Item: Two Can Play
Author: Ghost Orchid

I Wanted More (In the Best Way)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Let’s go down a trope checklist for a cheesy but delicious romance: Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Double check. A snowed-in corporate retreat full of passive-aggressive banter and unresolved romantic tension? Sign me up. Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood is a charming, fast-paced audio-only novella that delivers big on familiar romance tropes with just enough nerdy flair to make it stand out.

Viola’s dream project is on the horizon: adapting her all-time favorite book series—Limerance, the fantasy saga her dad once read to her—into a video game. There’s a teeny-tiny catch that is preventing this dream from becoming a reality. Her company specializes in RPGs with heart and story, not the action-heavy combat the project demands. Enter the proposed solution: collaborate with another game studio with more experience in that department.

Unfortunately, that “other studio” is full of old drama, tension, and a certain someone Viola has been trying to forget—Jesse Andrews, her longtime crush-turned-nemesis. One mistletoe moment gone wrong years ago left Viola feeling rejected and humiliated. Now, she’s stuck in a snowy mountain lodge with Jesse and both of their teams, as their bosses attempt to force a little harmony with team-building exercises and just a dash of chaos.

What We Loved:

Tried-and-True Tropes Done Right: From the enemies-to-lovers dynamic to the forced proximity retreat setup, this novella hits all the right beats. The misunderstandings, the pining, the lingering tension—it’s a romantic trope playground, and Hazelwood handles it all with flair.
Gamer Nerd Delights: For fellow gamers, the references to beloved franchises, game mechanics, and design details add texture without ever feeling forced. Viola’s passion for game development is genuine and immersive.
Spice & Snark: Though short, this story doesn’t shy away from some steam, and the flirtatious banter between Viola and Jesse makes the build toward connection all the more rewarding.
Refreshing Side Characters: The awkward, flirty tension isn’t reserved for our main couple. The dynamic between the rivaling bosses is equally hilarious and adds another layer of fun to the ensemble. Do you want a nice break from all the sighing and pining? Enter: Viola’s two co-workers who are sneaking behind everyone’s backs and hooking up – it helps break up the tension in a funny and light-hearted way.
Excellent Narration: Kelsey Navarro Foster captures Viola’s voice perfectly—quirky, passionate, insecure, and determined. She also does a great job with Jesse’s restrained yet clearly affectionate tone, and their chemistry comes through loud and clear in the audio.

A Few Wishes:

This book is one of those “I wanted more” reads—in the best way. The novella format means we’re served a tightly packed story, but that comes at the cost of deeper emotional build-up. The romantic arc, while satisfying, relies heavily on a single miscommunication that might feel a tad flimsy to some. We go from “you hate me” to “oh wait, no I don’t” a little fast. Still, if you’ve ever had a crush stall out due to bad timing or mixed signals, it’s totally believable.

The ending? It arrives a little sooner than you’d expect. We get the resolution we’re rooting for, but not all the fluff you typically get afterwards. I would’ve happily stayed in this snowy game-dev romance a little longer—novel-length, even.

Final Verdict:

4.5 stars out of 5. Short, sweet, and just the right amount of spicy, Two Can Play is a cozy, tropey delight perfect for your next commute, workout, or wintry weekend listen (although, if you’re trapped with a crush-turned nemesis maybe save yourself some real life chapters and have a heart-to-heart off the get-go). If you love game talk, broody ex-friends, and a whole lot of unresolved tension in an isolated lodge, you’ll want to make this your next listen.

Book Description:

An enemies-to-lovers spicy romance set in the world of video gaming from the bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis—available only in audio!

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
Narrator: Kelsey Navarro Foster
Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
Published by Spotify Audiobooks on September 30th 2024
Genres: RomCom
Also by this author: The Love Hypothesis