Tara Tai’s Single Player is a delightful and meta enemies-to-lovers story set against the vibrant backdrop of game development. Cat and Andi’s dynamic is electric, with the perfect balance of tension and vulnerability as they navigate their clashing perspectives on love—both in games and real life.

I especially loved how the workplace setting mirrored their relationship, as they worked on crafting a love story for Compass Hollow while living out one of their own. The absence of the classic 3/4 breakup was refreshing, and the slow burn allowed their connection to grow authentically. Watching them team up against a common enemy added depth and made the resolution even more satisfying.

This debut is a gem for fans of gaming and romance alike, and I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Tara Tai.

I absolutely loved this audio gamer romance book! I will always be up for a gamer inspired romance, but to have one with two Asian characters and a queer romance at that? I'm so excited to read more from this author- this was such a fun read and it had my whole heart with the setting inside the world of gamers and game development.

This audiobook was a great way to start 2025. First, the narration was fantastic. I haven't heard any narrations by Natalie Naudus before, but she did a great job of giving the characters different voices so it was easy to tell who was speaking in dialogue. She gave each character emotion and made the story even more enjoyable than what would have been on the page.

The story was amazing. There was a long slow burn between the main characters, Cat and Andi. They start off hating each other and ever so slowly find that they are each other's person. When they finally get together, it is so sweet and passionate. It is a great story overall.

Spoiler...I wish the baddies in the story had gotten what they had coming to them instead of just getting away with things. That was the only portion of the whole story that I objected to. Otherwise, this is an excellent story and an even better audiobook.

Cat loves romance in video games, so she is ecstatic when she is hired as a writer for an upcoming game called Compass Hollow and put in charge of the romance plots. Her new boss, Andi, never misses an opportunity to remind her that they find the addition of romance to any video game to be entirely unnecessary. Though the two of them constantly clash, they seemingly can’t stop running into each other outside of work. Can two people with such different tastes come to an understanding? Or are they - and their game - doomed from the start?

This book had a good balance of characters and story. The plot felt like it had real stakes that would affect the characters, and the author did a good job of tying it into the character growth and romance, though characters who were meant to be antagonistic were a bit simplistic compared to the main cast. It did help to make them easy to root against, so I consider it a fairly minor issue. The audiobook format was good, and I quite like Natalie Naudus as a narrator. Her character voices, however, were excellent as always.

I really enjoyed the two main characters and I thought that their relationship was realistic in how it developed over the course of the book. I’ve mentioned before that I find enemies to lovers to be quite tricky in modern settings, but I think it worked well here. There were times when the nerdy/pop culture references got to be a little bit too much and took a little focus off of the scene, but overall I greatly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend this for fans of similar titles. Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4.5/5 Fantasy DILF game release when??

This book has everything I wanted in a book. Main characters the I love, and simply couldn’t get enough of. And side characters I loved hearing about. It also had Fake dating and enemy to lovers. I loved all the little nerdy references. And just an overall fun story. When I read the description of this book I couldn’t wait to read it. So I was so grateful to Netgalley to get an ARC of this. I think I was only 5 chapters in before I knew this was going to be a book I loved. If you’re looking for a queer romance novel you can’t put down I would highly recommend this one.

4.5

I got sucked in at the very beginning and couldn't stop listening to this book about two video game developers who hate each other, and then don't. I liked both the main characters, which is very rare for me, and I found myself rooting for both of them. Even as a non-gamer, this was a fun, engrossing read that was excellently narrated too.

Wow, this was absolutely delightful! I adored both the characters and the plot, which were crafted so beautifully. The story handled the enemies-to-lovers trope—one that often feels forced to me—with remarkable finesse. The progression of the main couple’s relationship felt natural and believable, making their journey all the more enjoyable. Such a charming and heartwarming read (or listen)!

Thanks, Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

The dynamics between Cat and Andi and their personal and professional growth sound incredibly compelling. You've captured the essence of their tension, collaboration, and eventual romance while highlighting the struggles faced by queer women in male-dominated industries like gaming. The detail about their D&D campaign adds a fun, personal layer to the story.

"While Natalie Naudus did an excellent job performing the audiobook, I’ve often noted that books featuring same-sex love interests greatly benefit from having two narrators. This approach helps to clearly define the characters and distinguish the point of view in each chapter. As someone who frequently pauses audiobooks mid-chapter, it’s frustrating to return and struggle to identify whose perspective I’m hearing. Dual narration would alleviate this issue and make the listening experience even more immersive."

4.5 stars

Wow I loved this! This is a fantastic sapphic enemies to lovers slow burn, with a bit of fake dating, but there's a twist. I loved both of these characters so much. The balance between the romance and more serious issues was handled so well. I am a gamer and loved all of the references, but I could see some people being annoyed by them. Overall this is a really great book and I can't recommend it enough.

The narration in this audiobook was incredible, the two voices were very distinct which made the story easy to follow.

I am very much looking forward to future books from Tara Tai and I can see them becoming an auto buy author for me in the future.

Seriously one of my top books of the year. I loved all the nerdy references and the D&D campaign and the fat rep and the enby rep!!!!
I LOVED everything. The audiobook was amazing and I have absolutely no regrets reading this book!

I adored this book and highly recommend it!

I was afraid that the book might not resonate with me since I don’t play video games, but I found it relatable despite me not getting all the pop culture references. This book is readable and fun even without a familiarity with the games mentioned.

Cat (lesbian main character) and Andy (non-binary main character) were compelling, and I was rooting for their relationship the whole time. Both characters felt well-rounded to me and like real people. I felt invested in the story and excited to see what would happen next.

Though it was never explicitly stated, I read Cat as autistic. I thought the author did a good job of representing neurodiversity.

This book also included a timely discussion of gender bias in the workplace and online harassment. I thought the author did a good job of including a realistic exploration of difficult topics while keeping the book a fun and romantic read.

I also loved the exploration of fandom culture! I think this book will be relatable to anyone who has been involved in any fandom, even if only online.

Tara Tai is an excellent and talented author. I am looking forward to their future books!

The narration by Natalie Naudus was wonderfully done. I found the narration easy to follow and I thought it conveyed emotional nuance well. The narration enhanced my experience of the story and I’d recommend the audiobook!

ARC Book Review: Single Player by Tara Tai
- antagonists to lovers
- lesbian & non-binary main characters
- fandom culture
- amazing narration by Natalie Naudus
- fake dating

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook!

Single Player by Tara Tai was my first romance of 2025 and a fun one to kick it off with! In this story, we’re treated to fake dating, enemies to lovers (more like grumpy nerd x awkward but swoony nerd), workplace slow burn romance, a touch of spice, and plenty of sapphic/queer/nb rep that I ate up every bit of. On top of that, it’s full of video game, D&D, delicious food, and con references that keeps Tara’s authentic author voice alive throughout. Please add this to your 2025 TBR and read asap because I promise you’re going to enjoy it!

✨ALC Review✨

Prepare for a slooooww burn with this one.

Cat Li starts her new job at Heartrender where she’s been hired to write the romance storylines into the game, Compass Hollow, under one of her idols, Andi Zhang. That’s where everything goes wrong. Andi, although physically hot like fire, seems to have an ice block for a heart. Andi is dead set against having any romance storylines and as narrative director, it should be her call. Oh, what’s that? The person holding the purse strings says there has to be romance? Cue the animosity.

Cat and Andi never seem to have a decent connection. For ages. And ages.

Andi has major trust issues both in the workplace and in her heart. Cat is insecure both with her physicality and her jump from corporate drone to writer.

I’ll be honest- this doesn’t seem like much of a romance. It *is* a good story centered in the gaming world with a little corporate espionage thrown in and I enjoyed listening to Natalie Naudus narrate it. She’s a true gem in the audio world.

#romance? #contemporaryromance #sapphicromance #sapphicbooks #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #singleplayer #taratai

Single Player was fun and quirky, but also touched on some deeper points. The first chapter had me thinking this might not be my cup of tea, but it grew on me and I ended up enjoying it way more than I expected to. The workplace romance, reluctant coworkers to lovers, opposites attract vibes were really fun. I liked that you saw Andy work through their trauma from their first job, and broke through their hard exterior to find someone who just wanted to be accepted. I also really liked how - despite how different they seem - Cat is similarly looking for someone to accept her true self. Bottling herself up to fit to the norm was tough, and it was refreshing when all her chaotic energy would burst out with Andy. I think the toxic environment in the gaming industry was also intriguing and something that doesn’t surprise me l, even though I had never really reflected into on it before now.
Overall, I think this was a great mix of romcom and social observations and I enjoyed myself a lot. Natalie Naudus did a great job representing both characters and making the sound different and real. She conveys a lot of emotions and little sound effects that really brought the story to life.

Single Player by Tara Tai (audiobook narrated by Natalie Naudus)
☀️☀️☀️⛅ (3.5 stars)

Big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook!

This sapphic enemies-to-lovers rom-com balances lighthearted and earnest moments with darker backstory well, though it doesn't stray from the predictable trope-laden path enough to really stand out. I found certain elements of the plot more enjoyable than others - the fake dating element felt a bit unnecessary and overcomplicated in the face of everything else going on, so it also made the second act drag quite significantly in a pacing sense. The end was a little too perfect and saccharine for me but generally I liked the tone.

Cat and Andi were well fleshed out with distinguishable characteristics (further aided by Naudus's superb narration). I especially enjoyed Andi's difficult backstory being the reason behind her grumpy exterior and narrow-minded focus on work. Cat's family situation felt a bit shoehorned in, which alongside the fake dating element didn't work for me in furthering the story when they weren't actually resolved or addressed adequately in the final act. I also found the on-page sex a little jarring with the rest of the book; it struck me as a fade to black sort of book.

There was fantastic representation for queer and non-cis and non-white folks throughout this, and although the nature of racism and sexism were addressed throughout the plot, it felt entirely natural to have a majority queer + BIPOC cast for this story.

For anyone seeking a relatively lighthearted, emotional and rewarding romance arc, this is definitely one to check out.


"I believe hope is our beating hearts reminding us that there is still life in this world worth fighting for. That there is still love in this world worth feeling."

This had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole read. I loved how many ins and references to game culture were present in this book. Tara is truly one of us and it shows. Really cool to see a she/they enby love interest, and would like 500 more in romance stat, please.

A few pacing issues in the narrative, a few mispronounced words from Natalie (who is otherwise flawless as usual), but otherwise a very solid romance for the geeks.

Tara Tai’s Single Player delivers a delightful queer romcom, perfect for fans of video games, tabletop role-playing adventures, and all things geek culture. With a blend of charm, humor, and heartfelt moments, it offers a fun, light-hearted read filled with beloved romance tropes.

One of the standout elements is the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between the protagonists, which feels natural and well-developed. The transition from rivalry to romance is smooth and believable, avoiding the pitfalls of feeling forced or contrived. At the same time, the story doesn’t shy away from addressing serious real-world issues like discrimination and sexism, striking a thoughtful balance between escapist fantasy and meaningful social commentary.

While the plot is largely predictable—following the familiar beats of a romantic comedy—this predictability is part of the charm. Single Player isn’t about shocking twists; it’s about the comforting joy of rooting for characters as they find love and happiness. The story’s warmth and wholesomeness are what truly leave an impression.

I experienced the book as an audiobook, narrated by Natalie Naudus, whose performance added depth and personality to the characters. Her engaging narration made the story even more enjoyable.

Overall, Single Player is a joyful celebration of love, geekdom, and personal growth. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a sweet, funny romance with a touch of real-world relevance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALR! <3

Utterly bingeable. I was listening to this audiobook for hours at a time without even realizing it.

Miscommunication is at the root of Cat and Andi’s initial rivalry but it’s not frustrating. Rather, it’s pretty charming and entertaining. They’re not being deliberately antagonistic; they’re just two proud, awkward nerds. Yet they’re also adults capable of mature conversations that lead to a believable resolution to the rivalry. And they have great chemistry!

I will say, the nerd references are a bit heavy-handed—especially in Cat’s internal monologue—but it doesn’t come across as disingenuous. Either the author is a fellow nerd or they successfully put in the effort to make it relatable rather than cliche. They’re just a little over enthusiastic. And speaking of Cat, as a fellow late 20’s, chronically single gamer girl myself I found her incredibly relatable and a lot of fun.

The b-plot was ok. I was much more invested in the relationship than Jan or any of that but it resolved nicely enough to not be distracting.

Overall, hell of a debut! I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tai writes in the future!

3.5⭐️

I had a fun time with this… I wanted a queer gamer romance and I got gaymer romance! I struggle with enemies to lovers in non-fantasy settings so in my head I just thought “reluctant coworkers to lovers” +
sunshine Cat / Black cat romance (you’ll get the joke in two seconds).

The story starts with Cat, former accountant turn video game story writer is beginning her first day on a dream job at Compass Hollow. She mets her boss, Andi, who doesn’t want anything to do with romance in or out of the game. They instantly butt heads. They’re basically working on Baulder’s Gate 3 equivalent (at least that’s how I thought about it) and Cat is trying to write the romance plot lines and Andi doesn’t think romance is necessary in this game (Andi will soon find they are very wrong).

I enjoyed a lot of the gamer references in this book and the DND scenes. There were definitely times this book had me laughing and cringing. I had the audiobook and even listening at 1.5x I still think it could have used some editing. After the trip to the convention, the story started to drag.

Characters wise, I enjoyed both of them throughout the story. They didn’t give ages (or if they did, I missed it) but there were times that Cat felt extremely immature but Andi’s response to Cat towards the middle made up for it.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun slow burn / enemies to lovers rom con set in the world of video game design. I know next to nothing about video games (or D&D) but thought the references were interesting. I enjoyed hearing both Cat & Andi’s POV and found myself relating to both of them and really rooting for them in the end. Cat was endearingly awkward and Andi was a loveable grump. I enjoyed all the representation depicted in this novel, esp set to the backdrop of a male dominated world like gaming.

The narration was well done and the pace on audio was good. I could really picture all the characters throughout this novel. As a debut novel, I’ll be sure to check out future work by Tara Tai!

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook, all opinions are my own.