My review of Two Can Play is with all the love and respect to Ali.

I don’t think novellas are where Ali’s writing shines the brightest. In Two Can Play we get the typical, big man/small girl tropes, but I can look past that (AGAIN). A really frustrating pattern in her books is when the man is so helplessly in love with our FMC and she can’t possibly fathom that even though he’s on his knees begging and pleading. With a longer format, this gets watered down a little and makes that easer to look past. In a novella format MISCOMMUNICATION takes up at least 70% of the story and it makes me want to pull my hair out. How can the chemistry be believable if we spend such a long time assuming that the MMC hates our FMC? I feel like the story would've greatly benefited from having a Jesse POV every now and then. And if you were worried that there wouldn’t be any “spice” in this short story, then have no fear. I do, however, fear the spice itself. Holding hands is cute, but Ali lost me at the body fluids welding them together. WHY, ALI??

The narrator did an amazing job, and I enjoyed their way of telling this story. This is a four-hour audio, and I don’t feel put out since I was able to listen to it on my work commute. I’m not saying don’t listen to this. I’ve thrown away more time with worse stories. My suggestion? Don’t let this be your FIRST Ali book. I’m sure lots of people will enjoy this bite-sized story!

I'll post my review to Goodreads on 10/2.

So. Much. Fun! I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook, because it has everything I love and want in a romcom - characters I immediately fell in love with, some fun misunderstandings that lead to the perfect romantic revelation, some fights between the protagonists and of course the spice. Ali Hazelwood has done it again! I just can't stop reading/ or listening to her novels.
Even though it is quit short, I wasn't missing anything - although it could have gone on like this for ever. The perfect book for a weekend to enjoy with a cup of hot tea!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶.5 / 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

This was a short, sweet, and spicy novella from Ali Hazelwood. A classic forced proximity, 'hate-to-love' contemporary romance that is perfect to listen to if you're in the mood for something light and easy. I enjoyed the storyline, and while it is a novella there was enough of a plot to keep the story going and keep you engaged. There are some fun secondary characters as well and I enjoyed the various personalities and banter throughout.

As this was an audiobook, I thought the narration was great and the narrator did a great job with the different voices and overall narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced listener copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novella is a Spotify audiobook exclusive about two video game designers working for rival companies who fall for each other during a retreat. It's a small dose of Ali's signature banter and spice featuring two nerdy main characters. It's the classic tried-and-true Ali formula, just shorter and with gamers rather than STEM-ers. Thankfully you don't need to know anything about video games in order to follow this four hour novella. Enemies-to-lovers is hard to pull off in a contemporary romance novel and I found the petty rivalry between the two companies to be immature and annoying. Four hours isn't much time to develop a connection but Ali did an admiral job. This could've easily been expanded into a full length book, and frankly I would have preferred that.

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the ARC!

This was the first audiobook I ever listened to and I requested it ONLY because it was Ali Hazelwood's audiobook. I really enjoyed the story. I mean it's Ali Hazelwood, of course. Her romance novels have never disappointed me. It was a really quick listen, too! The central romantic love interests had great chemistry, however, I sometimes had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the supporting characters in the book. Maybe it might've been because only one narrator was reading the dialogues of all the characters and had to change the tone of each character.

Ali Hazelwood just never misses!

"Not if you let me keep you as close as I want to…"

A quick listen with all the charm we've grown to know and love from Ali Hazelwood! "Two Can Play" is set in the world of video game designers on a winter retreat ahead as their two companies come together, hoping to take on a big project. It's a story of rivals to lovers that really capitalizes on the miscommunication trope and years of distant yearning.

I always enjoy Ali Hazelwood's writing style. It feels like she's a friend telling me a story filled with inside jokes, giggles and all the bawdy details. It's the same here — in a way we haven't seen since "Check & Mate" that didn't come across in "Bride" and "Not in Love" the same way.

Viola's tendency to obsessively read into everything was very relatable as a fellow anxiety girlie. Plus, we can a classic drunk confession. The narrator did a great job with the difference in voices between our FMC and MMC. It was just subtle enough to come across without being distracting.

I did have a somewhat hard time with the abundance of characters between the two companies. It also ended very abruptly. I understand it is more of a short story, but it felt somewhat unbalanced. The set-up is still quite detailed and extensive, while the rest feels very quick in comparison.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

This was such a quick book to listen to. The size of Jessie was fairly repetitive. Did the boy workout? How was he so big? Both characters were extremely likeable. The book was honestly predictable, Since Checkmate Ali's writing feels less deep

I absolutely loved this audiobook. I honestly wish that I had a physical copy of it to keep on my shelves.

This was just perfectly short, sweet, and spicy with a great plot and fantastic chemistry. I loved listening to these two nerds fall in love. I really liked the two rival indie video game companies having to team build together in one cabin. The premise was unique and really helped propel both characters, who love what they do, to fall into one another.

This was honestly such a fun time and I just need Ali to publish this as a short story as well:)

Thank you Ali Hazelwood and Spotify Audio for this Audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review:)

Ali Hazelwood knows how to build characters and dialogue, and it is a given that I will pick up anything she throws down. This was a quickie and fun enemies to lovers romance. It follows two rival video game makers who are vying to adapt a popular book series into a game. If Hazelwood wants to go ahead and make the Limerence series, I'd read the hell out of those, too!
I received an advance audio copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

A quick listen that delivered all the charm I expect from Ali Hazelwood! Set in the world of video game designers and roleplay writers, this novella expertly balances witty banter, a miscommunication trope done right, and all the swoon-worthy moments.

Viola and Jesse, rival game designers, are forced to collaborate on a dream project at a winter retreat. Their tension, both in the workplace and personally, was entertaining, and Hazelwood nailed the “enemies-to-lovers” trope. Though the novella was short, the character development felt natural, making their romantic progression satisfying rather than rushed. The gaming setting added a unique twist to their dynamic.

The narrator was engaging, and despite its brevity, I devoured this audiobook in one sitting. My only complaint? It ended too soon—I wanted more of Jesse and Viola’s chemistry and story!

Ali Hazelwood has done it again with this fun, cute, and spicy read. If you loved her STEM romances, this one’s for you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks, for the ALC!

A quick listen that felt like old Ali Hazlewood! I loved this. I am not usually a fan of the miscommunication trope but this was done well!

Set in the world of gamers, roleplay writers, and people who miss understand the importance of saying it how you see it!

This audiobook brought us everything I expected from a Ali Hazelwood creation. She gave me laughter, and head to wall moments which I am addicted to when it comes to her books.

The only down side to this one… it was over too quickly!

A no doubt 4.5⭐️ from me! Loved it!

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to get approved for an audiobook and this did not disappoint! So cute and angsty with the perfect amount of spice. Literally my only complaint is that I wish it was longer. Ali Hazelwood with another home run!

Lord, I will forever read anything Ali writes. I LOVED the premise of this book, and I feel like it definitely could have been a full length novel, but I also kind of enjoyed that it was a novella? It was sweet, sexy, and fun, and I definitely want her to write another one of these!

Oh my gosh this was so fun and SO Ali! I ate it up!! It captured my attention from the very beginning and held it throughout. I loved that Viola and Jesse were in the video game industry and were casual nemeses. 😂 What a perfect way to do a workplace and forced proximity romance (they are at a ski cabin for a work retreat). I just had such a good time with this audio and loved getting to read it. Ali continues to impress me with her stories and her audios always slay! Spotify will absolutely be winning the game (lol) when this releases!!

Oh we are SO BACK, BABY!

This right here? Redemption. Redemption for that trio of novellas that almost made me stop reading Ali. I loved every second of this and finished it in one sitting. So much better than her previous STEM book and absolutely one of my new favs.

Two Can Play 👾🕹️🎮
by Ali Hazelwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Cute. Witty. SEXY. (As always)

Ali girl, like Sabrina Carpenter, you made this short ‘n sweet 🍬

Two rival video game designers are put in close proximity at a Winter Retreat planned to bring their opposing companies together. With the goal of collaborating on the production of a video game based on a popular book series, Viola and Jessie f✨cking Andrews are going to have to find a way to squash their beef. Maybe getting to know each other won’t be so bad…

What I took away from this book: Don’t let your desires live in your head— speak them into existence 📢

THANK YOU @netgalley for the absolute blessing it was to be able to listen to this book early 🥹🫶🏻

i absolutely loved two can play. viola and jesse, both lead video game designers from competing companies, are forced to collaborate on a new project based on viola’s favorite book series. their teamwork is put to the test during a company retreat, and the tension between them is perfection. despite being a novella, the characters felt fully developed, and i was totally invested in their journey, since the characters knew each other preipherally and we were given a full backstory on that as well. the romance between viola and jesse felt natural and never rushed, avoiding that typical "insta-love" vibe novellas sometimes have. Eeen though it’s only told from viola’s point of view, i feel like we got enough glimpses into jesse’s thoughts to feel connected to both characters.

Loved the story between Jesse and Viola. Loved the narrator. She was in incredibly engaging and really enjoyed it. The book certainly left me wanting more to the story.

Ali does it again! So enjoyed this quick audiobook from my fav romance author. Viola and Jesse were just adorable and omg the spice was perfect. 4.5/5

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.