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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
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
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
giasbookhaven's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
Single Player, drives readers into the lives of gaming industry characters as the deadline for their release quickly approaches. Cat, a shy, self-conscious and introverted romance writer is brought on as an intern to carve out a romance subplot for a game in development. Head of the team and lead writer is Andi, a nonbinary fiercely driven and serious person whom is actually very much against the idea of bringing romance into the game.
Cat and Andi are polar opposites and while I think enimes to lovers fit this pair, I couldn't help but think of them as a grumpy/sunshine pairing.
Cat and Andi's friendship starts off on the edge of a sharp cliff over their disagreement over romance in the game. But as we get to know them both, readers will realize that they have more in common than they know.
Cat's people pleasing and talkive personality masks her self-doubt and fear of being alone without ever having found someone to love who loves her back. She navigates her life going through ranked and situational responses and scenarios that players usually encounter in video games😆( Now I do something like this but not in like game form. What does that say about me?)
And Andi is focused on the bigger picture of things. Only pausing their focus to sleep and play DnD on the weekends. Having been burned badly by love and the industry in the past, their straight(not literally🙃)and narrow approach to life hides the pain, hurt and panic they carry.
There's something to be said about a story that delivers a slow-burn romance but also character developments that happen before the main couple actually become official
In my opinion, Single Player will have all millennial game lovers praising and cheering this book. The game and character nods blended into the story always had be smiling.
And I loved all the characters in this bool but Cat and her one-off catch phases topped it off for me.
I don't know if there's a TW option for this but there's a lot of anti-nonbinary talk and anti DEI in this book. Even though I am not in the gaming industry, I could see a lot of the toxicity of the CiS white characters as being based off of reality.
Cat and Andi are polar opposites and while I think enimes to lovers fit this pair, I couldn't help but think of them as a grumpy/sunshine pairing.
Cat and Andi's friendship starts off on the edge of a sharp cliff over their disagreement over romance in the game. But as we get to know them both, readers will realize that they have more in common than they know.
Cat's people pleasing and talkive personality masks her self-doubt and fear of being alone without ever having found someone to love who loves her back. She navigates her life going through ranked and situational responses and scenarios that players usually encounter in video games😆( Now I do something like this but not in like game form. What does that say about me?)
And Andi is focused on the bigger picture of things. Only pausing their focus to sleep and play DnD on the weekends. Having been burned badly by love and the industry in the past, their straight(not literally🙃)and narrow approach to life hides the pain, hurt and panic they carry.
There's something to be said about a story that delivers a slow-burn romance but also character developments that happen before
In my opinion, Single Player will have all millennial game lovers praising and cheering this book. The game and character nods blended into the story always had be smiling.
And I loved all the characters in this bool but Cat and her one-off catch phases topped it off for me.
I don't know if there's a TW option for this but there's a lot of anti-nonbinary talk and anti DEI in this book. Even though I am not in the gaming industry, I could see a lot of the toxicity of the CiS white characters as being based off of reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Hate crime, and Gaslighting