I LOVED the gamer vibes in this book! It made 16 year old me want to scream and pump my first.
Late 90’s/early 00’s Shakespeare retellings are my jam (see: 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, She’s the Man) and this book embodies that vibe perfectly.
Jack and Vi were such dynamic characters. ack “Duke” Orsino is the star football player with his college plans set in stone until he gets injured and is out for the entire season, leading him to check out the MMORPG, Twelfth Knight. When Vi realizes she knows Jack she lies about who she is and gets to know Jack on a whole new level which leads to shenanigans, mistaken identity and the inevitable feels.

This was such a fun read and felt so nostalgic. The way the story was written was unique and playful and gave a voice to all those awkward kids who feel misunderstood and unheard.

I love a good Shakespeare retelling and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint…especially when I loved “She’s the Man” so much!

If you are a lover of YA + Shakespeare retellings, this is definitely the book for you! It’s cute. It’s funny. There are sports involved. What’s not to love?

This book definitely gave me enemies to lovers/fake identity feels and I loved it. A great, fun little beach read if you need one!

Favorite Lines:
"You are the bane of my existence, Jack Orsino."
"As you are mine."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Let me preface by saying Alexene Farol/ Olivie Blake is an automatic buy for me and thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

I’m sorry but I was not able to get into this book bcs it had two things I could care less about. Football and d&d/ roleplaying games . I really really tried to read it but I could not get past the first 5 chapters. I will def try this again when I have more time.

As a gamer I have to say I love this book! Romance is my to go to and if I saw this book on the shelf at a bookstore I would grab it just based off the cover and description. I don’t normally read YA because it feels so immature to me but this was perfection! The characters are so lovable and easy to relate too. I love how the author showed us what a REAL relationship could look like. Obviously not perfection, there’s ups and downs. 100% recommend. Even if it doesn’t seem like your type of book please give it a try!

This was cute. It was frustrating but cute. It took a loooong time for Vi's arc to happen and I was kind of super mad that Antonia never actually apologized for being a shitty friend. For basically badmouthing her supposed best friend behind her back, that was what I was the most not cool with and it's just a really pitiful friend makeup scene that only happened because she finally got to experience misogyny that Vi had been dealing with the whole time. I also should clarify, I really don't like football so the glorification of it in this made me annoyed. I was with Vi in her distaste for it and I kind of wanted Jack's career to fully fall through so he'd understand that it's not everything. He still does understand but I don't think he should go back to it after everything.

Wow I'm so hyper critical. What I DID enjoy is Bash being the best twin brother and putting Vi in her place when she is a shit. I enjoyed Olivia's story a great deal and loved the actual good friendship that bloomed. And I did like the romance between Jack and Vi. I liked that they did a minor third act breakup but with critical thinking and conversation, it didn't last and really showcased how mature the characters had become by the end.

Overall, I think I like this author's YA more than their Adult because I really had a hard time like Atlas Six.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in return for an honest review.

I was really excited about this book because I love Shakespeare retellings! This book was a bit of a disappointment for me though. It took me a very long time to get into and I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters.

I found all the descriptions of football and computer games to be kind of boring and I ended up skimming through those parts.

The part about this book that I did like was Jack discovering that he could do more than just play football and I also thought the was he was with Viola was adorable.

The premise of this book really intrigued me, however it really just wasn’t for me. That is nothing against the book, I think many people will love it. I’m all for the feminist aspect of this book. But the characters were so mean to the fmc and I just couldn’t get over it. It was so unnecessary. I enjoy Olivie Blakes’s writing but the YA and storyline of this book was overall disappointing.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc! as someone who is already a fan of olivie blake/alexene farol follmuth's writing, i knew i was going to enjoy this one! its a cute story and how exciting that it was picked for one of the biggest celebrity book clubs!

Viola Reyes is her class VP, she is known to be prickly, and puts passion into everything she loves. Her RPG group has just shot down her campaign idea, her best friend told her she should try being more likeable, and the President to her VP is a football star and so bad at his job leaving her to pick up his slack.

Jack Orsino is universally loved, and the star of the football team until he suffers an injury that is going to take him out for the season and maybe ruin his chances of playing in college. With all his new free time he start playing an online game called Twelfth Knight. He befriends a fellow player, but what he doesn't know is that player is Vi playing as a guy so she is only judged by her skills.

They both begin to talk both online and offline and really connect. While Jack gets to know the true Vi in real life, he doesn't know the character he is opening up to online is also her.

This was a very cute YA romance. I am not a gamer, nor am I into DnD style games but I am so glad to read about it and have a novel that encourages a younger generation that playing those games is okay and fun. I felt the chemistry from the characters, and their connection felt natural. It explored some more serious topics but balanced it well with humor and lightness.

What a fun, fresh, smart retelling of Twelfth Night! I loved the sports/gaming twist and the ways this story explored identity and anger, especially that of women and people of color in privileged institutions. There were tons of fun easter eggs for the Shakespeare fans, but this story stands beautifully on its own. A total treat to read!

She's The Gamer

Wow I liked this a LOT. A very fun Shakespeare retelling that had the vibe of those early 2000s movies. I REALLY loved Viola, a nerdy fangirl and gamer who can’t help being a bitch to men who treat her as less than in those spaces. Her dynamic with Jack (both IRL and as her male gaming persona) was really cute and I appreciated how open and honest they became even amongst the deceptions. I have some quibbles about the secondary characters, but overall this was a winner of a YA romcom.

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth (penname for Olivie Blake) (YA Romance)

"𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔."

My nostalgic little heart!

Read this for:
🗡️ romcom perfection meets coming-of-age story
🏈 a brilliant YA Shakespeare retelling a la She’s The Man, 10 Things I Hate About Your or Clueless
🩼 Slow burn, “enemies” to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, electric dialogue, nerdy cuteness
🎮 vulnerable, real, nuanced characters navigating journeys of self-discovery and growth

Look, I will devour anything resembling romantic comedies' golden era. And this one is a gem, simply enchanting! If you’re a Shakespeare fan (or enjoy retellings), Twelfth Knight makes brilliant use of the source material! If you like heartwarming and relatable characters discovering how to open their hearts and stay true to who they are, you’ll love this one. If you enjoy gaming culture or fandom to any degree, you’ll be delighted by the story. If you, like me, were raised on late ’00s and early ’90s romcoms, this will have you kicking your feet. Moreover, it’s further proof that YA doesn’t mean simple- these characters are complex and universally relatable. (YA Romance reader for life 🙋‍♀️)

Go read this new release for a delightful, sweet, fun summertime read ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Viola is not the easiest person to get along with. She is intelligent. She doesn’t back down. And she’s a woman. None of these things, especially gender, is reason enough to call her a bitch. But it happens. A lot. Because she’s unwilling to back down when she knows that she’s right. She won’t dumb herself down for anyone. And there’s no reason she should fall at your feet for asking her out, no matter your lofty opinions of yourself.

Margo, the most awesome and unapologetic character from The Magicians (the show), said it best in an episode aptly titled ‘All That Hard Glossy Armor.’ while talking to Eliot.
Eliot: “You can be one of the smart ones or one of the pretty ones or even a strong one, but…”
Margo: “Try to be all three, you better smile and shut up. Cause the second you’re you. The second… I’m loud, pissed off. It’s what a bitch. What a slut. Who the fuck does she think she is?”

It’s no wonder that when Viola wants a little peace, she goes online to play Twelfth Knight with a male character. Suddenly she finds she doesn’t have to explain herself or defend herself. Her merits are based on her actions alone.

When high school football god Jack Orsino gets injured by a spiteful opponent, he suddenly finds himself a little on the outside looking in, and with a lot of time on his hands. He’s still got the clout, but he no longer has the game. He can come back with the proper rest and therapy, but he’s going to miss the rest of his senior season–and possibly lose his college recruitment to Illyria. For someone who’s always moving and looking ahead (something that serves him well in running plays) the downtime is excruciating. On a recommendation from a friend, he starts playing Twelfth Knight as Duke Orsino. That’s when Vi - as Cesario - runs into him in-game and knows who he is from his completely unoriginal gamer tag.

Of course there’s a love story, but more than that, it’s a coming of age story. The more they play the game and bond together, the more they wind up interacting with each other in real life. But Jack doesn’t know that Cesario and Vi are the same person (he thinks it’s her twin brother Sebastian). Jack, who always keeps himself back from getting angry, always being that likable nice guy that everyone loves, is finding that he has no second plan, no life not shaped around football. Vi teaches him that there can be other things, that life is a million paths that you can wind up taking and who knows which ones you'll actually go down? Football isn’t everything, and he doesn’t have to always be that likable perfect guy. In fact, the more he bickers with Vi, he realizes that beneath all that hard glossy armor is a person who cares about other people. She just puts on the persona to keep herself from getting hurt. But that doesn;t mean she’s not being herself, just that she doesn't let people see when they hurt her. But she can be herself with Jack, he doesn’t mind the word play and banter–He likes her for who she is.

It’s okay to have feelings of anger or disappointment, to be hurt by what people say. That doesn’t make you feminine or a woman or weak, it makes you human. Realizing that football or whatever your aspiration is, isn’t the only path, isn't giving up, it’s accepting that some things are out of your control. You have to be true to yourself and take care of yourself if you ever expect to grow.

#netgalley #2024reads #booksbooksbooks #bookdragon #arc #torpublishing #afarolfollmuth #olivieblake

Most of my knowledge of Twelfth Night comes from the movie She’s the Man but I’ve heard the general gist of the story. And well the cover of this book caught my attention so I figured why not? Since it was available on NetGalley I ended up with the ebook and audiobook. Lack of proper Shakespearean reference aside I really enjoyed this story. It was very much a grumpy sunshine tale but I understand Vi’s grumpiness I was on her side the whole time. Vi and Jack were so adorable though I loved them together. I just really loved this book.

Finally, a grumpy x sunshine dynamic where the grumpy character is actually grumpy instead of just quiet and stoic. I feel like the inner geek in me feels so recognized and appreciated. If you love tabletop RPGs, online MMORPGS, and geeky cosplay conventions, this might be the book for you.

Viola Reyes, your prickliness only makes me like you more. If you are looking for a likable female lead, I’m sorry but you will be very disappointed. She is the complex female character and she will have quirks that you either like or dislike, but it is refreshing to see a main character who says what you sometimes want to say to other people.

Jack Orsino, everybody’s best friend and the most open-minded person in this book. His kindness radiates in every single interaction he has with other characters. He never thinks badly of anyone, except maybe the guy who tackled him. Just a ray of sunshine and a great male lead.

I would like to take some time to show my appreciation to the side characters, who were honestly some of my favorite characters to read about. Olivia, who I only want to give the biggest hug to. Bash, who is so unapologetically himself and so confidently a theater kid and whose moral compass is just in the right place.

I enjoyed this book way more than I ever expected. I don’t usually enjoy young adult contemporary, but if it is an Olivie Blake book, I will read it. Surprise, surprise, I had such a great time. It gave me the warm fuzzies and I know you will enjoy it too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Look, one, I'm a sucker for Shakespeare-inspired retellings. Two, I'm a sucker for video game inspired books. Three, I'm a sucker for a YA romcom. This hit all of them. I was a bit hesitant at first because of Vi and Jack's characters and their POVs, but binge reading this basically all in one morning after not being able to go back to sleep...I was kind of hooked.

Vi is angry at the world and sexism and expectations, and she gets called bitch...a lot in the book. She owns it though...but it does weigh heavily on the reader who also has experienced that before. Jack is the football star-no-more after an ACL injury...so then he turns to online gaming...with Vi...who tells him she's her twin (look, if you know 12th night, you know this plot).

There's a lot I really enjoyed in this.

I'm not usually a big YA reader but I am a HUGE Olivie Blake (adult pen name of Alexene Farol Follmuth) and so I felt compelled to read this, and I'm so, SO glad that I did. Another thing I love about OB/AFF is that she got her start writing fan fiction, in fact I've read some of her Harry Potter fan fiction and, as all her work, it's so well-written I have to force myself to stop reading and tend to my responsibilities. This novel is no different and in the story itself Follmuth pays homage to her beginnings and creates such a rewarding story about an unlikeable FMC who is big into gaming and "nerd" culture. I adored Viola and Jack. All of the side characters are also fleshed out and lovable and going through normal, but still tough, high school problems while learning who they are. It just felt so authentic from every character to every scenario these characters found themselves in. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Plus, the dialogue is next-level good. There are so many good zings between Viola and Jack, I ate it right up.

As a lover of Shakespeare and Shakespeare retelling, this was such a treat. I love this new take on a classic. It has the charm of the classic, with the oomph of a modern retelling. I loved this. I hope this author follows through and makes more retelling in this world. They have such a talent for modernizing Shakespeare in a way that I hope makes teenagers want to pick up the originals they are based on.

This book was provided by NetGalley, but all reviews a d comments are my own.

A cute romcom set in the modern day, following the theme of modern romcoms we take to the video game sphere, which I personally enjoyed. The characters were fun and well developed and I am excited to see what Follmuth will do next with her YA space.

The perfect YA rom-com!! Grumpy x sunshine, rivals to lovers and slow burn was the perfect combination, one of the best authors out there at the moment and the theme and execution of this book was so fun and perfect