Ilsa Madden-Mills
Not My Match (The Game Changers Book 2)
ARC REVIEW
Giselle and Devon
This story is set in the charming town of Daisy, with all of its quirky characters. I did not read book 1 in this series, but I was not stuck with the occasional reference from it. This book follows Devon, a pro football player. He is used to people leaving him, so he does not do relationships. He keeps things casual. But one woman has caught his attention. Giselle is a highly intelligent science nerd with a v- card problem. Looking for help, she asks Devon for assistance.
The push and pull and banter in this book is very entertaining.

“If you want to be happy, do what makes your heart fly. Every breath you inhale must be meaningful.”

I absolutely adored Devon and Giselle’s story, and I loved getting to know these characters on a deeper level.

This story is a fun and sexy slow burn, and Giselle and Devon ended up being totally perfect for each other. I loved seeing her quirky side, and I was delighted to find that underneath his cocky exterior, Devon is kind of a protective and vulnerable cinnamon roll of a man. They both are so unique and layered, and they complement each other so well.

It’s not necessary to have read Not My Romeo, but if you have, you’ll get to see all of your favorite characters and meet a few great new ones. The gang all returns for more fun in Not My Match, and I really enjoyed it.

Once again, Ilsa has created characters that have become real. I'm left feeling like Giselle and Jack are people I would see out in public. People that maybe I would be friends with.
And this, this is what makes her writing a win. Not My Match will definitely be a book I read again

All the feels!
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2021
All the feels!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. This book gave me all the feels! An emotional ride!

I absolutely LOVED this book! What an absolutely perfect story! Giselle and Devon’s story takes us on a journey you will not soon forget! I felt so much reading this book, pure joy, frustration, happiness and I loved the sexy times!

This author just keeps getting better! Well done!

No spoilers with my review! This is a must read!

Beautiful story! How incredibly intense and full of feeling! I loved Giselle and Devon together, with their banter, Giselle’s practical jokes, Aiden’s funny times. It was so enjoyable with its funny and heartbreaking moments.

Jack and Elena’s story was sooo good but this one had more heart and also heartbreak. Giselle was still feeling guilty over stealing Elena’s boyfriend, still feeling hurt over Preston’s cheating, and bothered by not having gotten rid of her V-card. When she and Devon meet up after a failed date, there’s heat and chemistry between them. She mistook Devon’s stares for a guy watching a nerdy freak, when it was really a guy watching a woman he wants. I loved that Devon really saw her.

“I saw a girl who took a chance on a guy, sacrificed her relationship with her sister, gave up pieces of herself, and was vibrating with the repercussions, wondering how the hell she’d gotten there.”

There were so many priceless moments, like the stories she writes and tells to Devon, his fascination with her creative mind and the stories she concocts that mix romance and physics, her glorious mind that is full of trivial facts, her big heart who befriends an older woman and embraces her well-being. I loved her practical jokes like when she jumps at him with a shark mask from the deep corners of his dark closet. She’s unique, quirky, intelligent and sensitive. For a man who rejects relations, he’s very close to the edge of a risk and in danger of falling over...

Giselle never thought that a gorgeous hunk of man like Devon would ever look at her with lust, and yet he does. When she goes to stay at his penthouse after a fire in her apartment, the fun begins and their love story truly takes flight. We enjoy so many laughable moments! Their attraction grows and yet, there’s a hesitation on Devon’s part. He’s scared of his feelings for Giselle because he’s got abandonment issues. He feels everyone he loves leaves him and he doesn’t want that to happen with Giselle. But she’s so irresistible he can’t resist!

“Even the part of him that’s been holding back from me, I want to cherish. He’s a little broken from the past, but if he wasn’t, then we might never have happened. Fate. I swallow down those words. Too soon, too fast.”

I loved, loved all the characters. The Daisy Lady Gang, composed of Elena, Giselle, their mama Cynthia, and their aunt Clara. The aunt has a younger boyfriend who visits her clandestinely but everyone in town knows, mama Cynthia is a typical Southern mama, passive aggressive, and her Sunday lunch grace before eating is hysterical. There’s Topher, Elena’s bestie who is also now Giselle’s bestie and very attached to mama Cynthia. Myrtle, Giselle’s landlady and close friend, wise and supportive to Giselle’s nerdiness.

I truly enjoyed every moment, every feeling, every joke in this story. Such a well-rounded story of joy, guilt, intelligence, creativity, determination, and the generosity that comes from true love. Giselle and Devon are soul mates that needed to have a bit of turbulence before recognizing who they are to each other.

“I’d be nothing but a shadow of who I am if I left you,”

Beautiful!

I am in ‘Devon Heaven’ as Giselle would say.... this book is fab.

I couldn’t help but have so much love for Giselle, she had me in stitches one minute then my heart breaking for her the next... she is such a tough cookie. A fiercely loyal friend who is super smart.....but then we get a glimpse of her geekiness and insecurities and I just wanted to give her a big hug.
We also meet Devon in all his gorgeous alpha protectiveness.... he is a football bad boy.... living the dream with no one to answer to, but when Giselle is forced to move in with him, they form the most amazing friendship.

I loved how being with Giselle not only brought out Devon’s huge heart but also uncovered his playful imagination, he embraced her weirdness and loved her more for it. They had the silliest of conversations that can only be enjoyed with the people you truly connect with and their bond totally warmed my heart.
Then the more time they spend together, the more Dev realises how empty his life was before....poor man, he didn’t stand a chance against the innocence and naughtiness of Giselle.

As usual from Ms Madden-Mills this story is cleverly thought out, with interesting and intelligent characters whom you can’t help but cheer for. With grown up choices and realistic reasonings this is a must read!

5 Butterfly Stars

Ilsa has done it again, I swear I would read any and everything this woman writes. Her books always make me feel like I’ve just come home, her words wrapping around you with the comfort and ease of an amazing writer. Devon and Giselle were so much more than I could ever have hoped for, creating this beautiful quirky romance that will leave you with a smile on your face and hope in your heart.

I immediately fell in love with Devon when I read Not My Romeo, his easy laughter and unique style choices were always a highlight in that book. So needless to say I was so excited to get my hands on this book. And Devon did not disappoint, he was absolute perfection and had me swooning all over the place, with his caveman antics and gentle but shattered heart. Knowing all that he went through and everything that inevitably turned him into the man he is today, made me cry multiple times while reading. The reactions he caused are so visceral that I could actually feel my heart ache for him.

And Giselle let me tell you, after Not My Romeo I wasn’t sure how I felt about her. I mean how could she have done what she did unless she was a terrible person. But I kept my mind open and put my trust in Ilsa and I am so glad I did. I couldn’t help but fall for this girl and her delightful personality that reminds me of sunshine and her never ending knowledge of random facts. Giselle has this big beautiful heart that is open and caring to all those around her, she was just confused and trusted the wrong people.

But I have to say, the thing I think I loved the most about these two was their undeniable connection. You could feel it like an undercurrent buzzing through page after page until it gets so intense they can’t help but combust. I’m not going to lie this book nearly gave me blue balls waiting for that inevitable explosion, but it was so worth the wait, because they were pure fire.

Ilsa always creates these characters that you just can’t help but love. Even if you don’t like them, just wait and you will. I think that’s what I love most about her writing, I can easily get lost to her words connecting and falling for her characters as if they are real. Her books always leave me with a sense of contentment and I love the time spent inside them. I have yet to read a book by her that I didn’t like and it doesn’t start now. If you haven’t started this yet, DO IT you won’t be disappointed. And just so you know Devon is MINE!!!!

I’ve been impatiently waiting for more in this series...needing another book about characters we met in Not My Romeo!

Devon is a bad boy, edgy NFL football player, emphasis on “player”, with colourful hair, piercings and tattoos, while Giselle is a quirky, genius science geek with half a tattoo who is very innocent, emphasis on innocent!

Giselle and her random thoughts, alternate universes, and sexy alien romance story had me in stitches! Then there’s that slow burn and crazy hot chemistry between these two which was absolute fire. Giselle wants Devon, has since before she met him, and has large feelings for him. Devon wants Giselle, but she’s forbidden and he doesn’t do feelings. Together they’re intense but funny, so different but made for each other...they have that “zing”.

So damn witty with lots of laughs, angst, swooning, and crazy hot sex...what more could you want?!

Giselle is Elena’s younger sister from Not My Romeo. In that book, she came across as a bit aloof. I didn’t like how Elena’s ex had cheated on her with Giselle, but the circumstances were somewhat explained in that book, and even further in this one. Now, we really get to know Giselle, and I’m glad for it. She’s delightfully geeky, which she owns. she’s on a mission to lose her virginity, but doesn’t want to compromise on her personality. As the story develops, though, so does that personality, but for the better. She comes into her own and learns to stand up for herself.



She’s thrown together with Devon, teammate and best friend to Jack (Elena’s now-husband from Not My Romeo). Jack has warned his teammates against pursuing Giselle, so Devon tries to remain friendly with her, even offering his help in finding a suitable match for her virginity mission. You can’t fight attraction indefinitely, though.



Spending time together, they get to know each other better, including Devon’s issues with his father, and Giselle’s birthday curse. I liked seeing them connect emotionally and as friends, so when they do give in to their attraction, it doesn’t feel forced, gratuitous, or rushed. And boy, that first sex scene… *fans self* They certainly do not lack in chemistry.



Giselle has some important decisions to make. Her past errors in judgement regarding Preston cause her to doubt; she needs to learn to trust her choices. For his part, Devon has some abandonment issues to overcome. It takes work to reach their happy ending, but it’s definitely worth it!

Here is my wish for 2021, I wish Ilsa Madden Mills could write a book for me every month or so...I mean I would be my most happiest of people and everyone would win. LOL I LOVE ILSA MADDEN MILLS. This story put it's claws in my heart from the first word and kept it prisoner until the words the end. Devon was so special, he has so much love and loyalty and just doesn't know how to fully give himself because of the hurt he has endured through his life. And Giselle was so fun and quirky. The perfect ying to his yang LOL and their friendship was so contagious I found myself not being able to put this book down. Ilsa Madden Mills is an auto read author for me and this story is part of the reason for that high praise. She is so brilliant at taking opposites and creating a world for them to blossom so beautifully. I loved every word in this. Every tension filled second and I can't wait for her next story. I will just be here waiting...xo

This book was so much fun. I loved that Giselle was a "nerdy" type girl who, while being completely oblivous to how men look at her, is determined to take control of her love life and handle business. I love that she is a braniac and is into science and writing sci-fi romance novels. Devon was deliciously wonderful as the brother in law's best friend who knew a little more of Giselle than needed. Devon knew that she was suppose to be off limits, but even with that he can't stay away from her. This is the perfect opposites attract and roommates to lovers story that will always leave you wanting more. It is a slow burn romance that is so yummy!

If you want to swoon and feel all the feels, this book is for you! I don't know how Ilsa does it, but every book she releases is my new favorite! She writes strong characters. She writes flawed characters. Characters that need to be redeemed. And they're real, so real, that you can't help but fall in love!

Devon and Giselle...wow, they are EVERYTHING! I wanted Devon's book from the minute we met him in Not My Romeo, and if you've read that book, you know Giselle. I love smart and sexy heroines and that is exactly what we get with her. She has so many layers, and I loved learning more about her. Smart women are some of my favorite to read about, and the hidden side of Giselle was so fun to read about!

And Devon...swoon! Words cannot describe how much I fell in love with him. There is so much more to him than the cocky football player. There is a big, beautiful heart there, and we get to see it whenever he is around Giselle. Their chemistry is so palpable, it jumps off the page. The connection between these two is so strong right from the get-go, that it sucks you in and has you reading the book in one sitting because you don't want to leave the penthouse!

Run, don't walk, to pick up this book! It is everything you want in a romance novel -- steam, heart, laughs, and quirky characters. This was everything I love and adore about Ilsa's books and I have so many happy, swoony feels after reading this book <3

So I’m going to be real. When I saw this book was about Giselle I was a little less excited, because I didn’t know if I could get over Giselle from Jack and Elena’s book. But I am so glad that I took a deep breath and dove into this one, because I’d like to shout from the mountains that I love Giselle. As someone who would never remotely try and explain how the inside of my mind works to anyone else for fear that they would think I was absolutely insane. I relate to Giselle on SO many levels. As far as multiple alternate universes in her head, yep. I too have one featuring Chris Hemsworth, but that’s not the point here. Needless to say that I went from feeling unsure about Giselle to being willing to call her one of my favorite heroines. Did she create some of her own problems? Sure, but we’re all guilty of that sometimes and she felt real. I love how she cares about her students and she’s not afraid to stand up for herself even when she’s nervous. Giselle advocating for herself makes me want to stand up and applaud. She's got such a big heart and she cares about everyone around her, the way she treated her neighbor made me love her more. Not to mention that getting to see Giselle and Elena interact with each other and seeing the growth of their relationship.

I could go on about her all day, but that is not to discount how great Devon is, but I went in from Jack and Elena’s book knowing I loved him, so it was less of a surprise how much I loved him. He was every bit the fun-loving, great guy he was in the first book, but more. I loved seeing what made Devon the guy he is and getting to see him grow. Seeing his relationship with his father and how he grew up, not to mention his relationship with Jack, Lawrence, and Aiden. He's a good guy from the outside in and the way he welcomes Giselle into his home without question even when she has Pookie with her.

As a pairing though they really jumped off the page as me. They balance each other out and their quirks work together. He has no problem peeling back his layers to let Giselle in and seeing the two of them as roommates was great. I loved the easy dynamic between the two of them. A couple that can laugh and has a good time together is always a favorite of mine. I mean the tension and sexy times are great, but give me a couple who can laugh together and I’m gonna ship them! I loved this book. It is quirky and fun and you can’t help but want to see these two score their very own happily ever after. I was excited for the follow up to Not My Romeo and this blew me out of the water with how much I enjoyed it. These two are an amazing match and it is one of those books that I can’t wait to read again!

I really loved this book! It was fun and sweet and exactly what I needed after a long day. Not to mention it was pretty hot as well.

Giselle's character was great, and I found her journey very relatable, especially when choosing a career. Watching her grapple with her own guilt of hurting her sister and deciding whether to pursue writing (alien smut!) or science felt realistic. I also appreciated how the author depicted sexism in STEM but never made Giselle conform. Giselle was weird, and she grew to love her weirdness.

I enjoyed Devon as well. Boy, was that first kiss hot. (Note to self: be careful what you read in class.) But my biggest problem was how wishy-washy Devon was. One moment, he's possessive, and the next, he is pushing Giselle away. And I know, I know. . .trauma, but it what frustrating at points. I want commitment in my romances, and I don't know if the miscommunication between the characters and will they-won't they felt warranted. I didn't believe it.

Overall, I think the book was fun and a perfect palate cleanser. It was a fast read, maybe a little too fast at certain points, hence why I felt like I couldn't believe some of the characters' motivations and the ending felt abrupt. If you want a fun, hot romp, then definitely check out this book!

Such a fun read! Giselle and her family were hilarious and I just loved Devon and Giselle together they were the perfect fit.

Giselle finds herself in a bit of a funk. And she's blaming it on her birthday curse. Since her 15th birthday, she has had nothing but bad luck. With her birthday approaching, she's ready to break this curse and get rid of her VCard!

Devon Walsh is the best friend to Giselle's new brother-in-law - Jack. Ever since the wedding, she's noticed that Devon just can't seem to take his eyes off of her. And when he mysteriously shows up at her house, at just the right time things start to shift between the two of them. Devon is attracted to Giselle, but he's been hurt in the past plus he's trying to deal with his dad. He just can't commit but he sure would love to try.

The sexual tension between these two is OFF THE CHARTS. And I was rolling during Giselle's momma's Sunday Lunch Prayer! This book is full of steam and I loved every minute of it. These two were magnetic and so perfect for each other!

I sure hope that Aiden is next in the series!!

Swooon! I am so in love with these characters and this story. The chemistry is off the charts steamy. The banter is smart and made me smile. The storyline held me captive and I enjoyed every minute of being on this journey. I absolutely love Ilsa Madden-Mills' writing and I can't wait for more from her and to see what she has in store for us next.

I so loved this book!! Devon is not all just a pretty face and muscles, there is depth in the heart and mind of this football player. Giselle needs to learn how to really live and get out of the academic classroom she has lived her whole life in. Devon and Giselle are just what the other needs in this opposite attract and bring out the best in each other.

We met them in Not My Romeo, these two opposites are in each other’s orbits, she needs some help with the dating world and Devon is there to help her but they are falling hard for each other. Opposites attract, a conflicted somewhat tortured hero with a quiet, naive inexperienced girl who he is falling hard for. A really good addition to the Game Changers Series.

I don’t know how she does it each and every time, making me fall more in love with her work!

We met Devon and Giselle in Not My Romeo and we know these two where gonna burn up the pages. That immediate spark... that zing that is undeniable.

Hate to admit it, but I’m a sucker for a Broken Alpha and Devon, poor Devon is struggling. Devon, exudes confidence and major sexual appeal. Our man though does not, I repeat does not do long term. Of course though we known how that goes and he is thrown for a loop by our so adorable and Nerdy Giselle.

Giselle, oh sweet, and oh wow not what I was expecting Giselle. This girl can break down string theory and black holes like no other, but she has her kinky side and I LOVE HER! I will admit that I was not a fan of her’s in the start of NMR but by the end I needed her story! She completely redeemed herself!

This book has all the feels you need. More LOL moments that I can count. So much steam, and oh such yummy slow burn! Finally just the right amount of angst, you can’t forget the Angst!

Where do I even begin with the incredible greatness that is Giselle in Not My Match? I thought her sister Elena was all that in Not My Romeo. But wait--we have a surprise. Remember the ice queen-like Giselle, perfectly coiffed, pearls, skirts, and kinda, sorta betrayed her sister? Well, are you in for a surprise--prepare to meet super duper geek girl who is so darn playful and effervescent that she's going to stick with you for a long, long time.

Ilsa writes very memorable characters; it's one of her hallmarks. When I say memorable, I mean characters that you recall a year or more after reading the book—names like River, Knox, Declan, Ava, Charisma, and now Giselle. Ok, I may have a slight leaning toward Physics girls. My daughter built a particle detector in my closet when she was sixteen. She's about to complete her bachelor's in Physics and wants to teach high school Physics. Giselle was all that. Her ability to bring the cookies down to a shelf her students could understand. Her desire to lick the super-collider in CERN Switzerland. Her character just ended up being so very much more than I ever imagined.

Devon was a pleasure to get to know. I admired his wanting to protect Jack's new sister-in-law from the boys on the team, especially Aidan, but it was hilarious how it came about. Everything about Devon and Giselle's relationship was a divine dance to watch. Reading about Devon watching Giselle (Miss Prim and Proper, remember?) in cutoff jean shorts, one of his shirts, and braiding her hair into pigtails--yeah, another one of Ilsa's unforgettable stories. Not to mention the antics that come about from watching Shark Week--honestly, one of the best scenes EVER!

Yeah, there's steam, there's passion, an interesting manager of a Piggly Wiggly, Topher, Sundrops, and a former crush who's moved back to town to add color and character to this heckuva fun tale. But then let's not forget one of the truest southernisms there is: using Sunday grace to tell God all the ways the family members are sinning. I rolled on the floor, laughing. Not My Match has already secured a place as one of my top reads for this year; without a doubt, Ilsa Madden-Mills is in the zone, people, and she keeps crafting dynamite books.