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Press Start: A YA Light Gamelit
During a playful summer where pixels blend with emotions and augmented creatures intertwine with reality, Loren embarks on a thrilling journey of friendship, love, and self-discovery.A new game has turned the world into an augmented playground where Loren hopes to win first place and the attention of the girl she likes. Bored with daily chores, Loren grinds levels in Holo Heroes and local meet-ups serve as a jumping-off point to a new augmented world around her. But what started as casual fun turns into an accidental rivalry with a veteran champion of the game. Soon she's racing towards the national stage to see who will take the grand title.
Can Loren survive the embarrassment of losing when all her new friends are watching, or will she rise to the challenge?
Press Start is a low angst story that reimagines retro party games and mixes them with modern day fun. If you like small-town heroes, cute queer representation, or always wished you could go on your own digital monster adventure, then you'll love this book.
Can Loren survive the embarrassment of losing when all her new friends are watching, or will she rise to the challenge?
Press Start is a low angst story that reimagines retro party games and mixes them with modern day fun. If you like small-town heroes, cute queer representation, or always wished you could go on your own digital monster adventure, then you'll love this book.
- GenresYoung AdultLGBT
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2020
5 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Rose Sinclair
23 books67 followersRose Sinclair is an trans bi community leader who started with a blog in 2013. The biggest noise maker they spearheaded was a protest in 2015 that made GLADD step up for the wider LGBTQIA+ community, paving the way for future acceptance of those communities and on-screen TV representation. Before becoming a full-time writer, they popularized several community terms, and set up a decentralized support system with a “Dear Abby” style approach. They are the author of HELLO WORLD, organizer of community projects such as UNBURIED FABLES, and now write a steamy BIG BAD MAGIC SERIES.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 13, 2021
I'm full with nostalgia for that one summer when everybody played Pokémon go now
July 28, 2020
I picked this up on a whim because hey, I could always use another book to read right now, and with sweet queer rep as well? Sign me the heck up
It's a very low stakes plot, which is refreshing as all get out. Just a young kid who's recently moved home, making friends playing a new game. When they enter a race on a whim and win with a really clever out-of-the-box thought, they get challenged to take it to a national level by the runner up to the last national competition, without really realising that's who it is? So they do, partly because why not, and partly because they figure they can use the prize money to help their mum, who's working long shifts and covering for co-workers to cover the cost of their recent move.
The basis of this book is v much the friendships they make along the way (and the girlfriend! The casual coming out (by accident which is such a mood lmao)). When the characters do come out, there isn't a fuss made over them, which I really appreciated. They're allowed to exist without having to explain themselves.
The rivalry is also less of a "I want to tear you down because your new way of doing things is wrong" and more of a "hey, wouldn't it be great if more people could play this game" inclusive gesture and it's just. so nice to read them all uplifting each other as they do.
Also? The mechanics of the game at the centre of this book are really cool! I want to play it so bad like, so if... someone would like to get on that... ;))
It's a very low stakes plot, which is refreshing as all get out. Just a young kid who's recently moved home, making friends playing a new game. When they enter a race on a whim and win with a really clever out-of-the-box thought, they get challenged to take it to a national level by the runner up to the last national competition, without really realising that's who it is? So they do, partly because why not, and partly because they figure they can use the prize money to help their mum, who's working long shifts and covering for co-workers to cover the cost of their recent move.
The basis of this book is v much the friendships they make along the way (and the girlfriend! The casual coming out (by accident which is such a mood lmao)). When the characters do come out, there isn't a fuss made over them, which I really appreciated. They're allowed to exist without having to explain themselves.
The rivalry is also less of a "I want to tear you down because your new way of doing things is wrong" and more of a "hey, wouldn't it be great if more people could play this game" inclusive gesture and it's just. so nice to read them all uplifting each other as they do.
Also? The mechanics of the game at the centre of this book are really cool! I want to play it so bad like, so if... someone would like to get on that... ;))
January 26, 2021
I liked this book. I think its writing leaves room for improvement, the plot could be tighter and more engaging and sometimes I felt like there were odd holes in the story telling that should've been explained before but instead I stumbled over them.
But in the end I just really had fun reading a book where no big stakes awaited the characters. In any other constellation it would've been boring but seeing as the mc is nonbinary and the book features a nb/w romance.... I'm just really happy it exists. I love high stakes books of queer characters claiming their lives as heir own but I think we also deserve books like this where nothing happens and everyone is happy.
But in the end I just really had fun reading a book where no big stakes awaited the characters. In any other constellation it would've been boring but seeing as the mc is nonbinary and the book features a nb/w romance.... I'm just really happy it exists. I love high stakes books of queer characters claiming their lives as heir own but I think we also deserve books like this where nothing happens and everyone is happy.
February 2, 2022
Practice and creativity win out over those who can buy all the power-ups.
Augmented Reality and video games meet in a sweet YA romance about a high school student, Loren, who has just moved to a new city. Loren is non-binary (she/they), and from a single-parent household without a lot of money. Loren’s mother and extended family have just scraped together enough money to buy Loren the latest AR device that everyone in that age group wants to have, Ghost Glasses. On the Ghost Glasses Loren starts to play the popular game HoloHeroes. Early-on Loren happens to run into Sergio, who unbeknownst to them is a past champion of the game. Sergio sees promise in Loren when they beat an overblown powered-up bully in one of their first games. Sergio is looking for promising new upstarts to give him a real challenge to compete against, and decides to take Loren under his wing.
Loren makes friends with Irene, and soon starts crushing on her. They initially bond over the game, but together with their extended group of friends have a number of social events that connect them even closer. Irene reveals that she’s demisexual, and that she finds it comfortable to be herself around Loren who has shared their non-binary state.
[spoilers below]
Throughout the book, Loren competes in a number of HoloHeroes challenges to earn a spot to go to the national competition, where they ultimately square off against Sergio. Loren manages to win each competition by coming up with a creative twist on the rules of the game, that helps them win.
This is, at its heart, a story about learning to feel secure. Loren is trying to escape anxiety and feel confident that they can handle anything that comes. The growing romantic feelings between Loren and Irene twine it into a satisfying story, although, to be honest, Loren skates too easily through all of the challenges they face. It feels much too easy to become a national champion here; but if you’re willing to suspend disbelief, it’s an enjoyable story. I’d have liked a bit more complexity to the characters, perhaps.
I was looking for a book that showcased diversity in STEM, and this wasn’t really it. You can call video games tangentially related to STEM, but Loren was playing the games here, not building them.
Augmented Reality and video games meet in a sweet YA romance about a high school student, Loren, who has just moved to a new city. Loren is non-binary (she/they), and from a single-parent household without a lot of money. Loren’s mother and extended family have just scraped together enough money to buy Loren the latest AR device that everyone in that age group wants to have, Ghost Glasses. On the Ghost Glasses Loren starts to play the popular game HoloHeroes. Early-on Loren happens to run into Sergio, who unbeknownst to them is a past champion of the game. Sergio sees promise in Loren when they beat an overblown powered-up bully in one of their first games. Sergio is looking for promising new upstarts to give him a real challenge to compete against, and decides to take Loren under his wing.
Loren makes friends with Irene, and soon starts crushing on her. They initially bond over the game, but together with their extended group of friends have a number of social events that connect them even closer. Irene reveals that she’s demisexual, and that she finds it comfortable to be herself around Loren who has shared their non-binary state.
[spoilers below]
Throughout the book, Loren competes in a number of HoloHeroes challenges to earn a spot to go to the national competition, where they ultimately square off against Sergio. Loren manages to win each competition by coming up with a creative twist on the rules of the game, that helps them win.
This is, at its heart, a story about learning to feel secure. Loren is trying to escape anxiety and feel confident that they can handle anything that comes. The growing romantic feelings between Loren and Irene twine it into a satisfying story, although, to be honest, Loren skates too easily through all of the challenges they face. It feels much too easy to become a national champion here; but if you’re willing to suspend disbelief, it’s an enjoyable story. I’d have liked a bit more complexity to the characters, perhaps.
I was looking for a book that showcased diversity in STEM, and this wasn’t really it. You can call video games tangentially related to STEM, but Loren was playing the games here, not building them.
September 17, 2020
I don’t know how to describe what I like about this book. The conflicts and problems that Loren, the protagonist, runs into aren’t super dramatic or traumatic. They’re able to overcome and solve problems fairly easily. It’s not a very complex narrative, but I really like that. It’s a mellow read, for when you just want to be entertained and happy.
I love how inclusive the gaming community is in Press Start. It is my ideal reality even if it isn’t entirely true to reality. Loren is made to feel like they belong immediately upon starting the game. A high profile player congratulates and encourages them during competitions. Their coming out as gay and nonbinary are so quickly accepted by other characters. It is all just really sweet.
There was also a scene where a character gets locked in a cemetery after staying too late trying to catch creatures and level up. That gave me nostalgia for the very first week of Pokémon Go.
Overall, Press Start is an easy read with very little conflict that makes me happy. Read it if you also want to be happy.
I love how inclusive the gaming community is in Press Start. It is my ideal reality even if it isn’t entirely true to reality. Loren is made to feel like they belong immediately upon starting the game. A high profile player congratulates and encourages them during competitions. Their coming out as gay and nonbinary are so quickly accepted by other characters. It is all just really sweet.
There was also a scene where a character gets locked in a cemetery after staying too late trying to catch creatures and level up. That gave me nostalgia for the very first week of Pokémon Go.
Overall, Press Start is an easy read with very little conflict that makes me happy. Read it if you also want to be happy.
August 21, 2021
Really liked this book! The premise is very original while still being familiar enough that you don't feel lost.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 27, 2021
Just amazing. I can't explain how wonderful my experience off reading this book was. It has every single thing I want from a book and it deserves so much love. Just go for it at once!
March 26, 2022
Amazing story
I have enjoyed this amazing fun adventure of a young person who got what they wanted for their birthday and it open up a new world to them.
I have enjoyed this amazing fun adventure of a young person who got what they wanted for their birthday and it open up a new world to them.
September 1, 2021
I had fun with this book. It was an enjoyable story and the characters were lovable.
It does, however, rely on the framework of the “abnormal prowess upon first attempt” trope heavily and in that regard it remains wholly predictable and less imaginative than I think it could have been. Certainly, this is written for an audience much younger than me and so I can’t judge it too harshly. I’d recommend it as a light-hearted book you can breeze through in one sitting.
It does, however, rely on the framework of the “abnormal prowess upon first attempt” trope heavily and in that regard it remains wholly predictable and less imaginative than I think it could have been. Certainly, this is written for an audience much younger than me and so I can’t judge it too harshly. I’d recommend it as a light-hearted book you can breeze through in one sitting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews