Scan barcode
theboricuabookworm's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I really liked this one but I was hoping I'd looooove it. The premise is such a good one and I really liked how it explored societal expectations in the gaming world and the role of romance there too. There was just enough side characters that I was able to keep up and get attached but not too many that it took away. The game bros got their comeuppance and being queer was just a fact of life (as it is!!). The romance was solid but it could have been stronger with some resolutions needing to be flushed out a bit more on both sides.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Transphobia, Stalking, and Gaslighting
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I listened to the audiobook on Libro FM and thought this was a lovely, cozy romcom that spoke to my experience being an Asian woman in a cishet white male-dominated space, albeit a different industry. I am not a gamer (well, I want to stop saying this actually, because Tara Tai said anyone who plays any games is a gamer), but this was so fun and I feel like it paid homage to gamers, video games, and marginalized folks in these spaces really well. It actually really made me want to play more games!!
I loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Cat (she/her) and Andi (she/they) as they developed a romance for the game Compass Hollow (and obviously one offline between themselves lol). The corny puns that used gamer-themed language felt sweet and goofy, and though I'm sure others will hate them or cringe, I thought they were fun! For example, "it was like mana was being regenerated," or something along those lines lol. I recognize it sounds cheesy, but you're reading a romcom. Accept the cheese!!!!
I related to Cat's awkwardness and treating every interaction like a video game dialogue option hahah. She was so hopeless, yet adorable and learned to speak up for herself and advocate for romance in the video game industry. Andi's commitment and reverence of video games prevented her from recognizing the value of adding romance to Compass Hollow's story and of Cat too. However, I appreciated their arc of getting out of their own way, and expanding their perspective.
The villainous characters in this story were as awful as you'd imagine privileged dudes in a video game company to be, but the ending was really satisfying heheheheehehe.
I think Tara Tai's extensive exposition (which was more in the beginning of the book) will lessen as they write more, but I'm really looking forward to what she writes next!
steam scale: 2 out of 5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Stalking, and Gaslighting
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
jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
I started and finished Single Player in one day. Between the hate to love tension between Cat and Andi and Natalie Naudus' narration, it was impossible for me to put it down! The tension between these two was off the charts from their disastrous meet cute to their first kiss. I actually got why they didn't like each other, and overcoming that dislike fit their separate character development. This is super slow burn!!! But the wait was so worth it for me. I just enjoyed these two together so much. Also, and it might be the bare minimum, I loved that Cat was constantly going to bat for Andi when they didn't like each other. Cat didn't take any of the transphobic, sexist, rhetoric from the higher ups.
I was really wrapped up in the gaming culture setting of this book. I've always been a casual gamer, but this made me want to play so many more games. I loved all the commentary on the gaming industry: how it doesn't prioritize diverse voices and how much the limited representation affects what different communities buy and play. I wish the game they were writing for was real so I could romance all the different characters. The game is obviously a huge part of the plot, but it never felt like it bogged down the romance (I would argue it moved it along because of their arguments).
Over all, Single Player is a stunning debut from Tara Tai (she/they)! I will definitely pick up anything they write from here on out. Pick this up if you like hate to love, work place romance, queer and trans representation (lesbian x enby), fat representation, navigating friends and family in your twenties, and video games of course!!!
This is me begging for a group of queer friends who will teach me how to play dnd!!!
I started and finished Single Player in one day. Between the hate to love tension between Cat and Andi and Natalie Naudus' narration, it was impossible for me to put it down! The tension between these two was off the charts from their disastrous meet cute to their first kiss. I actually got why they didn't like each other, and overcoming that dislike fit their separate character development. This is super slow burn!!! But the wait was so worth it for me. I just enjoyed these two together so much. Also, and it might be the bare minimum, I loved that Cat was constantly going to bat for Andi when they didn't like each other. Cat didn't take any of the transphobic, sexist, rhetoric from the higher ups.
I was really wrapped up in the gaming culture setting of this book. I've always been a casual gamer, but this made me want to play so many more games. I loved all the commentary on the gaming industry: how it doesn't prioritize diverse voices and how much the limited representation affects what different communities buy and play. I wish the game they were writing for was real so I could romance all the different characters. The game is obviously a huge part of the plot, but it never felt like it bogged down the romance (I would argue it moved it along because of their arguments).
Over all, Single Player is a stunning debut from Tara Tai (she/they)! I will definitely pick up anything they write from here on out. Pick this up if you like hate to love, work place romance, queer and trans representation (lesbian x enby), fat representation, navigating friends and family in your twenties, and video games of course!!!
This is me begging for a group of queer friends who will teach me how to play dnd!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
jazzyjbox's review
funny
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
4.75
Single Player made my queer gamer/writer heart so happy!
Cat is starting a new job writing romance for an upcoming video game, but her first run-in with her boss Andi leaves an impression on them and not necessarily a great one.
Normally, I am not a fan of boss x employee romance, but there was so much I loved about this book. Cat is a people pleasing plus-sized gamer with something to prove to her family about her love life and profession. Andi is nonbinary, traumatized, and super talented. This book balances plot and character growth pretty well, especially for a debut, and even more so given how messy these Sapphics are. Oh, and there's D&D in it!
I can't wait to see what else comes from Tara Tai!
Spice: 🌶🌶
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Cat is starting a new job writing romance for an upcoming video game, but her first run-in with her boss Andi leaves an impression on them and not necessarily a great one.
Normally, I am not a fan of boss x employee romance, but there was so much I loved about this book. Cat is a people pleasing plus-sized gamer with something to prove to her family about her love life and profession. Andi is nonbinary, traumatized, and super talented. This book balances plot and character growth pretty well, especially for a debut, and even more so given how messy these Sapphics are. Oh, and there's D&D in it!
I can't wait to see what else comes from Tara Tai!
Spice: 🌶🌶
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Stalking