3,5 / 5!

Single Player is a cozy, heartwarming sapphic romance novel between two Game Developers who ind themselves working on the next big hit of the industry while having to battle the fact that they don't really enjoy each other's company... at first!

We have a lovable chubby food-loving female main character who's not only having to find her way into the industry but also needs to finally make her family realise that she's not a total failure, and a seemingly coolheaded non-binary industry veteran who's still dealing with a fanbase that can't get over them not being a cisgender heterosexual dude.

This novel is filled to the brim with lovely nerd references and not so lovely typical industry topics that have accompanied us in the last few months and years.

Tara Tai quite clearly did lots of research when it comes to problems that videogame companies and developers have been dealing with as of lately and it shows!
You can clearly feel how much love the author has for games, Anime, etc - so I felt right at home! BUT as a chubby, nerdy woman and a former game developer myself, I gotta say that some characters and story party felt too much on the nose. Too many quirks, words, sentences felt like a tool to simply fill certain clichés.

The sexist cisgender hetero Chad who's dating a "Barbie"-character (if she even has a character), the random usage of overly nerdy lingo - "G" instead of money with a follow-up explanation what G means. For the normies here.

I was constantly torn between feeling at home/understood and cringing from the story having to make sure that I definitely don't forget that we have a Nerd Alert situation!

I also sometimes got the feeling that it's subconsciously shown that only the two main characters and their side kicks are "real people" and all the others are just fake, superficial people with no character. This gave me the feeling of them sitting on a high horse and took away any delusion of many different people with their quirks being able to co-live on this planet. That might be completely subjective, but I don't like thinking that some people are better than others, simply because they have "better" or "smarter" hobbies than others.

What Tara Tai manages to portray in a wonderful way is the doubt and anxiety that comes with emotional connections and relationships. Of simply not being good enough, being too much, being too different for others to accept. Love is hard. Whether is romantic or platonic.

Overall a nice and cozy read which can make you feel all giddy inside if you can overlook the (sometimes) cringey moments.

I'd suggest this book as a spring or summer read!



Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy of Single Player in exchange for an honest review.

The world setting is fantastic. As a fan of video games, I found it amazing to read a book with that premise. The "enemies to lovers" concept is engaging, especially at the beginning of their relationship. However, I wished there was more focus on that dynamic in the second half of the book.

I also love the representation of geek culture, the queer themes, and the beautiful cover.

Cat Li loves romance and video games. She loves them so much that she quit her fancy job to become a video game writer, focusing on the romance story lines. When she gets a job writing the romance for the new game from famed nonbinary game writer Andi “Andz” Zhang, she thinks she’s gotten her dream job. Things quickly go south after a bad first impression and learning that Andi doesn’t want romance in the game at all. As the two keep running into each other, they realize that maybe their first impressions were wrong.

I knew from the very first page when it quoted Dragon Age: Inquisition that I would like this book. Queer rep? Check. Diverse main characters? Check. Video games? Check. Romance? Check. Writing? Check.

I love a good dual POV book and I think it was really well used here. It really helped going inside intimidating Andi’s head (who uses she/they pronouns), especially after a stand off in Cat’s chapter. You could get on board with her sooner because every time they were mean, there was a moment of “why did I just say that?” It was also fun watching their feelings for each other grow.

I thought that the writing in this book was great. There were several twists in the book that I thought were foreshadowed well. You could see them coming if you thought about it but you could also let the story surprise you. I was also impressed by the vocabulary in this book. The narrators were intelligent and you could tell. Another thing I appreciated was that anytime it felt like secondhand embarrassment was coming, the characters navigated the situation like people and not vehicles for hijinks. These characters felt like rational people, something you don’t always find in romance novels. The side characters were fun, if a little underutilized. I wouldn’t have minded the book being longer so that I could learn about them more.

Overall, this was a great read. This was the author’s debut novel, so I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

5 stars

Publishing date: 07.01.2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: Munching snackos while playing Dragon Age and romancing all my favorites
The book left me: Wanting to play more Dating Sims

Negatives:
Wanted to see the characters relationship more (after started dating)
Wanted more/stronger revenge on a certain someone
Like every contemporary romance, not a true "enemies to lovers"

Positives:
Great enby, queer, POC, neurodivergent, and aromantic rep
So many references to geek culture (I am a geek and greatly appreciated it)
Characters feel genuine and like they could be "real people"

Features:
Gaming references and metaphors, lots of representation, big corporation bullies, D&D scenes, workplace romance, fake dating

Why did I choose this one?
First up: the cover is so cute. Second: I saw gaming mentioned in the description and thought O_O. Third: I haven't read nearly enough queer romance this year so I had to get my filling.

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
In-between. Something about the pacing in this book couldn't hook me like most romances do. I think it was more of a me problem than a book problem as I have been in a slight reading slump.

What was the vibe and mood?
We have two sides: The stress and anxiety of your current job but also old workplace drama haunting your every step, + will this project work out like we need it to?
The other side: Managing your "masks" to seem somewhat normal around other people because there is a lot of stigma around geeky stuff. But then at the same time slowly losing that mask and accepting more and more that other's opinions really don't matter.
My headcanon is that the main characters are autistic or at least neurodivergent in some way as it felt very "neurocoded" (coming from someone on the spectrum)
Almost forgot: This is a reference goblins paradise, you can play bingo with references in this book

Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. I would love to give it 5 stars, but I was not pleased enough to do so.
My problems: Not enough time spent with the characters "together", a little hard to get into (not the book's fault, might have to reread later). and not enough closure for the antagonists.
Otherwise this is a very cute romance, but I feel the target audience is a little specific. The amount of gaming references might rub non-gamers the wrong way, might even be outright annoying. On the other hand, it might be annoying for gamers too.
I think this book will do really well with certain readers, but for most will go unnoticed or as part of the "3 stars, okay" heap of books.

Ahh omg this was so cute! Loved the workplace setting of a game development company, loved that it was run by some diverse people (not just white men, although they are there). The chemistry and romance between Cat and Andi was adorable and I loved every second of it. My only thing is I wish they were together for longer because I wanted to read that.

I think this romance is going to be super popular! Loved that the main interests are both Asian American (instead of the usual one being white). Great queer and enby rep too.

This book kinda reminded me of a queer Tomorrow x3 mixed with parts of Much Ado About Nada. If you like enemies to friends to lovers, gamers, queer romance, fake dating, one bed, folks who just want to be picked first, well then this book is for you. Can’t wait for this to be out in the world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of this ARC!

it's interesting overall and not a bad read but I feel like the "enemies" part of "enemies to lovers" went for too long without conflicting feelings in the middle. and then, at least for Andi, the "lovers" part was a bit jammed in. I really missed the complexity of feelings in this trope

I want to start by saying thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It took me a bit longer to read this book than others. I feel like this is at no fault of the author. I loved feeling like I was apart of the story in a way that I was described everything. There were a lot of details in the book that helped build the story and the characters. My only wish for this book was that the end have more of a resolution for the antagonists in the book. I would have loved to see something more in that sense. But I recommend this book!

Who want's to read a sapphic enemies-to-lovers game dev workplace romance packed with a ton of nerdy references and a side dish of fake dating?

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

To be honest, I was just browsing NetGalley for some silly little summer romance reads when I stumpled upon this and started reading it not expecting anything, but this was sosososososo good!!!. I am in love.

I laughed, I cried, I blushed, I giggled, I felt ALLL the feelings. Read it in one sitting.

The characters were so REAL and authentic and flawed (in a positive way). Both POVs of the alleged enemies were so plausible and convincing, I could relate to both of them so much.

There was lots of diverse representation in the book (POC, non-binary, aromantic representation f.e., also the main characters seem neurodivergent-coded in my opinion, even if that's not stated in the book) and as someone who has touched base with the gaming industry and internet culture itself the whole part about sexism in the field, the doxxing, etc. also felt way too real.

Maybe there were a TAD to many gaming metaphors and comparisons from time to time but that's it. That's the only small little tiny baby negative. Go read it!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. For unexpected findings like this I love the platform even more!

This book was quite average for me. I couldn't quite connect with the characters and the plot. The romance was so boring, i couldn't feel any chemistry between the characters 😔. Honestly, this could be a 'me' problem as I don't really like gaming. Honestly, the only thing I liked was the pacing but the plot was boring for me so I couldn't really enjoy the story.

Thank you Net Galley and Alcove Press for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Alcove Press, for the advance reading copy.

I absolutely LOVE this workplace “enemies” to lovers romance!

Cat loves gaming and is a huge nerd. She would love writing romance storylines in the upcoming gaming world of “Compass Hollow”. That’s where she meets Andi, the narrative director of Compass Hollow. And well….they start off pretty heated!

I love how genuine both the lead characters are.

I would say the first half is really good! The romance build up is strong almost to the point of me getting hazy and swooning.

Their chemistry is hot!

But I would say when it comes to the actual getting together in the second half, it isn’t as amazing hot I expected it to be.

Nevertheless, a fun entertaining read and I would surely recommend!

I thought 'Single Player' was an enjoyable sapphic romance set in the gaming industry, featuring a delightful enemies-to-lovers and fake-dating trope. The story follows Cat Li, a romantic at heart, and Andi Zhang, a love-skeptic narrative director, as they navigate their professional rivalry and growing attraction. I appreciated how the character development mirrored a gaming structure, making for a meta-experience that was both engaging and believable. Despite not being a gamer myself, I found the book accessible and easy to follow, thanks to the author's attention to detail. The dynamic between Cat and Andi was intriguing, with a slow build and palpable tension that kept me hooked from cover to cover. With a spice level of 3 out of 5, this book is perfect for those who enjoy a well-crafted romance without an overwhelming amount of heat. Overall, 'Single Player' is a fun and satisfying read that I would recommend to fans of workplace romances and queer love stories.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Tara Tai for giving me the chance to read Single Player in exchange for my honest review.

Single Player is a beautifully written book which is perfect for those who love video games. Overall Single Player is an incredible book which I could not put down, I was fully immersed in a different world than my own and I was constantly wanting to find out what would happen next. I believe the overall representation in this book as portrayed through the characters is amazing and Tara Tai created a level of diversity which I have yet to find elsewhere when it comes to literature.

I as a reader and a gamer enjoyed the references to games such as Pokemon throughout, it felt like it made Cat’s personality more developed and reflected exactly how much games meant to them. It felt like Cat was very relatable in the stress she felt from her parents to meet their standards but I love how her character seems to grow to overcome this.

I love Andi and their entire personality, I love how she treats her work life and how they act hard and tough but once they are around people that they care about, their personality completely changes.

I feel that the development of the plot was perfectly timed and reflects the reality of being human which is why I love the character development which Tara Tai has incorporated into this plot, it shows growth, confusion, adaptation and room for personal growth.

Single player was an enjoyable sapphic romance between two Asian women set in the gaming industry. This book has a fake-dating trope but is mainly a rivals-to-lovers trope, which was very satisfying. I appreciated how the character development followed a gaming structure (finding clues and winning challenges) for a meta-experience. The characters were believable, and I enjoyed the book cover to cover. Spice level, 3 out of 5.

I love every about this book!!! The nerdy references and gaming culture nods felt like little gifts that were put there just for me. Andi and Cat were a great match for each other (whether they wanted to admit it or not!) and the slow burn had me screaming KISS ALREADY multiple times in the very best way. I loved the spin on fake dating, too. I can't wait for this swoony/nerdy masterpiece to be on everyone's shelves in January!

Thanks to NetGalley and alcove press for this ACR!

This book is the perfect slow burn romance for gamer (probably millennials)!
Sometimes it was a bit too much, but most of the time I really enjoyed all the references to games like “the legend of Zelda” or “Pokemon”.

“Instead—like a Breath of the Wild player who puts off confronting Calamity Ganon because they haven’t yet unearthed every korok seed—I throw myself back into work.”

“Sally used logic. It’s super effective! my Pokémon-addled brain supplies inappropriately.”

There were lots of hints and references that reminded me of my own childhood and to be honest, there were phrases I still use.
The love story was really slow burn and sorrrry but there was a lack of spice! There was only ONE spicy scene and this one was way too short and sketchy (but that’s my only critic).
In the end the pairing was heartwarming and I did love that there’s an epilogue with some glance at the future.

“Like I’m leveling up, it hits me. I’ve been wrong this entire time. Andi isn’t un-romantic. She’s deeply romantic. The only thing is … she’s also afraid. And for the longest time, that’s all I saw. That’s all she let anyone see.”

I did love the characters development and that Cats loud and bold character was so well written the whole time. She’s just so lovable with her chaotic mind, her insecurities and her loose mouth.

Can’t wait for this book to be published & I will definitely buy a copy!

What a fun romance this was! As someone who is not in the videogame world, I was uncertain of how accessible this would be for me, but I am happy to report it was very easy to follow. The author even at times would lengthen a common videogame acronym the first time it was mentioned, such as "Non-playable character (NPC)". I appreciated this attention to detail from the author. The book also was not incredible spice-heavy so I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't particularly like that in a book.

The concept of this book was amazing prima facie. A sapphic gamer romance? Heck yeah! Nerd out to the max while also finding love..um yes!

But this book turned out to be quite average for me. I did not feel connected to any of the characters or the plot. The main character was so bland While the love interest who seems a tad bit interesting, mellows out too. While I certainly appreciated a unique romcom that that author tried to build, the book failed to deliver on the romcom aspect on it. I quickly lost interest in the plot & it felt too long eventually. I felt it needed to be edited in a better manner.

To me the only redeeming aspect to this book was its cover!

Cat + Andi

-sapphic romance
-workplace romance
-gamers
-annoyance to love
-fake dating (not with the fmc👀)

the dynamic that was built between these two was soo good & intriguing!! i loved the slow build & all the tension!! i wish there was more time for us to get some of the sneaking around or some love of them both! really funny gaming narrative in here tho!

I was given an E-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House.

I really enjoyed this novel. It's an enemies-to-lovers romance that takes place between an asian woman and an asian non-binary person who are writers in the same videogame studio. Cat is a fan of Otome games (romance games catered to a female audience) and believes in the power of love. She is hired as a temp to join the game studio in order to add romance to their upcoming game Andi is a lifelong gamer who has been unlucky in romance, unable to write it, believes it is not for them, and that videogames can have a powerful narrative without romance. The two of them start at odds with each other.

The novel is a bit of a slow burn, but I loved how things developed between the two main characters. I am also a gamer so appreciated all the gaming references. I think the romance between Cat and Andi was really sweet and well written.

If you're a gamer and a romance lover, this novel is definitely for you. I hadn't realized until I got to the author bio at the end that this was Tara Tai's debut novel. Definitely give it a read when it comes out!

I really liked the video game company setting and the characters but some subplots (including a pretty big one) feel like they just kind of got dropped most of the way through in favor of the getting together/wrapping up the big workplace conflict. overall a rec though and I'd read another book by this author in the future!