Great teen book
Viola is kind of a b-witch, and that's the way she likes it. It keeps her safe, especially in the gaming world. Jack had his life turned upside down due to an on the field tackle that completely destroyed his knee (multiple tears), They have nothing in common, until Jack begs for help in playing a popular online video game from someone that he thinks is a guy, but is Viola in reality. This is a cute adaptation of Twelfth Night play, with an homage to the She's The Man movie, and features some really cute moments between Viola and Jack, as well as some heated moments that you got to see Viola's softer sides, and Jack's non-jock dude bro moments. If you are looking for a fun read, that does touch on some of the sexism that is found in fandoms, but also is a good adaptation of a very fun play, then I recommend this one.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Game on everyone!
This was a great read! Definitely a YA, but an absolute great time to read. The characters were believable and had great story arcs. I really enjoyed this book and am recommending it to all my friends that like contemporary romance!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Delightful YA romance
This is a delightful YA romance with complex characters who struggle to make connections. I thought I'd struggle to connect to this book because of it, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Viola is an interesting character. She’s angry and frustrated with the sexism she experiences in life, and she’s even more frustrated by the people in her life who refuse to acknowledge it. For the first part of the book, she’s not very likable — and she openly admits that she isn’t. She’s not trying to be likable. Because of her somewhat abrasive personality, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the book. However, as the book went on and I got to know her better, it becomes more clear why she is the way she is. She accepts her flaws but also is able to embrace the good side of those flaws. I loved how she — and I as the reader — became more accepting of who she is and shows that women don’t need to bend their personalities and preferences to make everyone else more comfortable. While she has room to grow and can change to be better, she doesn’t have to be anything she isn’t. As a teenager who wasn’t always very likable, I grew to absolutely adore Vi. Similarly, Jack is a character I didn’t think I’d like. I’ve never had any interest in the football star jock types. But Jack’s way of slowly starting to look at things from a different perspective as well as try new activities while dealing with possibly his entire life plans falling to pieces around him endeared me to him. The way these characters come together and get a stronger support system not only in each other but in the people around them is very sweet, and it made the overall book feel sweet and hopeful in the way a teen romance book like this should. The banter between the characters was great, and the evolution of their relationship, both online and in-person, develops naturally and satisfactorily. The rest of the cast of characters add a lot of spark to the story. Although I was frustrated with several of those characters, I liked how they reflect life. Sometimes, not everybody apologizes or learns but you learn to move on with relationships anyway. Fans of teen rom-coms in the 2000s will likely appreciate the energy of this book. It felt at home next to stories like 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, and, of course in this case, She’s the Man, but updated for a 2020s audience. Overall, this is a great addition to the teen romance genre. The standout characters and how they handle their relationships and life challenges make the book vibrant and satisfying. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I don’t need flies.
I honestly loved this book! I was looking for something lighthearted and fun to read and this is definitely it. I loved the family dynamics in between the characters. It was really refreshing how the male protagonist and female protagonist were able to learn how to navigate different changes in their lives together and change each other.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This book is a delight
"I don't want to be considered beautiful without being seen as capable, too." YA romcom Shakespeare retelling? grumpy x sunshine? mistaken identity? endless nerd content? I was so excited to read this book and I was NOT disappointed. It did take me a little bit to get into the story. On the surface, both of our main characters can come off straight-up... unlikeable. Viola is abrasive and Jack is a little too 'Mr. Popular.' But that only made their growth and getting to know them that much more impactful. This book is full of characters who leap off the page with distinct voices and depth, side characters included. (Bash and Olivia, my beloveds<333) This is one of those YA books that I think will appeal to readers of all ages. The characters authentically feel like teenagers - they are flawed and messy and just trying to figure things out - but also deal with issues that are universal and relatable. I also loved just how much was packed into this book. Twelfth Knight is so much more than just a romcom, it's also a coming-of-age, with social commentary and a love of nerd culture smoothly weaved in. This novel explores everything, from video game and fandom culture, social and parental pressures, misogyny, sexuality, family dynamics, and so much more, all without losing its humor and heart. The romance isn't the sole focus, which may not be for everyone, but I thought worked well for this story. As for the romance itself, the slow burn was, in my humble opinion, perfection. It felt so real and unrushed and believable, which isn't always easy in a contemporary 'enemies to lovers' setting. I loved every second of Vi & Jack's interactions. I fully expect this book to take the internet by storm because it's just so darn QUOTABLE! There were so many lines that just hit perfectly that I wrote a LOT of them down, and the banter was laugh-out-loud-worthy. I hadn't read any Olivia Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth before, but the writing was so excellent that I will absolutely be picking up everything else she's written. My actual rating is 4.5 stars, but rounding up because I had so much fun reading this. Literally read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. Thanks so much to Netgalley and tor teen for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy for myself!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Such a fun read!!
Vi Reyes is a ray of sunshine (NOT). She doesn’t back down to get what she wants and does NOT take any disrespect from ANYONE. Which is why people typically think she is unlikeable and kinda a b****. She is student body vice president, and loathes Jack Orsino, who somehow became actual president out of pure popularity. He is the typical football jock and is her nemesis. As a girl who loves fantasy and combat video games, Vi is used to guys assuming she doesn’t know what she is doing, giving her unsolicited advice, and most of the time targeting her to kill first once they realize that a girl is playing a “boyish” game. To prevent this problem, Vi decides to play Twelfth Knight, her new favorite MMORPG as a boy (named Cesario) so that nobody knows who she truly is. She becomes one of the best players in the game. One day, Vi is playing Twelfth Knight when she notices a pretty familiar username: dukeorsino12. Duke Orsino is one of Jack’s nicknames, and he recently began playing the game to distract him from the pain and loneliness that came with his major knee injury. The two of them quickly become best friends through this game, EXCEPT there is one big problem….. Jack doesn’t know he is actually playing with Vi; he thinks he is playing with a guy. What will he do when he finds out he’s been becoming close and sharing secrets with THE Vi Reyes this whole time?? I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so much fun to read this YA enemies-to-lovers story. I’ve never read a book about video games before so this was exciting! 4 stars from me!! Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with my first ever ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts on the book! ♥
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great YA read for any reader
Only Olivie Blake can write a YA novel about role-playing gamers and football stars and still fill it with top-notch banter, betrayal, shakespearean quips and a relatable, romantic underdog to root for. I was hesitant when I got this ARC because it is seniors in high school, and I am 34 so I thought hmm not much for me to relate to, but boy was I surprised. (Then I thought to myself, why am I surprised? Olivie Blake’s writing is phenomenal, regardless of the subject matter.) I laughed so much and genuinely just had a great time throughout this whole read. Blake weaves topics of toxic masculinity—especially in the online gaming world—as well as other important themes into this romantic comedy seamlessly. Her talent truly knows no bounds and I would recommend this book to any and everyone who is looking for a fun read with stellar writing.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com