This was a very fun sapphic romance that I can't wait for people to read! Tara Tai is clearly very well-versed in video games and I loved finding all of the references throughout the book. I also loved the glimpse into the world of game development!
The love story was a little slow but built very well throughout the book. I thought that the “enemies to lovers” was well done and believable within a contemporary romance. I loved the ending and felt that the characters grew within the story.
I enjoyed the audio version of this book, as I love to read contemporary romances via audio. I wish that this book was dual narrated as it was a little hard to tell when the book switched POV's. Despite this, I thought narrator Natalie Naudus was expressive and easy to listen to. I would recommend this book if you love queer contemporary romance or love video games!

Ah, I loved Single Player! The talk around video games and Andi and Cat's work was really fun, and I loved how both of them grow!

It’s the slow burn of slow burns but I really enjoyed this read. Delightful dialogue and descriptions (bonus points for including the word “shmoopy” twice). It’s a heartfelt story romcom that took me on several emotional turns. As a non-gamer I felt still completely immersed in this story and never once felt out of place. Natalie Naudus is the perfect narration choice for this story. And it’s got fat rep (and fat Asian American rep which is rarely seen) and non-binary rep too.

I really enjoyed this queer gaming themed romance! I'm not even a gamer, but by the end, I wanted to play both the main game worked on by the MCs and the side game discovered at the con. The characters were lively, and the behind-the-scenes look into the world of game development was engaging and colorful. Aside from a few mispronunciations in the audiobook, the narration was also great!

I'd recommend this book if you like queer romance, TTRPGs, gaming, and a diverse cast of characters in fiction. If you're not into TTRPGs, there may be a few parts that lose your interest, but otherwise, the book is solid and sweet!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Single Player is a very well done enemies to lovers story surrounding Cat and her tumultuous relationship with her new boss at a Gaming studio. I lived that there was an element of fake dating but not with the actual love interest. It’s a different take I haven’t seen and thought it was very well executed. I loved the grumpy sunshine energy we have between the main characters as well as the chemistry between them. I personally chose my rating because as much as I loved the book it was a bit hard to understand sometimes as someone who isn’t a huge gamer. I really liked the gamer theme but at times cat was a bit annoying about it and there were a few too many deep cuts that I didn’t get as a casual gamer. Regardless of that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am grateful to have received an ARC, all opinions are my own.

I generally stay away from single narrator books when its dual POV, but this one was done extremely well. Natalie Naudus did an excellent job differentiating between the two different characters.

I also tend to stay away from books that are closed door or low on the spice spectrum, but this one didn't even make me think about it. The story was extremely compelling and I was hanging on to see what would happen next.

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
* Enemies to lovers
* Workplace romance
* Queer romance
* Representation in male dominated fields

♥️ A delightful story for gamers and non-gamers alike. 🎮

Tara Tai's "Single Player" is a delightful workplace romance that proves you don't have to be a gamer to fall in love with a story about video game creators. As someone who's more of a casual Mario Kart player, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this witty and charming read.
Plot Summary:

Cat Li, a passionate writer with a heart of gold, lands her dream job at a video game company, only to butt heads with her new boss, the stoic and anti-romance Andi Zhang. Sparks fly as they navigate the challenges of creating a successful game while battling their undeniable attraction.

My Thoughts:
Okay, first things first, I'm not a big gamer. I play Mario Party and Mario Kart for the nostalgia, but that's about it. So, I was a bit hesitant going into "Single Player," but let me tell you, I was hooked from the very first chapter!
The characters were fantastic. Cat and Andi were both relatable and complex, with their own baggage and vulnerabilities. While I didn't feel the romantic spark between them as strongly as I'd hoped, their individual journeys and witty banter kept me entertained throughout.

What really impressed me was the diversity and depth of the story. Tai seamlessly weaves in themes of cultural identity, overcoming adversity, and finding your voice, all while delivering a heartwarming and entertaining romance.

And let's not forget the audiobook! The narrator was phenomenal, bringing the characters to life with such vibrancy and emotion.

Tropes:
* 🎮 Workplace romance
* 🗡 Enemies-to-lovers
* 🔥 Slow burn
* 🎲 Forced proximity (workplace & D&D)

Final Thoughts:
"Single Player" is a delightful and refreshing rom-com that's perfect for anyone who loves a good enemies-to-lovers story with a unique twist. Whether you're a gamer or not, you're sure to find yourself rooting for Cat and Andi as they navigate the challenges of love and work in the exciting world of video game development. Tara Tai has crafted a gem of a debut, and I can't wait to see what they write next! ❤️

Single Player was the perfect rivals to lovers slow burn. The queer rep was so special and I’m thankful for stories like this. I’m not a huge gamer but hearing the excitement about the aspects about games you don’t usually hear about was so fun and interesting. The characters were well thought out and felt relatable in a lot of ways. The slow burn made me want to scream in the best way. I truly loved this one. Thank you NetGalley!

Let’s design a video game with romance arcs, while denying our feelings.

This slowburn had me fucking screaming, but these two were instantly great. Very geeky book. The narration was great too. Did not drag or bore me.

I got an alc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. So much representation and it was genuinely done well. Our main characters are both queer Asian women. One also uses they/them pronouns. One of our supporting characters is a gay man. This is only my second sapphic romance so I don't have a lot to compare it to but I loved it. I love a slow burn so this was great.

Most of the negative comments I saw were about the gaming aspects kind of going over their heads. It sounds like a personal problem to me. It's a gamer romance, of course it's going to have references to the gaming world. None of what they talked about seemed all that complicated. I also really liked that various genders and sexual orientations were talked about within the game they were working on.

I received an audio copy of this to review. I loved the narrator, I think she did a great job. Easy to follow at an increased speed.

I look forward to seeing more books by this author in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio book.

2.5 stars

There were things I liked about this story: that it centered around two women of color (specifically Asian women); that the range of gender identities for characters was mostly just part of the story's world and not a reason for conflict; and that Kat, as a main character, was someone who was finally trying to take the reins of her life by switching careers and taking a chance on herself. After reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, I was curious to see what another book set in the world of gaming would be like. Unfortunately, Tara Tai often got too stuck in the jargon and the weeds of the gaming world. This isn't a book for people who don't know the world of gaming and/or want to have enough context clues to generally understand the industry the story is set in. I found myself often confused and then barely paying attention when details of he gaming world came up. This felt particularly problematic at the end because knowledge of the gaming world felt integral to understanding how Kat and Andi come out successful in the end.

Single Player comes out January 7, 2025.

4.5 stars

This was so fun and chock full of gamer knowledge and Easter eggs. I am a baby gamer married to a huge gamer so while I didn't get ALL of the references, I actually understood quite a few (like the pigeon dating game lol). This also had a lot of great classic tropes. There's boss/employee, loathe to love, fake dating (not the love interest though). Overall, I found it to be very enjoyable!

Regarding the audiobook, with it being dual POV but only using 1 narrator, at times I was confused on whose POV we were in. The narrator is great and there was slight change in voice for the characters but not enough to be definitive whose chapter it was. That's my only critique.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

I loved the representation in the book and was what initially drew me to it despite not being a big video game player. There is a lot of setting the scene both of the Compass Hollow as well in the workplace. A big portion of the book also has a fake dating/love triangle subplot between Cat and Andi's ex, which I feel like comes at the expense of seeing the romance between Cat and Andi. I guess this could be considered a slow burn since Andi and Cat's first kiss occurs ~70% into the book, but I didn't really feel myself being drawn in and on the edge of my seat waiting for that first kiss. in that last 3rd of the book we see both the fallout of the fake dating with the ex, Cat and Andi admitting their feelings, as well as the conflict and resolution within the workplace so it felt super rushed for me. There was also a lot of side characters in the book and with listening to this on audio, I struggled to keep track of them all at times.

I think if you go into this book viewing it as a book about video games with romance rather than a romance book about video games (like I did), you'd probably get more enjoyment from it. I thought this was a strong debut though and would be interested in reading future books from Tara. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of Single Player.

Natalia delivered another incredible performance. I was hooked on the story not even 5 minutes into the book! The audio quality was great, no funky business. The pacing was perfect for me, I didnt have to set it up to go slower or faster and Natalia did a great job clearly establishing the different voices for Cat and for Andi. I could not stop smiling while listening to the book and laughed out loud in public several times, the weird looks i've gotten were worth it. Great rom com with interesting characters and this audio book made it even better.

Great narrator that captures lots of emotion!

This story grew on me as I read it. At first I had no idea how these two were supposed to fall in love, as they were hardly in the same room or alone together. Then you had this instinctual type of protectiveness slash envy from the boss.
I feel like it took a while for the romance to take off but I did enjoy all I learned about game making and the story building behind it all.
The big story of romance writing taking skill and creativity is really important.

We don't get many books about video games - and we get even fewer LGBTQIA+ books set in the video game world, so I was super-excited to get an advance copy of this one from the publisher. While the plot doesn't break new ground in terms of surprises, the vivid characters and the unique gaming-industry backdrop more than make up for it. If you're a fan of workplace romances, gaming culture, or witty banter, this book is definitely worth your time.
 
The book focuses on Cat Li, an overly enthusiastic and hopelessly romantic writer who has finally landed her dream job working on Compass Hollow, a major new game. Her task? To bring a swoon-worthy romance subplot to life. However, her boss, Andi Zhang (the other MC), is a no-nonsense narrative director who has no patience for love stories- either in video games or in real life. The clash between Cat's romantic idealism and Andi's pragmatic approach creates a fun enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine dynamic that drives the story forward.
 
From the get-go, Cat is a standout character. She's unapologetically passionate about both video games and romance, which makes her instantly relatable. What makes Cat truly shine, however, is her sense of humor. She's absolutely hilarious, with quips and observations that had me laughing out loud multiple times. Her optimism and determination to bring love to the narrative of Compass Hollow are infectious, and her personality lights up every scene she's in.
 
Andi Zhang, on the other hand, is a more complex character. Initially, their standoffish demeanor and disdain for romance make them seem like a typical "grumpy" counterpart in the classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic. But as the story unfolds, we see the layers behind Andi's guarded exterior, shaped by past trauma and professional challenges they face as a non-binary person in a cis-het-male dominated profession. Their journey - from resisting Cat's romantic ideas to slowly warming up to both her creativity and her charm - is deeply satisfying. The chemistry between Cat and Andi is electric, with a mix of banter, tension, and tender moments that keep you rooting for them. It helps that we get alternating chapters from both character's perspectives, giving us a full-picture view of what is really happening.

Throughout the novel, both Cat and Andi have to confront their personal fears and biases, which adds emotional weight to the story. Andi's reluctance to open up and Cat's determination to prove herself as more than just a "romance writer" create compelling personal journeys that enrich the central romance.
 
As I mentioned earlier, the video game industry is a fresh and intriguing backdrop for a romantic comedy. Tai's depiction of the development process makes the book feel authentic and adds depth to the story. The challenges Andi faces, including recovering from a doxxing incident and trying to prove their worth in a competitive industry, highlight real issues in the gaming world, making the narrative more impactful.
 
That said, the plot of Single Player follows a fairly predictable trajectory. While there are stakes - like Cat and Andi needing to save Andi's career and deliver a compelling game - the outcomes are pretty predictable - especially for rom-com lovers (and that's not necessarily a bad thing).

I both read a paperback ARC and listened to an ALC of this title and loved the narration provided by Natalie Naudus. Naudus was able to give both Cat and Andi different inflections and personalities, so it was never difficult to know which character was in charge of the narrative at any given time. If you prefer audiobooks, I recommend this one.
 
While the novel might not reinvent the wheel in terms of romantic comedy plots, its endearing characters, clever humor, and unique setting make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Cat's hilarious antics, Andi's layered personality, and the behind-the-scenes look at video game creation all come together to create a story that is as entertaining as it is heartwarming. If you're looking for a romance that combines workplace drama, geeky charm, and a healthy dose of laughs, this book is a solid pick.

As a nonbianary gaming nerd I was really excited for this! I found this to be pretty fun in all honesty. It wasn't so great big moving book but I had fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I found myself beaming and squealing as the two characters grew closer and cheering for them all along. This made me happy and helped me get through the holiday season so it was a solid book all around.

I loved this one! It reminded me of Dating and Dragons a little bit but for grownups. My only gripe is that it was so slow burn I wanted more couple-y time. But I loved the premise and plot, this one is for the nerds!

Narration was decent, though I would have preferred dual narration or a narrator who used more vocal variation, if I got distracted it wasn’t always immediately clear who’s head I was in.

To start off I will say, I quite enjoyed this book. Overall it was a cute romance, and that was what I was looking for. That being said, there were some issues I had. First, the main relationship is between a Manager and their Intern Employee, while there are many other reasons the characters think of for why they can't get together, this power dynamic is hardly a throw away thought once or twice. This dynamic broke up the Try Guys, I was expecting it to be a bigger hurdle to get over. Second, apparently the universe's only goal was to get these two together because the amount of 'coincidental meetings' that happened required a bit of suspension of disbelief. I listened to the audio book for this and Natalie Naudus does a fantastic job of switching her voice between POV chapters. The writing was well done, the geeky references were fun, and the periodic 4th wall breaking wasn't too off putting. The intimate scene was enjoyable and just the right length and descriptiveness. All told this was a nice romance with a fun geeky twist.

This book was just incredibly wholesome. I am an avid gamer and married to an enby game developer, so I read this arc thinking it would be right up my alley and I was right! The references to games were so seamless and I almost died when Hatoful Boyfriend was mentioned. Overall the writing and prose is so fun and engaging and there is a really fresh take on fake dating in this! Cat is so lovable that even when I was facepalming at some of her choices, I was still right there with her rooting for it all to work out. Also did a mention there’s a mid or plus size MC!? Like YES. Absolutely recommend this book. It was my pleasure to read this arc.