Jaclyn’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.

Did I enjoy this book: This one took some time. I did, eventually, really like this book. It was hard to get into at first because the beginning of each chapter starts in an alternate video game reality. The main character, Meri, escapes into this video game to live an alternate life–one where she isn’t so introverted, one where she doesn’t have to deal with the reality that her parents died when she was just a child. Throughout the course of the book you are introduced to an eclectic cast of characters. You will find yourself simultaneously feeling sorry for Meri for the tragedy she endured at such a young age and envying the family that she has around her. The budding romance with Morgan is nearly unbelievable–but you WANT to believe it, so you ignore the improbability. About halfway through the book, I started to get into the video game part of the narrative and it really added to the story. This was a pretty big hurdle to overcome, but I loved what the author did with this part of the story.

 

Would I recommend it: Yes, I would absolutely recommend this book. The video game part is a struggle, but power through that part–it’s worth it at the end!

 

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?