Book Review: Backward Compatible by Sarah Daltry & Pete Clark

Media Type: ebook
Title: Backward Compatible
Author: Sarah Daltry & Pete Clark
Publisher: Self
Pages: Paperback, 314
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Source: Author
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Content Screening: Strong Language and some Sexual Situations

HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who are into video game culture and sarcasm

Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | BookLikes

Not too long ago, in a town that, depending on your current location, is either not super far or actually quite close…

It is a time of chaotic hormones.

Two nerdy gents home for winter break have discovered a female gamer at a midnight release.

During the break, the gamer trio manages to reveal the game’s secret boss, a hidden enemy with enough power to destroy anything in its path.

Pursued by other gamers who want to be the first to beat this boss, George and Katie race to level up, and, in so doing, restore decency and sexual activity to their personal galaxy…

This book is definitely for video game lovers who enjoy the “geek culture”. The narration switches back and forth between Katie and George as they meet, game, and deal with the trials and tribulations of young adult dating.

As a self proclaimed geeky person, I was excited to dive into this. While it was definitely a light and fun read, I wanted something more. It took me a while to get through the book because it was so detailed in the dialogue and video game explanations. Don’t get me wrong, it was a funny story full of snarky characters and the all around goofiness of a group of gamers, but I wanted a little more depth.

Katie and George are both shy and relatively inexperienced in the dating world and reading through their awkward sorta-kinda-dates was adorable and hilarious. From late night Denny’s treks to the dreaded hanging at the mall, it really is about the company you keep. I enjoyed the banter between Katie, George, Lanyon and all of the other supporting characters.

What kept this from being a higher rated book for me was the feeling I had when I finished the book. I wanted more character growth or some kind of learning experience. This was not that. It was a light, fun story of a boy meeting a girl.

All in all, if you don’t mind some foul language, sarcasm and enjoy stories about gamers (that remind you a little too much of your young adult years) then I would highly recommend this.