Only on Gameday by Kristen Callihan: My Book Review

Check out my book review of Only on Gameday by Kristen Callihan to see what I think of her latest release in her Game On series.

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Only On Game Day Summary:

August Luck, known to fans as “Luck”, is on the brink of greatness: top draft pick, tons of money heading his way, talent galore, but he keeps messing it up with bonehead moves and looking out of control in public. Problem is, he can’t get out of his own way. To clean up his image and calm him down, his agent decides Luck needs a temporary ‘wife’.

Penelope Marrow, the girl next-door he’s known since they were kids, is the safe option. Pen is the only person who’s ever put him in his place, and she disapproves of him, so there’s no chance she’ll cling. He didn’t count on wanting her to stay. Question is, will she play ball? Just the idea turns his knees to jello.

Only on Game Day: My Review

It was so exciting to see that Kristen Callihan was returning to sports romance with this new book in her Game On series. I loved every book prior to Only on Gameday, so I was all in for this fake relationship, football romance.

If you are a fan of fake relationship romance books, this is a romance for you and the best part of this love story. I’m a sucker for romance books where a star athlete decides that he needs a fake fiancé to clean up his image which is the exact idea that enters August’s head when he opens the door to his family home and sees Penelope – the girl he grew up with but always kept at a distance.

Their slow burn romance was sweet and enjoyable to read however, I wish Callihan gave us either more history or more moments in the present where they were actually together to build a believable love story. What we learn about August, his “acting out” seems so out of character and just seemed to disappear after that beginning chapter.

While I liked the fake fiancé storyline this book had a very slow start. The beginning was bogged down with a slow build up to their agreement to pretend to be engagement and with random side events such as Penelope’s weird roommate and her frog and random events on Penelope’s college campus. It was hard to really get a handle on Penelope’s character too. She loved to quote movies but what was she really doing with her life? I was confused.

I think all the elements for a good romance where there but it didn’t quite all come together seamlessly like I expect in a Kristen Callihan book.

This book does however have me itching for August brothers’ stories as their character development was strong and already has me clamoring for March and January’s stories.

Because this book feels like it’s launching the Luck family series and doesn’t tie in with the previous Game On series, I am curious to know why it is considered part of this series and not just its own new one. I was disappointed that there wasn’t really any connection besides the football angle (at least that I could tell or remember) but that is on me thinking that there would be.

Overall it was a cute story. Not one I’ll likely remember other than to look forward to March and January’s books.

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Related Book Lists:

• Best Football Romance Books
• Best Friends to Lovers Romance Books
• Best Fake Relationship Romance Books

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