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Don't Hate the Player
By day, Emilia is a field hockey star with a popular boyfriend and a mother obsessed with her academic future. But by night, she’s kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia has mastered the art of keeping her two worlds thriving, which hinges on them staying completely separate.
When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team—Jake—recognizes her . . .
From an exciting new talent, this sweet and charming YA romance will win the hearts of gamers and non-gamers alike.
When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team—Jake—recognizes her . . .
From an exciting new talent, this sweet and charming YA romance will win the hearts of gamers and non-gamers alike.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
135 people are currently reading
11835 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 543 reviews
April 16, 2022
I do indeed hate the player
September 2, 2022
WHY HAVEN’T I READ THIS EARLIER
July 18, 2022
I'm quitting this at about midway, mostly because I don't like my romantic leads being in romantic relationships with other people. Not that Em wasn't in my doghouse already. I mean, her deciding to give into the pushy (but kinda sweet) jock and be his "girlfriend" (whatever that means, though kissing is at least some of it because that happens right away) was the last straw, but I already didn't really like her much as it stood.
Mostly, I don't buy her as a character. She has three things that would tax any living person to the max, individually, to maintain at the level she does and I don't care how much planning she does or how much sleep she forgoes, I don't buy the setup. It's just too much. Add pushy parents who are so up in her business that they crash her, supposed-to-be private, career guidance sessions and who are dictating what colleges she applies to and what majors she'll pursue and what extracurriculars she'll indulge and I'm just done with the whole thing. Not that the parents are Em's fault. So I'll blame the author for creating a high-stress impossibility that breaks my suspension of disbelief every time a detail crashes into the narrative.
And it doesn't help that you can see the house of cards Em is building out of deception, trying to hide her participation in an eSports league. Frankly, I don't buy it lasting this long with parents that up in her business. I mean, you can't hide the kind of gaming needed for high-level play. It takes concentration and that'd mean hours for nosey parents to do a bedroom drop-by where Em wouldn't even see them coming. And don't get me started on supposing that she's mouse-quiet during a tense match. I'm sorry, but that just isn't even possible at that level of play. Communication is key to teamwork and when adrenaline is high so is the volume.
And it doesn't help, either, that every axis of "other people suck" is ramped to the max. Racists are disgustingly racist (though Em has some ugly moments about white people, so turn-around/fair-play?). And I'm sorry, but I know too much about this generation and gamers to believe that it was as bad as she describes. Look, my daughters and a niece* are gamers in a couple games very like the one fictionalized here. The niece is a relatively high-profile player on a decent team (diamond tier though not league-level but with her own channel and merch). And yeah, she catches some sexist crap. But she is not at all shy about dishing it right back and that's not at all unexpected or unusual. There aren't a ton of league-level female players, and I'd love to delve into why with some forensic studies and a microscope. It'd certainly take a bit of a thick skin as a female player, but that's true of male players, too. Trash-talk is the lingua franca of that milieu and everybody is fair game. I gave it an initial pass as her representing an extreme case but then we see her win a league game and I'm not buying that official forums had a bunch of sexist attacks that weren't moderated out of existence sharpish. Game publishers ban people hard for that nonsense and nobody faults them for it.
Sigh. The rest of the gaming lingo and culture are actually pretty well-depicted. Nedd obviously knows the space, and I'd say intimately because she captured the tone and pattern of how they talk to one another and the depth of analysis that goes into their discussions. If she isn't a player herself, she knows some very well and pays attention to their chatter with enough understanding that she passed all my considerable filters. That's quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself.
So it's sad that Em crashed it all for me. I really liked Jake. But Em is putting him through the wringer and I lost interest with the "cheating". Fine, it's not cheating. But there's romance in the air and jock-boy just isn't a match. She doesn't respect him, even a little, so playing around with being his girlfriend really broke me. One-star level broke me.
* A note about my niece: The niece who lives with us recently came out as trans. I went with the feminine pronouns in this review (and niece designation) because his past experiences were relevant to my point when he was playing while identifying as a girl. And it was confusing trying to do it any other way. So I hope this note will suffice for those who might otherwise correct me with a "well, actually" should they know the circumstances.
Mostly, I don't buy her as a character. She has three things that would tax any living person to the max, individually, to maintain at the level she does and I don't care how much planning she does or how much sleep she forgoes, I don't buy the setup. It's just too much. Add pushy parents who are so up in her business that they crash her, supposed-to-be private, career guidance sessions and who are dictating what colleges she applies to and what majors she'll pursue and what extracurriculars she'll indulge and I'm just done with the whole thing. Not that the parents are Em's fault. So I'll blame the author for creating a high-stress impossibility that breaks my suspension of disbelief every time a detail crashes into the narrative.
And it doesn't help that you can see the house of cards Em is building out of deception, trying to hide her participation in an eSports league. Frankly, I don't buy it lasting this long with parents that up in her business. I mean, you can't hide the kind of gaming needed for high-level play. It takes concentration and that'd mean hours for nosey parents to do a bedroom drop-by where Em wouldn't even see them coming. And don't get me started on supposing that she's mouse-quiet during a tense match. I'm sorry, but that just isn't even possible at that level of play. Communication is key to teamwork and when adrenaline is high so is the volume.
And it doesn't help, either, that every axis of "other people suck" is ramped to the max. Racists are disgustingly racist (though Em has some ugly moments about white people, so turn-around/fair-play?). And I'm sorry, but I know too much about this generation and gamers to believe that it was as bad as she describes. Look, my daughters and a niece* are gamers in a couple games very like the one fictionalized here. The niece is a relatively high-profile player on a decent team (diamond tier though not league-level but with her own channel and merch). And yeah, she catches some sexist crap. But she is not at all shy about dishing it right back and that's not at all unexpected or unusual. There aren't a ton of league-level female players, and I'd love to delve into why with some forensic studies and a microscope. It'd certainly take a bit of a thick skin as a female player, but that's true of male players, too. Trash-talk is the lingua franca of that milieu and everybody is fair game. I gave it an initial pass as her representing an extreme case but then we see her win a league game and I'm not buying that official forums had a bunch of sexist attacks that weren't moderated out of existence sharpish. Game publishers ban people hard for that nonsense and nobody faults them for it.
Sigh. The rest of the gaming lingo and culture are actually pretty well-depicted. Nedd obviously knows the space, and I'd say intimately because she captured the tone and pattern of how they talk to one another and the depth of analysis that goes into their discussions. If she isn't a player herself, she knows some very well and pays attention to their chatter with enough understanding that she passed all my considerable filters. That's quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself.
So it's sad that Em crashed it all for me. I really liked Jake. But Em is putting him through the wringer and I lost interest with the "cheating". Fine, it's not cheating. But there's romance in the air and jock-boy just isn't a match. She doesn't respect him, even a little, so playing around with being his girlfriend really broke me. One-star level broke me.
* A note about my niece: The niece who lives with us recently came out as trans. I went with the feminine pronouns in this review (and niece designation) because his past experiences were relevant to my point when he was playing while identifying as a girl. And it was confusing trying to do it any other way. So I hope this note will suffice for those who might otherwise correct me with a "well, actually" should they know the circumstances.
October 28, 2021
Don't Hare the Player is a YA book. Like many YA novels I picked up before, I feel luke warm.
Don't get me wrong, the book is cute actually. I guess the problem is me. I am not a gamer. The technical jargon is what lose in me.
This is my first read by Miss Nedd. The idea of nerd hero loving a popular heroine is usually win a soft spot in my heart. I want to like this book more than 3 stars. But again... I only feel luke warm.
3 stars
Don't get me wrong, the book is cute actually. I guess the problem is me. I am not a gamer. The technical jargon is what lose in me.
This is my first read by Miss Nedd. The idea of nerd hero loving a popular heroine is usually win a soft spot in my heart. I want to like this book more than 3 stars. But again... I only feel luke warm.
3 stars
November 28, 2021
“I’m just saying that the worst thing to ever happen to me was Guardians League Online changing their meta to make my main completely useless in competition.”
I relate to this harder than I should. Overwatch recently buffed D.VA's mech call to do 250 damage instead of 50, so now being squished by a baby DVA is very real, very frequent threat.
It's okay if the above statement sounds like gibberish. Before I got into Overwatch, I wouldn't understand a lot of the terms the gaming community, or this book, uses either. As refreshing as it is to see a YA revolving around a female gamer, I do feel like this would only appeal to a rather niche audience because people who don't play games like League of Legends, Overwatch, Apex Legends, etc would have a hard time understanding Emilia's gameplay in Guardians League Online.
You can pretty much skim the gameplay sections though and still follow the main storyline. Emilia got doxxed in the past because the gamer community is a seething mess of misogyny, racism, and all-around toxicity, and is now very careful about protecting her real identity when she plays. Based on real-life experience, the community is honestly as terrible as the book portrays. It's not all Belle Delphine bathwater jokes. People tell you to kill yourself if a game goes badly, they use "autistic" and "gay" as insults, sexual harassment goes on in DMs and the parent company barely ban or penalize offenders (though considering Blizzard's lawsuits, that's hardly a surprise, is it?).
The romance was the equivalent of a lukewarm glass of juice for me. Tolerable, but not something to get excited about. Jake is quite sweet though and while it's never explicitly stated, he's clearly neurodiverse.
Plus, I didn't like how needlessly mean Emilia was to Conner (a guy she went on a date with and he's really into her). She complains about him endlessly, yet doesn't just tell him that she's not into him or that they're moving too fast. From what I can tell, his crimes include *gasp* buying her a macha latte every morning and *slams table* spending half his lunch break to venture out and buy her macha ice cream. "But I don't like macha," she whines, "and the ice cream is all melted!"
Then she’s all impressed by Jake only getting chocolate donuts for the car ride. Babe, if Conner did that, you’d be calling him presumptuous.
She also made this throwaway joke that didn't make sense to me:
“To be clear, she is harsh, but you can tell the girls who don’t get her are the ones who can, like, call their mom a bitch when their friends are over and feel no fear. You know. White girls.”
Do Black girls not call their moms bitches? I guess Hedd was trying to say privileged and spoiled girls, so not say that then? Why this random white people joke to show off your wokeness? (But not so woke to exclude a Harry Potter reference in your nerdfest book. Down with white people, but yay for transphobia, I guess?) I sometimes feel that these "men ain't shit," "white people ain't shit," "heterosexuals ain't shit" subgroups are counterproductive to their respective movements (feminism, racial equality, LGBTQIA+). They edge into extremism under the guise of humor and create stratified groups instead of working towards inclusivity. Though I already didn't like Emilia due to the Conner thing, so eh.
Emilia defenders do not @ me. You will not change my mind.
August 1, 2022
i forgot everything that happened in this tbh.
May 25, 2021
This was such a charming and fun read! There were so many adorable moments but also some serious looks into the world of online video games and the risks faced by being a girl in gaming.
Don’t Hate the Player follows Emilia Romero who is currently living a double life. By day, she’s a field hockey star with a popular boyfriend and a flawless report card. But by night, she’s kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia has mastered the art of keeping her two worlds thriving, which hinges on them staying completely separate. This is in part to keep her parents from knowing about her gaming, but also to keep her safety as female players frequently face harassment in the online community. When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to her team and the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team-Jake-recognizes her.
Honestly all I want to talk about is how cute this was. The romance was so sweet and Jake was a total cinnamon roll of a character. He must be protected at all costs. I loved watching the friends to lovers relationship develop between him and Emilia. They were both so understanding and supportive of each other.
There was definitely some serious sexism that Emilia had to deal with. While I don’t know a ton about the gaming community, I think this was a really important topic to include as I’m sure people in real life have had to go through with similar things.
It was cool learning more about eSports as that’s growing to become such a serious and widely-followed competition.
I really enjoyed this one and the whole cast of characters were fun to follow along with!
Don’t Hate the Player follows Emilia Romero who is currently living a double life. By day, she’s a field hockey star with a popular boyfriend and a flawless report card. But by night, she’s kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia has mastered the art of keeping her two worlds thriving, which hinges on them staying completely separate. This is in part to keep her parents from knowing about her gaming, but also to keep her safety as female players frequently face harassment in the online community. When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to her team and the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team-Jake-recognizes her.
Honestly all I want to talk about is how cute this was. The romance was so sweet and Jake was a total cinnamon roll of a character. He must be protected at all costs. I loved watching the friends to lovers relationship develop between him and Emilia. They were both so understanding and supportive of each other.
There was definitely some serious sexism that Emilia had to deal with. While I don’t know a ton about the gaming community, I think this was a really important topic to include as I’m sure people in real life have had to go through with similar things.
It was cool learning more about eSports as that’s growing to become such a serious and widely-followed competition.
I really enjoyed this one and the whole cast of characters were fun to follow along with!
April 22, 2025
Really meant for a highschooler or someone in junior high that is a gamer
Don't Hate the Player brings a fun, nerdy twist to the YA rom-com world with its blend of competitive gaming and secret identities. The setup is super relatable for anyone who's ever lived a double life between school and their passions, and Emila is a likable protagonist with a lot on her plate—balancing academics, family expectations, and her love for gaming.
The gaming scenes are immersive and full of energy, and the slow-burn romance with Jake has its sweet moments. That said, some of the pacing felt uneven, and the story occasionally leans too hard into tropes without pushing beyond them. A few plot points were predictable, and the emotional stakes didn’t always hit as hard as they could’ve.
Still, it's a solid, enjoyable read with great representation and a unique spin on the teen romance formula. If you’re into e-sports or love stories with a competitive edge, this one’s worth checking out.
Don't Hate the Player brings a fun, nerdy twist to the YA rom-com world with its blend of competitive gaming and secret identities. The setup is super relatable for anyone who's ever lived a double life between school and their passions, and Emila is a likable protagonist with a lot on her plate—balancing academics, family expectations, and her love for gaming.
The gaming scenes are immersive and full of energy, and the slow-burn romance with Jake has its sweet moments. That said, some of the pacing felt uneven, and the story occasionally leans too hard into tropes without pushing beyond them. A few plot points were predictable, and the emotional stakes didn’t always hit as hard as they could’ve.
Still, it's a solid, enjoyable read with great representation and a unique spin on the teen romance formula. If you’re into e-sports or love stories with a competitive edge, this one’s worth checking out.
July 1, 2021
I think there were a few things that really knocked a star (or two) off but overall, this was fairly good.
‘Don’t Hate the Player’ follows star high schooler Emilia Romero, an excellent student, a star field hockey player, and all around perfect preppy girl. Or so she wants everyone to think. In the dark of night, she’s an excellent gamer, so good that she is on track to be pro.
Along with Emilia, we meet Jake, another player and boy who’s flitted around Emilia‘s circle since they were kids. He comes from a broken family and when they meet again, it on opposing sides of a gaming tournament.
I really loved Jake. I think he was so sweet and how Emilia helped him with his trauma was so sweet. I liked Emilia enough. At the very start she seems to look down on the other nerds, despite being one herself. I didn’t like that but her attitude definitely changed so I think she learned from it.
The plot was pretty good, all things considered. I liked the twists and how it all resolved. I found the ‘enemies’ pretty despicable and it absolutely infuriated me that this is all real stuff that happens to women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ members on the daily in gaming communities. It makes me so. Mad. Especially since I am a gamer and have met my fair share of awful players who judge you based on factors that have nothing to do with my playing.
Overall, a great read for teen gamers. Romance is super cute and the game descriptions are really neat.
‘Don’t Hate the Player’ follows star high schooler Emilia Romero, an excellent student, a star field hockey player, and all around perfect preppy girl. Or so she wants everyone to think. In the dark of night, she’s an excellent gamer, so good that she is on track to be pro.
Along with Emilia, we meet Jake, another player and boy who’s flitted around Emilia‘s circle since they were kids. He comes from a broken family and when they meet again, it on opposing sides of a gaming tournament.
I really loved Jake. I think he was so sweet and how Emilia helped him with his trauma was so sweet. I liked Emilia enough. At the very start she seems to look down on the other nerds, despite being one herself. I didn’t like that but her attitude definitely changed so I think she learned from it.
The plot was pretty good, all things considered. I liked the twists and how it all resolved. I found the ‘enemies’ pretty despicable and it absolutely infuriated me that this is all real stuff that happens to women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ members on the daily in gaming communities. It makes me so. Mad. Especially since I am a gamer and have met my fair share of awful players who judge you based on factors that have nothing to do with my playing.
Overall, a great read for teen gamers. Romance is super cute and the game descriptions are really neat.
July 26, 2022
nerd, streamers y que la principal de llame como yo (en realidad solo su apodo)? claramente iba a gustarme este libro, si a mi nomas me gustan los boludos como jake que viven a base de jueguitos y son las personas mas virgas del planeta, dios, justo ese tipo de chico me gustan
August 12, 2021
I was going to give this a generous 3 stars but in writing this review I realised it deserves 2. I’m so disappointed! When I came across this book a few months ago, I thought it sounded so fun and cute. I was so excited that I even pre-ordered it but goddamn do I feel let down. My main critique is actually within the structure and writing style itself, which never usually bothers me. I thought it was so bizarre to start each arbitrary part with a chapter in the third person perspective of Jake, and then to alternate the rest of the chapters in the first person perspective of Emilia and the Unity team group chat. I wanted to read more from Jake’s perspective - he was the closest thing to an interesting character. I really didn’t like Emilia. I found that almost all of her problems were entirely of her own making. I wasn’t compelled that she had to keep her gaming life totally secret from everyone she’s ever interacted with. For the most part, I wasn’t sympathetic toward her. I felt that her relationship with Jake could’ve been really sweet had it been explored more, but it felt like a very minor subplot more than anything. I never got excited about them being together. In fact, all of the characters felt painfully one-dimensional to me.
As for the gaming scenes themselves, I found them a little too heavy on gamer jargon that I wasn’t very familiar with. It was easy enough to infer everything, but I found that the description of MMO strategy and gameplay doesn’t really translate to the written form very well.
I found the major complication to be interesting, but i thought it was skated over too quickly. I think Emilia should’ve been a lot angrier and more upset when she found out what happened. I would’ve liked to see her confront the people involved.
Finally, a couple of trivial things: WHY didn’t we get to see Jake and Emilia go back to the arcade??? That would’ve been such a good scene and I’m MAD. And WHYYYY have two characters called Matt and one character called Penny and another called Penelope??? WHAT DOES THAT ACHIEVE????
As for the gaming scenes themselves, I found them a little too heavy on gamer jargon that I wasn’t very familiar with. It was easy enough to infer everything, but I found that the description of MMO strategy and gameplay doesn’t really translate to the written form very well.
I found the major complication to be interesting, but i thought it was skated over too quickly. I think Emilia should’ve been a lot angrier and more upset when she found out what happened. I would’ve liked to see her confront the people involved.
Finally, a couple of trivial things: WHY didn’t we get to see Jake and Emilia go back to the arcade??? That would’ve been such a good scene and I’m MAD. And WHYYYY have two characters called Matt and one character called Penny and another called Penelope??? WHAT DOES THAT ACHIEVE????
October 30, 2021
"Jake was eleven years old and completely in awe of the bossy, curly-haired girl who showed him the shield trick in Knights of Darkness and waited for him to get pizza. He was twelve and thirteen and feeling his heart leap into his throat every time he went to a party and saw her there, knowing she’d want to play. He was fifteen and hiding from her in the arena, and she’d found him anyway. He was caught in the rain, and she basically kidnapped him. She opened up to him, she saw him, and told him he wasn’t stupid. Jake had never gotten over his crush,"
And now he has his crush as her girlfriend. He won.
Woof.
That was one heck of a story and so beautiful. I'm soooooo glad that Em switched over to Team UNITY. She deserved it.
And also really loved how her parents accepted her choices - though money did has its part - but, oh well. Parents do worry about their children's future and seeing it secure would make any parent agree to whatever their child is doing(anything legal).
One thing that the story missed - was showing the shit faced loser - Byunki's reaction after he lost. Well, that would be the most satisfying thing after he doxxed Em. He got what HE deserved. Though I'd like to know to his history with Bob - team unity's DAD.
Overall an awesome story with really cute and beautiful teens "in love" with gaming and in love with eath other.
And now he has his crush as her girlfriend. He won.
Woof.
That was one heck of a story and so beautiful. I'm soooooo glad that Em switched over to Team UNITY. She deserved it.
And also really loved how her parents accepted her choices - though money did has its part - but, oh well. Parents do worry about their children's future and seeing it secure would make any parent agree to whatever their child is doing(anything legal).
One thing that the story missed - was showing the shit faced loser - Byunki's reaction after he lost. Well, that would be the most satisfying thing after he doxxed Em. He got what HE deserved. Though I'd like to know to his history with Bob - team unity's DAD.
Overall an awesome story with really cute and beautiful teens "in love" with gaming and in love with eath other.
June 21, 2021
📚 Hello Book Friends! I just finished DON’T HATE THE PLAYER by Alexis Need. I needed something light and ended with a book that had a nail-biting kind of finale. This book is about two teenagers quite involved in online video games. They met as children and met again as opponents at a major online gaming competition. There are sparks, there is drama, and there are hectic moments in this book. I love the chemistry between Emelia and Jake. I also enjoyed the gaming matches descriptions; they were exciting and quite vivid. This book comes with all the teenage triggers: cyberbullying, insecurity, deception, and plain meanness. It also comes with the discovery of love, friendship, loyalty, and support. Great read overall!
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August 15, 2021
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Emilia is a field hockey player starting her senior year of high school with a popular boyfriend. She is also the only female player on a highly competitive eSports team. She has kept her two worlds separate, but when the team enters a tournament, her two worlds collide when a member from a rival team and a boy from her past, Jake recognizes her.
This was a cute story about two teenagers who were childhood friends but lost touch as they grew older. It was cute to see Emilia and Jake interact when they were younger over their mutual love for arcade games. I really liked both of these main characters. At the beginning, I was not a fan of Emilia, but she definitely grew on me as the story progressed. I enjoyed seeing her grow and begin to stand up for herself and what she wanted. Jake was a sweet little cinnamon roll and I wanted to hug him. The side characters are also all unique, with their own personalities and I loved the banter the teams had with one another. I also thought the inclusion of the chat forum between Team Unity was a lot of fun.
Overall, a cute contemporary read featuring the gaming community.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
Emilia is a field hockey player starting her senior year of high school with a popular boyfriend. She is also the only female player on a highly competitive eSports team. She has kept her two worlds separate, but when the team enters a tournament, her two worlds collide when a member from a rival team and a boy from her past, Jake recognizes her.
This was a cute story about two teenagers who were childhood friends but lost touch as they grew older. It was cute to see Emilia and Jake interact when they were younger over their mutual love for arcade games. I really liked both of these main characters. At the beginning, I was not a fan of Emilia, but she definitely grew on me as the story progressed. I enjoyed seeing her grow and begin to stand up for herself and what she wanted. Jake was a sweet little cinnamon roll and I wanted to hug him. The side characters are also all unique, with their own personalities and I loved the banter the teams had with one another. I also thought the inclusion of the chat forum between Team Unity was a lot of fun.
Overall, a cute contemporary read featuring the gaming community.
March 5, 2021
So cute! I'm picky about contemporaries, but this one was so joyous, jam-packed with positive representation and found-family tropes and respectful teenage boys PLUS the gaming aspect gave us moments of "fantasy action" - which I love. The protagonists are fabulous - I LOVE Emilia - and the side characters are also fabulous - Team Penny - and I would genuinely reread this one, which is rare for me when it comes to contemporary.
If you're a fan of Becky Albertalli and want a book that crosses her work with Marie Lu's WARCROSS, look no further than DON'T HATE THE PLAYER!
If you're a fan of Becky Albertalli and want a book that crosses her work with Marie Lu's WARCROSS, look no further than DON'T HATE THE PLAYER!
dnf
August 18, 2021O kadar keyif almadım ki bırakıyorum.
Hiç ilerlemiyor adeta.
Hiç ilerlemiyor adeta.
November 13, 2021
might not appeal as much to non-gamers but wow i loved this
May 5, 2022
Should I stop reading young adult books? Yes.
Will I? No!
Will I? No!
January 10, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I would only recommend this if you like gaming..
I would only recommend this if you like gaming..
June 20, 2021
soooo gooodddd
February 10, 2023
Full Review on The Candid Cover
4.5 Stars
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd is the eSports book I never knew I needed. As a fan of any book about competition, I enjoyed reading about this one’s gaming tournament, and I learned a lot about the gaming community by the time I finished. The main characters are supportive of each other, and the side characters add even more entertainment to the story. I would definitely recommend this adorable contemporary to gamers and non-gamers alike.
Living a secret second life as a pro gamer, Emilia is thrilled when an eSports tournament comes to her city, offering her a shot at a major prize. However, her perfect balance between her life as a popular field hockey star and her life as an elite gamer is thrown off when someone from her school competes on a rival team and recognizes her. I’ve never read a book about eSports before, so I enjoyed this concept and the knowledge I gained about the gaming community. There are many gameplay descriptions throughout, but they are never intimidating to outsiders like myself.
❀ EASY TO ROOT FOR CHARACTERS
The main characters, Emilia and Jake, are both easy to root for. Emilia is a secret gamer, firstly because her strict parents would never approve, but also because she must hide her identity in real life for fear of being threatened. Through her character, we learn about the struggles of women in the gaming community, and I enjoyed the critical look at this male-dominated group. Jake, Emilia’s childhood friend, who he met through gaming, is both a competitor and a supportive friend. He is compassionate and respectful, but it never feels fake or forced. I loved his dynamic with Emilia, and their relationship brings a lot of sweetness to the story and brought a genuine smile to my face.
❀ DYNAMIC SIDE CHARACTERS
I especially enjoyed the book’s side characters, who really make the story shine. The members of Team Unity and Team Fury are given the complexity they deserve, and each has a distinct personality. Reading about Team Unity’s unwavering support for each other is so heartwarming, and the transcripts from their chat are also included. I am always a fan of dynamic side characters, and, in this one, they make the story even more entertaining.
❀ EYE-OPENING AND HEARTWARMING
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd is both an eye-opening and heartwarming look inside the gaming community. I loved the original concept, and both main characters are likeable. The side characters also bring more entertainment to the story, resulting in an upbeat story that still touches on serious topics. I would definitely recommend this one to those looking for a story with positive representation and friendly rivalry.
4.5 Stars
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd is the eSports book I never knew I needed. As a fan of any book about competition, I enjoyed reading about this one’s gaming tournament, and I learned a lot about the gaming community by the time I finished. The main characters are supportive of each other, and the side characters add even more entertainment to the story. I would definitely recommend this adorable contemporary to gamers and non-gamers alike.
Living a secret second life as a pro gamer, Emilia is thrilled when an eSports tournament comes to her city, offering her a shot at a major prize. However, her perfect balance between her life as a popular field hockey star and her life as an elite gamer is thrown off when someone from her school competes on a rival team and recognizes her. I’ve never read a book about eSports before, so I enjoyed this concept and the knowledge I gained about the gaming community. There are many gameplay descriptions throughout, but they are never intimidating to outsiders like myself.
❀ EASY TO ROOT FOR CHARACTERS
The main characters, Emilia and Jake, are both easy to root for. Emilia is a secret gamer, firstly because her strict parents would never approve, but also because she must hide her identity in real life for fear of being threatened. Through her character, we learn about the struggles of women in the gaming community, and I enjoyed the critical look at this male-dominated group. Jake, Emilia’s childhood friend, who he met through gaming, is both a competitor and a supportive friend. He is compassionate and respectful, but it never feels fake or forced. I loved his dynamic with Emilia, and their relationship brings a lot of sweetness to the story and brought a genuine smile to my face.
❀ DYNAMIC SIDE CHARACTERS
I especially enjoyed the book’s side characters, who really make the story shine. The members of Team Unity and Team Fury are given the complexity they deserve, and each has a distinct personality. Reading about Team Unity’s unwavering support for each other is so heartwarming, and the transcripts from their chat are also included. I am always a fan of dynamic side characters, and, in this one, they make the story even more entertaining.
❀ EYE-OPENING AND HEARTWARMING
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd is both an eye-opening and heartwarming look inside the gaming community. I loved the original concept, and both main characters are likeable. The side characters also bring more entertainment to the story, resulting in an upbeat story that still touches on serious topics. I would definitely recommend this one to those looking for a story with positive representation and friendly rivalry.
June 24, 2022
This was one of the best-written books I've ever read. It was witty, hilarious, and nerdy. I couldn't have asked for more from this book!
Something I absolutely adored about this book was its ability to have dual pov without having dual pov. This book is told from the pov of Emilia, but we get glimpses into the mind of our leading man's, head and life. Jake starts off the book with a strong introduction into how he and Emilia met and their relationship thus far. His personality is so clearly laid out without it being a dump of information or quirks that I was in awe. We get a few more glimpses into his head throughout the book with chapters like the initial one, but also through video game chats between him and his team. Again, very cleverly written and clear to get a grip of all the characters' personalities.
Sorta piggy-backing off that paragraph, I have to point out how great Jake was. He's different than a lot of leading men we read about in books. He's awkward and nervous most of the time and isn't rocking a six-pack. He's also sweet, funny, and so stinking adorable that I wish he was my nerd boyfriend.
Okay. Moving on...As perfect and amazing as this book was, I have one slightly negative thing to say about it. I wish, SO BADLY, the romance would have been more descriptive. Like, it's cute and sweet, but we don't get to live through the kisses with the characters. It's pointed out that it's happening and that's that. That's my only complaint. Back to the good stuff.
Here is a little list of things that I have to point out and will probably not make sense out of context:
- Language bot was awesome and hilarious
- Team Unity was so cool!
- Mrs. Weasley's quote coming in for the kill!!
- That Marvel reference tho
Overall, I can't recommend this book enough if you love nerd romances and references, are searching for a really well-written novel, and have a bit of a competitive streak. I will love this book forever and ever.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
Something I absolutely adored about this book was its ability to have dual pov without having dual pov. This book is told from the pov of Emilia, but we get glimpses into the mind of our leading man's, head and life. Jake starts off the book with a strong introduction into how he and Emilia met and their relationship thus far. His personality is so clearly laid out without it being a dump of information or quirks that I was in awe. We get a few more glimpses into his head throughout the book with chapters like the initial one, but also through video game chats between him and his team. Again, very cleverly written and clear to get a grip of all the characters' personalities.
Sorta piggy-backing off that paragraph, I have to point out how great Jake was. He's different than a lot of leading men we read about in books. He's awkward and nervous most of the time and isn't rocking a six-pack. He's also sweet, funny, and so stinking adorable that I wish he was my nerd boyfriend.
Okay. Moving on...As perfect and amazing as this book was, I have one slightly negative thing to say about it. I wish, SO BADLY, the romance would have been more descriptive. Like, it's cute and sweet, but we don't get to live through the kisses with the characters. It's pointed out that it's happening and that's that. That's my only complaint. Back to the good stuff.
Here is a little list of things that I have to point out and will probably not make sense out of context:
- Language bot was awesome and hilarious
- Team Unity was so cool!
- Mrs. Weasley's quote coming in for the kill!!
- That Marvel reference tho
Overall, I can't recommend this book enough if you love nerd romances and references, are searching for a really well-written novel, and have a bit of a competitive streak. I will love this book forever and ever.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
May 17, 2021
Review originally posted on My Bookish Escapades.
Perfectly awkward, funny, honest, sweet and real.... Don't Hate the Player put the biggest smile(s) on my face and left me a puddle of lovestruck goo. I am mush.
First of all, I know next to nothing about the world of competitive video gaming. Esports is a whole other world for me. I'm as far from a gamer as you can get. But did I let all that stop me from enjoying DHTP and falling in love with Emilia and Jake? Heck no. I wanted to know everything there was to know about GLO. It's complex and insanely competitive. And I could hardly keep up at times, lol.
I'm going to be totally honest and admit I wasn't Emilia's biggest fan in the beginning. But I grew to love her along the journey. She's thriving in the esports world that's mostly dominated by men. It's HARD and it's scary. People will be angry. They will be envious. But she loves what she's doing and she's determined to make a name for herself. Her character deeply resonated with me, and I think a lot of readers would feel the same way.
"You're so cute I could murder you." - Seven words that perfectly sum up Jake Hooper. Jake is a whole other universe. He's awkward as heck, genuinely sweet and adorably charming in his Jake-ness. He's my favorite Jake. We need more Jake Hooper's in YA.
Team Unity is the best. The. Best. Can ya'll please adopt me? Bob-Dad (Dad-Bob?), Ki, and Penelope are exactly the kind of people I'd be lucky to have on my side. The chat forum chapters were my favorite to read! They have this amazing dynamic and I just want to be in that circle of amazing-ness and love. I need more Team Unity in my life.
Trust me, read this one asap!
"Nothing odd or secret about me could surprise him. Or make him like me less. I am clearly horny for acceptance."
"Slow as these moments stretched, he hadn't figured out how to pause real life yet. Also, there were no helpful Reddit spoiler threads for making story choices like the one he was presented with right now."
I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review. Quoted excerpt/s may change in the final print.
Perfectly awkward, funny, honest, sweet and real.... Don't Hate the Player put the biggest smile(s) on my face and left me a puddle of lovestruck goo. I am mush.
First of all, I know next to nothing about the world of competitive video gaming. Esports is a whole other world for me. I'm as far from a gamer as you can get. But did I let all that stop me from enjoying DHTP and falling in love with Emilia and Jake? Heck no. I wanted to know everything there was to know about GLO. It's complex and insanely competitive. And I could hardly keep up at times, lol.
I'm going to be totally honest and admit I wasn't Emilia's biggest fan in the beginning. But I grew to love her along the journey. She's thriving in the esports world that's mostly dominated by men. It's HARD and it's scary. People will be angry. They will be envious. But she loves what she's doing and she's determined to make a name for herself. Her character deeply resonated with me, and I think a lot of readers would feel the same way.
"You're so cute I could murder you." - Seven words that perfectly sum up Jake Hooper. Jake is a whole other universe. He's awkward as heck, genuinely sweet and adorably charming in his Jake-ness. He's my favorite Jake. We need more Jake Hooper's in YA.
Team Unity is the best. The. Best. Can ya'll please adopt me? Bob-Dad (Dad-Bob?), Ki, and Penelope are exactly the kind of people I'd be lucky to have on my side. The chat forum chapters were my favorite to read! They have this amazing dynamic and I just want to be in that circle of amazing-ness and love. I need more Team Unity in my life.
Trust me, read this one asap!
"Nothing odd or secret about me could surprise him. Or make him like me less. I am clearly horny for acceptance."
"Slow as these moments stretched, he hadn't figured out how to pause real life yet. Also, there were no helpful Reddit spoiler threads for making story choices like the one he was presented with right now."
I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review. Quoted excerpt/s may change in the final print.
November 17, 2021
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The prologue set a high bar for this book, and I think Nedd kept that level of excellence throughout the book.
I loved Emilia and everything she represented in this story. I hated that she felt she had to hide part of herself, and some of that was motivated by fear of the toxic side of the gaming world, but I liked seeing her still fight for her right to have a place in that world. She didn't do it with words, she did it with skill. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
I also adored the Unity team in general and how they served as a contrast for the good and bad in gaming. But the star for me was Jake. His heartfelt pining from the prologue set me up to love this soft boy, and my affection for him only grew throughout the story. Emilia coming back into his life as a definite pro. They made a great team and is it wrong to root for the sensitive nerdy boy with his heart on his sleeve?
Overall: Nedd did an incredible job pulling me into this world. I cheered and jeered, when appropriate, as I watched Jake and Emilia conquer GLO and love together.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
The prologue set a high bar for this book, and I think Nedd kept that level of excellence throughout the book.
I loved Emilia and everything she represented in this story. I hated that she felt she had to hide part of herself, and some of that was motivated by fear of the toxic side of the gaming world, but I liked seeing her still fight for her right to have a place in that world. She didn't do it with words, she did it with skill. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
I also adored the Unity team in general and how they served as a contrast for the good and bad in gaming. But the star for me was Jake. His heartfelt pining from the prologue set me up to love this soft boy, and my affection for him only grew throughout the story. Emilia coming back into his life as a definite pro. They made a great team and is it wrong to root for the sensitive nerdy boy with his heart on his sleeve?
Overall: Nedd did an incredible job pulling me into this world. I cheered and jeered, when appropriate, as I watched Jake and Emilia conquer GLO and love together.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 19, 2021
**review based on an ARC
I liked this book way more than I expected to. It is a wonderful example of how to make pop culture references that feel natural instead of forced. They add to the characterization and/or plot instead of just being there for "relatability." (Plus, there was a John Mulaney reference. A surefire way to my heart.) This book is also a great example of how to use a group chat well in a story. The Team Unity group chat added so much to the plot and characters even though they were just "dialogue." Again, they weren't there for no reason. The chats served a purpose for the characters and story. Two things that can really bug me in books were done super well here.
I'll admit that I don't know much about gaming, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. There were only a few times I was confused, and Google helped out in those instances. Of course, if you are a gamer, you'll probably love the book even more.
The plot started off pretty slow, but it picks up fast and I got completely caught up in what was happening. It feels action-packed because of the gameplay descriptions even though it's a YA contemporary.
I liked this book way more than I expected to. It is a wonderful example of how to make pop culture references that feel natural instead of forced. They add to the characterization and/or plot instead of just being there for "relatability." (Plus, there was a John Mulaney reference. A surefire way to my heart.) This book is also a great example of how to use a group chat well in a story. The Team Unity group chat added so much to the plot and characters even though they were just "dialogue." Again, they weren't there for no reason. The chats served a purpose for the characters and story. Two things that can really bug me in books were done super well here.
I'll admit that I don't know much about gaming, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. There were only a few times I was confused, and Google helped out in those instances. Of course, if you are a gamer, you'll probably love the book even more.
The plot started off pretty slow, but it picks up fast and I got completely caught up in what was happening. It feels action-packed because of the gameplay descriptions even though it's a YA contemporary.
Read
April 7, 2021I really loved this one, despite it being very gaming-heavy and my understanding only the tiniest fraction of that part. The voice is so good, the history is so cute, I love the group chats, you can palpably feel the pressure on Emilia's shoulders with all she's trying to do and why, and the romance is so sweet. The only thing I was hoping would go even more intense is the Gamergate type of stuff - it's told, not shown (though definitely not ignored) - but I definitely understand leaving the worst parts of it out of a contemporary romance. Anyway, highly recommend.
CW: misogyny, transphobia
CW: misogyny, transphobia
July 10, 2021
3.5 stars
pros:
• fast-paced
• cute romance
• easy writing to create an imagery
• book cover (it's so cute!)
cons:
• took time for me to wrap my head around the gaming terms (didn't know there was a glossary at the end)
• little to no character development in Jake
• couldn't connect with Penny. her character needed more scene time (if that makes sense)
• blurb (doesn't do justice to the book)
why should one read this book?
• binge-able
• popular girl, invisible boy trope
• "I am not supposed to like you but I do" trope
• can be read in one sitting
pros:
• fast-paced
• cute romance
• easy writing to create an imagery
• book cover (it's so cute!)
cons:
• took time for me to wrap my head around the gaming terms (didn't know there was a glossary at the end)
• little to no character development in Jake
• couldn't connect with Penny. her character needed more scene time (if that makes sense)
• blurb (doesn't do justice to the book)
why should one read this book?
• binge-able
• popular girl, invisible boy trope
• "I am not supposed to like you but I do" trope
• can be read in one sitting
July 12, 2022
SO cute!!! I really loved this book! I mentioned this in one of my updates, but I never felt annoyed with the pop culture or gaming references. Half of it is because they aren't overused and the other half is because they feel semi-natural. I think the author has a pretty good handle of how nerdy young adults act, especially in the faux-Discord interstitial chapters.
I can definitely foresee some older audience members taking offense at the explicit mentions of racism and misogyny Emilia but honestly, it's the reality for a lot of young women of color in gaming spaces. (Including myself). It was really poignant that even though this is a cute little love story, Emilia has a constant worry about doxxing and harassment. I've said this in other reviews, but it's really realistic to me to have stories that focus on light subjects but still have an air of anxiety around bigotry and oppression.
I've been trying to write this review for a long time but I can't seem to squeeze anymore thoughts out of my brain. This book is super super good! I can't think of anything else to say.
I can definitely foresee some older audience members taking offense at the explicit mentions of racism and misogyny Emilia but honestly, it's the reality for a lot of young women of color in gaming spaces. (Including myself). It was really poignant that even though this is a cute little love story, Emilia has a constant worry about doxxing and harassment. I've said this in other reviews, but it's really realistic to me to have stories that focus on light subjects but still have an air of anxiety around bigotry and oppression.
I've been trying to write this review for a long time but I can't seem to squeeze anymore thoughts out of my brain. This book is super super good! I can't think of anything else to say.
November 26, 2023
So you’re telling me none of the boys at Emilia’s school know anything about her secret (but very public) gaming persona? You’re also telling me that Jake is failing school and spends all his time practicing gaming for this competition, but Emilia’s able to excel in school, be a star athlete, find time to sleep, and be a top gamer without devoting her entire life to practice? I find it hard to suspend my disbelief.
Aside from the logic and believability issues I had, this was a cute and quick YA contemporary romance read. As a disclaimer, I know nothing about gaming or eSports, and despite that, this was enjoyable (even if lots of gamer terminology went over my head).
Aside from the logic and believability issues I had, this was a cute and quick YA contemporary romance read. As a disclaimer, I know nothing about gaming or eSports, and despite that, this was enjoyable (even if lots of gamer terminology went over my head).
January 30, 2022
almost put me in a reading slump? yes
long ass chapters? also yes
did i still enjoy it? 🅈🄴🅂
long ass chapters? also yes
did i still enjoy it? 🅈🄴🅂
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