Don’t Read the Comments is a poignant look at some of the biggest issues in the gaming industry, amplified by the fact that the main characters are brown teenagers. It’s a beautiful book that you won’t want to miss.


Don't Read the Comments CoverDivya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she’s playing Reclaim the Sun, the year’s hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game’s vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she’s trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho’s entire life. Much to his mother’s frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron’s dreams and Divya’s actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn’t going down without a fight. (Goodreads)
Goodreads

I received an eARC of Don’t Read the Comments via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and as part of a promotional blog tour.
This book deals with a lot of heavy topics, so be aware of that if you are going to read it. It does it in a really beautiful way, but it’s hard. Take care of yourself first, always.

Don’t Read the Comments needs trigger warnings for online harassment, in-person sexual harassment, threat of doxxing, threats of photoshopped revenge porn, egging, discussion of unfriendly divorce, gaslighting from an employer, discussion of racism, on-page racism, extreme sexism, physical altercations, discussion of sexual assault and more along those lines.

You can read my full review here