Don't Read the Comments

Divya 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.

About the Author :
Eric Smith is an author and literary agent from Elizabeth, New Jersey. When he isn't working on other people's books, sometimes he tries to write his own. He can be found writing (and podcasting) for places like Book Riot and Paste magazine, and enjoys pop punk, video games, and crying during every movie. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and best friend, Nena; their son, Langston; and a corgi named Auggie. Sunil Malhotra is an actor and voice artist. His film credits include Dude, Where's the Party?, Call Center, 24, ER, Cold Case, and The West Wing. On stage, he has performed on Broadway and at East West Players. He has also worked as a writer, producer, and director, and his audiobook narrations have won three AudioFile Earphones Awards.

Review :
"Don't Read the Comments has so much heart: the kind that makes you fall in love, and the kind that makes your breath short. If you're not already a gamer, you might be after this book. And if you need a little hope, Eric Smith delivers the sunshine." -- "Olivia A. Cole, author of A Conspiracy of Stars" "A modern-to-the-minute adventure about rising above expectations of family, class, and social media, to find your true destiny and grab it by the controller." -- "Whitney Gardner, author of You're Welcome, Universe" "As much a love letter to the world of gaming as it is a clear-eyed examination of its dark side, Don't Read the Comments is bold, passionate, and necessary. Smith has created a wholly immersive world centered around a video game I'd dearly love to play, and gamers I'd dearly love to know." -- "Sarvenaz Tash, author of The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love" "Honest, heartfelt, and wonderfully imaginative. Eric Smith masterfully depicts the light and dark sides of gaming culture, showing the beauty and power of online friendships as well as the all-too-real risk of harassment, doxxing, and internet trolls. A timely novel that captivated my nerd-heart from the very first page!" -- "Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of Starfish" "Wonderfully geeky and deeply compassionate." -- "Marieke Nijkamp, #1 New York Times bestselling author" "A heartwarming tale of finding your community and following your dreams." -- "Marieke Nijkamp, author of This Is Where It Ends" "Smith's characters are achingly sincere, and his smooth and witty dialogue's a pleasure to read. He artfully immerses the reader in the world of gaming, building characters and settings that are fun and compelling to read." -- "Kirkus Reviews"