*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*

I am actually having trouble writing this review, as this novel was book nirvana for me. This story was the epitome of all my favorite things, romance, gaming, conventions, enemies to lovers, and to add icing to this cake, it was male-male. I had exceedingly high hopes going in and Annabeth Albert did not disappoint, if anything, it makes me want to read her entire back-log of books.

So I am going to get to Conrad, Alden, and the Gamer Grandpa crew in a moment but first off this is the type of book you read that moves you. It leaves you feeling fundamentally different, with a lightness in your heart, and tears in your eyes. It’s the type of story that transcends romance and one I know I will re-read each year. From the tangible emotions and struggles of the characters, to the endless misunderstandings and complicated relationships, this book is so very much more than a love story. It’s a story about being vulnerable, and learning that gaming is more than the win, it’s a sanctuary and a safe place.

Now onto Conrad and Alden who are literally the perfect f*ck*n couple. What started off as hatred was actually just one big miscommunication/lack of communication and when circumstances finally force these two to be alone on a cross-country road trip…they both begin to open up their hearts. Secrets are shared, promises are whispered, and honestly I am tearing up writing this because they are just so wonderful together. It’s the perfect chemistry when two characters so seamlessly gel. They truly understand each other on a fundamental level that had me swooning and cheering them on.

As individual characters, both have difficult battles to face. Alden learned to find his voice and his passion. His character arc was uplifting, I wanted to wrap this tender, misunderstood boy in my arms and never let him go. His struggles and inner turmoil were palpable but seeing him work through his challenges had me grinning and filled my heart with hope. In contrast, Conrad was pretending to be fine when he was anything but and when he finally learned to open up to and depend on someone else, I was elated. Conrad not only learned how to be honest but he learned how to forgive himself and that had my heart soaring.

The secondary characters were fantastic, I am dying to know more about the other members of the Gamer Grandpa channel, Jasper and Payton. This rag-tag team of boys was just a fantastic mesh of personalities. The story line is completely unique and honestly I will be book pushing this to everyone I talk to. It was a truly moving story line with so much character growth that was masterfully balanced with romance. In the end this book left my eyes filled with tears of joy and just thinking about it has my eyes tearing up again. Simply putting it, this book was a true masterpiece.

This book took me about a day to get through because it was just so darn cute! It ticked a lot of my boxes and I’m so glad that Sourcebooks Casablanca granted my wish on NetGalley!

Enemies to Friends to Lovers – Check
Two well developed leads with more to them than you initially find out – Check
Witty banter – Check
Road trip – Check
FOOD – Check
A fun nerdy convention – Check

This book is based around a card tabletop game called Odyssey (I’ve never played anything like Magic the Gathering, but I really enjoyed the game play descriptions in this book). Conrad and Alden are two “competitors” in a group that regularly meets and vlogs about their games. They are offered the opportunity to go to the top Odyssey convention and compete for a spot in the pro tour. Each has their own reason for wanting to win, but the two of them are extremely competitive with each other and the sexual tension is thick and delightful. I think you can guess all the fun that happens during the road trip out to the convention 😉

What I really enjoyed about this book were the characters. Conrad and Alden have a lot more going on than you realize at the beginning and they are both so well developed that you can’t help but ride their highs and lows throughout the book. It’s not a light book by any means, there’s a lot for our characters to figure out on this road trip, but the two of them together is so delightful. The ending was really great because the author took a small detour and gives an ending you didn’t expect but absolutely want.

I definitely recommend checking out this book when it comes out in June! 4/5 books because sometimes the road trip tends to drag out a little long, but can’t complain!

DNF at 15%

The authorial writing style is not working for me at all and I'm finding it difficult to continue/enjoy myself. The premise is cute, but it's not for me. YMMV so please try a writing sample to judge for yourself.

I had requested this on a whim, it seemed like it was my kind of book and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the geek aspects of it (so close to my heart) and the relationship between Alden and Conrad was super refreshing. I could relate to anxiety ridden Alden but also Conrad. Also the whole enemy-trope is another one of my things apparently because I devoured this in one go! I will definitely be recommending this!

God I love sinking into a book by Annabeth Albert. I also love books with gaming tropes. This one wasn't too dissimilar from others that I've read in the same sub-genre, and it was a darling take on the enemies to lovers trope. Especially given that she went with both viewpoints, and in the first chapters from each boy, we came to understand why they came across the way they did, and I at least was rooting for each of them all the way back there.

Playing the fictional game called Odessey, Conrad and Alden are both main players in the online video series Gamer Grandpa. Because of this, they both get comp tickets to the big tournament convention and a chance to get onto the pro track.

For different reasons, both Conrad and Alden are really gunning for the top spot and opportunity for that kind of money. Conrad has been cut off from his family who are still using him for tax purposes and therefore he's unable to get financial assistance or any help in paying for the asthma medication he requires. Alden's seemingly perfect family life has a whole lot of expectation in the midst of it and he's meant to be figuring out exactly what he wants the next part of his life to be now that he has failed medical exams at school.

The main part of the story just involves a road trip to get to the convention. Almost a full week confined to the same metal box driving cross country. Look, at least they aren't snowed in for this take on the forced proximity trope!

A fun take on the enemies to friends to more than friends trope with a video game twist. This will appeal to fans of Annabeth Albert's #Gaymers series, though readers expecting a usual Albert level of "steam" may be disappointed.

This book overall wasn’t fantastic but still was enjoyable to read nonetheless. This book wasn’t anything special but it helped getting me out of my reading slump. I enjoyed the relationship more toward the end but the characters were boring and I didn’t like the characters very much individually. They grew on me more at the end but throughout the book I found them intolerable. I can’t really say if I like it or plan on reading it again but I didn’t hate reading it.

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in . . .
I am slumped. How will you describe a book that you loved so much and no adjective is adequate to describe the feeling? Amazing, addictive, fast-paced, cute . . . it's everything and much more. The plethora of emotions this story arouses will leave you lightheaded for sure (in a good way, that is).
Not many authors handle enemies to lovers trope really well and in that case, this book by Annabeth Albert, without a doubt, is a rare gem. The slow-burning romance involving two guys from different social backgrounds is dealt with an impeccable storyline; the cross-country road trip (I loved how four men team is eliminated to two), the Odyssey games and the family drama all produce an unrivalled emotional ambience.
Conrad and Alden have their own demons to fight. While the former is kicked out of home for being gay, Alden is battling the expectations of his super-academic family along with social awkwardness problems. Since both hide their problems quite efficiently, it takes some divine (or authorial) intervention to bring them together. And that makes one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read.
The Odyssey game is an integral part of the storyline but you don't have to be a gamer to enjoy this. I hardly play any games, but reading this was like vicariously living through the characters. The thrill, dilemma, frustrations. . . you name it. And the Gamer Grandpa vlog is something to root for.
All in all, a vibrant story that should not be missed. Thank you Sourcebooks for granting my wish through NetGalley. When everything is dark and gloomy outside, this was like getting your favourite dessert.

Arc was provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. The characters evolved, edging out of their original outlines into fully fleshed and developed personalities whose natural development pulled the book along organically at every turn.
The struggles both characters faced with parental approval and self-appreciation never felt overblown or thrown in as a tokenistic afterthought. These hardships were a fundamental part of each character and were unwrapped progressively with the characters own understanding of each other. The reader's relationship and knowledge of the characters in many ways mirrored their own deepening relationship with each other.
The game “Odyssey” was a wonderful part of the novel, the authors love for card games clearly shining through in their writing.

Overall 3.5 stars. Would highly recommend for a good, fun, emotional, romantic read.

RATING: 5/5 STARS

CONVENTIONALLY YOURS was so adorable! I had a lot of fun reading this book. Conrad and Alden were both well-developed characters with unique personalities that made this read engaging throughout. The enemies-to-lovers trope was flawlessly executed - the relationship between the main characters evolved naturally. The battle of wits between Conrad and Alden was clever and simmering with tension, and I loved it. The descriptions of the Odyssey game were also fast-paced and interesting. I've never played that type of game before, but this book made it easy to follow along and I got invested in the result. Overall, this was an A+ read for me. It reminded me of Red, White, and Royal Blue in some ways, so if you liked that book I would definitely check this one out.

A sincere thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram

I really enjoyed the road trip aspect of this title, and the character building for the main characters, I’d give this a 4.5 stars-the only thing keeping it from a full 5 is the lack of convincing character development of secondary characters and a too pat ending. Overall, this is a great pick for those who enjoyed Red, White and Royal Blue.

I did enjoy Conventionally Yours! It was sweet and filled with a lot of soul searching, which can happen a lot in new relationships. It’s not entirely what I expected from Albert, as I’m such a big fan of her military romance series. This read a little more YA than adult, which is perfectly fine—just unexpected.
One thing I didn’t necessarily like was that pretty much every chapter ended with a dramatic internal monologue. “He was in danger of caring” or things to that effect, and as a device it got a little old. But overall this was a pleasant read with plenty of nerd references!

My favorite aspect in this book was actually the setting. I am familiar with the gaming and sci-fi convention world, having been to several myself. I did find the characters a little bit harder to relate to and invest in than in all of the other Annabeth Albert books (and I've read all but 4). Having anxiety about money though is definitely something I relate to, so I was just freaking out for both characters and hoping for a good resolution to that issue as well as their romance.

I am a geek at heart - even though I never played any of the card games or D&D, this story will resonate with anyone who has a love of any fan-dom. It will also deeply resonate with those who are afraid they aren't loveable or can't find someone to love them and accept them as they are.

Conrad and Alden are definitely different ends of the spectrum - personality-wise and life-wise. Alden is the product of a pretty happy home. He has two moms and two over-achieving sisters. He is extremely smart - but doesn't quite fit in socially. He has trouble reading social cues and tone of voice (e.g. what is sarcasm and what is not). His moms are pushing him to make decisions about his future and follow in his sister's footsteps - but Alden is a little lost. Conrad is outgoing and handsome. He is the kind of person everyone loves to be around and a lot of people aspire to be. What people don't know is that, for the last year, Conrad has been struggling to get by. He's been abandoned by his family in an extremely cruel way and working three jobs to make ends meet.

They start off as enemies - of a sort. More like, coworkers of a kind who can't stand each other. Each has very pre-conceived ideas of who the other is and what their life is like. Neither view is very accurate. The forced proximity of their road trip really changes things very quickly.

Watching Alden and Conrad come together is a beautiful thing. They are like two sides of one coin - and show a depth of love and understanding for each other that we all hope to find in another person.

I adored this book and just about everything that goes with it. I also loved that the author showed how diverse a fan-group can be. Particularly the LGBTQ aspects and different age groups.

Loved this.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Actual rating: 4.25

Where Conrad is flashy and loud with confidence and popularity, Alden is reserved and cool. They hate each other, right? As members of a popular gaming vlog, they and the rest of their crew are invited to participate in a tournament for the chance to go pro, which the two of them each desperately want for their own personal reasons. Shenanigans ensue and the two of them are stuck on a cross-country roadtrip together, where close quarters, common enemies, and secret confessions bring the two of them closer into a friendship that develops into something more. However, only one of them can win the tournament and this tension is something the two of them can't ignore as it draws closer and closer.

I'm used to reading Albert's adult romances, and this book was a refreshing change of pace! The book is told in her typical dual POV style and as always, her main characters are complex and well developed with interesting backstories and nuances. Although Conrad and Alden's animosity really bothered me in the beginning (I posted an update while reading: Will Conrad and Alden ever be friends cos it sure don't feel that way), I liked the way Albert worked through their relationship and gave it time to build. Their relationship, while not perfect, is sweet and supportive, despite their insecurities and the other barriers they encounter. The two of them work well with each other, balancing each other out, and it shows in their gaming as well.

The plot was slow and leisurely as one expects from a road trip, interspersed with a few scenes of action. I would have personally liked to see some faster pacing, as the majority of the book is spent on their trip and was a little mundane, making it hard to invest in. However, the conversations between COnrad and Alden about their families, pressures, etc. were very emotional and well-written. As someone who doesn't do much tabletop gaming, I do wish that Odyssey (the fictional game in this universe) had been more fleshed out, like explaining rules, gameplay, etc. While the gaming scenes were engaging to read, I had pretty much no idea what was going on.

Overall, a very sweet, fun, low-angst enemies-to-lovers romance.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Conrad and Alden are tabletop gaming rivals who can’t stand each other in real life, either. Conrad is a (Disney-prince-handsome) golden boy who coasts along, and Alden is rude and arrogant (but cute). When the two are both invited to play in a national tournament, they find themselves as reluctant cross-country road trip buddies. But all those long hours on the road give them too much time to talk, and each discovers he may have misjudged the other.

This was an unexpectedly sweet, slow-burn romance. I would categorize it as new adult, with very little explicit content, but plenty of heat and the feeling of figuring out who you are in your post-college years. A delightful start to a new series.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook Casablanca for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out June 2, 2020

What is this book about?
Conrad and Aldan are enemies who enjoy playing the same card game called Odyssey. They both get tickets to attend a convention to play in a tournament but it requires a cross country road trip together alone. From enemies to friend to something more, the new couple will be forced to play in the tournament against each other. Only one can win. Will their new love get in the way of them playing their best?

What did I think?
This is the first male/male romance novel that I’ve read. I thought it was a cute story. I found the these characters to be well developed and complex. I love that a mom/mom relationship was also featured in this book. The storyline wasn’t super exciting because 3/4 of the book is just a road trip. That being said, it was neat to watch Conrad and Aldan’s relationship unfold. I loved that the story also touched on mental health as well as a family who disowned their son because he’s gay. While I am a straight female and couldn’t fully relate to these characters, I know there are people are there who can and I think its great that they are represented in this book.

http://ramblinhamlin.com/conventionally-yours-review/

Annabeth Albert’s ‘Conventionally Yours’ is an unconventional NA take on queer relationships, set in a context so unusual that what it takes to get 2 rivals to lovers is a journey to a gaming competition that both have banked their entire lives on for various reasons.

I’m unused to Albert writing New Adult voices but this is a refreshing change, really, so far removed is this from her taut, tension-filled military romances as she brings together 2 young men so unsure of their places in life—and vying for a win in the competition at the expense of the other.

Relentless sniping and unkind poking are par for the course here as Alden and Conrad find ways and means to annoy each other both intentionally and unintentionally but the confined space during the road trip is where impressions start to change. There’s more of a teenage-feel-angst here that comes with unravelling wrong expectations and impressions as a result, and a whole load of geeking out that’s done in between.

The pacing is slow however and there were parts during this long road trip that I got impatient with, needing the momentum to start rolling onward, even though it’s an important bit where Conrad and Alden really start talking to each other. I couldn’t exactly get into the story as a whole despite Albert’s fantastic writing—the gaming bits did get a bit much but this is on me about a subject matter that just couldn’t pique enough of my interest to keep the story buoyant. You do know things are going to come to a head eventually though, and that’s what kept me going. My rating here is just that: a personal one that reflects my inability to get into the story, rather than it is a reflection of Albert’s work itself.

Nonetheless, give it a go, particularly if you’re keep into the gaming stuff—it’ll probably work out heaps better than it did for me.

The enemies to lovers that we all love and need. Conrad and Alden are the typical "optimistic meet pessimist" but as the book progress you'll see the complexity of each characters and the secrets and fear they have. This is a book about love but also about the fear of the future, the pressure of being successful and never fail. It's a book about two very lost boys. Conrad and Alden complement each other so well and the relationship it's just beautiful.

A brilliant book about two amazing and unique boys that are trying to make their dreams come true.