Love and Video Games

Ready Player One meets Heartstopper in which a myth-loving video game player discovers there isn't a cheat code to life--or love--while competing in a tournament with his handsome crush and gamer friends.

In the real world, Keegan Thomas is a gay, eighteen-year-old mythology nerd with undiagnosed chronic pain. But in the myth-inspired, online video game world of Pantheonic, he is the glorious and powerful K.Odyssia, slaying legions of enemies and completing quests for honor and glory along with his team, the Epic Hearts. Despite his closeness to his gamer friends--and the secret crush he has on his teammate, Alix--no one knows that he is struggling with the sudden onset of chronic pain in his lower back and fears it will hinder his ability to move to NYU in the fall.

When a quest in Pantheonic turns out to be a secret invitation to an in-person tournament in New York City, Keegan has to battle his fears of concealing and managing his pain so that his team can attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Competing against six other teams, members of the Epic Hearts must work together to outwit and outplay the others to win the tournament and the hefty cash prize. But can Keegan as K.Odyssia be one of the heroes that Pantheonic needs while he's laser-focused on his own epic battle? Will he be able to level up his relationship with Alix and lead his team to victory? It's time for the games to begin!

"Love and Video Games will have you tearing up, staying at the very edge of your seat, laughing out loud, and feeling absolute joy. With action, swoons, S-tier levels of fun, and well-crafted characters that feel like friends, it is a warm hug of a book that will stay with readers long after the final boss (or page)."
--Justine Pucella Winans, award-winning author of BIANA TORRE IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING
"Love and Video Games is a heartfelt, warm, hug of a book! With heart, thoughtful disability rep, found family, and a tender queer romance, Love and Video Games is bound to leave a lasting impression on readers. Sergi has crafted a world that's as magical as it is meaningful and will engage readers with the turn of every page!"--Hannah v. Sawyerr, critically acclaimed author of ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS and TRUTH IS
"A fun, fast, and fabulous read, Love and Video Games has something for every reader: authentic queer teen romance, deep friendships, real world mythology, and tons of gaming action. It's mythologically queer and nerdy--my perfect good time. I know it'll be yours, too."--M. K. England, author of THE ONE TRUE ME & YOU and ROLL FOR LOVE
"Thanks to Love and Video Games, queer YA receives a buff! With a unique gaming world, swoony romance, and characters that are so easy to fall in love with and root for, Sergi has created a perfect combo."
--Erik J. Brown, author of ALL THAT'S LEFT IN THE WORLD and THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT BURNING
"I didn't think I could be so immersed in a game that lives on the pages of a book, but Zachary Sergi got his hooks in me and didn't let go until the final boss--er, I mean, the final page. LOVE AND VIDEO GAMES is an enchanting tale for gamers with secret crushes, warriors fighting hidden battles, and those of us who've escaped into a fantastical world only to end up more connected to the real one."--Robbie Couch, New York Times bestselling author
"A triumphant queer romance about the unlimited potential to be the hero of your own story!"--Adam Sass, award-winning author of THE 99 BOYFRIENDS OF MICAH SUMMERS
"A gift of a book. Like any good video game, this love story is filled with extra heart, excellent Easter eggs, and characters you'll remember after the final level."--James Acker, author of the Stonewall Honor Book THE LONG RUN and TEENAGE DIRTBAGS
"Love and Video Games is a gaymer's paradise! Full of worlds you could get lost in for hours, characters you root for as they level-up at life, and a budding romance that deserves to be at the top of the leaderboards, Zachary Sergi's latest should not be missed!"--Jason June, New York Times bestselling author

Zachary Sergi is a queer author of speculative & interactive fiction. His works include This Pact Is Not Ours, the Choices novels Major Detours and So You Wanna Be A Pop Star?, and the digital Heroes Rise, Versus, and Fortune The Fated series. Zachary was raised in Manhattan, studied Creative Writing at Regis High School and the University of Pennsylvania, and now lives in Los Angeles with his husband, where he also writes for television. Learn more at zacharysergi.com or by following @zacharysergi on Twitter/TikTok or @zacharysergiwriter on Instagram.

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