WANTING TO GET MY GAMER BOYFRIEND TO READ BOOKS

I have this totally sneaky and not-at-all evil plan to try trick my boyfriend into reading more. Okay, so this sounds more evil than it is. He actually loves reading, but has an addiction to online gaming. Which is fine, we all have our loves. He can sit at the computer for ours and I can curl up on the sofa with a good book without disturbance, and it all works out very well.

But sometimes I just wish I could talk to him more about books, so I made this list months ago to make up recommendations for the kinds of books I think he’d like – and I thought I’d share it with you.

At the moment, if he’s picking up a book – it’ll probably be Star Wars related. Or Lord of the Rings related. Big franchises with movies. Big franchise with games. Big franchise that hold his heart.

(Although I like to think I hold it more).

So this got me thinking – what if I chose books with similar themes?

That combined his greatest loves of sci-fi, fantasy AND gaming?

As a tester, I got him to watch something he doesn’t usually watch – anime. Specifically, Sword Art Online. For anyone who knows anything about this series, toy can basically skip over this synopsis – but for anyone who doesn’t know: it’s about a boy who gets trapped in an online game. If he dies in the game, he dies in real life. (This isn’t a spoiler, it’s covered in the first episode. Within the first 10 minutes).

He loved it.

In fact, he basically disappeared from me for a few days whilst he binge watched it all.

The joy in his eyes whilst he talked to me about it made me the happiest girl in the world. He’s honestly so adorable when he gets so animated about something, and if I could, I’d listen to him for hours. He doesn’t really talk much, but he has this perfect accent and basically he just has a really nice voice.

BUT I’M GETTING SIDETRACKED.

Essentially, what I want is this:

To be able to discuss some books with him. So we can both get equally excited.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THIS IS THE LIST I COMPILED:

Number 1) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

(Obbbbbbviously).

Not only does this amazing book have a movie due out soon, but I think the theme of it is right up his street.

This book collides 80’s games and music with action and explosions.

Pretty awesome, huh?

Number 2) Warcross by Marie Lu.

I’m not entirely sure this would be something he would like. I think he prefers to read books about male-lead characters, because he relates with them more – but I genuinely just neeed him to read this book.

It’s about a hacker, who’s whole life revolves round the pennies she can make from her craft.

Then she glitches into the system of a live-streamed game.

Then suddenly the world knows her face.

DOES IT SOUND CRAZY GOOD OR WHAT?! The only thing that’s stopped me from already forcing the book into his hands (or playing the audiobook whilst we’re in the car) is that then he’ll have to suffer with me whilst we wait for the next book, Wildcard, to be released.

His pain would probably be worth it though.

Number 3) Armada by Ernest Cline.

So Ready Player One already made it on this list – and if he likes that book, then I feel pretty confident that I’ll be able to convince him to pick up this one. I own them both, but I haven’t read Armada myself.

MAYBE SOON, I WILL.

Number 4) Otherworld by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller

This book, I actually did start. I remember absolutely loving the writing style but getting really distracted by a bunch of other new releases that came out around the same time.

(I got an ARC of Children of Blood & Bone that just tore me away from any other book I had previously been reading. Sorry Otherworld, but I’ll come back to you soon).

I don’t remember everything that I’d read, but I do remember some things:

The world evolves around this popular online game.

Their lives depend on it.

Simon’s life depends on it.

Until he screws up in-real-life.

I’M NOT ACTUALLY TRYING TO HINT THAT MY BOYFRIEND’S LIFE COMPLETELY EVOLVES ROUND GAMES UNTIL HE SCREWS THINGS UP WITH HIS LOVED ONES (me) BUT SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLOTLINE JUST MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HIM. I’m equally ashamed and proud that I’m sassy enough to tease him about he likes games more than me.

I’d never ask him to choose between us two though, because I know I would lose for sure.

Games wouldn’t make him choose.

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Disclaimer: I’ve told my boyfriend all about this post. He knows my plans and my ideas, and I’ve been totally honest with him about the fact I’d like him to read some books that we can discuss! He always invites me to sit and play some online games with him, so I’ve chosen a few to give a go. I’ve also agreed to watch Star Wars. Wish me luck.