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A review by velvetyaverage
Single Player by Tara Tai
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALR! <3
Utterly bingeable. I was listening to this audiobook for hours at a time without even realizing it.
Miscommunication is at the root of Cat and Andi’s initial rivalry but it’s not frustrating. Rather, it’s pretty charming and entertaining. They’re not being deliberately antagonistic; they’re just two proud, awkward nerds. Yet they’re also adults capable of mature conversations that lead to a believable resolution to the rivalry. And they have great chemistry!
I will say, the nerd references are a bit heavy-handed—especially in Cat’s internal monologue—but it doesn’t come across as disingenuous. Either the author is a fellow nerd or they successfully put in the effort to make it relatable rather than cliche. They’re just a little over enthusiastic. And speaking of Cat, as a fellow late 20’s, chronically single gamer girl myself I found her incredibly relatable and a lot of fun.
The b-plot was ok. I was much more invested in the relationship than Jan or any of that but it resolved nicely enough to not be distracting.
Overall, hell of a debut! I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tai writes in the future!
Utterly bingeable. I was listening to this audiobook for hours at a time without even realizing it.
Miscommunication is at the root of Cat and Andi’s initial rivalry but it’s not frustrating. Rather, it’s pretty charming and entertaining. They’re not being deliberately antagonistic; they’re just two proud, awkward nerds. Yet they’re also adults capable of mature conversations that lead to a believable resolution to the rivalry. And they have great chemistry!
I will say, the nerd references are a bit heavy-handed—especially in Cat’s internal monologue—but it doesn’t come across as disingenuous. Either the author is a fellow nerd or they successfully put in the effort to make it relatable rather than cliche. They’re just a little over enthusiastic. And speaking of Cat, as a fellow late 20’s, chronically single gamer girl myself I found her incredibly relatable and a lot of fun.
The b-plot was ok. I was much more invested in the relationship than Jan or any of that but it resolved nicely enough to not be distracting.
Overall, hell of a debut! I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tai writes in the future!