As someone who hasn’t read a Lana Ferguson book but is a hockey romance fanatic, i was nervous going into this. Lana exceeded my expectations and i LOVED getting to know ian and delilah. Truly one of my favorite hockey romances I have read!

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson 💕
Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Sports Romance
ARC Review
400 pages
🗓️ July 9

🏒 hockey romance
💕 best friend’s sister
🏒 friends to lovers
💕 childhood crush
🏒 age gap (less than 10 years)
💕 no 3rd act breakup
🏒 dual POV

📌“Maybe we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be, because all I know is that while I may not have wanted you as long as you’ve wanted me, I can say with absolute certainty that I have wanted you as hard as a person can want another person.”

📌“It always felt like you were mine first.”

📌“Maybe love can only truly be held by two people, because it’s too big for just one.”

I loved it.
I loved it with all my heart.

Sometimes I sign up for books I never heard of and authors I’ve never read before on NetGalley. I just see something that catches my eye, stop, read the blurb and request. Now, not always they’re winners. Most are okay, though. But once in a blue I get a book that blows my mind and captures my entire attention from page one. The Game Changer was one of those.

The banter. Holly baby llamas. The banter between these two was off the charts 👏🏼 Delilah and Ian were incredible together. The chemistry, the humor, the familiarity that only blooms from years of shared friendship.

But Delilah and Ian were also amazing as individuals. I honestly loved them as themselves and as a couple. As friends and as lovers.

I can’t also fail to mention my deep adoration for Jack. That man is a full storm and I’m here to watch the wreckage he might cause. Because I need a book on him. PLEASE. Maybe with a certain lady who happens to be very good at bossing him around 😜 PLEEEEAAAASSSEEE

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 7/9

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for my gifted e-copy!

Ian Chase is a hockey player in the midst of a PR crisis following a public breakup, and Delilah Baker is a popular baker with a dwindling audience on her local cable show. They were friends growing up, and it seems like a no-brainer to help each other out with a very public, fake dating scheme to improve both of their circumstances. But this leads to a series of staged romantic encounters that blur the line between fiction and reality.

This was a quick, fun, spicy read, and Ferguson's skill in crafting lovable characters shines through here. Ian, with his rugged exterior and teddy bear heart, and Delilah, the sweet and witty baking darling, create an authentic and believable connection. The brother’s best friend trope is one of my favorites, and I loved Jack, Delilah’s overprotective older brother.

While there’s a lot to love about this one, the continued use of their pet names became grating after a while, and I think there was too much emphasis throughout the story on Delilah’s crush on Ian when they were kids. It made it seem almost like the feelings were one-sided at times, making some of their interactions awkward.

Overall, this is an easy read that combines the excitement of a sports romance with the sweetness of a baking show. It’s perfect for fans of steamy romance looking for a story with heart and humor.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Game Changer was super fun and fast paced. I recommend it for fans of steamy sports romances.

Oh my goodness I absolutely ate this book up!! If you know me you know that I’m not a hater of friends to lovers/brothers best friend/fake dating/childhood crush to lovers, I just typically do not go after them. But this book seriously changed my mind on these tropes.

Delilah and Ian have such a strong foundation going into this book, they grew up together and have a lifelong mutual respect. But when life happens and Ian has to move away for work (he’s an NHL player), they fall out of touch. But when Ian moves back home and is hit with previous bad PR and Delilah’s network baking show has tanking numbers, they come up with a system to help them both.

Let’s be real: we all know that fake dating never winds up being fake. But it was so cute seeing Ian come to all of these realizations about her.

And omg they are seriously so in love it has probably destroyed my standards forever. She is such a comfort for him even in his hardest times, and he views her in such a reverential way. They had 0 miscommunication and there was no threat of a third act breaks up which I cannot even bring to say how much I appreciate.

When the burn finally burns the spice is GOOOOOOOD too. Ian has ~quite~ the mouth on him and I was sat here blushing the whole time. All I’m gonna say is there’s a locker room shower scene that is insane.

If you’re looking for a book with a bit of a cheesy base but will make you happy and you won’t have to think about too much you should definitely read this!!

Thank you so much to Berkeley, PRH, Net Galley, and Lana for the ARC!! I’m so super grateful :)

Delilah has been pining for her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember. When he returns back to Boston to finish out his career in hockey with his family's team, all old feelings become new. Ian wants to fly under the gossip rag radar as much as possible, especially due to previous encounters with the paparazzi. When he guest stars on Delilah's baking show, the comments are through the roof. Will a little fake dating get them both the ratings and good press they deserve? Or will this spark set fire to something that can't be denied?

This was a lovely, fairly fluffy contemporary romance with big heart. Delilah and Ian are friends first, then something more. Filling in the romance with brother's best friend, some fake dating, and she falls first but he falls harder, it was really fun to read. Some of the beats of the plot felt a little predictable, but in a weirdly reassuring way.

This was a great, fun beach read. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and found them to be relatable and enjoyable.

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson is a brother's best friend slash teammate's little sister spicy romance that is simply irresistible!

Ian Chase has been away from Boston for far too long. Now, he's back to play for his beloved team, The Druids. He doesn't expect to fall for Delilah Baker, his best friend's little sister, and the girl he's always seen as a kid.

Delilah is known as the "the darling of baking." However, the ratings for her local cable show are dwindling, which results in a new idea forming: Have one of the hockey players from her brother's team come onto the show.

After a PR nightmare, Ian's team finds the perfect solution to help restore his image: Join forces with Delilah as a guest on her show. It's when they see each other that Delilah realizes her crush on Ian has never truly gone away, and Ian starts to notice that Delilah isn't so little anymore!

These two packed a strong punch on the tension and flirtation. Not only does the ratings for Delilah's show skyrocket with Ian involved, but rumors start to circulate that Ian and her are dating! *Cue the fake dating*

This book had me in all the feels! Delilah was perfect for Ian. She was always there to support him through everything! I loved the secondary characters as well and hope Jack gets his own book. I'm officially a Lana fan and can't wait to read her other books!

I think fans of short and quick hockey romances will be a fan of this book. For me I just never really connected to it unfortunately as the pacing was a little weird and I never really clicked with the characters.

I will say I never once expected to see a book with Twilight fanfic references and Daniel Radcliffe’s delicious….iykyk

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"I hate him," I grumble.
Ian chuckles softly. "No, you don't."
"No," I sigh. "I don't." I can't help but peck another kiss against his mouth. "Now, go on. You have a game to win."
"Sweetheart," he says, smiling against my mouth. "I already won."

This was a solid sports romance. I've really been enjoying Lana's books lately and this is another one I can add to my library 🩷

Both characters were great and I loved seeing both POVs, though I'm cooling a little bit on insta lust storylines, which this basically was. Not to mention there were several mentions to Lila's "obsession" with Ian as a kid, which was a little awkward imo.

There were parts of one of the main storylines that I didn't enjoy, and I really didn't enjoy how it all came to a head at the end, but this didn't have a a third act break-up which was AMAZING. Just another great example of a third act complication where the MC's stick together and communicate. Love to see it.

Would absolutely recommend for romance readers 💕

No surprise but I absolutely LOVED this dual POV, older brother's best friend, fake dating (turned real, REAL FAST), super STEAMY romance between a reality tv show baker and a pro hockey player in need of PR help. HOT and full of heart, this book delivered on both the steam and feels and I was 100% here for it all! It was also really great on audio narrated by Zachary Webber and Samantha Brentmoor. Highly recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey! Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for the early digital and complimentary ALC copies!

My God this book was hot! I really loved it. I liked the relationship between Lila and Ian and that it started in childhood. This is my first hockey romance and I'll definitely be reading more. I loved the banter between Lila and Ian. The baker show with both of them was cute too. It felt like that was all background to Lila and Ian's hot sex scenes though. Good times. Highly recommend this way open door romance.

Rating: 3.5/5
Steam: 3.5/5

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH for access to these advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Quick Thoughts: Ian is the swoony perfect book boyfriend, and Delilah is fun and sweet. This book was cute, with their friendship being the chef's kiss of the overall story. The steam was well done, although I wasn't completely blown away by the overall plot.

I enjoyed a good amount of this best friend's brother hockey romance, particularly how Delilah and Ian's relationship was built on a solid foundation of friendship. The scenes from the cooking show were especially sweet. While the first half of the book was strong, my enjoyment waned by the end. The nicknames, Delilah's childhood crush moments that went a bit too far, and some added family drama detracted from the couple's story. The family drama felt like unnecessary filler that didn't contribute to the couple's development.

Overall, it felt like the author was writing to current trends. The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't a standout novel either. I wanted to see more reasons why the main couple wanted to be together in the present day. They talked a lot about their past connection, but given that they hadn't been in touch for so long, I needed to know what they loved about each other now.

We'll see what Ferguson writes next, but I'm genuinely confused about the back-and-forth between contemporary and fantasy romance. I would love it if the author picked a lane for a bit.

This was a really entertaining brother's best friend romance. Every time I pick up a Lana Ferguson book, I know I'm in for some scorching hot times and The Game Changer definitely delivered!

Things to look forward to:
- brother's best friend
- sports and foodie romance
- fake dating
- slow burn
- forced proximity
- friends to lovers
- it's always been you
- all the pining
- off the charts melt your earbuds/kindle sexual chemistry
- sexy times outside the bedroom (*cough* locker room *cough*)
- found family
- hilarious and sweet bromance
- no third act breakup

I really appreciated that most of the drama in this one was external to our main couple. There were lots of clues leading up to the reveal, so it wasn't a big surprise, but I liked how it was ultimately handled by Ian and Delilah. I did think that they should have spoken to Jack a lot earlier about their relationship, but I can understand why they hesitated. The epilogue was very sweet and seeing these characters come full circle was very satisfying.

I loved the narration by Zachary Webber and Samantha Summers. Both were perfectly cast and I loved how "enthusiastic" their performances were, especially during those spicy scenes. I definitely recommend experiencing this one on audio if you have the chance.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: death of parents (past), grief, panic attack, parental infidelity, emotionally abusive parent, strained relationship with parent

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

3.5⭐️

A good hockey player x baker romance. This book has two of my favorite tropes brothers best friend and fake dating. The romance between the main characters was nice but I feel like they needed a little bit more chemistry. Overall a great read with no third act breakup.




Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!!

This should be a shock to no one, since I have loved all of her books, but I LOVED this book (and I've already reread it)! I love a sports romance and I love the brothers best friend trope - so naturally I was hyped for this one, and it really delivered! 
 
As always with Lana's books, I ate this bad boy UP!! Something about her writing voice really works for me - I get so invested in her stories so quickly and forget to move for hours. Her writing a sports romance with fake dating and the brother's best friend trope? Game over.  
 
Ian and Delilah were such fun and interesting leading characters. I adored their banter - they had me kicking my feet and giggling (and genuinely laughing out loud a few times). Their shift from friends to something more was filled with delicious tension and steam - getting this journey in dual POV was really fun and helped build that chemistry and tension. Also, I love a couple who grows together - and these two did just that.  
 
If you like your sports romances spicy, you should definitely pick up The Game Changer when it comes out next week. It's got Lana's signature spice, some lovely swoony moments, incredible banter, and the heart to match the heat.

I was excited to see Lana Ferguson delve into the sports romance genre. Delilah is a Baker at a local TV station with a dip in the ratings. Ian is a hockey player with a not-so-sparkly past. Together they devise a plan to boost each other's reputation. This PR stunt will either be a total game-changer—or leave them both totally pucked.

Like every other book I've read from Lana, this book is SPICY! You won't regret picking it up if you're looking for a little Smut. While this book is light and spicy, I felt like both characters had a substantial background that kept you rooting for them. Ian's father, who happens to own the team he plays on, runs a tight ship and not in a good way. Delilah and her brother who is also on the hockey team with Ian, grew up with their aunt after their parents passed. Ian's family particularly brought the drama with the side plot with the unraveling of Ian's family. It was dramatic and resolved so well.

The one thing I didn't love about this book is that Ian kept calling Delilah a brat. Especially like during foreplay. It was extremely overused and the term is a bit childish.

Read if you like a brother's best friend, fake dating, friends to lovers, sports romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 7/9

- fake dating
- brother's best friend
- hockey romance
- slow burn

This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. Don’t let this cute cartoon cover fool you, as I certainly did not expect the mouth on Ian ya’ll. I found the characters to be super lovable, I enjoyed their banter and their chemistry.
If you’re looking for a sweet, yet spicy faking dating, brother’s best friend I recommend checking this one out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for the eARC

Ian Chase's public divorce jeopardizes his hockey career, but teaming up with Delilah Baker, his best friend's little sister and baking show host, offers a solution. As their fake relationship helps both their careers, the lines between what’s for the show and real feelings starts to blur.

Lana Ferguson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors! Her ability to craft compelling stories across various romance tropes never ceases to amaze me and I was thrilled to dive into a hockey and baker romance with The Game Changer. The chemistry between Delilah and Ian was both sweet and spicy, making their connection irresistibly engaging. Their banter was on fire, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to their blossoming romance. What stood out to me was Ian's character development throughout the story, which added depth and authenticity to the narrative. The dual perspectives from Delilah and Ian kept me thoroughly engaged, allowing me to connect with both characters on a deeper level. The quirky side characters, especially Delilah's older brother and Ian's best friend, Jack, brought additional charm to the story. Jack's dynamic presence has me hoping for his own love story in a future book. The Game Changer is now my all-time favorite book from Lana Ferguson to date. Highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. With the release date approaching it was time for a review. I absolutely adored this book. You can’t go wrong with a hockey romance involving a Baker and her brother’s hot best friend. It was such a fun read that tugged at my heartstrings towards the end! While I was able to predict the “scandal” surrounding Ian, the way it all came about was a shock. Lana Ferguson knows how to make a romance novel gripping from the first few pages. I’m giving this one a solid 4.5 stars. The spice though? 5 stars!!