LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

Lana Ferguson has just written the next top hockey romance! This is the cutest, fun read full of banter and sweet moments, with Lana's classic smutty brain of course. I fell head over heels for both Lilah and Ian, and it probably started the first time she called him "cupcake."

While the trope of high school crush/brother's best friend that never noticed her is a hard one to pull off, I think Lana did a great job of it. While you fault Ian for not noticing her until now, his moment of saying "I see you" brought in the necessary new dynamic, and was ultimately forgivable since they have a bit of an age gap and have been in different cities for the past decade.

I can't wait to get everyone to read this!

This book was an immediate five stars for me. I loved every aspect of it because EVERY book by this author does the romance genre justice—this one especially. I fell head over heels for the characters and I cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next!!

“‘It's like I spent my entire life blind until you walked back into my life, and I finally saw you.’”

Oh my gosh! I was not expecting to love this as much as I did!! The Game Changer is a classic brother’s best friend trope — but it was so refreshing.

There is a fun PR storyline with fake dating which worked so well for me. The tension was simmering from the beginning and I was immediately obsessed with these characters (Ian is everything to me). I was giggling throughout this whole book — some of these scenes are my new favorites within the genre.

This felt very emotional and real and there wasn’t a crazy miscommunication scene or unnecessary drama. The love confessions were so gentle and perfect too !!!! Lana’s writing is really great!!

Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for the advanced copy. The Game Changer releases on July 9.

The Game Changer is a delightful hockey romance book by Lana Ferguson, featuring a story of friendship, longing, and chemistry. The story follows Ian Chase, a team captain, who faces a PR nightmare after a public breakup. Delilah Baker, his best friend's sister, proposes a collaboration to boost her local cable show's ratings. However, old feelings resurface, blurring the lines between reality and PR. The story explores whether their relationship is just for show or something more.

Thank you @netgalley @lanaferguson and @Berkleypublishing for this ARC for an honest review. I really enjoyed it.

A cute little rom com. I love the fake dating trope so I knew I would automatically like this book. The romance did feel a bit fast but overall a very cute story and I loved Ian’s character.

I loved everything about this!!!! From the cute backstory, the chemistry between Lila and Ian, the fake dating, THE SPICE, to the side characters. I appreciated that there was no annoying third act break up or miscommunication, but liked that there was still some drama to keep things interesting. I haven’t read The Nanny yet, but I’d say this is my favorite Lana Ferguson novel so far.

This was utter perfection!! I was kicking my feet and swooning so hard. Ferguson is a new to me author and I will for sure be diving into her backlist. I couldn’t recommend this book enough!

This is going to be majorly popular I just know it. I'm talking several months wait at the library popular. It is such a fun, warm, steamy sports romance. My only hang up is I myself am growing weary of fake dating, that is just a personal problem.

Okay I’m in love with Lana’s writing lately! I loved the friends to lovers, This was some spicy goodness on top of that! Also no third act break up, vulnerable moments, and just heart warming as well!

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5 stars)

- childhood friends
- brothers best friend
- fake dating
- hockey romance

So, folks, gather 'round because Lana Ferguson just dropped another gem with "The Game Changer," and let me tell you, I'm about ready to declare her my official dealer of bookish dopamine hits. Seriously, she's become my literary happy place—a one-click wonder!

Now, let's dive into this masterpiece. We've got Delilah, the baking maestro with her own TV show, and Ian, the hockey hottie. I mean, who doesn't love a good dose of hockey romance? If puck action and oven mitts sound like your kind of party, then hold on tight because this one's a wild ride.

Lana rolls out the red carpet of tropes, and I am here for it. Childhood friends turning into something more? Check. Banter that makes you snort-laugh? Double-check. The chemistry between Delilah and Ian is so electric; I swear my e-reader might need a cooldown.

Now, let's talk spice. Lana doesn't hold back, and neither does Ian. That dude's mouth had me sweating—yes, literally. And don't even get me started on the locker room scene. It's the kind of steaminess that makes you reconsider your choice of reading location. I may or may not have blushed hard enough to rival a tomato.

So, if you're on the hunt for a rom-com that's as spicy as your favorite hot wings, grab "The Game Changer." Lana Ferguson delivers a 4.5/5 star experience that's hotter than a jalapeño on a summer day. Trust me; your bookshelf needs this.

I just reviewed The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson. #TheGameChanger #NetGalley

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this title early! This is Lana Ferguson’s third romance book that I have read in the past year and I can now absolutely call myself a super-fan of hers. And not just because this was a hockey romance, (which happens to be a favorite trope of mine) or the fact that there was no dreaded third act breakup, (Again, Thank you, Lana!!!!) but the vibrant characters, a story that keeps you rooting for them, and a sickly sweet romance plot that doesn’t quit made this an absolutely desirable read. I cannot wait to see what Lana cooks up next for us!

*thank you to Berkely, NetGalley, and Lana Ferguson for the eARC.

Yall. This book. THIS BOOK. I loved Lana with The Nanny, she blew me away with The Fake Mate, and now I am on my knees with The Game Changer.

Delilah “Lila” Baker is…. A baker. And that is too freaking adorable. She’s great at it too. Ian Chase is a hockey player who is….chasing Lila? I think that’s how we’re gonna talk about their names. Ian is a hockey player who left his hometown of Boston to avoid drama and scandal. Life has brought him back to the pro team his parents own, and isn’t that its own bag of worms? I love that both Lila and Chase are just a little bit messy and chaotic and have the baggage of their lives. They aren’t perfect and that makes the story so much better.

On to the plot: Lila is a baker and her tv show is facing declining viewership, and her show has decided that a partnership with the local pro hockey team would be great boost. Ian has just moved back and his scandalous past is following him, so he is put on the show to help his “bad boy” image. Unsurprisingly, the team up of the two is quite hot, and rumors fly. Are they in love? Are they not? Do her deserts actually taste like sugar coated heaven? Relationship rumors fly, and Lila and Ian choose to lean into them (at the urging of their respective teams). Will they stay just friends or will they develop into so much more?

Fake dating and real friendship mix in a sweet, romantic, HOT story full of like and love and lust. I was truly hooked from line one all the way until the epilogue was over. This book made me fall in love with hockey and baking all at the same time, which is such a tall order. Lana Ferguson is so quickly becoming one of my auto buy authors and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lana, and Berkley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lana Ferguson has quickly made it onto my auto-buy list. I remember hearing about this book so long ago and immediately wanting to read it, knowing it was going to be an amazing read. Since then, I’ve read both ‘The Nanny’ and ‘The Fake Mate’ (if you haven’t read those I BEG of you to go read them right this second) and instantly fell in love with how Lana can pull off a spicy as hell, but sweet as can be rom-com story.

The game changer hits this sweet but spicy mark right on its head. You immediately start loving, and rooting for, Ian and Lila because their instant chemistry is off the charts. At one point I was just BEGGING them to finally give in and kiss already😩 the will-they-won’t-they in this book is top teir.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
- Cute nicknames
- Friends to Lovers
- Brother’s Best Friend
- No 3rd Act Breakup

Lana has done it again! She has perfectly mixed a compelling story with the spiciest spice and it just makes me so happy.

You have the soft, ‘innocent’ baker with Delilah and the big, scruffy hockey player with Ian. When you put the two of them together, it’s smoking hot chemistry with banter and teasing leaving you desperately wanting them to get together ASAP. I really enjoyed that Delilah knows what she wants and was not afraid to start making the first move 👏🏻👏🏻

Ian is a hockey player and there are some hockey talk/events but not TOO MUCH description of gameplay which I think was a very smart approach by Lana. Most of the time in hockey romance reads, I tend to get lost/confused in the action of the game but I never felt that way with The Game Changer, but I still got all the fun and hot hockey vibes.

You can’t have a brother’s best friend trope without the brother and even though I know this was such a labor of love for Lana, I hope we get a Jack story in the future! He really rounds out the story and is the perfect comedic relief to contrast the banter and tension of Delilah and Ian.

Another deliciously hot entry into the Lana Ferguson extended universe! Lana can do contemporary romcom, paranormal romcom, and now... a hockey romance. But rest assured you do not need to care at all about sports to enjoy. This was a high-heat, low-conflict (within the relationship, at least -- there's a family plot that has plenty of conflict) read that's perfect for readers who are looking for cozy spicy beach reads with no third-act breakup or miscommunication. As usual, Lana excels at spice, funny, well-developed side characters, and fast-paced plots that keep the pages turning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A hockey romance with side of brothers bff! This is for the girlies who aren’t fans of miscommunication or third act breaks ups because it’s pretty slow burn and smooth sailing once the two leads get together. I enjoyed the first half of the book but once they go together it kinda lost all its appeal for me. Lila being so obsessed with him since she was a teen and even now was a little to desperate for my taste. Not a bad book at all, but def my least favorite

Lana is definitely an auto-buy author for me now! Loved the Fake Mate and I adored this one! Lila and Ian are just so perfect together. And I loved her zany brother Jack. There's a fair amount of angst but its coming from her job and his dad and not them as a couple, which I found refreshing. I love a good brother's best friend trope and this one was made even more sweeter by the fact that she crushed on him growing up. I wish we had gotten a little more closure on Lilah's storyline outside of her relationship with Ian but otherwise this book was fabulous!

for delilah baker and ian chase, it was always going to be them – it was just a matter of timing. in the game changer, these childhood friends fall fast in love and commit to the happy ending they deserve, no matter the hurdles.

when ian is traded back to boston's hockey team in need of a reputatiion repair and delilah's television production team desire a ratings boost, the circumstances align perfectly to get these lovebirds in a room, to really get the rumors flying. having grown up together thanks to ian being delilah's older brother's friend, old feelings resurface upon reintroduction and it is full steam ahead from there, full pun intended. honestly, there were even moments where the game changer felt a bit like a second book in a series where the couple have settled in and look to work out the kinks that could keep them apart. while that insta-love aspect didn't impact my overall enjoyment much, it was a touch too fluffy at times. just a personal preference thing ultimately.

having also read lana ferguson's the fake mate, I have such appreciation for her versatile storytelling and the courage it must take to tackle plots on opposite sides of the romance genre. in this book, we get a hockey romance from an author whose last release was omegaverse centric. having to shift gears like that can't be an easy task. it's even more impressive to pull it off and delivered a low-stakes romance, full of heat and swoon. delilah and ian's dynamic felt effortless. readers on the hunt for a breezy read will be in good hands with this one.

thanks to berkley and lana ferguson for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Lana Ferguson and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This delightful hockey romance was an absolute joy, brimming with fun, cuteness, humor, spice, and heartfelt moments that kept me grinning, cackling, kicking my legs, and swooning from start to finish!! The Game Changer expertly weaves together the beloved childhood friends-to-lovers and brother's best friend tropes, delivering a narrative rich in snarky banter, irresistible longing, undeniable chemistry and sizzling spice!! Did I mention, there's NO dreadful miscommunication or third-act breakup to contend with in this captivating story!! Being my first foray into this author's work, I'm left wondering what rock I've been hiding under?! I simply can't wait to dive into more books by Lana Ferguson!! I absolutely adored this book so much!!! 💗💗💗💗💗

When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase's team, he hopes to focus on his game, but with his career and team's image in jeopardy, he turns to Delilah Baker his best friend's little sister, for help. Delilah, known as "the darling of baking," proposes a collaboration to boost her local cable show's ratings, but when Ian enters the picture, old feelings resurface, blurring the lines between reality and PR. As they navigate this delicate situation, they must decide if their relationship is just for show or something more. Will this PR stunt be a game changer or leave them both "totally packed"?

Overall, it is a sweet, spicy and heartwarming romance that kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish! I enthusiastically recommend and it certainly deserves all the stars!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Solid “liked it.” There just wasn’t enough hockey in the hockey romance. Lana “doesn’t do sports” according to the acknowledgements, and I realize I’m completely unsurprised. There wasn’t the eager energy of entering the ice, the enthusiasm of the game winning goals, the hot sex working off the adrenaline high after a game, the found family and camaraderie with the team… this book would have made more sense if Ian was an engineer, really. The sports aspect fell completely flat, and it’s only a sports romance inasmuch as he’s “playing on a hockey team.”

That said, there was plenty of sex. There was also plenty of baking and a side plot with Abby that took center stage in the end and worked well. This will appeal to readers who are in for a calm, slow burn with heavy focus on the characters and their personal drama.

From a craft perspective, Lana nails it. But I really do wish she’d spent more time on the hockey aspect, which is what makes a sports romance fun. But had I set those expectations aside, I probably would have enjoyed it more. (At 65%, I was asking “where’s the hockey…”)

This is missing the lightness and quick wit of the Nanny and the Fake Mate. Overall, this will appeal to readers who want something heavier and slightly darker in tone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.