{"id":2837,"date":"2025-05-12T10:51:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T10:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2837"},"modified":"2025-05-12T10:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T10:51:35","slug":"the-right-move-by-liz-tomforde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2837","title":{"rendered":"The Right Move by Liz Tomforde"},"content":{"rendered":"

In The Right Move<\/em>, the second installment of Liz Tomforde\u2019s Windy City<\/em> series, the author pivots from hockey to hardwood, from mile-high altitudes to grounded emotional stakes. Centered around Ryan Shay, the newly minted NBA captain of the Chicago Devils, and Indy Ivers, his vibrant new roommate (and sister\u2019s best friend), the novel spins a captivating tale of fauxmance that gradually becomes the realest connection either of them has ever known.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just another sports romance with fake dating and forced proximity. It\u2019s a nuanced portrayal of two people slowly dismantling their emotional armor, set against the glitz of professional basketball and the intimate fears of growing older, healing past wounds, and choosing the right move\u2014not just on the court, but in life.<\/p>\n

Setting the Stage: A Series Built on Big Hearts and Broken Walls<\/h2>\n

Liz Tomforde has created a romance universe that isn\u2019t just about athletes\u2014it\u2019s about emotionally complex men learning how to open their hearts and the women who help them find the courage to do it. Beginning with Mile High<\/em><\/a> (2022), which introduced us to Stevie and Evan Zanders\u2019 high-flying, altitude-tangled love story, the Windy City<\/em> series has since continued with:<\/p>\n

The Right Move<\/em> (2023) \u2013 NBA romance with fake dating and emotional depth
\nCaught Up<\/em> (2023) \u2013 a baseball star navigating fatherhood and second chances
\nPlay Along<\/em> (2024) \u2013 chemistry crackles on and off the volleyball court
\nRewind It Back<\/em> (2025) \u2013 the most introspective and nostalgic of them all<\/p>\n

Each installment brings a new sport, a new couple, but maintains Tomforde\u2019s signature touch: rich character development, relatable emotional stakes, and sizzling but meaningful romance.<\/p>\n

Plot Snapshot: A Lie That Tells the Truth<\/h2>\n

Ryan Shay is as guarded as he is gifted. Elevated to team captain, he\u2019s a model of professionalism on the court but struggles to build meaningful connections<\/a> off of it. When the team\u2019s GM questions his leadership due to his \u201crobotic\u201d public persona, Ryan proposes a PR-friendly solution: a girlfriend.<\/p>\n

Enter Indy Ivers\u2014emotionally transparent, warm-hearted, and not remotely interested in playing house with her best friend\u2019s overbearing brother. But when her own dilemma arises\u2014an upcoming wedding where her cheating ex will be present\u2014Ryan becomes the perfect plus-one. It\u2019s a win-win\u2026 until the rules of the game start to blur.<\/p>\n

Dual POV Brilliance: Two Voices, One Symphonic Love Story<\/h2>\n

One of Tomforde\u2019s most refined narrative tools is her use of dual POV. Ryan and Indy aren\u2019t just alternating narrators; they represent two philosophies of love and life.<\/p>\n

Ryan Shay: Order, Silence, and Slow Revelation<\/h3>\n

Ryan\u2019s perspective is rigid, introspective, and tinged with emotional restraint. Raised to perform, trained to compete, and conditioned not to trust easily, Ryan\u2019s development is a revelation. The deeper we go into his narrative, the more cracks we see beneath his calm. There\u2019s grief, guilt, and loneliness<\/a>\u2014and eventually, a quiet yearning to be seen not just as a captain, but as a man capable of love.<\/p>\n

Indy Ivers: Emotion, Light, and Brave Vulnerability<\/h3>\n

Indy is a contrast in every way. She\u2019s messy and expressive, but never shallow. Her strength lies in her softness, and her emotional intelligence is a rare trait in romance heroines. She challenges Ryan, not with drama, but with gentleness. Her backstory\u2014her broken engagement, her decision to freeze her eggs due to fertility issues\u2014grounds her character in a kind of real-world bravery that elevates the story\u2019s stakes.<\/p>\n

Why This Fake Relationship Hits Different<\/h2>\n

The fake dating trope is well-worn, but Tomforde injects it with emotional realism. There are no clich\u00e9 montages or overly dramatic misunderstandings. Instead:<\/p>\n

Each \u201cpretend\u201d date becomes a moment of introspection
\nEvery shared space reveals vulnerability, not just sexual tension
\nTheir growing bond is paced with restraint, mirroring real emotional trust<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find yourself forgetting when the fake stopped and the real began\u2014and that\u2019s the magic of Tomforde\u2019s storytelling.<\/p>\n

Heartfelt Highlights: What Makes The Right Move Work So Well<\/h2>\n

Character-Driven Plot: <\/strong>No twisty subplots or villainous exes needed. The internal journeys of Ryan and Indy are the plot.
\nFertility Representation: <\/strong>Indy\u2019s fertility journey is rare and powerful. It\u2019s not tokenized or dramatic\u2014it\u2019s simply part of her life, and it\u2019s treated with compassion and realism.
\nChicago as a Living Backdrop: <\/strong>The Windy City isn\u2019t just a name. From press conferences to cozy apartment scenes and charity events, the setting enhances the stakes and the intimacy.
\nFound Family Dynamics: <\/strong>Indy\u2019s relationships with her sister, best friend Stevie, and even Ryan\u2019s teammates add texture and humor to the story.
\nSlow-Burn Perfection: <\/strong>The chemistry simmers for chapters, allowing each brush of a hand or passing glance to feel earned and electrifying.<\/p>\n

Minor Fouls: Where the Book Slows its Momentum<\/h2>\n

While the book is deeply engaging, a few critiques are warranted:<\/p>\n

Mid-Book Lull<\/strong>: A brief stretch of repetitive domestic scenes slows down the momentum before the romantic tension spikes again.
\nLimited External Conflict<\/strong>: Readers who enjoy high-stakes drama might find the conflict too internalized.
\nAbrupt Emotional Shift Near Climax<\/strong>: Ryan\u2019s final emotional breakthrough, while satisfying, comes a tad quickly after chapters of denial.<\/p>\n

None of these issues derail the story\u2014but they do hold it back from being a flawless five-star read.<\/p>\n

Writing Style: Tomforde\u2019s Polished Simplicity<\/h2>\n

Tomforde\u2019s style is warm without being cloying, sharp without being sarcastic. She has a gift for crafting emotionally resonant dialogue and internal monologues that feel authentic rather than performative.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s Ryan\u2019s clipped reflections or Indy\u2019s poetic spirals, each voice is distinct. Her writing never rushes love\u2014it allows it to unfold, stumble, and ultimately find its footing.<\/p>\n

Thematic Depth: Love as a Risk, Not a Guarantee<\/h2>\n

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde<\/em> is ultimately a story about emotional courage. Both Ryan and Indy are terrified of wanting too much\u2014from love, from each other, from life. But where most romance arcs end in external resolution (the job, the ring, the baby), Tomforde zeroes in on the inner shifts that actually matter:<\/p>\n

Can you be honest with yourself before you\u2019re honest with someone else?
\nCan love exist without control, performance, or perfection?
\nCan you trust that someone will stay\u2014even if they\u2019ve seen your messiest self?<\/p>\n

This kind of emotional scaffolding<\/a> is what gives The Right Move by Liz Tomforde<\/em> its staying power.<\/p>\n

Book Comparisons: Where It Stands in the Genre<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for more romance with similar emotional maturity and sports-adjacent stories, try:<\/p>\n

Until It Fades<\/em> by K.A. Tucker \u2013 athlete hero, strong-willed single mom heroine, slow-burn vibes
\nThings We Never Got Over<\/em> by Lucy Score \u2013 emotionally wounded hero, small-town charm, slow-burn romance
\nAll Rhodes Lead Here<\/em> by Mariana Zapata \u2013 themes of healing, found family, and a quiet male lead<\/p>\n

Still, few books balance depth and heat the way Tomforde does. This one belongs on the top shelf of sports romance.<\/p>\n

Series Connection: A Richer Experience Within the Windy City World<\/h2>\n

For returning readers, The Right Move by Liz Tomforde<\/em> feels like a warm reunion. Stevie and Zanders from Mile High<\/em><\/a> make welcome appearances, and their presence strengthens the shared universe Tomforde is building. Later books like Caught Up<\/em> and Play Along<\/em> deepen this community of emotionally evolving athletes and the women who reshape their lives.<\/p>\n

Each book can stand alone, but reading in order allows for deeper appreciation of how these stories weave together into something bigger than a series\u2014a romance legacy.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts: An Unlikely Love That Feels Inevitable<\/h2>\n

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde<\/em> is a love letter to the kind of relationships that aren\u2019t flashy or perfect but are built with intention, effort, and vulnerability. It\u2019s about letting someone into your space\u2014and eventually, your soul.<\/p>\n

Tomforde doesn\u2019t just give us a romance. She gives us a blueprint for what it means to grow beside someone, not just fall for them. Ryan and Indy don\u2019t fix each other\u2014they challenge, frustrate, and ultimately choose each other.<\/p>\n

And that choice, made over and over again in the quiet moments between chapters, is what makes this book unforgettable.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In The Right Move, the second installment of Liz Tomforde\u2019s Windy City series, the author pivots from hockey to hardwood, from mile-high altitudes to grounded emotional stakes. Centered around Ryan Shay, the newly minted NBA captain of the Chicago Devils, and Indy Ivers, his vibrant new roommate (and sister\u2019s best friend), the novel spins a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2837"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}