The Only Game in Town
By Lacie Waldon

Rating: ★★.5
Read if you like:
・ Small town
・ Multiple POV
・ Grumpy/sunshine
・ Enemies-to-lovers

The Only Game in Town is a slightly-underwhelming piece of chick lit that posits itself as a contemporary romance. Was this an enjoyable book? Yes, sort-of. Was it a romance? No, not really. I am still on the fence about how many stars to give this book, so I’ll just stick to giving my honest thoughts.

This book started off strong. The enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine tension was there, the meet-cute was there, the engaging plot was there. The minute this book began to go ary was when it switched to Jess’s Father’s POV. As cute as her father is, I did not want to hear from him during the story of his daughter’s budding romance. Similarly, I most certainly did NOT want to hear from Nikki. While I enjoyed the reconciliation between Jess and Nikki, it should have been a subplot rather than a focal point of the book. Another part of this book that turned me off was the slight sexual tension between Jess’s dad and Nikki. Gross – that is all that needs to be said. Finally, the general plot of the book was too predictable and Carter’s decision toward the end was too out of character for him to feel like a satisfactory ending as a reader.

I will say, however, that this book was unique and fun at times. I loved the town-drama, the intersting personalities, Jasper’s last letter to Carter, and the romance between Carter and Jess. I would recommend this book *if* you like this author, but I want to caution you that this is not *really* a romance and that other books might be a better use of your time.

Much thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced readers' copy.

I am a big Lacie Waldon fan! I really enjoyed The Layover and From the Jump, and was excited to dig into her latest. Big thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC.

While I enjoyed this one, it took me a bit to get into it and I wanted to like it more. It had so many great elements - a small town, a handsome outsider who arrives, a strong relationship between our leading lady and her father, and a townwide competition. I think where it fell a little flat to me was that it tried to do too much and I struggled to get invested in anything because I was being pulled in so many directions.

The idea of a townwide competition, where folks are paired up and the prize is $10M through a variety of quirky and wild tasks is a great one! But there were SO many side characters and conflicts to detangle, that it made it hard to really enjoy.

“She’d been foolish, approaching this like a game, focusing on enjoying herself. It wasn’t a game. It was life or death.”

Jess Reid is happy with her life. She enjoys her job as a freelance editor, she loves being able to spend so much time her beloved father, and she lives in the best town in the world: Redford, Georgia. She’s content with the way the rest of her life will play out, but everything changes when Redford’s eccentric benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm, dies and leaves behind a high-stakes challenge for the town’s residents to win his fortune. Jess is thrilled to have a chance to win millions of dollars, but not so thrilled when she finds out who her partner is: the woman who’s been bullying her since high school. Things only start looking up when Jess begins a friendship with Jasper’s grandson Carter, a financial advisor who’s always been too busy to visit his grandfather’s town. But when Jess makes an agonizing discovery about her family, it becomes more than just money on the line. Now Jess, Carter, and their teammates will have to figure out how to work together and get through the whimsical challenges if they want to emerge from this game successful. Yet is it really the only game in town? Or will the feelings developing between Jess and Carter jeopardize their chance to change their lives?

This is the first book of Lacie Waldon’s that I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it. The plotting is simply masterful, and the characters are phenomenal. It’s so hard for me to pick a favorite character because Waldon develops each of them with such dedication. Even the ones you think you’ll dislike at the beginning of the book become your favorites by the end. And don’t even get me started on how Waldon manages to capture the exact feeling of life in a small town! By the time I turned the last page, I felt like I had a full understanding of who each and every person in Redford is, who they like and don’t like, and the extents to which they’d go to for one another. Plus, the romance between Jess and Carter is superb—especially thanks to the dual narration—and there is a fantastic mix of love, humor, and adventure. Overall, there’s really nothing else I can say except hats off to Lacie Waldon!

Content Warnings: Death of a loved one, bullying, absent parent, alcoholism, cancer, sexual references

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: Closed Door
Pub Date: 3/21

The Only Game in Town is a sweet, lighthearted blend of romance and women’s fiction set in a small town. I found myself thinking about it whenever I had to put it down, which is always a sign of a good read.

Redford, Georgia, is a small, quiet town where nothing ever happens. Jess is a freelance writer who returned to town after college because she missed her father and friends. But things get very exciting when Redford’s eccentric benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm, dies. Wilhelm leaves behind a $10 million fortune that will be given to the winner of an elaborate game he created before his death. The catch is that everyone playing the game must compete with a partner, and each person is paired up with someone they don't get along with.

Carter is Jasper Wilhelm’s grandson, and his first time visiting Redford is for his grandfather’s funeral. When he meets Jess, they have an instant connection, and even though they’re paired up with different people for the game, they always find ways to spend time together both during and after the events. The pace at which they got to know each other and developed a relationship felt natural. I loved the time they spent opening up about their complicated family relationships, hopes, and fears. Best of all, there’s no third-act breakup! There’s a slight misunderstanding toward the end, but for the most part, it’s low angst and doesn’t last long.

I loved all the quirky townspeople, the nosy neighbors, and the peek into small-town life. Jess is paired up Nikki, her worst enemy, during the games, and she might be my favorite character. She’s complex and relatable, and watching her and Jess grudgingly become friends was entertaining.

This heartwarming, cozy rom-com was a lot of fun, and I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the chance to read it early! Preorder your copy of The Only Game in Town before it hits shelves on 3/21!

I wasn't able to get into this because of the formatting seeming like it was one big paragraph. Will get library book instead maybe, also didn't feel that connection.

This was a fun adventure! It was a unique idea and so much fun. A wealthy man dies in Redford, Georgia and instead of having a "normal" will, his is a contest for the whole town to take a part in to win his $10 million inheritance.

The various parts of the game were so unique and fun. I had a blast reading about it all. The romance is more of a sub-plot so if you were going into this thinking it was 100% romance, set your expectations. The romance was maybe 25%-50% but the townsfolk and the relationships amongst the town were so fun. I did enjoy the romance but it wasn't a huge part of this book. There were multiple POVs which I thought really added to the story. The town sort of reminded me of Gilmore Girls and I could see this being a fun tv show or movie. 4.5 rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Small Town, quirky neighbors. I totally envisioned the town like the TV show Hart of Dixie. Lemon as Nikki the gorgeous bully tormenting the townspeople. I seriously devoured this book today. I couldn't put it down. Loved this book. So much. I cried and laughed many times. I quite agree that this book is a warm hug.

A great fast paced read. Jess and Carter are on opposing team trying to win the fortune that Carter's grandfather has left for one team to win. An enjoyable read and I liked how it is told from both points of view.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

Jess Reid, a freelance editor. lives in the small but charming town of Redford, Georgia. She grew up there with her father who raised her alone after Jess's mother decided to leave town. When Redford's very own eccentric millionaire, Jasper Wilhelm, passes away, the resident of Redford were shocked to learn that they would have a chance to inherit his $10 million dollars. Jasper had split the town into teams of two who would compete in a game he created to win the fortune.

Jaspers's grandson, Carter Barclay, works in finance in Atlanta and has no intentions of spending his summer in Redford. Too busy with work, Carter had never had the chance to visit his grandfather's beloved town. When he hears about the game Jasper created, he resigns himself to taking time off work to complete in it.

The Only Game in Town was such a fun read! I loved the charming town of Redford and all of its unique small town residents. The story is told from multiple points of view which allows the reader to get to know the characters a bit better. I loved following along as the players competed in Jasper's game and honestly wouldn't have minded if the game had lasted longer. While the story has elements of romance with Jess and Carter's relationship, I felt like it mostly focused on all of the quirky and unique people who made up the lovely town of Redford. If you're a fan of Lacie Waldon's other books, you will definitely enjoy this one!

I didn't want to put this book down. It was a funny, and quick read when I had the time to read that focused on family and friendships. I loved the small town and the variety of characters in it. I wish it had more romance though.

Small town, coming home vibes. Check.
Adventures and hijinks and a $10 million prize. Check.
Well-developed characters with a touch of eccentricity. Check.
Slow-burn romance and witty banter. Check.
Found family themes and Barbie doll cars. Check.
Smooshy, heart-warming, all the feels ending. Check.
This book had everything I didn't know I needed. Don't come here looking for steamy hot bodice ripping romance. There is a love story here, but the roots run deeper than boy meets girl, boy woos girl, boy kisses girl, etc. This is a love story about family and home and community and finding your place with people who truly see you and love you with all your flaws and imperfections. Cozy chick lit? Is that a genre? Can we make it one? This is a playful kind of book, the kind you read when you're in the mood to feel good.

Jess Reid has always relished her hometown of Redford, Georgia. A small town with heart, Jess spends a lot of time with her dad who she’s always had a strong relationship with given her mother’s absence since she was young. Every day life is pretty ho hum, until the town’s richest resident, Jasper Wilhelm, passes away.

But Jasper’s passing brings with it unexpected opportunity, namely in the form of cold hard cash. See, before he passed, Jasper created a competition for the residents of Redford. Now preassigned pairs are clamoring for the chance to be the duo to win it all.

As if the scenario isn’t bizarre enough, Jess gets partnered with Nikki, her long time nemesis in town. Added to the mix is Jasper’s grandson and sole out of towner, Carter Barclay. Carter begrudgingly participates in the game, content in the belief he will win it all in the end anyway. What he didn’t bargain for, however, was someone like Jess playing games with his heart.

The Only Game In Town is The Amazing Race meets Gilmore Girls in the best way possible. If you’re familiar with Waldon’s previous releases you know she’s got a passion for travel and adventure. With her latest release, instead of going abroad to find adventure, she’s brought the adventure home. As the story progresses, we get to see the town, and the contest, through the eyes of various locals, all of which have their own reasons for needing a win, all also reminding the reader things aren’t always what they seem.

If you’re looking for a quirky feel good romance with a splash of fun and hijinks, The Only Game In Town is one game where no reader loses.

The book has multiple characters POV. it's an okay quick romance with secrets that get revealed throughout the story. What would you do for $10 million? Would you team up with your enemy in town? What is your crush was playing against you? This is a feel good story.



*********************************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley**********************************

Set in the small town of Redford, Georgia, this book follows freelance editor Jess Reid and financial advisor Carter Barclay as they are unexpectedly paired up to compete in a game with high stakes. The winner takes home the entire fortune left behind by the town's eccentric benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm. As Jess and Carter navigate their way through the challenges of the game, they also find themselves navigating their feelings for each other.

This is small town charm at its best. The characters are quirky and fun and the banter is great! Chapters take on multiple points of view, not just from the main characters, which I thought was an interesting choice. It definitely gave me some Stars Hollow vibes as well!

This is a closed door romance so if you are looking for spice you won’t find it in this one. This definitely has that Hallmark movie feel to it and it’s most certainly a feel good read if that is what you are looking for.

Overall, a sweet and fun read. I prefer my romances on the spicier side, but I know there are many that would love this one!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy to review! #netgalley #TheOnlyGameinTown

It took me a day or so of mulling this one over to decide how I feel about it. As someone who once lived in a very small town in Georgia and loves the competition trope, I felt I may really like this one! In general, there's nothing all that bad about it. In fact, I did like it for the most part. But I have some things that stuck out at me that I just couldn't get over.

First of all, the premise is super fun. Rich dude passes away and leaves his fortune for the residents of his tiny home town, but they gotta compete for it in a series of ridiculous races and challenges. Great! But then... these people are well into adulthood, but all act like high schoolers. The "popular but misunderstood mean girl" vs the "quirky but emotional weird girl" bullying felt very juvenile. And don't even get me started on the mean girl's weird thing with quirky girl's dad? Also, can we talk about how quirky girl is literally just Jess from New Girl. Her name is even Jess.

The biggest thing for me, though? This was marketed largely as a romance. The blurb even calls it a love story. But really the romance isn't the main focus here at all, it just happens along the way as a subplot.

This book was just... ok for me. If you want a light hearted moment where you escape into a super quirky small town, this is the book for you!

This is my third Lacie Waldon book and so far I think it falls in the middle. In the beginning, I looovveed the premise. I am a sucker for a small town game & some romance. Much of the book was fun, & I agree, it feels like a warm hug! I really loved the small town quirky-ness, the various competitions. Overall, it was a fun vibe. I think were I have my qualms is with how fast paced the book is, among other things. I wish the end moved a bit faster. I found myself skimming near the end, and I wasn't fully connected to the love story. I also didn't love the "I'm in love with your father" vibes from Nikki at the beginning... it was weird. I also wish that the girl who gave an allergic reaction to the guy was recognized & fully punished for her wrong-doing.
All of that being said, it was a fun, light book. I just wish some things wrapped up a bit nicer.

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon is a sweet small town romance. Jess has grown up with her just her Dad and now lives down the street from him. She came back to Redford, Georgia after going to school in New York and now works as an editor. Carter lives in Atlanta and works in finance. He has come to Redford for his grandfather Jasper's funeral. They are both now in a high stakes “amazing race” type game to distribute his grandfather's fortune.

This delightful character driven story was an enjoyable escape for me, and the sweet romance between two opposites was fun to watch. The well developed characters were endearing and I enjoyed their alternating POVs. The author does an amazing job capturing so many different personalities, stories, and the conflicts of living in a small town. The high stakes game to win Jasper’s fortune was very hilarious to watch and reminded me that everyone has a story.

The Only Game in Town is a great read with themes of family, learning to love those around you, and remembering that everyone’s story is complicated. I enjoyed being a part of Redford, Georgia and may need to go back and visit. I highly recommend The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book gave me the perfect small-town feel!
I loved Jessica, she is bright, funny, and literally the most colorful person in town. The first time she meets Carter she takes him on a tour of the town, and how she describes it and its residents brought them all perfectly to life.

When Jasper the Patriarch of the town dies he stages an elaborate competition, where every resident of the town is paired up with seemingly the worst possible partner to become the winner of a boatload of money.
Jessica is paired with her nemesis Nikki, and has to compete with her new friend Carter who is also Jasper's grandson. We get multiple POVs which really helped you get into the head of the characters.
The competitions and what happens during them are funny, and the banter between all the characters had me laughing out loud. One of my favorite parts was the Barbie Jeep... I will let you discover why. You should really experience that scene in real-time.

The romance was beautiful and heartwarming, and I loved every page of this book. I will absolutely be adding Lacie Waldon's other books to my TBR.

The Only Game in Town is Lacie’s third book and it was so entertaining! I’ve loved all of her books so far and can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. If you haven’t read any of her books, what are you waiting for?
• The town benefactor dies and leaves $10 million dollars to the town. The catch is, to get it, you have to compete for it by participating in a series of challenges.
• Before his death, Jasper paired up the people of the town for these high-stake games where the winning duo takes home the prize. Each person was paired with their arch nemesis which sucked me in immediately because I couldn’t wait to hear the fun banter that I knew Lacie would incorporate into the story and see how it all played out. This setup allowed for great character building and really gave us a chance to get to know each one so well.
• Sweet, closed-door, opposites attract, small-town romance that focuses on family and friendships.
• Multiple POV’s and fun/quirky characters.
• I thought the premise of the high-stake games was such a clever and fresh idea and so fun to read about the wacky challenges.
• You’ll fall in love with Redford and the community!
• What’s a romance without the……Happily Ever After

🎧 I went back and forth reading and listening to The Only Game in Town thanks to @prhaudio. The multiple narrators really brought the story to life and gave it an extra edge. I would highly recommend listening to it if you get the chance.