Single Player

Starred review from September 1, 2024

DEBUT Tai's compelling debut novel delves into the complexities of the gaming industry through the eyes of Catherine "Cat" Li and Andi "Andz" Zhang. Cat, a newly hired temp writer at Heartrender Studios, has left her stable job to follow her passion for game development. Her journey is complicated by her initial negative impressions of Andi, the lead writer and narrative director for Compass Hollow, a choices-matter genre game. The narrative skillfully explores the challenges faced by Andi, a queer woman of color who has previously endured trauma in an industry dominated by cis men. The plot thickens, as their studio boss attempts to sabotage their work, pushing Cat and Andi to collaborate despite their differences. Cat's expertise in romance narratives adds another layer of tension as she is tasked with incorporating romance choices into the game. Tai's writing captures the friction and eventual camaraderie between Cat and Andi, transitioning from professional animosity to a nuanced, slow-burn romance. VERDICT This is a must-read for fans of queer romance and those interested in the behind-the-scenes world of video games. Tai's storytelling is both fun and thought-provoking, making this debut a standout in contemporary romance fiction.--Michelle Mistalski

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 7, 2024
The television show Mythic Quest meets Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game in Tai’s bighearted debut. Aspiring video game writer Cat Li lands her dream job writing love interests into the new game Compass Hollow for one of the most prestigious video game developers in North America. She’ll be working under wunderkind narrative director Andi Zhang, who interchangeably uses she/her and they/them pronouns. Unfortunately, prickly Andi assumes the new hire violated a nondisclosure agreement after a run-in with a reporter, Cat antagonizes Andi instead of correcting them, and the pair butt heads continuously over whether or not to follow boss Brett’s admonition to add romance to Compass Hollow. It doesn’t help that the woman Cat is fake-dating to avoid disappointing her family happens to be Andi’s ex. Sparks fly, however, after Cat defends Andi from a vindictive former boss. Now the pair must figure out how to develop romance both in-game and IRL. Though some of the workplace enemies-to-lovers antics feel a bit immature, it’s easy to root for both protagonists, and Tai writes about the video game industry with impressive nuance. Gamers will find plenty of enjoyable Easter eggs, and even those who’ve never picked up a controller will become invested in the ins and outs of game development. Meryl Wilsner fans should check this out.

November 15, 2024
A woman lands her dream job writing a romance arc for a video game, only to discover that her new boss doesn't believe in love. Catherine Li is thrilled to receive a one-year offer from Heartrender Studios to write the romance arcs for their forthcoming gameCompass Hollow. Even more exciting, she'll be working with Andi Zhang, a creative genius who was the victim of vicious doxxing after gamers discovered they were nonbinary and Asian American.Compass Hollow is Andi's first game as narrative director since the doxxing; hurt and wary, Andi has resisted their higher-ups' directive to add love interests to the game. Andi's primary strategy is to ignore Cat, hoping she'll go away. Meanwhile, Cat agrees to a blind date with a woman named Sally Jenkins. They don't have much chemistry, but they agree to fake date as a convenience for when both of them need to have a significant other. As time passes, Andi is forced to admit that Cat has some good ideas for improving the game, but their working relationship remains chilly. The two barely appear on the page together, and most of the book is consumed with low-conflict workplace skirmishes and the revelation that Sally is Andi's ex. Cat and Andi tangle and then ignore each other, a tedious pattern that isn't resolved until they attend a gaming conference in Las Vegas. When Andi comes face to face with the man behind her doxxing, Cat's heartfelt defense of Andi finally breaks the ice between them. The romance arc is jammed into the final quarter of the book, sharing the stage with a late-developing corporate espionage plot that is solved by coincidence. A celebration of games and gaming culture with an underdeveloped romance.

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