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Two Can Play
An enemies-to-lovers spicy novella set in the world of video gaming
Viola Bowen has the chance of a to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.
When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.
Includes an all-new bonus chapter
Viola Bowen has the chance of a to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.
When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.
Includes an all-new bonus chapter
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2024
3008 people are currently reading
43331 people want to read
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
27 books182k followersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 19,620 reviews
October 7, 2024
ali they could never make me hate you for writing another refrigerator sized mmc having nasty, filthy, depraved thoughts for years pining over a quirky, so tiny and small fmc who thinks he hates her for no reason other than she jumps to wild conclusions and he doesn’t know how to express his emotions in any way other than a collection of grunts. its my kryptonite what can i say? we all have our vices and this is mine.
March 4, 2026
i reread Love on the Brain last night since the world’s gone to shit and then remembered i had this checked out from hoopla.
they’re… the same book. and listen i’m not mad about it. technically i should be annoyed… but all i want in a romance is a celibate simp who doesnt fuck or date since he’s so gone for the heroine but cant tell her because well we need conflict. and pining.
i’m but a simple slut
they’re… the same book. and listen i’m not mad about it. technically i should be annoyed… but all i want in a romance is a celibate simp who doesnt fuck or date since he’s so gone for the heroine but cant tell her because well we need conflict. and pining.
i’m but a simple slut
December 16, 2024
thank you to this audiobook for entertaining me during my 3 hour car ride on the way to get my brother from jail
October 28, 2024
3.5 stars! I went into this book with pretty low expectations, solely because it's a novella. And I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! In classic Ali Hazelwood writing, the characters are archnemesis in the workforce (well their companies are). They both work in the video game industry and design a game after a book. It was so cool to read about their job!
The book did have quite a fast-paced timeline and the conflict was a bit of an eyeroll miscommunication BUT I think it worked fairly well for a novella. One of the better novellas I've read! And it made me miss Ali Hazelwood's writing😭 now I'm even more excited for her next book!!
The book did have quite a fast-paced timeline and the conflict was a bit of an eyeroll miscommunication BUT I think it worked fairly well for a novella. One of the better novellas I've read! And it made me miss Ali Hazelwood's writing😭 now I'm even more excited for her next book!!
October 1, 2024
we have ourselves another pathetic, pining hazelwood man. jesse andrews, welcome to the club. you were adorable.
November 19, 2024
thank you ali hazelwood!!🥰 listening this cured my insomnia🥱
November 14, 2024
✩ 4 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Miscommunication
➼ Workplace Romance
➼ Video Game Designers
➼ Mutual Pining
➼ Only Available in Audio Format
➼ Novella
➼ He Falls First
➼ Team Building Retreat
➼ First Person POV
Novellas are not usually my cup of tea. They often feel like kind of a tease and their endings can be very abrupt. This one however, was the perfect length! 👨🏻🍳💋 The bulk of the story takes place at a weekend retreat which allowed the plot to wrap up very naturally when the retreat came to a close. This is a short and sweet listen for anyone who is interested in checking it out!
In classic Hazelwood fashion, the plot was rife with miscommunication. It’s a wonder that AH has gained so much traction with readers when she repeatedly uses a trope that so many people claim to hate. Five years is a VERY long time to wait to clear up one small misunderstanding, but somehow I found it endearing. 🤷🏼♀️ I won’t spoil the “why” for anyone who plans to read it, but there was something so sweet about him avoiding her when he was so clearly obsessed with her once I learned his reasoning. 🤭
Their relationship progresses pretty quickly of course since this is a novella and most of the plot takes place over the course of a few days, but AH still managed to make it feel like they were easing into it and didn’t rush the intimacy between them. I’ve honestly been pretty unimpressed by most of her other novellas, but I really enjoyed this one! I’d rank most of her novels a little higher, but I definitely liked this better than Not In Love!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Casually starting another book when I’m 4 reviews behind as per usual.
Reading slump? Can’t relate. 🤷🏼♀️
Review slump? Daily struggle. 🙃
What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Miscommunication
➼ Workplace Romance
➼ Video Game Designers
➼ Mutual Pining
➼ Only Available in Audio Format
➼ Novella
➼ He Falls First
➼ Team Building Retreat
➼ First Person POV
Novellas are not usually my cup of tea. They often feel like kind of a tease and their endings can be very abrupt. This one however, was the perfect length! 👨🏻🍳💋 The bulk of the story takes place at a weekend retreat which allowed the plot to wrap up very naturally when the retreat came to a close. This is a short and sweet listen for anyone who is interested in checking it out!
In classic Hazelwood fashion, the plot was rife with miscommunication. It’s a wonder that AH has gained so much traction with readers when she repeatedly uses a trope that so many people claim to hate. Five years is a VERY long time to wait to clear up one small misunderstanding, but somehow I found it endearing. 🤷🏼♀️ I won’t spoil the “why” for anyone who plans to read it, but there was something so sweet about him avoiding her when he was so clearly obsessed with her once I learned his reasoning. 🤭
Their relationship progresses pretty quickly of course since this is a novella and most of the plot takes place over the course of a few days, but AH still managed to make it feel like they were easing into it and didn’t rush the intimacy between them. I’ve honestly been pretty unimpressed by most of her other novellas, but I really enjoyed this one! I’d rank most of her novels a little higher, but I definitely liked this better than Not In Love!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Casually starting another book when I’m 4 reviews behind as per usual.
Reading slump? Can’t relate. 🤷🏼♀️
Review slump? Daily struggle. 🙃
do-not-bother
August 5, 2024summary of the book:
he is BIG, huge, large, massive, did i mention BIG.
she is small, petite, tiny. he's been love with her ever since he saw her, but she thinks he hates him.
yes im still gonna read it, sue me
he is BIG, huge, large, massive, did i mention BIG.
she is small, petite, tiny. he's been love with her ever since he saw her, but she thinks he hates him.
Read
November 21, 2025pre-read:
i’ve been eyeing this audiobook for quite some time now and i just need to listen to it! this is my first ali hazelwood audiobook and i hope that it’ll be good 🤞🏼💌🫧
i’ve been eyeing this audiobook for quite some time now and i just need to listen to it! this is my first ali hazelwood audiobook and i hope that it’ll be good 🤞🏼💌🫧
October 6, 2024
3.25 🌟!!! This novella was so adorable and fun! Jesse and Viola’s chemistry is undeniable, and they make such a cute couple. The FMC is refreshingly funny and relatable; her thoughts and witty remarks had me laughing out loud so many times.
Jesse’s obsession with Viola is entertaining and he's such a sweetheart. He's DOWN BAD obessed with her to the point where he struggles to function in her presence and would do ANYTHING for her.
As this was my first experience listening to an audiobook that included smut, it was certainly an eye-opening experience! 😭💀.While I found the smut to be a bit weird and odd at times, regardless it was a really cute read.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝑝𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤: Let's hope that Ali Hazelwood can avoid me from falling into a potential reading slump🤧😭🙏🏻
Jesse’s obsession with Viola is entertaining and he's such a sweetheart. He's DOWN BAD obessed with her to the point where he struggles to function in her presence and would do ANYTHING for her.
As this was my first experience listening to an audiobook that included smut, it was certainly an eye-opening experience! 😭💀.While I found the smut to be a bit weird and odd at times, regardless it was a really cute read.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝑝𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤: Let's hope that Ali Hazelwood can avoid me from falling into a potential reading slump🤧😭🙏🏻
December 22, 2024
♡ spotify usa
two game designers go with their respective companies to a snowy ski resort, in hopes that a bigger video game company allows them to work together to develop a new installment in a very beloved book series made into a game. yet, our two mcs have a little bit of a confusing past with one another, but that confusion hasn’t stopped them from longing after the other one for years. i truly feel like this could be maybe the best miscommunication in the past i’ve ever read. this was short, romantic, fun, and just a really good version of what it is. i had a great time reading this, and the other young rose and adrian during vampire academy’s snowy ski resort reader will probably appreciate this extra, too.
but my favorite part of this was seeing a favorite story being revisited during different times, in very different ways, in one of the character's lives, and it was really thought provoking and touching. and a really beautiful reminder that sometimes we can make our favorite stories even better.
trigger + content warnings: anxiety, misogyny in the workplace in the past, two brief sentences talking about family commenting on body image and food in the past, public embarrassment in the past, one sentence mention of cheating in the past (side characters), talk of parent with an illness in past, loss of a parent in past, grief, drinking, and a one sentence joke about kidnapping and trafficking
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ The Love Hypothesis ★★★★★
♡ Love, Theoretically ★★★★
♡ Bride ★★★★
♡ Not in Love ★★
“It just… fills me with immense joy, being with him, telling him things, waiting to hear what he’ll say back, being reminded of his existence.”
two game designers go with their respective companies to a snowy ski resort, in hopes that a bigger video game company allows them to work together to develop a new installment in a very beloved book series made into a game. yet, our two mcs have a little bit of a confusing past with one another, but that confusion hasn’t stopped them from longing after the other one for years. i truly feel like this could be maybe the best miscommunication in the past i’ve ever read. this was short, romantic, fun, and just a really good version of what it is. i had a great time reading this, and the other young rose and adrian during vampire academy’s snowy ski resort reader will probably appreciate this extra, too.
but my favorite part of this was seeing a favorite story being revisited during different times, in very different ways, in one of the character's lives, and it was really thought provoking and touching. and a really beautiful reminder that sometimes we can make our favorite stories even better.
trigger + content warnings: anxiety, misogyny in the workplace in the past, two brief sentences talking about family commenting on body image and food in the past, public embarrassment in the past, one sentence mention of cheating in the past (side characters), talk of parent with an illness in past, loss of a parent in past, grief, drinking, and a one sentence joke about kidnapping and trafficking
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ The Love Hypothesis ★★★★★
♡ Love, Theoretically ★★★★
♡ Bride ★★★★
♡ Not in Love ★★
October 8, 2024
yes. (me answering my own question from my pre read)
let’s be honest if you’ve read any of ali hazelwood’s books before then you’ve read this. it’s basically all the same copy and paste, same story different font.
at this point no one should be surprised.
now to my thoughts, this was ok. nothing special especially since it’s a novella. but if you loved any of ali hazelwoods books then you’ll love this plus it’s only 4hrs.
I will say im not the biggest fan of audiobooks by themselves because it’s hard for me to focus (which is on me) so I didn’t get “hooked” until half way through. (even then i was more invested in the side characters mike and otto than the main couple)
I probably should’ve waited until the ebook version came out.
*** btw my updates aren’t accurate (the percentage) since it was only based on time and i didn’t know exactly how far i was at ***
novellas are really hard for me to rate so 3 stars (this is me being nice)
———
ᯓᡣ𐭩 pre read / listen: future me was he big, tall, huge, and was she small, tiny, quirky ?? oh and was i reminded every other chapter about these facts ? 🌚
let’s be honest if you’ve read any of ali hazelwood’s books before then you’ve read this. it’s basically all the same copy and paste, same story different font.
at this point no one should be surprised.
now to my thoughts, this was ok. nothing special especially since it’s a novella. but if you loved any of ali hazelwoods books then you’ll love this plus it’s only 4hrs.
I will say im not the biggest fan of audiobooks by themselves because it’s hard for me to focus (which is on me) so I didn’t get “hooked” until half way through. (even then i was more invested in the side characters mike and otto than the main couple)
I probably should’ve waited until the ebook version came out.
*** btw my updates aren’t accurate (the percentage) since it was only based on time and i didn’t know exactly how far i was at ***
novellas are really hard for me to rate so 3 stars (this is me being nice)
———
ᯓᡣ𐭩 pre read / listen: future me was he big, tall, huge, and was she small, tiny, quirky ?? oh and was i reminded every other chapter about these facts ? 🌚
December 30, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 for goodreads. Sweet and funny and accomplished what it set out to for such a small package. I love the brand of MMC Ali Hazelwood writes every time; a kind, generous, obsessively pining simp who is truly interested in the FMC as a person above their romance. I do wish this hadn't been an audio exclusive though, which is actually why I've been putting it off for so long. I love audiobooks, but I'm not typically an audio reader for romance and I don't love that there's no other option if you don't jive with the narrator. In this case I felt the narrator did a fine job for everything except the sex scenes. Her inflection, her attitude, etc. didn't change much between casual dialogue/narration vs the sex scenes, which ultimately felt like it stripped much of the eroticism from highly erotic moments. This is one I'd rather have been able to read myself, I think.
And being a gamer, reading books about gaming can be weird. This one does it better than others I've encountered (I'll never forget reading a book where a character was playing Halo...on their Playstation), but still comes off a bit stilted and overly specific at times because it's being written for a general audience and avoids gaming colloquialisms. And we're reeeeeally stretching how the gaming industry works here for the premise of this story, but c'est la vie.
And being a gamer, reading books about gaming can be weird. This one does it better than others I've encountered (I'll never forget reading a book where a character was playing Halo...on their Playstation), but still comes off a bit stilted and overly specific at times because it's being written for a general audience and avoids gaming colloquialisms. And we're reeeeeally stretching how the gaming industry works here for the premise of this story, but c'est la vie.
October 3, 2024
i love ali hazelwood. that being said, this didn’t work at all. i love that she tells the same story over and over in different fonts - but we got blessed this year with some pretty out of the box books from her, so i was a little surprised by her return to the original formula (which i still like). howeVER!! i don’t necessarily love her writing style, and it does not lend itself to audiobooks. i cannot roll my eyes and move on from a cringe-worthy turn of phrase - it was read out loud so i am trapped and have to live it in real time. it’s painful.
also, i’m so sorry this is so harsh and honestly probably really affected any possible enjoyment of this story - but I have never disliked a narrator so much in my entire life. the slightly dropped voices for the men in the story, the weird affectation at the ends of sentences that happen once in a while and give me whiplash - so many weird character/reading choices just a deep stomach-flipping visceral dislike. if you have seen clue and remember the “flames on the side of my face” bit, that’s me.
it gets a 2 because i loved the premise - I would have loved a fully fleshed out novel on two video game creators working on a book adaptation. i feel cheated. but the bride sequel has been confirmed and i can’t wait for deep end (“whet”) so me and ali are cool, i can let this one slide.
also, i’m so sorry this is so harsh and honestly probably really affected any possible enjoyment of this story - but I have never disliked a narrator so much in my entire life. the slightly dropped voices for the men in the story, the weird affectation at the ends of sentences that happen once in a while and give me whiplash - so many weird character/reading choices just a deep stomach-flipping visceral dislike. if you have seen clue and remember the “flames on the side of my face” bit, that’s me.
it gets a 2 because i loved the premise - I would have loved a fully fleshed out novel on two video game creators working on a book adaptation. i feel cheated. but the bride sequel has been confirmed and i can’t wait for deep end (“whet”) so me and ali are cool, i can let this one slide.
January 4, 2025
2.5 stars ⭐️
I liked this one! Until I didn’t…
It was insta-lust (which I expect with Ali) and I was committed to pushing past it (evidenced by my initial enjoyment), but then it went downhill.
We know the spice is going to be cringe but why did the fmc act like the mmc was a king for her to service?! Weird behaviour. The mmc was lacking confidence which was an interesting change, however the miscommunication was so silly, he wasn’t obvious at all with his intentions initially. I’m glad he elaborated that his lack of pursuing her was more substantial than just feeling rejected but then they turned around and got together anyways. What resolved the problems they had? Who knows. I guess getting snowed in fixes everything 🤨
My main issue was this relied heavily on telling rather than showing so I didn’t take anything about them seriously. It was single pov as well so I literally had nothing other than the fmc to go off. I probably would have cared more about the gaming storyline if I was interested in the characters but I wasn’t so I just found this boring.
Overall, it’s a short listen and if you like Ali’s repeat formula you’ll probably enjoy it more than me.
My AH ratings —
The love hypothesis - 3 stars ⭐️
Two can play - 2.5 stars ⭐️
Cruel winter with you - 2 stars ⭐️
I liked this one! Until I didn’t…
It was insta-lust (which I expect with Ali) and I was committed to pushing past it (evidenced by my initial enjoyment), but then it went downhill.
We know the spice is going to be cringe but why did the fmc act like the mmc was a king for her to service?! Weird behaviour. The mmc was lacking confidence which was an interesting change, however the miscommunication was so silly, he wasn’t obvious at all with his intentions initially. I’m glad he elaborated that his lack of pursuing her was more substantial than just feeling rejected but then they turned around and got together anyways. What resolved the problems they had? Who knows. I guess getting snowed in fixes everything 🤨
My main issue was this relied heavily on telling rather than showing so I didn’t take anything about them seriously. It was single pov as well so I literally had nothing other than the fmc to go off. I probably would have cared more about the gaming storyline if I was interested in the characters but I wasn’t so I just found this boring.
Overall, it’s a short listen and if you like Ali’s repeat formula you’ll probably enjoy it more than me.
My AH ratings —
The love hypothesis - 3 stars ⭐️
Two can play - 2.5 stars ⭐️
Cruel winter with you - 2 stars ⭐️
March 15, 2025
I finished this book yesterday... I woke up in a happy mood today but then I remembered this little book existed now i am angry all over again ⚠️IF YOU SEE MY MUG SHOT ON INSIDE EDITION, ABC NEWS OR CNN 10 that because i broke inside Ali Hazelwood house, hacked into her computer and deleted every digital copy of this book, i also burned any remaining manuscripts!⚠️ (sorry)
so if this book does not load on your Spotify ... you know why 💀
I know it just a tiny novella, three hours long and not meant to be taken deeply seriously , but I still can't help it💀
if you have never read any book by Ali Hazelwood let me, just tell you what to expect in all her books
↳ A very big and tall MC who looks like a replica of the Burj Khalifa.
↳ A very short and tiny Fmc who looks like one of the dwarfs from snow-white
↳ Of course it needs to be STEM related
↳ did i mention the MC has to tower over the FMC like the Burj Khalifa?
↳ Awkward/cringe sex
↳Miscommunication
↳Quirky Fmc
TRUST ME, it can never be an Ali Hazelwood book without those six things I just mentioned!
Okay, so now let's get into the actual context and structure of this novella. 👏 Let me just start by saying I have a love-hate relationship with Ali. She is one of those authors whose books I know are going to be mid for me, but I still read them anyway because the FOMO is killing me.
Anyway, one of the things that always bothers me about her books is the writing and use of metaphors. I feel like they are overdone and cliché. I'm not joking when I say this quote is from the book: ''Don't look at me like that, Jesse.' He looks at me like a woman masturbating on the subway waiting for the train,'' ....😐Like, what does that have to do with anything?! I’m sorry, maybe I'm the one who's wrong and didn't pay attention to my English teacher, but whether I'm right or wrong, I cannot just roll my eyes and move on from a cringe-worthy turn of phrase.
The detailed sex scenes were also extremely uncomfortable to listen to and cringe AF 😫. Like, bruh, we have an entire dialogue of the FMC and MC talking about protection, PTSD, and where the MMC revealed he was basically a born-again virgin who had been waiting for her forever. And then we have the FMC saying things like ''stretch me wider' and 'he entered me so hard I can feel him in my mouth.''
so if this book does not load on your Spotify ... you know why 💀
I know it just a tiny novella, three hours long and not meant to be taken deeply seriously , but I still can't help it💀
if you have never read any book by Ali Hazelwood let me, just tell you what to expect in all her books
↳ A very big and tall MC who looks like a replica of the Burj Khalifa.
↳ A very short and tiny Fmc who looks like one of the dwarfs from snow-white
↳ Of course it needs to be STEM related
↳ did i mention the MC has to tower over the FMC like the Burj Khalifa?
↳ Awkward/cringe sex
↳Miscommunication
↳Quirky Fmc
TRUST ME, it can never be an Ali Hazelwood book without those six things I just mentioned!
Okay, so now let's get into the actual context and structure of this novella. 👏 Let me just start by saying I have a love-hate relationship with Ali. She is one of those authors whose books I know are going to be mid for me, but I still read them anyway because the FOMO is killing me.
Anyway, one of the things that always bothers me about her books is the writing and use of metaphors. I feel like they are overdone and cliché. I'm not joking when I say this quote is from the book: ''Don't look at me like that, Jesse.' He looks at me like a woman masturbating on the subway waiting for the train,'' ....😐Like, what does that have to do with anything?! I’m sorry, maybe I'm the one who's wrong and didn't pay attention to my English teacher, but whether I'm right or wrong, I cannot just roll my eyes and move on from a cringe-worthy turn of phrase.
The detailed sex scenes were also extremely uncomfortable to listen to and cringe AF 😫. Like, bruh, we have an entire dialogue of the FMC and MC talking about protection, PTSD, and where the MMC revealed he was basically a born-again virgin who had been waiting for her forever. And then we have the FMC saying things like ''stretch me wider' and 'he entered me so hard I can feel him in my mouth.''
October 2, 2024
LOL
I was more invested in Michael and Otto than I was the main couple.
I was more invested in Michael and Otto than I was the main couple.
October 8, 2024
How many fucking times is Ali’s publisher going to let her write the same book over and over and over again.
Let me paint the scene for this book (don’t worry, if you were interested in any of her other books, this applies!): small, petite girl in STEM thinks MMC absolutely abhors her due to minor miscommunication. MMC, tall, broad, also in STEM, has secretly been into FMC for years but never grew the balls to say anything. Confrontation ensues: “why do you hate me so much?!” The classic reply: “I never hated you. I’m in love with you.” Despite this reveal, FMC still doubts if MMC is into her. Cue awkward sex where MMC reveals that he’s practically a born again virgin and has been waiting for her this whole time. Mind-blowing vanilla sex. End scene.
Narrator can kiss my ass and find a new career.
Let me paint the scene for this book (don’t worry, if you were interested in any of her other books, this applies!): small, petite girl in STEM thinks MMC absolutely abhors her due to minor miscommunication. MMC, tall, broad, also in STEM, has secretly been into FMC for years but never grew the balls to say anything. Confrontation ensues: “why do you hate me so much?!” The classic reply: “I never hated you. I’m in love with you.” Despite this reveal, FMC still doubts if MMC is into her. Cue awkward sex where MMC reveals that he’s practically a born again virgin and has been waiting for her this whole time. Mind-blowing vanilla sex. End scene.
Narrator can kiss my ass and find a new career.
October 16, 2024
Jesse vino a reafirmarme que mi gusto por los geeks altos y grandotes es super válido 🫶🏼 Me encanta como Ali es capaz de crear historias tan cortas y tan llenas de información que nada se siente apresurado. ¡Lo ame por completo!
January 3, 2025
I need to remember this was a fast-paced book because it was only 4 hours long on audiobook... I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT! And that they MET LONG AGO and have seen EACH OTHER OCCASIONALLY, which explains how they jumped so fast 3.5 rounding up
This was cute and very Ali-coded! I love all of her books, especially the ones that bring in those STEM-focused topics. This one was all about video games, particularly designing and working with the enemy in this case, their rival agency. Both agencies got contracted to make the same game, so now they have to bond. And what better way than a retreat to the ski mountains?! LOL, please, this screams disaster, and it was so fun to read.
The characters, Viola and Jesse, have an "enemies-to-lovers" vibe, but I’d say it’s more "rivals-to-lovers" since they’re both lead designers for their respective agencies and now forced to collaborate. Their chemistry? Very one-sided at first, with Viola "hating how good-looking Jesse is" and "being stuck with a guy who clearly hates me," for a few days.
It’s quick, to the point, and answers all the questions you have early on. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, fun romance with a little tension and a HEA! DUH! 🫶
tropes
💜 enemies to lovers
💜 forced proximity
💜 spicy romance
💜 miscommunication
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I need a cute fun read for my commute and this one was available!!!
This was cute and very Ali-coded! I love all of her books, especially the ones that bring in those STEM-focused topics. This one was all about video games, particularly designing and working with the enemy in this case, their rival agency. Both agencies got contracted to make the same game, so now they have to bond. And what better way than a retreat to the ski mountains?! LOL, please, this screams disaster, and it was so fun to read.
The characters, Viola and Jesse, have an "enemies-to-lovers" vibe, but I’d say it’s more "rivals-to-lovers" since they’re both lead designers for their respective agencies and now forced to collaborate. Their chemistry? Very one-sided at first, with Viola "hating how good-looking Jesse is" and "being stuck with a guy who clearly hates me," for a few days.
It’s quick, to the point, and answers all the questions you have early on. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, fun romance with a little tension and a HEA! DUH! 🫶
tropes
💜 enemies to lovers
💜 forced proximity
💜 spicy romance
💜 miscommunication
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I need a cute fun read for my commute and this one was available!!!
March 18, 2025
ೀ 3★ .ᐟ
I really liked it at the start but then towards the end I just didn’t like it anymore. It felt so rushed, I mean I get it that it’s just a novella and that they need to end up together eventually but it just felt to rushed. Also the spice was so cringe that I just kept pausing the book to think over my life. More exactly as to how I ended up in this situation. Yeah there really isn’t much else I could say about this. It’s literally the same as all her other books.
ೀ preread ᡣ𐭩
Thanks to everyone who voted on the audiobook, I’ll obviously will listen to call me maybe later on in the month. Also can someone yell at me to finish other books I’m currently reading. Like here I am staring a new one again
April 14, 2025
3 stars . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ Quick, cute, kept me entertained, nothing special though
⤷ Quick, cute, kept me entertained, nothing special though
October 2, 2024
the way i kept picturing the MMC as jesse from pitch perfect was killing me and yet i couldn’t help it
anyways…. this one was very much a classic ali hazelwood (guessed everything and still ate it up) and reminded me of her first 3 books!! it was quick and fun but there was definitely something missing and i think i would have hated jesse in real life LOL
pre-read: i’m a simple woman okay give me anything ali hazelwood and i’m sat
anyways…. this one was very much a classic ali hazelwood (guessed everything and still ate it up) and reminded me of her first 3 books!! it was quick and fun but there was definitely something missing and i think i would have hated jesse in real life LOL
pre-read: i’m a simple woman okay give me anything ali hazelwood and i’m sat
November 24, 2024
I wish I was a girl who could read an Ali Hazelwood seriously but with quotes like "filthiest hand hold ever," (worse with context) I fear I'll only listen to them when I need to laugh
October 2, 2024
2.5/5 stars. Review to come!
October 2, 2024
I was smiling the whole time
October 5, 2024
one thing ab miss ali hazelwood is she WILL write a LARGE HUGE BIG have i mentioned GIANT) man and a LITTLE SMALL TINY (have i mentioned PETITE woman who WILL be rivals in the same industry and there WILL be HEAVY kylo ren themes and i WILL devour it and declare it
ORIGINAL. 5/5 stars no notes
ORIGINAL. 5/5 stars no notes
October 12, 2024
4 stars
I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing and had so much fun listening to this novella. By the end, all I could think was that this would have made such a great full-length novel. I guess that’s the issue with novellas sometimes. I loved the gamer aspect, the unrequited love, and how into each other these two were. This was great.
I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing and had so much fun listening to this novella. By the end, all I could think was that this would have made such a great full-length novel. I guess that’s the issue with novellas sometimes. I loved the gamer aspect, the unrequited love, and how into each other these two were. This was great.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Kelsey Navarro Foster
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 4h 24m
October 10, 2024
yeah I ate this up
March 5, 2026
──⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡┊3.5 ★
Some romances spark. This one simmers.
It waits in the quiet. It lingers in the almost. It's holding your breath for years — and then finally exhaling.
Not a crush. Not a phase. Devotion that roots itself deep and refuses to loosen its grip.
Like all of Ali Hazelwood's writing, this little novella understands longing — how it can stretch across time, how it can exist without touch, how wanting alone can shape a heart.
Heavy. Honest. Undeniable. It's why Hazelwood, to me, is the queen of romance. When such powerful yearning is finally given an outlet, a voice – it's breathtaking. The emotional payoff is simply *chef's kiss*.
Because love, real love, is precise.
It chooses one person and says: only you.
Again, my only complaint (and the reason I'm not giving this a higher rating) is that it's too short... Please Ali make this FlyButter/Nephilim game studio collab, with Jesse/Viola as project leads, a full concept novel. Please I'm begging you 😭😭😭
Some romances spark. This one simmers.
It waits in the quiet. It lingers in the almost. It's holding your breath for years — and then finally exhaling.
“I haven’t thought about anything but you since the first time I saw you.”
Not a crush. Not a phase. Devotion that roots itself deep and refuses to loosen its grip.
"It’s an ode to the enduring power of love. To wanting, and to the way the feeling can survive for the longest time. Even without having.”
Like all of Ali Hazelwood's writing, this little novella understands longing — how it can stretch across time, how it can exist without touch, how wanting alone can shape a heart.
"So.” My voice is a breathy, shaky attempt at humor. “You do like me.” His eyes close. “Viola. You have no fucking idea what I feel for you.”
Heavy. Honest. Undeniable. It's why Hazelwood, to me, is the queen of romance. When such powerful yearning is finally given an outlet, a voice – it's breathtaking. The emotional payoff is simply *chef's kiss*.
"So what’s the problem? If you’ve done it before, then you could—” “The problem is that other women were not you.”
Because love, real love, is precise.
It chooses one person and says: only you.
"With you, I have to be careful. Because I don’t just like you, Viola. I didn’t meet you at a bar and think that you were pretty. I didn’t have fun on a blind date and decide to take you home. I have thought of you every day for years. I’ve pictured you in ways that, believe me, you do not want to hear. I have a whole mental list of stuff to go through with you, and if we start something, it’s not going to just end for me. It’s going to stick, and it is going to grow out of proportion, and it’s going to have the capacity to rip me apart."
Again, my only complaint (and the reason I'm not giving this a higher rating) is that it's too short... Please Ali make this FlyButter/Nephilim game studio collab, with Jesse/Viola as project leads, a full concept novel. Please I'm begging you 😭😭😭
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