Thursday, November 18, 2010

Review: This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

This Gorgeous Game (Hardcover) by Donna Freitas
This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas


Seventeen-year-old Olivia peters has long dreamed of becoming a writer. So she's absolutely over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and much-adored local priest Mark D. Brendan, selects her from hundreds of other applicants as the winner of the Emerging Writers High School Fiction Prize. Now she gets to spend her summer evenings in a college fiction seminar at the nearby university, where dreamy college boys abound and Father Mark acts as her personal mentor.

But when Father Mark's enthusiasm for Olivia's writing develops into something more, Olivia quickly finds her emotions shifting from wonder to confusion to despair. And as her wide-eyed innocence deteriorates, Olivia can't help but ask - exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

This remarkable second novel by the author of The Possibilities of Sainthood, about overcoming the isolation that stems from victimization, is powerful, luminous, and impossible to put down.
Book links to The Book Depository and photo and teaser from Goodreads
Published in US:  May 25 2010
Source: One ARC Tour


*My review*
      This is a very emotional story, and I really felt for Olivia. I really appreciate what the author was trying to do. I feel like it was dragging some and Olivia's thoughts were become repetitive in the middle.
      This Gorgeous Game has a very compelling premise, it makes you want to know how something like this can escalate, and how you can find yourself in this situation. The answer little by little, and looking over things that you should not have. Olivia got herself in deep by inching forward and didn't realize when the bottom dropped out on her. She was afraid to get help for obvious reasons, but luckily she finally did.
      The supporting cast is good, I liked Jamie and her friends.
      This really was a great story, and I would recommend it if you like dark and edgy.


I would love to hear what you think of this book and/or of my review. 

3 comments:

  1. I actually really enjoyed this book but for a few flaws...I think it was powerful and emotional. Great review, Brandi :)

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  2. Sounds intense. There is nothing worse than being betrayed my a person that you hold in high regard, whether a teacher, or trusted adult, or pastor. It is like a betrayal of spirit and unfortunately happens all the time. I actually had a college professor do this to me, which luckily in college I had the wits about me to not be drawn into his game further than his initial play...but it hurts. Especially when he seemed to be my biggest promoter when it came to my arts career. Once that happens you think was it all just BS? Was the whole time just him trying to seduce me with compliments and "helpful advice?"

    Its a horrible feeling and men like that are despicable. Every time I see a review of this book I think about that, I'm still torn on whether I would read it or not.

    This was a great review and thanks for your honesty. Emotionally charged books need to take a bit more time with development - if not they just seem a bit shallow. Its not nit picking ;)

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  3. This one sounds like a very emotional story and I appreciate your honest review. I'll have to look more into the book because I haven't heard too much about it, but it sounds like something I'd enjoy.

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