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Role Playing
Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a deal―he’ll be more social if she does the same―she can’t refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch.
Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée.
Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.
When they finally meet face to face―after a rocky, shocking start―the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own.
Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée.
Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.
When they finally meet face to face―after a rocky, shocking start―the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own.
Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2023
About the author
Cathy Yardley
73 books1,267 followersCathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,097 reviews
August 25, 2023
I finished this with the biggest smile on my face.
I can’t even think of words right now to write a review. It’s good enough that this book made me happy.
I related to it quite hard.
I loved that it followed older characters that had their own baggage and were working through that whilst being each others biggest support system.
“It felt like home. Or at least, the way he’d always imagined home ought to feel like.”
I liked that it read nerdy. Both of these characters are gamers and how they initially connect and whilst I’m not, it was so nice to have that insight into that life.
I love it when my characters have things that they’re passionate about.
It was queer (demisexual/bi rep), it was beautiful, there was so much joy in this book. But there was some heaviness to it too.
Trigger warnings for racism (heroine is Asian) and homophobia. Our hero deals with family members that aren’t accepting of his sexuality. He’s outed without consent. There’s loss of a parent through cancer and toxic family members.
I can’t even think of words right now to write a review. It’s good enough that this book made me happy.
I related to it quite hard.
I loved that it followed older characters that had their own baggage and were working through that whilst being each others biggest support system.
“It felt like home. Or at least, the way he’d always imagined home ought to feel like.”
I liked that it read nerdy. Both of these characters are gamers and how they initially connect and whilst I’m not, it was so nice to have that insight into that life.
I love it when my characters have things that they’re passionate about.
It was queer (demisexual/bi rep), it was beautiful, there was so much joy in this book. But there was some heaviness to it too.
Trigger warnings for racism (heroine is Asian) and homophobia. Our hero deals with family members that aren’t accepting of his sexuality. He’s outed without consent. There’s loss of a parent through cancer and toxic family members.
June 21, 2023
3 cyberspace, wired, but happyish stars. ✨✨✨
A ‘gaming-to-lovers’ story where the ‘connection’ turns a grumpy middle aged woman from a ‘virtual’ hermit into a 'wired' love sick woman with purpose and with that all important chemistry and love in her life.
Review and Comments
Characters ⭐⭐⭐– I liked that the age group was different, the characters were well developed and fairly likeable. What I liked most though in this particular love story, is that it steered away from the gorgeous ‘ripped’ guys and ‘fit’ girls and had normal and different people.
The themes are excellent, relevant, and real ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maggie is a single mum of teenage boys, who has given up on love and relationships, and Aiden is a 50 year old man looking after his elderly Mum while his brother plays house with his ex-fiancé.
Connection to the title – I almost never comment on the book title but on almost all books I do a mental check of whether the story fits the title. In my ‘role’ of ‘critic’ here, this one baffles me. The story line is not reflected in the title, unless their ‘role’ is their on-line alias – which doesn’t work either.
Pace was too slow ⭐⭐ slow burn is an understatement. I would like the author to have presented the 40-50 year old's with a bit more energy and pace to show everyone how its done😂😂 You know more mature, wiser, decisive and plenty of spirit but it fell a bit short on this which I think the author has missed a trick on.
Storyline ⭐⭐⭐ – there isn’t much to share here except that both meet online and share a witty banter. However, it is not until much later in the book that Maggie and Aiden finally meet in person, only to be shocked and pleasantly surprised that they are in the same age group, good looking but normal people who are having to deal with everyday issues. Yes, it’s a lovely story about two people who didn’t know how much they needed love until they found it.
A cosy read, another feel-good book, but it does remind me to stay away from romance for a while unless I go back to my ‘role’ and ask my GR friends to make romance novel recommendations for me.
A ‘gaming-to-lovers’ story where the ‘connection’ turns a grumpy middle aged woman from a ‘virtual’ hermit into a 'wired' love sick woman with purpose and with that all important chemistry and love in her life.
Review and Comments
Characters ⭐⭐⭐– I liked that the age group was different, the characters were well developed and fairly likeable. What I liked most though in this particular love story, is that it steered away from the gorgeous ‘ripped’ guys and ‘fit’ girls and had normal and different people.
The themes are excellent, relevant, and real ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maggie is a single mum of teenage boys, who has given up on love and relationships, and Aiden is a 50 year old man looking after his elderly Mum while his brother plays house with his ex-fiancé.
Connection to the title – I almost never comment on the book title but on almost all books I do a mental check of whether the story fits the title. In my ‘role’ of ‘critic’ here, this one baffles me. The story line is not reflected in the title, unless their ‘role’ is their on-line alias – which doesn’t work either.
Pace was too slow ⭐⭐ slow burn is an understatement. I would like the author to have presented the 40-50 year old's with a bit more energy and pace to show everyone how its done😂😂 You know more mature, wiser, decisive and plenty of spirit but it fell a bit short on this which I think the author has missed a trick on.
Storyline ⭐⭐⭐ – there isn’t much to share here except that both meet online and share a witty banter. However, it is not until much later in the book that Maggie and Aiden finally meet in person, only to be shocked and pleasantly surprised that they are in the same age group, good looking but normal people who are having to deal with everyday issues. Yes, it’s a lovely story about two people who didn’t know how much they needed love until they found it.
A cosy read, another feel-good book, but it does remind me to stay away from romance for a while unless I go back to my ‘role’ and ask my GR friends to make romance novel recommendations for me.
December 31, 2022
A Gen X romance between two introverts??? She’s the grump and he’s a cinnamon role hero??? I ate this book up!!!
This was a sweet, slow-burn romance between Maggie, a divorcée who has recently become an empty nester, and Aiden, a caregiver to his mother who has had his fair share of heartbreak. The pair form a fast friendship after meeting in a online gaming guild and quickly become important to one another despite not meeting in person. After a hilarious miscommunication, Maggie thinks Aiden is a 20 something college student and Aiden thinks Maggie is his mothers age, the pair realize that their IRL connection is just as strong as it is online.
This is a major slow-burn and I appreciated seeing the deep friendship form between Aiden and Maggie before their romance started. Maggie is fierce, strong, and isn’t afraid to stand up for Aiden and I loved seeing her go up against some of the toxic people in his life.
If you like small town romances, reverse grumpy x sunshine, and mature characters who practice honest and open communication (I mean, who doesn’t love that?), then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
This was a sweet, slow-burn romance between Maggie, a divorcée who has recently become an empty nester, and Aiden, a caregiver to his mother who has had his fair share of heartbreak. The pair form a fast friendship after meeting in a online gaming guild and quickly become important to one another despite not meeting in person. After a hilarious miscommunication, Maggie thinks Aiden is a 20 something college student and Aiden thinks Maggie is his mothers age, the pair realize that their IRL connection is just as strong as it is online.
This is a major slow-burn and I appreciated seeing the deep friendship form between Aiden and Maggie before their romance started. Maggie is fierce, strong, and isn’t afraid to stand up for Aiden and I loved seeing her go up against some of the toxic people in his life.
If you like small town romances, reverse grumpy x sunshine, and mature characters who practice honest and open communication (I mean, who doesn’t love that?), then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
June 22, 2024
See, I need more romances with older characters. The maturity speaks to me on a completely different level. CW: pan/biphobia, distressing family dynamics. 4.5 Stars
Role Playing is everything that I need in my adult romances. It follows two main characters, Maggie and Aiden, who are older, each dealing with troubles in their interpersonal relationships. Maggie's son has left home and she's determined to remain a hermit until her son forces her not to. Aiden's ex-fiancé is now engaged to his brother and he is left to take care of his aging mother as she attempts to meddle in his romantic life. Both Aiden and Maggie end up joining an online gaming community to get away from the troubles of their life while also finding new ways to socialize with others. What starts as a cute, realistic friendship ends up turning into a mature, grown romance.
What Worked: Cathy Yardley can write her ass off! It's been a while since I've read a romance with older characters, but Maggie and Aiden feel so real. I'm not in my 40's yet; however, this urge to keep to myself and be a hermit was relatable. The struggles that Aiden faces with his family is something that I've experienced first hand. The way in which Yardley captures the emotional toil and impact on Aiden is spot on. I also appreciated the geekiness and the dynamics of their relationship. I used to game a lot more when I was younger and I must say reading about their gaming escapades was fun and gave me a sense of nostalgia. While I don't want to completely spoil the nature of their relationship, I will say that they are a sounding board for each other. They support each other in all facets of their experiences including sexual identity. There is a specific scene in the book where Maggie reads Aiden's family and his ex-fiancé for fucking filth and I appreciated every single moment. Although it took them to a while to process their feelings for each other, their romance developed in a way that was mature and grown and as someone who is close to their mid 30's, I'm learning that I prefer to have those elements in my romance than those meant for younger audiences. This book was a breeze and easy to read and beautifully written.
What Didn't Work: Their romance was a little to slow burn for me, but I understand the intentions that Yardley had for their development.
Overall, this was an amazing read. I enjoyed every second of reading it and I'm looking forward to checking out more books by Cathy Yardley in the future.
Role Playing is everything that I need in my adult romances. It follows two main characters, Maggie and Aiden, who are older, each dealing with troubles in their interpersonal relationships. Maggie's son has left home and she's determined to remain a hermit until her son forces her not to. Aiden's ex-fiancé is now engaged to his brother and he is left to take care of his aging mother as she attempts to meddle in his romantic life. Both Aiden and Maggie end up joining an online gaming community to get away from the troubles of their life while also finding new ways to socialize with others. What starts as a cute, realistic friendship ends up turning into a mature, grown romance.
What Worked: Cathy Yardley can write her ass off! It's been a while since I've read a romance with older characters, but Maggie and Aiden feel so real. I'm not in my 40's yet; however, this urge to keep to myself and be a hermit was relatable. The struggles that Aiden faces with his family is something that I've experienced first hand. The way in which Yardley captures the emotional toil and impact on Aiden is spot on. I also appreciated the geekiness and the dynamics of their relationship. I used to game a lot more when I was younger and I must say reading about their gaming escapades was fun and gave me a sense of nostalgia. While I don't want to completely spoil the nature of their relationship, I will say that they are a sounding board for each other. They support each other in all facets of their experiences including sexual identity. There is a specific scene in the book where Maggie reads Aiden's family and his ex-fiancé for fucking filth and I appreciated every single moment. Although it took them to a while to process their feelings for each other, their romance developed in a way that was mature and grown and as someone who is close to their mid 30's, I'm learning that I prefer to have those elements in my romance than those meant for younger audiences. This book was a breeze and easy to read and beautifully written.
What Didn't Work: Their romance was a little to slow burn for me, but I understand the intentions that Yardley had for their development.
Overall, this was an amazing read. I enjoyed every second of reading it and I'm looking forward to checking out more books by Cathy Yardley in the future.
August 20, 2023
what a hidden gem - role playing is a unique romance, perfect for introverts and video game fans! 🎮 🤍
this adorable romance follows maggie, a 48 year old, empty nester who is a bit of a hermit, trying to figure out life alone now that her son is off to college, and aiden, a 50 year old who moved back into town to care for his aging mother. they meet through aiden’s online gaming guild, however there us a misunderstanding where maggie assumes aiden is college aged, since she’s used to playing video games with her son, and aiden assumes shes 80 years old after she keeps insisting that she could be the guild members mother or grandmother. after figuring out they are actually around the same age, a wholesome romance blossoms between the two introverts!
role playing was a mix of some of my favourite tropes, small town romance, and (reverse) grumpy x sunshine, but it was also refreshing since the main characters were much older than what is normally in contemporary romances. i adored the fact that they were older, there wasn’t any weird miscommunication or third act breakup, maggie and aiden really felt real and i was rooting for them the whole time! i loved the representation of women in the gaming community as well, because i love video games! (i am a minecraft/sims girl hahaha) i also really enjoyed the friendship aspect of this book. maggie’s closest friends did not live physically near her, and it depicted really healthy ways to maintain adult friendships when long distance, which also isn’t often shown in contemporary romances. and omg the soup date was adorable 🍲💘
i highly recommend adding role playing to your tbr, it deserves more hype. plus the cover is so cute, and it has chapter names which is so rare nowadays. i will definitely be checking out more of cathy yardley’s books in the near future!
⭐️ - 4 stars
🌶️ - 2/5
tropes: older main characters, reverse grumpy x sunshine, small town romance
perfect for: introverts, fans of video games
this adorable romance follows maggie, a 48 year old, empty nester who is a bit of a hermit, trying to figure out life alone now that her son is off to college, and aiden, a 50 year old who moved back into town to care for his aging mother. they meet through aiden’s online gaming guild, however there us a misunderstanding where maggie assumes aiden is college aged, since she’s used to playing video games with her son, and aiden assumes shes 80 years old after she keeps insisting that she could be the guild members mother or grandmother. after figuring out they are actually around the same age, a wholesome romance blossoms between the two introverts!
role playing was a mix of some of my favourite tropes, small town romance, and (reverse) grumpy x sunshine, but it was also refreshing since the main characters were much older than what is normally in contemporary romances. i adored the fact that they were older, there wasn’t any weird miscommunication or third act breakup, maggie and aiden really felt real and i was rooting for them the whole time! i loved the representation of women in the gaming community as well, because i love video games! (i am a minecraft/sims girl hahaha) i also really enjoyed the friendship aspect of this book. maggie’s closest friends did not live physically near her, and it depicted really healthy ways to maintain adult friendships when long distance, which also isn’t often shown in contemporary romances. and omg the soup date was adorable 🍲💘
i highly recommend adding role playing to your tbr, it deserves more hype. plus the cover is so cute, and it has chapter names which is so rare nowadays. i will definitely be checking out more of cathy yardley’s books in the near future!
⭐️ - 4 stars
🌶️ - 2/5
tropes: older main characters, reverse grumpy x sunshine, small town romance
perfect for: introverts, fans of video games
July 13, 2023
This book was EVERYTHING!!! A geeky, queer, slow-burn romance with older characters. A prickly heroine with social anxiety whose son just went off to college befriends a man in an online gaming group who she assumes is like 21, but is actually 50. Also this has unexpected queer rep that was beautifully handled - Aiden is bisexual and demisexual, though he is just learning those words. Also Maggie is half Asian her son is white-passing, so this touches on the challenges of having a less visible identity.
I just loved everything about this- the slow-burn friends to lovers romance, the way things heat up towards the end, the way the characters take care of each other, and the relatability of what it's like to be an older introverted geek trying to interact with other parents in your community. Easily My favorite romance of 2023 so far and I can't recommend it enough. Heads up that Aiden has some extremely homophobic and racist family members and there is a good bit of external drama. But I really like this kind of external conflict in a romance where their relationship with each other is solid.
I find it interesting that there are people saying they read like teenagers, not like adults around 50 and I disagree. Honestly I think part of the point of this book is the experience of being older and responsible in many ways, while not feeling like your interests fit what is expected of you for your age. And there is something to be said for how you can reach different turning points in your life where there is change and transition, rediscovering who you are and who you want to be. I feel like I'm there in my mid-30's as my kids are getting older and I can imagine you would also have it in their situation- she's newly an empty-nester and he's retired from the career he had for years.
I just loved everything about this- the slow-burn friends to lovers romance, the way things heat up towards the end, the way the characters take care of each other, and the relatability of what it's like to be an older introverted geek trying to interact with other parents in your community. Easily My favorite romance of 2023 so far and I can't recommend it enough. Heads up that Aiden has some extremely homophobic and racist family members and there is a good bit of external drama. But I really like this kind of external conflict in a romance where their relationship with each other is solid.
I find it interesting that there are people saying they read like teenagers, not like adults around 50 and I disagree. Honestly I think part of the point of this book is the experience of being older and responsible in many ways, while not feeling like your interests fit what is expected of you for your age. And there is something to be said for how you can reach different turning points in your life where there is change and transition, rediscovering who you are and who you want to be. I feel like I'm there in my mid-30's as my kids are getting older and I can imagine you would also have it in their situation- she's newly an empty-nester and he's retired from the career he had for years.
January 23, 2023
✨I would battle a raging fever in a historical romance novel for Maggie I love her so much 😤✨
This one was a little slow to start because the main characters don’t meet in person until around 38% and there were a lot of conversations (with each other and their teammates) in their gaming guild that I didn’t really care about. I didn’t mind their conversations but whenever the younger college bros typed I swear my gag reflex kicked in lol.
✨
HOWEVER, once these two met up I was kicking and screaming. He thought she was going to be 80!! and she thought he was 20!! and it was GLORIOUS. They were like messaging is fun but this definitely not going anywhere because a. neither was interested in dating and b. the suspected age differences.
Aiden was a burly lumberjack cinnamon roll and Maggie was a true bogwitch of the best variety. I want to protect him at ALL costs. She was prickly, rightfully avoided most people, and had such a sharp tongue. I want to be her when I grow up. This was truly the main couple against the world romance. They both are there for each other when they need a shoulder to cry on or someone to be quiet with.
It also had my favorite trope of a main character literally going feral defending the honor of the other!!! Bonus points for the defended being totally smitten and turned on and GRATEFUL. Ugh I eat it up every time. Maggie is literally the baddest bogbitch ever. She was like hold my earrings 😩 and he had to stop her from lunging over the table 😌 and then he gave “easy killer” vibes 😤
✨
I also loved how honest and open their communication was. I think Maggie was 48 and Aiden was 50 so it was really fun and (unfortunately) rare to see characters of that age range depicted as the MCs in romance! The conversation around Aiden’s sexuality was just so lovely. After Maggie and him discuss, he’s finally able to have terms for how he expresses his sexuality—he’s bisexual and demisexual. Understanding the terms demi and bi helped Aiden finally have a vocabulary for who he is and I thought that was wonderful!!
**Just to note, there are major content warnings for queerphobia, nonconsensual outing, and disownment by family members. As well as aging parents and those complications (my parents are going through this with their parents and it hit pretty close to home). The hero was a former hospice worker and sometimes details brief memories. Also a toxic ex husband and other toxic past relationships that include getting cheated on.
The above warnings mentioned were pretty rough and the hero particularly goes through a lot of hate regarding his sexuality. Frankly, I hated (at one moment or another or ALL) nearly every character not named Maggie or Aiden. It was hard seeing both characters that I loved so much get so jerked around and shit on by nearly every person in their life. **Spoiler** thank god they eventually moved out of that toxic ass town.
✨
Overall, I ended up really enjoying this one. It was a total cover buy** and the coziness of Maggie and Aiden together did not disappoint. I was rooting for those two so hard and I’m so happy with the choices they ended up making and how they reacted to some really hard situations. This was slow burn, friends to lovers, and there wasn’t a third act breakup and maturity won today kids.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️.5*/5
*With the title Role Playing I did think this would be steamier and it was a bit of a Chekhov’s double entendre? The language was pretty light and vague during the penetration scene. They dry humped for their first time which was pretty hot. It was only the two scenes with a real buzzkill happening after the last scene. And to my dismay the only roleplaying really was in the video games lmao.
**eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
This one was a little slow to start because the main characters don’t meet in person until around 38% and there were a lot of conversations (with each other and their teammates) in their gaming guild that I didn’t really care about. I didn’t mind their conversations but whenever the younger college bros typed I swear my gag reflex kicked in lol.
✨
HOWEVER, once these two met up I was kicking and screaming. He thought she was going to be 80!! and she thought he was 20!! and it was GLORIOUS. They were like messaging is fun but this definitely not going anywhere because a. neither was interested in dating and b. the suspected age differences.
Aiden was a burly lumberjack cinnamon roll and Maggie was a true bogwitch of the best variety. I want to protect him at ALL costs. She was prickly, rightfully avoided most people, and had such a sharp tongue. I want to be her when I grow up. This was truly the main couple against the world romance. They both are there for each other when they need a shoulder to cry on or someone to be quiet with.
It also had my favorite trope of a main character literally going feral defending the honor of the other!!! Bonus points for the defended being totally smitten and turned on and GRATEFUL. Ugh I eat it up every time. Maggie is literally the baddest bogbitch ever. She was like hold my earrings 😩 and he had to stop her from lunging over the table 😌 and then he gave “easy killer” vibes 😤
✨
I also loved how honest and open their communication was. I think Maggie was 48 and Aiden was 50 so it was really fun and (unfortunately) rare to see characters of that age range depicted as the MCs in romance! The conversation around Aiden’s sexuality was just so lovely. After Maggie and him discuss, he’s finally able to have terms for how he expresses his sexuality—he’s bisexual and demisexual. Understanding the terms demi and bi helped Aiden finally have a vocabulary for who he is and I thought that was wonderful!!
**Just to note, there are major content warnings for queerphobia, nonconsensual outing, and disownment by family members. As well as aging parents and those complications (my parents are going through this with their parents and it hit pretty close to home). The hero was a former hospice worker and sometimes details brief memories. Also a toxic ex husband and other toxic past relationships that include getting cheated on.
The above warnings mentioned were pretty rough and the hero particularly goes through a lot of hate regarding his sexuality. Frankly, I hated (at one moment or another or ALL) nearly every character not named Maggie or Aiden. It was hard seeing both characters that I loved so much get so jerked around and shit on by nearly every person in their life. **Spoiler** thank god they eventually moved out of that toxic ass town.
✨
Overall, I ended up really enjoying this one. It was a total cover buy** and the coziness of Maggie and Aiden together did not disappoint. I was rooting for those two so hard and I’m so happy with the choices they ended up making and how they reacted to some really hard situations. This was slow burn, friends to lovers, and there wasn’t a third act breakup and maturity won today kids.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️.5*/5
*With the title Role Playing I did think this would be steamier and it was a bit of a Chekhov’s double entendre? The language was pretty light and vague during the penetration scene. They dry humped for their first time which was pretty hot. It was only the two scenes with a real buzzkill happening after the last scene. And to my dismay the only roleplaying really was in the video games lmao.
**eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
August 12, 2024
✩ 2.85 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Mistaken Identity
➼ Gamers Who Meet Online
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Mature Romance (She’s 48, He’s 50)
➼ Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Two Introvert Hermits who Find Each Other
➼ Mutual “I don’t like anyone but you” vibes
➼ Bi/Demisexual MMC
➼ Caretaker (Him)
➼ Fake Date to a Wedding
➼ Divorced Single Mom
➼ Dual POV
Meh… it was okay. This book is centered around two gamers and a large portion of the book featured them communicating through text with text slang or gamer lingo which is something I personally never enjoy reading. They become friends first through these text/online interactions and both make wrong assumptions about the others age, her thinking he’s a college kid and him believing she’s in her 80s since she repeatedly tells him she’s old enough to be his mom. When they finally meet in person, they share an instant attraction but she tries to back pedal since she’e not yet open to finding love again.
The MMC was a total cinnamon roll and he was probably the highlight of the book for me. I love that this author writes about mature main characters, but I find it a bit off putting that they are consistently depicted looking like 20-30 something’s on her covers. I understand that she wants to sell books, but you can’t convince me that this cover is an accurate representation of a 48 and 50 year old couple. At least add in a few laugh lines or something…
The MMC was still in the closet at 50 and didn’t understand his own sexuality. Essentially he is very rarely attracted to people but he is more attracted to the person than their gender when he does find someone he’s interested in. He also has to feel an emotional bond before he can feel the attraction to a person. His mom is constantly trying to set him up with women and talked incessantly about how “people talk” which she clearly cared about more than her son’s happiness. He had been taking care of her and taking her constant criticism in silence until he met our FMC who gave him the confidence to stand up for himself. The MC’s had a really nice/healthy dynamic and seemed well matched in all things from their personalities to their love languages to their hobbies, etc.
Ultimately, this wasn’t my favorite read, but it was definitely cute!
This one is also available to read or listen to with a KU subscription.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Only a page in and the Audiobook narrator has already pronounced cupboards as “cup” “boards” 😅 - Clearly off to a great start! 😜
What to Expect:
➼ Mistaken Identity
➼ Gamers Who Meet Online
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Mature Romance (She’s 48, He’s 50)
➼ Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Two Introvert Hermits who Find Each Other
➼ Mutual “I don’t like anyone but you” vibes
➼ Bi/Demisexual MMC
➼ Caretaker (Him)
➼ Fake Date to a Wedding
➼ Divorced Single Mom
➼ Dual POV
Meh… it was okay. This book is centered around two gamers and a large portion of the book featured them communicating through text with text slang or gamer lingo which is something I personally never enjoy reading. They become friends first through these text/online interactions and both make wrong assumptions about the others age, her thinking he’s a college kid and him believing she’s in her 80s since she repeatedly tells him she’s old enough to be his mom. When they finally meet in person, they share an instant attraction but she tries to back pedal since she’e not yet open to finding love again.
The MMC was a total cinnamon roll and he was probably the highlight of the book for me. I love that this author writes about mature main characters, but I find it a bit off putting that they are consistently depicted looking like 20-30 something’s on her covers. I understand that she wants to sell books, but you can’t convince me that this cover is an accurate representation of a 48 and 50 year old couple. At least add in a few laugh lines or something…
The MMC was still in the closet at 50 and didn’t understand his own sexuality. Essentially he is very rarely attracted to people but he is more attracted to the person than their gender when he does find someone he’s interested in. He also has to feel an emotional bond before he can feel the attraction to a person. His mom is constantly trying to set him up with women and talked incessantly about how “people talk” which she clearly cared about more than her son’s happiness. He had been taking care of her and taking her constant criticism in silence until he met our FMC who gave him the confidence to stand up for himself. The MC’s had a really nice/healthy dynamic and seemed well matched in all things from their personalities to their love languages to their hobbies, etc.
Ultimately, this wasn’t my favorite read, but it was definitely cute!
This one is also available to read or listen to with a KU subscription.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Only a page in and the Audiobook narrator has already pronounced cupboards as “cup” “boards” 😅 - Clearly off to a great start! 😜
June 26, 2024
This book was so ridiculously cute and utterly charming! I need more romances with older characters because the nuance, maturity, and history added so much to their dynamic and the richness and depth of these characters. I love that we had a male bisexual and demisexual love interest, and while there is some biphobia in the book from family members, unfortunately, our female MC is nothing but incredibly supportive and lovely, and it was honestly super heartwarming and sweet.
I love the nerdiness of this book, the fact that they fell in love via video game, the silly little misunderstanding of their respective ages, and the development of their romance. It was so adorable; I was giggling and kicking my feet. I definitely need to read more books by this author because this was so up my alley. I highly recommend it!
Representation: FMC is Asian, MMC is demisexual and bisexual
Trigger/Content Warnings: misogyny, loss of parents, cancer, fatal car crash, divorce, misandry, verbal abuse, biphobia, bi erasure, homophobia, outing, and body shaming
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I love the nerdiness of this book, the fact that they fell in love via video game, the silly little misunderstanding of their respective ages, and the development of their romance. It was so adorable; I was giggling and kicking my feet. I definitely need to read more books by this author because this was so up my alley. I highly recommend it!
Representation: FMC is Asian, MMC is demisexual and bisexual
Trigger/Content Warnings: misogyny, loss of parents, cancer, fatal car crash, divorce, misandry, verbal abuse, biphobia, bi erasure, homophobia, outing, and body shaming
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
July 1, 2023
I got through this only by gritting and grinding my teeth and soldering on; and as I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning (no joke) I'm sure I'll hear all about it. Spoiler alert, it won't be worth it. Also, this rating might be generous.
Sadly, this is a story that worked for me in concept, which is why I requested it, but completely let me down in execution. Not that I had high hopes per se but I'm always keen to read romance featuring older characters. Except.. no one actually treated them according to their age. Not children, or parents, or siblings. So why make them fifty? I can only assume it was for the clicks.
Listen, I'm all for a bit of healthy drama in my fiction but this was drowning in toxicity and thus did I, too, drown. I was so frustrated and uncomfortable and infuriated and yes, you're supposed to be, but it did not make for an enjoyable reading experience. I liked Maggie, she was a spitfire, and I liked Aiden, he was a cinnamon roll. I liked the queer rep. And that's literally it. Every single side character (actually, sorry, Rosita, Maggie's friend, had a tiny starring role via phone call and she was a darling), not to mention most of the event and their associated conflicts, it all gets chucked in the bin.
Most of said horribleness was directed at Aiden by his family, and it was truly horrible (I'm not exaggerating), but Maggie's relationship with her son was also.. strange. I don't know. I'm not middle aged with a grown kid so maybe that's an accurate representation of a modern relationship but.. it was weird. And, again, maybe it was because these characters didn't read like fifty that every other dynamic was made strange by it?
All this being said, even though I read this quite early, I'm definitely in the minority. So maybe this is all just a me thing. I hope so. Because, again, there is a dearth of mid-forties to fifties romances, especially ones where the characters are introverted, socially awkward, and very online, so this definitely will find its audience. I just wish, as someone who checks most of those boxes, it worked for me.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Sadly, this is a story that worked for me in concept, which is why I requested it, but completely let me down in execution. Not that I had high hopes per se but I'm always keen to read romance featuring older characters. Except.. no one actually treated them according to their age. Not children, or parents, or siblings. So why make them fifty? I can only assume it was for the clicks.
Listen, I'm all for a bit of healthy drama in my fiction but this was drowning in toxicity and thus did I, too, drown. I was so frustrated and uncomfortable and infuriated and yes, you're supposed to be, but it did not make for an enjoyable reading experience. I liked Maggie, she was a spitfire, and I liked Aiden, he was a cinnamon roll. I liked the queer rep. And that's literally it. Every single side character (actually, sorry, Rosita, Maggie's friend, had a tiny starring role via phone call and she was a darling), not to mention most of the event and their associated conflicts, it all gets chucked in the bin.
Most of said horribleness was directed at Aiden by his family, and it was truly horrible (I'm not exaggerating), but Maggie's relationship with her son was also.. strange. I don't know. I'm not middle aged with a grown kid so maybe that's an accurate representation of a modern relationship but.. it was weird. And, again, maybe it was because these characters didn't read like fifty that every other dynamic was made strange by it?
All this being said, even though I read this quite early, I'm definitely in the minority. So maybe this is all just a me thing. I hope so. Because, again, there is a dearth of mid-forties to fifties romances, especially ones where the characters are introverted, socially awkward, and very online, so this definitely will find its audience. I just wish, as someone who checks most of those boxes, it worked for me.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
April 15, 2024
2.5 rounded up. my thoughts on this one are mixed! i really liked maggie & aiden and i cared enough about their romance to see it through until the end, but the writing style of this one wasn't my favorite. it felt a little...stiff?? and kept me from feeling fully immersed in the story and i'm pretty bummed about it tbh. i was hoping to love this one a lot more than i actually did. womp
cw: homophobia, being outed (on page), divorce, emotionally manipulative parents
cw: homophobia, being outed (on page), divorce, emotionally manipulative parents
August 31, 2023
Aww, this was cute! It wasn't a new favorite or anything (mostly because of the writing itself), but I did love reading a romance about gamers and I adored the demi rep ♥ I don't get to see demi rep in romances often and it always feels really good to see myself represented in that way!! Full review coming later!
ETA: on second thought, I'm lowing the rating a bit because despite how much I loved the demi rep & gaming content, the writing just wasn't what I wanted it to be. 3.5 stars
ETA: on second thought, I'm lowing the rating a bit because despite how much I loved the demi rep & gaming content, the writing just wasn't what I wanted it to be. 3.5 stars
August 8, 2023
I am not a person who reads romance novels. I am too cynical.
However, recently the books I've read have been about either toxic relationships or contained a lot of carnage. I needed the palate cleansing of a happy ending but something that wasn't so idealized that I'd gag (because I'm cynical.)
This did that perfectly for me and the fact the two leads were online fantasy gamers and minimally troppy helped.
It was a little spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ but I survived that. I'm not mad I read it at all.
However, recently the books I've read have been about either toxic relationships or contained a lot of carnage. I needed the palate cleansing of a happy ending but something that wasn't so idealized that I'd gag (because I'm cynical.)
This did that perfectly for me and the fact the two leads were online fantasy gamers and minimally troppy helped.
It was a little spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ but I survived that. I'm not mad I read it at all.
August 9, 2023
may all contemporary romances featuring partners who fiercely defend each other, especially against toxic family. who aren't perfect, but are perfect for each other. gosh i loved these two a whole lot, their online gaming 'meet cute friendship' of mistaken identity (she thinks he's a 20something and he think she's his mother's age), and their gentle love story. Nerds falling in love, my fav!
Also, Maggie is a great mom to her kid, and I loved seeing the balance of her "do as I say, not as I do" and his pushback on that. Aiden's demi // bisexual identity is also lovingly explored and Maggie's casual acceptance, ability to help Aiden find the word's to describe himself, and fierce defense against his biphobic sister-in-law//ex-fiancee were just the best. I also appreciated that Aiden was not forced to forgive his family's toxic behaviors, instead finding balance and boundaries.
Honestly, imagine this as a slower-paced and middle aged Hackers lol (with a takedown of toxic family instead of a capitalist overlord). I loved Otter & Bogwitch and I hope you do too!
This is definitely a slowburn, but with heat payoff that made sense for the story! Also, loved the caretaking scenes when Aiden hurt himself SO much - especially since Aiden (as a end-of life nurse) is usually the caretaker.
CW: grief, parental death (in the past), toxic family - countered, biphobia, countered.
Also, Maggie is a great mom to her kid, and I loved seeing the balance of her "do as I say, not as I do" and his pushback on that. Aiden's demi // bisexual identity is also lovingly explored and Maggie's casual acceptance, ability to help Aiden find the word's to describe himself, and fierce defense against his biphobic sister-in-law//ex-fiancee were just the best. I also appreciated that Aiden was not forced to forgive his family's toxic behaviors, instead finding balance and boundaries.
Honestly, imagine this as a slower-paced and middle aged Hackers lol (with a takedown of toxic family instead of a capitalist overlord). I loved Otter & Bogwitch and I hope you do too!
This is definitely a slowburn, but with heat payoff that made sense for the story! Also, loved the caretaking scenes when Aiden hurt himself SO much - especially since Aiden (as a end-of life nurse) is usually the caretaker.
CW: grief, parental death (in the past), toxic family - countered, biphobia, countered.
October 11, 2023
yeah i devoured this book so quickly it’s such an easy fun listen! i liked this book
April 29, 2024
4 stars.
What I loved:
-this book has the best demi-rep and bi-rep I've read in a long time,
-mature main characters (FMC Maggie 48, MMC Aiden 50),
-grumpy FMC, cinnamon-roll MMC,
-the emotional development of the relationship,
- how fierce and protective Maggie was. She was truly awesome. (Aiden was sweet but too good, he really needed to learn saying no and setting boundaries with family and aquaintances) .
I have to add though that I hated Aiden's mom. The way she treated him was despicable. Sheryl was close behind Aiden's mom in awefullness. Deb was a nightmare, too, as was her cousin Patience.
Come to think of it, nearly every woman beside Maggie was awful, in a ott-caricature kind of way.
I enjoyed the drama-free part up until 85% a lot more than the following chapters, but that's because I prefer to see people building a connection more than people hating on others.
Thanks Elizabeth for the rec!
What I loved:
-this book has the best demi-rep and bi-rep I've read in a long time,
-mature main characters (FMC Maggie 48, MMC Aiden 50),
-grumpy FMC, cinnamon-roll MMC,
-the emotional development of the relationship,
- how fierce and protective Maggie was. She was truly awesome. (Aiden was sweet but too good, he really needed to learn saying no and setting boundaries with family and aquaintances) .
I have to add though that I hated Aiden's mom. The way she treated him was despicable. Sheryl was close behind Aiden's mom in awefullness. Deb was a nightmare, too, as was her cousin Patience.
Come to think of it, nearly every woman beside Maggie was awful, in a ott-caricature kind of way.
I enjoyed the drama-free part up until 85% a lot more than the following chapters, but that's because I prefer to see people building a connection more than people hating on others.
Thanks Elizabeth for the rec!
July 7, 2023
This was an absolute joy to read.
I think this might be the first truly organic, genuinely believable contemporary romance I've ever read.
Maggie is in her late 40's and dealing (badly) with her only child's recent move to college. Concerned that he's not putting himself out there enough she makes a deal with him that if he joins a club or makes a friend then she will also try to make some connections.
Aiden is an early 50's bachelor who gave up his business to care for his dying father and two years later finds himself acting as sole caregiver to his bitter mother while his younger brother (who married Aiden's former fiancé) claims to be too busy to help.
Both of them find some solace in online video games and when Maggie joins Aiden's guild they become friends. Their witty online rapport translates awkwardly to the real world and despite both their issues with being social with actual, breathing people they know there's a real connection there.
I loved these two dopey geeks unreservedly. Maggie is the perfect blend of grumpy curmudgeon and devoted, loving mom. She gives absolutely no fucks about what anyone thinks of her, like she sincerely does not care and it is wonderful. Author Cathy Yardley writes her unapologetically but also somehow avoids making her that shitty friend you have who gets away with being shitty because "she's just telling it like it is." If Maggie loves you she would murder the world for you. Aiden for his part is a bit of a doormat at the outset. He's being walked all over and frankly abused by his horrible mother but he's got such a giving heart and sincere desire to be a caretaker (the business he left was in hospice care) that he can't bring himself to genuinely think badly of anyone. So he's not a doormat you find pathetic, he's a doormat you love so much you just want him to see he doesn't have to be one to be a kind and loving person.
So what makes this one really stand out for me? I think my favorite thing is there's no third act conflict where one character ends up apologizing for something stupid. If I have one bone to pick with the romance genre in general its the need to create some kind of weird obstacle to its heroes getting their happily ever after. There's plenty of instances where it works wonderfully well and is clearly a part of the story but I've never felt its like some vital component that must be adhered to or its not real romance.
People can meet, fall in love and get to happily ever after without one of them freaking out and running away or having some secret that almost spoils everything. There can be things they have to deal with before we get to "and they lived happily ever after" but it doesn't always have to be the end of the world.
Maggie and Aiden are ready for each other. Sure there are things they need to confront but they confront them together or at least knowing full well they have other persons support.
I also loved that the assholes stayed assholes. This is another trope that tends to grind my gears. Sometimes people are assholes and there's no come to jesus moment where they realize it and change their asshole ways. Without getting spoilery there are some wonderful scenes of assholes getting theirs in spades and not learning a damn thing. It is glorious.
This is a simply terrific book with delightful dialogue and wonderful characters I simply adored.
I think this might be the first truly organic, genuinely believable contemporary romance I've ever read.
Maggie is in her late 40's and dealing (badly) with her only child's recent move to college. Concerned that he's not putting himself out there enough she makes a deal with him that if he joins a club or makes a friend then she will also try to make some connections.
Aiden is an early 50's bachelor who gave up his business to care for his dying father and two years later finds himself acting as sole caregiver to his bitter mother while his younger brother (who married Aiden's former fiancé) claims to be too busy to help.
Both of them find some solace in online video games and when Maggie joins Aiden's guild they become friends. Their witty online rapport translates awkwardly to the real world and despite both their issues with being social with actual, breathing people they know there's a real connection there.
I loved these two dopey geeks unreservedly. Maggie is the perfect blend of grumpy curmudgeon and devoted, loving mom. She gives absolutely no fucks about what anyone thinks of her, like she sincerely does not care and it is wonderful. Author Cathy Yardley writes her unapologetically but also somehow avoids making her that shitty friend you have who gets away with being shitty because "she's just telling it like it is." If Maggie loves you she would murder the world for you. Aiden for his part is a bit of a doormat at the outset. He's being walked all over and frankly abused by his horrible mother but he's got such a giving heart and sincere desire to be a caretaker (the business he left was in hospice care) that he can't bring himself to genuinely think badly of anyone. So he's not a doormat you find pathetic, he's a doormat you love so much you just want him to see he doesn't have to be one to be a kind and loving person.
So what makes this one really stand out for me? I think my favorite thing is there's no third act conflict where one character ends up apologizing for something stupid. If I have one bone to pick with the romance genre in general its the need to create some kind of weird obstacle to its heroes getting their happily ever after. There's plenty of instances where it works wonderfully well and is clearly a part of the story but I've never felt its like some vital component that must be adhered to or its not real romance.
People can meet, fall in love and get to happily ever after without one of them freaking out and running away or having some secret that almost spoils everything. There can be things they have to deal with before we get to "and they lived happily ever after" but it doesn't always have to be the end of the world.
Maggie and Aiden are ready for each other. Sure there are things they need to confront but they confront them together or at least knowing full well they have other persons support.
I also loved that the assholes stayed assholes. This is another trope that tends to grind my gears. Sometimes people are assholes and there's no come to jesus moment where they realize it and change their asshole ways. Without getting spoilery there are some wonderful scenes of assholes getting theirs in spades and not learning a damn thing. It is glorious.
This is a simply terrific book with delightful dialogue and wonderful characters I simply adored.
April 24, 2024
3.5 stars
There was a lot good about Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. I liked both main characters and their grumpy/cinnamon roll dynamic. Friends to lovers is always good, but there was something about the writing/storyline that just never got me fully invested. I liked that the characters were more mature and the narration was fantastic!
There was a lot good about Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. I liked both main characters and their grumpy/cinnamon roll dynamic. Friends to lovers is always good, but there was something about the writing/storyline that just never got me fully invested. I liked that the characters were more mature and the narration was fantastic!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Chris Brinkley & Elyse Dinh
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length:10h 2m
January 7, 2024
full review can be found here: https://t.co/XiRPjMLq0X
Read
January 3, 2024I can't tell you how much I loved writing this book.
I honestly thought my publisher would think the cheese had slipped off my cracker when I turned this in. It was still a geeky romance, which is my wheelhouse. But the protagonists were Gen X. The FMC was just this side of a feral honey badger, and the MMC was a too-good-for-this-world golden retriever who had to deal with a lot before he came out on the other side. It has a twist on small town, a You've Got Mail styled sustained misunderstanding, and an unexpected friends to lovers. It's also an incredibly slow burn.
They loved it.
To my delight, so have others, and I am so incredibly grateful for all the people who have included ROLE PLAYING on their Best of 2023 romance lists (including Book Riot and the New York Times!)
As a thank you, I've written a 10k word short story that takes place between the last chapter and the epilogue of ROLE PLAYING, about a year after they get together. It's Maggie and Aiden's very geeky, very perfectly them wedding. You can get it here as a newsletter subscription bonus: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/anfckjdzwk
Thank you, again, for all the support and love for ROLE PLAYING.
I honestly thought my publisher would think the cheese had slipped off my cracker when I turned this in. It was still a geeky romance, which is my wheelhouse. But the protagonists were Gen X. The FMC was just this side of a feral honey badger, and the MMC was a too-good-for-this-world golden retriever who had to deal with a lot before he came out on the other side. It has a twist on small town, a You've Got Mail styled sustained misunderstanding, and an unexpected friends to lovers. It's also an incredibly slow burn.
They loved it.
To my delight, so have others, and I am so incredibly grateful for all the people who have included ROLE PLAYING on their Best of 2023 romance lists (including Book Riot and the New York Times!)
As a thank you, I've written a 10k word short story that takes place between the last chapter and the epilogue of ROLE PLAYING, about a year after they get together. It's Maggie and Aiden's very geeky, very perfectly them wedding. You can get it here as a newsletter subscription bonus: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/anfckjdzwk
Thank you, again, for all the support and love for ROLE PLAYING.
April 8, 2023
I really wanted to love this book. Two middle aged gaming introverts finding love sounds absolutely adorable and I loved the idea of underrepresented main characters. The execution didn’t work for me. The 48 and 50 year olds acted like teenagers, and everyone in their lives treated them like teenagers. They felt awkward, not very likable, and very juvenile.
I enjoyed the banter and the connection they formed before meeting in real life. The thought of two strangers meeting over the internet and forming a friendship over their mutual interests and good conversations rather than physical attributes was refreshing.
There are a lot of side themes that were tossed in in such a way that it felt like a salad with too many toppings. There is asexual/demisexual representation but also bisexual representation, mixed race relationships, some very homophobic and racist characters, mental health issues, and a few other tropes that came out at like 75% through the book and were very quickly glossed over. As soon as one of the characters is done explaining how he doesn’t feel sexual attraction, the couple is performing sexual acts. It just didn’t work for me. Maybe with an additional 50 or so pages those issues could have been explored a little more deeply?
I think readers looking for representation in those categories will enjoy this story, especially if they are into the video game scene. Unfortunately this story didn’t connect for me. It was entertaining and I enjoyed the author’s writing style so I will certainly check out more of her books.
I appreciate the advanced copy from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the banter and the connection they formed before meeting in real life. The thought of two strangers meeting over the internet and forming a friendship over their mutual interests and good conversations rather than physical attributes was refreshing.
There are a lot of side themes that were tossed in in such a way that it felt like a salad with too many toppings. There is asexual/demisexual representation but also bisexual representation, mixed race relationships, some very homophobic and racist characters, mental health issues, and a few other tropes that came out at like 75% through the book and were very quickly glossed over. As soon as one of the characters is done explaining how he doesn’t feel sexual attraction, the couple is performing sexual acts. It just didn’t work for me. Maybe with an additional 50 or so pages those issues could have been explored a little more deeply?
I think readers looking for representation in those categories will enjoy this story, especially if they are into the video game scene. Unfortunately this story didn’t connect for me. It was entertaining and I enjoyed the author’s writing style so I will certainly check out more of her books.
I appreciate the advanced copy from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
April 30, 2024
I wasn't expecting this to be so good - nor was I expecting to change my opinions on video gaming!!
I've long been a proponent that violent video games have negatively impacted our culture and I stand by that for the most part. What I've learned though after reading this book is that video gaming can also create community etc for those who are shy etc and that's a beautiful thing! (As long as playing video games doesn't take over your whole life and have you shirking your responsibilities of course. *insert sigh here*)
I also have to say that I really enjoyed this mature couple's relationship. It started off with friendship and progressed into something super healthy and I LOVED reading that!!
NOTES:
- LGBTQ+ lit
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
I've long been a proponent that violent video games have negatively impacted our culture and I stand by that for the most part. What I've learned though after reading this book is that video gaming can also create community etc for those who are shy etc and that's a beautiful thing! (As long as playing video games doesn't take over your whole life and have you shirking your responsibilities of course. *insert sigh here*)
I also have to say that I really enjoyed this mature couple's relationship. It started off with friendship and progressed into something super healthy and I LOVED reading that!!
NOTES:
- LGBTQ+ lit
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
May 8, 2024
Cute! I love that this book encourages the main characters to let go of toxic relationships in their lives including family members while also embracing those who have your back and accept you for who you are.
June 22, 2023
This was absolutely lovely. I appreciated the realness of the characters, the conversations (and some of them were difficult to get through), the humor, and the ease with which I related to some of the aspects written about. That never fails to draw a reader further into the story.
November 2, 2023
This was such a cute romance featuring characters in their late 40's/early 50's. Both introverts who prefer online interactions to reality, they become guild members and fast friends before they ever meet IRL. I found it hilarious that she is super grumpy and hates people and portrays herself as an elderly butt-kicker so she won't get hit on by her guild members - including her soon-to-be love interest, and they all assume she's in her 80's. There's humor and heart and some pain in the way of shitty parents, toxic people and homophobia.
The narrators were excellent and never tossed me out of the story as some tend to do when they try to raise or lower their voice when character switching. A definite recommend if you want a fun, slow-burn romance.
4 1/2 Stars
The narrators were excellent and never tossed me out of the story as some tend to do when they try to raise or lower their voice when character switching. A definite recommend if you want a fun, slow-burn romance.
4 1/2 Stars
June 2, 2023
hmmmm
i liked this but also i didn't 🤨😔 they were old enough(48(h) and 50(H)) and yet they weren't acting like that... everybody was treating both mc's like shit, H's family and h's ex husband were worst people in the world
and i know this was a slow burn but they met irl so late like it was %38 or something and i didn't feel the chemistry 😭
hero and heroine were cute but that's all. i already forgot about half of the book and it took me months to read😔
p.s. this was my first reading from the author and i'm a little disappointed
thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review🏃🏼♀️
i liked this but also i didn't 🤨😔 they were old enough(48(h) and 50(H)) and yet they weren't acting like that... everybody was treating both mc's like shit, H's family and h's ex husband were worst people in the world
and i know this was a slow burn but they met irl so late like it was %38 or something and i didn't feel the chemistry 😭
hero and heroine were cute but that's all. i already forgot about half of the book and it took me months to read😔
p.s. this was my first reading from the author and i'm a little disappointed
thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review🏃🏼♀️
June 23, 2023
Hated it
I hated this book on so many levels. I’m so disappointed with myself for even choosing to read it. I should have looked more clearly what it was about or stopped after chapter one when it already didn’t make me want to read more. Books are supposed to be an escape, not a “let’s throw every progressive ideal at you” during a “romantic comedy”. If this is they way books are going, and it seems to be since Amazon keeps suggesting this crap, then I’m going to have to quit reading. I did finish only by skim reading towards the end.
I hated this book on so many levels. I’m so disappointed with myself for even choosing to read it. I should have looked more clearly what it was about or stopped after chapter one when it already didn’t make me want to read more. Books are supposed to be an escape, not a “let’s throw every progressive ideal at you” during a “romantic comedy”. If this is they way books are going, and it seems to be since Amazon keeps suggesting this crap, then I’m going to have to quit reading. I did finish only by skim reading towards the end.
December 2, 2023
This was very fun, very nerdy, and very cute! I swear I had no idea this had queer content, but I guess I have some kind of spidey sense because one of the leads is bi and demisexual. I loved this grumpy/sunshine combo, especially since both of them are older. Although lol on the cover artist who apparently thinks that's what a 48 and a 50 year old look like. Great secondary characters too, especially the ones you were meant to hate!
July 9, 2024
This was so wholesome and cozy, and I think it's fair to say it is now one of my new favorite contemporary romances.
I absolutely loved every second of reading this. I found these characters to be incredibly relatable, and loved how they became each other's safe space. I also liked that, even though the characters faced real-world problems, nothing ever felt too dramatic or over-the-top.
This is my type of dynamic - no toxicity, no drama - just understanding, and communication, and the ability to be yourself without reservation.
I absolutely loved every second of reading this. I found these characters to be incredibly relatable, and loved how they became each other's safe space. I also liked that, even though the characters faced real-world problems, nothing ever felt too dramatic or over-the-top.
This is my type of dynamic - no toxicity, no drama - just understanding, and communication, and the ability to be yourself without reservation.
December 7, 2022
Oh, ladies…let’s talk about this gem.
1. I adore a good read and almost never care about the age of the MC’s but as I get older, I have noticed that some of these MC’s could be my children. NOT THE CASE here! Maggie and Aiden are not spring chickens. Nor are they over some arbitrary hill. Maggie IS a strong woman who has gone through some things and come out a strong, vibrant, quirky adult who knows who she is. She’s the perfect catalyst for Aiden discovering who he truly is.
2. Come on with this SLOW BURN. I couldn’t even be mad at it! This is not the love story of lust and dirty deeds. This is two mature folks with their own histories, figuring out how they feel in a way that feels so completely warm and enjoyable you want to smack them over the head to get them to a realization you see coming. But you don’t because they are so lovably sweet that it’s worth letting them take their time.
3. Bravo to Cathy Yardley for exploring the idea that some people take an unlikely and unexpected path to discovering what makes them themselves. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil any thing. But suffice it to say, Maggie and Aiden are all about taking people as they truly are without judgement or reservation. It’s fantastic.
So thank you for MC’s in the middle of their lives. Thank you for a friends to lovers stroll to a happy ending. Thank you for a plethora of pop culture references that this nerd completely enjoyed. My goodness. What a good read. High key depressed that I don’t have more Bogwitch and Otter to spy on. ❤️❤️❤️
1. I adore a good read and almost never care about the age of the MC’s but as I get older, I have noticed that some of these MC’s could be my children. NOT THE CASE here! Maggie and Aiden are not spring chickens. Nor are they over some arbitrary hill. Maggie IS a strong woman who has gone through some things and come out a strong, vibrant, quirky adult who knows who she is. She’s the perfect catalyst for Aiden discovering who he truly is.
2. Come on with this SLOW BURN. I couldn’t even be mad at it! This is not the love story of lust and dirty deeds. This is two mature folks with their own histories, figuring out how they feel in a way that feels so completely warm and enjoyable you want to smack them over the head to get them to a realization you see coming. But you don’t because they are so lovably sweet that it’s worth letting them take their time.
3. Bravo to Cathy Yardley for exploring the idea that some people take an unlikely and unexpected path to discovering what makes them themselves. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil any thing. But suffice it to say, Maggie and Aiden are all about taking people as they truly are without judgement or reservation. It’s fantastic.
So thank you for MC’s in the middle of their lives. Thank you for a friends to lovers stroll to a happy ending. Thank you for a plethora of pop culture references that this nerd completely enjoyed. My goodness. What a good read. High key depressed that I don’t have more Bogwitch and Otter to spy on. ❤️❤️❤️
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