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Love and Other Two-Player Games
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Expected 1 Dec 26Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 08:06:17
25 copies available
U.S. only
When CEO Victoria Preston’s business partner ends up in a coma after a tragic accident, the board of directors decides to step in with “reinforcements” she never requested and proactively hires Nathaniel Hamilton, a financial consultant. But Victoria finds his presence at her video game development agency a nuisance and is determined to send him packing.
Nathaniel’s job is simple: assess the company, keep his real purpose under wraps, and definitely don’t get distracted by the infuriatingly brilliant CEO who challenges him at every turn. While reviewing the financials, he discovers a trail of messages from Gamer404, Victoria’s so-called biggest fan. She thinks they’re harmless, but Nathaniel knows better. And whoever’s behind that username is getting bolder.
As Victoria and Nathaniel are forced to work side by side, professional boundaries begin to blur. The tension between them shifts into something neither of them expected, complicating everything Victoria thought she knew about who she can trust. Between the secrets she knows Nathaniel is keeping about his presence at her company and her stalker’s unwanted attention, her world is unraveling. Can she trust the man’s presence in her life, or is the connection between them just another game she’s destined to lose?
Roxanne LoMarc delights with a no-spice, enemies-to-lovers rom-com where workplace proximity, gaming culture, suspense, and undeniable chemistry collide in her debut novel.
Nathaniel’s job is simple: assess the company, keep his real purpose under wraps, and definitely don’t get distracted by the infuriatingly brilliant CEO who challenges him at every turn. While reviewing the financials, he discovers a trail of messages from Gamer404, Victoria’s so-called biggest fan. She thinks they’re harmless, but Nathaniel knows better. And whoever’s behind that username is getting bolder.
As Victoria and Nathaniel are forced to work side by side, professional boundaries begin to blur. The tension between them shifts into something neither of them expected, complicating everything Victoria thought she knew about who she can trust. Between the secrets she knows Nathaniel is keeping about his presence at her company and her stalker’s unwanted attention, her world is unraveling. Can she trust the man’s presence in her life, or is the connection between them just another game she’s destined to lose?
Roxanne LoMarc delights with a no-spice, enemies-to-lovers rom-com where workplace proximity, gaming culture, suspense, and undeniable chemistry collide in her debut novel.
- GenresRomance
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication December 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was pretty excited when I saw this book until I read the mixed reviews. Having read Love and Other Two Player Games, I can confidently say it was what the blurb promises and much more.
It wasn't what I expected at all, but it surprised me in the best ways. What I thought would be a cute enemies-to-lovers office romance turned out to be a story about grief, acceptance, and love.
I loved the addition of some of my favourite mini-tropes: jealousy, one-bed (sofa, in this case), anti-stalking plans, etc.
The gaming aspect was also undeniably good, including the biggest conflict in the book.
The characters were all perfectly lovable. Seeing Victoria deal with her emotions in very realistic ways, and Nathaniel, he couldn't be any more perfect.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC, all reviews and opinions are my own!
It wasn't what I expected at all, but it surprised me in the best ways. What I thought would be a cute enemies-to-lovers office romance turned out to be a story about grief, acceptance, and love.
I loved the addition of some of my favourite mini-tropes: jealousy, one-bed (sofa, in this case), anti-stalking plans, etc.
The gaming aspect was also undeniably good, including the biggest conflict in the book.
The characters were all perfectly lovable. Seeing Victoria deal with her emotions in very realistic ways, and Nathaniel, he couldn't be any more perfect.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC, all reviews and opinions are my own!
November 2, 2026
Thank you Net Galley, Roxanne LoMarc, UpLit Reads, and Haven Publishing for an ARC and physical copy of Love and Other Two-Player Games.
Summary:
Victoria is the CEO of Agency, a gaming company struggling with recent changes and setbacks. While navigating her own personal struggles and grief, she is determined to save both her career and her business. In an effort to get Agency back on track, the company’s board brings in a financial consultant named Nathaniel. His job is to assess the company’s operations while keeping his true intentions hidden. But what happens when their close proximity causes professional boundaries to blur and feelings to complicate business?
Thoughts:
• I love the uniqueness of this STEM romance! I haven’t come across many books featuring women as video game designers, and I absolutely loved that aspect!
• The way this book had me making predictions from the very beginning! I love when a book has my mind racing as I read, trying to figure out how all the characters and events will come together.
•Be ready for an adventure when you pick up this book because you’re getting a little bit of everything: romance, thriller, and sci-fi all wrapped into one!
• Another book with dual POV, my all-time favorite writing style! I love getting both the FMC’s and MMC’s thoughts, moments, setbacks, and everything in between!
• The grief in this book is overwhelming at times, but it’s handled so well. I read the trigger warnings beforehand, but everything hits so much harder when you’re immersed in the pages of the story rather than simply reading a list of warnings.
• I loved the banter between Victoria and Nathaniel! It was so enjoyable and an absolute must for a romance story. Roxanne wrote these moments so well!
• Just when I thought I had it figured out, a new theory would pop into my head. This happened throughout the entire book! There were so many moments that left me staring at the wall. Honestly, I think I’m still doing that as I try to piece together all the twists and turns of this unique workplace romance.
•The characters sometimes came across as immature, which was frustrating while reading. Because of this, I found it difficult to fully connect with them or become as invested in their experiences as I would have liked.
Summary:
Victoria is the CEO of Agency, a gaming company struggling with recent changes and setbacks. While navigating her own personal struggles and grief, she is determined to save both her career and her business. In an effort to get Agency back on track, the company’s board brings in a financial consultant named Nathaniel. His job is to assess the company’s operations while keeping his true intentions hidden. But what happens when their close proximity causes professional boundaries to blur and feelings to complicate business?
Thoughts:
• I love the uniqueness of this STEM romance! I haven’t come across many books featuring women as video game designers, and I absolutely loved that aspect!
• The way this book had me making predictions from the very beginning! I love when a book has my mind racing as I read, trying to figure out how all the characters and events will come together.
•Be ready for an adventure when you pick up this book because you’re getting a little bit of everything: romance, thriller, and sci-fi all wrapped into one!
• Another book with dual POV, my all-time favorite writing style! I love getting both the FMC’s and MMC’s thoughts, moments, setbacks, and everything in between!
• The grief in this book is overwhelming at times, but it’s handled so well. I read the trigger warnings beforehand, but everything hits so much harder when you’re immersed in the pages of the story rather than simply reading a list of warnings.
• I loved the banter between Victoria and Nathaniel! It was so enjoyable and an absolute must for a romance story. Roxanne wrote these moments so well!
• Just when I thought I had it figured out, a new theory would pop into my head. This happened throughout the entire book! There were so many moments that left me staring at the wall. Honestly, I think I’m still doing that as I try to piece together all the twists and turns of this unique workplace romance.
•The characters sometimes came across as immature, which was frustrating while reading. Because of this, I found it difficult to fully connect with them or become as invested in their experiences as I would have liked.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy recieved from NetGalley
This book was a solid workplace romance. We meet Victoria, who is struggling to perform as the CEO of a massive video game development business after the loss of her co-CEO and childhood best friend. And in comes Nathaniel, a finance assessor hired by the board to hopefully improve the financial side of the business.
I liked the initial banter between these two. They tiptoed around each other until they learned more about the circumstances and, in Victoria’s case, the grief they were going through.
The author offered a very raw and true depiction of grief, and I liked the exploration of how it can manifest in different coping mechanisms and, in some cases, addiction.
After the romance was established, though, the book went a little downhill. The main characters weren’t communicating as much as I would have liked, and the conclusions they jumped to became more far-fetched by the minute.
The side characters were okay. They had a clear purpose, and that was practically it. They were introduced exactly when they became important to the story, and afterward, we saw little of them.
I’ve seen some people say they didn’t love the ending, and even though it leans more toward sci-fi, I loved the fast pace of it, as I felt the book was becoming a little stagnant.
Probably my favorite part was the little snippets of video game references and descriptions of the game development process. It was quite refreshing to see the ins and outs of the business. My only complaint about this is that I would have liked more of it.
Overall, I’d say this is truly made for lovers of workplace romance, with touches on the loss of a loved one and the burdens of leading a business. It had the emotional depth needed to empathize with the characters as well as the closure they needed.
This book was a solid workplace romance. We meet Victoria, who is struggling to perform as the CEO of a massive video game development business after the loss of her co-CEO and childhood best friend. And in comes Nathaniel, a finance assessor hired by the board to hopefully improve the financial side of the business.
I liked the initial banter between these two. They tiptoed around each other until they learned more about the circumstances and, in Victoria’s case, the grief they were going through.
The author offered a very raw and true depiction of grief, and I liked the exploration of how it can manifest in different coping mechanisms and, in some cases, addiction.
After the romance was established, though, the book went a little downhill. The main characters weren’t communicating as much as I would have liked, and the conclusions they jumped to became more far-fetched by the minute.
The side characters were okay. They had a clear purpose, and that was practically it. They were introduced exactly when they became important to the story, and afterward, we saw little of them.
I’ve seen some people say they didn’t love the ending, and even though it leans more toward sci-fi, I loved the fast pace of it, as I felt the book was becoming a little stagnant.
Probably my favorite part was the little snippets of video game references and descriptions of the game development process. It was quite refreshing to see the ins and outs of the business. My only complaint about this is that I would have liked more of it.
Overall, I’d say this is truly made for lovers of workplace romance, with touches on the loss of a loved one and the burdens of leading a business. It had the emotional depth needed to empathize with the characters as well as the closure they needed.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much to Roxanne and Haven for the giving me the chance to arc read this debut novel.
I will forever be grateful.
Overall, I really enjoyed the initial banter between Victoria and Nathaniel. Their back-and-forth was one of my favorite aspects of the book, and there was definitely potential in their chemistry. I also appreciated Victoria's portrayal of grief, as it brought emotional depth and vulnerability to the story. However, unfortunately, I did struggle with the writing in some places, especially in the beginning. There were also so many different ideas and plotlines introduced in the story that it felt overcrowded rather than cohesive. Between the romance, workplace drama, personal struggles, and suspense, I think the book was trying to accomplish a little too much at once.
I also had mixed feelings about Victoria and Nathaniel's romantic relationship. I get that this is an enemies-to-lovers story but their hot-and-cold dynamic felt a little strange at times. Some of their interactions were engaging, but the shifts in how they treated each other occasionally felt abrupt and inconsistent. I wanted a smoother, more natural progression between them, especially considering the potential their relationship had from the beginning.
As for the ending, I didn't love the direction it took. The sci-fi concept was interesting, but everything seemed to happen so quickly and felt a bit underdeveloped. I would have loved more time spent in building the suspense and unpacking their revelations, especially in the aftermath of everything that happened.
In the end, I enjoyed certain aspects of this book. There were some genuinely promising ideas, but I think it would have benefited from a more focused narrative, stronger pacing, and a more developed ending. But I finished it appreciating the uniqueness of the story and what it was trying to do.
I will forever be grateful.
Overall, I really enjoyed the initial banter between Victoria and Nathaniel. Their back-and-forth was one of my favorite aspects of the book, and there was definitely potential in their chemistry. I also appreciated Victoria's portrayal of grief, as it brought emotional depth and vulnerability to the story. However, unfortunately, I did struggle with the writing in some places, especially in the beginning. There were also so many different ideas and plotlines introduced in the story that it felt overcrowded rather than cohesive. Between the romance, workplace drama, personal struggles, and suspense, I think the book was trying to accomplish a little too much at once.
I also had mixed feelings about Victoria and Nathaniel's romantic relationship. I get that this is an enemies-to-lovers story but their hot-and-cold dynamic felt a little strange at times. Some of their interactions were engaging, but the shifts in how they treated each other occasionally felt abrupt and inconsistent. I wanted a smoother, more natural progression between them, especially considering the potential their relationship had from the beginning.
As for the ending, I didn't love the direction it took. The sci-fi concept was interesting, but everything seemed to happen so quickly and felt a bit underdeveloped. I would have loved more time spent in building the suspense and unpacking their revelations, especially in the aftermath of everything that happened.
In the end, I enjoyed certain aspects of this book. There were some genuinely promising ideas, but I think it would have benefited from a more focused narrative, stronger pacing, and a more developed ending. But I finished it appreciating the uniqueness of the story and what it was trying to do.
Read
November 3, 2026When I first saw the cover and title of this one, I must admit I expected it to be a rather lighthearted romance. While there were definitely lighter hearted moments and great banter as well, this was also a story that had grief at its center and touched on other difficult topics as well. (Be sure to check out the author's note for trigger warnings prior to reading, if needed.) I was definitely surprised by this one. Victoria and Nathaniel definitely had a lot they needed to work through and while I didn't always agree with every decision they made, I enjoyed seeing their healing throughout the story. I thought this world of gaming and VR made for a really interesting and unique aspect to the story as well... even though I'm not at all interesting in gaming in real life. If you enjoy workplace romance, enemies to lovers and stories that aren't afraid to take on more difficult topics, this is one worth checking out.
Love and Other Two Player Games is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Love and Other Two Player Games is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I wish I could have liked this book. I never got connected with it. None of the characters did anything for me. I was bored most of the book and toward the middle-ish I got to the point I had just to skim fast through to finish….
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into Love and Other Two-Player Games expecting a cute little office romance, but the book turned out to be quite different. Unfortunately, while the premise had a lot of potential, I don't think the execution quite lived up to it.
Victoria is the CEO of a struggling gaming company, and the board brings in a financial consultant to help save the business. The two are immediately attracted to each other, but Victoria has plenty of reasons to resent him. He wants to cut the community programmes that give her company its personality, and the board appoints him as a way to prepare for her best friend and co-CEO's potential permanent absence while he's in a coma. The fact that they barely communicate this decision to her only makes things worse.
The story also takes a rather unexpected turn into thriller territory when a long-time online stalker escalates his behaviour. This was an interesting direction, but I don't think the different elements always came together particularly well.
One thing I appreciated was the exploration of how people can make bad decisions without necessarily being bad people. However, I felt this understanding was applied a little too generously to Victoria. She makes a genuinely terrible decision, and although her grief and trauma provide some context, the narrative barely holds her accountable. I wanted at least some acknowledgement of how unacceptable her actions were, rather than having her circumstances seemingly excuse them.
My biggest issue was the characterisation. Victoria should have been an interesting FMC: a CEO trying to save her company while dealing with immense grief. Instead, she often came across as juvenile and incapable, and I rarely saw the competence that supposedly made her successful. The MMC had similar problems. He's presented as a respected expert in his field, but his decision-making often felt incredibly immature. The scene at the wake was particularly uncomfortable for me.
I also struggled with the writing, especially in the beginning. The first few chapters felt disjointed and confusing, and I repeatedly found myself rereading passages because I wasn't sure how the story had arrived at a particular point. There were so many plotlines and ideas competing for attention that the narrative often felt cluttered, as though things were being added to keep the reader engaged rather than to develop a cohesive story.
The ending was another disappointment. I really liked the idea behind it, but I don't think it was executed effectively. Everything felt rushed, and I would have preferred more time spent building suspense, exploring the consequences of what happened, and developing the revelations. The conclusion had the potential to be much more impactful, but it didn't quite get there for me.
Ultimately, this was a case of a promising premise that didn't quite live up to its potential. The characters, writing, and pacing all left me wanting more, and I finished the book feeling rather disappointed with how everything came together.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Victoria is the CEO of a struggling gaming company, and the board brings in a financial consultant to help save the business. The two are immediately attracted to each other, but Victoria has plenty of reasons to resent him. He wants to cut the community programmes that give her company its personality, and the board appoints him as a way to prepare for her best friend and co-CEO's potential permanent absence while he's in a coma. The fact that they barely communicate this decision to her only makes things worse.
The story also takes a rather unexpected turn into thriller territory when a long-time online stalker escalates his behaviour. This was an interesting direction, but I don't think the different elements always came together particularly well.
One thing I appreciated was the exploration of how people can make bad decisions without necessarily being bad people. However, I felt this understanding was applied a little too generously to Victoria. She makes a genuinely terrible decision, and although her grief and trauma provide some context, the narrative barely holds her accountable. I wanted at least some acknowledgement of how unacceptable her actions were, rather than having her circumstances seemingly excuse them.
My biggest issue was the characterisation. Victoria should have been an interesting FMC: a CEO trying to save her company while dealing with immense grief. Instead, she often came across as juvenile and incapable, and I rarely saw the competence that supposedly made her successful. The MMC had similar problems. He's presented as a respected expert in his field, but his decision-making often felt incredibly immature. The scene at the wake was particularly uncomfortable for me.
I also struggled with the writing, especially in the beginning. The first few chapters felt disjointed and confusing, and I repeatedly found myself rereading passages because I wasn't sure how the story had arrived at a particular point. There were so many plotlines and ideas competing for attention that the narrative often felt cluttered, as though things were being added to keep the reader engaged rather than to develop a cohesive story.
The ending was another disappointment. I really liked the idea behind it, but I don't think it was executed effectively. Everything felt rushed, and I would have preferred more time spent building suspense, exploring the consequences of what happened, and developing the revelations. The conclusion had the potential to be much more impactful, but it didn't quite get there for me.
Ultimately, this was a case of a promising premise that didn't quite live up to its potential. The characters, writing, and pacing all left me wanting more, and I finished the book feeling rather disappointed with how everything came together.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this book excpecting a cute lil office romance. Don't get me wrong it had that for sure but it has so much more as well. Our fmc Victoria is a baddie CEO of a gaming company. Sadly the company is barely surviving, so the board hires Mr. hot love interest mmc as a consultant to fix their finances. Of course they are crazy attracted to each other from the first time they meet. However she also hates him for what i would call semi valid reasons:
1. He has no whimsy and basically wants her to cut all the fun community programmes because those cost a lot and money is important.
2. He was actually hired because Victorias best friend, platonic soulmate and co-CEO ended up in a coma a while back and everyone but her has lost hope in him waking up. So the board got a replacement without giving her any warning or actually really telling her.
Later on the book borderline switches genres when the user that has been messaging Victoria creepy messages for a very long time escalates and becomes even more stalkery.
It's quite an emotional ride, I ugly cried quite a few times while reading this book. Victoria has to deal with the grief of losing her best friend while navigating work to keep their legacy alive. There are also some betrayals happening and I barely understand how my girl doesn't have major trust issues. But we also got a lot of cute romance moments between the main couple. As well as some classic I wanna yell at you stupid people for not just being with each other and being happy together moments.
Other than that this book generally does a really good job of showing that you're not necessarily a bad person even if you have done some bad things. We get to see that there are reasons for people's actions in a way I enjoyed. However I also needed the opposite. Victoria did a quite bad thing and I get it she has mega trauma and is dealing with a lot but she was barely even critiqued at all for that and I feel like maybe we could've at least gotten a slight bit of WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU over that.
I also really LOVE the idea of the ending but honestly it wasn't really properly carried out in my opinion. It felt a bit rushed and I honestly just think that we should've commited harder to the stuff that happened and given the ending a larger part of the book so that it could've been less rushed and maybe more plot twisty and suspense filled.
Great book if you dislike smut but still want a romance book because all they do on page is kiss and cuddle
1. He has no whimsy and basically wants her to cut all the fun community programmes because those cost a lot and money is important.
2. He was actually hired because Victorias best friend, platonic soulmate and co-CEO ended up in a coma a while back and everyone but her has lost hope in him waking up. So the board got a replacement without giving her any warning or actually really telling her.
Later on the book borderline switches genres when the user that has been messaging Victoria creepy messages for a very long time escalates and becomes even more stalkery.
It's quite an emotional ride, I ugly cried quite a few times while reading this book. Victoria has to deal with the grief of losing her best friend while navigating work to keep their legacy alive. There are also some betrayals happening and I barely understand how my girl doesn't have major trust issues. But we also got a lot of cute romance moments between the main couple. As well as some classic I wanna yell at you stupid people for not just being with each other and being happy together moments.
Other than that this book generally does a really good job of showing that you're not necessarily a bad person even if you have done some bad things. We get to see that there are reasons for people's actions in a way I enjoyed. However I also needed the opposite. Victoria did a quite bad thing and I get it she has mega trauma and is dealing with a lot but she was barely even critiqued at all for that and I feel like maybe we could've at least gotten a slight bit of WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU over that.
I also really LOVE the idea of the ending but honestly it wasn't really properly carried out in my opinion. It felt a bit rushed and I honestly just think that we should've commited harder to the stuff that happened and given the ending a larger part of the book so that it could've been less rushed and maybe more plot twisty and suspense filled.
Great book if you dislike smut but still want a romance book because all they do on page is kiss and cuddle
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Love and Other Two-Player Games by Roxanne LoMarc! One of my favorite things about this book was the dynamic between Victoria Preston and Nathaniel Hamilton. Victoria is a strong, independent CEO of a video game development company who isn't exactly thrilled when Nathaniel, a financial consultant hired by the board, comes into her workplace. Their personalities clash from the beginning, which makes their interactions entertaining and their growing chemistry even more enjoyable. I loved the enemies-to-lovers aspect of their relationship, especially how being forced to work together slowly changes the way they see each other. The video game industry setting also made the story feel different and refreshing, and I enjoyed how gaming culture was woven into the storyline.
Another thing I appreciated was that the book offered more than just a romance. Between Nathaniel's hidden reasons for joining the company, Victoria's growing concerns about an online admirer known as Gamer404, and the increasingly unsettling messages she receives, there is an element of mystery and suspense that keeps things interesting. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop while these challenges unfolded, especially as trust became such an important part of the story. Overall, this was a fun, engaging, and entertaining read with a great balance of romance, humor, workplace tension, and suspense. I loved the characters and the unique storyline, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy clean enemies-to-lovers romances with a little mystery mixed in!
Another thing I appreciated was that the book offered more than just a romance. Between Nathaniel's hidden reasons for joining the company, Victoria's growing concerns about an online admirer known as Gamer404, and the increasingly unsettling messages she receives, there is an element of mystery and suspense that keeps things interesting. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop while these challenges unfolded, especially as trust became such an important part of the story. Overall, this was a fun, engaging, and entertaining read with a great balance of romance, humor, workplace tension, and suspense. I loved the characters and the unique storyline, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy clean enemies-to-lovers romances with a little mystery mixed in!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Victoria Preston knows exactly how to build a successful video game. She has the company, the talent, and the reputation to prove it. What she cannot control is everything that has happened since her closest friend and business partner, Quinlan Cartwright, was left fighting for his life.
After a difficult absence, Victoria returns to the company determined to keep the Agency running on her own terms. Then Nathaniel Hamilton arrives with the board’s support – and a very different idea of what the company needs. He is supposed to help fix the business, but Victoria sees him as a threat to everything she built with Quinlan.
Nathaniel is equally frustrated by the stubborn CEO who refuses to let him do his job. Yet the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that her anger is hiding something deeper. As financial problems, unwanted attention, and dangerous secrets begin closing in around them, working together becomes impossible to avoid.
Victoria never planned to let anyone become her partner again. Nathaniel never expected the woman challenging him at every turn to become the person he most wants to protect. But some games are impossible to win alone.
After a difficult absence, Victoria returns to the company determined to keep the Agency running on her own terms. Then Nathaniel Hamilton arrives with the board’s support – and a very different idea of what the company needs. He is supposed to help fix the business, but Victoria sees him as a threat to everything she built with Quinlan.
Nathaniel is equally frustrated by the stubborn CEO who refuses to let him do his job. Yet the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that her anger is hiding something deeper. As financial problems, unwanted attention, and dangerous secrets begin closing in around them, working together becomes impossible to avoid.
Victoria never planned to let anyone become her partner again. Nathaniel never expected the woman challenging him at every turn to become the person he most wants to protect. But some games are impossible to win alone.
Read
October 23, 2026Victoria, is trying hard - but failing- to get back to normal after a car accident. Unable to cope with the aftermath, she attempts to get back to leading the virtual reality companyshe's CEO of. When the executive board hires a new staff person, Nathaniel, without first informing her, she takes it as a personal affront and he unfortuantey becomes an enemy to her mind. Nathaniel has no clue what he’s getting into when he accepts the position at the prestigiuous tech company. Even as they are attracted to eachother from the first moment, neither can trust the other. Victoria is still dealing with the accident and is worried about being removed from her role as CEO.At first she suspects Nathaniel is trying to help the board in doing so. But as they work closely together, they begin to fall hopelessly in love, and she sees that he's loyal only to her. This no spice debut features themes of friendship, family and grief and thriller and mystery storylines. for readers of cozy romances and books set in San Francsico.
Thank you to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and Haven for providing me with a complimentary arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and Haven for providing me with a complimentary arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW FROM NETGALLEY
I'm honestly still a little confused about this one. Is it a love story? A mystery? A thriller? A police story? I'm done reading, and I'm still not quite sure what this book wanted to be. 😂
Both the love story and the mystery had potential, but I feel like the story sometimes skipped over important moments, making it harder for me to fully connect with what was happening. There were parts that could have been so much more, but somehow, it just never quite got there for me.
And I think what troubles me the most is that this book made me feel… nothing. Did it make me happy? Sad? Worried? Excited? Not really. And that's probably the biggest disappointment of all. I want a book that makes me FEEL something, and this one just left me a little indifferent.
I can't quite give it 4 stars, but 3 feels a little too harsh because, hey, I did finish it, and that's a win! 😂
One thing I genuinely enjoyed, though, was the gamer aspect. I thought it was different, original, and a really interesting element to incorporate into the story!
Overall, not a bad read, but unfortunately, not one that will leave a lasting impression on me.
I'm honestly still a little confused about this one. Is it a love story? A mystery? A thriller? A police story? I'm done reading, and I'm still not quite sure what this book wanted to be. 😂
Both the love story and the mystery had potential, but I feel like the story sometimes skipped over important moments, making it harder for me to fully connect with what was happening. There were parts that could have been so much more, but somehow, it just never quite got there for me.
And I think what troubles me the most is that this book made me feel… nothing. Did it make me happy? Sad? Worried? Excited? Not really. And that's probably the biggest disappointment of all. I want a book that makes me FEEL something, and this one just left me a little indifferent.
I can't quite give it 4 stars, but 3 feels a little too harsh because, hey, I did finish it, and that's a win! 😂
One thing I genuinely enjoyed, though, was the gamer aspect. I thought it was different, original, and a really interesting element to incorporate into the story!
Overall, not a bad read, but unfortunately, not one that will leave a lasting impression on me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a review of the arc from Netgalley.
The premise of this book was so promising but I wasn't able to get through it. The FMC was incredibly thought out, but poorly executed. Baddie girl-boss suffering through immense grief and finding her way, however, the writing made her seem so juvenile and incapable. I feel like we barely saw what made her a competent CEO at all.
The MMC also seemed to possess the decision-making ability and maturity of a 19 year old college frat boy. He was supposed to be renowned in his field but somehow seems incapable of making decent decisions and holding down the fort. The scene at the wake? Kinda insane to me and made me super uncomfortable.
The book premise was so so good. I was really excited to read it. I just felt very let down. The first few chapters were incredibly confusing and I just kept catching myself re-reading and going "how did I get here? What actually just happened?" It seemed chunky and like the author kind of threw anything onto a page to keep your attention- but there was no rhyme or reason.
The premise of this book was so promising but I wasn't able to get through it. The FMC was incredibly thought out, but poorly executed. Baddie girl-boss suffering through immense grief and finding her way, however, the writing made her seem so juvenile and incapable. I feel like we barely saw what made her a competent CEO at all.
The MMC also seemed to possess the decision-making ability and maturity of a 19 year old college frat boy. He was supposed to be renowned in his field but somehow seems incapable of making decent decisions and holding down the fort. The scene at the wake? Kinda insane to me and made me super uncomfortable.
The book premise was so so good. I was really excited to read it. I just felt very let down. The first few chapters were incredibly confusing and I just kept catching myself re-reading and going "how did I get here? What actually just happened?" It seemed chunky and like the author kind of threw anything onto a page to keep your attention- but there was no rhyme or reason.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved the vibe of this book! I think this is the kind of story I could see becoming a limited Netflix series or something. The story really pulled at the emotions and got my imagination running. Victoria Preston, fantastic! the way the author portrays her, a smart powerful, beautiful woman that has everything, yet grief can bring you way down. I loved the concept of the fixer Nathaniel, this plot was crafty and clever and had a savvy feeling, kind of like The Thomas Crown Affair, blended with the sharp, clever dynamic of Suits, and just a touch of Ready Player One. I wished the author had taken us a little deeper into the VR world and explored some more sci-fi elements. I think there was so much potential there, and I would have loved to see more of it. All in all I think this author knocked it out of the park with her debut novel! Hopefully, this isn't the last we've seen of these characters. Actually I'd love to see a sequel or some kind of continuation of this story. There's definitely more potential to explore.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
STEM FMC: game designer/tech CEO
This book is incredibly plot heavy and emotionally heavy. The author has a content warning at the start of the novel, and you need to read it before continuing with the book. It was very well written, and there's a lot going on. If you are looking for a book that will make you ugly cry, this will do it. And then it'll turn into a thriller suspense plot after wrecking you emotionally.
Where I had a hard time was with the romance. The romance definitely felt like a subplot at points, and their reconciliation after the third act breakup was confusing to me, especially after everything that went down. It was hard fought and won in the end, but it's hard to believe in their HEA with little to no discussion after everything settled down. I needed more of an epilogue or something some years in the future.
This is kisses only, not closed door, so if you're looking for spice, this isn't it.
This book is incredibly plot heavy and emotionally heavy. The author has a content warning at the start of the novel, and you need to read it before continuing with the book. It was very well written, and there's a lot going on. If you are looking for a book that will make you ugly cry, this will do it. And then it'll turn into a thriller suspense plot after wrecking you emotionally.
Where I had a hard time was with the romance. The romance definitely felt like a subplot at points, and their reconciliation after the third act breakup was confusing to me, especially after everything that went down. It was hard fought and won in the end, but it's hard to believe in their HEA with little to no discussion after everything settled down. I needed more of an epilogue or something some years in the future.
This is kisses only, not closed door, so if you're looking for spice, this isn't it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Victoria Preston is a child prodigy turned game studio CEO, and when her business partner fell into a coma, I felt her grief and loneliness pressing down on every page. The board’s reinforcement, Nathaniel Hamilton, was the last person she wanted, yet his golden retriever tenderness made him a surprisingly soft presence beside her sharp edges. The story is heavy on suspense, workplace gossip, and Victoria’s raw grief. Gamer404, her so called biggest fan, gave me chills as the stalker’s messages grew bolder. The stalker twist caught me, even if the ending leaned a touch sci-fi and rushed. The romance felt more like a subplot, with their reconciliation confusing me. I wanted a calmer epilogue to believe in their happy ending. It’s emotional, plot heavy, and kisses only.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Victoria es dueña de una exitosa empresa de videojuegos que fundó junto a su mejor amigo, Quinlan. Pero cuando una tragedia cambia su vida por completo, debe lidiar con el dolor de su pérdida mientras intenta mantener a flote el negocio que ambos construyeron. Lo último que necesita es que Nathaniel llegue para hacerse cargo de las finanzas de la empresa y cuestione sus decisiones. Sin embargo, cuanto más tiempo pasan juntos, más difícil se vuelve ignorar la conexión que tienen.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I especially liked the video game references in this book. The ending was cool. I like that she took us into a VR world to wrap up some of the storyline and give the heroine some closure. That was a nice touch. It was a fast read while still giving me a lot to think about. The disclaimer at the beginning was meant to be a warning but actually made me want to read it more, lol. This book delivered, keeping me interested until the end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a very typical romance read! The main storyline kind of dragged me out of the main characters love story though so that was a bit difficult to get past. I think if you’re a big lover of romance, this will probably be great for you!!! I’d still recommend this!
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
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