Good Game
by Suzanne Lenoir
Released: Mar 11, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why this book and why now?
More and more women are playing video games and I wanted to write about the experience. The story tells the harder aspects of esports, but gives a hopeful ending.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
The first draft didn’t give enough agency to the main character. This is why writers should always have good beta readers who can articulate those issues.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
Sam and I would form a Call of Duty clan. She’d be carrying me though. She’s got a strategy. I’m just out there having fun, like Omar (minor character). Lauren and I would be having lunch together once a week at new restaurants. She’s the friend who will always show up for you.
Do your character names have special significance or meaning?
Only minor characters. I like to sneak in the first names of friends and family as Easter eggs in all my novels.
Is there anything you wish readers knew before diving into this book?
I promised myself that every book I write will represent the younger generation of my own family, which is racially and ethnically diverse. I want them to know that I see them and I love them. This also extends to my friend group. So in this case, I chose to make Sam O’Brian a quarter Korean. I worked closely with a Korean-American friend who helped me to create a believable character who doesn’t know anything about her heritage.
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Lauren would make Sam watch Arcane with her. Why?? Have you seen Arcane? But seriously, she loves Anime, so it would make sense that she’d love an animated series like Arcane.
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
VR headsets, Crunchyroll (Anime streaming channel), and Bomboy’s fudge.
Which character do you relate to the most, and why?
Sam. There will always be a character who has lost one or more parents in my novels because I was orphaned as a teenager. I want to explore how different characters react to the experience.
Which character was the most fun to write, and which was the hardest?
Will was the most fun to write. In my work career, I’ve met many variations of Will. Some more terrible than others. Being able to write him was cathartic. The hardest was Sam. She has a complex backstory and the most moving parts to tie up.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Maryland by Elephanz – the unofficial theme song of the novel since that’s where it takes place.
Your characters are throwing a party—what’s the theme?
Pop culture cosplay! Come as your favorite character in a book, film, tv show, comic book, webtoon, meme, or video game.
Were there any books, movies, or personal experiences that influenced this story?
I’ve been a casual gamer my whole life. Console, VR, arcade, computer, tabletop, RPG. So I knew I wanted to tell a story about women gamers. A romance between a pro gamer and a marketing exec just seemed to make sense.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished On Vicious Worlds, book two in the Kindom Trilogy by Bethany Jacobs. Wow. Really great writing and sci-fi world building. I can’t wait for book three which comes out in November. I’m definitely going to do a reread in the future.
