Everyone does bad things when no one is watchingMercilessly bullied in high school, Ava knows she needs to put the past behind her and move on, but she can’t—not until she’s exacted precise, catastrophic revenge on the people who hurt her the most.First, she watches Saanvi. Flawlessly chic and working hard at a top architectural firm, Saanvi has it all together on the surface. But everyone does … surface. But everyone does bad things when they think no one is watching and Ava only wants what’s fair—to destroy Saanvi’s life the way her own was destroyed.
Next, she watches Cass. She’s there as Cass tries on wedding dresses, she’s there when Cass picks out a cake, she’s there when Cass betrays her fiancé. She’s the reason Cass’s entire future comes crashing down.
Finally, Ava watches Mel. Mel was always the ringleader and if anyone has to pay, it’s her. But one tiny slipup and Ava realizes the truth: Mel knows she’s being watched, and she’s ready to play Ava’s games to the bitter end.
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This was a bit of a weird book. The narrator Ava, is a young woman who is an outsider at her high school but wants very much to be accepted by a trio of girls who seem to have all the fun, boys and friends that one could want. Unfortunately they are not interested in having anything to do with Ava, because they see her as inferior to them. Then they begin to toy with her by inviting her to spend time with them and when she does, they convince her to do things which she feels she cannot refuse. This continues until one night when they do something to her which she cannot forgive or get past. At this point Ava begins to plan her revenge. The story is well written and moves along at a decent pace but it is rather dark. The characters are not likeable and Ava can be particularly annoying. But it was definitely interesting and a book I wanted to read in its entirety. Recommended for those who enjoy reading books from the viewpoint of the “slightly off” character.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.
Favorite Quotes:
As far as the social strata went, we were barely in the equation. We were cooler than the kids with chronic acne who played cards in the back of the library, but not by much… I felt ready. I wanted to see the true potential of my life, to have fun and get drunk and kiss boys and skip school. I wanted to see what I was capable of. I was just waiting for my in.
There had been always been an ache in my chest. I hadn’t known it was there until now, when it was gone. I knew all I had to do was relax, not say or do the wrong thing, and every moment would be entirely perfect… As long as I didn’t muck it up, things would stay golden… I wanted to pause this moment, because I knew, inevitably, I’d somehow do something to ruin it.
I don’t think I’m the right person to ask about being normal, but I’ve always thought the best way to live is to embrace your crazy. I’ll tell you now it’s always a hell of a lot more fun.
I had worried so much about being a “psycho,” but maybe I shouldn’t have. I’d be happier if I was one, that was for sure. If I was a psycho, I’d do something to Mel. I’d get even. I’d been worrying so much that there was something terribly wrong with me. But maybe the thing that was wrong with me was the only thing that was right.
My Review:
As someone who was bullied in high school, I can honestly attest to the brilliance and keenly observant insights tucked into this author’s well-crafted tale. High school was over forty years ago for me, but the painful sting of personal humiliation remains ever so sharp, regardless of the massive amount of years and tons of dust in between. I was absorbed by this emotive and cunningly written tale. The cleverly constructed narrative was laced with captivating and compelling characters and active with engaging, dynamic, and heart-squeezing scenarios. I required considerable motivation and enticement to put my Kindle down for those pesky chores like eating, sleeping, and adulting. I know it may not the politically correct or altruistic thing to confess, but I reveled in the ending with a glorious fist pump.
This was fabulous It only loses some points from me because of the slightly confused and jumpy timeline: this I found took slightly some getting used to but when I did The Spite Game for me was ever such a satisfying read.
A psychological thriller that cleverly conveys the story of Ava and her obsession with her former classmate’s actions towards her and showing us that there’s a fine line separating such strong feelings of acceptance versus Revenge and Adoration versus Hate.
That even after time, the repercussions echo on affecting our psyche and individual mindset.
And I bet if we all think back we have been or known an Ava and I for one found myself rallying mainly for the protagonist here: I wanted Ava to get her retaliation and her pound of flesh.
So yeh a truly enjoyable read that I read straight through without a break.
This one gets a thumbs up.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of The Spite Game.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
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4 Thriller Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night With Books Blog
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller with a edge to it, then The Spite Game by Ann Snoekstra is for you. This is not your average thriller/mystery, it is one that will take you on a journey from the beginning to the end and everything it encompasses in between. The slow build up and the way the story unfolds makes this story absolutely gripping. As the intensity of the story unfolds, you find yourself gripping your book/ereader. It is just that good!
The layout of the story from past to present is perfectly done and it’s what makes the writing so good.
Mean girls, everyone experiences them in life, but for some, the mean girls can take it to a whole new level. Ava is at the focal point of three mean girls, Saanvi, Cass and Mel. These girls are ruthless, popular and out of control.
Ava can’t move on until justice is served, cold. After years of “watching” the mean girls, she starts her plotting and downfall of Saanvi, Cass and Mel. But sometimes plans don’t go as planned and the games begin.
I liked the pace of this book, it moved steadily along and it didn’t dig into the “situations” deeply. The author kept it more to the “spite” situation rather than the emotional aspect.
Ava was terribly bullied in high school by three girls she idolized: Melissa, Cass, Saanvi. One particular incident so traumatized her that she cannot move on and years later, she finds herself unable to get past it. So she watches her former classmates–online and in real life–and she plots. If she can just find a way to get even, Ava thinks, then she can move on with her own life. But Ava’s stalking threatens to overtake her life and perhaps her sanity. She finds herself in a police station, waiting to tell her story to a detective. What has Ava done?
“The bad thing inside of me took root there. Like mold, it grew in that hot moist place. You won’t want to hear any of this. My story. I know that. But if you want me to confess, then you’ll have to listen.”
This one reminded me of a lesser version of Roz Nay’s Our Little Secret, where so much of the tale is our main character telling her woes and recapping her life while in a police station. I didn’t love Ava or hate her: I often felt sorry for her. Her inability to move past high school basically crippled her entire life, and her revenge mission is all she has.
This was a weird book. It switches in time frequently, going between whatever the present moment is and then Ava remembering moments in high school. I found the timeframe to be confusing at times. Ava’s singular focus on her former classmates–and getting even–could be frustrating at moments, yet the book was also oddly compelling and somewhat addictive. It certainly did a good job at capturing the meanness of high school girls. What a terrible time that is.
“I was so naive, so ready to give those girls everything: my loyalty, my trust, my devoted friendship. I was ready to spill every secret I ever had, to follow them to the ends of the earth. I guess the last bit turned out to be true, in some ways.”
It was a creepy read sometimes. I guessed the ending a bit early, but that didn’t really make it any less enjoyable. Overall, I found this one a little odd and a little off-putting. It was a strange read, with a pointed focus on its main character (and her own mission). Still, it was rather readable. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Ava is a normal high school girl, who wants to fit in with the popular girls. Her break comes when Melissa, asks her to be a look out for them, as they target another girl in gym class. Ava is torn between doing the right thing, and finally being noticed by the popular girls. In the end, Ava chooses to ignore what happened.
After Ava accidentally witnesses Melissa being put in an uncomfortable position, Ava hatches a plan to help and is elected to carry the plan out. This earns Ava points. Melissa (Mel), Cass, and Saanvi start to include Ava into their tight knit group.
Over time, Ava pulls away from her other friends, and is willing to do anything to be accepted by her new group of friends. Ava is put into positions where she feels her loyalty is being tested and she has to prove herself. After a sleepover, which involved an incident between Mel and Ava, begins an endless charade. One particularly nasty incident, broke Ava’s spirit. Ava wants retribution, which becomes an obsession.
This was an interesting, quick read. I received an ARC from NetGalley via Harlequin-MIRA in exchange for an honest review.