As someone who games and watches gamers play videogames online I was very intrigued by the premise of this story.

It definitely delivered on the gaming part. Every scene of the way women are treated in a male dominated world felt very real and relatable. From the objectification of Lauren to the way Sam was treated. At times it was infuriating as it hit so close to home.

The romance part however was not it for me. There felt little to no reason why these two would fall in love other than physical attraction. Maybe I needed some more scenes of them interacting to really feel the connection.

An ARC was sent to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

The concept of Good Game sounded so interesting to me as a woman who has always loved video games. Growing up, I was very aware of how women are seen in gaming, especially watching my brother play Call of Duty. The author portrayed the realities of how women are seen in male dominated spaces really well in my opinion, from the way Lauren is treated in the marketing meetings, to the vitriol Sam faces just for playing the game. The way the men in the book acted was infuriating, but very real. The conclusion of the story helped give some ideas for ways to fix a huge issue for girls getting into gaming and I really appreciated the approach the author took.

That being said, I feel like I enjoyed Sam’s story of going pro and preserving through the hate she was getting more than the romance. It felt like the characters only had a physical connection for most of the book and didn’t have a lot of chemistry. Sam was such an interesting, well rounded character while Lauren felt a little flat. I did like that Lauren was a good listener to Sam and ended up sticking up for her in the end, but once again all Lauren really talked about was her physical attraction to Sam and the nice things Sam did for her. I also felt like the ending came out of nowhere and I didn’t really feel like it was needed.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. The competition scenes were fun and Sam’s story kept me interested to the end. The author included some representation that I feel isn’t talked about much with Sam’s dad and the issues she brought up within the gaming community felt real. The only thing that could have been better was a deeper connection between the love interests. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for providing me with the e-ARC of this book.

I received an ARC of Good Game from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book has made me incredibly happy - full disclosure, I'm an esports blogger and former esports journalist and guess what, I'm a girl. I've been there done that and still do it. This is a book I can tell you to read with no reservations whatsoever (in fact I'm going to write a blog on it).

Sam and Lauren's romance is slow, it builds, it is the perfect balance of growing into love - of learning what love is as an adult, of the complexities of being an adult and falling in love. This book literally has it all, I'm not typically so soppy about my career but I wanted to cry with this book. Lenoir nails the slow burn and slow build with the gentle romance and masters esports. Normally when authors attempt to write about esports, they brush over details - Lenoir does no such thing, every detail is accounted for, every detail is planned and mentioned and thought out. Siege Encouter is thought out in detail. Every. Single. Aspect. I cannot praise it enough.

Now, onto the important thing - this book talks about sexism in gaming and esports so well. My personal experience has mercifully been nothing like Sam's, but that doesn't mean I don't know what she's talking about. Lenoir - credit to her - handles it perfectly, at no point does she rose tinted glasses it, she writes exactly what it is and provides a solution as well in the conclusion chapters. I'm also so delighted we see Dylan and Will get their just desserts. The industry has changed, it's changing - and Lenoir denotes it perfectly in ensuring those two don't get away with their blatant sexism. It's testament to what is happening right now in the industry and I cannot praise enough that it was mentioned.

Also a wlw book on esports? I am in literal heaven. When I saw this book I was so excited and although I have a lot of books on the go right now (yes I have book trust issues) - this one got moved to the top of my list. I have been unable to put it down literally and metaphorically - my poor Kindle has taken a battery bashing as a direct result. If you're interested in reading about esports, a cute relationship that is not explicity spicy (thank you Lenoir, I appreciate) and is heart warming and empassioning in all the right ways. Please go and read this.

I really hope Lenoir continues this as a series, I would love to see Perry and Luke in relationships (together or apart I'm not fussy ;) ) and explore the world of esports more as well as other issues that still exist in the industry especially in the player relm - be that professional or ameteur for fun.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for my copy, I am unbelievably sad to have finished the book! I love it so much.

Good Game was definitely an interesting concept, but unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with me. I spend a lot of my free time gaming, so when I heard about Good Game, I was genuinely excited to dive in. I just didn’t feel that connection with any of the characters and the story, the experience didn’t quite live up to the hype for me.

well, this one was absolutely a breath of fresh air in a world where we all read so many romances about the same jobs and scenarios (and happily still, might i add). i've never seen a romance about anything like this before, though it still has a good workplace romance trope. and i love to see people in romance with just regular jobs too, like the MC who's day job is a massage therapist.

this is a story that really tackles the sexism in most workplaces but that is definitely rampant in competitive gaming and gaming in general. there's the classic story of the woman only being suggested as a hire due to her gender neutral name by a man who's face you wanna slap so bad that the happiest moment in the book for me is when he got his comeuppance. (i hate you, will!!)

this was a really great binge read too. easy to read but keeps you hooked throughout. it was low spice (closed door) but HIGH heat anyway. plus, so many things come together in the end it's like at least four happy endings in one!

though i do object to the moment when one of the characters said;
"Surprisingly, Lauren knew the words..." in regards to Cyndi Lauper's 'Girl's Just Want to Have Fun'. GIRL, literally everyone knows the lyrics to that song 😂

A decent read. The author has done their homework as they seem knowledgeable about the gaming industry. I leant some things, although the trolling etc wasn’t a surprise. The romance didn’t particularly have any big lead up or grand passion, but actually it was kind of believable and refreshingly realistic. You could imagine being buddies with both of them.

Very Empowering!

Sam gets the opportunity to become a pro-gamer but it comes with a price she doesn’t enjoy having to pay to be their poster girl for gaming. Lauren is a marketing executive for the gaming company tasked with looking after Sam and making her conform to the company’s wishes but that doesn’t sit very well with her when she really gets to know Sam.

This was something very different that was also exploring social challenges women face when they don’t fit society norms of being and looking like a girl. It also cleverly covered the ethical challenges with being into industries and hobbies that also do not fit those stereotypes. It drove how as women we are often expected to change to get opportunities where men wouldn’t and I love how Sam and Lauren both wanted to rebel against this but also knew their own power if they went along with it until their position was stronger to challenge it. I really felt compelled to support them on their mission.

I really liked Lauren and Sam together. They had a natural comfortableness around each other but at the same time held back and worried what each other were thinking. Sam’s hesitance was focused on her lack of self-esteem that someone like Lauren would be interested in her, whereas Lauren’s worries were more professional and whether she was crossing lines that would harm Sam’s place in the pro-gaming competition and appear as if she were taking advantage. I admired her dedication to Sam in all her decisions and hoped her career wouldn’t get in the way of them exploring something truly great!

A lovely romance with some fun, but also important messages and much empowerment.

I was really looking forward to reading this as I thought the story taking place in the professional gaming industry would be interesting. As it turns out, I know so little about the professional gaming industry that I was mostly just confused when they mentioned it. I also didn't find the characters particularly likable or engaging, so this one was a bit of a slog for me.

However, I do want to mention that the Sam's commitment to being true to herself despite pressure from her job to dress differently and religious pressures from her family made this story compelling enough for me to read to the end.

Thank you Net Gallley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

What a wonderfull book! The romance between Sam and Lauren was amazing. They're both incredibly empathetic people and I was rooting for them from the start.

Being well versed in the e-sports world, I think the author did a good job researching how the competitive gaming works, though there were moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. I think an average reader wouldn't even notice these moments, but someone who knows general tournament rules might get a bit peeved.

The content warning by the author about the sexism, homophobia and racism is not to be taken lightly. The bullying and harassment is really hard to read through, but it acomplished what it aims to do, make the reader as uncomfortable as the characters and real people who face these struggles are.

First book by this author, and pretty enjoyable for not being a gamer. I have vertigo and can't play first person games, but it was interesting to read and it was obvious the other is a gamer or did a ton of research.

Sam is a gamer and a good one, but with being a woman she's never been given a chance, until Lauren comes along and fights to give her a chance. Sam is a huge tomboy and is comfortable is sweats and a hoodie, but becoming a pro gamer meant changing her look and other aspects to stay on the team and go to the World championships.

Lauren works the company but hates that she's looked down upon just because she's a woman and a lot of her ideas aren't taken seriously because of that.

Being a woman myself, these stuck up ideals hit the mark and are very true and well written and I can only imagine the crap women gamers get in a male dominated profession.

I wouldn't call this a romance, this was more of a background with Sam and Lauren and it happened fast and wasn't the forefront of the story. It was about gaming.

Overall, not bad. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, even though I'm the right age range, I have less than no idea about eSports. So, there was a lot of new stuff in this book for me.

Sam is a gamer, an amateur at the beginning of the book. But, then she gets a chance to go pro. That brings Lauren into her orbit. Lauren is the PR professional for the team Sam plays for. She has to try and balance what the misogynistic team owner wants vs. what Sam does. Oh, and, the two of them start falling in love. But, they're so different.

It was a fun read. The characters were all super different and interesting too. A great read.

Author Suzanne Lenoir wrote more than a romance with her book Good Game. She wrote an eye-opening look into the gaming world that I'm sure most non-gamers have never experienced. The slow burn romance was just icing on the cake. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This is a very slow burn romance, with a very heavy focus on gaming. I'm not a gamer, so it was kind of hard for me to understand some of the language used to described what was happening or the set ups. But, I still enjoyed this story. I really liked Sam and was rooting for her all the way. The ending was a bit rushed, but it was still a really good read. I would recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

I’m not a gamer, but not because I wouldn’t enjoy gaming, more like upfront costs and it’s still more a generational thing. I went out of my comfort zone to read something I typically wouldn’t choose. The author did well in capturing the gamer mentality and atmosphere without sacrificing the personal relationships in the story, IMHO.
Not only was this entertaining, I’d argue it was also educational for other generations. The discrimination and misogyny rampant in the gaming industry has been blatant and prevalent but not called out as it should. So, showing it, although it might be more than aggravating at times, really helped to flesh out Sam’s character very well. No, I never give spoilers on anything, don’t expect them.
I thought Lenoir also did an excellent job of showing the misogyny through the characters of Will and Dylan, making them truly unlikeable! Yeah, nah, still no spoilers. The pace of the story was fine, and the dialogue authentic and driven.
My only wish was that I could have had a better idea of the age of Lauren’s character. Just sayin’.
My thanks to Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books. As always, any opinions are voluntary and exclusively mine!

It was a very cute sapphic book set in the video games industry and importants themes !

We’re following Sam who’s an amateur player in video games and at a competition she got an offer to go pro. Lauren work for the company who offer the job to Sam, as a marketing employee and since there’s only boys in the dorms, Sam became Lauren’s roommate so she’s not uncomfortable.

The sexism and misogyny in the video games industry is very well portrayed, same as the way men behave in a industry with a majority of men.

I loved the force proximity and the differences between the character with Sam being androgynous and Lauren being a strong and feminine women. I really appreciated the development of the characters too.

I just didn’t understand that there’s a scene where one of the character is masturbating but fade to black sexes scenes ?

Good start.
I don’t do gaming and don’t really know anything about it, but this novel is written in an accessible way. I found in the first couple of chapters I identified more with the non gaming main, than the gaming one, but the challenges and vulnerabilities of the gamer, along with her morality and general decency, won me round.
Around 50%, there is interest in both parties but a bit too much “is she even in to me”. For me pacing has slipped slightly. Then there was a section of the mains conversing and I was happy. However, d I know it is deliberately inserted by the writer, every bit of success one main gets is followed by misogynistic abuse. I am finding that quite upsetting. (Well done the writer!)
I am however still a little bit impatient for things to move forward, I think because the abuse and unfair treatment of one main, by others, not the other main isn’t comfortable or pleasant to read (not gratuitous by the writer) so I want to get to the nice bit of the mains getting on! I wasn’t swept up in the mains first time, which is just as well as it was behind closed doors.
I am just not enjoying the stuff around the mains having got together, which is daft, because I was impatient for that plot strand to move forward but….. One main phoning in sick? The other missing a game. Seemed out of character…… and the immediate mind blowing reactions. I think I have fallen a little out of love with the mains….. I’m not quite sure why, maybe because I lost a bit of interest when they were still faffing about?
However, and remember I’m not a gamer, I found the latter gaming section, really quite tense and enjoyable. I was also happy with the happy ending. A 3 but some sections slipped below, and some floated above.

I love a slow burn! And this story delivers! So put that with a gamer's plot and I'm sold! Sam and Lauren's relationship is great, although abruptly summed up in the end. I will keep an eye out for more Suzanne Lenoir books in the future.

Very slow burn romance with a heavy focus on gaming. I don’t play so there were some times that I didn’t really understand the language or set up but I still enjoyed the story. I really liked Sam and was rooting for her all the way through. The ending felt very rushed though, would have liked a few more chapters

I'd give this one 4.25 stars.

This book was worth the read after I got through the online gaming set-up in the beginning; it was dense with terminology that a non-gamer may be unfamiliar with, but it was helpful in establishing the world for the two main characters and the secondary ones. There were definitely some parts that were hard to read (primarily when an ignorant and disrespectful man was speaking), but it fit well with the characters and the world that the author established. After I got about 1/3 of the way through the book, I was hooked. The slow burn between Sam and Lauren was worth the wait! And I loved the bits of humor sprinkled in, both between our main characters as well as their relationships with friends.

The story did seem to wrap up rather quickly; I felt like there could have been a bit more between the last few chapters so that it wouldn't feel quite as rushed.

Content warnings:
* misogyny and sexism (one of the main characters is a female gamer in the male-dominated field, and the other is a marketing expert for the male-dominated company)
* mentions of a dead parent of one of the main characters
* mention of infidelity
* descriptions of doxxing

Thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, and Suzanne Lenoir for this ARC.

This was a sweet slow-burn romance, set in the world of professional esports. The plot provided an insightful glance into the world of esports and the bullying - both in-person and online - that comes with it. So much is talked about cyber bullying for teenagers that it is often glanced over at the adult level, so I was glad to see light being shined on the issue. Though I am not a gamer myself, I still enjoyed the story and learning more about a topic I was less familiar with. Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a relatively low-angst read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.