I just - I’m kicking myself that I didn’t read this sooner!! (and yes I know literally everyone told me to) because this is worth 100% of the hype 🫡

let me start off this review by saying that my scope of video games starts and ends with playing mario kart on game cube religiously in my youth ✌🏼 and I absolutely adored the beauty and knowledge behind this story!!!

gabrielle zavin really had NO BUSINESS writing something this beautiful 🥹 every sentence was prose, and every section was laid out in the best possible way for the story, no matter the linear timeline. I devoured this one in the slowest possible way!!!

the cast of characters, from sam to marx to ant and simon, were unbelievably human in a way I’ve never seen written before. not only did we get a MC with a true understanding of disability, we got two brilliant game designers who get the world way better than the rest of us do 🥹 we are NOT WORTHY!!!

and now, my favorite leading lady, sadie!!! I’ve been told this is an unpopular opinion but she is an icon and a legend. she gives all of the nesta vibes, she fights the patriarchy, and she grieves!!! I’m also always drawn to the horrible characters who are really angels but are full of trauma and really just want to get better but are too afraid to ask for help and think they need to do everything on their own so they end up bitter and alone until someone breaks through to them

wow am I projecting or what 👀

I’m so happy this is my first book of 2023 because this is going to be hard to beat!! and it proves it’s going to be a good reading year 🤞🏼

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast pinot noir