Starred review from October 1, 2023
This funny, sexy, and geeky romance features Samara, an avid gamer, and Aron, a gaming-company CEO. Samara's love of gaming and her career helping companies create more inclusive workplaces uniquely prepare her to call out game elements she sees as discriminatory. Her videos go viral in the gaming community, garnering responses ranging from agreement to abuse, including threats of physical harm from those who prefer the status quo. Aron, who believes that his company's games appeal to everyone, is caught off guard when Samara makes a video about a racist character in one of his games, but he recognizes how valuable her insight and input are and hires her as a consultant. Despite some initial friction, Samara and Aron's professional relationship flourishes, with their personal attraction keeping pace. They bond over their close relationships with their families (both blood and found), who play a vital role in their growing romance. Glass tackles weighty topics, including chronic illness, neurodivergence, and misogynoir, providing meaningful and affirming look at these experiences in an organic way. VERDICT Glass's (The Love Con) gem of a novel is highly recommended for all collections.--Nicole Williams
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2023
An advocate for equal representation in video games tangles with the CEO of the company she's recently put on blast. As a Black woman gamer, Samara Reynolds is used to living two separate lives, using the "ReyofSun" alias for her online presence. She's built her platform on the importance of diversity and representation in gaming, and she's never hesitated to call out companies for slacking in that department--even if it means being subjected to online vitriol. When she calls out Artemis Games for a racist depiction of a non-player character in its game Legendsfall, her video goes viral, forcing Artemis CEO Aron Galanis to sit up and take notice. He decides to meet with the mysterious ReyofSun in person, to show that he's serious about implementing change at Artemis. Samara is suspicious of Aron's intentions, so she's shocked when he flat-out offers her a job revising Legendsfall. It means she'll be a part of the Artemis team for the next few weeks--and it also means she'll be working up close and personal with Aron himself. The more time they spend in each other's space, the harder it becomes to keep things professional, and when their personal relationship eventually goes public, the internet haters may be enough to drive them apart. Although the book tackles some important real-life issues, like the heightened level of harassment faced by women of color, the story relies a bit too heavily on exposition and plot to maneuver the characters in various directions rather than letting the characters themselves drive the narrative. Still, Aron continually evolves to earn Samara's love and commitment, paying attention to her physical and emotional needs and making him the kind of hero worth swooning over. A modern love story that any true gamer will enjoy.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
November 1, 2023
Aron Galanis, CEO of Artemis Games, is horrified when his company's popular Legendsfall starts trending on social media due to its lack of diverse characters. Aron has always strived to make his company inclusive, and he worries this mishap will derail their accessibility certification. Determined to make things right, he seeks out ReyofSun, the gamer who called out their game. Samara Reynolds is a consultant by day and a gaming activist by night, and it is her goal to make gaming a welcoming place for everyone, particularly for Black women. She is shocked when the Aron Galanis offers her a job to work as a DEIA consultant at his company. The two start a professional relationship, but they find themselves disarmed by one another. As they let their guards down, their mutual passion for gaming and inclusivity slowly builds to something more. Glass' romance is refreshingly unique-; it is feminist, nerdy, and diverse. Glass (The Love Con, 2021) hooks readers from page one as she succeeds in addressing serious issues while penning a fun and engrossing romance.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.