Sometimes, on rare, beautiful occasions, you open up a book, and you can tell from the first few pages that it’s going to be an incredibly special story. There’s a different kind of heart sprinkled into its pages, filling the space in between the words while we watch two characters find love. Such is the undeniable case with Role Playing by Cathy Yardley, which is the kind of novel I hope we take examples from.
Many recurring tropes and delicious sub-tropes are present in the romance genre, ensuring that readers continue returning for more. But there is a scarcity in romances where characters are in their 40s and 50s. It’s something to continue championing within the community because happy endings don’t end and begin solely in our 20s and 30s. This demographic is also a rare feature in TV and film, so it continues to be thoroughly refreshing any time we have Gen X perspectives. With this in mind, Role Playing sizzles with a gorgeous love story and a thrilling, unique plot that makes the book an absolute comfort read.
There’s a plethora that the novel covers, some through extensive details, but it never gets overwhelming to see the developments that crash and burn to rise. In some instances, less is more—too many tropes or familiar plot lines can get redundant when it feels like the author is trying to include too much, yet that’s not the case with Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. The relationship not only develops organically, but the natural conversations characters have allow their romance journey to feel that much more transparent. For instance, watching Aiden’s real-time understanding of demisexuality as he learns more about himself feels like an authentic detection of how it’d occur. It’s not something many people know about, still to this day. So, to see it happen in a novel with such clarity and earnestness shows us the compassion that people should meet others with when opening up about the things that scare them a little.
There’s also something to be said about the fact that no character is forced to change or become someone they aren’t. To have a female character who’s so deeply introverted and likes herself that way, find comfort and ease with someone who welcomes all sides of her is everything. Despite what outside voices say about Maggie, Yardley undoubtedly cares about the character’s honest journey, making it thoroughly refreshing to see that she has the chance to thrive in all the ways she feels most comfortable.
Further, where Aiden and Maggie’s romance is concerned—the plot hits with a meteor of light and fireworks galore. The detail that they’re acquaintances from their gaming guild is one thing, but the fact that we watch said friendship develop and catch fire is another. It makes their love story marvelously tender and so beautifully warm that you’ll find yourself closing the book and wanting maybe to hug it to your chest for a beat. As a journalist who has friends in the gaming industry, it felt especially lovely to read about a camaraderie developing from an online community where there are no expectations. And it’s not just the gaming world, but it’s fandom, too—it’s the romance community, its social media, and it’s this lovely idea that the unexpected messages and quiet conversations can sometimes lead to something even more significant.
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley is an exceptionally warm love letter to friendships, familial relationships, romance, and the heartwarming idea that it’s never too late to start living life as your best, most sincere self.
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley is now available through Amazon.