The Julian Game

Title: The Julian Game
Author: Adele Griffin
Genre: YA
Page Count: 201
Why I read it: ARC Tour
Grade: D+
Publication Date: Aug. 26, 2010

Synopsis:
New girl Raye Archer is desperate for a way into the In crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker chooses her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity as “Elizabeth” so that she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. While a fun and dangerous thrill at first, what Raye hadn’t counted on was falling for Julian herself—and igniting Ella’s rage.
As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge. Now it’s Raye who falls victim, as Ella creates an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she’s helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

My review:
I don't necessarily think that the writing was bad in this book, it's just that the whole thing fell flat for me. I was expecting a lot more from this book, and it just didn't deliver.

Sometimes I complain that YA novels are way too long, but it's possible to go on the opposite end of the spectrum, and just be way too short. This one clocked in at 200 pages, and it moved way too fast. We didn't really have time to explore anything, or really even feel anything before the plot moved...more I don't necessarily think that the writing was bad in this book, it's just that the whole thing fell flat for me. I was expecting a lot more from this book, and it just didn't deliver.

Sometimes I complain that YA novels are way too long, but it's possible to go on the opposite end of the spectrum, and just be way too short. This one clocked in at 200 pages, and it moved way too fast. We didn't really have time to explore anything, or really even feel anything before the plot moved from one thing to another lightning fast.

I think I get what the author was trying to do here. I think she was trying to explore a lot of different themes that might be relevant with teens today, but again, it didn't deliver--there just wasn't enough time. There weren't really any likable characters for me. I didn't even like the main character, whose name I'm drawing a blank on, and I just finished the book. I guess she was kind of forgettable. Her best friend was interesting, and I could have really liked her as a character, but she really was barely there.

And lastly, it was quite predictable. There aren't any surprises here, and the journey wasn't that fun for me. And when I got to the end, I was thinking "that's it?" It was fast and abrupt, which I guess is fitting with the rest of the book. I wouldn't recommend this one.