How We Play the Game

by Alexis Nedd

Bloomsbury presents How We Play the Game by Alexis Nedd read by Nerissa Bradley.

Competitive gaming and fake dating combine to create a razor-sharp romance perfect for fans of Twelfth Knight and SLAY.

Zora Lyon plays to dominate. And as a no-nonsense, strategic prodigy of Wizzard Game’s viral battle royale, she has all the skills she needs. So when Wizzard offers their top players a chance to participate in a summer academy designed to crown a national champion, Zora knows she has what it takes to be the last player standing.

But Wizzard isn’t just looking for winners—they’re looking to create viral gaming superstars. Suddenly, Zora finds herself competing against famous esports influencers who can play the game and boost their follower count. That includes Ivan Hunt, the insufferably good-looking fan-favorite streamer, whom she betrayed to cement her spot at the academy.

As their matches broadcast to Wizzard’s fanbase, Zora's ruthless playing style and obvious lack of streaming experience immediately sends her to the bottom of the class. With her dreams of impressing Wizzard’s cofounder Brian Juno in jeopardy, Zora will do just about anything to fix her image—even if that means pretending to date Ivan to gain some popularity points. What can go wrong with a little white lie?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
1/5 stars
I had a lot of issues with this book. I was super excited about the premise- enemies to lovers, esports, video game nerds… but it didn’t deliver. Sure, they were enemies, and they started dating, but the conflict between Ivan and Zora felt so manufactured.
In that vein, Zora was so angry, all the time, at everyone. Everything Ivan did was horrible and the worst thing ever, even when he (spoilers) refuses to break up with her at the end to further his own esports career. What a villain /s.
I also just had an issue with the writing style. It was choppy and full of really strange turns of phrase. I have to include a few for context:
“Oh, wow, I just caught a glimpse in the mirror and this skirt makes my butt look like a whole nectarine. Move over, shrimp tempura.”
“I was dropping eaves so hard no one could ever pick them up again.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Ivan can go suck an egg and Brian can squeeze the chicken.”
I mean, what? Are these actual phrases that people use?
To cap it all off, the ending felt really abrupt. They walk out of the auditorium and it just ends?? No talking about their relationship issues and miscommunications, no resolution to the fact that Zora’s dream has been to work for this guy who turns out to be a manipulator. Nope. It just ends.
Really, the only things I enjoyed were the occasional bad joke, and the video game references. The characters, the conflict, the antagonist, and the writing style all ganged up on me and I couldn’t like this book even though I wanted to.

[middle_schoolers_read Lindsay P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zora and Ivan have a rivalry from the last battle they both competed at, but this battle is different, and they both need each other to help change how the streamers and other gamers view them. They decide to pretend to be dating to help change the narrative they’ve been given, but will their pretend relationship impact how they play the game, or will it blur the lines between rivals and love?

Zora and Ivan were so much fun to read about because I just wanted to see what was going to happen. I enjoyed their sarcastic banter as much as I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, even when they fought the feelings that were so obvious. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and their friends, it was fun watching everyone roll their eyes at their antics. I felt like the ending was a little rushed, probably because I love a good HEA and want to read all about it. That being said, I can definitely see some of my students enjoying this YA romance.

Thank you Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Who will like it?
✅ Fans of romcoms
✅ Fans of video games and behind the scenes of battles
✅ Fans of dual POVs

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zora knows she's one of the best gamers around. When she wins the tournament sending her to a summer program with the top gaming company around, she's excited to use that opportunity to impress Wizzard CEO and earn an internship. What she doesn't expect is to encounter her rival, gaming golden boy Ivan Hunt. Can Zora focus on the game and win her way to the top? Or will she be too overwhelmed by the lights, cameras, and social media to focus on the win?

How to Play the Game is a fun dual perspective novel for fans of video games. The pacing felt a little bit off to me in the second half of the novel, but it's not something that teen readers will notice or care about. I love Nedd's penchant for gamer novels that include girls, but they haven't taken off with our teen readers yet. I'm excited to add another gamer book to our collection.

I read an ARC from Edelweiss.

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this young adult romance book. The dynamic of rival video game players turned fake dating was great. I liked how Zora was so resistant to Ivan’s charm. Their first interaction was brutal, but I immediately loved her for it.

I grew to love all of the characters. The Zivan crew was masterful. I was a bit disappointed that the conflict was wrapped so quickly. It felt like there were many loose ends. Though I wanted to see more resolution, I still enjoyed the ending. It was like one great big “mind your business” after being in the spotlight for so long. I loved that about it. I still enjoyed this book and look forward to this author’s future work!

[Vanessa Dennis]

This book was so bad. None of the characters were likable except maybe Kavi in my opinion. Zora was very…off putting. Like I get she was authentic but she was just awful and insufferable. She made no sense and was angry and would lash out and get mad about the wrong stuff and like there were holes in the plot for me. Cause like her mom showing up? What was that? They brought Emilia on like to show who he screwed over but after she meets her that’s it. She doesn’t show up again. I thought this was gonna be like the boom slay but nope. Couldn’t wait to be done with it I’m sorry

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this one up based on the gaming concept alone, but unfortunately, I'm disappointed. I enjoyed Alexis Nedd's previous book, but somehow this one doesn't feel very polished. To me, the writing feels extremely cringe with many strange, distracting sentences, and the story was tough to get through because of that. Don't get me wrong, I love a fun and silly book, but this one feels a little bit too unserious for me. I will, however, keep an eye out for the author's future work!

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

PROS: The plot idea had potential.

CONS: The writing was not good. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator wasn’t great either. But the book wasn’t well written anyway. I abandoned the book at 40% because I didn’t want to waste my time.

OVERALL: I liked this author’s debut novel, so I was disappointed that this one did not deliver.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for 16+ (language, based on the first 40% of the book).

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun coming of age YA novel featuring a Black autistic FMC who loves video gaming and enters into a competition where she finds herself fake dating a competitor to try to get ahead. Zora was a relatable, neurodiverse protagonist and I loved the girls in STEM rep. This was perfect for fans of books like Love and videogames and authors like Elle McNicoll. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jack]

Disclaimer I haven't read the book yet but I have a link SPOILERS! with info on what the book is about.

https://www.ernster.com/en/detail/ISB...

it seems like it is set in the same universe but not exactly a sequel. BTW I loved your first book keep it up!

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounding up. Picture the atmosphere similar to gossip girls but with video game streamers in a reality tv like competition that relies on the algorithm to declare a winner.

Cute but…
I can not stand these lone Black girls who have to defend their identity and have to save some white boy. Can white guys like Black girls without it being some sort of redemption arc for them?

[Sarah Ressler Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent stand alone but fun if you know the characters form Don’t Hate the Player who show up in this game. Fun storyline about gaming for guys and girls but perhaps a little more romance than expected for guys. Great action and fun way to end.

[Sam Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about this book was the very casual autistic representation. It wasn’t a huge part of the book, but it still felt very authentic in a way that I really loved as an autistic person.

[Hone]

(Audio courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing, Alexis Nedd, and the Libro.fm Audiobook Listening Copy Program.)