Heather’s Review: Gamer Girl by Glynis Astie

Gamer Girl
written by Glynis Astie
published by Tikinou Publishing, LLC, 2016

find it here: (affiliate links) Amazon, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

** This review first appeared on Heather’s blog. **

Did I enjoy this book: Glynis Astie is one of my new favorite authors, and I’ll tell you why: She is versatile, she is funny, and her writing just gets better with each book. I read her debut trilogy (French Twist, French Toast, and French Fry), which was loosely based on her own life, and enjoyed the books immensely. I was looking forward to reading Gamer Girl, her fourth novel, and was thrilled (a.k.a. stupid excited!!) when she sent me an ARC. I promised to read it and review it (honestly!) and so here we are.

This was a new twist on the Chick Lit genre and I had fun reading it. I liked the glimpses into the MMORPG gaming world (and as a fan and player of World of Warcraft, I could relate!), and I really enjoyed the differences between Meri’s online gaming persona and her real life persona. It was neat to see her become more like her online persona as the book continued.

Meri’s grandmother was a hoot–if you like an eccentric grandmother, with a fondness for pinching the hot boyfriend’s bum, she’s for you. I laughed almost every time she was on the pages–she’s the type of character you wish you could meet in real life.

The story was unique, and I thought Meri’s struggle with trusting and letting go were genuine and well done. Morgan, the hot boyfriend, had his own struggles and I wish there had been more about him throughout the book. I felt like I knew Meri’s best friend, Declan, a lot better than Morgan. The supporting cast was as unique as the story (both the real life story and the gaming story) and here’s another book where I think the characters will stay with me for a little while.

Would I recommend it: Yes! It’s a unique twist on the Chick Lit genre and a fun summer beach read. Very enjoyable!

About the book – from Goodreads: Struck by tragedy at an early age, Meri Palmer escaped into the only world she understood. Within the virtual realm of online gaming, she lived a life filled with mythical creatures and thrilling adventures, where she was strong, powerful, clever, and beautiful—everything she believed she wasn’t in real life. As the years went by, her desire to cling to her cherished fantasyland only grew stronger.

But when Meri meets Morgan, equal parts gorgeous and goofball, she begins to wonder if the time has finally come to rejoin the so-called real world. Channeling the bravery of her fairy warrior alter ego, Meri slowly lets Morgan beyond the protective walls she’s built around her heart. Just as she finds a comfortable groove in an uncertain world, Morgan succumbs to insecurities of his own, leaving her lost and confused. Through her battle to regain her equilibrium, Meri will discover that even in reality, things aren’t always what they seem.

Will Meri win the battle raging in her heart and summon the will to rescue her knight in shining armor? Or will she give in to the fear and find her game over?