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Only on Gameday
Not yet published
Expected 6 Jan 26An all-new GAME ON sports romance from BookTok sensation and
New York Times
bestselling author Kristen Callihan with high emotional stakes and a slow-burn, steamy heat level.
A ‘fake’ wife is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image and let his career take off. Trouble is, there’s nothing ‘fake’ about the way August feels about his pretend wife. Game on .
August Luck, known to fans as “Luck,” is on the brink of 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.
Game on...
The GAME ON series by Kristen
Book 1: The Hook Up Book 2: The Friend Zone Book 3: The Game Plan Book 4: The Hot Shot Book 5: Only on Gameday
A ‘fake’ wife is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image and let his career take off. Trouble is, there’s nothing ‘fake’ about the way August feels about his pretend wife. Game on .
August Luck, known to fans as “Luck,” is on the brink of 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.
Game on...
The GAME ON series by Kristen
Book 1: The Hook Up Book 2: The Friend Zone Book 3: The Game Plan Book 4: The Hot Shot Book 5: Only on Gameday
Audible Audio
Expected publication January 6, 2026
52 people are currently reading
11185 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Callihan
29 books14k followersKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
November 30, 2025
I will probably always read Kristen Callihan. Her books always make me feel light and bubbly, I like her characters - the whole ensemble.
Here, heavy effort was put into May and June, but they don't feel super distinct. Nor does March. I liked their interplay but there's not much in the way of flaws or developing the characters. They give a bit of context and a bit of a character rough -in for the principals but for so much page space I felt it could be better fleshed out.
Which brings me to the leads. Penelope, the reserved heroine, and August the seemingly-starchy but not. There's a comfort in callihans humor and the good nature of her leads, but they really felt a little too drawn for each other here. And at the end, that's exactly so.
I did read it non-stop and it was comforting. It didn't rise to the heights of my favorite Callihan new adult/sports romances, but that may be because they are great for me in the context they were in. This feels a little stuck in that place-while having a lot of content but being a bit underdeveloped. If you're a Callihan fan, pick it up. This novel is more satisfying and engaging than many sports romances.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC which did not affect my review.
Here, heavy effort was put into May and June, but they don't feel super distinct. Nor does March. I liked their interplay but there's not much in the way of flaws or developing the characters. They give a bit of context and a bit of a character rough -in for the principals but for so much page space I felt it could be better fleshed out.
Which brings me to the leads. Penelope, the reserved heroine, and August the seemingly-starchy but not. There's a comfort in callihans humor and the good nature of her leads, but they really felt a little too drawn for each other here. And at the end, that's exactly so.
I did read it non-stop and it was comforting. It didn't rise to the heights of my favorite Callihan new adult/sports romances, but that may be because they are great for me in the context they were in. This feels a little stuck in that place-while having a lot of content but being a bit underdeveloped. If you're a Callihan fan, pick it up. This novel is more satisfying and engaging than many sports romances.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC which did not affect my review.
October 1, 2025
2/5 Stars
Penelope goes home with the intention of visiting her childhood friends. She wasn’t counting on their older brother, August, being home. After an embarrassing video of August goes viral, he’s asked to clean up his act. August comes up with the bright idea of proposing to Penelope because there is nothing more real than a fake engagement.
Only on Gameday is a fake dating book. I found this book juvenile for my personal taste, with its countless nicknames for each character and long text threads throughout.
Several characters are full of charisma, and I think there was too many to create well rounded relationships with all of them. The pacing was steady, yet it went nowhere and everywhere all at once. I felt there was no defining climax. It made the book feel like there were chapters missing. The Luck family is great and full of life. I’m wishing the best for their stories if those are to come!
A warm thanks to Kristen Callihan, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!
Penelope goes home with the intention of visiting her childhood friends. She wasn’t counting on their older brother, August, being home. After an embarrassing video of August goes viral, he’s asked to clean up his act. August comes up with the bright idea of proposing to Penelope because there is nothing more real than a fake engagement.
Only on Gameday is a fake dating book. I found this book juvenile for my personal taste, with its countless nicknames for each character and long text threads throughout.
Several characters are full of charisma, and I think there was too many to create well rounded relationships with all of them. The pacing was steady, yet it went nowhere and everywhere all at once. I felt there was no defining climax. It made the book feel like there were chapters missing. The Luck family is great and full of life. I’m wishing the best for their stories if those are to come!
A warm thanks to Kristen Callihan, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!
December 6, 2025
I don’t know why this isn’t the start of a new series. It has no connection, and so much time has passed, to the previous books and spends a lot of time setting up an entirely new cast of characters. It’s an odd choice. (UPDATE: The book has now been removed from it’s listing as Book #5 in the Game Day series)
There’s a lot going on and it doesn’t have a good flow. A little bit of everything just thrown in and mixed about. I craved more focus and a solid build. There were many times throughout where I feel like a previous book or backstory were missed.
The constant “he’s finally paying attention to me! But that doesn’t mean he likes me. He’s flirting with me! But obviously he doesn’t mean it. He’s stating his attraction to me! But that’s not real.” was sooooo tiring.
The sandwich. A freaking sandwich! I will not give spoilers… but I’ll just say this was the moment the book hit two stars ‘cause I was laughing so much at the absurdity. I cannot.
Listen, I LOVE Callihan’s novels. Her VIP series is one of my faves and I’ve reread the earlier football books numerous times. But I don’t know what happened here. This was not it.
* I received a free early copy from the publisher.
There’s a lot going on and it doesn’t have a good flow. A little bit of everything just thrown in and mixed about. I craved more focus and a solid build. There were many times throughout where I feel like a previous book or backstory were missed.
The constant “he’s finally paying attention to me! But that doesn’t mean he likes me. He’s flirting with me! But obviously he doesn’t mean it. He’s stating his attraction to me! But that’s not real.” was sooooo tiring.
The sandwich. A freaking sandwich! I will not give spoilers… but I’ll just say this was the moment the book hit two stars ‘cause I was laughing so much at the absurdity. I cannot.
Listen, I LOVE Callihan’s novels. Her VIP series is one of my faves and I’ve reread the earlier football books numerous times. But I don’t know what happened here. This was not it.
* I received a free early copy from the publisher.
December 13, 2025
While I am delighted to see Kristen Callihan back with a brand new book (it's been several years since her last book), I did not expect to read two books this year with the niche trope of a football player secretly in love with his childhood friend and asking said friend to pretend to be his fiancée in order to rehab his reputation and public image, but here we are.
I wanted to like this book, in fact, I wanted to love it. But the fact that it took me 5 days to finish this book is never good sign. For a lot of this book, I was bored. I discovered Kristen Callihan 15 years ago when I discovered New Adult romances. I read a lot of sports romances in that time featuring characters still in or fresh out of college, in their early 20s. However, it's not particularly a subgenre I enjoy as much anymore and these characters (he's a 23 y.o. NFL rookie, she's 22 and still in college) read as very, VERY young to me.
Secondly, he does something wholly out of character at the very beginning of this book but the book really doesn't delve very deeply into why he acts so completely out of character except for a quick throwaway line towards the last quarter of the book. There are signs of anxiety and the pressure to perform at a high level getting to him which would be great emotional avenue to explore, and this author has done remarkable work in the past exploring mental health issues in her books so I'm entirely unsure why she did not delve a little deeper in this book. A lot of this book dragged in some places but also felt like a first draft that needed more depth in others, which is frankly uncharacteristic for her.
Then August asks Penelope to be his fake fiancée to rehab his image and yet, neither one of these ding dongs remember to tell their family that they're engaged and that it's fake before August announces his engagement live on the air in a press conference. So obviously, his siblings, May and June show up and his other siblings March and January are like "WTF?!?" as is her mom who thankfully is not named for a month. When May and June show up, they immediately assume that Penelope, a woman they have known all their lives since both their moms are besties, is only after August for his money. That felt really offensive to me.
Penelope, who has her own issues with a father who abandoned her and left her mom for the nanny, has inherited a home from her late grandparents that is worth a lot of money. Except, to keep the house, she must pay the property taxes which are well beyond her means. But she’s adamant that she won’t accept August’s financial help. Penelope also spends much of this book wondering how a guy like August could be possibly interested in her, a young beautiful woman and this incessant “I’m just a nobody” mentality gets really old and tired real fast.
These two encapsulate the idiots in love trope in that they have both been in love with each other for years and have treated the other like they don’t even like each other. And that is really the crux of the whole story, that these two have secretly been pining for the other. And when that reveal happens at the very end, it almost feels anticlimactic.
The sex scenes are hot, in typical Kristen Callihan fashion (lots of good girls, etc.) but there’s this reveal of Penelope being a virgin who has never even been kissed until she and August have their first fake kiss for appearances sake because she couldn’t even imagine being with anyone other than August. (August however is not a virgin, shocking absolutely no one).
The other thing that really bothered me about Penelope’s character development is that she has no other friends outside of August’s family. Even the one other friend she makes in this book is due to August (his teammate’s movie star girlfriend). She’s not particularly close to her roommate who eventually kicks her out. She’s labeled shy and has spent almost 4 years in college and has not managed to cultivate even one single friendship in that time? But she loves entertaining and cooking for people and none of this really adds up for me.
My final thought – why is this part of the Game On series and not just kicking off a brand-new series? I’m assuming (though I could be wrong) that the rest of the Luck siblings will also get books (I am invested in January’s story and was hoping for a second chance romance for him with his ex-fiancée, but that hope has been eradicated for REASONS).
Anyway, I have ranted long enough about this book.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content notes: toxic father, car accident with side character off page in the past, anxiety related to professional pressures; FMC gets physically attacked and her motorcycle is destroyed
I wanted to like this book, in fact, I wanted to love it. But the fact that it took me 5 days to finish this book is never good sign. For a lot of this book, I was bored. I discovered Kristen Callihan 15 years ago when I discovered New Adult romances. I read a lot of sports romances in that time featuring characters still in or fresh out of college, in their early 20s. However, it's not particularly a subgenre I enjoy as much anymore and these characters (he's a 23 y.o. NFL rookie, she's 22 and still in college) read as very, VERY young to me.
Secondly, he does something wholly out of character at the very beginning of this book but the book really doesn't delve very deeply into why he acts so completely out of character except for a quick throwaway line towards the last quarter of the book. There are signs of anxiety and the pressure to perform at a high level getting to him which would be great emotional avenue to explore, and this author has done remarkable work in the past exploring mental health issues in her books so I'm entirely unsure why she did not delve a little deeper in this book. A lot of this book dragged in some places but also felt like a first draft that needed more depth in others, which is frankly uncharacteristic for her.
Then August asks Penelope to be his fake fiancée to rehab his image and yet, neither one of these ding dongs remember to tell their family that they're engaged and that it's fake before August announces his engagement live on the air in a press conference. So obviously, his siblings, May and June show up and his other siblings March and January are like "WTF?!?" as is her mom who thankfully is not named for a month. When May and June show up, they immediately assume that Penelope, a woman they have known all their lives since both their moms are besties, is only after August for his money. That felt really offensive to me.
Penelope, who has her own issues with a father who abandoned her and left her mom for the nanny, has inherited a home from her late grandparents that is worth a lot of money. Except, to keep the house, she must pay the property taxes which are well beyond her means. But she’s adamant that she won’t accept August’s financial help. Penelope also spends much of this book wondering how a guy like August could be possibly interested in her, a young beautiful woman and this incessant “I’m just a nobody” mentality gets really old and tired real fast.
These two encapsulate the idiots in love trope in that they have both been in love with each other for years and have treated the other like they don’t even like each other. And that is really the crux of the whole story, that these two have secretly been pining for the other. And when that reveal happens at the very end, it almost feels anticlimactic.
The sex scenes are hot, in typical Kristen Callihan fashion (lots of good girls, etc.) but there’s this reveal of Penelope being a virgin who has never even been kissed until she and August have their first fake kiss for appearances sake because she couldn’t even imagine being with anyone other than August. (August however is not a virgin, shocking absolutely no one).
The other thing that really bothered me about Penelope’s character development is that she has no other friends outside of August’s family. Even the one other friend she makes in this book is due to August (his teammate’s movie star girlfriend). She’s not particularly close to her roommate who eventually kicks her out. She’s labeled shy and has spent almost 4 years in college and has not managed to cultivate even one single friendship in that time? But she loves entertaining and cooking for people and none of this really adds up for me.
My final thought – why is this part of the Game On series and not just kicking off a brand-new series? I’m assuming (though I could be wrong) that the rest of the Luck siblings will also get books (I am invested in January’s story and was hoping for a second chance romance for him with his ex-fiancée, but that hope has been eradicated for REASONS).
Anyway, I have ranted long enough about this book.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content notes: toxic father, car accident with side character off page in the past, anxiety related to professional pressures; FMC gets physically attacked and her motorcycle is destroyed
December 6, 2025
4.5⭐️ RTC
Dual narration
Dual narration
October 20, 2025
As a person who has been reading ARCs for a while now, I know that books don't dramatically change from ARC to final, most of the time. And typically, that's a good thing. But I really hope there's another round of edits for Only on Gameday because while there are some really great moments and signs of this being a Callihan novel, this also contains one of the most disjointed romances I've read in a while. The motivations are simply not there in this childhood friends to lovers romance to make this book make sense.
The book opens with August having an out of body type of experience where he is acting out in a way that is really not great at a celebration. He's, I think, ashamed of himself and his actions and so when we meet him again, he's at him childhood home. His reasons for acting out are... somewhat explored, but not in a way that was very satisfying in terms of character development. And so, August, on a cross-country flight, proposes to his childhood friend that she marry hm to help clean up his image. He's careful though to tell her that he will never fall in love with her because football is his wife.
And at the beginning of this book, I'm fully invested. I love a childhood friends to lovers and it's clear that Penelope has had feelings for August for a long time. The problem arises when the romance building blocks don't line up. It's like you're stacking kid sized legos at the beginning and then you keep trying to jam an adult size microscopic piece on. It just didn't follow for me. But again, I could see all of the pieces! It's so close to being a great book! And instead, I gave it a three and I think that might be too generous.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
The book opens with August having an out of body type of experience where he is acting out in a way that is really not great at a celebration. He's, I think, ashamed of himself and his actions and so when we meet him again, he's at him childhood home. His reasons for acting out are... somewhat explored, but not in a way that was very satisfying in terms of character development. And so, August, on a cross-country flight, proposes to his childhood friend that she marry hm to help clean up his image. He's careful though to tell her that he will never fall in love with her because football is his wife.
And at the beginning of this book, I'm fully invested. I love a childhood friends to lovers and it's clear that Penelope has had feelings for August for a long time. The problem arises when the romance building blocks don't line up. It's like you're stacking kid sized legos at the beginning and then you keep trying to jam an adult size microscopic piece on. It just didn't follow for me. But again, I could see all of the pieces! It's so close to being a great book! And instead, I gave it a three and I think that might be too generous.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Want to read
December 9, 2025SO WE GOT THE DATESSSS????!!!!
AM I SCREAMING JUST LIKE MY BOLD TEXT!!??
YESSS ABSOLUTELY!
NOW DON'T BREAK MY HEART! BE GOOD YOU BOOK!
WHEN ARE WE GETTING THIS??? I NEED DATE!!!
AM I SCREAMING JUST LIKE MY BOLD TEXT!!??
YESSS ABSOLUTELY!
NOW DON'T BREAK MY HEART! BE GOOD YOU BOOK!
WHEN ARE WE GETTING THIS??? I NEED DATE!!!
November 18, 2025
I was so excited to see there was a new book in the Game On series! This felt more like a spinoff into a new series about August and his family than something connected to Game On. Regardless, I enjoyed it. That said, it's far from Callihan's best work.
When August proposes a fake engagement to burnish his public image in exchange for money Pen can use to pay the property taxes on the home she inherited from her grandparents, she's not expecting it, nor is anyone else. It's a good set up but not quite punchy enough to keep the middle from dragging. The plot and the character arcs were all over the place. August and Pen's mothers are best friends so they've basically grown up together. But since they also secretly liked each other, they avoided each other and made each other think they didn't like them. For years! No one in their respective families ever suspected there could be something more. All that did was made me wonder whether there really was something more.
My biggest issue was the disjointed characterization. August's chicken dance, which was the impetus for him getting in trouble with the team and needing to clean up his act, is not really explained or explored. In fact, it was such an aberration for his character that it doesn't make sense that it happened in the first place or that it would cause that much trouble. Pen is shy but it doesn't explain how or why she has no friends outside of the Luck family. And then at the same time, she's somehow able to spontaneously cook for a crowd and host a party. She's only 22! I don't care if her Italian grandmother taught her how to cook every summer. Most people that age wouldn't be able to do that and even less so if they isolate themselves the way Pen does. These may seem like small issues but they're examples of how August and Pen didn't add up, which therefore made their emotional arcs less resonant.
Despite this, it was a fine enough read until This was a BS choice and it almost made me dock another star.
If this is indeed a launch pad for a series about August's siblings, I'll be more than interested, with the hope that Callihan will be back in rare form. Fingers crossed for January's story first.
Note: When Pen is rationalizing why she wants to spontaneously have August's team over for dinner, she says, "I'm Italian." Her new friend commiserates, "I'm Hispanic." This is a woman in her 20s or possibly early 30s. If she said, "I'm Latina," I still would have thought it was an odd choice but it wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much. They're both pan-ethnic terms but Latinx is much more common these days. But my issue is really why would someone respond to a specific ethnicity by giving their pan-ethnic identity? It would be like Pen saying she was European instead of Italian. We don't know much about this new friend beyond her being a famous actress with an ethnic-sounding last name. This would have been an easy opportunity to flesh out her backstory. Is it a dealbreaker? No. But it did make me question why Callihan decided to include someone who is potentially a POC and then flub the representation so easily.
Characters: Penelope is a 22 year old white college senior, film history major, and virgin. August is a 23 year old white rookie starting quarterback in the NFL. This is set in LA and Boston.
Content notes: anxiety, physical assault, vandalism, sexism, fatphobia, athlete and actor diets, diet culture, FMC is estranged from her father, past parental abandonment, past parental divorce (FMC's father cheated with her nanny), past death of grandparents, past career-ending injury (MMC's brother was a passenger in a car hit by a drunk driver), secondary character's former coach/father figure is dying, past death of secondary character's parents, past infidelity (secondary character), on page sex, pool sex, alcohol, inebriation, hangover (secondary character), casual acephobia, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, reference to past COVID
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from MIRA.
When August proposes a fake engagement to burnish his public image in exchange for money Pen can use to pay the property taxes on the home she inherited from her grandparents, she's not expecting it, nor is anyone else. It's a good set up but not quite punchy enough to keep the middle from dragging. The plot and the character arcs were all over the place. August and Pen's mothers are best friends so they've basically grown up together. But since they also secretly liked each other, they avoided each other and made each other think they didn't like them. For years! No one in their respective families ever suspected there could be something more. All that did was made me wonder whether there really was something more.
My biggest issue was the disjointed characterization. August's chicken dance, which was the impetus for him getting in trouble with the team and needing to clean up his act, is not really explained or explored. In fact, it was such an aberration for his character that it doesn't make sense that it happened in the first place or that it would cause that much trouble. Pen is shy but it doesn't explain how or why she has no friends outside of the Luck family. And then at the same time, she's somehow able to spontaneously cook for a crowd and host a party. She's only 22! I don't care if her Italian grandmother taught her how to cook every summer. Most people that age wouldn't be able to do that and even less so if they isolate themselves the way Pen does. These may seem like small issues but they're examples of how August and Pen didn't add up, which therefore made their emotional arcs less resonant.
Despite this, it was a fine enough read until This was a BS choice and it almost made me dock another star.
If this is indeed a launch pad for a series about August's siblings, I'll be more than interested, with the hope that Callihan will be back in rare form. Fingers crossed for January's story first.
Note: When Pen is rationalizing why she wants to spontaneously have August's team over for dinner, she says, "I'm Italian." Her new friend commiserates, "I'm Hispanic." This is a woman in her 20s or possibly early 30s. If she said, "I'm Latina," I still would have thought it was an odd choice but it wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much. They're both pan-ethnic terms but Latinx is much more common these days. But my issue is really why would someone respond to a specific ethnicity by giving their pan-ethnic identity? It would be like Pen saying she was European instead of Italian. We don't know much about this new friend beyond her being a famous actress with an ethnic-sounding last name. This would have been an easy opportunity to flesh out her backstory. Is it a dealbreaker? No. But it did make me question why Callihan decided to include someone who is potentially a POC and then flub the representation so easily.
Characters: Penelope is a 22 year old white college senior, film history major, and virgin. August is a 23 year old white rookie starting quarterback in the NFL. This is set in LA and Boston.
Content notes: anxiety, physical assault, vandalism, sexism, fatphobia, athlete and actor diets, diet culture, FMC is estranged from her father, past parental abandonment, past parental divorce (FMC's father cheated with her nanny), past death of grandparents, past career-ending injury (MMC's brother was a passenger in a car hit by a drunk driver), secondary character's former coach/father figure is dying, past death of secondary character's parents, past infidelity (secondary character), on page sex, pool sex, alcohol, inebriation, hangover (secondary character), casual acephobia, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, reference to past COVID
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from MIRA.
December 23, 2025
Story: 2.75 ⭐️
Audiobook: 5 ⭐️
Narrators: Maxine Mitchell & Teddy Hamilton
Thank you HarperCollins for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The Performance
As always, Maxine and Teddy do not disappoint bringing characters to life. Maxine’s narration gave Penelope an innocent yet intelligent charm that spoke well beyond her 20+ years of life that I adored. As for Teddy, what can I say about his narration that hasn’t already been said? His voice is so distinct, so recognizable. I’ve heard him narrate across different genres and characters, yet his performance is always consistently making me melt.
The Story
There was very little sports in a book that was marketed as a sports romance. I expected to see more of the team dynamic and comradery. Instead, we get the Luck Family dynamic, which I enjoyed, but read more like a family drama involving a childhood friend. I felt like the storyline plateaued after August approached Penelope with his fake engagement proposition. There was not a lot of conflict to move to story forward, and the book read like snapshots of their lives instead of an organic story.
Audiobook: 5 ⭐️
Narrators: Maxine Mitchell & Teddy Hamilton
Thank you HarperCollins for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The Performance
As always, Maxine and Teddy do not disappoint bringing characters to life. Maxine’s narration gave Penelope an innocent yet intelligent charm that spoke well beyond her 20+ years of life that I adored. As for Teddy, what can I say about his narration that hasn’t already been said? His voice is so distinct, so recognizable. I’ve heard him narrate across different genres and characters, yet his performance is always consistently making me melt.
The Story
There was very little sports in a book that was marketed as a sports romance. I expected to see more of the team dynamic and comradery. Instead, we get the Luck Family dynamic, which I enjoyed, but read more like a family drama involving a childhood friend. I felt like the storyline plateaued after August approached Penelope with his fake engagement proposition. There was not a lot of conflict to move to story forward, and the book read like snapshots of their lives instead of an organic story.
December 2, 2025
I was interested in Only on Gameday as soon as I saw the friends-to-lovers setup. I enjoyed Pen and August as characters. They’re both genuinely likable and I appreciated their long-standing connection, but something about the fake dating-to-lovers chemistry just didn’t quite click for me. It felt a bit lackluster, like the emotional spark never really built into something deeper.
I kept hoping for more layered moments between them-more depth, more tension, more charged dialogue that makes you feel that shift from fake to real. Instead, a lot of their interactions stayed surface-level, and the connection that should’ve felt intense or inevitable came across more mellow and muted.
All that said, the premise is solid and the story reads easily, so it’s not a difficult one to get through. I just personally wanted a little more emotional weight and conversation that really hits. If you’re in the mood for a lighter, easy sports romance with a soft friends-to-lovers vibe, this might work — but don’t go in expecting big standout moments.
Although this wasn’t the book for me, I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
I kept hoping for more layered moments between them-more depth, more tension, more charged dialogue that makes you feel that shift from fake to real. Instead, a lot of their interactions stayed surface-level, and the connection that should’ve felt intense or inevitable came across more mellow and muted.
All that said, the premise is solid and the story reads easily, so it’s not a difficult one to get through. I just personally wanted a little more emotional weight and conversation that really hits. If you’re in the mood for a lighter, easy sports romance with a soft friends-to-lovers vibe, this might work — but don’t go in expecting big standout moments.
Although this wasn’t the book for me, I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
December 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!
It was super cute. Was it always very realistic? No. Did I care? No.
I loved August and Penelope's love for each other.
There was quite a bit of miscommunication between August and Penelope, which sometimes got to be a bit much. However, it was the main thing in the book that caused tension to be resolved. As a friends to lovers romance, I really enjoyed the moment they admitted to one another that they liked each other more than friends.
I listened to the audiobook and found it really entertaining! For the narration, Teddy Hamilton and Maxine Mitchell did a great job. They're narration kept me engaged, entertained, and not want to stop listening!
Overall, I thought this was a fun and enjoyable read! It was light, funny, and cute!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing|MIRA, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC to review! This review reflects my own opinion.
It was super cute. Was it always very realistic? No. Did I care? No.
I loved August and Penelope's love for each other.
There was quite a bit of miscommunication between August and Penelope, which sometimes got to be a bit much. However, it was the main thing in the book that caused tension to be resolved. As a friends to lovers romance, I really enjoyed the moment they admitted to one another that they liked each other more than friends.
I listened to the audiobook and found it really entertaining! For the narration, Teddy Hamilton and Maxine Mitchell did a great job. They're narration kept me engaged, entertained, and not want to stop listening!
Overall, I thought this was a fun and enjoyable read! It was light, funny, and cute!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing|MIRA, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC to review! This review reflects my own opinion.
December 28, 2025
Here’s a new sports romance to make you swoon. When childhood friends August Luck (love the names of the characters and his siblings who are names January, March, May and June), and Penelope Morrow team up with a fake marriage plan to help her out financially, and keep August out of the spotlight as a bad boy, their romance can only heat up.
I’m on a fake dating kick right now and loving it! I paired the print with audio and thought the were both great.
*many thanks to MIRA and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
I’m on a fake dating kick right now and loving it! I paired the print with audio and thought the were both great.
*many thanks to MIRA and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
dnf
December 4, 2025i love kristen callihan. that said, this is not holding my attention and also i read a very similarly-troped book this year, plus trusted reviewers are giving it middling responses so we'll part ways here.
October 15, 2025
Honestly, it's been sooooo long since I've read the others in the series, but there really isn't any need to do a refresher or read the others if you want to jump into this one. I actually remember loving this series and the authors other work, especially her steampunk historical series.
This one felt a little disconnected, or maybe it was me that felt disconnected from the story. Found it hard to connect to any of the characters, especially the leads. It wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away. Everything felt very surface level. Still, it was a cute enough story that goes by fast. A light and quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!
This one felt a little disconnected, or maybe it was me that felt disconnected from the story. Found it hard to connect to any of the characters, especially the leads. It wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away. Everything felt very surface level. Still, it was a cute enough story that goes by fast. A light and quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quick Summary: An I've loved you all my life romance
My Review: Only On Gameday by Kristen Callihan is book #5 in the Game On series. It is scheduled for release on 1/6/26.
About the Book: "A “fake” fiancée is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image. Trouble is, there’s nothing fake about the way August feels about his “pretend” fiancée."
In My Own Words: Longtime childhood nemeses enter into a fake relationship, then finally express their true feelings for each other
About the Characters:
August Luck - > QB, family rich background, outgoing, performance anxiety, supportive, patient, loving, secretly crushing
Penelope Morrow - > College student, only child, shy, still figuring out life, daddy issues, non confrontational by history but learning to find her voice, tender, attentive, secretly crushing
About the Couple: August and Pen were so cute. They were like magnets that fight against drawing together until they simply cannot. Their slow burn, I'll be there for you relationship unfolded in such a sweet way.
About the Other Characters:
The Lucks - > A charmed family who loves without limits, highly involved in the lives of each other, friends to Pen and her mom
Pen's Mom - > Critical, can be understanding, loves her daughter, realist when it comes to ex
NFL Teammates - > Nice group of players who rally behind each other
About the Conflict: This story was not necessarily conflict heavy. It did have a will they/won't they energy, regarding the primary relationship. Communication and the willingness to be open stood out. In terms of other aspects related to conflict, there was a dysfunctional parent/child element that was featured, as well as an internal/external pressure from family and fans.
My Favorite Scene (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
- Love at First Kiss
- Tag Team Response
- The "Fight"
- It's Always Been You
- This Ring
- Family Is...
About the Audiobook: Only On Gameday was narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Maxine Mitchell. This duo jived together really well. I loved how they played off each other and had a smooth and believable rhythm. It made for a pleasant listening experience.
My Final Say: I was fortunate enough to read this book via an immersive approach. I absolutely loved it! It made the story pop and come alive. This particularly rang true with the family antics scenes and with the tension laden moments of longing between the leads.
In the end, I confess that I really, really liked this book. It delivered in a big way.
Indicated Tropes:
Shy girl/sunshine boy
Hero in hot pursuit
Unrequited love + epic yearning
Fake dating (or is it?)
Delicious slow-burn romance
Childhood nemeses (all grown up)
Other: Readers who enjoy the aforementioned tropes will be quite pleased with this story. I guarantee that you will walk away with a smile and a happy sigh.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Re-read: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 🌶🌶
Series: Yes
Format: 📚 🎧
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (Harlequin Audio | Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review a digital ARC and an ALC of this title. It was a pleasure. I plan to acquaint myself with other books in this series, as a result of how much I enjoyed this story.
My Review: Only On Gameday by Kristen Callihan is book #5 in the Game On series. It is scheduled for release on 1/6/26.
About the Book: "A “fake” fiancée is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image. Trouble is, there’s nothing fake about the way August feels about his “pretend” fiancée."
In My Own Words: Longtime childhood nemeses enter into a fake relationship, then finally express their true feelings for each other
About the Characters:
August Luck - > QB, family rich background, outgoing, performance anxiety, supportive, patient, loving, secretly crushing
Penelope Morrow - > College student, only child, shy, still figuring out life, daddy issues, non confrontational by history but learning to find her voice, tender, attentive, secretly crushing
About the Couple: August and Pen were so cute. They were like magnets that fight against drawing together until they simply cannot. Their slow burn, I'll be there for you relationship unfolded in such a sweet way.
About the Other Characters:
The Lucks - > A charmed family who loves without limits, highly involved in the lives of each other, friends to Pen and her mom
Pen's Mom - > Critical, can be understanding, loves her daughter, realist when it comes to ex
NFL Teammates - > Nice group of players who rally behind each other
About the Conflict: This story was not necessarily conflict heavy. It did have a will they/won't they energy, regarding the primary relationship. Communication and the willingness to be open stood out. In terms of other aspects related to conflict, there was a dysfunctional parent/child element that was featured, as well as an internal/external pressure from family and fans.
My Favorite Scene (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
- Love at First Kiss
- Tag Team Response
- The "Fight"
- It's Always Been You
- This Ring
- Family Is...
About the Audiobook: Only On Gameday was narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Maxine Mitchell. This duo jived together really well. I loved how they played off each other and had a smooth and believable rhythm. It made for a pleasant listening experience.
My Final Say: I was fortunate enough to read this book via an immersive approach. I absolutely loved it! It made the story pop and come alive. This particularly rang true with the family antics scenes and with the tension laden moments of longing between the leads.
In the end, I confess that I really, really liked this book. It delivered in a big way.
Indicated Tropes:
Shy girl/sunshine boy
Hero in hot pursuit
Unrequited love + epic yearning
Fake dating (or is it?)
Delicious slow-burn romance
Childhood nemeses (all grown up)
Other: Readers who enjoy the aforementioned tropes will be quite pleased with this story. I guarantee that you will walk away with a smile and a happy sigh.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Re-read: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 🌶🌶
Series: Yes
Format: 📚 🎧
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (Harlequin Audio | Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review a digital ARC and an ALC of this title. It was a pleasure. I plan to acquaint myself with other books in this series, as a result of how much I enjoyed this story.
December 6, 2025
This was my first time reading this author, and unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. After peeking at other reviews, it seems longtime fans felt this one wasn’t up to her usual standard—so I’m definitely open to giving her another shot.
Full honesty? The narrator is what pulled me in. I don’t mind sports romances, but they’re not my go-to because the “sports” part often ends up feeling like window dressing. This book… was no exception. Overall, it was fine, but not much actually happens. I hate saying it, but I was just bored.
On the audiobook front, once I bumped up the speed, I enjoyed both narrators. At 1x, though, it felt far too slow for the average listener. Teddy Hamilton was his reliably engaging self, and Maxine Mitchell did a solid job. I’ll note—purely on a personal preference level—that speeding up the audio improved how Mitchell’s performance sounded to me. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for the narration, I might have DNF’d this one, ARC or not.
As far as recommendations go… this lands squarely in the “maybe” zone. There’s nothing wrong with it; there just wasn’t enough here to make me excited about it personally.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
Full honesty? The narrator is what pulled me in. I don’t mind sports romances, but they’re not my go-to because the “sports” part often ends up feeling like window dressing. This book… was no exception. Overall, it was fine, but not much actually happens. I hate saying it, but I was just bored.
On the audiobook front, once I bumped up the speed, I enjoyed both narrators. At 1x, though, it felt far too slow for the average listener. Teddy Hamilton was his reliably engaging self, and Maxine Mitchell did a solid job. I’ll note—purely on a personal preference level—that speeding up the audio improved how Mitchell’s performance sounded to me. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for the narration, I might have DNF’d this one, ARC or not.
As far as recommendations go… this lands squarely in the “maybe” zone. There’s nothing wrong with it; there just wasn’t enough here to make me excited about it personally.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
December 23, 2025
Only on Gameday completely won me over. August Luck and Penelope Morrow are the kind of couple that sneaks up on you, settles into your heart, and refuses to leave. From the opening chapters, I was hooked by their shared history, easy chemistry, and the quiet yearning threaded through every interaction.
Kristen Callihan excels at layered characters, and that strength shines here. August’s recent missteps are clearly out of character, driven by the pressure of being a number-one pick rookie quarterback and the weight of living up to his older brother’s legacy. That internal struggle adds depth to his arc and makes his vulnerability feel grounded and believable.
Penelope felt immediately relatable. Her need for solitude and her deep attachment to her grandparents’ home give her character a strong emotional foundation, and I loved how those elements shaped both her personal growth and her relationship with August.
Their romance is a delicious slow burn. Growing up together while secretly crushing on each other—and assuming those feelings were unreturned—sets the stage for epic yearning. The fake engagement only heightens the tension, making every look and almost-confession count. When they finally give in, the payoff is immensely satisfying, with tender, intimate moments that are both soft and undeniably sexy.
The supporting cast adds so much charm. The Luck family is chaotic, hilarious, and full of heart, with the sibling group chat providing standout moments. I also loved the locker room banter and the sense of camaraderie among August’s teammates, which made the football world feel authentic without overshadowing the romance. The nostalgic movie quotes and a subtle nod longtime Callihan readers will recognize were fun additions.
What ultimately makes this book shine is how perfectly August and Pen complement each other. They see one another clearly, offer steadiness where it’s needed, and grow together in ways that feel organic and believable. If you love fake dating that turns achingly real, childhood connections, and slow-burn sports romance packed with heart and swoon, this one is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Kristen Callihan excels at layered characters, and that strength shines here. August’s recent missteps are clearly out of character, driven by the pressure of being a number-one pick rookie quarterback and the weight of living up to his older brother’s legacy. That internal struggle adds depth to his arc and makes his vulnerability feel grounded and believable.
Penelope felt immediately relatable. Her need for solitude and her deep attachment to her grandparents’ home give her character a strong emotional foundation, and I loved how those elements shaped both her personal growth and her relationship with August.
Their romance is a delicious slow burn. Growing up together while secretly crushing on each other—and assuming those feelings were unreturned—sets the stage for epic yearning. The fake engagement only heightens the tension, making every look and almost-confession count. When they finally give in, the payoff is immensely satisfying, with tender, intimate moments that are both soft and undeniably sexy.
The supporting cast adds so much charm. The Luck family is chaotic, hilarious, and full of heart, with the sibling group chat providing standout moments. I also loved the locker room banter and the sense of camaraderie among August’s teammates, which made the football world feel authentic without overshadowing the romance. The nostalgic movie quotes and a subtle nod longtime Callihan readers will recognize were fun additions.
What ultimately makes this book shine is how perfectly August and Pen complement each other. They see one another clearly, offer steadiness where it’s needed, and grow together in ways that feel organic and believable. If you love fake dating that turns achingly real, childhood connections, and slow-burn sports romance packed with heart and swoon, this one is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Release Date: January 6, 2026
December 21, 2025
1/5 ⭐️, don’t waste your time.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This is my first book by Kristen Callihan. I was initially drawn to this book because of Teddy Hamilton (obviously) and my newfound love of football (thank you Travis Kelce).
Unfortunately- I did not like this book. To say i hated this book would be a massive understatement. I will admit, there is one redeeming quality which is the realistic mother-daughter relationship (which is hard to come by).
From the moment the FMC/MMC started this fake engagement charade, the book went majorly downhill.
Here are my main gripes with this book:
- The text conversations between the siblings add nothing to the book. The jokes aren’t funny and are an absolute waste of time.
- The word “rizz” was used… BFFR. Genuinely appalling.
- FMC randomly started speaking in Italian. MMC has the typical “that’s so hot, you’re not like other girls- you’re cultured” reaction
- Why is there a frog named Edward in a magician’s hat?
- There is no shot that this is the NFL. Much less a family football dynasty.
- Naming the siblings after months??? January (goes by Jan of course)? March? August?
- FMC’s biggest insecurity was how big her boobs are in comparison to her tiny waist? Should we invite Bella Hadid?
There are obviously more- but I will stop here.
This book has potential- it could be reworked to be a much more compelling story. If this was in a collegiate setting, it would make more sense. MMC could be rehabbing his image ahead of the NFL draft. Or- rework this book to be YA. No functioning adult with critical thinking should rate this more than two stars.
Unfortunately, this book is incredibly juvenile and lacks depth. I would not recommend.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This is my first book by Kristen Callihan. I was initially drawn to this book because of Teddy Hamilton (obviously) and my newfound love of football (thank you Travis Kelce).
Unfortunately- I did not like this book. To say i hated this book would be a massive understatement. I will admit, there is one redeeming quality which is the realistic mother-daughter relationship (which is hard to come by).
From the moment the FMC/MMC started this fake engagement charade, the book went majorly downhill.
Here are my main gripes with this book:
- The text conversations between the siblings add nothing to the book. The jokes aren’t funny and are an absolute waste of time.
- The word “rizz” was used… BFFR. Genuinely appalling.
- FMC randomly started speaking in Italian. MMC has the typical “that’s so hot, you’re not like other girls- you’re cultured” reaction
- Why is there a frog named Edward in a magician’s hat?
- There is no shot that this is the NFL. Much less a family football dynasty.
- Naming the siblings after months??? January (goes by Jan of course)? March? August?
- FMC’s biggest insecurity was how big her boobs are in comparison to her tiny waist? Should we invite Bella Hadid?
There are obviously more- but I will stop here.
This book has potential- it could be reworked to be a much more compelling story. If this was in a collegiate setting, it would make more sense. MMC could be rehabbing his image ahead of the NFL draft. Or- rework this book to be YA. No functioning adult with critical thinking should rate this more than two stars.
Unfortunately, this book is incredibly juvenile and lacks depth. I would not recommend.
December 3, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I have been waiting years for Callihan to write this story! I absolutely love her Game On series. I even re-read it last year when I heard she was going to be publishing #5. And it was just as fun the second time around. While I was expecting this one to be tied more tightly to the others, it was not. This book can absolutely be read as a stand alone, whereas the other four do have character overlap. As a matter of fact, it didn't seem to be tied in at all to the other books other than the football vibes. There is a wink to a character in another series Callihan wrote, but if you didn't read that series you would never know. As a matter of fact, this book took on a life of it's own with all new characters, including siblings who, can I say, should all get their own books!
August Luck and Penelope Marrow grew up together but were never really friends. They floated around each other. As a matter of fact, each though the other disliked them because they never did spend time together. When August proposes a plan to Penelope that will help him get his act and image together and help her save her grandparent's home, they dive in. They don't expect to become friends. And they certainly don't expect to catch feels!
Can I just say I love August. He is just so sweet. Gruff NFL player exterior with a mushy heart that just craves love. And he treats Penelope with so much respect and adoration. It was fun to watch their relationship and chemistry grow throughout the book. One of the tropes I love best in romance books is when siblings are close and support each other. This book had that and more. The family dynamics were a lot of fun to watch. There was great banter and sarcasm between all the characters with so many tender moments in between. All the moments moved the story along at a great pace. There are some moments of flashback which become important to future points in the book and I appreciated them for how they helped the story and characters grow.
Callihan does hit on some important topics including loss and grief, coming into oneself, allowing others to care for you when you need it, and keeping your heart open.
If you enjoy books with fake engagement/dating, childhood friends, and family antics, pick this one and give it a try.
I have been waiting years for Callihan to write this story! I absolutely love her Game On series. I even re-read it last year when I heard she was going to be publishing #5. And it was just as fun the second time around. While I was expecting this one to be tied more tightly to the others, it was not. This book can absolutely be read as a stand alone, whereas the other four do have character overlap. As a matter of fact, it didn't seem to be tied in at all to the other books other than the football vibes. There is a wink to a character in another series Callihan wrote, but if you didn't read that series you would never know. As a matter of fact, this book took on a life of it's own with all new characters, including siblings who, can I say, should all get their own books!
August Luck and Penelope Marrow grew up together but were never really friends. They floated around each other. As a matter of fact, each though the other disliked them because they never did spend time together. When August proposes a plan to Penelope that will help him get his act and image together and help her save her grandparent's home, they dive in. They don't expect to become friends. And they certainly don't expect to catch feels!
Can I just say I love August. He is just so sweet. Gruff NFL player exterior with a mushy heart that just craves love. And he treats Penelope with so much respect and adoration. It was fun to watch their relationship and chemistry grow throughout the book. One of the tropes I love best in romance books is when siblings are close and support each other. This book had that and more. The family dynamics were a lot of fun to watch. There was great banter and sarcasm between all the characters with so many tender moments in between. All the moments moved the story along at a great pace. There are some moments of flashback which become important to future points in the book and I appreciated them for how they helped the story and characters grow.
Callihan does hit on some important topics including loss and grief, coming into oneself, allowing others to care for you when you need it, and keeping your heart open.
If you enjoy books with fake engagement/dating, childhood friends, and family antics, pick this one and give it a try.
December 9, 2025
Some of my favorite tropes all in one place—sports romance, fake dating, friends-to-lovers, and dual POVs. Sign me up!
Meet August, a superstar quarterback with a reputation for being reckless off the field. With sponsors breathing down his neck and his career on the line, he’s been warned: clean up his image or risk losing everything. Enter Penelope, his mom’s best friend’s daughter, who has just inherited her grandparents’ home but is struggling to keep up with the crushing property taxes.
August proposes a deal—Penelope will pose as his fiancée to prove he’s settled down, and in return, he’ll help her save the house. What starts as a convenient arrangement quickly spirals into something neither of them expected. Because behind the staged smiles and carefully crafted appearances, August and Penelope have been secretly in love with each other all along.
The witty banter between August and Penelope, paired with the hilarious and heartfelt dynamics of the Luck siblings, made this story absolutely unputdownable. Every interaction sparkled with charm and authenticity, pulling me deeper into their world until I was fully invested in every page. I’ll definitely be diving into more of Callihan’s books, and I can’t recommend Only on Gameday enough—make sure to check it out when it releases on January 6, 2026.
———————————————————————
Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Meet August, a superstar quarterback with a reputation for being reckless off the field. With sponsors breathing down his neck and his career on the line, he’s been warned: clean up his image or risk losing everything. Enter Penelope, his mom’s best friend’s daughter, who has just inherited her grandparents’ home but is struggling to keep up with the crushing property taxes.
August proposes a deal—Penelope will pose as his fiancée to prove he’s settled down, and in return, he’ll help her save the house. What starts as a convenient arrangement quickly spirals into something neither of them expected. Because behind the staged smiles and carefully crafted appearances, August and Penelope have been secretly in love with each other all along.
The witty banter between August and Penelope, paired with the hilarious and heartfelt dynamics of the Luck siblings, made this story absolutely unputdownable. Every interaction sparkled with charm and authenticity, pulling me deeper into their world until I was fully invested in every page. I’ll definitely be diving into more of Callihan’s books, and I can’t recommend Only on Gameday enough—make sure to check it out when it releases on January 6, 2026.
———————————————————————
Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2025
After finishing The Hot Shot, I could not wait to see what the next book in the Game On series would bring. So when I heard Only On Gameday was coming out, I was instantly excited. I have really fallen in love with sports romances lately, and this one hit all the right notes for me. I am so happy to say it did not disappoint.
Up until now, The Hot Shot was my favorite in the series, but I think this one just stole that spot. From the first few chapters, I was hooked. It also happens to feature one of my favorite tropes, the fake relationship, which made it even better. I loved both of the main characters, and their chemistry was so good. Their moments together were fun, flirty, and sweet in all the best ways.
The side characters were great too. They added so much personality to the story and made it feel like a world I could happily step into. I especially loved August’s family and how much heart they brought to the book. I really hope we get to see more of them in future stories because they were such a bright spot.
Overall, I absolutely loved this one. It had charm, emotion, and a romance that made me smile the whole way through. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Up until now, The Hot Shot was my favorite in the series, but I think this one just stole that spot. From the first few chapters, I was hooked. It also happens to feature one of my favorite tropes, the fake relationship, which made it even better. I loved both of the main characters, and their chemistry was so good. Their moments together were fun, flirty, and sweet in all the best ways.
The side characters were great too. They added so much personality to the story and made it feel like a world I could happily step into. I especially loved August’s family and how much heart they brought to the book. I really hope we get to see more of them in future stories because they were such a bright spot.
Overall, I absolutely loved this one. It had charm, emotion, and a romance that made me smile the whole way through. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
December 15, 2025
Who wouldn’t love a fake engagement with a NFL quarterback that you’ve known since you were children?
Penelope sees August Luck at his family’s home right after he’s made a total ass of himself to the world. He’s going through something and acting in uncharacteristic ways- including asking her to be pretend-engaged to him to help clean up his image. In return he’ll pay the property taxes on the home she just inherited from her grandparents. A little quid pro quo never hurt anyone, right?
I’ve read *several* of Kristen Callihan’s books and loved all of them. This one is a like, not a love. It’s good honestly, but there were a few hiccups for me: some verbiage that didn’t work, mostly. Still, I enjoyed it overall.
🎧 Narration by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton hit the spot as always.
Recommended for lovers of fake relationships, slow burns, silly nicknames, and close family banter.
I received this ALC via #netgalley and @htpbooks_audio. All thoughts are mine alone.
contemporary romance | football romance | novels | books | reading | Only On Gameday | Kristen Callihan | audiobooks | book recs | recommendations | book reviews | bookstagram
Penelope sees August Luck at his family’s home right after he’s made a total ass of himself to the world. He’s going through something and acting in uncharacteristic ways- including asking her to be pretend-engaged to him to help clean up his image. In return he’ll pay the property taxes on the home she just inherited from her grandparents. A little quid pro quo never hurt anyone, right?
I’ve read *several* of Kristen Callihan’s books and loved all of them. This one is a like, not a love. It’s good honestly, but there were a few hiccups for me: some verbiage that didn’t work, mostly. Still, I enjoyed it overall.
🎧 Narration by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton hit the spot as always.
Recommended for lovers of fake relationships, slow burns, silly nicknames, and close family banter.
I received this ALC via #netgalley and @htpbooks_audio. All thoughts are mine alone.
contemporary romance | football romance | novels | books | reading | Only On Gameday | Kristen Callihan | audiobooks | book recs | recommendations | book reviews | bookstagram
November 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Tore through this book so quickly which is exactly the kind of read I was looking for. It was such a quick read and the plot moved pretty fast. I actually wouldn't have minded if it slowed down a tad. It also was very clear how everything was going to play out, but that's fine. I wasn't in love with the characters, but they were fine. I found the text parts a little harder to read and didn't enjoy them as much as everyone else. There's a lot of characters and I didn't feel like I knew some of them but they still had prominent parts? This got me out of a little slump which is a good sign, I think! Once they kissed they would not stop. Could've maybe used some of those pages for more development but oh well (and I do think while I'm saying this, others would say the opposite).
Didn't realize it was part of a series, but seems to be fine standing alone, didn't feel like I missed anything and in my research after it doesn't seem to be directly connected with anything.
Didn't realize it was part of a series, but seems to be fine standing alone, didn't feel like I missed anything and in my research after it doesn't seem to be directly connected with anything.
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December 21, 2025Only on Gameday is a funny, slow burn sports romance that delivers charm, chemistry, and a whole lot of emotions. August Luck and Penelope Morrow grew up around each other but were never close, which makes their fake-engagement arrangement even more entertaining.
August needs to clean up his public image, and Penelope needs help saving her grandparents’ home, so their deal seems simple. Of course, nothing stays “fake” for long.
The best part of the book is the dynamic between August and Penelope. Their banter feels natural, their tension builds beautifully, and August’s soft heart makes him incredibly lovable. The Luck family also adds humor and warmth, making the story even more enjoyable.
Some plot points felt a little underdeveloped, but the romance shines and it didn’t take away from the experience.
Overall, this is a heartfelt, slow burn romance perfect for anyone who loves fake dating, sports settings, and found family tropes .
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own
August needs to clean up his public image, and Penelope needs help saving her grandparents’ home, so their deal seems simple. Of course, nothing stays “fake” for long.
The best part of the book is the dynamic between August and Penelope. Their banter feels natural, their tension builds beautifully, and August’s soft heart makes him incredibly lovable. The Luck family also adds humor and warmth, making the story even more enjoyable.
Some plot points felt a little underdeveloped, but the romance shines and it didn’t take away from the experience.
Overall, this is a heartfelt, slow burn romance perfect for anyone who loves fake dating, sports settings, and found family tropes .
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own
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December 26, 2025I was disappointed by Only on Gameday. The story felt incomplete and didn’t feel like Callihan’s previous books. The prologue was a bit jarring, and some of the nicknames felt forced when they were introduced. I struggled with Penelope and August's relationship. It felt like their childhood crushes were used to justify how quickly things moved. I didn't feel the connection I normally feel with Callihan's characters. I was especially thrown off by Penelope and August's physical contact early on in their "relationship." Their connection just wasn't there for me, and their relationship progression didn't feel natural. There were also some plot points that didn’t flow well with the story. The professor's interaction with Penelope was odd, and the entire school storyline felt underdeveloped. I also wished we had gotten more of August’s football storyline towards the beginning. In general, the story just didn’t flow very well. The one bright spot for me was the Luck family. I liked all the siblings and the family dynamics. Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the ARC.
December 13, 2025
This was such a cute story. It definitely had swoon worthy moments that had me kicking my feet. The characters were easily likable and the banter between them had me chuckling at times. I loved the names and nicknames of the characters. They were unique. It was a bit of a slow burn but, worth the wait. The love and chemistry between August and Penny was great. There were some holes in the story. I’m still curious what came of the plan March and August made in the boat(or maybe I just missed something there). Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fun listen.
The narration performed in Dual by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton was great. The skills and range they have to voice so many characters, male and female, so well is incredible. They did a great job bringing this story to life.
Story 3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️’s
Narration 5 ⭐️’s
Spice 2 1/2 🌶️’s
Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!
The narration performed in Dual by Maxine Mitchell and Teddy Hamilton was great. The skills and range they have to voice so many characters, male and female, so well is incredible. They did a great job bringing this story to life.
Story 3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️’s
Narration 5 ⭐️’s
Spice 2 1/2 🌶️’s
Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!
December 21, 2025
Only on Gameday was an outstanding audiobook experience from start to finish.
The dual narration was a major strength. Both narrators brought distinct voices, strong emotional range, and excellent timing that fully captured the characters and their chemistry. I listened at 3.0× speed, and the performance remained clear, engaging, and expressive throughout; a true testament to the quality of the narration and production.
Beyond the audio, the story itself is top notch. The pacing is strong, the romance feels authentic and earned, and the characters are easy to invest in from the beginning. The balance of emotion, momentum, and connection kept me engaged all the way through and made this a genuinely satisfying listen.
This is a fantastic choice for audiobook listeners, especially those who appreciate dual narration done well. An easy five-star recommendation.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The dual narration was a major strength. Both narrators brought distinct voices, strong emotional range, and excellent timing that fully captured the characters and their chemistry. I listened at 3.0× speed, and the performance remained clear, engaging, and expressive throughout; a true testament to the quality of the narration and production.
Beyond the audio, the story itself is top notch. The pacing is strong, the romance feels authentic and earned, and the characters are easy to invest in from the beginning. The balance of emotion, momentum, and connection kept me engaged all the way through and made this a genuinely satisfying listen.
This is a fantastic choice for audiobook listeners, especially those who appreciate dual narration done well. An easy five-star recommendation.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Being a first round draft pick and the pressure of belonging to a football dynasty family have August Luck's confidence crumbling, forcing him to act out. Now he needs a fake wife to help his bad boy image in the press, and the only woman he can think of is Penelope. Their moms are best friend's so they grew up together and Penny has always disapproved of him. No chance of her growing attached after the deal is up. But they both are hiding big secrets and a long held attraction. Can they make this relationship work for real or will the pressures of being in the media spotlight be too much in the end?
Could Augie be any more perfect for Penny?!! Except for the massive lifetime miscommunication where each thought they hated the other, lol? Their big feelings reveal at the end was so swoony. I wasnt going to read this until closer to the publication date, but I just finished The Hot Shot and wanted to find out who was next. There were so many other side characters in the first four books in the series that I want a story for that I wasn't expecting these two, but I still loved their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Could Augie be any more perfect for Penny?!! Except for the massive lifetime miscommunication where each thought they hated the other, lol? Their big feelings reveal at the end was so swoony. I wasnt going to read this until closer to the publication date, but I just finished The Hot Shot and wanted to find out who was next. There were so many other side characters in the first four books in the series that I want a story for that I wasn't expecting these two, but I still loved their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
November 6, 2025
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley & to the publisher!
I have to agree with other reviews below about the book not really going with the other books in the series.
I was honestly confused at first. I was thinking the book would be part of the books and mesh more with those characters. I was a little bummed at first. This book can definitely be read as a standalone.
BUT I’ve enjoyed all the other books so of course I’m going to read it. I love reading sports romances. This book was about a fake engagement. 2 family friends who thought the other hated each other get into a fake engagement. The main characters were funny at times. I liked the story!
I have to agree with other reviews below about the book not really going with the other books in the series.
I was honestly confused at first. I was thinking the book would be part of the books and mesh more with those characters. I was a little bummed at first. This book can definitely be read as a standalone.
BUT I’ve enjoyed all the other books so of course I’m going to read it. I love reading sports romances. This book was about a fake engagement. 2 family friends who thought the other hated each other get into a fake engagement. The main characters were funny at times. I liked the story!
November 22, 2025
I had very high hopes for this one, as I have enjoyed the previous books in this series and the VIP series as well.
3 stars is all I can bring myself to rate this one. #1 This book was entirely too long. I think it would've been much better, tighter if it weren't so dang long and drawn out.
Even though I struggled with this book, I really liked the characters, the Luck family, and I do hope we get more books for the siblings.
At times, the writing was just off putting and I cannot put a finger on exactly why.
Anyway, I really liked Pen and August, but this one was... a challenge.
3 stars is all I can bring myself to rate this one. #1 This book was entirely too long. I think it would've been much better, tighter if it weren't so dang long and drawn out.
Even though I struggled with this book, I really liked the characters, the Luck family, and I do hope we get more books for the siblings.
At times, the writing was just off putting and I cannot put a finger on exactly why.
Anyway, I really liked Pen and August, but this one was... a challenge.
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