This was really cute! Having spent time in small town Georgia, I could easily picture Redford with it's main street shops and colorful characters. Jess is your predictable sunshine heroine and Carter is not really a grump, but definitely on the stoic side of the spectrum. Of course, being in Redford with all of these people (and Jess!) will unlock his sunny side in due course.
The games set forth by the deceased (Carter's grandfather) weren't anything tricky or elaborate, so if your looking for an "Inheritance Games" type of story full of puzzles with romance added in you can keep looking. They are enough to keep the plot moving along and keep Carter in town long enough to get to know everyone.
I enjoyed Waldon's writing and felt like I had a good image of all the characters in the story. A fun and funny closed door romance.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

this was beautiful and so amazing especially as a daughter who was super close to their father but recently lost them to cancer this really struck a cord with me and was just overall super beautiful

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This was a very sweet book. If you enjoy the occasional Hallmark type movie this book is really for you. The characters were very likable, it was set within a small quaint town, and there were lots of interesting townspeople featured through out. I enjoyed the premise of the book and found it to be very satisfying in the end.

This is my first Lacie Walden book and I am officially in love!

She created such a beautiful and funny story that you can’t help but be sucked in. I am a sucker for small towns - especially with mountains and the image she created for “The Only Game In Town” made me wish I could visit and meet all of the locals!

This was written with multiple POV - our two main characters, Carter and Jess, along with Jess’s dad, Ross, and her nemesis, Nikki.
It was interesting seeing all the different thoughts and to see how they perceived what was going on around them. All four had a distinct voice and I think it definitely helped to push the story forward!

If you love small town romance, family dynamics, feuding towns people, and an eccentric millionaire who dies and leaves everything to the town he loves? This book will make your week!

you know, I don't think I love Lacie Waldon books. I've tried a few, but I cannot connect with them like I can other authors. It feels like I'm just reading to read the books and not reading to enjoy the story and get caught up in it. Basically, this book took a while for me to finish as I just didn't connect with it. Nothing particularly wrong, but definitely better books out there.

I loved this book! It read like the perfect Hallmark story of the town I would LOVE to live in with people I would love to be my neighbors!

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon took a minute to pull me in. I was expecting a romance, but quickly came to realize that this book is more about the town than the relationship between Jess and Carter. While both Jess and Carter grow through this book, it’s the town with its quirky characters and humorous stories that was truly the star of the book. Overall, this was a fun story, filled with funny moments and ridiculous challenges; however, it was not the romance I was expecting.

Note: this book has some innuendo, but is closed door.

*Thank you to Netgalley, and the author and publisher for an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This amazing book was a great mix of The Amazing Race meets Big Brother challenges meets Hart of Dixie super cute small town! Being from a small town myself, I loved the setting and side characters with all the background!

The love between a dad and his daughter, the mean girls from high school, the gossip, and most importantly, the big move back to her hometown, was all so reminiscent of my own story and all the memories my own hometown brings each time I go back!

This story was truly a gem!

This was absolutely adorable! Waldon has shot right into an autobuy slot with this one. The characters were fun and quirky, the story original. Just loved it!

In “The Only Game in Town”, when Jasper Wilhelm, Reford’s odd benefactor dies, his nephew Carter is called upon to oversee his last will and testament. However, there’s a catch – the townspeople need to compete in several games to win Jasper’s remaining fortune. Among the players, freelance editor Jess Reid catches Carter’s eye, sparking a potential romance. While the romance takes a back seat to the plot, Jess is a character worth rooting for, and her potential love interest in Carter is a pleasant addition. The only downside is that the romance feels a bit rushed at times, and it could have been more developed. Overall, “The Only Game in Town” is a great read, with Lacie Waldon skillfully portraying the intricate dynamics of a small town while also highlighting the importance of community and friendship. However, I would say this is more contemporary fiction than that of a romance novel.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

When the quirky town benefactor passes away, he sets up a game for the zany small town residents to participate in to win his money. Carter, his grandson, thinks the game is rigged in his favor but he can’t help but feel guilty as he falls for one of the residents, Jess. Jess is determined to win, even being partnered up with her nemesis. Will the game bring the townspeople closer together or tear them apart?

This was such a fun read. I loved all the characters in the small town. They each felt like they could be my own neighbors. Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

DNF! The premise didn’t interest me, I wasn’t hooked by the beginning at all & unfortunately I’ve seen some negative reviews from other bookstagrammers I trust — so I’m going to move on to another book. I liked THE LAYOVER by this author though, so I do think I’ll give her another try with FROM THE JUMP.

3.5 stars RTC
Jess moved back home to her small town Georgia life and to be near her father. She's barely making ends meet but loves her surroundings and neighbors, with only the exception of mean girl, Nikki. Being paired with Nikki in a game to win 10 million dollars is just one nightmare among many for the locals. Add in a stranger, Carter, and everyone is feeling competitive and grumpy.
While this isn't my favorite Lacie book, I did find enjoyment in scenes throughout: the sandwiches, jeeps, and night-time chats, for example. I don't understand the need for Ross's POV and the abundance of character introductions made for a semi-rough beginning. I loved Lacie's previous travel romances so I pushed through and thought the second half was much more in line with my expectations. She has a knack for fun and quirky characters.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I've given this author's books four and five stars and was excited to dive into this third one! I think I had a bit too high of expectations. I did have a good time reading and the concept was really fun. The multiple POVs seemed a bit random at first, but started to make a little more sense as the story continued.

The romance was a bit more of a slow burn, which I don't normally go for but I liked these characters. Yes the ending was a little bit cheesy, but it really had me grinning and chuckling.

Overall, I'll continue to pick up this authors books and will recommend them to fellow readers!

3.5 stars rounded up

I absolutely adored Waldron’s previous novel, so I was very excited to read this one. While I enjoyed it, it wasn’t as much of a hit for me. The small town is charming and there are some fun characters here. That being said, the whole premise is so unlikely and the main character is just SO quirky that it had me rolling my eyes at times. And the love interest simply didn’t have enough chemistry to make it up for me. The book was fine, but won’t stick with me.

Small town romance? A town-wide game? Opposites attract? What's not to like? This was such a sweet, fun, wholesome read and I ate up every minute of it.

The Only Game in Town has all of the tropes/vibes you love in a typical small town romance, but it also goes above and beyond with a unique voice that absolutely captivated me. For example, this novel is multi-POV and features the perspectives of people outside of the main couple. This isn't something I've ever seen in a romcom and I loved it.

If you're looking for a fun spring/summer read, consider The Only Game in Town!

-----4/5 stars

Thank you to netgalley and the penguin for providing me a with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun, sweet read. I really liked the set up of alternating chapters between the point of view of the main characters as well as the supporting characters. It felt like it rounded out the story well. It was fun to follow the scavenger hunt game while also watching Jess and Carter connect. The small town setting was a perfect backdrop to showcase a variety of great personalities and amusing interactions. I loved Lacie Waldon's last book so I had high expectations going into this new one. They were met or exceeded! I can't wait to read her next work. Thanks to Lacie Waldon, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun quirky adventure! I love a good posthumous request in a will. In this case having the whole town to compete against a very large sum that everyone actually needs to help with career, health or vanity.
Although the deceased knew what he was doing and paired up those that have either had a long standing grudge or just plain hated each other trying to get them to force proximity them into empathy and friendship. And for the most part it worked but there are just some nasty people that are just mean.
The romance was sweet and I love a good bar meet cute. The challenges were fun and silly too.

Thank you putnambooks

Sweet small town story with a slow burn romance thrown in. I loved the town and the game that was being played kept the story interesting. The romance aspect, which is not the major storyline in the book, felt very realistic. This was my first book by this author, but I will definitely read more from her.

The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon is another great rom-com. This was a cute, small town romance. Each character was funny and relatable. It was predictable enough you know you’ll be happy, while keeping enough plot twists to actually keep you reading. I have read other books from this author and she always delivers. Highly recommend this and her other books!