Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the dark rom-com genre of Game On? How did the novel’s blend of intense themes like blackmail and violence with humor and romance affect your reading experience?

2. Game On is part of the interconnected Into Darkness series. If you’ve read Allen’s other books like Lights Out or Caught Up, how did your prior knowledge of characters like Josh and Junior enrich the story? If this was your first book in the series, how did it stand on its own?

3. The story is filled with high-stakes moments and surprising revelations. Which scene or plot twist was the most shocking or memorable for you, and what made it stand out?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Stella’s chronic gastritis acts as a physical barometer for her emotional state, flaring up under stress. How did the inclusion of this real-world chronic illness shape your connection to her as a character? In what ways could you relate to her Stella and her condition?

2. Tyler’s entire worldview is shaped by his mother’s suffering and his childhood experiences with poverty. Think about a strong belief or opinion you hold. How have your own life experiences influenced that perspective?

3. Stella’s decision to help Runa and create a “hit list” transforms her from a victim of Tyler’s scheme into an active participant in a form of vigilante justice. Have you ever rooted for a character who took morally questionable actions against people who seemed to deserve it?

4. In what ways did the McCormick family dynamics feel realistic to you and your personal experience of family? Consider Georgianna’s critical-yet-caring nature and the fierce loyalty between Stella and Blake.

5. Tyler and Stella’s relationship is initially built on a power imbalance, but it evolves as they discover unexpected vulnerabilities in each other, such as his response to praise. What small moments of connection have you experienced through sharing or learning vulnerabilities?

6. Stella finds a sense of empowerment in helping Tyler target corrupt individuals, even if it means compromising her own morals. Can you think of a time when doing something that felt right required you to bend or break a rule you normally follow?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel’s critique of generational wealth and privilege resonate with current conversations about accountability for the rich and powerful?

2. Maddie Clyde uses her family’s power and a performance of victimhood to escape all consequences for her actions. How does her character reflect the way public image and social status can be manipulated in the real world?

3. The epilogue establishes a committed polyamorous relationship between Stella, Tyler, and AJ. How does the novel’s depiction of this relationship challenge or expand on the traditional “happily ever after” ending common in the romance genre?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The story uses popular romance tropes like “enemies-to-lovers” and “fake dating,” which also appear in books like Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game. How does Navessa Allen subvert or intensify these tropes by setting them within a dark criminal framework?

2. What is the significance of masks in the story, both the literal ones worn at parties and the metaphorical ones characters use to hide their true selves? How do these masks function as armor for Stella and as a weapon for Tyler?

3. How did the alternating first-person narration between Tyler and Stella influence your loyalties? Did you find yourself siding with one character more than the other at different points in the story?

4. The author uses tattoos to symbolize permanence and authenticity. How does Stella’s tattoo parlor, a space she built herself, serve as a sanctuary that contrasts with the deceptive, high-stakes world of Tyler’s gambling operation?

5. The central twist reveals that Tyler’s entire revenge mission was based on a misunderstanding of his mother’s past. Did you find this revelation satisfying? How does it serve the novel’s overall message about the self-destructive nature of vengeance?

6. Tyler’s underground gambling party is hosted in Prohibition-era tunnels. In what ways does this setting, a physical space with a history of illicit activity, amplify the story’s themes of hidden corruption and moral decay?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The story ends with Tyler and Stella using anonymous leaks to expose corrupt individuals. What might a news headline or a viral social media post look like after Josh leaks the information about Maddie Clyde and the suspicious death in Turks and Caicos?

2. Aunt Jenny holds the key to Tyler’s past. Write a short journal entry from her perspective after the confrontation with Tyler, exploring her complicated feelings of guilt, anger, and love for her sister Meg.

3. The epilogue confirms Stella, Tyler, and AJ enter a committed throuple. What do you imagine their conversation was like when they officially decided to become partners?