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The No-Girlfriend Rule
Julie Murphy meets Casey McQuiston in this unforgettable queer romance about a teen girl whose foray into fantasy tabletop roleplaying brings her new confidence, true friends, and a shot at real, swoon-worthy love.
Hollis Beckwith isn’t trying to get a girl—she’s just trying to get by. For a fat, broke girl with anxiety, the start of senior year brings enough to worry about. And besides, she already has a Chris. Their relationship isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s comfortable and familiar, and Hollis wants it to survive beyond senior year. To prove she’s a girlfriend worth keeping, Hollis decides to learn Chris’s favorite tabletop roleplaying game, Secrets & Sorcery—but his unfortunate “No Girlfriends at the Table” rule means she’ll need to find her own group if she wants in.
Enter: Gloria Castañeda and her all-girls game of S&S! Crowded at the table in Gloria’s cozy Ohio apartment, the six girls battle twisted magic in-game and become fast friends outside it. With her character as armor, Hollis starts to believe that maybe she can be more than just fat, anxious, and a little lost.
But then an in-game crush develops between Hollis’s character and the bard played by charismatic Aini Amin-Shaw, whose wide, cocky grin makes Hollis’s stomach flutter. As their gentle flirting sparks into something deeper, Hollis is no longer sure what she wants…or if she’s content to just play pretend.
Hollis Beckwith isn’t trying to get a girl—she’s just trying to get by. For a fat, broke girl with anxiety, the start of senior year brings enough to worry about. And besides, she already has a Chris. Their relationship isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s comfortable and familiar, and Hollis wants it to survive beyond senior year. To prove she’s a girlfriend worth keeping, Hollis decides to learn Chris’s favorite tabletop roleplaying game, Secrets & Sorcery—but his unfortunate “No Girlfriends at the Table” rule means she’ll need to find her own group if she wants in.
Enter: Gloria Castañeda and her all-girls game of S&S! Crowded at the table in Gloria’s cozy Ohio apartment, the six girls battle twisted magic in-game and become fast friends outside it. With her character as armor, Hollis starts to believe that maybe she can be more than just fat, anxious, and a little lost.
But then an in-game crush develops between Hollis’s character and the bard played by charismatic Aini Amin-Shaw, whose wide, cocky grin makes Hollis’s stomach flutter. As their gentle flirting sparks into something deeper, Hollis is no longer sure what she wants…or if she’s content to just play pretend.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
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October 29, 2023I have no clue how to rate this book because on the one hand, I absolutely loved it, but on the other, it should have included a trigger warning since reading about that little douche of a boyfriend had me googling just how many years you face in prison if you were to..oh I don't know...shove a teenage boy out of a moving vehicle and left him to his fate. 🤷♀️
March 15, 2024
I liked Hollis and she was cute with Aini. But this didn't feel like a romance, I think this was more about Hollis finding herself. And because I thought I was reading a romance I was a bit disappointed.
This had way too many long and detailed scenes where a group was playing a roleplaying game. I wasn't that invested in that.
This was a cute story but nothing really special.
This had way too many long and detailed scenes where a group was playing a roleplaying game. I wasn't that invested in that.
This was a cute story but nothing really special.
July 13, 2024
I like the messaging but the characters felt pretty flat to me, and it was frustrating that Hollis didn't develop a backbone until a pretty significant way through. The boyfriend/his friend group were cartoonishly villainous. Even when she finally stood up for herself a bit, she felt kind of weak to me. Also, you really do have to be interested in D&D (S&S in this world) to get into the book I think, because there isn't really a plot.
March 17, 2024
This was very, very cute! There is A Lot of the role playing game. So, if that isn’t your thing you may wanna stay away.
May 2, 2024
I can't even describe how much I adore this cover. So often with fat characters on book covers they are the "right kind of fat" meaning they have curves in the right places and no double chins etc. This cover is so real and I'm in love with it.
Thankfully I'm just as in love with the actual book. We have Hollis, who is fat, full of anxiety, and struggling HARD with comphet and her shitty ass boyfriend.
This all starts when Hollis wants to join her boyfriend's S & S game (think dungeons and dragons) But the friend group that plays the game has a no girlfriend rule meaning Hollis is on her own. She tries to join a group at a local gaming store but they are misogynistic and fatphobic and homophobic and it was just really bad. Then she sees a flyer for a all-girls S & S game and she takes the jump and decides to go for it. She wants to fit in and relate more to her boyfriend and so she wants to learn how to play S & S.
Except Hollis wasn't expecting to find a ride or die group of girls who are badass and show her what friendship truly means. She wasn't expecting to find girls who support her and everything and don't want her to hide any part of herself. And she sure as hell wasn't expecting to find a romance with one of those girls.
The single flaw of this book is that it takes Hollis way to damn long to break up with her boyfriend. He occupies way too much space in this book and I would have loved to see them break up much earlier and Hollis kind of get to go on this journey of self-love and understanding her queerness without his shitty take in the back her mind.
I loved that Hollis doesn't settle on a label and is allowed to just exist. Her fatness and anxiety are treated with care and understanding and I just loved it so much.
Thankfully I'm just as in love with the actual book. We have Hollis, who is fat, full of anxiety, and struggling HARD with comphet and her shitty ass boyfriend.
This all starts when Hollis wants to join her boyfriend's S & S game (think dungeons and dragons) But the friend group that plays the game has a no girlfriend rule meaning Hollis is on her own. She tries to join a group at a local gaming store but they are misogynistic and fatphobic and homophobic and it was just really bad. Then she sees a flyer for a all-girls S & S game and she takes the jump and decides to go for it. She wants to fit in and relate more to her boyfriend and so she wants to learn how to play S & S.
Except Hollis wasn't expecting to find a ride or die group of girls who are badass and show her what friendship truly means. She wasn't expecting to find girls who support her and everything and don't want her to hide any part of herself. And she sure as hell wasn't expecting to find a romance with one of those girls.
The single flaw of this book is that it takes Hollis way to damn long to break up with her boyfriend. He occupies way too much space in this book and I would have loved to see them break up much earlier and Hollis kind of get to go on this journey of self-love and understanding her queerness without his shitty take in the back her mind.
I loved that Hollis doesn't settle on a label and is allowed to just exist. Her fatness and anxiety are treated with care and understanding and I just loved it so much.
March 5, 2024
Usually I know if and how much I'm going to enjoy a book in the first half (and maybe even sooner). This time, I wasn't quite convinced by the first half of the book, because I felt like it focused too much on the DnD gameplay (S&S in the book), and not enough on the actual characters and plot. I've never played DnD and it all just felt like a LOT to me and I wasn't super interested. I also found it a little hard to read because Hollis, who's fat, anxious, confused about her sexuality and has self-esteem issues, hit very close to home for me and it was like reading about my own teenaged self. In the second half though, this book completely won me over, which made me raise my 3 star rating to a solid 4 stars. It was amazing to see Hollis come into her own and start being happier and standing up for herself and making so many amazing new friends. I still just wouldn't have needed so much detailed gameplay described, but I loved Hollis so much and found her so relatable. I loved the fat rep and especially the anxiety rep, and I loved that Hollis doesn't land on a label because it's all just words in the end and you don't have to know everything about yourself immediately.
March 5, 2024
While I did enjoy this one, I really HATED Hollis' boyfriend and his friend group. They are the stereotypical f*ckboys that think that a group of girls means everyone must be a lesbian and that anything remotely anti-masculine "is gay". I genuinely wanted to throat punch all of them.
However, I absolutely loved this queer enlightenment journey for Hollis. Among this group of girls, Hollis learns that she really is a fantastic gamer in Secrets & Sorcery, a table top RPG that she's not allowed to play in her boyfriend's friend group (GAG), and that she has so much to contribute to life instead of being torn down by others.
While I've never played a table top RPG, I had a lot of fun living through the creative world that girls created with their characters and watching them get so immersed in the game. Their friend group truly is goals.
Lastly, I loved the chemistry of Hollis and Aini, and how much of a safe space that Aini created for Hollis.
Thank you to Simon Audio and Simon Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
However, I absolutely loved this queer enlightenment journey for Hollis. Among this group of girls, Hollis learns that she really is a fantastic gamer in Secrets & Sorcery, a table top RPG that she's not allowed to play in her boyfriend's friend group (GAG), and that she has so much to contribute to life instead of being torn down by others.
While I've never played a table top RPG, I had a lot of fun living through the creative world that girls created with their characters and watching them get so immersed in the game. Their friend group truly is goals.
Lastly, I loved the chemistry of Hollis and Aini, and how much of a safe space that Aini created for Hollis.
Thank you to Simon Audio and Simon Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2024
Content warnings: homophobia, lesbophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, fatphobia, anxiety disorders & panic attacks, sexism, misogyny, fetishisation, cheating.
Rep: Hollis (MC) is cis, fat, queer, and has anxiety. Aini (LI) is cis, lesbian, and POC. Side trans girl, side POC, side ADHD rep.
Utter perfection to me.
I love Hollis' character, and the sweet as heck romance between her and Aini.
I wish I had put this into goodreads when I had actually just finished the book because I feel like I would've been far more articulate with how I felt about the book than I am now.
I adored Aini's support of Hollis throughout everything. She was just. So wonderful. I adored Hollis' cute and clueless self. She's falling for Aini and it's just so wonderful.
However, there is a cheating aspect to this book. Hollis is in a relationship with Christopher throughout almost the entire book, and even though he's a jerk off, it's still cheating, just so y'all are warned. It's emotional cheating before anything physical happens.
Anyway, I loved this. I love the fat rep, the anxiety rep, the Fran with ADHD rep. Everyone was just amazing.
5/5
Rep: Hollis (MC) is cis, fat, queer, and has anxiety. Aini (LI) is cis, lesbian, and POC. Side trans girl, side POC, side ADHD rep.
Utter perfection to me.
I love Hollis' character, and the sweet as heck romance between her and Aini.
I wish I had put this into goodreads when I had actually just finished the book because I feel like I would've been far more articulate with how I felt about the book than I am now.
I adored Aini's support of Hollis throughout everything. She was just. So wonderful. I adored Hollis' cute and clueless self. She's falling for Aini and it's just so wonderful.
However, there is a cheating aspect to this book. Hollis is in a relationship with Christopher throughout almost the entire book, and even though he's a jerk off, it's still cheating, just so y'all are warned. It's emotional cheating before anything physical happens.
Anyway, I loved this. I love the fat rep, the anxiety rep, the Fran with ADHD rep. Everyone was just amazing.
5/5
April 8, 2024
I was inspired to pick this book up after hearing the author as a guest on The Queer Movie Podcast. The way Christen Randall spoke about the media that impacted their queer journey and how that played into the story they told in their book really appealed to me. The story in The No-Girlfriend Rule follows Hollis Beckwith as she meets up with a new group of girls to start a Secrets & Sorcery game. Hollis would like to join her boyfriend’s game, but that group has a “no girlfriends allowed” rule. But as she plays more with the group of girls she starts to realize that their party is more important than Chris ever was.
I’ve never played any sort of D&D type game, but I didn’t feel like that held me back from enjoying the story at all. It was fun seeing how they created their characters and could use their personas to be brave and act out things they were feeling but were too timid to do in real life. Hollis’ journey to realizing her queerness and her crush on Aini felt super genuine. Hollis has anxiety that sometimes keeps her from speaking up or sharing how she’s feeling. So it’s very rewarding once she actually opens up.
The character of Chris and his friends were so obnoxious in a very believable high school boy way. While it was frustrating to read about, it made sense why Hollis would stick around because it’s what she’s always known. So it’s great once you’re able to read about her breaking free.
Definitely check this out if you’re looking for a queer YA contemporary about making new friends, finding romance, and leaving behind people who don’t serve your needs anymore.
I’ve never played any sort of D&D type game, but I didn’t feel like that held me back from enjoying the story at all. It was fun seeing how they created their characters and could use their personas to be brave and act out things they were feeling but were too timid to do in real life. Hollis’ journey to realizing her queerness and her crush on Aini felt super genuine. Hollis has anxiety that sometimes keeps her from speaking up or sharing how she’s feeling. So it’s very rewarding once she actually opens up.
The character of Chris and his friends were so obnoxious in a very believable high school boy way. While it was frustrating to read about, it made sense why Hollis would stick around because it’s what she’s always known. So it’s great once you’re able to read about her breaking free.
Definitely check this out if you’re looking for a queer YA contemporary about making new friends, finding romance, and leaving behind people who don’t serve your needs anymore.
March 6, 2024
This book was so cute, combining queer romance with a fantasy tabletop roleplay game, we follow Hollis Beckwith, an anxious teen who is trying to figure out and navigate her senior year whilst proving to her boyfriend she's a worthy player good enough to join his team. She stumbles upon an all girls game and finds herself blossoming into her newfound confidence, making friends for life and opening up to a love where she's actually treated with the respect she deserves.
A heart-warming YA novel with a decent amount of rep, the first half is a little slow but picks up in the second half!
Thank you to Pushkin Press for accepting me for an ARC <3
A heart-warming YA novel with a decent amount of rep, the first half is a little slow but picks up in the second half!
Thank you to Pushkin Press for accepting me for an ARC <3
March 5, 2024
A great queer YA romcom debut that tackles mental health (anxiety, panic attacks and depression), toxic masculinity, fatmisia, transphobia and more. That said, it's also a great body positive story about the power of female friendship revolving around a group of D&D ish loving girl role-playing gamers.
I loved the nerdy joyfulness and Sapphic romance in this book as our main character Hollis tries to find a place to belong while struggling with her anxiety.
Many thanks to Simon.Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This was FANTASTIC as an audiobook narrated by my very fav, Natalie Naudus! Recommended for fans of books like Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce.
I loved the nerdy joyfulness and Sapphic romance in this book as our main character Hollis tries to find a place to belong while struggling with her anxiety.
Many thanks to Simon.Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This was FANTASTIC as an audiobook narrated by my very fav, Natalie Naudus! Recommended for fans of books like Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce.
July 13, 2024
I don’t know anything about D&D, and there was a lot of it in this book, but I still found it adorable!!! A lot of really good stuff here on mental health, being plus-sized, found family, learning to communicate with your friends, romance…highly recommend!
April 15, 2024
“You just have to find your people.” Hollis thought she'd already found her people, until she become part of her S&S group and really started to open up and know herself for the first time. Her group, full of kind, nerdy girls who have each other's backs, celebrated her and helped her learn to celebrate herself. I'm not generally into role playing games, but I liked the game that this group created. It was very them, and I really liked every member of the group. Especially Hollis. How great is it to have a fat girl dealing with anxiety as the main character?
January 17, 2024
I didn’t know it was possible for someone to write a Chris I wanted to fist fight more than my sister’s ex boyfriend. Every time his name was on a page I was mad at him and it’s incredible to me that his personality was SO teenage-boy-who-is-mean-for-no-reason that I forgot he wasn’t real sometimes. And that Christen was able to just do that? Unreal, incredible, amazing, stunning. The parts that were in first person inside the game were almost magical in itself! All of the characters felt as real as Chris (some I wanted to fight just as much, some I wanted to fight FOR) and they all had unique personalities. The plot is just as amazing but I wanted to keep this spoiler free so you should read it and find out!
February 5, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: homophobia, fetishization, misogyny, transphobia
3.5
This is a cute lil D&D romance! The discovery of self through finding people who truly care about you is so nice to see, and it's even sweeter since it's an all-girls roleplaying group for a character who seems to have only allowed herself around the boys.
The romance itself, too, has a certain level of first-crush bubbling tension and the supportive, attentive energy makes it hard to resist.
The D&D section of the story was great. The campaign storyline was interesting while also balancing with the actual plot- it didn't take over and it didn't feel shoehorned in. It's a nice, non-intimidating look at the game while still showing fun, occasionally zany roleplaying fun.
I also enjoyed Hollis' arc, even if it was slow. Her understanding of her own worth and interests, along with the understanding of what a group of likeminded people can actually mean was lovely. I especially liked Hollis getting to feel freer and happier and realizing that she is like other girls, and she shouldn't have to compromise that just to stick around with her "friends".
For me, I was disappointed in the way the whole "flirting in character turns to romance" of the synopsis really went. I simply wanted that to be true- the flirting is fairly nonexistent, and it's more of a romance between the characters reflecting feelings between the players. I was excited for actual flirting and bantering, so this didn't scratch that.
I also really would've loved more catharsis. A lot of the characters were awful, and I wanted Hollis to have gotten her due. There's also sort of a lack of focus on what's bad and what's terrible- the first D&D group, for instance, isn't actually that bad, and yet it has the same amount of ire aimed at it as horrible James and his misogyny. But I am the kind of person with a righteous sense of justice, and I would have liked to see the world burn.
TW: homophobia, fetishization, misogyny, transphobia
3.5
This is a cute lil D&D romance! The discovery of self through finding people who truly care about you is so nice to see, and it's even sweeter since it's an all-girls roleplaying group for a character who seems to have only allowed herself around the boys.
The romance itself, too, has a certain level of first-crush bubbling tension and the supportive, attentive energy makes it hard to resist.
The D&D section of the story was great. The campaign storyline was interesting while also balancing with the actual plot- it didn't take over and it didn't feel shoehorned in. It's a nice, non-intimidating look at the game while still showing fun, occasionally zany roleplaying fun.
I also enjoyed Hollis' arc, even if it was slow. Her understanding of her own worth and interests, along with the understanding of what a group of likeminded people can actually mean was lovely. I especially liked Hollis getting to feel freer and happier and realizing that she is like other girls, and she shouldn't have to compromise that just to stick around with her "friends".
For me, I was disappointed in the way the whole "flirting in character turns to romance" of the synopsis really went. I simply wanted that to be true- the flirting is fairly nonexistent, and it's more of a romance between the characters reflecting feelings between the players. I was excited for actual flirting and bantering, so this didn't scratch that.
I also really would've loved more catharsis. A lot of the characters were awful, and I wanted Hollis to have gotten her due. There's also sort of a lack of focus on what's bad and what's terrible- the first D&D group, for instance, isn't actually that bad, and yet it has the same amount of ire aimed at it as horrible James and his misogyny. But I am the kind of person with a righteous sense of justice, and I would have liked to see the world burn.
February 27, 2024
Got an arc from ABA via my manager *^*
My god, I wish I had this book in high school. I’m gonna get personal for second and turn this goodreads review into those recipe blogs that go through three paragraphs of the chef’s childhood to get to the important shit and I’m sorry
I had a really shitty friend group in high school. It wasn’t exactly like this book but they were dismissive of my interests, mocking and cruel and told me I was enjoying things the “wrong way” so I read this and I felt for Hollis, the frog in the boiling pot not realizing she was surrounded by misogynistic douchebags, because I didn’t realize it until it got really bad.
But when it did, one of the girls I was still close with asked if I wanted to spend my lunches with her and her friend from physics class instead. And her “friend from physics class” added me to a group chat with some other girls who were big into Sailor Moon.
And now ten years later, the members of that sailor moon group chat and I get on discord every other Monday with my husband and play a modified Kids on Brooms ttrpg game.
The point is, if I went through that, I know there are other people in the exact same situation, and if I had a book like this when I was the target age then maybe I would’ve realized my “friends” were shitheads sooner, that I deserved better, that I deserved friends who loved me for me and cared about the things I liked and wanted to share them with me. And they do; They listen and value my feelings and I would ride or die for those girls. If some other kid reads this and realizes they deserve better, deserve to find the people who love them, then that’s a win.
So yeah, this resonated hard and I love it. It’s a cute queer rom com and a love letter to dnd and that in and of itself is a great reason to read, but this hit me harder than it probably will most readers, and I admit that. Go read it, it’s good.
My god, I wish I had this book in high school. I’m gonna get personal for second and turn this goodreads review into those recipe blogs that go through three paragraphs of the chef’s childhood to get to the important shit and I’m sorry
I had a really shitty friend group in high school. It wasn’t exactly like this book but they were dismissive of my interests, mocking and cruel and told me I was enjoying things the “wrong way” so I read this and I felt for Hollis, the frog in the boiling pot not realizing she was surrounded by misogynistic douchebags, because I didn’t realize it until it got really bad.
But when it did, one of the girls I was still close with asked if I wanted to spend my lunches with her and her friend from physics class instead. And her “friend from physics class” added me to a group chat with some other girls who were big into Sailor Moon.
And now ten years later, the members of that sailor moon group chat and I get on discord every other Monday with my husband and play a modified Kids on Brooms ttrpg game.
The point is, if I went through that, I know there are other people in the exact same situation, and if I had a book like this when I was the target age then maybe I would’ve realized my “friends” were shitheads sooner, that I deserved better, that I deserved friends who loved me for me and cared about the things I liked and wanted to share them with me. And they do; They listen and value my feelings and I would ride or die for those girls. If some other kid reads this and realizes they deserve better, deserve to find the people who love them, then that’s a win.
So yeah, this resonated hard and I love it. It’s a cute queer rom com and a love letter to dnd and that in and of itself is a great reason to read, but this hit me harder than it probably will most readers, and I admit that. Go read it, it’s good.
February 20, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a sweet story!! The characters were fun, the overall story as well as the smaller story arcs were fun to read about and the writing and pacing were very well done!
I didn’t think that I would enjoy the built-in D&D story, but I did!
Some of the highlighted parts of the text didn’t need to be in uppercase as well as italics tho, but that’s the only thing I that I can criticize
This was such a sweet story!! The characters were fun, the overall story as well as the smaller story arcs were fun to read about and the writing and pacing were very well done!
I didn’t think that I would enjoy the built-in D&D story, but I did!
Some of the highlighted parts of the text didn’t need to be in uppercase as well as italics tho, but that’s the only thing I that I can criticize
May 24, 2024
I loved this!! It was so cute!! But Chris (and Hollis’s “friends”) are terrible people, and would be abusive to you at once, and in the same breath be the sort to claim “not all men.” They sucked.
But Hollis and the entire S&S group at Gloria’s are WONDERFUL and I loved all of them so much!!!
But Hollis and the entire S&S group at Gloria’s are WONDERFUL and I loved all of them so much!!!
March 25, 2024
Nerdy perfection. I loved this and all the emotions it stirred up in me 🥹
May 4, 2024
3.5 rounded up. This was fun and wholesome and I really enjoyed it!
April 19, 2024
rounding up cuz this was just wayy too cute!!! 🥰🌈🎲❤️🔥💅💓🪄🐉🥞
May 15, 2024
I would kill to protect this FMC 😤
July 5, 2024
This had almost all of my least favourite tropes in it as a whole but it was so cute and relatable that I binged it in one day and loved it! It really captured the magic of being a young artist and meeting someone who loves making character playlists and talking about imaginary characters with the same ferocity as you do. Overall this just really felt like a love letter to people who use original characters to process their feelings safely.
June 6, 2024
I've read a few lesbian/sapphic YA romance stories lately and I usually say "oh if only I'd read this years ago," feeling too old to relate to the main characters in their high school setting.
But even at my big age of 27 now, this book made me blink up into the void to avoid tears streaming down my face on a busy train on my way to work. Sure, there were elements I couldn't fully relate to anymore, but the character itself and her experiences and feelings were so real and close to me.
Thank you to Christen Randall for writing this.
But even at my big age of 27 now, this book made me blink up into the void to avoid tears streaming down my face on a busy train on my way to work. Sure, there were elements I couldn't fully relate to anymore, but the character itself and her experiences and feelings were so real and close to me.
Thank you to Christen Randall for writing this.
May 21, 2024
Fun YA rom com. Great representation too! 4.25/5 stars
May 25, 2024
4.25 🌟
The story of blossoming friendships and self acceptance with a dash of RPG is the best way I would describe this gem of a book.
The story of blossoming friendships and self acceptance with a dash of RPG is the best way I would describe this gem of a book.
April 7, 2024
I want to thank Netgalley for the arc of this book, this has had no influence on my opinion.
Let’s begin with the fact this was my most anticipated release of the year and I was extremely happy when I got a netgalley arc.
This book embodies what a love about DnD SO good. Exploring yourself via TTRPG has been a vital part of my own journey and I loved seeing it in a book. I also really enjoyed reading about Hollis’ party and seeing the similarities between the struggles the girls went trough in real life mirrored their struggles in game.
I however do think it might be a bit complicated to understand S&S (this books version of DnD) if you are not familiar with the game. But if you are a lover of any TTRPG I would absolutely recommend it, and otherwise, please give it a shot!!
I loved it SO much and this is an absolute all time favourite.
Let’s begin with the fact this was my most anticipated release of the year and I was extremely happy when I got a netgalley arc.
This book embodies what a love about DnD SO good. Exploring yourself via TTRPG has been a vital part of my own journey and I loved seeing it in a book. I also really enjoyed reading about Hollis’ party and seeing the similarities between the struggles the girls went trough in real life mirrored their struggles in game.
I however do think it might be a bit complicated to understand S&S (this books version of DnD) if you are not familiar with the game. But if you are a lover of any TTRPG I would absolutely recommend it, and otherwise, please give it a shot!!
I loved it SO much and this is an absolute all time favourite.
March 20, 2024
3.5*
The operative word in most reviews of this seems to be ‘cute’, and that tracks. For the most part, this is a very lovely coming-of-age story about Hollis, a nerdy fat girl with anxiety who, in trying to impress her absolute douche of a boyfriend, joins a table top gaming group and unexpectedly finds her people. And also discovers new and confusing feelings about Aini, a fellow player and out-and-proud lesbian, at the same time.
There was a lot to like here. While their respective characters get closer and closer in the game, Hollis and Aini do too, dodging around naming their feelings. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their friendship and the little moments when it tips over into something more: the arms around waists; the holding hands; the thoughtful gifts. It reflected my own first forays into exploring my sexuality at around the same age. I mean, who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be girlfriends with someone ‘because it would be funny’? *whistles* The support and solidarity of their gaming friends is great - Gloria, Maggie, Iffy and (most of all) FRAN (if you know, you know) were a joy.
However, the situation with Hollis’ boyfriend was over-the-top infuriating - did Chris have to be such a gaslighting villain for the story to work? At times it felt less like Hollis was finding herself and more like she was escaping an abusive relationship. Chris treats her terribly - and facilitates persistent bullying by his friends. He is jealous of her friendships; he likes her meek and anxious; he excludes her from his social life. When they argue, Hollis is always the first and only one to apologise, even though she knows she did nothing wrong. And all the while, she believes that he’s her closest and most comfortable friend. It was so blatantly wrong that I couldn’t believe no one was saying anything about it, to the point where I wanted to reach through the pages and start shouting myself. In the end I wasn’t satisfied with how this was handled and how little Chris was held to account for being The Worst Apart from Landon (who is such an asshole that I have no words). I wanted Hollis to really go for his jugular! I wanted someone to call him out for his behaviour, not only for the sake of the characters but for the readers. I needed that catharsis.
But, my desire to see violence aside, I’d recommend this - it’s a strong debut ff contemporary and I’ll look forward to what the author writes next.
The operative word in most reviews of this seems to be ‘cute’, and that tracks. For the most part, this is a very lovely coming-of-age story about Hollis, a nerdy fat girl with anxiety who, in trying to impress her absolute douche of a boyfriend, joins a table top gaming group and unexpectedly finds her people. And also discovers new and confusing feelings about Aini, a fellow player and out-and-proud lesbian, at the same time.
There was a lot to like here. While their respective characters get closer and closer in the game, Hollis and Aini do too, dodging around naming their feelings. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their friendship and the little moments when it tips over into something more: the arms around waists; the holding hands; the thoughtful gifts. It reflected my own first forays into exploring my sexuality at around the same age. I mean, who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be girlfriends with someone ‘because it would be funny’? *whistles* The support and solidarity of their gaming friends is great - Gloria, Maggie, Iffy and (most of all) FRAN (if you know, you know) were a joy.
However, the situation with Hollis’ boyfriend was over-the-top infuriating - did Chris have to be such a gaslighting villain for the story to work? At times it felt less like Hollis was finding herself and more like she was escaping an abusive relationship. Chris treats her terribly - and facilitates persistent bullying by his friends. He is jealous of her friendships; he likes her meek and anxious; he excludes her from his social life. When they argue, Hollis is always the first and only one to apologise, even though she knows she did nothing wrong. And all the while, she believes that he’s her closest and most comfortable friend. It was so blatantly wrong that I couldn’t believe no one was saying anything about it, to the point where I wanted to reach through the pages and start shouting myself. In the end I wasn’t satisfied with how this was handled and how little Chris was held to account for being The Worst Apart from Landon (who is such an asshole that I have no words). I wanted Hollis to really go for his jugular! I wanted someone to call him out for his behaviour, not only for the sake of the characters but for the readers. I needed that catharsis.
But, my desire to see violence aside, I’d recommend this - it’s a strong debut ff contemporary and I’ll look forward to what the author writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2024
The writing didn’t work for me. The story almost never starts. The main characters do not stand out and the chemistry is missing.
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