Search This Blog
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (3)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (3)
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (8)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Confusing, Far-fetched Psychological Thriller a Strange Disappointment
8:16 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As the former head of development for a t.v. company, 43-year-old Justine Merrison is done with stress. She's moving to the coast to start a new, tension-free life doing absolutely nothing. With her opera singer husband frequently out of town, it's up to her to take care of their 14-year-old daughter, Ellen. Even that isn't usually difficult. The only problem is that the move has changed Ellen, who's become surly and withdrawn. When she begins writing a story for English class, Justine becomes concerned. The tale is sordid and disturbing; also, it takes place in a house that is eerily similar to the one in which they live.
When Ellen tells Justine about her new friend, George Donbavand, Justine is thrilled that her daughter finally seems to be settling in. Then, George is expelled over a minor incident that upsets Ellen so much Justine promises she'll talk to the principal about it. The principal informs Justine that George has not been expelled because there is no George Donbavand at their school. George does not exist. Stunned, Justine can't decide what in the world is going on. Has Ellen created an imaginary friend to assuage her loneliness? Is she playing a weird prank on her mother? Or is the principal lying to cover up her unethical behavior? When Justine starts receiving threatening phone calls, she's even more confused. What in the world is going on? It's up to Justine to make sense of her increasingly bizarre situation.
As you might imagine, A Game for All the Family by Sophie Hannah, is a tad confusing. Actually, more than a tad. A lot more. Its premise is intriguing, but its plot is so convoluted and far-fetched that it just gets ridiculous. I like a psychological thriller that keeps me off-balance. This one does that, for sure. I definitely wanted to know what was happening, but the big reveal felt anti-climatic. Add an unlikable narrator to the mix and A Game for All the Family turned into a big disappointment. I wanted to like it, but I just ... didn't. Oh well.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language and violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of A Game for All the Family with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
-
Compared6 hours ago
-
-
Monthly Round-Up: May 202413 hours ago
-
Wyrd & Wonder ~ Sunbolt Readalong Week #414 hours ago
-
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown15 hours ago
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!19 hours ago
-
-
-
-
First Lines Fridays: May 31, 202423 hours ago
-
Review: Ravensong by TJ Klune23 hours ago
-
You Are Here by David Nicholls1 day ago
-
May Reflections1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bookshelf Bounty6 days ago
-
I have been reading...1 week ago
-
-
The Mayfair Dagger by Ava January1 week ago
-
Sunday Post 5542 weeks ago
-
Reading Recap April 20242 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up1 month ago
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?7 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra11 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
-
▼
2018
(223)
-
▼
February
(46)
-
▼
Feb 08
(12)
- Promising Mystery Series Opener Convinces Me to Re...
- Confusing, Far-fetched Psychological Thriller a St...
- Macmillan's Newest Sad, But Compelling
- Disappointing Dystopian Opener A Not Very Promisin...
- Gorgeous Cover the Best Thing About Creepy Dual-Ti...
- Adoption Novel Raw and Honest
- Teen Murder Mystery Twisty, Tense
- Dual Timeline Mystery/Romance Clean and Uplifting
- Sweeping Historical Pandemic Novel Sad But Compelling
- Warm, Quirky Southern Family Secrets Novel a Glitt...
- The Disappearances Offers An Intelligent, Magical ...
- Gripping WWII Novel An Engrossing Read
-
▼
Feb 08
(12)
-
▼
February
(46)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
I've read other reviews of this book that were similar to yours. I keep meaning to read something by Sophie Hannah and she's one of the authors that I still haven't gotten around to.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you've been churning out the reviews. Are you about caught up? LOL
Well, dang. I love the cover and I’m a sucker for stories like this. But unlikable characters and boring big reveals aren’t appealing. I might still try it though.
ReplyDelete