dawnie1712's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good book - but the gaming setting wasn’t it for me :(
nglofile's review
3.0
Setting a sweet relationship narrative in the lion's den of online (and real world) harassment can be a tricky endeavor, and this story winningly uses the flirty romance as an oasis amidst the darker issues.
The detail of the gaming and streaming worlds is thick, which begs a bit of a question of balance. Those who already know these spheres may be impatient, and those who aren't already fans will drown in more information than they need or want. It's difficult to please dual audiences, so the plus is the extreme likability of both Divya and Aaron that makes the reader not mind too much, and this extends beyond their budding connection to the life challenges each navigates apart from each other. Some plot developments are directly transported from '80s teen flicks (complete with obvious villainy), and whether that's a plus or a minus to the reader is a good indicator of how satisfying the journey will be.
Bonus points for personal empowerment, but the real draw is characters with whom you enjoy spending time.
The detail of the gaming and streaming worlds is thick, which begs a bit of a question of balance. Those who already know these spheres may be impatient, and those who aren't already fans will drown in more information than they need or want. It's difficult to please dual audiences, so the plus is the extreme likability of both Divya and Aaron that makes the reader not mind too much, and this extends beyond their budding connection to the life challenges each navigates apart from each other. Some plot developments are directly transported from '80s teen flicks (complete with obvious villainy), and whether that's a plus or a minus to the reader is a good indicator of how satisfying the journey will be.
Bonus points for personal empowerment, but the real draw is characters with whom you enjoy spending time.
thechronicknitter's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Cute, powerful messages and entertaining. What more could you ask for?
nerolireads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
I adored this nerdy YA romance that also manages to address issues such as racism, classism, misogony and cyberbullying. The misogony and gatekeeping in the gamer world, especially in masculine dominated games is huge. I loved how the book addressed this.
Divya and Aaron are both so adorable and relatable. The blossoming romance between the two is adorable yet awkward, which led to plenty of humorous scenes.
This is definitely one I'd recommend, especially to fellow gamers.
Divya and Aaron are both so adorable and relatable. The blossoming romance between the two is adorable yet awkward, which led to plenty of humorous scenes.
This is definitely one I'd recommend, especially to fellow gamers.
courtney_kelley's review against another edition
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
3.5
missoliviareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't expect to enjoy this story as much as I did - it was a fascinating read, with outstanding commentary on the dangers of online gaming that had a good mix of tense and lighter moments.
entry_level's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
pajge's review against another edition
2.0
okay plot but not for me, the story dragged on a bit. some of the video game references felt crammed in just for the sake of being a reference and didn't add anything to the story. i liked the writing style though
lispylibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
So freaking good! And a great look into the streaming-gamer world.