So, I requested this book because it was outside my comfort zone, and I am trying to expand my reading pallet. Even though it was a romance novel, it involved gaming, and I am not a huge gamer. But I am glad that I gave this book a chance because it's super cute. I really enjoyed the dual story lines, one where they are their gaming personas and one in "real life".

I also enjoyed this book because I liked that the author shows that women can also be a part of the gaming world and succeed just as well as the guys can.

Sam and Luke's office relationship was adorable, and I loved how he was trying to help her so much with her star-up, and showed he cared. I connected with these characters and felt a part of their story. I enjoyed that it felt real, and that they considered the other's feelings, and it didn't feel fake or forced. That’s not typical of a romance novel

The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because I was a little bored by the descriptions of the game play. I enjoyed Blaze and Bravura's interactions and relationship during game play but the gaming part itself just isn't for me. But it is still a cute read with an adorable plot.

Sometimes a book is all you need to make you feel alive; this book did that for me; made me smile, hope, dream… I couldn’t stop reading it! I hope it will be the same medicine for you; a place to make you feel safe.
This is the story of Luke and Sam; they don’t really know each other, they only work at the same building. But fate has decided that their lives have to collide; but they are so different that they don’t really know what to think about each other. But both of them have a secret love, a love for gaming, and their alter egos will have to work together to win a big prize… will they be ready to share this secret part with the world? You’ll have to read the story to know more! I really loved this book; the characters and their story. How you can see them growing and feeling more confident while you are reading the book. I liked how different Luke and Sam are; both of them with their own business but with fears and not 100% confident on how to improve their lives. Also, it was really funny to see the game play; how they have to trust each other without knowing who they are talking to in reality. But online games are like this, you don’t know who is the real person behind the character you are talking to, it was really well detailed and interesting to read.
Also, I liked how the author, Jeevani Charika, showed the reader how sexist the world is and that the only way to make some change is to step up and say something out loud.
I hope we’ll read more about Luke and Sam, I don’t want to think that this is the end for them, I want to know more! Are you ready for “Playing for Love”?

I enjoyed this book, but it feel just a little short of being an amazing read. While I did enjoy Sam and Luke, I wasn’t crazy invested in them. I did enjoy the gaming/gamer element to the store and the game sounds like a blast. But I wasn’t fully invested in the story until the hit the finals for the game, That is where it really picked up for me. So while I enjoyed this story, I wasn’t over the moon, in love with it. Which is slightly disappointing cause I loved the premise.

I was really drawn to the concept of this book - a sort of reverse You’ve Got Mail situation (they got along in real life, but kind of clashed online) that involved an immersive online RPG and the beginnings of a romance.

The book follows Sam, a young, South Asian woman who decides to start her own small business of making handbag inserts in honor of her late mother who had an extensive handbag collection, and Luke, who works in the same office space as Sam and offers guidance to small business startups, but also has a second life as an elusive but largely popular online gaming streamer named Blaze. Sam has fond memories of watching Blaze streams with her brothers when she was younger, so she’s instantly intrigued when a competition arises for new gamers to team up with experienced ones to win prize money.

It’s fun to read about this sort of double life going on for both Sam and Luke as they secretly compete together in the online RPG as different personas while also building a professional relationship in real life and getting to know each other personally. However, there were elements of the story I felt were a bit lacking, and kept me from feeling passionately about the characters and their relationship.

There was tension within the online gaming world between Sam and Luke, but I wanted more stakes or a push and pull between them in real life. When it got to a point where they were realizing they had feelings for each other, I didn’t feel a strong connection that made me want to really root for them. They lacked chemistry outside of that little bit of tension, and I wanted more from the development of their characters as individuals and as love interests.

Overall, it felt more like a YA book than an adult romance (which is fine!) since there was very little romance on the page, which was disappointing just because I was expecting a different experience.

This was a really sweet romance where the online and real world collide.
Luke is secretly ‘Blaze’, a well known gamer/ YouTuber. Sam, secretly, enjoys watching Blaze on YouTube and wins a competition, under a different name, to play alongside him. Sam works in the same building as Luke and so they meet, in both worlds. Luke is sweet, kind and thoughtful and finds talking to girls he likes really tricky. As Blaze, he has swagger and confidence and easily chats, and flirts with Sam.
Eventually, they get it together after some upset and confusion. It’s an easy read with romance, gaming, and business start ups!

Thanks the NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I really like romance books in which the characters have a crush on each other through letters, tinder, emails, etc., but who also know each other personally but don't know that this is the person they talk to and are in love with (good points if they hate each other in real life). So I would recommend this book to people who like this kind of trope.
This book was very fun and easy to read, and although I'm not interested in games at all, I enjoyed the story and managed to get attached to the characters. Playing for Love is a solid 3 star book.

Loved this unique take on a romcom! Loveable characters with an interesting storyline. Would recommend!

When I read the synopsis of this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. It sounded like the perfect read.

Yes, I did enjoy it however it took me a while to get into the story. I loved Luke and Sam, they were really sweet and I loved how dedicated they are. I will admit though I wasn't invested in their romance. Sorry. It kind of felt forced and if I'm honest the lack of communication kind of got to me.

In saying that, it is an entertaining book and I am giving it 3stars for that.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Luke and Sam work in the same co-working hub, but at night they are secretly a team battling in a major online gaming contest as Blaze and Bravura. Luke has a major crush on Sam, who has been falling for Blaze since she was a teenager. A geeky and fun romance book about gaming, YouTubers, and two people trying to understand who they are and the world around them.

I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, but in this case I think it really added to the story and gave it another twist.

I think the concept of this book was original and refreshing - two people intertwined between real life and their online personas.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a brilliant read. Following two business owners who share the same building as both their real and double lives converge.
This was a great romance with plently of gaming references and a sweet love story.
Touching on some more heavy topics like grief and identity and confidence.

This book was such a quick and lovely read. As an avid gamer engaged to an even bigger gamer, reading about esports and the gaming community was such a welcome change of pace from what I usually read. I loved every bit of this book - even if Blaze did turn out to be a bit of a wank.

A funny easy read that kept me turning the pages.

The first book I have read by Jeevani Charika and I would definately read more

A great read for holiday I would recommend

This book is great, fun and really funny at parts, feel good and will definitely lift those spirits and leave you smiling from ear to ear. It's great.

I enjoyed the concept of this book with gaming and real life.

Sam is a small business owner trying to get her business up and running. Luke is the IT guy in the same building and has a crush on Sam but she has a crush on Blaze who is a gamer but is actually Luke. Sam wins a competition to be partnered with a gamer in a game which ends up being Blaze. The interaction between them is good and we see how they seem to be with each other.

I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

When she isn’t busy building her fashion business, Samadhi ‘Sam’ Ranaweera turns to her other passion to de-stress: competitive late-night gaming (in secret, of course). She can’t believe her luck when she’s selected to play in a virtual tournament with notoriously elusive gamer Blaze.

Blaze is a little cocky and very self-assured – no surprises, given his huge online popularity – and Sam feels under pressure to impress him with her gameplay. But she has no idea that in real life, he’s just shy Luke Burneside, the awkward guy from her office.

And despite his regular coffee deliveries to her desk, Sam barely notices Luke… because with each day, she’s falling harder for Blaze.

As her crush intensifies with each game and she becomes obsessed with winning Blaze’s attention, will Sam lose her chance with the man right under her nose?

I really enjoyed reading about this book, I first picked up the book because of the genre and the asian representation, and I have no regrets. I personally didn't enjoy the gamin aspects that much but thats personally as I don't enjoy gaming and I knew the premise before picking up the book. I enjoyed the cute romance between the two main characters and was hooked from the beginning. Definitely pick this up for a quick cute read

Synopsis: When Sam’s not working on her fledgling business, she spends her time secretly video-gaming. Her crush is famous gamer Blaze, and she’s thrilled when she’s teamed up with him in a virtual tournament.

But what Sam doesn’t know is that Blaze is the alter ego of Luke, her shy colleague – and he has a secret crush too.

Luke has a crush on Sam.
Sam has a crush on Blaze.

How will this game of love play out?

Review:
I decided to read this book as was looking for an easy read after heavy novel. This book is great- lovely quick and easy read. From the get go you get an understanding of the two main characters and instantly like both the characters and are cheering for them from the start. Very easy read; enjoyable romantic novel that has a good feel good factor to it.

I'm a bit of a geek myself, and honestly the thought of playing a video game live with a YouTube gamer makes me very nervous. So it was easy to understand Sam's perspective on that. Though her crush on Blaze felt a bit much, considering the limited interactions she had with him. It was definitely mostly in her head, and even made her behave like a teenager at those times.

Meanwhile at other times she was very much in control, knowing what she wants, and yes having trouble opening herself up.

Luke in daily life is sweet, helpful, and a bit shy. Though all in all a great guy, just lacking some self confidence when it comes to ladies.

I do wish there were more interactions between Luke and Sam outside of the office setting. Because now they were both acting mostly professional, so the step from asking out and being in love felt rather big.

I did like, and enjoy reading Playing for Love.

*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When I started this book, I knew the author was South-Asian (or desi as I think of in my head), as was the main character, but I did not know from which country she was from. I begin with this because I found out something I had never known before, all thanks to the way she addressed her father. I was initially perplexed because I thought a decent understanding of such things, but I love to learn something new every time. This diversion may not hold much interest to many people, but reading books by and about people from different cultures(however close it might be to your own) always has something interesting (however small) that you can take away from it.
This book is a proper romance story with the lead pair who have to both find themselves and grow in their understanding of themselves before the book winds down. The happily ever after is guaranteed, but the way the couple find themselves to that point was interesting.
The story begins with two people who run their own businesses (almost) who work in the same coworking space. They have their own secrets and insecurities. The thing that binds them together is a shared love for video games. One likes to play and the other to watch. When these two parts of the narrative meet, things start to move forwards. It took me some time to get into the video game aspect of it, of which I have no understanding whatsoever. I preferred the simple formula of the plotline to the action of the game. If you like video games, you might get more out of this than I did. This has a prominent place in the story and therefore affected my overall reading experience.
I really enjoyed the author's writing. She brought everyone to life in a way that you can imagine how they interact with friends, family as well as acquaintances. I would definitely pick another book by her.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you to #NetGalley and HQ for an ARC of #PlayingforLove in exchange for an honest review.

Playing for Love was an enjoyable read. I appreciated that the premise was different and the way the author wove in the storyline was done really well. I only wish that there was something "more". It really felt like it was missing the drama. Especially when everything was revealed. The character building was well done with Sam and her business and Luke and his gaming channel. However, that character building didn't really translate all the way through the book. I felt like the characters deserved a lot more at the end and the reader deserved a little more excitement. Overall, I enjoyed the book and loved the gaming aspect of it.

This was such a cute read. I loved the idea of gaming and having a love story developed based on gaming but still every character had their own lives and how all this combined created this cute story.