Scan barcode
inkandmuses's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Outing, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual harassment and Cancer
whichdirection's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For being in their 40s/50s almost every character in this book acts like a teenager, not sure if this is meant to be on purpose or not.
Really appreciated the representation of bisexuality & demisexuality, though would have liked more resolution on the plotline concerning them. (Especially given how short the epilogue was)
They were cute, they had chemistry, and once they actually finally met (which took quite a while) the story was good.
Really appreciated the representation of bisexuality & demisexuality, though would have liked more resolution on the plotline concerning them. (Especially given how short the epilogue was)
They were cute, they had chemistry, and once they actually finally met (which took quite a while) the story was good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Acephobia/Arophobia
lacyparrish's review against another edition
5.0
This came out of the summer and had such hype that I was putting it off ... fearing that I wouldn't see what everyone else saw. Boy was I wrong! I want to be Maggie when I grow up (although some might say I'm most of the way there already) ... now I just need to find my Aiden. 😍 Despite the wonderfulness of this novel, there are a lot of heavy topics covered with a deftness and care that you don't often see. Now I'm faced with the inevitable question -- will other offerings from this author hold up to this one?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Biphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Gaslighting
deals with an aging parent and those difficult conversations as well as the other content warningscheye13's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The book fails to deliver its premise. Despite meeting "through the game," there are nearly no scenes of the game, no descriptions of their characters, and no presence of the game in their offline lives. The characters practically meet through mutual friends over email. That being said, many scenes read as "too online." Dialogue grew soap-boxy or wikipedia-like, as if the author was communicating something rather than giving a perspective to a character.
There's a fatal flaw of focusing on the negative at the expense of the positive. All of the side characters are loathesome, creating endless conflict for both leads and edging out the supportive voices in their lives. Maggie's bffs get barely a page each, and Aiden's closest friend isn't even on-page once.
As a simple romance story, it's decent. I appreciate the older characters and the unexpected queerness. I have been begging for a woman!grump/man!sunshine forever, and this does deliver that well enough. But those tropes aren't enough to carry the story for me.
If you're dipping a toe into the romance genre, want to read about older characters, and know next-to-nothing about online communities, you'll probably enjoy this. If you read a lot of romance, have firsthand experience with online communities, and/or picked it up for the RPG angle, you'll likely be disappointed.
There's a fatal flaw of focusing on the negative at the expense of the positive. All of the side characters are loathesome, creating endless conflict for both leads and edging out the supportive voices in their lives. Maggie's bffs get barely a page each, and Aiden's closest friend isn't even on-page once.
As a simple romance story, it's decent. I appreciate the older characters and the unexpected queerness. I have been begging for a woman!grump/man!sunshine forever, and this does deliver that well enough. But those tropes aren't enough to carry the story for me.
If you're dipping a toe into the romance genre, want to read about older characters, and know next-to-nothing about online communities, you'll probably enjoy this. If you read a lot of romance, have firsthand experience with online communities, and/or picked it up for the RPG angle, you'll likely be disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Biphobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Classism, Cancer, and Racism
emotional blackmail, broken bone, toxic masculinitybooksandteatime's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death of parent, Biphobia, and Cancer
jourdanicus's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked a lot about this book: the main characters were kind to each other, their interactions were cute and realistic, they were older adults which doesn't seem so common in rom-coms, and gaming was treated as a legitimate hobby. The sex scenes were fun and sweet.
Unfortunately some parts missed the mark for me. I think the plot and pacing could have used some tightening. But what bothered me the most was the way the explanation of Aiden's identity was handled. It felt like Maggie was telling him who he was rather than giving him the space to discover, describe, or label himself. There was also a little too much Feminism 101 in here for me. For example, I know what demisexuality is - *I* am demisexual... That's why I picked up a book with a demi main character. I don't need it explained to me like I'm reading a glossary page on the GLAAD website. :\
I'm still waiting to find a good queer romance that isn't so heavy handed with its inclusivity. I think this would be good for someone who is newer to queer romance, or is straight but wants to read about a het couple who aren't... But for those of us comfortable in our queer identities and looking for characters who aren't new to theirs, this might not be worth picking up.
Unfortunately some parts missed the mark for me. I think the plot and pacing could have used some tightening. But what bothered me the most was the way the explanation of Aiden's identity was handled. It felt like Maggie was telling him who he was rather than giving him the space to discover, describe, or label himself. There was also a little too much Feminism 101 in here for me. For example, I know what demisexuality is - *I* am demisexual... That's why I picked up a book with a demi main character. I don't need it explained to me like I'm reading a glossary page on the GLAAD website. :\
I'm still waiting to find a good queer romance that isn't so heavy handed with its inclusivity. I think this would be good for someone who is newer to queer romance, or is straight but wants to read about a het couple who aren't... But for those of us comfortable in our queer identities and looking for characters who aren't new to theirs, this might not be worth picking up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Outing, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
beepbeep101's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Heck yes demi representation!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Dementia, Abandonment, Cursing, Homophobia, and Body shaming
Minor: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
juffnstuff's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Biphobia, and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content
rickireadss's review against another edition
5.0
i LOVE maggie and aiden so much. i want to give aiden the biggest f*cking hug because he put up with way too much from his family. ughhhh they all made me so mad, but especially his brother like how can you just sit there and be so ignorant and oblivious or simply just not give a flying f*ck what your brother is doing and putting up with. like GROW TF UP bro. but omfg, aiden realizing that he's bi and demi?!?!? MY HEART WAS SO FULL. i think this is great rep, it made me cry, and i just loved how they talked about it together. ALL THE FEELS!!!! i loved the gaming aspect of this a LOT and love that that's what brought them together. i think the miscommunication/misunderstandings of each other's true ages was hilarious! i also just loved that they were older MCs, 48f 50m, and actually acted their ages. hands down a great book and i honestly want to reread it again!
⚠️: biphobia, homophobia, outing, emotional abuse, death of parent (cancer), acephoba/arophobia, racism, cancer, grief, misogyny, gaslighting, bullying, death of parents (car accident), religious bigotry
⚠️: biphobia, homophobia, outing, emotional abuse, death of parent (cancer), acephoba/arophobia, racism, cancer, grief, misogyny, gaslighting, bullying, death of parents (car accident), religious bigotry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Biphobia, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Outing
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Misogyny, Cancer, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Car accident