Review: Beta Test by Annabeth Albert
SYNOPSIS:
Player vs. Player. Fight!
Brilliant graphic designer Ravi Tandel is ahead of the game—he’s just been asked to present a top secret project at a huge conference in Seattle. All systems are go…until he learns his buttoned-up office nemesis is coming along for the ride.
Tristan Jones isn’t really the gamer type, but he knows the back end of the video game business inside out. Together, he and Ravi will give an awesome presentation. If they survive the cross-country trip first.
Tossed together in close quarters, Ravi’s shocked to see Tristan’s sexy, softer side emerge from such a conservative shell. He’s less shocked to learn his handsome colleague’s prominent family would never support an out-and-proud son. But Ravi didn’t struggle through his own coming out to hide who he is now. To be together, Tristan will have to push past his fear and ultimately decide: Does he want a future with Ravi? Or is it game over before they’ve even begun?
REVIEW:
Enemies to lovers is my troupe weakness, and this book hit the spot. First a quick disclaimer, this is the second book in a series but could totally be read as a standalone. I absolutely adored Ravi and Tristan, this story had all of my favorite troupes, not only enemies to lovers but also forced proximity, and the classic ‘oh a hotel screwed up and now we have to bunk together’. *sigh* This book was just good stuff.
Tristan was such a sweet, precious man. I loved his neurotic personality and found it endearing. His instantaneous dislike of Ravi had me grinning like a fool. I knew hostile and delicious times were ahead. Ravi was such a relaxed contrast to Tristan and they really balanced each other out once all the angst got outta the way. The forced road trip allowed Tristan and Ravi to work out their differences and they both quickly realized that they have more in common than they think.
I loved that the story centered on the animosity and the budding relationship between Tristan and Ravi but gave us a good dose of the gamer world and external drama. Both characters grew tremendously in their personal lives over the course of the story. They broke down family bonds and mended them. There was certainly more depth and heart to these characters than you initially think.
I loved that Ravi was Indian American, it added a different dynamic and tackled some prejudices that ended up bring Ravi and Tristan even closer together. I think my only grievance would be that Beta Test isn’t an accurate fit for a title. The story line was focused on Ravi and Tristan going to a con, so I think something along those lines would better fit.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
