This was a wild video game based ride! I am. It super well versed in any kind of video game but the author made sure that a lack of knowledge did not hinder understanding or engagement for a reader like me! Marina has some dark secrets in her past, ones that she is hiding from her new friends. However, as they all begin playing for their lives Marina realizes that somehow her past might be the driving force behind all the bad things are happening. Family is not always related by blood and those who stand by us and help us are our true family as Marina learns. I did think this book was too long, 100pages less would have really had the reader more focused.

An interesting YA thriller for fans of "One of Us is Lying." I enoyed Marina's character and their friends. It was interesting having the group need to do both tasks in the game and in real life. Requires suspension of disbelief, but most YA thrillers do. Lots of twists, some more obvious and others genuine surprises. Recommended purchase where YA thrillers are very popular.

This was a fun suspense thriller, murder mystery in the form of a RPG game. I liked the tie ins from the game to the reasoning why they murdered the creator of the Apocalypse gaming company. With every murder mystery, the reader likes to try to investigate along and figure out who had done it, but it was a fairly easy guess as the background of the protagonist and their mother’s relationship had helped. It was entertaining enough that I still finished the book even knowing who had done it and who was stalking them. Still one that I would recommend for gamers and lovers of murder mystery novels.

I overall liked the story but would get a bit lost or bored at times. There was almost too many details while they’d play the video games. However, I still would recommend with the caveat that you should have some knowledge of video games going in!

I'm not usually a thriller reader, but I ended up enjoying this!

The ending was extremely cliche and predictable (so was the villain reveal tbh), but lbr, I was here for the dark, bloody vibes, and the vibes delivered. If you're someone who's looking for a more grown-up read, probably skip this one.

I loved how parts of the novel takes place in an MMORPG with a 4 person party, which includes a tank, mage, rogue, and healer. I haven't played video games in a while and the entire time I was reading this, I really wanted to get back into gaming. No lie, it's been a long time where I've had a reading experience where I felt compelled to pick up an old hobby of mine.

Some readers might find the whole gaming aspect contrived, but to me, it brings another layer of depth to the plot.

Marina/Night was a compelling FMC. I absolutely loved how the author incorporated her Chinese heritage into this novel's plot. It created depth for the FMC's arc and made her history and personality a lot more interesting to read about.

I love unreliable narrators, even though they can be very frustrating to deal with. I found myself feeling all sorts of way for Marina, from sympathy for her situation to annoyance at how she keeps valuable information to herself.

I had a lot of fun with the mystery/whodunnit plot, and I really appreciated how the author strung the reader along with the MC without revealing too much at once. It kept me on my toes and was compelling enough that I devoured this novel in one weekend.

I'm excited to read more from Kelsea Yu!

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this arc.

I loved the storyline and enjoyed the twists of this book. I did have trouble getting into it and following certain parts.

Marina Chan is running from something, but what?

The unraveling of Marina’s past is gradually revealed through flashbacks, a dual timeline story that also focuses on the present - where her and three friends need to win four rounds in a video game, or face devastating consequences for them all.

This twisty, tense thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what actually is the truth and why Cíxǐ - the mastermind behind this plot - chose them in particular. As the story progresses, it becomes abundantly clear that targeting them - especially Marina - is deeply personal, and she is involved in ways she herself was unaware of.

This YA thriller is the perfect summer read, a book that you’ll fly through but also want to savor. The characters are lovable and real and I felt very invested in their outcome. The gaming aspects were a great addition as well, and I couldn’t help but think of how fun a film adaptation would be to watch!

One thing about me, I will devour a good YA thriller and this book delivers. I loved the premise with the online gaming and the mystery makes it such a fast paced read. Definitely looking forward to more by this author.

"It's Only a Game" by Kelsea Yu is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that combines the excitement of online gaming with the tension of a high-stakes mystery. The story follows Marina Chan, a young woman living under a false identity, as she navigates a dangerous game that threatens to expose her past and destroy everything she has built.

Yu's writing is fast-paced and engaging, drawing readers into Marina's world of online gaming and real-world danger. The novel's premise is intriguing, with the murder of the game's creator setting off a chain of events that forces Marina and her friends to play a deadly game of their own.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Marina, who is a complex and relatable protagonist. As Marina and her friends are forced to confront their own fears and secrets, they must rely on each other to survive, adding depth to the story and creating a sense of camaraderie among the characters.

"It's Only a Game" is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its blend of mystery, intrigue, and adventure, Kelsea Yu has crafted a compelling story that will appeal to fans of both gaming and thrillers. Dive into this thrilling tale and discover the dangerous game that Marina and her friends must play to survive.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This book has a fantastic premise! I love the idea of puzzling out a mystery in real life to get further in a game. The gang of friends is fun too, and the descriptions of food were delightful! I especially enjoyed the short flashback chapters which build and leave me intrigued. I wish there was a higher sense of urgency to complete the levels given the tight timeline, but the characters seem mostly relaxed and confident they’ll be able to complete the challenges after food, sleep, and bonding.

I think my video gamers in class who enjoyed Slay and Ready Player One might really like this!

I'm don't read a ton of thrillers and now I'm wondering why not! This book grabbed me immediately, and I was so engrossed I ended up staying up late to finish it. I loved the video game aspect and while I THOUGHT I had figured out who the villain was, the final twist took me completely by surprise!

Marina left her life and has created a new life from the new home to the new gamer friends. She is always resistant to put herself out there in case her past catches up to her. She goes on a tour and the tour guide is murderer during the tour. Her and her friends and being framed. Can they play the game to save themselves?

There is some game language that was above this non gamer. The twists wouldn’t stop coming! I was able to figure out parts of the twists but loved the book overall.

Thank you to Kelsea Yu, Bloomsbury, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Speechless. I am just speechless. So so many twists and turns. I had no clue about most of them. I'm shocked. I had to read it all in one sitting. It's that good. I literally LOVED the friend group and Bette & Jimmy. Plus Slate 🥹🥹 I'm so glad I read this, truly suspenseful, and makes you on the edge of your seat. Also, bonus points if you're into gaming this is gaming related. Loved all of this. So many parts had me gasping, then worried, then stressed, then sad, then strong alongside the characters. Just so many emotions, I can not put them into words. Go pre-order this!!! It's definitely one of my top 3 favorite books that I've read this year.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bloomsbury to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Wow thank you, NetGalley! This had me hooked almost immediately. Don’t let the fact that it’s YA turn you off from giving this book a try. It’s completely fast paced and layered. I was totally entertained.

A sapphic runaway, video games and murder... Need I say more?

Fine, I will.
Marina Chan ran away from home a year ago. And things are not great but she could be worse. She found good people who took her in and a good group of friends thanks to a video game. And now, they've all won a tour of that video game company, so she gets to meet her friends irl for the first time. And then, shit happens... and then, things somehow get worse.

I had a great time reading this. I was captivated from beginning to end. The plot enthralled me from beginning to end and I just adored the main character. It was very original and stressful and so good. I had an idea on who was the big bad quite soon but I didn't mind, all the twists still took me by surprise. I really loved this. The relationships between the main character and everyone also else kept me on my toes the entire time. I was just as captivating as the mystery plot to me.
I could not recommend this more.

Thanks to NetGalley/Bloomsbury YA for the ARC and the shot of adrenaline! w/o spoilers this book is a finely layered rollercoaster of a thriller. I loved Marina/Night and rooted for her through every single new revelation, and game play, and was taken with each and every one of the other characters as well. The pace of the story had my heart racing and I could not put this down! Definitely going to reread when I get my paper copy in July!

My heart is still beating rapidly from the book. If you're looking for a fast paced, mildly traumatizing, but in a good way, tale, this is it. Kelsea Yu is an incredible writer and drags you headfirst into her story, trapping you there through the whole dastardly thing. Her characters are easily loved or hated, her writing is perfection, and the story as a whole was incredible.

While the overall pacing was fast and sharp, the characterization was not and this took me longer to get through because of that. There a few chills and thrills but didn't quite meet the mark.

Loved this book and can't wait to see more from the author. Thanks to the author and the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

4.5

Another YA thriller for the win! Mariana Chen is running from her past and finds solace in video gaming where she meets her online squad. They become fast friends conquering level after level of the popular game Darkilect, until the game becomes a reality. There’s murder lies and secrets. They all work together to try and figure out who killed Ethan Wainwright, a big video game developer. As the mystery progresses, it starts to hit closer to home to Mariana and what’s she’s hiding from her friends.

This was fast paced, thrilling and I just loved the mystery so much. Past and present timelines and I love when everything just connects so perfectly. I finished this in one sitting I couldn’t stop reading! This was so so good!