Well. Not sure what I have just read. This was not so much a whodunit as a whatexactlydidshedo? I felt compelled to keep reading, but found the denouement a big let down. I was expecting another significant part of the backstory to be revealed, which never was.

From the blurb, I guess I was expecting a Mean Girls situation and some clever revenge plots. This was a lot darker and sadder. I felt sorry for Ava, but also can't stand her.

I guess this has something to say about the potential long term impact of bullying. Not so much what Ava does as the way she feels about herself. She believes she is incapable of being loved, is unloveable because of who she is deep down. She then sabotages any chance of happiness that may come her way.

On a completely different note, the novel certainly has a particular time and place. I can't decide if that is a good thing, or if it will make it feel dated quickly.

This book was dismal. But I think that was intended.

This book goes between the present and the past. The past is Ava in high school where she was bullied by a group of girls. The present is Ava as an adult consumed with revenge. So much so that she is unable to even have an adult relationship. Poor girl. However, I didn't feel sorry for Ava while I was reading this. I felt a little bit disgusted by her.

Everyone has been through shit, and everyone moves past it. That is part of growing up. But what happens when you can't move past it? This is where we find our girl. Teetering dangerously between manic and in need of a good therapist.

I think the author was trying for a Gillian Flynn type of novel, but for me the characters weren't as complete. It could have just been me though. I did read the book all the way to the end, but it wasn't something that I would enthusiastically recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advance copy of this book.

I was disappointed by The Spite Game, a story about Ava, who wanted nothing more than to be friends with the popular kids in high school. She finds a way in, but as is often the case, hanging with the popular crowd is not what it is cracked up to be. Ava spends years trying to deal with what happened her last few years of high school. Some of the characters were developed better than others. Parts of the story grab the attention better than others. The ending was not what I had hoped for. Not a terrible book, but definitely not one of my favorites.

This had so much potential when I started reading it - and everyone loves a bit of a revenge read, but I found it to be childish, unbelievable and unrelateable! I precevered - but I don’t know why! Not for me I am afraid.

This is an absorbing tale of a young woman who seemingly can’t mentally move past high school. Ava wants desperately to be part of the in crowd and when she comes to the aid of one if the group she thinks that’s her ticket. Unfortunately the in crowd only views her as an oddity and being with them in exposes Ava to more abuse and indignity. And she decides that if that is how they see her then that is what she truly be inside. Fast forward a few years and ‘the group’ is off to university and beyond. Ava is still obsessed and cyberstalks them. And she uses all the cunning and malice they told her was part of her in her revenge.

There were times reading The Spite Game that wanted to just hug Ava and take her to a therapist. The material is rough but I always hard a hard time putting this one down. There were a lot of late nights while I was reading. I wanted to see where Ava’s plans would lead her. I think you will too.

This is one of those books that just feels kind of ick when you read it.

While I felt for Ava, I also wanted her to grow up. What happened to her in the past was simply awful, but she was more in need of therapy than revenge.

There were some surprises in the book – especially in the end with one particular character – but it can be hard to get through a book when you simply hate the main character – and hate her I did!

The book is sort of suspenseful, but honestly? It wasn’t enjoyable.

Next time, give me someone to root for.

Ava spent her childhood as a victim, bullied by other girls who were prettier, smarter or wealthier. But now that’s all changed and she’s going to hurt the girls who tormented her . She’s has years to plot her revenge. The three women who made Ava’s life miserable, Saanvi, Mel, and Cass don’t know what’s about to hit them in this ultimate game of revenge. Obviously, Ava takes her revenge to far, but a lot of us who were bullied as kids will get a vicarious thrill from her game of get even