REVIEW: The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

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.

Adele Griffin’s riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

-from Goodreads

MY REVIEW:
Note:This review is based off on an ARC I was blessed enough to receive from Adele Griffin(THANK YOU SO MUCH!!). Publishing Date: August 26th 2010

OK..I don’t usually start my reviews discussing about the book cover but I have to make an exception in this case. I L.O.V.E. the cover of The Julian Game. Could go on raving about it till eternity! It’s gorgeous-so simple,unique,striking and chic!

Now onto the book. The Julian Game is a book I enjoyed a lot. It presents to the readers the dangers of social networking and the harm that can be caused using such public forums like Facebook by malicious teens out to seek revenge! The book showed to me the psyche of teens nowadays who don’t scruple to extract revenge even in the most horrible way possible!

What I most loved about the book is the friendship between Raye and Natalya. Raye is the weaker among the two and it is interesting to read how Tal guides her throughout the story. Tal can go to any extent if it can guarantee a better life,free from bullies,for her friend. Raye and Natalya are like each other’s alter egos-they understand each other’s every emotion and problems. Raye strengthened and matured somewhat towards the end of the book.

The issue of bullying has been most deftly dealt with in the book along with the pathetic attempts of Raye to go to any extent just to grab the attention of the school’s most popular girl,Ella. Sometimes I felt that Raye would even cut herself up if Ella commanded her to. But the problem of teens without backbones is very common now. How many times have we seen,heard of or met teens who would lie,suffer silently and even manipulate just so they could mingle with the popular crowd?! Also,Raye got so pathetic around Julian,no matter what happened! I almost felt like screaming “Get a life girl!” But I am so glad that Adele showed what is true of many teens now. Please girls,there is a life beyond guys! Have the courage to ditch that awful casanova dude even if you have had a crush on him for an unbearably long time! It will buy you happiness in the long run! I really wish all teens read this book and learn for themselves and to stand up for themselves even if it means you are standing alone!

Easy,fast and interesting,The Julian Game taught me a lot of things and kept me hooked till the end. I loved this book!

MY RATING: 4.5/5