Dust off your best headset and level up your stats, because we're going on a MMPORPG adventure! 'Pantheonic' is hosting a live event that only the best players will be invited to, and you really don't wanna miss out. Neither do the Epic Hearts, a four-player team known for being one of the most chivalrous pantheons in the game. After they manage to snatch one of the nine spots for the live tournament, all the team can think of is how exciting it'll be to have a chance of becoming a part of the next chapter of the Pantheonic history. But competing against eight of the game's other strongest teams won't be easy, and switching from an online friendship to real life might pose challenges that neither of them saw coming.

While this was my first Zachary Sergi book ever, it won't be my last, because the best way to summarise my thoughts about "Love & Video Games" is as easy as admitting to having loved it to bits. Tournament dynamics are my favourite thing ever, so if you add a dash of queer romance and a spoonful of coming-of-age? Count me in! Even though the book focuses on the main characters and their growth as they tackle the "Pantheonic" tournament one round at a time, it nonetheless felt like a love letter to all the games we've grown up with. Sergi's "Pantheonic" felt like a multi-mythology version of "Genshin Impact", and I often found myself thinking about what my own character would look like if I were able to play the game.

(If the author or the publisher are ever interested in launching "Pantheonic" in real life, I hereby extend my interest in being a beta player!)

Another thing that won me over in this book was the beautiful diversity, which didn't feel forced in the slightest. If Gamergate taught us anything, it's how hostile gaming spaces can be for women, people of color, queer folks and other marginalised communities. We still have a long way to go in regards to this as a society, sadly, but "Love & Video Games" shows us how beautiful things could be if we collectively shifted our mindset into an accepting one. This story features a rather colourful cast, and every single person's identity is celebrated rather than singled out or frowned upon. Seeing disabled, queer people in the spotlight, where they had their time to shine as unique individuals without being reduced to their labels, made me truly happy. It makes me have a lot of hope for the future to know that young people will be able to grow up reading books such as this one, because I, for one, struggled to come to terms with who I was largely due to never having seen anyone like me in the media I consumed.

It wouldn't be fair of me to not highlight two of the most outstanding cases of nuanced representation in this story, which are Keegan's chronic pain and Alix' trans identity. While they're complex people with a whole lot of things on their plate that don't have to do with them existing as disabled and/or queer, the latter are still important parts of who they are. The depiction of Keegan's struggle to live with chronic pain was excellent, and made me really feel for him; whereas hearing Alix discuss his journey, and seeing him be accepted and celebrated just as he is, felt nothing short of cathartic. Reading a cisgender gay young man's explicit statement that his feelings for Alix weren't going to change or falter because of Alix' transgender identity was downright healing, in a world that keeps growing more and more transphobic by the day.

Overall this was an incredible ride, as well as a poignant and heartwarming read. Please grab a copy and read it ASAP!

Okay, I had no idea gaming would be 85% of the book. It was a lot. And I had to skim some of it because it was too much after awhile. That being said I loved Keegan and his teammates. Overall, the story flowed well and the romance was cute. If you love gaming you will love this book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This book takes readers on a journey through a video game competition told through the eyes of the main character, Keegan. I'm not a huge gamer, so some of the video game world building and terms were a little lost on me at first, but the story was engaging and I couldn't help rooting for Keegan and his team, Epic Hearts. This book is a love letter to MMORPG gaming, the LGBTQIA+ community, and physical/mental health. On top of all of the video game plot, there's a personal journey Keegan has to take while dealing with chronic, undiagnosed pain. Keegan's pain is starting to take over his life, and it isn't until he reads a book from a friend about TMS or Tension Myositis Syndrome, that he finally finds relief for his pain. My only qualm with this book is that after Keegan finds out about TMS, he is suddenly able to keep all of his anxious thoughts at bay all on on his, which kudos to him, but I didn't find that aspect of the book that realistic (and yes, I get that this is fiction). I would have liked to have him and his friend Britni talk about mental health in more detail and maybe mention getting a therapist to help him work on his anxiety. I would like to see more books, characters, and authors suggesting therapy as a way to work through mental health. Can I get an omen?

Thank you Running Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I read this so quick! I loved both Keegan’s world and the world of Pantheonic! Keegan’s never had much connections in the real world but that’s ok because in the world of Pantheonic he has his best friends and teammates Alix, Mo, and Britni, together they make up the Epic Heart’s. Keegan is also harboring the biggest crush on Alix, who lives in New York and in a few short weeks he’ll be headed there for school. This could be the opportunity for the two to be more, but there is no way Alix is into him, after all he’s extremely hot and a future designer while Keegan is decidedly not. Things change when the group is given the opportunity to keep in a new version of the game that mixes in augmented reality. The 4 will finally meet in New York to compete for the $800,000 prize. Will Keegan have the same connections to them IRL that he has with them in the game? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and a chance for them to learn secrets about Pantheonic that nobody else knows but they’ll have steep competition, and when they’ve only ever played to have fun can they compete with pro-level teams? On top of this there’s the chronic pain that Keegan deals with, which none of his friends know about. Can he play without being incapacitated by his pain? And will being in close quarters with Alix finally give him the opportunity to tell him how he feels? Or will the pressure of the money and game drive them apart? I love that Zachary Sergi creates a whole mythological world that’s every bit as exciting and thrilling as it is for Keegan and his friends! I also love that it’s easy to follow and enjoyable even for those who aren’t gaymers and familiar with this type of thing! Sweet and compelling, I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend especially if you enjoy mythology and video games!

This story is definitely a love letter to gaymers and mythology buffs. What a stunning cover! The made up game Pantheonic was a clever mix of WoW and Smite, and it's clear that Sergi put in a lot of work researching various deities among other key details.

I also appreciated the chronic pain representation with Keegan who is a big mythology lover. I especially enjoyed the other members of the gaming team: Epic Hearts who are definitely epic and fit the "queer found family" trope really well. Mo and Britni were my favorite characters of the group, and I liked their interactions with Keegan. Alix was also fun, and I appreciated discussions around his aspirations.

That said, I feel like I can't give this a five stars for several reasons. The biggest one is that the friends-to-lovers romance between Keegan and Alix feels really underdeveloped and not as genuine. I also think that the gaming tournament plot heavily overwhelms the romance to the point that it feels more like a subplot. As much as I enjoyed the incorporation of all the different mythologies it started to feel like one big "melting pot" that I was skimming through just to finish the book.

Finally, I do appreciate Sergi sharing multiple perspectives on chronic pain, but it started to feel like reading a nonfiction piece toward the end which, again, started to override the overall plot. In particular, there's one message he pushes that I'm ambivalent toward given my own experiences with chronic pain, but he does a good job noting how this isn't the case for everyone and I agree it's important for people to at least consider this perspective underneath western medicine.

Regardless, I'd definitely recommend this book to fellow gaymers, lovers of mythology, and inclusive queer YA fans.

Thanks Netgalley and Running Press for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley & Running Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a cozy and sweet story! I haven't read anything quite like this yet--the author certainly put a lot of care and love into the characters and the world. Sergi is definitely a gamer first and foremost and put all the accurate terms for video games in the story but still explained it well enough that I think non-gamers will understand.

My only issue is that I wish the book was a tiny bit longer and expanded on the other 3 gamers in the protagonist's team, but I get it's YA and any longer the book would be less appealing to teens, lol.

Still, it's a very sweet YA romance and found family book.

Thank you Netgalley and Running Press Kids for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Zachary Sergi’s “Love and Video Games” is an emotionally rich, quick-paced YA book examines the connection between the magic of mythology and the high-stakes thrill of competitive gaming all while depicting the quiet resilience of living with chronic pain into one unforgettable journey. It’s sweet, fun, and brimming with heart—perfect for fans of found family stories and soft queer romances.

In the real world, Keegan is an 18-year-old mythology nerd navigating undiagnosed chronic pain and the anxiety of leaving home for NYU. Online, he transforms into K.Odyssia—a powerful hero in the mythologically inspired game Pantheonic, where he slays monsters and leads his team, the Epic Hearts, through virtual quests. But beneath the avatar is a teen trying to balance his epic online life with the very real challenges of his body, identity, and future.

When a seemingly ordinary in-game mission turns into an invitation to a secret IRL tournament in New York City, Keegan and the Epic Hearts are thrust into a new kind of battle—one that tests not just their gaming skills, but their bonds, resilience, and personal growth. The prize? A hefty cash reward and a chance to prove themselves on a massive stage. But for Keegan, the real struggle is internal—coping with pain, opening up, and learning how to ask for help.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its cast of lovable, complex characters. The Epic Hearts team exudes strong found family energy—supportive, quirky, and sometimes messy, but always rooting for each other. It’s that dynamic that gives the story its emotional punch. Britni, in particular, is a standout—sharp, warm, and endlessly endearing. The team’s camaraderie is believable and touching, with the kind of inside jokes and support systems that make you wish you could join the group chat.

The romantic subplot between Keegan and his teammate Alix is gentle and sweet, though a bit underdeveloped. I wasn’t really able to connect deeply with Alix, but their dynamic still adds an extra layer of vulnerability and hope to Keegan’s journey. It's more about emotional intimacy than sweeping declarations, which suits the story’s tone.

Sergi does a fantastic job bringing mythology into the gameplay world of Pantheonic, creating a setting that’s both fantastical and emotionally grounded. For mythology buffs, it’s a fun nod to the classics; for gamers, it captures the addictive camaraderie and adrenaline of team-based RPGs. The way the in-game quests mirror Keegan’s real-life challenges is smartly done—it's not just fantasy escapism, but a lens through which he processes his reality.

At the heart of the book is a nuanced, compassionate portrayal of chronic pain. Keegan’s struggle is raw and real—he’s not “fixed” by the end, and his pain doesn’t define him, but it does shape the decisions he makes and how he learns to advocate for himself. It’s a quiet kind of bravery, one that deserves the spotlight it gets here.

Overall, “Love and Video Games” is the literary equivalent of a healing potion—warm, affirming, and quietly powerful. It’s a celebration of the connections we forge both online and off, and of the strength it takes to show up for others and for yourself. Whether you’re a mythology nerd, a gamer, or just someone who loves a good underdog story with heart, this is one quest you’ll be glad you joined.

This was a sweet, quick read!

As a mythology nerd with chronic pain, I loved reading Keegan's journey. The game is fun, and I really enjoyed Epic Hearts's friendship throughout the story. It feels very found family (which is my favourite trope ever, so that aspect of the game really worked for me). I couldn't connect as much with Alix, but the romance was very cute regardless, and I absolutely adored Britni. Overall, it was a really heartwarming and fun!

This book is like a perfect gaming session—fun, immersive, and full of heart. It’s about friendship, first love, and figuring yourself out, all wrapped up in a world of myth and competition. The characters feel real, the emotions hit hard, and the story is both exciting and deeply personal. Whether you’re a gamer or just love a good coming-of-age story, this one will stick with you long after you turn the last page.