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A review by jourdanicus
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
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