Ratings3
Average rating3.3
I'm marking it as a romance because they do develop a relationship, but it is more of a sub-sub-plot.
It really goes into the darker side of gaming and how some people are just horrible to gamers who aren't straight, white men and also how people who make games are taken advantage of. It is surprisingly heavy, but mixed in with some sweeter moments of Aaron and Divya exploring games and talking passionately about their hobbies. The game they play sounds a lot like No Man Sky, so I definitely feel like picking that back up.
The ending... I'm happy there was a win, but wish it was more satisfying even if it wouldn't have been as realistic.
This was fun and I think it will probably appeal to a lot of teens who are more into video games and Twitch streaming etc than I am. It's a great exploration of how toxic “online” stuff spills out into the offline world, and the ways intersectional identities can affect your online experience. The romance is cute, and I also appreciated the side friendships and the main characters' relationships with their parents as the parents struggle to understand the world of online video gaming.