Game Changer is the second book in Deanna Faison’s series, and this time we get Ethan—Maddie’s brother and Cameron’s best friend—and Maya, Maddie’s close friend. I loved finally seeing these two step into the spotlight after years of unspoken feelings and “almost” moments. Their flirty night together and eventual reunion had all the sparks of a second-chance romance, and the chemistry between them was undeniable.

Ethan’s vulnerability really stood out to me. His anxiety about his size and his tendency to overthink added depth to his character, making him feel real and relatable. Maya, on the other hand, had her own struggles balancing family expectations with her desires, and while her decisions sometimes created conflict, it also made her journey more authentic. What I especially enjoyed was how deeply Ethan cared for Maya—his devotion was touching, even if at times I wished he gave himself more space to grow.

The alternating perspectives added richness, and I loved revisiting familiar faces from Playmaker. While this wasn’t my absolute favorite in the series, it was heartfelt, engaging, and a sweet addition that fans will enjoy.

Sweet, sexy and full of heart this sports romance will keep your heart pounding snd the pages turning! If you’ve read Becka Mack then try this!

Easy reading for a NA audience who enjoy spicy romances, I personally find it quite flat. I'm also questioning if maybe the Spanish parts needs to be curated a bit better because it seems weird that Maya parents call her "Bambina" which is Italian for female child and a term that no one in Italy would use as "pet name" for their daughter and thinking if that might be the same for LATAM and I was slightly put off wondering how much of the cultural references in the book were actually correct.

Game Changer by Deanna Faison

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Deanna Faison has absolutely nailed the emotional rollercoaster of young love, second chances, and finding your own path.

Ethan and Maya are the kind of characters you root for from page one—flawed, fiery, and full of heart. Their chemistry is off the charts. Their banter is absolutely delicious. Their journey is perfect and full of feels.

Ethan’s trying to rebuild his life, and Maya’s finally breaking free from her parents’ expectations. When fate throws them into dorm rooms next door, sparks fly, secrets simmer, and hearts collide. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s utterly addictive.

The tropes included within this story are:

🧡 Friends to Lovers
💛 Second Chance
🧡 Forced Proximity
💛 Emotional healing and growth
🧡 College Sports Romance
💛 Dual POV

This book is perfect for fans of romance that’s equal parts spicy and soulful. It’s got heart, heat, and a hero who’ll make you swoon. Maya’s journey to self-discovery is empowering, and Ethan’s redemption arc is just a warm hug you didn’t know you needed.

So grab your cozy blanket, pour a cup of something sweet, and dive into this gem. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll definitely fall in love.

This was such a sweet college romance. I loved the chemistry between Ethan and Maya. This book had such good yearning and heartfelt moments. I really liked the way the mental health aspect was addressed and was a realistic portrayal of anxiety. I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks NetGalley 💜

This was such an easy read which I loved. And as someone who suffers with an anxiety disorder it was really refreshing to read something where it’s been portrayed so well. A brilliant read.

4 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶️

After reading the Playmaker I was excited to read Game Changer. I absolutely loved this book!

Ethan isn't the typical MMC, he's suffers from insecurities and anxiety which is super relatable.

This book is laugh out loud funny and I just couldn’t put it down!!

I do wish there was an epilogue but I'm hoping to see more of Ethan & Maya in future books!

Thank you for this ARC!

Ethan and Maya have history, after an amazing night together, Maya ghosted him. The last thing he expects is to see her at college, let alone for her room to be right next to his.

From the get go it’s clear they have unfinished business and I was desperate for them to get together. Their connection was palpable and I could feel the tension between them instantly.

Despite trying to stay away from each other, Ethan seems to show up for Maya when she least expects it but also at times when it means the most. Maya is desperately trying to protect Ethan from finding out the reason she ghosted him but it’s super clear they cannot fight what is between them.

They give into temptation and it sets them both off on a journey of figuring out what they want to do with their futures, I loved that they done this together and how supportive Ethan was of Maya and her dreams, despite how much he was struggling to do this for himself.

Things I loved:
* Friendships - Ethan had a 10/10 group of friends around him, honestly I loved that they were nerdy, honest, funny and brutal when he needed it.
* The characters are relatable and lovable, they each have their flaws but they come across in a really personable way and I went through this book just wanted the best for all of them.
* The romance between Ethan and Maya, Ethan is giving other book boyfriends a run for their money, he was honestly perfect.
* Anxiety - played a bit part in influencing Ethan and his future. This is something he had deeply struggled with and I was proud that as a character he managed to share this with his friends and had been working to get help on managing it.
* It was spicy 🌶️
* Maya’s courage with her family - it’s not easy to stand up to people close to you but her reason for it was so strong and so worthwhile. I love that she found a reason to stand up for herself.

Read the book! Trust me 🥰

Favourite tropes:
* Forced proximity
* Sisters best friend
* Forbidden romance
* Second chance romance

My first book from Deanna Faison and I am definitely looking to read more after this instalment!
It was a coincidence that I had just been reading another book with a similar premise and again with the MMC struggling with anxiety, this was done with sensitivity and not too heavy so it meant you were still having fun with the romance but appreciative of the struggles without it bringing you down.
What I have discovered in reading this book and the other with a MMC struggling is that the norm is for the MMC to be strong and confident and so then having one who doubts himself and needs the FMC to be supportive and the "knight in shining armour" does take some adjusting.

I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest review

I absolutely adored PLAYMAKER, so I felt pretty confident that I would love this one too - I'm so glad that my feelings were correct! Maya and Ethan's story was everything I had hoped it to be and yet, so much more. I think what I enjoyed most was that this wasn't your bog-standard love story, there was also a pretty strong message, and it showed that life actually can be hard when you are ruled by anxiety, which I found to be really relatable. I am becoming a big fan of Deanna's writing and can't wait to read more of her books in the future.

A light-hearted sports-themed romance that is perfect for a beach day or afternoon by the

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ethan & Maya 💙
After reading the Playmaker I was excited to read Game Changer.
I adored this book!
Ethan isn't the typical MMC, he's not 6ft something and doesn't have the typical fit body and he suffers from anxiety and insecurities but I absolutely loved him! He was just so sweet.
I felt so connected to these characters and their struggles as they were very realistic.
I laughed out loud a few times and also had a tear in my eye a few times. I loved that we got to see more of Cameron & Maddie and I just love all the side characters.
Everything about this book was just perfect and I am really looking forward to whatever comes next.
I do wish there was an epilogue but I'm hoping to see more of Ethan & Maya in whatever book comes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Dean a Faison for this ARC.

4.5 🌟

This was soooo sweet! Ethan and Maya were an absolute dream couple to read about - they had so much character and depth within their stories. Ethan was a MMC that we don't get to read about often where he is dealing with anxiety and insecurities, which was very refreshing compared to the very confident men I'm so used to reading about. He was very attentive with Maya, knowing the exact ways to treat her the best he possibly could. Maya was a complex FMC who had a lot to deal with regarding family support and believing in her own decisions where her career and relationship was concerned. I loved everything about it, including the side characters, I absolutely need more of them. The only reason I couldn't round this up to a 5 star (but I still will for Netgalley anyway) was because the story definitely would have benefited from a little epilogue, although I also assume we will get crumbs of how Ethan and Maya are getting on in future books!

Thank you NetGalley and Deanna Faison for this ARC

This was a really lovely heart warming story, with relatable characters and just overall a really good read. Ethan and Maya had a genuine connection which portrayed normal and real life issues. It's an easy read, which you could read in one sitting but the story sticks with you afterwards. I would highly recommend this book on, a very good sports, friends to lovers and best friends siblings tropes.

I really liked this book. Ethan and Maya were both super relatable and their journey felt real. Ethan wasn’t perfect, and that actually made him easy to connect with. He struggled, but he kept trying, and his heart was in the right place. I liked that about him a lot. Maya also had her own things going on, and I appreciated how strong she tried to be, even when it was hard. The way the story handled topics like anxiety and self worth was really well done and something I really appreciate. It showed the messy parts of life without making it too heavy, it felt very real, something you can connect with. The chemistry between Ethan and Maya felt natural, sweet and sometimes intense too. I just wished the pacing was a bit more smooth in some parts, but it's totally a personal preference. But overall, I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend it. Thank you so much to the author, Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

This was such a lighthearted fun sports romance maya and Ethan had Greta chemistry. It was fun to see how they can back together. Highly recommend for a fun light sports themed romance

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Ethan and Maya are a unique pair of characters, they've known each other years, as Ethan's sister's bestie, Maya has been around Ethan for years, they've spent late nights eating ice cream, building attraction for one another, and they finally give in while on holiday together. After a night of passion (explored in book 1) Maya calls things off.

They both leave for college - unknowingly, the same college, and they'll be neighbors. They've not seen each other since Maya ended things...

This story is accurate portrayal of people trying to navigate college and balance responsibilities and expectations of those around them alongside their own dreams. Ethan is sweet and a good friend; Maya is a good foil for him with her spicy, adventurous side.

Tropes explored
Sibling's best friend
Friends to lovers
Immigrant-stories
Parent expectations vs own dreams
Coming of age
Second chance

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.