Think of this small town as Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, lots of little fueds and distinct personalitize, a town that feels like a family. This a romance between Jess and Carter but also a love story to small towns. Jess has lived in Redford, GA, her whole life, her Dad was 16 when she was born and he raised her on his own. Carter is from Atlanta and works in finance. He is astranged from all of his family except his grandfather. Jasper, his grandfather, recently passed and Carter has come to Redford for the funeral, but Jasper has one more plan up his sleeve. Jasper organized a town wide competiton to win his $10 million inheritance. He picked the teams, and no one is happy about them, and puts the town through some ridiculous challenges forcing everyone to have fun, come together, and fall in love with their small town.

If you love small town romances you are going to love this book. Every character has a distinct personality, silly actions/quirks that stand out. I loved that we not only got Jess and Carters POV but also Jess's Dad, Ross, and Jess's team partner/enemy, Nikki. It added to the small town charm but also gave more history to Jess. I wish we had another POV to support Carter's character more but thats ok. Carter and Jess clearly have chemisty and their banter is off the charts. I was laughing out loud and felt the characters pain. It was very well written and now I want to go visit Redford myself. I knocked off a star because I thought the end of the competition was a bit anticlimatic. That was the one scene I didn't feel like the characters reacted in the way I thought they would and felt a bit rushed. I would have liked a little more to it. But other than that this was a very fun read.

Tropes: Fall vibes; author; boat; competiton; Found Family; rivals; small town; unexpected inheritance; slow burn; clean romance

Quotes: "If he'd learned anything from being a single father, it was that you could never underestimate the amount of ice cream that might be needed."

"How can the smallest town I've ever been to give me the largest glimpse of the world I've ever seen?"

I really enjoyed this book! It is a lighthearted, quick story about a small town's competition to win 10 million dollars. The highlight of this book is the characterizations! You get to see personality and growth from even the side characters. The book is multi-POV, which really helped further develop the characters and their relationships.

With all of the challenges and wanting to find out who will win, the book flies by because you just can't stop turning the pages.

For romance lovers, this book is not filled with smut (closed door scenes only). Personally, I found that to be refreshing after some of the other "romances" I've read recently.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Lacie Waldon for this eARC!

I loved this story. The characters were wonderfully developed and the premise of an all-town game with contestants paired with unexpected (and in many cases unwanted) partners and huge prize money created a great plot. The romance between the small town girl and big city boy was well done and believable. This was a quick, entertaining, can't put down story for me. I highly recommend it. Thanks to Net Galley for letting me read this terrific story for my honest opinion.

*****Publishing March 21, 2023*****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fun light read with a great story line! This book will have you turning the pages to find out who ultimately wins!

Such a clever premise, Jasper Wilhelm, a local millionaire, died unexpectedly. In his will, he has set up a high stake game for his community to compete, in order to win part of his fortune in the small town of Redford, Georgia. The only catch is that he has already matched up the teams. Most have been matched with their arch nemesis, so will they stay in the game or will they choose to forfeit? 10 million is at stake and only 1 team will win. It was rumored that the competition has been rigged, so will Carter, his grandson, ultimately win? Can a small town come together to compete with someone they normally wouldn’t choose to be with? Can they put their differences aside to figure out how to win? What will they all ultimately learn in the end?

What makes this book comical and entertaining is not only the storyline, but the characters, some of them are likable, while others are less desirable. Even though this book is fun, there are some serious topics interwoven, which makes for a heartfelt, but satisfying story. A perfect book to take on vacation!

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam , I was provided an ARC of The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet, fun, adventurous read!! Packed with an unusual combination of familiar tropes- eccentric dies and stages a competition to win some of his wealth; enemies to lovers- closed door scenes. A quick and entertaining read that was memorable

An eccentric, wealthy businessman (Jasper) organizes a game to be played after his death, in the town he called home. He arranges for 2 person teams to compete in challenges to win a prize of $5 million. One of the teams is Jess, our heroine, teamed up with her arch nemesis and resident Mean Girl, Nikki. Also playing, Carter (love interest) Jasper’s grandson, teamed up with the town bartender Bryce. The game is super fun and interesting, and the budding romance is sweet and tender. Closed door scenes, no smut.

The Only Game In Town

4.25 ⭐️

This is my third Lacie Waldon book and I just love how much adventure gets packed into these romcoms!

Set in a small town, the story follows a game where players are competing for the inheritance one of their neighbors left them. Normally, romcoms are told at most from dual perspectives but this one had a few more. I only think that added to the close knit community.

Check this one out when it comes out this March! Thanks to @netgalley for this advanced copy.

Yet another super cute story from Lacie Waldon. This is my third book of hers that I’ve read and she is always a solid storyteller. The Only Game in Town is a perfect read if you want a feel good story that takes place in a small town and includes a wild cast of characters. I enjoyed the four person POV that helped perfectly capture some of the relationships in the little town of Redford, GA; our heroine Jess, her father Ross, male interest Carter, and nemesis Nikki.
The death of town benefactor Jasper Wilhelm causes the townspeople to go a little crazy at the chance of winning $10 million dollars; the only catch? They have to play his game and agree to a blind partner match to win the money. The townspeople are what made this book so much fun. Every side character has a story (and probably a feud) that makes them important to the town. There’s so much humor and hijinxs between the characters and the banter between all four character perspectives is spot on. I found myself loving the challenges and the interactions between team members as they competed. Each challenge reveals a little more of our narrators and what makes them tick. A closed door romance, Jess and Carter’s relationship is secondary to the story of the town, but sweet and fulfilling nonetheless. I would love a romance for Ross, his book seems inevitable what with the storyline he’s been given (single, hot, young dad? Yes, please!) Even Nikki could have her own book with as much of a character arc as she’s given. I’m so happy I picked this up and know Lacie Waldon will continue to write creative and enters stories in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Only Game in Town is about a funky millionaire that decided his last will was going to be to leave his money to a couple of people living in his beloved town, though it won’t be easy since they first have to win a series of competitions in a week-long game. As you can imagine, this ensures a bunch of fun situations, especially since everyone seems to be paired with their enemies.

I liked that the book was narrated by a bunch of people instead of just the two main ones. It allowed to create a better setting, and it was easier for me to approach the town that everyone seemed to love.

It took a while for me to really get into this book, but once I did I really did have a wonderful time. Jess, one of the main characters, is a bright young woman with a huge heart, she was so full of optimism that I instantly loved her. And then we have her nemesis, Nikki, who I hated from the start but learned to like by the end. Carter, the grandson of the town’s deceased millionaire, could have been a poor spoiled pitiful crybaby, but he wasn’t. Carter was mature and gentlemanly and awesome.

One of the things I liked best about this book was how the conflict resolved at the end. It was very mature and adult, I loved seeing that.

The only complain I can think of is that sometimes it got to be a little slow, if the story would have been a little shorter I would have appreciated it more, I think. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant way to end my reading year.

3.5 stars rounded up

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldron centers around Redford, a small, close-knit town grieving the loss of Jasper Wilhelm. At his funeral, the town learns that Jasper has set up a series of games to determine a pair that will inherit millions of dollars. The catch? Jasper’s already assigned the teams. Jess Reid, resident and lover of Redford, will have to work with her high school tormentor. Plus, Jasper’s grandson, non-Redfordonian Carter Barclay, is one of the competitors.

The challenges of the game were very fun to read, and I really enjoyed the exploration of Jess and Carter’s characters and relationship. Waldon had an interesting take on the changing perspectives format that left me a little confused, and some of the characters’ relationships seemed to have been magically resolved without fully working out the problems. Honestly, sometimes the community of Redford seemed more toxic than charming. Even still, there were some sweet moments between the main characters and Jasper set up a good game.

*Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam/G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and Lacie Waldon for this ARC!

What I read: The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon

Why I picked it up: I found this on NetGalley and have loved her previous two books, so I requested it. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

How I read it: On e-galley via Kindle over the weekend.

What it’s about: Jess grew up in small town Georgia with her father Ross. Life was great – except for a group of mean girls who have been picking on her for more than a decade. Now the town’s benefactor has died and his inheritance of $10 million is being distributed via a game. Everyone has been paired with their arch-enemy … except Carter, his grandson, has been given a new friend. Jess and Carter find each other, even though they’re on opposite teams.

What I liked: I really loved how Jess understood herself, her emotions, and life quicker than most romance novel protagonists. She’s got a high level of self-awareness, and she felt like someone I would want to be friends with in real life.

What I disliked: The pettiness of Nikki, Lexi, and their ‘gang of mean girls’ felt very high school – but small towns can remain that way when people get a grudge in high school, don’t go away for college, and stay. It can be a true fact of life, but I can still dislike it.

Genre: Small town, closed door romance, finding oneself.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and definitely! I recommend all three of her books!!

This book was fun and even silly at times. I was kind of hoping for more romance vs women’s fiction but it was a quick fun read!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review

The small town of Redford, Georgia is turned on its head after the passing of local resident Jasper Wilhelm. At his funeral, it is announced that Jasper has planned a game for the entire town to participate in with the winning prize being his fortune of $10 million dollars. The only catch is that Jasper has already created the paired duos that will compete for the prize.

The Only Game in Town was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 based on its synopsis. It sounded like it was going to be The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes meets Something Wilder by Christina Lauren. It did not meet those expectations. There are fun games and scavenger hunts, but that is not what this book is about. The story is about small-town life in Redford and its kooky residents and how the relationships between the residents have tarnished and mended as time passes. It’s a story about found family and what it means to be a part of a tight-knit community.

I feel like some readers might be disappointed as the book does feel like it is marketed towards being a romance. I thought it was going to be about the budding romance between local resident Jessica (Jess) Reid and town outsider Carter Barclay. But it’s really about the love Jess feels for her small town and about Carter finding a place where he really belongs. The romance between Jess and Carter is a part of the book, but mostly takes place off page.

The story is also told from multiple POVs which includes Jess, Carter, Nikki and Ross. The book primarily alternates between Jess and Carter. Nikki has some chapters thrown in throughout the book, but I personally didn’t feel like they helped flesh out her character. I think she either needed more chapters or needed to have her growth shown in the Jess and Carter chapters only. The Ross chapters felt unnecessary since he only has one in the book and the epilogue – his chapters definitely could have been from the main characters POV instead.

I do feel like the relationship/friendship between Ross and Nikki was odd and not necessarily an important aspect of the book to focus on. I understand that Ross had Jess when he was 17, making him young to have a 26-year old daughter, but it still felt weird that he would hang out with Nikki. I understand that that the book is about found family, but between Nikki being Jess’s bully for the majority of her life and the sexual jokes Nikki makes about Ross to Jess, it just felt like there was something off about this friendship.

Overall, this is a cute, feel-good story about small-town life. 3 stars out of 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for giving me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love Lacie Waldon's other books so I had high hopes for this one. Sadly, it did not live up to what I wanted it to be. It is supposed to be a romance book, but I really did not feel that there was much romance involved. There was definitely flirting between Carter and Jess but nothing really romance for me. There was not any spicy scenes(closed door only) and I just didn't feel like it lived up to the hype like her other books. The town game vibe was different and interesting how they were paired with people they weren't necessarily fond of. Overall, it just didn't really do it for me, it wasn't bad, just not my favorite.

For all fans of a small-town romance, opposites attract, a kooky small town of side characters and competitive enemies to lovers, The Only Game in Town is surely the romance novel for you. It's fun and cute, and gives off SERIOUS Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow Vibes (If You Know, You Know) that exponentially ramps up the cuteness factor. It's told in dual perspectives, yes, but then also includes the POVs for other side characters too which help flush out the story as more than just a he-said-she-said typical romance. A perfectly indulgent beach read, 100 percent.

each books gets better and better. I love how she always make me want more. their relationships are always next level and it just keeps me reading and invested in the characters. I highly recommend this one.

Here's the deal, as other reviewers have noted: this isn't a romance. There is romance, but the steamy stuff happens off the page and the plot of this book doesn't revolve around the romantic interests. It is, however, a cute book with a sweet story that takes place in a small town straight out of a Hallmark movie. The story is told from four perspectives: Conner: a beloved grandson of the town's eccentric millionaire (re: the Outsider), Jessica: the girl who let her dreams take a backseat to family, her father, Ross, who is hot, ill, and in his 40s, and the girl's high school nemesis, Nikki, (who is, of course, jealous) who's just as cranky and bitchy as she was a decade before.

The wide range of viewpoints, I think, is where this book missed its mark. The chapters are relatively short and offer brief glimpses into each person. For the most part, there's not enough to become emotionally invested in anyone and the characters don't evolve a whole lot. While likeable enough, they're kind of flat. The book, while likeable enough, is also kind of flat.

3.5 stars

NetGalley provided the review copy, opinion is my own.

Cute small town romance with friends/competitors to lovers. I liked the premise of the story and the idea of the competition. I really enjoyed all the side small town characters and thought they added a lot to the story. I won’t lie both the main characters were just ok for me and I found myself liking the secondary characters more. I liked the multiple points of view the writer used and really felt that helped the story a lot. I liked and would recommend this one but was crazy for it. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars, rounded up

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

I loved the small town charm in this book and I enjoyed that the romance was just one element of the bigger story. The premise was unique, a little quirky, and a lot heartwarming.

The cast of characters was dynamic, despite being it being a bit difficult for me to keep track of all of the side characters at the beginning. I liked the multiple POVs and how telling the story that way shed light onto secondary characters motivations and feelings.

While I liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the plot, I do wish it was flushed out just a little bit more.

This was such a delightful romance! It had all my favorite elements: small town with quirky characters, a lot of heart, a sweetheart of a MC and a quiet male MC. It was very funny too! I loved this book!