Single Player by Tara Tai

When I think of the perfect romance novel, Single Player is it. This book is literally everything, and I thought it was absolutely frickin’ fantastic. (As would Cat).

Cat has given up her secure job in accounting to work in video games, and mostly what she wants to work on is adding romance storylines to them. She interviews for a job with Heartrender studio and lands a job writing for their next big game, Compass Hollow. Philo, the woman who hires her, specifically hires Cat for her ability to write romance well. This game needs to appeal to both male and female gamers, and Cat is just the person to do it.

That is except for the one major blockage standing in her way. Her boss, Andi. Andi is a game developer who has had her ups and downs in the industry. Compass Hollow is her big break so people take her seriously, and she doesn’t want romantic storylines clogging up the already perfect game she has in mind. But when Cat is hired, it is impossible not to take it seriously when all of her bosses start pressuring her to include some romance in the game.

Cat and Andi are at each others throats, both irritating the heck out of each other as they try to maintain their footing in their workplace. But the more time they spend working together, the more they realize there’s more than just sizzling hatred and annoyance brewing beneath the surface. Cat and Andi have noticable chemistry and it will be impossible for either of them to fight it for too long.

This book is everything I wanted and more. It was cute, quirky, funny with serious moments. I loved watching Cat and Andi develop and grow as they opened up to each other and found someone to share their life and interest with. I also loved seeing some behind the scenes work on video games and writing. I will always love a book that dives into creative processes, and this one was no exception. Regardless of whether you love gaming or not, this book is bound to pull you in and enchant you. I am so excited to see what Tara Tai writes next!