Book Review: Two Can Play

I’m a big fan of Ali Hazelwood and I’m in awe of how good her books are no matter the genre. She became popular with her STEM romances which made sense given her science background, but then she did YA and paranormal and Deep End which she describes as a bit more erotica than romance (even though it totally is still a romance) and I love all of it! Last year she came out with Two Can Play as an audiobook and as a person who just isn’t an audiobook person, I was hoping she’d release it later in print. Danielle Jensen, for example, has her Bridge Kingdom books as audio first books. So I was really excited when Ali announced that Two Can Play would be available in print later on. I read it last week and it was such a fun, quick (it’s a novella) read!

The novella follows Viola Bowen and Jesse Andrews, both are video game designers for rival companies. Viola and Jesse may work for rival companies, but both companies are small, indie companies. When the opportunity comes up to design a video game for Viola’s all-time favorite book series, Viola knows she will do whatever it takes to get the job. Unfortunately, the opportunity is only possible of Viola and Jesse’s companies collaborate on the project. Their bosses, as a way to show that they can all get along, decide to have the two teams spend a few days at a winter retreat in a ski town together. Not only are they normally rivals, but Viola has known Jesse for a few years. In that time she had a crush on him and then got the impression that he hates her and she doesn’t know why.

Will the two teams get along well enough to get the job to design the game of their dreams? Will Viola find out why Jesse doesn’t like her? Will sparks fly after they’re forced to spend days together in a remote lodge?

I loved this book and thought it was a fun, quick read. I really liked Viola and Jesse was that quintessential Ali Hazelwood mmc – really smart, hot without knowing he’s hot, and reserved even though he’s about to burst with all the emotions he wants to share. I loved the both of them. I wish the story was longer and I could’ve spent more time with them!

Read this if you want a romcom novella with the rivals to lovers and forced proximity tropes.

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