⚠️ CW: parental death, medical trauma, racism, xenophobia, suicide, domestic abuse, sexual assault, drug use, homophobia, gun violence, mentions of sexism and abortion ⚠️ If you're looking for a story about the complex relationships we encounter throughout our lives then this one is for you. Sam and Sadie first meet in a hospital in 1987 where playing together brings them joy, escapism, fierce competition and a very special friendship. Then, all too soon, that time is over and they must return to their normal lives. But when the pair spot each other 8 years later in a crowded train station the spark is immediately reignited, and together they get to work on what they love - creating virtual game worlds. Their collaborations make them global superstars but along with success, money and fame comes betrayal and tragedy. This book was definitely a rollercoaster with a lot going on but unfortunately it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. It touched on a lot of really poignant topics throughout the lives of Sam and Sadie and while I think those topics were written about really well, for me everything was slightly overshadowed by the fact I just couldn't seem to get over not liking Sam or Sadie's characters very much. It's hard to explain why without giving spoilers so if you've read this one and want to know why then you'll have to dm me 🙈 Also, I found it quite slow and it took me a long time to get into the story. Despite everything though, it is a really good story about friendships, love and life in general. And if you're into gaming then it has some great references that only gamers will truly appreciate. Overall, I recommend this one for people that like these kinds of reads but personally I think it's definitely one of those books that you either love or hate.