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Gamer Girls #3

Make Your Move

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LOVE’S ALL ABOUT TIMING . . .

At twenty-eight, Shannon has yet to fall in love. Which is fine, since she’d rather spend her evenings creating games than swiping right or going on awkward blind dates. Right now though, she has two little problems. First, she’s stuck for a new game idea. Second, the only candidate in her roommate search is Tyler, the gaming buddy who’s long had an unrequited crush on her.

It should be awkward. But when Tyler moves in, the situation doesn’t go at all the way Shannon expected. Between helping her deal with coworkers and fixing the bugs in her latest game, Tyler’s proving to be damn near perfect. Except for the fact that he’s falling for someone else. . .

Maybe Shannon has already forfeited her turn. Maybe she’s playing for nothing but heartache. But the best games have endings you can never predict . . .

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2019

3 people are currently reading
1031 people want to read

About the author

Laura Heffernan

20 books409 followers
Laura Heffernan once broke up with her now-husband during a board game after realizing that he was ahead 96-3. She hasn't played that particular game since. Her best friend still talks about the Great Uno Card Throwing Incident of 2003. Yet, somehow, Laura insists that she is incredibly gracious whether winning or losing. She lives in the northeast with her husband, new baby, and two furry little beasts.

Laura loves connecting with readers. Find her on her website, www.lauraheffernan.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LH_writes, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Pooja (Penningtales).
383 reviews65 followers
December 21, 2019
4.5
After the last couple of romances I read were meh, I was almost dreading to pick this one up. But I’m so glad I did! This novel gave me all the feels!
Shannon is twenty-eight and single, which is fine by her, since dating isn’t really her thing. She’d rather spend her time playing and creating games. She dreams of manufacturing her own games one day, but she has bills to pay so she’s contents herself with designing game for others. She needs a roommate to help her save for her dreams and all the candidates who applied were duds. Except Tyler, her gaming buddy, of course. There’s just one small problem: he once kissed her after a moonlit walk on a beach and she‘s unsure if those unrequited feelings still lingered. But when Tyler moves in, it’s anything but awkward. He‘s the perfect roommate and after spending so much time in his company, Shannon finds herself falling for him. Only it’s now too late. He’s moved on and already has a girlfriend. Has Shannon truly missed her chance? Or has she set herself up for heartache with no one to blame but herself?
First off, I have to say I absolutely loved the demisexual representation in this novel. (I don’t think I’ve even ever read a demi protagonist before.) It was handled respectively and honestly, flowing seamlessly with the plot.
Shannon, our point of view character, is unable to feel romantic attraction to anyone unless she first develops an emotional bond with them. As you can imagine, this causes her some trouble with dating. Already an introvert, she contents herself with being alone, despite longing to have someone too. I could really relate to her and found myself completely invested in her story. I also loved how passionate Shannon was about game designing and really enjoyed learning about the different existing and invented games. I liked how the novel also addressed the issues she faced at work , it was hard to read, but realistic.
Tyler, the man Shannon falls for and her gaming buddy, is a quite a gentleman! He had me swooning! I love how respectful and understanding he was, how he always had her back and was willing to drop everything for her. Some of his action near the end did leave me frustrated, but I totally got where he was coming from.
I sometimes find the friends-to-lovers trope leaves me cringing, but not here! It’s done so well, so beautifully. The progress of their relationship from friendship to something more feels so organic, I was rooting for them the whole time. I should add though, since Shannon is essentially falling for Tyler while he’s dating somebody else, that there is also a love triangle here. But, despite that, no one heats on purpose or at all. In fact, their determination not to makes me love them and their relationship even more.
I’d also like to mention that Shannon’s nana is simply adorable and I loved her so much! Shannon’s friendship with Gwen and Molly, and even with their own respective partners Cody and Nathan, felt very genuine.
Heffernan’s writing style is very simplistic and to the point. She’s able to craft such vivid imagery, invoke such strong emotions almost effortlessly. I felt Shannon slowly developing feelings for Tyler, I felt her despair and longing, and I felt her conviction to not act on her new found feelings for him right alongside her. All in all, I fell in love with Shannon and Tyler and Laura Heffernan’s storytelling. I’ll definitely be picking up more by her. My only complaint is I wish we got to see them being intimate after they got together. But I’ll make do with their kiss!

Please note: I received an advance digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Kensington Books and Laura Heffernan in exchange for a honest review. This does not influence my opinions in any way.
Profile Image for Estella Mirai.
Author 1 book26 followers
October 15, 2019
Make Your Move is the third and final book in the Gamer Girls series, and as you might have guessed if you’ve read the previous two books, the story focuses on Shannon, who is not only a gamer but also a game designer! I was SO excited to read Shannon’s story for a couple of reasons. Her awesome job is definitely one of those reasons, but the most exciting thing for me was that Shannon is demisexual.

Laura Heffernan always does an amazing job with the diversity in her books, and let me just say that she knocked the demi rep out of the park here. We see a lot of characters who are demi- or ace-CODED, but it’s really nice to see a demi character who’s out on-page, who’s aware of her identity and how it affects her relationships, and who struggles with dating and flirting with allosexual people in a way that my demi self can totally identify with.

Shannon’s first problem in the book involves the search for a roommate. After a couple of truly terrible applicants, her friend Tyler asks if the room is still available. But it’s a little more complicated for Shannon, because she knows that Tyler has—that’s past tense, right?—feelings for her that she didn’t return at the time. Still, they can live together as friends, right?

Well, you can probably imagine that things don’t exactly turn out that way, and the journey they take to get there is full of mutual pining and other lovely things that would make great AO3 tags (hey, no spoilers!) I was rooting for Shannon and Tyler so hard, and the conclusion to their story (again, no spoilers!) was immensely satisfying.

This isn’t *just* a love story, though, and the subplots revolving around Shannon’s work, her friend Ryan (can we have his book next, please?), and her family were also so compelling that I really couldn’t put this book down! Heffernan has an incredible talent for writing characters that feel like friends, and I have to admit, I was a little sad when the story ended and we had to part ways! It was also nice to catch up with favorite characters from the previous books in the series, and to see how their happily ever afters have continued.

Although I definitely recommend reading this ENTIRE series because it’s just that good, this book also works as a standalone. I actually ended up reading the series out of order because the author was kind enough to provide me with an advance review copy of Make Your Move before Against the Rules (the second book in the series) came out, and it definitely did not affect my enjoyment of either (although there are of course spoilers for the previous two books).

All in all, this was an amazing read both as a standalone story and as an entry in the Gamer Girls series!

I received an advance review copy from the author, which in no way affects this honest review. :)
Profile Image for Cassandre.
200 reviews5 followers
January 3, 2020
I was drawn to Laura Heffernan’s Make Your Move mostly because of the cover (isn’t it gorgeous?), and because of the tag under it that says “A Gamer Girls Novel.” I didn’t really realize at the time that it was not the first one in the series (this is the third), but I loved the idea of the main character being a gamer. I love games, from video games to board games, escape rooms and everything in between, so I was excited to dive into this world.

I really enjoyed the world in which this novel takes place. I love that Shannon and her friends are all nerdy game-lovers, but they aren’t portrayed as painfully awkward and introverted. I have a lot of friends who enjoy games as much as I do, and we’re all very different, and Heffernan really reflected that in the story.

I did struggle a bit, however, with the fact that I had a really hard time keeping track of who was who when it came to her friends. I think it has something to do with the fact that this is the third book in the series (and the first two probably focus on other couples in the friend group), but as a person coming in blind, I would have appreciated maybe a little bit more of an explanation as to who people were…by the end I couldn’t pinpoint anyone and just considered them all the same person, really.

This feeling of confusion wasn’t helped by the dialogue. It didn’t seem super natural for a group of friends who knew each other really well (or coworkers who worked together for years). For some reason, I felt like the dialogue was just moving the plot along—which is totally fine, because something needs to make that happen—but in this case it was at the expense of the characters’ interactions.

That being said, I LOVED Shannon, the main character, and how the story progressed around her. I will admit, I’ve never read anything featuring a demisexual character before (nevermind a protagonist), and it was very refreshing to have it just be. Sure, Shannon’s sexuality complicated things a little bit, but her sexuality was not the main point of the story, nor was it used as something that make her quirky or different. I applaud Heffernan for thinking of those little details.

If you like cute love stories and a lot of talk about board games, I definitely recommend you pick this one up. Heck, I might even go back and read the first two novels in the series…once I’ve caught up from my blogging slump, of course!

3.5 STARS


“As difficult as it had been for me to realize that I was fine on my own, that I didn’t need a partner, it was just as tough to admit that it was also okay to be with someone. Freedom to be alone meant freedom to choose not to be alone, too.” —Laura Heffernan, Make Your Move

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jeff.
1,753 reviews164 followers
November 22, 2019
Adequate Wrap Up To Otherwise Awesome Series. I *love* that Heffernan has been courageous enough in this series to give us several things we don't usually see in romance books, be it the gaming focus generally, girl gamers specifically, the various sexualities and atypical romances at play, etc etc etc. And this book continues that work of showing those various elements and giving several of them payoffs that at least work to close out a trilogy.

There are two primary issues with this book. The first is that the "bad guys" - IIRC, a first in this series - are barely cogent enough to even qualify as strawmen. And indeed one of them in particular seems to exist just so Heffernan can paint all "cishet straight white men" (as she would call us) as absolute bastards. Heffernan even makes this pretty explicit when she has our lead female outright state at one point "Who will fight for the other non-cishet white dudes? The people of color, the queers, the women?". ... Because "cishet straight white dudes" are pure evil and absolutely prejudiced against anyone not exactly like them? Is this attitude not prejudicial against those people? The second issue - and it too is fairly big, particularly for what is seemingly a series finale - is that the ending is quite abrupt and seemingly comes out of left field. (Indeed, it would have been more courageous for Heffernan to have left the epilogue out - while possibly not satisfying everyone, ending it that way would have felt more coherent with the rest of this tale.)

This was a story I was very much looking forward to, it simply isn't quite up to par with the first two books in the series, and that is quite a shame. Still, recommended if only to see how Shannon's story does wind up playing itself out and to get a bit of closure with Holly and Gwen.
Profile Image for BooksBooksandmoreBooks69.
1,996 reviews39 followers
December 17, 2019
This is the third and final book in the Gamer Girls Series. 
Shannon is a girl that loves to play and write games. In fact it’s safer for her that way, having never fallen in love, Shannon doesn’t really flirt or date, in fact Shannon finds it all so very frustrating. She can’t seem to connect, life in the virtual world seems so much easier. 
Shannon needs to find a flat mate, that too is proving a difficult task, the only person that seems right on osier is her gaming Buddy Ryan, but Ryan has a huge crush on Shannon!! So maybe that’s not the way to go. But with a little convincing, they give the flat sharing a go.... 
It goes surprisingly well, in fact Shannon sees Ryan in a different light, they have a laugh, they like the same stuff. Could she let him in? 
By the time she figures this out, Ryan has moved on, (not getting your feelings reciprocated has a tendency to do that) can she let Ryan know that she’s interested? And if she does will it count? 

I have to say that I enjoyed this one a little more than the others. Shannon’s attachment to her two best friends is evident, her work place needs a good shake up, and she needs to form a few more attachments (Ryan for one) the conflict that Shannon faces on a daily basis must have been so draining. All she wants is what her two best friends have, but she can’t flirt and be casual, there has to be a connection between her and the other person. And watching Ryan form an attachment to someone who is not right for him was messing with her head. 
Catching up with the other previous (book) characters was good, it felt like catching up with old friends. Downside, I didn’t need so much info on game playing (yes I know that’s the premise of the book, but that’s my opinion) 

So will Shannon get her man? Will she get this game finished that she’s working on? You’ll have to read to find out 😉



🦋


Profile Image for Narci.
375 reviews
January 24, 2023
Shannon is so very sweet, carrying, loyal and respectful; and a Demisexual. In this book we find out what a Demi sexual is, about girl gamers as well as other atypical gamers and romances like Ryans. My heart went out to Shannon, being different and misunderstood it isn't easy especially in matters of the heart. I loved the connection she has with her longtime friends, especially Tyler and her coworker Ryan. It's not until her friend Tyler moves in that Shannon's world bursts to life, which also complicates things since she'd rejected him. Tyler moving in with Shannon not only awakens a part of her that was dormant, that takes time to build for a Demisexual, but she finds out he's dating her co-worker who has hated her for some reason. Shannon's personal and professional life go spiraling out of control, with no happiness in sight until she realizes what she truly really wants. Tyler is such a sweet, well-mannered guy who decided to make things work with his girlfriend despite his feelings for Shannon. Tyler settles for what he has since there is no hope with Shannon only to realize his mistake. I loved the interaction, collaboration, banter with Tyler and Shannon as they work and play games. I loved the game theme and plot and wished I could be there watching. This book series captivated me with the whole gaming industry being a gamer myself, I was left itching to play The Haunted Place and Speak Easy. This book touches a lot of issues we are dealing with in society today and brings forth the impacts of not communicating. Actions as well as no actions have consequences that can alter a person's life. I loved Nana in this story with all her wisdom. This series is amazing, and I plan to reread it again and again..


Profile Image for Sue Galuska.
1,046 reviews25 followers
December 18, 2019
This book is the 3rd and final book in this series and it is Shannon O'Rourke's story. Shannon has never been in love but would love to be. She just needs to feel a strong connection to someone before she can even begin to think about dating them. When Shannon's roommate moves out the only person interested in moving in who is normal is her friend Tyler, the same one who kissed her at Gwen's wedding when she felt nothing. Shannon lets Tyler move in even though he may still have feelings for her. As Shannon gets to know Tyler better, she starts to realize that she has a connection to him but there is a problem....now Tyler is dating one of Shannon's co-workers...Megan...whom she does not like.

All through the story just when it looks like things may go Shannon's way and she will get her happy ending....she gets thrown a curve ball....both in her personal life or her professional life. When Shannon finally realizes what it is that she truly wants out of life her happiness starts to fall into place.

Overall I enjoyed this book. At times it seemed as though the story was jumping all over the place but I really did like the general story. I love the ideas of the types of games she would try and design....sounds like a fun job. Tyler sounds like a perfect, dreamy guy! Together they made a fun couple.
Profile Image for Dísir.
1,743 reviews188 followers
October 15, 2019
This was unfortunately, a total disconnect for me.

Not only was I plunged into a world with a bewildering array of characters at the very start which made it difficult to navigate the whole setup, there was also the certain issue I took with Shannon who kept insisting that she didn't want to encourage Tyler's crush on her. Only after they become roommates does she suddenly, with the speed of a lightning strike, discover that she actually is crushing on him.

The long explanations of her demi-sexuality and the lack of focus and build-up added to the source of frustration, more so since for the most of the book, Tyler spends his time with a new girlfriend, who also happens to be a bitchy rival of the heroine.

Personally, it was hard to get invested in them at all, given the circumstances surrounding Shannon's work and the focus on gaming, when I wanted to see an equal amount of time spent developing a pairing that barely did much together, thanks to poor timing. But when I started skimming throughout most of the story, it became clear this wasn't for me at all.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
Profile Image for LJT.
1,258 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2019
Make Your Move is an interesting novel by new to me author Laura Heffernan. Shannon, the main character, is a gamer. She creates games for a living and loves to play games. She is the ultimate gamer. Shannon has never been in love because it takes her a really long time to convert friendship or like into something more meaningful. Tyler is a friend that enjoys playing games. He has crushed on Shannon for some time, but she has never felt anything romantic toward him. So when Tyler needs a place to stay and Shannon needs a new roommate, she reluctantly agrees to let him move in.

Shannon and Tyler attend a conference together and their excitement is enticing. Amazingly and all of a sudden, Shannon begins to develop feelings for Tyler. She believes Tyler is still dating one of her snarky coworkers, so she is resistant to act on her new affections. Luckily, it all works out in the end.

I liked this book, however some of the terminology was new to me. Shannon's group of friends are fun, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Overall, a solid read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Vikkie.
520 reviews36 followers
October 12, 2019
Oh my goodness, I’ve waited what feels like forever for this book. Thankfully I managed to not nag Laura too much. This certainly hasn’t disappointed.
It has taken me less than two hours to read this absolutely gorgeous book. I’ve giggled and I’ve cried all at once. Laura has a way of making you feel the emotions of the characters in her books.
The developing relationship between Shannon and Tyler has been magical. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a good friends to lovers tale. This has the added drama of Tyler dating Shannon’s bosses daughter- who is a complete spoiled brat.

Laura has told an absolutely superb story in not only this book, but the entire trilogy and I have absolutely adored each instalment. I feel extremely invested in these characters, so much that I hope there is another instalment (Gamer Girls Settle Down maybe).
I wish I could give this book a rating of hundreds of stars, five stars really doesn’t portray the magic of the story or show just how much I have loved this. Laura is an extremely talented writer and I can’t wait to read more.
Profile Image for Sharon Redfern.
714 reviews25 followers
December 8, 2019
This book was an interesting and unique look at the friends to lovers trope. Shannon is a game designer who lives in an apartment in her Nanas house. When she needs a roommate, she reluctantly agrees to have her friend, Tyler move in. Her reluctance stems from the fact that Tyler had kissed her months earlier and Shannon didn’t reciprocate the feelings. Shannon is demisexual and has never fallen in love.
Add to the plot that Tyler is dating Shannon’s nemesis at work and it gets pretty interesting. As feelings change the outside relationships impact Shannon and Tyler’s possible HEA. In addition to a nice little plot there’s a lot of information about games in real life that sounds pretty fun. This is the third book in a series and it’s definitely readable on its own. Although I have to say, the earlier books are pretty good too.
Profile Image for Annmarie Reddick.
77 reviews4 followers
December 21, 2019
ARC: Make Your Move is about ,Shannon,a girl who loves to make board games. She currently works for a company that makes children’s games but Shannon really wants to make games for adults. The book follows Shannon as she works at this company while working through troubles in her daily life, whether it be from family, co-workers, or friends.

Make Your Move was a great book! It is a very easy read and was captivating from page one. I really enjoyed reading this book, because it was light and at times funny. The characters were well written and as I was reading I really felt like I was there with them. This was a relatable book and offered a lot of great quotes to keep in mind.

I highly recommend this book! You get workplace drama, comedy, and a love story all in one book. I will definitely be buying this book for my friends!
Profile Image for Rady Reads.
824 reviews20 followers
November 27, 2019
I must admit this book was my favourite of the whole series. I was laughing quite a lot. I was also sad for Shannon. I was cheering for her. While she was thinking about new games I wanted to get all our board games out of the chest and start to play. 
And I also have to say the whole series couldn't get better ending than this one. It was just perfect. 
Shannon deserved it and thankfully both characters could recognise their mistakes and right the wrongs. Anyway I loved this book and could only recommend the series. 
11.4k reviews197 followers
December 10, 2019
This is a friends to more novel that brings a wide range of diversity to the game table. Shannon has never been in love. She's really focused on her work as a game designer- and her workplace is not really all that pleasant. When she needs a room mate, she picks Tyler, also a gamer. Their friends know these two are meant for each other sooner than they do (especially since Tyler starts dating someone else). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a quick read that will appeal to those who like spunky heroines with a twist.
Profile Image for LianaReads blog.
2,802 reviews249 followers
December 12, 2019
Make your move is the third book in the series and I got to love these characters from the beginning.
This book is probably my favourite of all of them.
Make your move is actually a very interesting decision to take in accepting that she’s still to fall in love and when she gets to know the real Tyler, the man who had a crush on her but she denied, and now she has to watch how he’s falling for someone else.
Friendship, real life situations and love, that’s the perfect mix for a great read.
Profile Image for Holly Kerr.
Author 58 books254 followers
January 29, 2020
The smart, fun and final book in the Gamer Girl series does not disappoint. In fact, I think it's my fav of the three. Shannon is a different type of heroine from your regular chick lit/rom-com books, in both her job and her sexuality. Kudos to Laura Heffernan for stepping out of the box. As with the other two books, I finished with new insight on a bunch of things, as well as a desire to play a board game. Catan, anyone?
Profile Image for Caitlin.
596 reviews17 followers
December 2, 2019
I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but the opinions are my own.
Oh this was so sweet. I loved Tyler and I loved Shannon! Their romance was a really great buildup and I adored the lgbtq+ reference and explanation. I am so glad to see a sister finding love 💕. This was a good book! I definitely like this series!!
2 reviews
December 24, 2019
Fun book!

This was a great book! I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the gaming parts and the romance, the comedy and the friendships. This was another fun adventure for the characters I’ve enjoyed getting to know in the previous books in the trilogy.
550 reviews5 followers
January 15, 2020
Okay the 3rd star is really for being an inclusive book with a demi sexual lead with a POC love interest and trans bestie.
I didn't understand the conflict that happened, I didn't understand the drift and I definitely am not sure I would have accepted the apology so readily as she did.
Profile Image for TheOneAndOnlySam.
1,064 reviews
April 15, 2020
This was equal parts cute, equal parts frustrating to read. A lot of things are explored and while some were covered really well others not so much - and those were the frustrating bits to read.
All in all a cutesy rom-com
Profile Image for Erin.
989 reviews18 followers
September 2, 2020
This is the first romance I've ever read with a demisexual heroine. Shannon is pretty happy with her life. She has a fulfilling day job at an educational game company, and she is working on her own epic board game designs by night. She shares a house with her nurturing grandma, and has game nights with her friends, and doesn't really want or need a romantic relationship.

When her friend Tyler needs a new place to live, and all of the Craigslist roommates she's interviewed have been hilariously terrible (one takes a shower and steals her toothbrush!), she offers to let him move in. They had one awkward moment a few months ago, but Shannon explained that she wasn't attracted to him (or anyone), and they agreed to stay friends. Of course, being demisexual means that just because Shannon isn't attracted to Tyler now, doesn't mean she might not be attracted to him in the future, which could get complicated....

This book is hilarious, and definitely my favorite of the series. Shannon is so witty, and increasingly ridiculous things keep happening to her. There's a villain who's practically a cackling witch, and a surprise encounter with someone at her grandma's apartment, and it goes on. I was satisfied with the resolution, and with the way Shannon's demi orientation is portrayed.

I haven't read anything else by Laura Heffernan besides the Gamer Girls books, but I could read another whole series with these characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.
Profile Image for Barbara Tobey.
3,008 reviews86 followers
December 24, 2019
This was my first experience with this series. It is definitely different from the typical romance story. It did keep me turning the pages. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Esmari.
85 reviews3 followers
February 17, 2020
Of the three books and protagonists, this is the one I identified with the most. I'm not demisexual, but I am much more likely to be attracted to someone once I get to know them. It can be a real struggle at times! And I've made my share of mistakes, pushing people away and saying "never" then regretting it later. And Nana is a hoot!
Profile Image for Sharon Tyler.
2,815 reviews40 followers
December 6, 2019
Make Your Move is the third book in the Gamer Girls series by Laura Heffernan. I have read the second book in the series, but not the first. All of the books seem to stand up well on their own. There is significant character overlap so returning readers will get some bonuses from that aspect, but new readers will still be able to fully enjoy the story. This book is currently scheduled for release on December 17 2019.

At twenty-eight, Shannon has yet to fall in love. Which is fine, since she’d rather spend her evenings creating games than swiping right or going on awkward blind dates. Right now though, she has two little problems. First, she’s stuck for a new game idea. Second, the only candidate in her roommate search is Tyler, the gaming buddy who’s long had an unrequited crush on her. It should be awkward. But when Tyler moves in, the situation doesn’t go at all the way Shannon expected. Between helping her deal with coworkers and fixing the bugs in her latest game, Tyler’s proving to be damn near perfect. Except for the fact that he’s falling for someone else. Maybe Shannon has already forfeited her turn. Maybe she’s playing for nothing but heartache. But the best games have endings you can never predict.

Make Your Move is a romance that handles the friends to more trope beautifully and treats the spectrum of sexuality with honesty and respect. I really enjoyed getting to see Shannon's character as she struggled with so much all at once. The back stabbing and issues at work were sadly very realistic, and there were a couple times I had to walk away from the book for a minute because it was stressing me out. Similarly there were a couple moments that made me want to kick Tyler. Even though he is an extremely well written character, and one I would like to have in my circle of friends, there were moments that he really made me angry. Both characters were very concistand in their personalities, and their actions were on point throughout the story. I think my liking for both characters made the conflicts of the story that much harder to bear. I was completely engaged in the story right from the start, and really enjoy the group of characters that this series follows. I can think of a few secondary characters that I would love to read about next, and I will continue to read Hefferman's books.

Make Your Move is a fantastic read that had me emotional enough that I had to close the book a few times.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
1,494 reviews23 followers
January 23, 2020
Thanks to Kensington Books for the ARC!

This is the third book of the Gamer Girls series. After meeting Gwen and Holly, now it's time to learn more about their friend, Shannon.

Unlike the other girls, Shannon's single. The fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend isn't a problem for her, but that doesn't stop people from making assumptions about her life. Her family members are always telling her to find someone and "be happy".

I thought it was interesting to read a book about a demisexual woman (she doesn't feel sexual attraction for people before having a deep connection with them). It's actually the first time I read a story in which the main character speaks so openly about this subject, with the right names and everything. In case the reader never heard of this before, there's no reason to worry. She'll explain everything.

"People thought demisexuals didn’t want love, but that wasn’t true at all. I believed in love, in relationships, in finding the right person to spend the rest of my life with. Plenty of demisexuals or asexuals also believed in marriages of convenience and companionship, but I wanted the whole package. Maybe someday I’d find myself attracted to someone at the same time they wanted me, but today wasn’t that day."

Shannon's looking for a roommate. Her friends suggest that Tyler should live with her, since they're already friends and he also needs a place to stay. The problem is, Tyler used to have a crush on her, and they kissed while they were in Mexico for Gwen and Cody’s wedding. When that happened, she told him she didn't feel anything special for him, so they wouldn't go any far... He understood, but was still hopeful that maybe she'd change her mind.

Now, Tyler claims he's over her and would love to be her roommate. He's even dating someone else already... And Shannon hates the girl, Megan... Mostly because they work together, she's her boss's daughter and she's always making sure that everyone knows she's above them, even though she barely knows how to do her job.

So... Yeah.
Living with a cishet guy could be complicated.
Especially a guy who used to have a crush on her.
And was currently dating someone she hated.
But Shannon had no other option at the moment, so she decided to take this challenge.

I honestly wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. It was a great surprise!
I think it's my favorite of this series!
Profile Image for Smut Report.
1,648 reviews192 followers
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March 25, 2022
Heat Factor: Sealed with a kiss
Character Chemistry: Nothing special, though our hero is extremely respectful
Plot: I am developing a crush on my roommate! Also, my job is toxic.
Overall: A nice enough read

The bad news: Shannon needs a new roommate, and everyone she meets via her Craigslist ad is certifiably cuckoo-bananas.
The good news: Her friend Travis needs a place to stay.
The bad news: He asked her out a few months ago; Shannon turned him down.
The good news: He has a girlfriend now! No awkward feelings there. Phew!
The bad news: The new girlfriend is a psycho bitch.
The worse news: Who works with Shannon.
The worst news: And is trying to sabotage her job.

Here’s the thing. The workplace drama that Shannon faces takes up way more space and is also more engaging than the developing connection between her and Travis. I was a lot more invested in the question of how Shannon was going to deal with Dennis the Creep (seriously, where is HR?) and Megan the Meanie than in whether she was going to pursue Travis after all.

Make Your Move kept my attention - I breezed right through it - but because the focus was primarily on Shannon’s promotion bid, I wasn’t that invested in the romantic relationship. Furthermore, the story in the first person from Shannon’s perspective, so we don’t get a lot of insight into Travis’s thought processes. When the Big Romantic Gesture happens, my reaction was: Well, that’s very sweet, but no butterflies.

Edited to add: It has been pointed out to me that the main character is actually Tyler, not Travis. How embarrassing for me. However. I think the fact that I couldn't remember his name long enough to review the book is indicative of how little an impact he made on me while I was reading this book.


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

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Profile Image for LA Loves RomComs.
947 reviews6 followers
December 11, 2019
I have been reading the Gamer Girl series since the first book, and they are really so enjoyable. Even though it is a series, each book is fully-contained stand-alone, so you can read them in any order, but you do get the most out of reading them in published order.

Make Your Move is a friends-to-lovers story that focuses on Shannon, a game designer, and her friend Tyler. When Shannon needs a roommate, she's reluctant to let Tyler move in because months ago, Tyler kissed her, and she has no romantic feelings for him at all. Plus, he's dating her work nemesis to boot! But with them living in close proximity, Tyler's feelings continue to grow, and Shannon starts to understand that maybe there is something good to be found in loving someone else and being loved in return. Their road to an HEA is paved with little bumps from the outside, but they do get there eventually, and the story is worth the read.
Profile Image for Helena#bookdreamer.
1,215 reviews10 followers
October 10, 2019
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a bit of an awkward romance where the heroine doesn't want to have the hero as a roommate because he used to have a crush on her but then she ends up having a crush on him and he is no longer interested. Both were incredibly bland and lacked chemistry and sexual tension. Ending was rushed and unbelievable, he only returns her feelings after he finds out the chick he was dating was dishonest. Just plain brutal to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marti.
214 reviews
December 1, 2019
I had a tough time with this book. While I enjoyed the gaming aspects, the romantic plot just didn't engage me because I didn't care about either of the main characters. Also, I felt each of the characters was there to "check off a box" -- black male, white bitchy female, trans male, demi female, etc. I don't think this diversity added to the story; it just bogged it down for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
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