the right move – GoodeyReads

I’m actually surprised by how many I loved this year from this genre. I’m notoriously cranky about reading them. BUT HEY. That means that these truly are top notch. I hope you find a book for your TBR next year.

Scroll down to see which books are open, closed or sweet romances!

Note: I didn’t count any rereads on this list.

adult Romance

Open Door:

Whispers of You
The Love Wager
Final Offer
Wing and a Miss
Echoes of You
Finding Gene Kelly
If Only You
Pier Pressure
The Seven Year Slip
A Little Magic
Things We Left Behind
Shadows of You
The Right Move
A World Without You
The Takedown
Last Call at the Local
The Catch

Closed Door

/Fade to Black:

Speechless
Desire or Defense
Practice Makes Perfect
The Blonde Identity
Flirtation or Faceoff
I Got You
The Last Love Note

Sweet:

Eloise and the Grump Next Door
Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
First to Fall
Royal Gone Rogue
Betting on the Boy Next Door
Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder
Kissing for Keeps
A Class of Her Own
How to Kiss Your Enemy
Hello Stranger
One Last Play
American Gauntlet
The Pocket Pair
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley
Upping the Ante
How to Kiss a Movie Star
Just Don’t Fall
But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor
Can’t Help Falling
Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
Absolutely Not in Love
Cabin Crush
Emergency Contact
The One with the Kiss Cam
The Christmas Letters
The Duet
The Golden Goal

young adult/new adult Romance

Open Door:

The Deal

Closed Door/Fade to Black:

Tilly in Technicolor
Check & Mate
Even if it Breaks Your Heart

Sweet:

Running Barefoot
Safe Harbor
All Alone With You
The Getaway List

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Liz Tomforde
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RYAN

She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate.

The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural.

Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.

INDY

I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others.

Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love.

I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all

STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

Y’all. I had zero plans to binge this book in basically a day and I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING. I absolutely get the hype around Ryan Shay now and he’s officially a new favorite.

I loved that the whole vibe of this book was quiet love is the loudest. Those kind of moments are my favorite when reading a romance book and Ryan and Indy both did so many things for each other that were quiet and without fanfare that showed just how much love was between them. I was SMITTEN. And could honestly sit here and list moment after moment that was beautifully tender and heartfelt and melted me into a puddle (but also the protective and jealous moments SENT ME). I have not recovered.

I loved seeing the characters from Mile High and I love the friendships and sibling relationships. They are strong and caring and only add to how much this book sings. It’s a new sports romance favorite of mine.

Overall audience notes: