Firstly, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my first Jax Calder book, and I’m def going to go check out the rest of her catalog.

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. What I thought was going to a fun light enemies to lovers was a funny, full of heart, emotional journey.

Andrew- a tech billionaire who, after selling his company, takes a trip to London to figure out what he wants to do next

Justin-always the golden boy-has moved to London to make a change in his life. He is struggling to come to terms with his real self and is finally ready to let his mask down.

Justin and Andrew went to high school together and Justin (not his main bully) was part of the group that made Andrew’s life hell for being a gay nerdy kid. Andrew comes across Justin in a London pub and, much to his chagrin, Justin doesn’t remember him. It’s at this point Andrew decides he wants revenge. He basically infiltrates Justin’s life. Moves into his building on his floor, and gets a job at his work. Andrew starts by messing with his computer to spazz out during client meeting, The problem is that Justin takes a liking to “Drew” and they start spending more time together.

Justin’s struggle with internalizing homophobia, which was beaten into him by his stepdad, was heartbreaking. His mom, who split with his stepdad 5 years ago, has become his internal dialogue.

I loved this book and honestly wished it was a little longer. These two need to find each other again in order to heal their past selves and learn the lesson that you never know what someone is going to and to never assume. Ultimately, this book was about forgiveness, learning to let go and find peace within yourself.

Can’t wait for Leo’s book

If you’re looking for a fast-paced cheesy, funny, sexy romance to devour in one sitting, I highly recommend The Revenge Game to scratch that itch!

The Revenge Game follows Andrew’s plot to get revenge on his former high school bully when they unexpectedly cross paths 10 years later, but things don’t quite go to plan! Told in asymmetrical alternating POVs, Jax Calder weaves a heartwarming romance full of some of my favorite tropes: Enemies to Lovers and Miscommunication. Andrew and Justin were likable leads, and although most of the decisions Andrew made throughout the story frustrated me, Calder gave her characters enough depth that I could understand WHY he kept making the decisions he did. Their relationship felt natural, and I loved seeing how they brought out the best in each other and allowed themselves to open up in ways they never had before. I was completely invested in their love story, and the anxiety I felt leading up to the big reveal of Andrew’s plan had my heart racing! I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series - and checking out some more of Jax Calder’s books!

The Revenge Game by Jax Calder is a heart warming, enemies-to-lovers tale following tech genius Andrew Yates as he unexpectedly crosses paths with his high school bully Justin. This story was both heartwarming and heart breaking at times, but ultimately an enjoyable read highlighting the importance of forgiveness. Definitely recommend! Thank you to the author, Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Revenge Game
Despite being a tech billionaire Andrew has never shaken off his past of being bullied badly at school for being gay and a skinny nerd. Now living in London he is shocked to see his nemesis Justin from his schooldays in Texas in a London pub, thinking about confronting him he is shocked when Justin walks straight past him with no recognition whatsoever. Andrew then starts plotting his revenge plan.
Incognito as ‘Drew’ he joins the I T department of the company Justin works for and starts doing a lot of damage to his computer causing Justin many problems at presentations etc. Justin asks for Drew’s help and slowly Drew realises Justin has changed greatly and is now a popular friendly man that goes out of his way to help people.
There are great characters in this book with sparkling very humorous dialogue and some laugh out loud moments. The descriptions of what some Americans think of the British is spot on and very funny.
There is also a depth and a message in this book, it deals extremely well with how the person being bullied can be impacted by it for the rest of his/her life but also delves into what can be a root cause of this especially toxic masculinity which can influence young children and teenagers into thinking being dominant and controlling is normal.
Above all this is a lovely romance and the relationship between these two main characters is beautiful, a really great read.
My thanks to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly

I thought I was getting a cute little enemies to lovers romance and what I actually got was a romance novel that explored how our experiences shape us and how we see the world, talk about emotional damage!! I also got witty banter, cats plotting to take over the world, and a very cute proposal. To say this novel was way more than expected is to limit how poignant it was. I loved the exploration of how our emotional experiences and baggage can impact us in the present. I absolutely loved the tearing down of walls and how these characters actually learned how to be themselves with each other.


Okay, so what starts as maybe an overzealous revenge plot ended up being so much more. Andrew (Drew) runs into his high school enemy, and the revenge he wants gets waylaid when Justin doesn't even recognize him. Feeling even more jilted Andrew cooks up an elaborate plan for revenge. It doesn't quite go as planned.


I really enjoyed this, if you love romance novels that dive into harder subjects while still remaining light I would recommend this! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jax Calder has done it again! I am in love with these characters and their story had me crying in the club 🥹 I just love Andrew and Justin so much. They are the perfect opposites and I love the way the whole revenge plan was laid out and then thrown aside because dammit he’s actually the love of his life!? chills. The ending was perfection and I just could not put this one down. I can’t wait to read the next one about Leo- just give me moreeeee

The Revenge Game is a light, easy read that leans heavily on familiar rom-com tropes without bringing much new to the table. The story of a former high school outcast plotting revenge on his old bully-turned-closeted coworker has its fun moments, but it mostly follows a predictable path. The characters are likable enough, and there are a few laughs, but nothing really stands out or surprises. It’s the kind of book you enjoy in the moment, then move on from quickly — not bad, just nothing memorable.

Prefacing this review by saying I’m usually not a use fan of the “falling in love with your high school bully” trope but I decided to give this one a try and I’m really glad I did! Sometimes you do judge a book by its cover and this one was adorable.

Andrew/Drew and Justin have a lot of history- and not the good kind. Justin was part of a group of boys that relentlessly bullied Drew in a high school in Texas. Fast forward to adulthood in London and these two meet again…except Justin has no idea who Drew is. What starts out as a revenge plan to get back at his high school bully turns into a lot of laughs, some really sweet, emotional, and heartfelt moments, drama (of course), trauma, and a whole lot of growing up and healing.

My main con for this book is it was slightly too long- I think if you took out 1/5 of it and left the rest, it would have been much better, as sometimes it dragged for a bit and it took me a much longer time to finish than usual because of how long it was.

That being said, this was my first Jax Calder book but it won’t be my last! Can’t wait to read the next in the series, as the ending set it up perfectly.

Another fun and entertaining book from Jax, who has become an author I rely on for a good time. In The Revenge Game, Andrew, a multimillionaire tech genius, sees his high school bully Justin in a pub, halfway across the world from home. Justin has the audacity to not recognize Andrew, who then makes the very unhinged decision to get his revenge by infiltrating Justin's life to humiliate him and wreak havoc. Obviously things do not go as planned.

While Andrew certainly made some wild decisions, he is still very lovable. He's a very three-dimensional character, and you really come to understand why he made the choices he did, even if some were, uh, misguided. Justin, despite being a bully all through high school, is actually very kind and friendly.

Spoiler-Free Highlights:
-Tabitha the tabby cat (my niece is named Tabitha and we call her Tabby and Tabby Cat)
-All of the Texas references
-Sexy trolls
-Inadvertently tricking your coworker into dressing better

Man, this warmed my nerdy little heart. The relationship building was top tier, even if I was angry at Andrew at multiple points. I think that’s the proof of really great writing, though, when you have an actual emotional response to it.
I loved the quick little sighting of Callum and Oliver, though part of me wishes there was interaction with them, but they are my favorite Jax Calder couple. Great, now I need to go read the unlikely heir, again.
I can’t wait for Leo’s book. The hints towards his story have me intrigued

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️Random notes from my read: CAN BE CONSIDERED SPOILERY⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️


* Hell of a revenge plan
* Violence via fermented grapes lol
* This is some dedication…
* Typical case of internal homophobia
* Okay, but I have a sick desire to see these troll pics. They sound hilarious
* I thought he said he didn’t want to actually hurt Justin? He’s going to get him fired
* Evil genius laugh lol
* Why no milk in earl grey?
* lol bowl crimes. Want to meet Jax Calder in person
* Callum and Oliver!!
* Collectively owned fork. I need to be Jax’s friend
* Wait wait wait. Now you’re going to use sex as revenge? That’s gross
* God, I feel terrible for Justin. This is going to hurt
* Real men don’t eat chicken sandwiches?
* Xander coming in trying to help and just making things so much worse
* Also, suck it Adam
* Cutest proposal of all time


Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was all for the revenge plan, could totally see where Andrew was coming from and was cheering him on from the sidelines... until walls started to come down and secrets started to be shared and, as usual, things weren't quite what they seemed to be. My heart broke for both Andrew and Justin, for the unfairness of life and the difficulties it brought them... but also the love. This book was so good, so heartrending and yet heart healing. I absolutely cannot wait for the next in the series!!

Jax Calder is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. When I finished Calder's book "The Unlikely Pair," I immediately went back to the beginning to read it again. This book follows a tech millionaire and the guy who used to relentlessly bully him in high school. What I loved: the character growth, the slow development of the relationship and the PINING (something that Calder does so well). I didn't like the number of deceptions involved and how long they went on for. It really stressed me out and gave me a feeling of dread so unnecessary in a romance novel. Nevertheless, I still read this book in one day a reread the final chapters immediately. I will continue to inhale all of this author's books even though this one was not my number one pick. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through NetGalley.

<b>I thought I was getting a fun enemies-to-lovers story. Instead, I got emotional damage, cat conspiracy theories, and two boys learning how to heal. It’s tender, messy, and full of heart - and I loved it.</b>

In her latest newsletter, the author shared that she wrote this book while parenting her child through school bullying - something that also resurfaced her own experiences with it. And honestly, that care, that depth? It shows. The way bullying was portrayed here was sensitive but unflinching; heartbreaking without being dramatised, raw without being hopeless. What Andrew went through is shown with the gravity it deserves, and the long-term consequences aren’t glossed over either. I really appreciated that.

What stood out just as much, though, was how Justin was written. Yes, he has a past. Yes, he hurt someone. But this story doesn’t just write him off, but explores his shame, his regret, and his drive to be better and do better. It explains what he did, without ever excusing it. And that nuance was very well done indeed.

And to be fair, Andrew’s revenge plan wasn’t exactly innocent either, so that helped keep the emotional scales from tipping too far in one direction 😅

Their reluctant friendship-turned-something-more was so <i>beautifully</i> done: slow, tender, and so emotionally charged. The shy crushing, the lingering glances, those first hesitant touches as well as their sexual exploration made me feel all the tingles 🥰

Also: there were two awesome cats. I’m a simple woman. Give me emotionally complex boys and some quality feline content, and I’m yours. 😻

That said, it did drag a little in the middle, and it got uncomfortable watching Drew keep the lie going for as long as he did. When the reveal finally came, <b>it hurt</b>. I genuinely wouldn’t have blamed Justin if he hadn’t been able to forgive the deception. But <b>THANK GOD</b> he did because these two are just perfect for each other.

All in all, the book struck a really lovely balance between emotional depth and humour - the witty banter in this was so good - and that epilogue was everything. Can’t wait to see what Leo’s story is gonna be in the next book of the series ☺️


<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this lovely ARC!</i>

Absolutely loved this book! I have a tendency to love Jax Calder's books, and this one was wonderful. The main character, Andrew, was a tech genius and sold his business for a lot of money. He was aimlessly wandering in London, figuring out his next steps, when he unexpectedly ran into his high school bully, Justin, at the pub.  But Justin didn’t recognize him so Andrew decided to plot a revenge game to get back at him for those hellish years. What I loved was how when Justin found his work email acting up with troll porn, the new IT Andrew was a lifesaver in fixing the problem. Despite the past, he couldn't turn his back on Justin.  Justin was a great guy as well.  He had suffered from emotional abuse from his stepdad and hid a huge part of himself. I loved how they got to know each other in small and big ways through spending time with each other.  They formed a close relationship that turned to love. I loved them together. I definitely cheered for them. I loved the location of London and the charming landmarks added a wonderful element to the love story.  I enjoyed the hilarious side characters. Xander was my favorite! I really want the story of Leo. The crumbs of his story were fascinating. The ending was perfect! Overall, it was a lovely, fun, and sweet book! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this story! Both main characters were incredibly well developed, and I loved watching their relationship evolve. The emotional depth was strong, especially with the glimpses into their pasts, which made their journey even more compelling.

The hidden history between them added a great layer of tension, and I appreciated how it unraveled gradually. While the story starts with a hint of revenge, it quickly becomes something much more heartfelt and character-driven.

The writing was smooth and engaging, and I was fully invested from beginning to end. A lovely, emotional read with great character development. I’d definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jax Calder for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.75*
I recently finished "The Revenge Game" by Jax Calder, an enemies to lovers slow-burn romance featuring the classic jock-versus-nerd dynamic, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it took me on. Spanning over 400 pages, the novel was surprisingly digestible—so engaging and effortlessly readable that the pages practically turned themselves. Despite its length, it never felt overwhelming or drawn out. I finished it in just two sittings!

That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. While the story had charm and heart, and the character development was both thoughtful and rewarding, the narrative felt a little too smooth, almost overly convenient. The conflict lacked a certain emotional depth or intensity that I tend to gravitate toward—perhaps I was craving more angst or tension, the kind of raw emotional stakes I'm accustomed to in grittier romances.

Nonetheless, I appreciated the overall arc and the evolution of the relationship at the story’s core. It was well-crafted, if somewhat predictable, and the author’s voice was compelling enough that I’d happily read more of their work. Jax Calder has a gift for creating likable characters and heartfelt connections, and I’m curious to see how her storytelling continues to develop in future novels as well as the rest of this new series. I still think my favorite book of Calder's is "Playing For Keeps" though.

I received an ARC on NetGalley to write an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and was really surprised by it. I had never read anything by the author before, and now I feel the need to read all of her works.

This book is a RomCom with the perfect vibes of a 2000s movie. If you enjoyed "Boyfriend Material" by Alexis Hall, this book is perfect for you.

Andrew was bullied in high school, and now that he is a multimillionaire, he decides to take revenge on the guy who made his life miserable at school: Justin.

But what will happen when revenge turns into friendship and maybe something more?

An addictive plot
Easy to read
A unique sense of humor
A sweet romance.

¡

Based on the title alone, I was hooked. I mean, who doesn’t love a good revenge plot? And boy oh boy was this such a fun read with a decent amount of depth mixed in. Themes like accepting the person you were as part of the journey to the person you are and teenage bullying and anxiety coupled with a side of technological warfare and you have the formula for a pretty good read.

And Jax Calder delivered. I think the main thing I would’ve liked to see more of, though, were the revenge pranks. They happen pretty quickly at the beginning, but they don’t seem to have that much of an effect on Justin. Plus, the pacing in the middle lagged a bit, with Drew constantly vacillating between knowing he should tell Justin the truth and not wanting to ruin the relationship they were building. Yet the emotional payoff of the truth finally coming to light still packed a punch, and the ending was just the cherry on top.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Another great book by Jax Calder.
A book about 2 guys who knew each other from high school, one a bully and one a victim. It was great to see how Andrew came up with all the revenge plans. It confused me first how Justin didn't remember who Drew was but it's all explained and it makes so much sense. It's how 2 people deal with their past, Drew after surviving all that bullying and Justin to finally being able to be himself. I thought it was a great love story and the 2 cats are amazing side characters.
Overall a book I just couldn't put down.
5 stars

AMAZING. Was laugh out loud funny and so whitty. I was giggling and kicking my feet this entire book. A perfect read to get yourself out of any funk!