All for the Game

by Heather Buchta

From beloved author Heather Buchta comes a juicy, mind-twisting thriller about football, romance, and the cost of playing the game.

In Texas, football is life. 

For Finn Geringer, it’s a ticket to a better future. Transferring to East Pages High, Finn hopes to secure a college scholarship and a chance to provide for his grandmother. In this town where football reigns supreme, East Pages seems perfect. Until it’s not.

Finn’s girlfriend, Megan, notices rival players absent from games. As she digs deeper, her life becomes increasingly dangerous: Mysterious cars tail her, strangers issue threats, and she’s sure someone’s been in her bedroom. Is it her imagination, or is East Pages hiding a dark secret?

Meanwhile, Finn’s cousin, Brit, the head cheerleader, revels in the perks of popularity and the prestige of attending a renowned sports school. But when a football player dies, she learns that her peers are purposely keeping her in the dark. Is her popularity an illusion?

Finn must choose between pursuing his dreams or uncovering the truth. As he, Brit, and Megan unravel the team’s mysteries, they face a powerful force determined to protect the school’s legacy at all costs. From veteran author Heather Buchta comes a gripping second-guessing game of suspicion and paranoia, romance and reputation, and the lengths people will go to protect who—and what—they love.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Sports, Audiobook

464 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

ALL FOR THE GAME by Heather Buchta

Thank you Netgalley and PenguinTeen for the earc (Jul 1)

Texas, football, life.
It's a ticket out for Finn. When he transfers to East Page High, it's the answer. Until it's not. Threats loom when Finn's girlfriends notices things: that prominent rivals out from the game. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous it is for her. Then there's Finn's cousin, head cheerleader. When a football player dies, she learns she is kept in the dark---that she isn't as popular as she thought. Each of them have things to face as the mystery is unraveled.
The premise of this book was interesting, and the idea of it drew me. This book is one that is full of conspiracies, and with its multi-pov, it's easy to gather the whole story and the role each character had in uncovering the plot. Each chapter brought something new and enticing: a new threat, a new detail learned. And the questions I had. I wanted to know how deep in East Pages this ran, how many people were in on it. Honestly, this was twisted. Like seriously so. The lengths some of the characters went was terrifying: the following of Meg, the threats toward Brit and Finn, the death of a player. It was just crazy.
I loved how fast-paced this was. There was never a dull moment, and with the daunting length of over 400 pages, I applaud the author for that.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how this book was realistic and felt very true to its setting. There are so many secrets and so much drama, as I imagine is typical for most high schools. But the incredibly intense Texas football-obsessed mindset amplifies this dynamic. I have never read a mystery quite like this, but I appreciated the plausible storyline and how everything wrapped up! The main characters were also all likable and I enjoyed myself the whole time I was reading this. 4.5 stars!

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

All for the Game follows Finn who transfers schools to help get a college scholarship to play football. His girlfriend Megan goes to a rival school. Soon Megan stars to notice is strange things about Finn’s school and the football team. Then a football player dies. Megan is determined to get to the bottom of it.

I am a big fan of YA thrillers and I was really excited to read this one. I didn’t like this. First of all, I thought the book was way too long and took forever to get to the point. Most of the book was really boring. I also didn’t like this book was told through three different perspectives. I had a hard time remembering which character was which. I also didn’t really care about what happened in this book. I just so bored. I wanted to like this one. But the overall mystery and story just weren’t for me.

Thank you so much Penguin Teen for gifting me a copy of this book. This comes out July 1!

[T Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Buchta’s All for the Game is the kind of book that makes even non-readers (like me!) reconsider their Netflix subscriptions. I’m not someone who usually picks up a book for fun, but this felt like a movie. It was clever and nail-biting. I HAD to finish it.

The high school drama was believable. High school can be competitive and cruel. I’ve seen stuff just as bad as what goes on in this book. Also, the dialogue felt real—I could hear the characters talking like actual people.

I still prefer gaming, but someone suggested I read this, and I don’t regret missing out on a couple nights of Red Dead Redemption. If you’re a guy and sick of books that are only about girls and their drama, this book hits the male perspective pretty spot on.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of ALL FOR THE GAME by Heather Buchta in exchange for my honest review.***

I usually love sports themed books. Something about the hard work to achieve individual or team goals and the thrill of competition excites me.

Texas high school football is something I only understand slightly through the tv series FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. ALL FOR GAME is a novel about the death of a player and three teens who try to solve the mystery.

I likes the mystery better than I did the writing. The passive voice often felt stiff and the dialogue used words and phrases different than teens I know.

A lukewarm recommendation.

[Eric Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare to find a YA book this well written. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, the pacing tight, and the emotional stakes feel earned. Each of the three main characters—Finn, Brit, and Megan—has their own compelling arc, but it’s the way those arcs collide with the overall story arc! Not easy to do! Finn’s transformation, in particular, is gripping—watching him go from avoiding conflict to making a game-changing decision under Friday night lights gave me chills. This book doesn’t just capture Texas football culture—it elevates it.

[Scott Sussman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm one of the lucky ones who got a head start on reading this book and I must say that Heather Buchta never disappoints. Her latest novel packs it all in: action, suspense, mystery, intrigue, romance, and especially if you love sports, this story is for you. Definitely worth the read and definitely worth sharing with friends, regardless of whether or not they're YA readers. This is an everybody book. 5 out of 5 stars!

[Simmy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 by @heather_buchta

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎ℴ𝓊 @PenguinTeen for the gifted ARC #PenguinTeenPartner

I dont why it took me forever to finish the book, actually I do know why I was tired of reading for a while but this book honestly got me out of a slump that I was in. This is the perfect small town, elite, high stakes, Sports Mystery Thriller Romance 👀 what a tongue twister 😂 what had me hooked the most was the Texas Football life, the towns conspiracy’s and of course the bit of romance that was mentioned.

I’m a person who’s a sucker for books with secret societies, conspiracies and high stakes! Hell I’m a sucker for conspiracies in real life! 😂 i loved the different POVs because you were able to build assumptions off of other characters interactions. You never really knew what was going to happen next and which characters were apart of the “secret society”.

If you’re someone who loves fun, thrilling quick reads to help the time go by then I highly recommend this book! Even after reading about the author Heather, and how she’s a LA native like me who loves everything I love, mostly Jesus 🥹, but I’m honestly going to be keeping up with her and her work!

[Shateau · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ARC from NetGalley. This book had me off kilter and made me feel uncomfortable. I couldn't get invested in the story. You mean to tell me no one from the outside figured out what was going on, but high schoolers continued to stumble on the truth? Most of the time it felt like a satire of Texas football culture. Additionally, the story was too long for what it was. That also caused me to disengage. This either needed to be a full YA thriller or more planned out adult fiction. It never hit that next gear in the narrative.

[Frankenstrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, let’s clarify a few important things right off. Is this ostensibly a novel about high school football in Texas? Yep. But that is merely the backdrop this writer chose in which to explore a cast of interesting, emotionally involving characters. This could just as well have been a pinball tournament in New Jersey or a hostile crochet-off in a mosh pit in Maine. So, do you need to know about football or even like it? Noooo. It’s much less a sports story than it is a story about characters I came to care about almost immediately.

It’s been a grand ride so far for me to see how Buchta has grown in her craft from her first novel to this her third, a story of greater complexity and breadth and author chops. ALL FOR THE GAME is a thriller-esque mystery with a fresh, believable premise that pulled me in immediately. In keeping with her evolution as a talented writer, Buchta weaves the story via a multi-POV strategy, each chapter switching from one of the main characters to the next. Each character is different from the others with a unique yet realistic voice. I am not going to discuss the plot/mystery so as to prevent giving away spoilers, but I will say there are truly creepy moments that leave you with chills as events unfold. Aaarghh, I wish I could talk about some of these! But you will have to discover them yourself. To add to the tension of the mystery, there are also several character arcs that are moving and emotionally hooked me. I cared as much about what happened between characters or to them as to what the overall mystery was about. It’s a rollercoaster ride and the ending was very satisfying to me, something I’m fussy about. A story of this epic nature needs to end on an uplifting but realistic note. I read too many stories which start out great and end on a flat, unsatisfying, ambiguous note. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and I think you will too.

[Tiffanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Anchorage, Alaska—so I’ll be honest, I’ve never experienced the pressure-cooker world of Texas football. But from the first chapter of All for the Game, I felt it. The stakes, the loyalty, the desperation to win—it was all so vivid and real. As someone who trains for mountains running competitions, and as a mom of kids in competitive skiing and soccer, I resonated deeply with the drive these characters have. It’s not just about the game—it’s about identity, survival, and heart.

And as a mom of three fierce daughters, I loved that the two female leads weren’t sidelined—they’re athletes in their own right. Brit is a beast in cheer, and Megan’s background in ballet brought a strength and grace that’s so often overlooked in YA. No one’s dainty, no one’s waiting to be saved. These girls are powerful, messy, and real.

This is the kind of book that sticks with you long after the last play.

[alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half was super boring. Then it picked up exactly at the 50% mark but it was hard to keep track of who what when where why because toooooo much was happening without any detail or explanation.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

[Randi A · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down. The vibes in this book were all over the place. I just did not resonate with the characters (until about 80%) and the plot felt too fantastical, and this is coming from someone who has watched way too many evil cheerleader lifetime movies. The premise had some promise but it just didn’t quite work for me.

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

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved All for the Game! Heather Buchta has a way of writing characters that feel so real, and this story pulled me in from the very first page. It’s the perfect mix of heart, humor, and inspiration, with just the right amount of romance. I found myself rooting for the characters every step of the way, and I didn’t want it to end. Whether you love sports or just enjoy a great coming-of-age story, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend!

[Lydia Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a flag football junkie who understands the real stakes of football in Texas, this book gets it. The pressure, the pride, the way a whole town breathes the sport—it’s all here. 'All for the Game' delivers gripping plays, raw emotion, and characters you’ll root for like it’s Friday night under the lights. Five stars, easy.

[Sheri Milewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the enthusiasm Heather Buchta brings to her YA books... the characters are well thought out and the plots always keep you engaged. It's clear to see that she continues to put a ton of heart into each book she authors. This one will make for a fun summer read!

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I signed up for Heather Buchta’s ALL FOR THE GAME as a Goodreads Giveaway after reading the promotional blurb’s first line: “In Texas, Football is Life.”

Even though the book is deemed readable for readers 12 up and grades 7 up, I really enjoyed it. When Heather Buchta wants the reader to be upset, I was stomach-twisting upset. When she wants us to be angry, I was angry and/or confused.

Early on, the book reminded me of high school. I didn’t play football, and my high school team was more likely to finish 0-10 than 10-0; so I never felt the intensity and fervor of the students and citizens of East Pages (hereafter EastPay).

The main protagonists:

Finn Geringer- super stud running back who transfers from rival West Oak High to EastPay High to improve his chances of getting a college scholarship.

Megan Kaufman – Finn’s long-time girlfriend who still attends West Oak. Her father is a white workaholic lawyer. Her mother is a black, alcoholic, social climber.

Brittney Williams - Finn’s cousin, who is also co-captain of the EastPay cheerleading squad.

Spencer Collins – the player Finn replaced in the starting backfield. There’s an on-going thing between Spencer and Brittany.

The Plot
EastPay is a football crazy town because (a) it’s in Texas and (b) the high school vies for the state championship virtually every year. In fact, they are the defending state champion. The adjacent town of West Oak’s high school accounted for EastPay’s only loss last season, largely on Finn Geringer’s play. Finn has transferred from West Oak to EastPay to improve his chances of getting a college scholarship. Finn’s grandmother raised him. Finn wants to play college football, then turn pro, to take care of his grandmother.

The citizens of East Pages and the EastPay students will do anything to help the team; and seemingly know everything about the team’s players. For example, when Megan goes to EastPay looking for Finn, the football coaches inexplicably recognize her and know her name. There’s much more not disclosed here.

With Finn as a running back, EastPay storms over its opponents. After a few games, Megan notices the top 2 or 3 players on each opposing team don’t play—some from a stomach virus, some suspended for the game. Finn, Megan, Brittney and Spencer become suspicious. They think something fishy’s going on. They make inquiries, and are threatened and ostracized for their efforts. Nonetheless, they continue unravelling this perceived conspiracy.

Even though the story centers around football, there’s not much football action described (i.e., you don’t need to know much about football to enjoy the novel.)

I didn’t mention it above, but two EastPay football players die from non-football related injuries. (a former player and a current player). That shakes things up.

I also didn’t mention the gathering place for football players, cheerleaders, etc. by invitation only called Dante’s Ravine. Significant place.

Oh. I almost forgot. The “game” in the title is not a football game.

ALL FOR THE GAME is scheduled to be published in July 2025.

My rating: 5 stars . . . Touchdown

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is long, but it was a quick read. Part of that is the lower lexile level—about a 5th grade level, although the book is definitely directed at a high school audience. I haven’t said it here recently, but about half of my incoming freshmen each year read below grade level, so having these high-interest, low-lexile books is important.

On to the book…

The school I teach at has a very successful football program, making the playoffs most of our 16-year history, including a state title. That said, we are nowhere near the rabid fans that you’ll find in this book. In East Pages, football is everything. Finn transfers to East Pages high school to further his goal of college, then pro, ball in order to support his family. His cousin Brit already goes to school there, but hasn’t really mentioned to her classmates that they are related. After all, up until his transfer, he was the enemy.

And that’s the mindset of the town—anyone not part of their program is the enemy.

The three POV characters are smart, and when they notice—collectively and individually—that things just aren’t quite right, they don’t just let it slide. They each have personal struggles, and the whole football thing just adds another layer to that.

I was especially interested in Brit—super smart, but dumbs herself down to fit the cheerleader image. Her shock at realizing that she was never actually one of the “in” group is powerful.

The three make personal sacrifices as they choose to do the right thing. The end isn’t easy, but it’s satisfying.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Drinking. Scheming. Sneaking around. The love of football is almost cult-like. Deceiving parents. Overbearing parents. Swearing, including the f-word. Mentions of Christian faith and scripture.

Who Might Like This Book:
High school football fans. Anyone who likes suspense. This book would easily appeal to readers of any gender.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...

#AllForTheGame #HeatherBuchta #NetGalley #YALit #FridayNightLights #BookReview

[Pam O · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Y'all, this is a fun YA summer/early fall read. It's Texas high school football, and some teams will do anything to win. We have 3 perspectives that we follow -- Brit the head cheerleader at East Pages high school, who used to be a computer geek, but became one of the most popular girls in school, which she partially attributes to the magical powers of Dante's Ravine. Finn - Brit's cousin who has transferred from West Oak to East Pages high to hopefully get noticed by football scouts so that he can secure a scholarship and strong financial future for himself and his grandma. Meg -- Finn's girlfriend who goes to West Oak, has a high powered lawyer father and a socialite, alcoholic mother, who both have high expectations of their former-ballerina daughter. What I like about all three of these characters is they feel 16-17 years old, but they are smart, observant, morally just, and want the best for themselves and their futures.

This is a bit of a long book, but I didn't mind because the story was interesting, and the characters are well-developed. The pacing is good, and there is a lot to this -- the dynamics and innerworkings of high school drama, group think in a community that wants to win, hints of sabotage and solving the mystery behind it, superstitions, corrupt adults who think they can get away with things, etc. I don't want to share too much, but if you want a high school football mystery, pick this one up!

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Texas, football isn’t just a game—it’s everything.

For Finn Geringer, it's his way out. A transfer to powerhouse East Pages High is supposed to mean college scouts, scholarships, and a chance to support the grandmother who raised him. But the deeper Finn gets into the world of East Pages football, the more cracks he starts to see in its perfect facade.

His girlfriend, Megan, notices rival players mysteriously benched—or worse, gone entirely. When she starts asking questions, things get strange fast: ominous cars, veiled threats, and a chilling sense that someone’s been inside her room. Is she being paranoid—or has she stumbled onto something deadly?

Brit, Finn’s cousin and East Pages’ star cheerleader, is living the dream—until a player dies, and no one will give her a straight answer. The school that once felt like family suddenly has secrets she’s not allowed to know.

As Finn, Megan, and Brit dig deeper, they uncover a conspiracy tied to the team’s dominance—and a force that will do anything to keep it buried.

This was a slow burn, 3 person POV, read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The lengths that people will go to win and to go all the way to State shows the deep obsession some have for football and for winning. This book was a bit long but as one read's, they begin to understand the need to prolong the read. The author does a deep dive into the world of HS football, ending with a twist that I never saw coming. Football is life, especially in Texas, but is it worth the cost?

[RStanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football is life and legacy will kill you.
The town of East Page has a history that people protect especially when it comes to football.
Welcome to Dante’s Ravine. Don’t forget to feed the river to have good luck for your football team. Actually that’s a secret… now that you know you are part of the game. Don’t mess with the game or something deadly might just happen to you.
This story is told by three different povs in third person.
Finn transfers to East Pages to play football in hope to earn a scholarship.
Megan is Finn’s girlfriend but it’s hard being at separate schools now. Megan is faking her injury to not have to go back to ballet. She starts receiving notes and having the feeling she is being followed after she notices that other school football players are getting “sick” or injury right before they have to play East Page.
Brittany who is head cheerleader is being left out of the loop when it information. But is having the right information in East page a good thing or a death sentence? Not even an accident death of one of their own football players can stop the game.
You have to wonder how far are they willing to go… all for the game.

[Toni Decaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

All for the Game is about Finn who transfers to East Page so he will be noticed more by college scouts. Once Finn starts playing for East Page his friend and him start noticing key players from the others schools happen to be out during their match up with East Page. Throughout their journey they realize how many people are corrupt in helping the team win.

This book reminds me of the Texas case with the cheerleaders “FAB 5”. This book does an accurate telling of how important sports are to communities and how some communities and people will stop at nothing to win the game. You never knew how deep the corruption to help the team win ran until the end of the book. This book kept the story moving.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy for an honest review.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superstition, devious deeds and teen drama. This is an engaging story, realistic characters and enough suspense to drive you through to the end. If you grew up in with football in Texas, could you see this happening with your town? Who is the one controlling the game and why?

Good, easy read with bad actors that aren't too villainous, just enough to make you wonder if it COULD be true.

For parents: Underage drinking & smoking. No sex.

[Bronwen Butter Newcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book like I was binging a show -- how was the slow motion trainwreck going to resolve?? Like Friday Night Lights meets Outerbanks, the book will tug you into its current. I've given this to several teenagers in my life. As always, Buchta captures so many complexities of the teeage heart. Great summer read.

[Allysa]

This book didn’t work for me. There was a mystery but after 120 pages I truly didn’t care what it was. I didn’t connect with any of the PoV characters and the whole football team and people connected were obviously doing some bad stuff but I didn’t feel the drive to find out more of what was really happening. Also the pacing felt too slow.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty plot, engaging characters, and Texas football - what's not to love? The story is fast-paced, and Buchta does a great job of alternating charater points of view, keeping readers on their toes right 'til the end. I'm ALL IN for this enjoyable game of fandom gone wrong!

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this copy as a giveaway winner, definitely not my usual genre but I did really enjoy it! The twists were realistic but surprising at the same time, you never really knew what was going to happen. My last few ARCs fell so flat, it was really exciting to actually like one.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Buchta is just a killer author. Look at this cover!!! I'm dying.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced thriller with some strong girl power themes.

[Carly [A Beauty & Her Books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, OH BOY was I hooked!

More of an RTC, but know that this should definitely be added in a little bit.