This book had a great concept! What happens when the games you play online become reality? I think that this book was really good.. I do think that the teenagers emotions when the CEO. died did not enumerate enough emotions about. They were sad for like one page and then were like okay lets play this game. I think that I would have wanted to see more emotion and sadness that went into that feeling. Other than that the book was great, and cant wait to read more books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This debut YA thriller is about online gamers fighting for their lives in a very twisted cat-and-mouse game.

The things I liked:

✔ It was fast-paced and the chapters were relatively short.
✔The author incorporates her Chinese heritage into the plot.
✔ I liked Marina and her group of friends that played Darkitect
✔ The story got a little dark, especially with the mother and daughter relationship.

The things I didn't like:
(1) I wasn't completely sold on Marina's crush on another character.
(2) I am not an online gamer. It was hard for me to visualize what was going on during the game and I couldn't grasp some of the vocabulary.
(3) The ending felt a little lacklustre and left me with questions.




#ItsOnlyaGame #NetGalley
Expected Publication 09/07/24
Goodreads Review 01/06/24

I really wanted to love this book ! I loved the story line and suspense and plot, but there was just something about it that didnt really work for me. I think that including the notes to each of the four friends randomly throughout the story threw me for a loop and wouldve been nice to either see in the beginning when the letters were first mentioned or in a way that told the story from their POV instead of just Marina’s. I also was confused with the in between memories. Though they made sense throughout the story they were very short and oddly placed so it just made it more confusing to me and kind of felt more like filler than helpful pieces to build a story. I do love the plot twist in the end and how things kind of came together full circle, but i dunno i just feel like this story couldve been more than what it was to make it an extremely well told story. Like i also have questions..
where are marina’s parents’ bodies did the cops ever find them? Why is rock’s parents the one’s who get custody of her instead of her biological family that she had on her dad’s side? Why was all of the parents except the mother pretty much villians in this story? Like i wouldve at least expected if there was a secret affair going on like how it seemed at first but that wasnt the case at all.. and also how did her mother even know shed fall for the ploy of the game? Was it because she was watching her the whole time? And how did Marina not notice she was being watched? Also why doesnt the story talk about how Marina goes to see jimmy and bette and why didnt she work to go and live with them when they were the ones taking care of her in the first place?
Idk i just have a lot of thoughts and questions but overall the story wasnt bad i enjoyed it! I just feel like it couldve been better.

THOUGHTS

This book is high-stakes and high-melodrama in a way that usually doesn't work for me, and yet somehow, I loved this book. It feels like the perfect balance between over-the-top and strong characters that can shoulder the melodramatic tone.


PROS
Great Hook: This book has teeth from the beginning. It starts off so, well, normal. A group of gamer friends getting a behind-the-scenes tour of their favorite gaming studio? It's a dream come true, but not a far-fetched one. But when things go inevitably awry, Kelsea Yu does a great job of casting doubt and suspicion over the whole scene. Because murder doesn't just happen out of the blue. There's always motive, and that motive proves a great mystery, the underlying foundation of this book that I, at least, was just dying to solve.

University Uses: You know what professors love? When students come to their office hours to engage with their specialties. And sure, these gamers might not exactly be students, but they pull off the part well. I could totally believe that a random professor would be happy to divulge all he knew to two "business students" who came calling, and that yeah-this-could-happen factor, here and in other instances throughout the book, really propped up a plot that would otherwise have been too high-key to be believed.

High Stakes, High Tension: This book doesn't skimp on the tension. The stakes are so high because you know, from the beginning, that there won't be any pulling back. There's some pretty significant blackmail going on here, and there's some pretty strong follow-through, too. This plot twists and turns, dancing around the truth and giving such a horrifying revelation that I, at least, was pretty satisfied once all was said and done.


CONS
Open World: A plot like this--murder, blackmail, and a ticking clock--works best when any outside factors are limited, which is why I was so surprised when these gamers were just, you know, left to go out into the world after witnessing a bloody crime for which they're potentially on the hook. Sure, the blackmail is strong enough to keep them in line, but it feels like a real risk, to let them leave the scene of the crime before you're done playing with them. It felt like the perfect set-up for a locked-room style thriller, and the loose ends felt too great when it wasn't set in a closed environment. They had to do some sleuthing outside of the gaming studio, so it makes sense, plot-wise, that they would have to be let go. I'm just not such a cold-blooded, scheming killer would really let this happen. I got over it, obviously, but I did have some questions.

Gamer Code: Hey, I can appreciate some niche hobbies being explored in fiction, but... sometimes when these gamers were together, headsets on and levels loaded, their lingo felt a little, well, forced. I mean, it felt natural that they would be slinging acronyms to each other if they've been playing this same game for years. But I haven't played this game. I don't know the terminology, and so the few times they were really in the zone, I was really out of it. It felt like reading a bunch of technical jargon tossed into a sci-fi book--like, sure, these sound like science/gaming terms, but are they really? It felt, I don't know, a little bit... nonsense.

Formula Foibles: Kelsea Yu, to great effect, alternates between timelines. One chapter is in the very tense present. The next skips back to Marina's childhood--her mother's secrets, her own dark past. And this alternating, for the most part, works. But a few times, at the height of suspense, dropping back in time just deadened the impact a little bit. This isn't really the fault of Yu's writing. It's the fault of the alternating formula chosen. It wasn't terrible, but there were a few times that I felt, well, deflated to be going back to the deep, dark secrets of times gone by.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10
Fans of Diana Urban's These Deadly Games will love this new team of competitive gamers forced to play a game that proves to be a little too real. Those who loved the deadly glitz and glam of Wendy Heard's She's Too Pretty to Burn will like the high-stakes, high-melodrama nature of this new thriller.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC. This is a wonderful young adult book, however, as an adult I truly enjoyed it! The characters were well-written and the plot was perfect. I couldn't put this book down!

2.5 stars

This book is about a girl named Marina, who is running from her past and starting a new life. She and her group of friends she met through an online game get invited to play exclusive levels made by someone going by the name Cixi. If they don’t complete the levels in time, their loved ones may be in danger.

I was very excited to start this book as I love plots with a video game involved, but this one fell a little flat for me. I did like the characters for the most part, but Marina was a bit frustrating when she kept withholding helpful information from her friends. I did enjoy the descriptions of the game and the levels. I liked how the author incorporated her Chinese heritage into the story as well.

A big part of the reason I didn’t like this as much I thought I would is because of the writing. I know it’s YA but it feels a little too juvenile for the concepts being discussed. I really disliked the overuse of exclamation points and words in all caps. It made this feel like something written on Wattpad. It was also very repetitive with certain phrases.

The overall idea of the book was interesting and thrilling, but the execution made it a little predictable and cheesy.

This was a great book! Absolutely loved it! The characters were amazing, the plot was perfect and just all in all an amazing read. I was hooked from page one, and just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend this one to everyone!!

Oh man, this YA thriller is so GOOD. So twisted, but also so fun! I raced through the pages and devoured this book in two days. I particularly enjoyed the gaming aspect with the nightly “challenges”, and also all the descriptions of Chinese food (yum).

This book was action packed and full of mystery and intrigue! Marina has left her old life behind. Now, she’s thriving and happy with who she is and the friends she has made. But when someone starts threatening her and her friends, forcing them to uncover secrets. It was really fun to read and the ending was spectacular!

This was a wild video game based ride! I am. It super well versed in any kind of video game but the author made sure that a lack of knowledge did not hinder understanding or engagement for a reader like me! Marina has some dark secrets in her past, ones that she is hiding from her new friends. However, as they all begin playing for their lives Marina realizes that somehow her past might be the driving force behind all the bad things are happening. Family is not always related by blood and those who stand by us and help us are our true family as Marina learns. I did think this book was too long, 100pages less would have really had the reader more focused.

An interesting YA thriller for fans of "One of Us is Lying." I enoyed Marina's character and their friends. It was interesting having the group need to do both tasks in the game and in real life. Requires suspension of disbelief, but most YA thrillers do. Lots of twists, some more obvious and others genuine surprises. Recommended purchase where YA thrillers are very popular.

This was a fun suspense thriller, murder mystery in the form of a RPG game. I liked the tie ins from the game to the reasoning why they murdered the creator of the Apocalypse gaming company. With every murder mystery, the reader likes to try to investigate along and figure out who had done it, but it was a fairly easy guess as the background of the protagonist and their mother’s relationship had helped. It was entertaining enough that I still finished the book even knowing who had done it and who was stalking them. Still one that I would recommend for gamers and lovers of murder mystery novels.

I overall liked the story but would get a bit lost or bored at times. There was almost too many details while they’d play the video games. However, I still would recommend with the caveat that you should have some knowledge of video games going in!

I'm not usually a thriller reader, but I ended up enjoying this!

The ending was extremely cliche and predictable (so was the villain reveal tbh), but lbr, I was here for the dark, bloody vibes, and the vibes delivered. If you're someone who's looking for a more grown-up read, probably skip this one.

I loved how parts of the novel takes place in an MMORPG with a 4 person party, which includes a tank, mage, rogue, and healer. I haven't played video games in a while and the entire time I was reading this, I really wanted to get back into gaming. No lie, it's been a long time where I've had a reading experience where I felt compelled to pick up an old hobby of mine.

Some readers might find the whole gaming aspect contrived, but to me, it brings another layer of depth to the plot.

Marina/Night was a compelling FMC. I absolutely loved how the author incorporated her Chinese heritage into this novel's plot. It created depth for the FMC's arc and made her history and personality a lot more interesting to read about.

I love unreliable narrators, even though they can be very frustrating to deal with. I found myself feeling all sorts of way for Marina, from sympathy for her situation to annoyance at how she keeps valuable information to herself.

I had a lot of fun with the mystery/whodunnit plot, and I really appreciated how the author strung the reader along with the MC without revealing too much at once. It kept me on my toes and was compelling enough that I devoured this novel in one weekend.

I'm excited to read more from Kelsea Yu!

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this arc.

I loved the storyline and enjoyed the twists of this book. I did have trouble getting into it and following certain parts.

Marina Chan is running from something, but what?

The unraveling of Marina’s past is gradually revealed through flashbacks, a dual timeline story that also focuses on the present - where her and three friends need to win four rounds in a video game, or face devastating consequences for them all.

This twisty, tense thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what actually is the truth and why Cíxǐ - the mastermind behind this plot - chose them in particular. As the story progresses, it becomes abundantly clear that targeting them - especially Marina - is deeply personal, and she is involved in ways she herself was unaware of.

This YA thriller is the perfect summer read, a book that you’ll fly through but also want to savor. The characters are lovable and real and I felt very invested in their outcome. The gaming aspects were a great addition as well, and I couldn’t help but think of how fun a film adaptation would be to watch!

One thing about me, I will devour a good YA thriller and this book delivers. I loved the premise with the online gaming and the mystery makes it such a fast paced read. Definitely looking forward to more by this author.

"It's Only a Game" by Kelsea Yu is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that combines the excitement of online gaming with the tension of a high-stakes mystery. The story follows Marina Chan, a young woman living under a false identity, as she navigates a dangerous game that threatens to expose her past and destroy everything she has built.

Yu's writing is fast-paced and engaging, drawing readers into Marina's world of online gaming and real-world danger. The novel's premise is intriguing, with the murder of the game's creator setting off a chain of events that forces Marina and her friends to play a deadly game of their own.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Marina, who is a complex and relatable protagonist. As Marina and her friends are forced to confront their own fears and secrets, they must rely on each other to survive, adding depth to the story and creating a sense of camaraderie among the characters.

"It's Only a Game" is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its blend of mystery, intrigue, and adventure, Kelsea Yu has crafted a compelling story that will appeal to fans of both gaming and thrillers. Dive into this thrilling tale and discover the dangerous game that Marina and her friends must play to survive.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This book has a fantastic premise! I love the idea of puzzling out a mystery in real life to get further in a game. The gang of friends is fun too, and the descriptions of food were delightful! I especially enjoyed the short flashback chapters which build and leave me intrigued. I wish there was a higher sense of urgency to complete the levels given the tight timeline, but the characters seem mostly relaxed and confident they’ll be able to complete the challenges after food, sleep, and bonding.

I think my video gamers in class who enjoyed Slay and Ready Player One might really like this!

I'm don't read a ton of thrillers and now I'm wondering why not! This book grabbed me immediately, and I was so engrossed I ended up staying up late to finish it. I loved the video game aspect and while I THOUGHT I had figured out who the villain was, the final twist took me completely by surprise!