Don’t Hate The Player
A YA esports Romance by Alexis Nedd
“Emilia Romero is living a double life. By day, she's a field hockey star with a flawless report card. But by night, she's kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia has mastered the art of keeping her two worlds thriving, which hinges on them staying completely separate. That's in part to keep her real-life persona, but also for her own safety, since girl gamers are often threatened and harassed.
When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to her team and the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team recognizes her . . .
Debut author Alexis Nedd has crafted a YA combo-punch of charming romance and virtual adventure that will win the hearts of gamers and non-gamers alike.” Bloomsbury 2021
What People Are Saying:
"Refreshingly voice-y, wildly smart, and genuinely hilarious."
— Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue
“In this gripping debut, Nedd balances drama, humor, and romance with an expert touch.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A sure winner.”
— Kirkus, starred review
“Nedd's fresh, hilarious voice sparkles in this unique YA romance".”
— BuzzFeed, Best YA Books of 2021
Press:
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‘Player vs. Player’: Assemble Media’s New IP Play Scores A Win With Bloomsbury Deal
Assemble Media has scored its first win in the IP creation game with Player vs Player. The New York company just sold the book rights to Bloomsbury after a heated auction that concluded with a two-book, six-figure deal in place for the YA project described as “a modern take on Romeo and Juliet set in the world of E-Sports.”
The books will be written by first-time novelist Alexis Nedd.
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Alexis Nedd on Don’t Hate the Player
Alexis Nedd is an entertainment writer whose foray into YA fiction is a new novel, Don’t Hate the Player. Alexis and I chat about her new book, the similarities between her and her main characters, the dark side of gaming, and how her day job as a journalist prepared her for this novel. She also shares her intriguing journey to becoming a YA author. Enjoy!
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An Indies Introduce Q&A with Alexis Nedd
“This is by far one of my top favorite YA novels to have come out within the last few years — it’s sharp, smart, funny, and the voice is absolutely incredible,” said Abby Rauscher of Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, New York, who served on the bookseller panel that selected Don’t Hate the Player for Indies Introduce.
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Writer Spotlight: Alexis Nedd
It’s New Release Tuesday! We caught up with Alexis Nedd (@alexisthenedd) to talk about her debut novel, Don’t Hate The Player, which is out today.
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This Debut Author Explores Teen Girl Gamers’ Experiences in ‘Don’t Hate the Player’
“So the fact that people out there saying, ‘Hey, I’m a Black girl and I’m gaming,’ or ‘Hey, I’m a Puerto Rican girl and you can see me doing this because I enjoy it’ — it’s a level of visibility and representation that I could never have anticipated when I was a teen.”
Buy Don’t Hate The Player:
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