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A review by giasbookhaven
Single Player by Tara Tai
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