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abstab's review against another edition
3.0
messed up but totally believable storyline. didn’t love the fatophobia and diet culture nonsense tho, and it was a bit too long and felt like it was dragging
beccamidori's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The format of the book was unique — with newspaper articles, text messages and emails at times — which made it fun and more engaging for me to read. It added context in an interesting way! Overall it was an easy read, with important themes for young adults in the age of social media. The vibe was very much Gossip Girl in D.C.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
blinky13's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
smallspoonbigfork's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
3.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Thank you to the publisher, Disney, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At Foxham Prep, an elite high school in Washington DC, rumors can make or break a student’s reputation. It is something that former popular girl Bryn Colburn has been experiencing of late after one horrible mistake has made her a social pariah and even her best friend Cora, the cheer captain, won’t talk to her. But it’s a new school year and the latest interest on the rumor mill is Georgie, Bryn’s next door neighbor, newly returned from weight loss camp and a summer makeover. Georgie finds herself suddenly popular, but that comes at a price, namely, placing her at odds with Cora. Day by day, the rumors grow wilder and more damaging, and with most of the students being the children of politicians and powerful people in the capital, such rumors have heavy repercussions well beyond school networks, and the girls will have to uncover the identity of the person responsible for all their troubles before it’s too late.
I had rather high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I thought it might be something like Ace of Spades, since dark academia is kind of starting to grow on me, but it was quite different. Despite this book not really being to my taste, it does delve into several important topics that are very relevant in today’s world, from cyberbullying, racism, fat shaming, eating disorders and more, focusing on how one small rumor can grow and change over time, turning into something with the potential to ruin lives. The authors have taken a realistic approach to these issues and the book was narrated, also showing what was happening on social media in that format, really drove in the point.
Most of the characters were remarkably unlikeable and I found it really hard to relate to any of them. In my opinion, neither Bryn nor Cora’s POVs were necessary since showing Georgie’s perspective alone, as the sole innocent victim in the whole mess, would have conveyed the point just as well, and it might have even been more impactful that way.
The mystery aspect of this book wasn’t much of one for the reader at all in my opinion, as it’s revealed relatively early on who is behind all the rumors, and all that was left was to see if they would be caught or not. The drama was also a tad too much – with a premise like this, a little drama is to be expected, but this was just over the top. There was so much focus on the various lavish parties thrown by students and the vicious gossip spreading at each event, and it started to feel repetitive after a while. The bottom line is, that this particular brand of drama wasn’t my favorite, and it was a large part of why I didn’t like this book.
Overall, apart from being a great discussion book, I found this a rather underwhelming read and it just didn’t work for me. Still, it was well written and there were a couple of interesting twists and turns too, which kept me engaged enough to finish reading. This wasn’t my type of book, but if the topics interest you, it might be worth a try.
Thank you to the publisher, Disney, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At Foxham Prep, an elite high school in Washington DC, rumors can make or break a student’s reputation. It is something that former popular girl Bryn Colburn has been experiencing of late after one horrible mistake has made her a social pariah and even her best friend Cora, the cheer captain, won’t talk to her. But it’s a new school year and the latest interest on the rumor mill is Georgie, Bryn’s next door neighbor, newly returned from weight loss camp and a summer makeover. Georgie finds herself suddenly popular, but that comes at a price, namely, placing her at odds with Cora. Day by day, the rumors grow wilder and more damaging, and with most of the students being the children of politicians and powerful people in the capital, such rumors have heavy repercussions well beyond school networks, and the girls will have to uncover the identity of the person responsible for all their troubles before it’s too late.
I had rather high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I thought it might be something like Ace of Spades, since dark academia is kind of starting to grow on me, but it was quite different. Despite this book not really being to my taste, it does delve into several important topics that are very relevant in today’s world, from cyberbullying, racism, fat shaming, eating disorders and more, focusing on how one small rumor can grow and change over time, turning into something with the potential to ruin lives. The authors have taken a realistic approach to these issues and the book was narrated, also showing what was happening on social media in that format, really drove in the point.
Most of the characters were remarkably unlikeable and I found it really hard to relate to any of them. In my opinion, neither Bryn nor Cora’s POVs were necessary since showing Georgie’s perspective alone, as the sole innocent victim in the whole mess, would have conveyed the point just as well, and it might have even been more impactful that way.
The mystery aspect of this book wasn’t much of one for the reader at all in my opinion, as it’s revealed relatively early on who is behind all the rumors, and all that was left was to see if they would be caught or not. The drama was also a tad too much – with a premise like this, a little drama is to be expected, but this was just over the top. There was so much focus on the various lavish parties thrown by students and the vicious gossip spreading at each event, and it started to feel repetitive after a while. The bottom line is, that this particular brand of drama wasn’t my favorite, and it was a large part of why I didn’t like this book.
Overall, apart from being a great discussion book, I found this a rather underwhelming read and it just didn’t work for me. Still, it was well written and there were a couple of interesting twists and turns too, which kept me engaged enough to finish reading. This wasn’t my type of book, but if the topics interest you, it might be worth a try.
ashezbookz's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this - did a lot of hard hitting as far as bullying and rumours go but also - there were some very problematic moments - however, I think it'd make a great teen movie with a few tweaks!
monarchsandmyths's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion at Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who grew up reading Pretty Little Liars, and even Clayton and Charaipotra’s own Tiny Pretty Things, I had such a fun time returning to these worlds of prep schools, lies, and most of all rumors. This is the kind of book that once the action really starts going, it’s hard to look away. I was never quite sure what was going to happen, with a number of plot twists weaving a story of rumors that ended up not being too much of a game. Though the last third of the book can't put the book down worthy, the first half starts to feel more and more like filler as you read. Ultimately, an exciting thriller, though perhaps a little bit too long for its own good.
This book sets up the whole rumor game as we’re introduced to a school full of the children of DC’s elite, with drama already stirred in the form of what’s rumored to involve a jealous ex and a car crash. Though it’s quickly revealed to the reader that this isn’t quite the truth, the distorted view of the event still reigns. It speaks to the way rumors work, and overall the book can be taken as some pretty potent commentary on the effects of rumors and social media on teens (or really anyone, but that’s not the focus). It warps characters in wrongdoing that they might not even know the scope of, and forever traumatizes others. To some degree, this book nearly goes to a lot of extremes that many might not be able to imagine, and yet they’re also somewhat the online norm.
I found myself pretty interested in all of the characters, particularly Georgie (Cora is a close second, I just think that her position as a Queen Bee wasn’t nearly as relatable to me). Through the multiple POV’s, you’re able to see how viewpoints vary and ultimately how the rumors are actually affecting people. Especially when it comes to Georgie, seeing both how her past and present amalgamate into something even more intense, as well as how a perceived New Georgie affects her in the wake of fatphobia and sexual assault. One thing that felt lacking when it came to Georgie’s story was a further discussion of eating disorders. The issue never fully feels resolved, in the sense that it almost feels like the book wouldn’t quite condemn them. I understand that’s the kind of storyline that doesn’t always fully resolve, but it felt like it was bordering on supporting the issue. On the other hand, I wish we’d gotten a little more depth and closure for Cora throughout the book. All the tidbits we see of her are so rich, and I think the book would have been even better if more time had been dedicated to explore her own insecurities and self ideations.
Probably one of the best things about this book for me was the way that it didn’t try to pin all the villainy or bad things onto one person, easily vanquished as if social injustice can be wiped away with one person. There are clear people who stand out as overall antagonists, but every single person has a hand in something that went wrong, and all those rumors don’t just disappear. When handling issues as big as this book does, bullying, sexual assault, racism, fatphobia, addiction, and more, it can be tempting to make one person the culprit and then once they’re gone, everything is all better. Though not everyone started the rumors, everyone had a hand in spreading them and even making them worse. It doesn’t end with one person getting punished, and it’s the most realistic outcome that could happen in the book, and about the best ending that could be hoped for.
My major problem with the book is what I would describe as pacing. There wasn’t anything that just felt boring and awful, but there were whole chapters that felt more gratuitous than anything. I wasn’t even sure where exactly the main conflict was going (or even really what it was) in the first half of the book. We’re introduced to all these awful rumors and assumptions, but the existence of a solid conflict or villain doesn’t fully form until much later. Ultimately, this leaves some of the characters less fleshed out than they could have been, and an ending that felt so rushed that I was surprised that I had turned to the last page. Though it’s common for thrillers to wrap up quickly, this one just felt like throwing clothes in the closet to be dealt with later, rather than the satisfying closing of a book.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy this book. There was never a point where I was bored, even if there were times that it felt like it was taking forever to get to the point. With zippy plot twists and engaging characters, THE RUMOR GAME is still a must read for thriller and YA fans alike. If thrillers, rumors, lies, and social commentary all mixed together sound like your thing, then I would recommend this book.
As someone who grew up reading Pretty Little Liars, and even Clayton and Charaipotra’s own Tiny Pretty Things, I had such a fun time returning to these worlds of prep schools, lies, and most of all rumors. This is the kind of book that once the action really starts going, it’s hard to look away. I was never quite sure what was going to happen, with a number of plot twists weaving a story of rumors that ended up not being too much of a game. Though the last third of the book can't put the book down worthy, the first half starts to feel more and more like filler as you read. Ultimately, an exciting thriller, though perhaps a little bit too long for its own good.
This book sets up the whole rumor game as we’re introduced to a school full of the children of DC’s elite, with drama already stirred in the form of what’s rumored to involve a jealous ex and a car crash. Though it’s quickly revealed to the reader that this isn’t quite the truth, the distorted view of the event still reigns. It speaks to the way rumors work, and overall the book can be taken as some pretty potent commentary on the effects of rumors and social media on teens (or really anyone, but that’s not the focus). It warps characters in wrongdoing that they might not even know the scope of, and forever traumatizes others. To some degree, this book nearly goes to a lot of extremes that many might not be able to imagine, and yet they’re also somewhat the online norm.
I found myself pretty interested in all of the characters, particularly Georgie (Cora is a close second, I just think that her position as a Queen Bee wasn’t nearly as relatable to me). Through the multiple POV’s, you’re able to see how viewpoints vary and ultimately how the rumors are actually affecting people. Especially when it comes to Georgie, seeing both how her past and present amalgamate into something even more intense, as well as how a perceived New Georgie affects her in the wake of fatphobia and sexual assault. One thing that felt lacking when it came to Georgie’s story was a further discussion of eating disorders. The issue never fully feels resolved, in the sense that it almost feels like the book wouldn’t quite condemn them. I understand that’s the kind of storyline that doesn’t always fully resolve, but it felt like it was bordering on supporting the issue. On the other hand, I wish we’d gotten a little more depth and closure for Cora throughout the book. All the tidbits we see of her are so rich, and I think the book would have been even better if more time had been dedicated to explore her own insecurities and self ideations.
Probably one of the best things about this book for me was the way that it didn’t try to pin all the villainy or bad things onto one person, easily vanquished as if social injustice can be wiped away with one person. There are clear people who stand out as overall antagonists, but every single person has a hand in something that went wrong, and all those rumors don’t just disappear. When handling issues as big as this book does, bullying, sexual assault, racism, fatphobia, addiction, and more, it can be tempting to make one person the culprit and then once they’re gone, everything is all better. Though not everyone started the rumors, everyone had a hand in spreading them and even making them worse. It doesn’t end with one person getting punished, and it’s the most realistic outcome that could happen in the book, and about the best ending that could be hoped for.
My major problem with the book is what I would describe as pacing. There wasn’t anything that just felt boring and awful, but there were whole chapters that felt more gratuitous than anything. I wasn’t even sure where exactly the main conflict was going (or even really what it was) in the first half of the book. We’re introduced to all these awful rumors and assumptions, but the existence of a solid conflict or villain doesn’t fully form until much later. Ultimately, this leaves some of the characters less fleshed out than they could have been, and an ending that felt so rushed that I was surprised that I had turned to the last page. Though it’s common for thrillers to wrap up quickly, this one just felt like throwing clothes in the closet to be dealt with later, rather than the satisfying closing of a book.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy this book. There was never a point where I was bored, even if there were times that it felt like it was taking forever to get to the point. With zippy plot twists and engaging characters, THE RUMOR GAME is still a must read for thriller and YA fans alike. If thrillers, rumors, lies, and social commentary all mixed together sound like your thing, then I would recommend this book.
megoates's review against another edition
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
whut_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksareprettygreat's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0