I loved reading this geeky, contemporary romance! Maggie and Aiden were absolutely wonderful together. The way they connected through their love of online video games was really wholesome. I have never read a romance where both the characters were in their 50s, so this was a really refreshing read! <3

This steamy beautiful book was everything. I adored everything about it and I guarantee that you will love it.

I didn’t know what to expect from a romance book with MCs in their 50s. But this book was such a delight. I absolutely adored Maggie as a FMC - she was everything - fiery, grumpy, mama bear, giving zero cares, confident even while dealing with social anxiety. I basically want to be her when I grow up.

And Maggie was perfect for big ole teddy bear Aiden. He had quite the journey of self discovery and every chapter had me falling more in love with these characters.

There’s definitely family drama, some of the side characters made me so angry, but at the end of the day this story was one that might end up in my top five for the year. I loved it that much.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC! I also added this lovely book to my physical collection!

Role Playing was a really fun middle age (there IS life after 40!!!) rom com with confused identity, friends to lovers and single bed tropes all rolled into one. Video game setting books seem to be an ongoing these for me on the back half of the year and Maggie and Aiden's Blood Saga built relationship did not disappoint me at all. Both characters were unique and moveable, the LGBTQIA+ elements and acceptance by found family really made this book top notch for me. Aiden grew so much from the start to the finish and watching that was lovely - both self realization and influenced changes from Maggie's tough take no shit attitude. Definitely am becoming a Cathy Yardley and I'm looking forward to the next one I get to read!

Overall I really enjoyed this book - even tho the main characters are a lot older than me I still found them relatable and liked the journey we went on with them

The first 30% or so I found a bit slow - it was mostly just setting the scene and there wasn't much interaction between the two main characters

However the story quickly picked up after that and I really enjoyed the friendship/relationship growing between the characters

I really enjoyed the discussion around sexuality and figuring it out even later in life and not having to have it all worked out when you're young

- 3rd person / duel pov
- secret identity
- lgbt rep

Stunning sexy and gorgeous this book was a blast to read. I loved following the journey of the two main characters as they fell in love. Super fun!

I have enjoyed a number of Cathy Yardley's romance and when I heard her upcoming one features older MCs (48 and 50) I rushed to request the ARC.

While I enjoyed the book overall it didn't quite meet my expectations (I admit they were rather high to begin with).

I felt she tried to bring way too many elements in one story and ultimately it loss focus and felt scattered. There is the gaming stuff and being a woman in online gaming communities, the small town gossipy element, the failed marriage/bad relationship element, the sexual identity drama and coming out, the toxic family and elderly parents who need care but refuse to accept it. It was just too much.

I have to come to realise I very much prefer more character focused romances with strong internal conflict, rather than busy ones with too much external stuff going one. At least, here it seemed to me there was not enough room for character and relationship development.
I did like the hero, a cinnamon roll, sweet and caring but one who let too many people walk all over him. We have a prickly heroine who is adjusting to life after her son left for college. She is very antisocial and while I can relate to her struggles with making new friends as an adult, she didn't really read 48yo to me. Her actions reminded me more a teenager’s rebellion phase, being contrary just for the sake of it.
There is a coming out story with the hero which read which did not read fully organic to the story/character but I am no position to judge it properly.

I didn’t like the reconciliation attempt with her husband and ultimately feel her son did not do right by her. We also get stereotypical villains / not so nice characters and I just hate that. I want the portrayal of the bad guys to have just as much nuance as the portrayal of the good guys.

I am going back to my initial point of there being too many plot points which made them feel underdeveloped and not really convincing to me. There is so much more to explore about in order to give them substance.

Overall, while this is not my favourite book by Cathy Yardley, I still want to read more books by her.

CW: toxic family/ex, queerphobia (challenged), injury, public outing, caring for elderly parents

Unfortunately this one just didn’t click for me. The pacing was very slow and awkward, it made it hard to connect with the characters with the exception maybe if Maggie who just wanted to be left alone with her hobbies. I think the representation was nice and handled well but the abhorrent side characters just ruined everything for me. I do think more representation and older romance is a good idea, just maybe faster paced and less mean.

I was really excited about this book because it had things many aspects that were intriguing. Maggie and Aiden didn't want to date, but they became friends while playing a game online. It was such a unique book and I really wanted to like it but there were parts that just didn't click with me.


Thanks to netgalley for the early arc in exchange for a review

Thank you to Montlake for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The file expired before I could finish reading. The first half of this novel (what I did read) was great. I will be picking up a copy and finishing it in the future. When I do, I will update my review here. Highly recommend for all the nerds out there! It was great to read a story about an older couple who loves video games and aren't perfect. I'm excited to see what happens in the latter half of the novel in the near future.

4 stars mostly because I want to be Maggie when I grow up!

I dream of the day I can be confident enough to go toe to toe with old white racist homophobes at a wedding.

This was so cute and I loved the fact that the characters were older. While this wasn't a book that I could see myself in the characters, but as a story on its own, this was well done! If you are a gamer, or want to see a romance between two introverts that are doing everything in their power to not be social, this is the book for you!

Unfortunately, after requesting this book, I realized that it wouldn’t be a good fit for me. That being said, I will not be able to read and review this book.

I thought this would be a cute romcom, especially since my husband and I used to game together back in the day. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t the right audience for this one. There was plenty to like about the book, but I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and never felt any real chemistry between Maggie and Aiden.

3.75⭐, 2🌶️

Having read and enjoyed the Ponto Beach Reunion Series, I was excited for this new book with having no ida what its about! I loved that this is a non-20's year old romance, with both our MC's in their 40-50's, and the fact they meet through video gaming was super sweet. At times Maggie is a bit too much for me, but overall, I liked both characters. Then as a couple, Maggie and Aiden were cute and mature, and I enjoyed this book, even though there was an obnoxious third act break up.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC of Role Playing, by Cathy Yardley. This is my honest, free review!

DNF 9%.

I couldn't connect to either character at all and was struggling to stay focused on the book as nothing was drawing me in. I may try to come back to this but I really wasn't into it.

just when i didn't think i could love cathy yardley more, she wrote this book. it was such a fun book. you just couldn't help but root for maddie & aiden. bogwitch & otter made me laugh out loud & swoon.

This book is very different from the front cover. I was expecting like a romcom, but this is sort of along the lines of a gaming/older couple as they are in their 40s and I think although it says the characters are based on their 40s, it felt like they were younger like 30s with the way that they were thinking and processing and talking and I think there was a lot of real relationship growth between the main female character and her son. I also did like the way the relationship progress there wasn’t really a miscommunication trope which is amazing this book out things very clearly, and I think they kept their characteristics or definitely read more from this author in the future and I would highly recommend as this is absolutely an amazing book

I was really excited for this book because it has so many things I look for, older characters, a cinnamon roll hero, and rep. Maggie and Aiden aren't looking to date, in fact, they are pretty much against it, but when they become friends in a gaming guild and just click, Maggie is happy realize that Aiden isn't the young twenty something she thought he was. Aiden doesn't feel comfortable around most people, he doesn't date but mostly he just isn't attracted to a lot of people so that makes it extra difficult. Maggie and Aiden grow as friends and when she starts to feel more, she isnt' sure if that will be reciprocated and so she pushes to stay friends.
Aiden doesn't realize that he has fallen for Maggie until he is in over his head and I love that about him. He knew he felt comfortable with her and just all around happy. It made me sad that he hasn't felt safe and happy before but with the array of side characters that were genuinely awful, I am not shocked.
I wanted to love this and there were parts I did love, but a lot of parts missed the mark for me. I felt like Maggie and Aiden acted much younger than their ages, which threw me off but I am also not a gamer and I am not sure if that had anything to do with it.
In the end, I am glad that Aiden stood up for himself after so many years and embraced all the things that brought him joy.
Thanks to Montlake, Cathy Yardley and Netgalley for an early copy.

This was a decent slow burn romance, and it was nice representation of some middle aged characters for a change. I highly recommend for those who are online gaming lovers! My only draw back was the slow pacing.

I love an over 40 romance, and I especially love over 40 characters who actually act like me! lol! This was a little slow to get going for me, but once it did, I absolutely adored it!