Liz Tomforde’s The Right Move, the second book in the Windy City series, is an emotionally intelligent, tension-filled, and charmingly executed sports romance that pairs a stoic NBA captain with a sunshine-hearted flight attendant in a fake dating setup that feels anything but fake. This is the kind of romance that starts with awkward cohabitation, simmers with unspoken desire, and crescendos into a relationship rich with nuance and vulnerability.
The Windy City series—which includes Mile High (2022), The Right Move (2023), Caught Up (2023), Play Along (2024), and Rewind It Back (2025)—has carved out a niche in sports romance by blending locker room masculinity with character-driven emotional complexity. The Right Move by Liz Tomforde arguably makes the boldest pass, taking a reserved hero like Ryan Shay and forcing him to confront emotions he’s spent a lifetime evading.
Plot Summary: When Life Hands You A Roommate
Ryan Shay, newly appointed captain of the Chicago Devils NBA team, is used to control. From his minimalist apartment to his laser-focused life plan, Ryan doesn’t make room for emotional detours. That’s what makes Indy Ivers—a chatty, disorganized, and emotionally open flight attendant—such a disruption when she moves into his apartment as a favor to his twin sister, Stevie.
The forced proximity trope quickly evolves into a fake dating arrangement when Ryan needs to appear more personable to appease the team’s skeptical GM. Meanwhile, Indy is desperate for a solid date to her friend’s wedding—one where her ex, who broke her heart in the worst possible way, will be flaunting his new life. The setup is tropey, yes, but Tomforde injects so much heart, humor, and psychological realism that it feels completely fresh.
Characters: Layered, Relatable, and Root-worthy
Ryan Shay: The Reserved Alpha
Ryan is the epitome of the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. He’s closed off, rigid, and lives by the book—until Indy bursts in like a human highlighter pen into his monochrome life. Tomforde excels at showing the cracks in Ryan’s armor, layering moments of unexpected tenderness and dry wit with a clear undercurrent of emotional repression rooted in fame, pressure, and past betrayal.
What makes Ryan shine is not his dominance (although, let’s be honest, the man can command a scene), but his restraint. His emotional growth is slow, reluctant, and incredibly earned. Watching him learn how to show care, accept affection, and engage with vulnerability is one of the book’s most rewarding arcs.
Indy Ivers: A Walking Sparkler with a Wounded Core
Indy is vibrant, messy, a hopeless romantic with a fierce sense of independence—and quietly reeling from a devastating breakup. She’s more than just a sunshine counterpart to Ryan’s brooding intensity; she’s fighting to rebuild her identity and financial footing while facing her own ticking biological clock. Her fertility storyline, which centers on egg freezing due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve, is handled with care and authenticity, adding a rare layer of reproductive reality to romance fiction.
Indy is the kind of heroine who laughs too loudly, feels too deeply, and makes you want to root for her as both a lover and a woman determined to reclaim her life.
Chemistry & Romance: From Cold Sparks to Emotional Infernos
There’s a precision to how Tomforde builds sexual tension. The proximity and slow-burn trope are milked for every ounce of tension, but it never becomes repetitive or overindulgent. Every glance, every moment of forced intimacy—from breakfast-making to bookshelf rearranging—carries emotional weight.
And when the physical relationship does ignite? It’s electric, but it’s also reflective. Each intimate scene is character-driven, deeply tied to Ryan and Indy’s personal growth rather than existing for titillation alone. Tomforde’s sex scenes are hot, yes, but they’re also beautifully written, grounded in mutual respect and character arcs.
Themes: Power, Trust, and the Performance of Perfection
One of the standout elements of The Right Move by Liz Tomforde is its commentary on performance—how public figures like Ryan are forced to live carefully curated lives, and how women like Indy are often asked to “dim their light” to make others more comfortable.
Ryan’s fear of being used, of becoming a headline rather than a human, speaks to the isolating nature of fame. Indy’s experience—choosing not to attend her dream school because of her boyfriend’s insecurity, being excluded by childhood friends post-breakup—hits painfully close to home for anyone who’s ever shrunk themselves for the sake of love.
Their fake relationship becomes a safe zone where they can finally show up as themselves. That transformation—from performance to authenticity—is what makes this book feel so intimate and powerful.
Series Continuity: Building a World of Emotionally Available Men (Eventually)
Tomforde’s Windy City universe excels at continuity. Readers of Mile High will delight in seeing Stevie and Zanders again, this time as a happy couple serving as both comic relief and emotional anchor. Cameos from Rio, Maddison, and the Raptors’ crew deepen the sports world without overwhelming the main couple’s journey.
What’s more impressive is how The Right Move by Liz Tomforde stands on its own. You don’t need to read Mile High to love this book, but if you do, the payoff is deeper. And for fans following the series through to Caught Up, Play Along, and Rewind It Back, this installment sets a strong thematic precedent: growth, vulnerability, and mutual respect are as sexy as abs and locker rooms.
What Worked Exceptionally Well
- Authentic Emotional Arcs: Both leads undergo believable, heartwarming personal growth.
- Nuanced Exploration of Gender Roles: Indy’s intelligence and Ryan’s emotional withholding are both challenged and unpacked with care.
- Realistic Conflict: No miscommunication tropes here; the stakes feel high but never melodramatic.
- Fertility Plotline: Rarely addressed in romance, it’s treated with emotional honesty and urgency.
What Could Have Been Sharper
- Pacing Near the Middle: A few chapters in the mid-section drag slightly, caught in the loop of banter and yearning without plot propulsion.
- Stevie’s Overshadowing: While beloved, Ryan’s twin occasionally steals emotional thunder in scenes that could have been more introspective for the main couple.
- Ending Wrap-Up: The resolution feels slightly rushed compared to the meticulous build-up. The transition from “pretend” to “real” is satisfying but could use a bit more breathing room.
Writing Style: Liz Tomforde’s Signature Voice
Tomforde’s writing is crisp, contemporary, and emotionally intuitive. Her dual POVs are distinct—Ryan’s clipped internal monologue contrasts beautifully with Indy’s effervescent, self-aware voice. There’s humor in every chapter, but never at the expense of depth. Her ability to navigate heavy themes without bogging down the narrative is a testament to her craft.
Similar Reads for Romance Lovers
If you enjoyed The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, you might also love:
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams – another fake dating sports romance with a cinnamon roll hero.
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata – slow burn, forced proximity, and a grumpy athlete.
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – for more hockey-meets-heart with emotionally complex characters.
Final Verdict: A Slow-Burn Slam Dunk
The Right Move by Liz Tomforde is everything readers want in a sports romance: chemistry, heart, humor, and stakes. But it’s the emotional maturity and nuanced take on modern relationships that truly sets this book apart. Ryan and Indy’s story is one of healing, honesty, and the quiet courage it takes to try again—not just in love, but in life.
This is not just a story about falling for someone. It’s a story about choosing to be loved, exactly as you are.
