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A review by dobbsthedog
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
5.0
Strong 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book! It’s great to read something with slightly older protagonists (Maggie is 48, Aidan is 50).
I think that one of the reasons I liked this so much is that it is so relatable! While I don’t play MMORPGs, I’m very familiar with them, and I think that any nerdy hobby could be substituted here. I also liked the message that online friends are real friends! It was quite funny when both Maggie and Aidan were making assumptions about the other’s age, but that they still became friends, even when thinking there was a massive age gap (Maggie assumed Aidan was 20 and Aidan assumed Maggie was in her 80s!). Also also, I like that “gamer” stereotypes were basically destroyed. It seems like folks typically think of gamers as being guys in their early twenties, living in their parents’ basement, etc. This book blew that apart by having gamers of all ages playing and including a woman. Loved it.
Something I thought the book did brilliantly was showing a lot of harmful stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and homophobia, and then just calling it out. There were several side characters who were quite awful (in their outdated/homophobic mindsets), and the two MCs just flat out told them they were wrong. While I don’t enjoy reading about homophobia or toxic masculinity, I thought it was done really well in this book; showing what it looks like and showing how it can be shut down.
Another thing I really appreciated was Aidan’s reactions when Maggie was legitimately afraid, when home alone or being in a new space as a single woman. That is SO real, and I love that it was addressed.
The more I write of this review the more I think I should be rating this 5 stars…
Anyway, I’m definitely going to check out some more of Cathy Yardley’s books after this!
I really enjoyed this book! It’s great to read something with slightly older protagonists (Maggie is 48, Aidan is 50).
I think that one of the reasons I liked this so much is that it is so relatable! While I don’t play MMORPGs, I’m very familiar with them, and I think that any nerdy hobby could be substituted here. I also liked the message that online friends are real friends! It was quite funny when both Maggie and Aidan were making assumptions about the other’s age, but that they still became friends, even when thinking there was a massive age gap (Maggie assumed Aidan was 20 and Aidan assumed Maggie was in her 80s!). Also also, I like that “gamer” stereotypes were basically destroyed. It seems like folks typically think of gamers as being guys in their early twenties, living in their parents’ basement, etc. This book blew that apart by having gamers of all ages playing and including a woman. Loved it.
Something I thought the book did brilliantly was showing a lot of harmful stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and homophobia, and then just calling it out. There were several side characters who were quite awful (in their outdated/homophobic mindsets), and the two MCs just flat out told them they were wrong. While I don’t enjoy reading about homophobia or toxic masculinity, I thought it was done really well in this book; showing what it looks like and showing how it can be shut down.
Another thing I really appreciated was Aidan’s reactions when Maggie was legitimately afraid, when home alone or being in a new space as a single woman. That is SO real, and I love that it was addressed.
The more I write of this review the more I think I should be rating this 5 stars…
Anyway, I’m definitely going to check out some more of Cathy Yardley’s books after this!