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justineyouth's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
C’était sympa mais j’ai l’impression qu’il y avait pas vraiment de plot ??
Cat rejoint l’entreprise de ses rêves pour travailler sur un jeu vidéo, elle est passionné de jeu de romance et elle est embauché pour travailler sur cet aspect dans Hollow Compass. Elle rencontre Andi qui a travaillé sur un jeu qu’elle adore et elle déchante très vite, parfois il ne faut pas rencontrer ses idoles.
On commence donc avec un ennemies to lovers avec une romance boss et employé, Andi qui utilise les pronoms she/they et une bonne dose de féminisme car ce jeu est principalement créé par des femmes, ce qui est rare dans l’industrie apporte un plus au récit.
Cependant les événements dans ce livre sont assez banal, Cat rencontre Sally sauf qu’elle n’arrive pas à garder une relation plus de quelques mois donc elles décident de passer un accord (fake dating) car Sally veut rendre jalouse Andi, qui est son ex et Cat a besoin d’une petite amie pour Thanksgiving car ses parents veulent la caser. Cet aspect là du récit rend les choses plus compliqué quand Cat et Andi se rapprochent mais à part ça on est assez focus sur le jeu qu’elles créent.
C’était donc mignon mais sans plus, j’ai trouvé ça très plat mais l’originalité de la romance dans une entreprise de jeux vidéos était cool et la romance n’est pas non plus transcendante
Cat rejoint l’entreprise de ses rêves pour travailler sur un jeu vidéo, elle est passionné de jeu de romance et elle est embauché pour travailler sur cet aspect dans Hollow Compass. Elle rencontre Andi qui a travaillé sur un jeu qu’elle adore et elle déchante très vite, parfois il ne faut pas rencontrer ses idoles.
On commence donc avec un ennemies to lovers avec une romance boss et employé, Andi qui utilise les pronoms she/they et une bonne dose de féminisme car ce jeu est principalement créé par des femmes, ce qui est rare dans l’industrie apporte un plus au récit.
Cependant les événements dans ce livre sont assez banal, Cat rencontre Sally sauf qu’elle n’arrive pas à garder une relation plus de quelques mois donc elles décident de passer un accord (fake dating) car Sally veut rendre jalouse Andi, qui est son ex et Cat a besoin d’une petite amie pour Thanksgiving car ses parents veulent la caser. Cet aspect là du récit rend les choses plus compliqué quand Cat et Andi se rapprochent mais à part ça on est assez focus sur le jeu qu’elles créent.
C’était donc mignon mais sans plus, j’ai trouvé ça très plat mais l’originalité de la romance dans une entreprise de jeux vidéos était cool et la romance n’est pas non plus transcendante
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Outing
christinefitz's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
Loved this one; light spice, lots of hate-yearning, very slow burn, workplace romance. Great enby she/they rep, I could relate to their dysphoria so much at points. Gaming references galore, and some TTG references too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Stalking, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
nerdybookqueen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
I received a copy of this audiobook from netgalley in exchange for feedback
Oh my goodness I love this book a ton!
Cat is so much fun and man it feels like I had my personality dragged into a character. She starting writing romance for an up and coming choice based game, encountering a game dev she idolizes...who hates her after their brief meeting, and because they don't want romance in their tale. Meanwhile, she starts dating Sally, who... isn't the best match. But they launch into a fake dating scheme to make Sally's ex jealous and please Cat's parents.
Meanwhile, the other dev, Andi, is diving into her own game after being used by an old company for "yay diversity" points while dealing with a creepy boss, which led to the world of the internet tearing them to shreds.
These two fall in love while trying to hash out the romance plot line for the game, get back at shitty dude-bros, and dealing with corporate shenanigans to come out on top. I loved all the little twists and turns to the story, watch Cat and Andi grow both together and on their own, and of course, the sheer amount of nerdy references throughout the book (I saw that Undertale ref!)
If you want a fun and nerdy queer romance, this is a great one, and I know its only 22 days into the year but it might already be on my list for favorite book.
Oh my goodness I love this book a ton!
Cat is so much fun and man it feels like I had my personality dragged into a character. She starting writing romance for an up and coming choice based game, encountering a game dev she idolizes...who hates her after their brief meeting, and because they don't want romance in their tale. Meanwhile, she starts dating Sally, who... isn't the best match. But they launch into a fake dating scheme to make Sally's ex jealous and please Cat's parents.
Meanwhile, the other dev, Andi, is diving into her own game after being used by an old company for "yay diversity" points while dealing with a creepy boss, which led to the world of the internet tearing them to shreds.
These two fall in love while trying to hash out the romance plot line for the game, get back at shitty dude-bros, and dealing with corporate shenanigans to come out on top. I loved all the little twists and turns to the story, watch Cat and Andi grow both together and on their own, and of course, the sheer amount of nerdy references throughout the book (I saw that Undertale ref!)
If you want a fun and nerdy queer romance, this is a great one, and I know its only 22 days into the year but it might already be on my list for favorite book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Blood, and Stalking
kalira's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
(I received a free ebook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
So I read this book in one shot, and then I spent a little while sitting with it going I am shrieking internally and coherent review whomst??? I have too many feelings!
Just FYI.
I adore Andi and her . . . awkward or locking up moments were searingly relatable - so were her brief panic moments, and her wait fuck just a second too late times. (Note I mostly used she/her for Andi (stated enby in the book) in this review; she/they are used in the book, she a bit more often.) Cat was delightful as well, though at times (especially early on) her determination to fake her personality, and thus simplifying it into game choices, made me want to shake her. The game/dialogue choices became charming as she unfurled a little more from that level and type, however! And I was more frustrated with her determination to hide everything about herself/present the Right Options To Progress The Narrative, than the device used. (I loved Andi seeing through that - even if they didn't know what they were seeing, exactly. Also? Love how Cat can't help but be herself around Andi, failing miserably when she did try, briefly, to put up that Proper Mask sort of interaction - which put Andi off/unsettled them even before Cat failed out of it.)
(Also, while I am a huge geek and perennially online person, I'm not necessarily that kind of video game geek; there are plenty of references, some familiar to me and some not, but while they add to the narrative for sure, nothing vital is missing if you miss a reference, either.)
They had good friends! (Friends, exes, fake girlfriend, friends with benefits. . .) Good as characters and good for them. (Parents maybe a little less so; good characters, perhaps, but - long distance as they were - a bit less than great for their kids.) I appreciated that (for Cat, for Andi, and for their friends) the characters' reactions when misunderstandings, lies, and stupid decisions (when hey came out) were largely at a reasonable level. Not brushing it off but not blowing into huge misunderstandings and separation, either. Sometimes people let awkward interactions or weird messages go without asking or getting upset, because, you know, things happen. Sometimes people blew up overthinking about simple things that didn't need that much focus or were very much not meant in that way, because, you know, sometimes it's like that.
The antagonist(s) were hackle-prickling and unfortunately a familiar Type. Seeing them get at least a little comeuppance? Delicious. The biggest jackass sailing off pretty much scot-free? *sighs* Unfortunately - as Andi notes - hardly surprising.
Not to spoil anything, but. . . Their first kiss was cute - and then awkward, oop - their second was lovely - and their first time together was great! (Very nice especially after all the tasty leadup, emotionally and with physical attraction; I'm just clinging to her because I don't want to fall off the back of her motorcycle and die indeed, Cat, I'm sure. And nothing to do with her collarbones, or cheekbones, or forearms. >.> Not to mention she's so small and cute she would fit right under my chin and she always- Not that there's anything but irritation there, either, Andi. Totally. Nothing about too-bright smiles for example.)
It was so sweet and so great to see them growing to like one another - and stand up for one another, in different ways - but especially to see them understand one another, first without any underlying knowledge and feeling out more intuitive grasps - and not sure they wanted to go there; after all, they don't like each other - to working to help each other and sharing important things and broadening those points of understanding. Every time I braced myself for a misunderstanding that would Blow Up . . . it failed to materialise - not in a foreshadowed poorly way, in a thank goodness, they reacted reasonably! way. Anxieties and all!
Cat knowing where to find Andi when she might have felt the need to disappear and drop off the grid? (Or at least 'where' as a category and how to find her.) Absolutely fabulous. Andi's reaction to her being there? Awesome!
The alternating POVs (not strictly alternating; sometimes we stuck with one or the other for two in a row, where it was needed) were used to excellent effect, and allowed us to see both their perspectives on their developing relationship (and the things hidden from one another), as well as the moments of understanding, appreciation, dawning with full background to appreciate it ourselves.
By the time I got to the ending I was definitely fidgeting with anticipation and delight, and . . . well, as said - I have a lot of feelings. They're still vibrating in my chest now as I round out this review.
I also have to tack on - contemporary/mundane settings are not generally my favourite, and boss/employee romances can be fun (fiction) or they can easily squick me. This one was awesome - and the boss/employee dynamic is far less than the description might make one assume. (Andi didn't hire Cat, doesn't have the power to fire her, and while Andi assigns her work, is not really a typical office boss in dynamic or time together.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol