Introduction
Published in February 2026 as a paperback by the BookTok sensation Ali Hazelwood, Two Can Play is a standalone novella centering on forced proximity and a work romance. Ali Hazelwood is a bestselling author - also known for her novels Deep End and The Love Hypothesis.
A Summary
Viola loves her job at the mid-sized indie gaming studio, so when they get the option to work on a game that is based off of the series that shaped her childhood, she leaps at it. The only catch? She has to work with another company she hates.
As Viola and her coworkers are forced to embark on a 2 week long work retreat with their nemeses, she may find more than hate between the groups.
My Thoughts
Two Can Play is the first novella I have read from Ali Hazelwood as I usually stick to her full length novels, but I was in dire need of something short and sweet so I picked it up. I often struggle to rate novella’s simply because there isn’t enough context and writing to review, but I feel confident about my perception of this experience.
Firstly, Ali Hazelwood is an author I have already established that I adore, and this still feels like classical Hazelwood writing but more of a snippet than an entire journey.
The main characters were amazing, even in a shorter piece, they felt fleshed out and had specific personalities that were really cute. I also loved the forced proximity trope in this book mixed with the work environment. I’m a sucker for both of them so the combination was really enjoyable.
But despite all of this, I really wanted more yearning and I will always choose her full length novels over the novella’s.
Recommendation
If you love Ali Hazelwood, you’ll love this. It’s also a great option if you have never read her novels and want to know their vibe.
