Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is my first book of Albert's that I have read but after finishing this one I promise it is not the last.

'Conventionally Yours' follows a group of Odyssey gamers, Alden and Conrad, who are known online for their competitive rivalry against one another. When a chance for their group to play in the big league at an Odyssey convention is put on the table with the disadvantage at a road trip in play, they both internally agree to go ahead with it, knowing that they would be missing out at an opportunity of a lifetime.

But accidents occur leaving only Alden and Conrad to proceed on the road trip alone, but that doesn't stop them from their determination to get to the con and win the top prize, now with the added task of not killing one another before they arrive,d. But then something neither of them expected happened.

The walls put up and the rivalry they thought they had subsided. They caught feelings for the other, and at first, neither knew what to do until they did.

The lessons and discoveries that these two teens learn throughout their journey, both physically and mentally, only show to bring them closer together but also closer to the tournament that they are both determined to win. Although there was some seriousness to the book with the mentions of homophobia and angst, the story itself was just an absolute joy to read. I found myself grinning more than frowning and eye wide in amazement more than worry.

It's a geeky book that was fun to read, with cuteness overload in some sections and a relationship worth fighting for.

And now for a few side comments:

The pacing in this book could have been better, in my opinion. At first, I couldn't get into it, though the first third of the book was dragging on but honestly as soon as it hit a point, probably when the boys were warming up to each other more, I found it to be less strained and more enjoyable to read, I could barely put the book down.

The characterisation was extremely realistic, honest and raw for the majority of the book. I appreciated how Conrad dealt with his family issues from beginning to end, it didn't all end in a happily ever after in that side but it was shown that there would be a start in fixing something that could lead to a better future. I liked how his reluctance to tell Alden slowly simmered away as the story went, until the boy knew what Conrad was facing, and vice versa, it brought real depth and emotion to the relationship that they gradually built on.

Their struggles and further growth only made for the love story that blossomed to become so addictive to read. I was kept invested in their story, constantly wanting to know what happened next and fearing what would happen when they would finally make it to the tournament.

I liked reading how Alden grew from being so uptight, cold and strategic with Conrad to slowly letting loose and agreeing and trusting the other boy to help make decisions, and help him live a life he didn't allow himself to live before. Both boys were finally confident enough in each other to open up and confess small parts of their lives and truths that they thought would remain hidden from each other until they were all spilling out.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced reader copy!

I wouldn’t consider myself picky when it comes to liking and picking books. Give me a book with a nice romance, some life lessons, a little bit of angst and a lot of fluff and you’ve got yourself a winner. “Conventionally Yours” by Annabeth Albert is no exception and makes for a wonderful and emotional experience.

The latest by Albert takes readers into the perspectives of two teens, Alden and Conrad, as they go on a road trip from their home in New Jersey, to Las Vegas to attend Odyssey Con, one of the biggest conventions for a game they play, Odyssey. The plan is to go to this convention with their friends, Jasper, Payton and Professor Tuttle, who they star with on a YouTube channel called Gamer Grandpa. After a series of events though, they end up being the only two to make the trip across the country. In doing so, the pair go from hating each other, to understanding friends and maybe develope a little more along the way.

What makes “Conventionally Yours” so good, is that it’s a little all over the place and both main characters are a little messed up, but they make for a story that’s relatable and charming all over. Conrad, who was kicked out by his parents, showcases a real struggle that some LGBT+ teens face on a daily basis, but shows that you can still make a name for yourself despite the struggles you’re faced with. Alden, who has two high achieving moms and sisters, learns how to make his own path and do what makes him happy when his surroundings are pushing him to something different. They’re both enjoyable to read about and feel very real.

While the lessons taught in the book range and go deeper than what just the two main characters learn, this book kept me turning the page to see how they would handle problems and overcome their situations. From playing Odyssey on the road trip with various stores to dealing with their looming and growing feelings, I looked forward to reading everything and seeing the outcome of each event that happened. In many of the situations, it felt like there were two outcomes for every problem and I couldn’t predict which one would happen, making it an engaging read.

Perhaps the best part of the book, though, was that it was just a fun, cute and angsty read. The story is pretty straightforward and easy to understand. Their relationship, besides the real and serious conversations they have throughout the book about their future and status, is fun and quirky. From the point where they get together to the end of the book, I was excited about every relationship-scene and loved their gradually growing friendship even before they got together.

Another final point that made this book great was its respect and showcase of geek culture. The showcase of “side-of-the-road” comic book shops, YouTube channels, streamers, conventions, cosplay and more was greatly appreciated and made the book even more relatable.

The Verdict
“Conventionally Yours” is an extremely fun and easy read that I would recommend to anybody looking for a good time. It’s not the most amazing book I’ve ever read, but that didn’t take away from my reading experience at all. According to Amazon and GoodReads, it looks like this is the first book in a series that I will definitely be returning to. Its lessons about the future and being yourself no matter your situation, while a little cheesy, made it a memorable read and one I can’t wait to revisit.

Also, it has a happy ending. And who doesn’t absolutely love a happy ending?

I was in the market for something so cute it would make my heart ache and my eyes look like stars. I got it.

I haven't ever read a book about gamers before as I've never been really interested in the whole gamer community to begin with, so I'm not sure what attracted me to this book. Probably shallow reasons such as the cover and the title. But I am oh so glad I gave Conventionally Yours a chance.

We follow the story of two Odyssey gamers, Alden and Conrad, who have known each other for a couple of years now through the game and are infamous for their rivalry. They can't stand each other because they have such different personalities and approaches to the game and life. When the chance to play at an important convention comes around, they are forced to spend all their waking moments together to make it there.

I thought both characters were very realistic and I connected with Alden on so many more levels than I ever thought possible. I understand needing a break from people once in a while and being socially awkward at times and being regarded as standoffish as a result. I understand the struggle of having great parents that want the best for you but put way too much pressure and expectations on you.

I also really appreciated Conrad's reaction to his mother. I thought it was very realistic given the circumstances. Not everything can be immediately forgiven and just because you love someone doesn't mean you can't be angry with them.

The love story was so sweet and touching and I was completely invested in it. This was just what I needed right now. This was my first Annabeth Albert's book (I know, how is it even possible?), but I am absolutely sure it will not be the last. Her writing style and her ability to build believable characters and emotions was incredible.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Annabeth Albert and have devoured almost all the books she has written. My favourites include the "#Gaymers" series as well as her "Out of Uniform" series so when I saw the ARC for this book about gamers I hoped to it.

Reading the blurb, I obviously couldn't tell what type of gamers these were but from the first few pages,I realised the game being played by our characters was a type of Trading Card game. Prior to this, I had no prior knowledge of such types of games which made this book quite fascinating to read.

Pacing-wise, the book started off well enough but dragged on through the middle portions and only picked back up around the 70% mark. This essentially meant that the road trip was quite difficult to get through for me regardless of some interesting characters along the way.

Nonetheless, even with the slow pacing, the transformation of the relationship between Conrad and Alden was done perfectly. They moved from people who couldn't stand themselves, to tentative friends, to friends and then to lovers. One thing I particularly liked was that these two men stayed true to themselves and weren't magically cured of any conditions they had. This was my favourite part of the book.

Also, for those wondering, the steam level was quite low and very "fade to black" but it worked quite well with the tone of the book and took nothing away from the story.

From all I've mentioned above, it is quite obvious I enjoyed this book and would recommend this for fans of gamers, road trips and romance done the right way.

This is a very cute book, gamer geek themes and fanboy vibes. I think this is a fan girl’s dream. The tropes, there’s only one bed is iconic

The premise of this book is fantastic, a road trip through The USA, a game convention, hardcore fans, LGBTQ+ representation... I could totally relate and that's the reason why I was so happy for receiving this Arc.

Conrad and Alden are members of this group of boys, (or should I say men?) who get together a couple of days in the week to play this card game called Odyssey, which in their world is pretty much the hot stuff. Although they are part of this group, both think of themselves as rivals, not only regarding the game, but also, life-wise.

Alden is this more uptight person, who's life seems to be perfect, who was raised by two mothers, who are doctors and, who dream of their golden son becoming one as well. What people don't really know is, Alden wants to break free and even though he's a loving son who cares about his mothers feelings, he desperately wants to be able to make his own decisions and take risks. The same happens to Conrad, who is this person that at first glance will make you think he is a totally bad ass, does what he wants and doesn't answer to anyone. However, what people don't know is that Conrad's life is in crumbles, he's practically homeless and he had this awful fallout with his family.

Ok, I liked what the author did there, "forcing" together two characters who were
opposites, but that deep down, had more in common than they could ever imagine. Their interactions were really intense, adding a certain depth to story and although we could say that there was a bit of instalove, it was the right amount of it and done right.

What bothered me though, was the characters naivety. I know they were a bit green, fresh out of college/high school and they lacked in experiences, but still, some of their attitudes sometimes annoyed me and from time to time I would catch myself thinking about me, at their ages, and how I would not act certain ways. I also wished the author explored more of the game world thing. I was so hooked to the subject and all the scenes at the convention, when they were playing or doing things related to the game and event were fascinating.

All in all, it's a 3.5 stars read for me. I liked the author's writing and effort put into it and I'm willing to give it a chance to the next book in the series. (less)

If you are a gamer, this book is for you. I enjoyed this book and always love an enemies to lovers trope. I like the premise of the book but it was too much gaming for me. I enjoyed how both Aldean and Conrad was so apprehensive about wanting each other and made it seem so real for young love.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book.

I liked the story overall and enjoyed the characters but the beginning was incredibly awkward and the chain of events was sometimes too convenient. The in-book card game sounded fascinating and it was cool to see that the author made it up completely.

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert


Conrad and Alden are both part of the same Odyssey gaming group, but they have never gotten along, but that’s okay because they have separate lives and don’t have to interact outside the group.

And then they end up on a road trip together, with nothing but time to get to know each other.

So this book is definitely a solid entry in the enemies to lovers trope, but there’s definitely a stopover in friend territory first. This is a nice progression because it provides Conrad and Alden with the chance to understand each other—and the personal issues each of them is dealing with—before their relationship becomes physical. Over the course of the trip, all of the preconceived notions they’ve been harboring for years is shattered as they share some very real conversations.

Conrad and Alden have such a sweet relationship. Alden doesn’t have very much experience, and Conrad is so gentle and patient with him and always checks in to make sure Alden is still okay with what they’re doing.

The road trip is a lot of fun; despite Alden’s initial protestations, Conrad insists on stopping at all sorts of eclectic places along the way. And of course, they eat all sorts of yummy road trip food too.

I’ve mentioned Odyssey, so I really ought to elaborate on that. Odyssey is a card game similar to several popular card/computer games that I probably can’t mention for copyright reasons… but basically, each player has a deck of monster cards and spell cards designed to work together. As a fan of one of these popular online card games, I loved the originality Albert put into creating this highly detailed game for her two protagonists to play.

I would definitely recommend Conventionally Yours. Conrad and Alden have some moderately heavy personal issues, but the overall tone of the book is light and optimistic. Also, I love geeky protagonists, so it was an extra special treat to have a romance with TWO geeky protagonists! There isn’t too much angst, but there is a healthy dose of pining, which also makes their eventual first kiss that much better. I’ve read a few of Albert’s books before, and I’ve liked all of them, but I do think this one might be my favorite.


I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for granting my wish! This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I saw that my wish of receiving this eARC was granted! I'm an absolute sucker for romance so, this was right up my alley. I have some other books by this author still on my TBR, which, I think, are mainly adult m/m-romances, but this is a New Adult title. (Btw all in favour for making New Adult an actual age range instead of a specific romance genre say aye!)

This story is about our two main characters, Conrad and Alden. At first sight, Conrad is a popular kid. He's easily liked, very sociable and extroverted, and likes to trash-talk to his friends and Alden over a game of Odyssey. However, that is not all there is to him. He has had a tough year, he had to drop out of school and works multiple jobs. Alden is very much not like Conrad. He has always been someone to whom being social hasn't come easy at all. Sarcasm doesn't always land. It's why he often has a bit of a barrier up, and can come off as cold.

But even as both boys envy the lives of the other on the surface, both are struggling with their next steps in life. But when an opportunity arises for them to go to the biggest con of the game they've dedicated hours, and a YouTube-channel, on and compete in the championships, they both think they've found a solution to their troubles. After some unfortunate events, these "rivals" end up having to travel to the con together. There's a whole lot of bickering, but also understanding and opening up to each other.

Characters
I really liked reading about these characters. At the very first chapters I wasn't really sure who was who, exactly (I guess it was because both boys had a name with a similar feel. Yeah, I don't know either how my mind works). Especially when we also had Jasper and Payton in the mix. But slowly, but surely the characters start to unravel and develop and I got a better idea of who they were. I definitely would have liked to see more facets to both of our MCs, because it was kept at the surface a little too much for me. I also would have liked to see more of Jasper and Payton, because I only got to know the basics. But even though the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked, they were very fun to read about.

Plot
The plot was very fun, even if it was a bit far-fetched with how the two of them ended up with just the two of them on the road trip. But I was pretty forgiving. It felt like the author really made an intense effort of mapping out the actual road trip, which made it feel more real (even though I've never been there myself, and have no idea about the actual geography). There was a lot of roadtripping action: the "I'll take over driving, because you look tired" trope, stargazing, the "there's only one bed" trope, the bickering in the car about navigation and each other's driving styles. All of this warmed my heart.

Two points of criticism though: 1) in some other romance novels I've seen this too: it's the moment where everything seems to be going well between the two lovers and something quite insignificant happens that makes one of them reconsider their feelings for the other. I don't like this, especially when one or both of them walk away instead of talking this out directly. So, yeah, not my favourite. And 2) I felt like the ending wrapped up a bit too nicely. It didn't mean that both of the boys grabbed the opportunity that was served to them on a silver platter in the end, but still... too neat (and not that realistic) to me.

Writing
The writing was very good. I mean, this author has written books before, she knows what she's doing. I think I've found some typos in the beginning of the book, but since I'm not a native English speaker I wasn't quite sure about that, or if the sentences just read weird to me. I'm trusting they won't be in the final copy of this book. The writing style was very easy to read and I don't really have anything bad to say about it. It was good.

All-in-all, this was a very enjoyable read. It definitely had some things that I thought could have been better, but it wasn't bad at all. I think that if you like romances, especially very sweet and cute ones, you'll really enjoy this one.

This is the story of Alden and Conrad, two 20-somethings who vlog about a card game called Odyssey. Both are flailing in life for various reasons and need a big win the con competition they are going to together (and through twists of fate, all alone!). But-newsflash- they can't stand each other! So what follows is a sometimes awkward, sometimes fluffy, sometimes dramatic romp across America. If you can't tell already, I didn't love this book. It was fine, but I never quite connected with the characters, the plot was slow and a bit formulaic with a lot of common tropes, the ending felt anti-climatic. I almost stopped half-way through because the road trip kept going and going and I was tired of detailed descriptions of the road and the driving and the trip and the road and the driving and on and on. I am also not a gamer, table-top or otherwise, so I found the descriptions of the game tedious and I still don't quite understand what was happening in them. If you like enemies-to-friends-to lovers plots or road-trip plots or gaming, you might find something that interests you.

I really enjoyed this story. It had a little bit of everything. It was a fun, cute story but also really got into some tough topics that teens and young adults are facing every day. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. I liked it a lot!

I have been a fan of Ms Albert's work for a while reading almost all of her books and I have enjoyed them except this one. This book I had a hard time getting into the story and then having it keep my attention with the plot. I liked the road trip aspect of the plot but the characters did not do it for me. I also felt that the gamer aspect of the characters felt like it had been told before. With these factors going against me, I have to unfortunately say that I was unable to finish reading this book.

This book was okay. I was really interested in the premise, and I was hoping to really like it, but it fell a little flat for me. I think there were some really good parts, especially when they actually get to the convention (that's the best part of the book, but it only takes up, like, the last 100-ish pages). Overall, this book was really slow, and I wasn't really invested in any of the characters until the last portion of the book.

I will say that Albert set up for a great conflict right from the beginning. The main characters in the Gamer Grandpa gamer vlog get invited to go to Moc West, this huge gaming convention/competition, and take part in the Odyssey tournament. Conrad, who is short on funds, and Alden who is afraid of planes, end up driving cross country to the convention in Las Vegas. Of course, they get to know each other and have a lot of fights/deeper conversations on the road, and by the time they get to the convention, they've formed a tight relationship. That doesn't change the fact that they both desperately want to win the tournament. And that Conrad really needs the money.

From the beginning of the book, you know something big is going to happen because they both want to win, yet they are both falling in love. Obviously that sets up for a huge problem. Add Conrad's need for money, and that conflict is basically ready to explode. I was anxiously awaiting the resolution to this conflict the whole book -- and it's pretty much the main thing that kept me going towards the end. I was really happy with how it worked out. And honestly, I was proud of Conrad and Alden for how far they came.

I really enjoyed that there was such great representation of the LGBTQ+ community in this book. Almost every character in the book is gay, and there's a nonbinary character too. But this also brings up one of the problems I had with the book, which is that there were no female characters outside of the two main characters' mothers. That was a little disappointing as a female reader.

The last 100 pages of this book are what makes this a good read. I probably wouldn't have finished it if the convention section didn't end up being what it was. It was slow going, and monotonous at points, but in the end I enjoyed seeing the resolution play out and I was happy for the characters.

I really enjoyed this! I mean, it was set up to be my sort of book (enemies to lovers? gay? nonbinary character? autistic character? road trip? oops there's only one bed? gaming convention? SOLD.) And for the most part, it fit my expectations and was just a lot of fun.

I loved the geeking out over the (fictional) card game Odyssey. I loved the way Conrad and Alden had an enemies thing going on based on denied attraction and a lot of misunderstanding. I loved the way each was forced to acknowledge that the other wasn't actually that bad as they got to know each other and understand what they were going through.

The only reason I hesitate to give it the full five stars is that it drags on just a little too long. The is he/isn't he, and the second-guessing and doubt could have been dealt with earlier imo. So I was frequently left with the somewhat conflicting opinion of "this is great but I wish it was over already" as I read.

But overall tons of fun and absolutely worth picking up, especially if you enjoyed Red White & Royal Blue.

Review posted on goodreads and my blog (Whimsical Dragonette) here: https://whimsicaldragonette.tumblr.com/post/617108638318903296/arc-review-conventionally-yours-by-annabeth

*I will review on Amazon & BN on the publication date

I liked the chemistry between the two main characters. The whole lead into them getting the tickets/going to the con was a little bit convoluted. It was very this happened, then this happened, then this crazy thing happened. It wasn’t super believable to me, but I liked the rest. There was a great back and forth between the two guys. If this author wrote more, I would be happy to read more.
Overall I’d give it a 3.5

I wanted to like this one more than I did. The first half I was very in. I liked the combative tension between the characters and the set-up worked for me. I love a good road trip story as well so I was super here for that.

The story overall is packed with what I think are somewhat simplified character arcs that needed to be more nuanced. It also felt like the characters overcame their initial issues a bit too easy. I wanted a more emotional depth. More spice wouldn’t have hurt it either. Not saying it needed to be graphic or anything but it feels like the story builds to those scenes and then runs away from them too quickly.

I really liked the characters and if this had just a bit more depth it would have worked better for me. There is a lot of focus on the actual gaming that I understand is there so you can follow certain scenes but honestly the book runs on the long side and I didn’t get much from having a somewhat working understanding of the game now.

The end ties up quuuuuickly given that there was a lot of meandering to get there.

I would recommend this one if you are looking for a mellow read that isn’t going to blow your socks off but will keep you engaged with likable characters.

I’m admittedly not ususally a fan of road trip plots. I don’t hate them, but they are closer to the “leave it” side of “take it or leave it” for me. What drew me to this book were the gaming convention and rivals-to-lovers parts, and I loved both of those, and even began to appreciate the roat-trip parts.

First of, I was really impressed with the different kinds of representations in the book. Both Alden and Conrad are white and gay, Alden is also jewish, has two moms and anxiety, and he’s neurodiverse, while Conrad has asthma. It was Alden’s anxiety and particularly his neurodiversity representation that I adored. He has no clear diagnosis, but is constantly made to feel like something is wrong with him because his brain doesn’t work like what is considered “normal”. He’s awkward and feels uncomfortable in most social situations, and he has anxiety. All of this is made worse by his overachieving neurosurgeon and science professor moms who want him to have a clear plan in life, but Alden doesn’t quite know where he is headed yet. I related to him A LOT.

Conrad’s personal arc is more centered around his past with his homophobic family and how getting outed against his will has destroyed all structure and security he has in his life, but it is not a story of queer suffering!

Playing the strategy card trading game Odyssey is an escape and dream to both of them, and that, together with the rivalry between them, is what drives the plot forward as Conrad and Alden make a roadtrip to the gaming convention they are sure will change their lifes.
There’s a German proverb that says: “The way is the goal” and that very much applies to this story.

I loved reading about Alden and Conrad being stuck together and slowly realizing that the other isn’t as they thought, and that they have more in common than they realized, despite having known each other for years.

I totally adored the romance part. It wasn’t totally slow burn but close. The kissing scenes were a total highlight for me, surprisingly.

It was definitely a New Adult book. Aldren is 23 and Conrad is 21. There’s a lot of introspection, pondering and anxiety about the future, and learnings how to be independent, in a way.

Ultimately I had a wonderful time reading this book, and I highly recommend it.

Overall this was a cute new adult nerdy enemies to lovers road trip romance, but it was just okay for me. For one thing, the road trip plot meant we spent a lot of slow-moving time hanging out in Conrad's and Alden's heads and all that cycling through the same emotions and rehashing of each of their current life conflicts got pretty repetitive. The romance itself was sweet though and it was nice to see a neurodiverse main character and a main character who genuinely struggles with money/health insurance/job insecurity (something I think we're seeing more of in new adult romances but that I haven't seen as much before).

This book was slow to start for me since I'm not really a gamer, but I have loved everything of Annabeth's that I have read before, so I kept reading. I'm so glad I did! Conrad and Alden's story was such a journey of discovery. Neither of them seemed to like each other at first but tolerated each other for the love of their game. When they are thrown together in a cross country drive to a gaming convention, their personal layers are peeled back and they both start to have a better understanding of who they, and the other person really are. They both need to win the top prize at this convention, but what if what they need more is each other?? A truly sweet story of learning to trust yourself and believe in what feels right.