you couldn’t help but root for her.

Waldon’s books are always so unique and entertaining and The Only Game In Town was no exception. If you’re looking for a small town story with fun competitions and some romance then this is the book for you.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a sweet, closed-door small town love story between a free spirit freelance editor and a career driven financial advisor.  While this is considered a romance novel, I would say it's more adventure-esque driven with bits of romance sprinkled in.  My favorite part would be the quirky townspeople.  It honestly reminded me of Gilmore Girls.  

Overall, I have no strong feelings about this book.  It was a nice palate cleanser from all the thrillers I've been reading lately but there was nothing really exciting about it.  It's a take it or leave it kind of book for me.