Source: From Amazon First Reads program. This does not alter my opinion or review.
Publication Date: July 1, 2023
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a deal—he’ll be more social if she does the same—she can’t refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch. Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée. Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian. When they finally meet face to face—after a rocky, shocking start—the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own. Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
Review:
This book was offered through the Amazon First Reads program and I normally pick one up but then have too many other things on my TBR to read them immediately. I was so smitten with this idea and synopsis that I jumped right in and started reading.
The story follows a divorced mom, Maggie, severe introvert who tries to make more friends to help lead by example for her college age son. She joins an online guild and while playing with them forms a connection with another member. They are local so when the other player needs help she goes to help him. He is her age, which she didn't realize, so it makes for a hilarious introduction between them. It also turns out that they know some of the same people in town and have crossed paths before.
Aiden is a 50 year old former nurse, home to look after his mother. She is on the decline and his father recently past away. He has been giving up a lot for his family, but they don't seem to appreciate his help.
I like Maggie and Aiden. Maggie seemed like a cool, down to Earth mom, and I appreciate her hermit like nature. She was introverted but very outspoken and sure of herself. Aiden was so considerate and his family was complete shit. Sadly both characters had family mistreat them and I think that they bonded over this.
The plot of the book is them getting together and the trope is friends to more. The book had a lot of really funny, cute parts and it had me giggling and also wanting to play online games again. There were some things that I didn't fully love though. For example, while it takes time to fully explain sexualities and highlight them in this book, it does it in a very 'here's the definition' way, that took me out of the book as a reader. That being said, I think for older readers or ones that are not familiar with the terminology it could be helpful, but it just seemed odd to me and forced. I fully appreciated the rep though.
Overall, this was a cute, fun, and playful romance. I also really enjoyed the play on the title role-playing in game and out. Could make for some interesting book-club discussion points.
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