ARC Review: The Revenge Playbook - Rachael Allen

Title: The Revenge Playbook
Author: Rachael Allen
Pub Date: June 16th, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 368

In this poignant and hilarious novel, Rachael Allen brilliantly explores the nuances of high school hierarchies, the traumas sustained on the path to finding true love, and the joy of discovering a friend where you least expect.

Don’t get mad, get even!

In the small town of Ranburne, high school football rules and the players are treated like kings. How they treat the girls they go to school with? That’s a completely different story. Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane, and Ana each have their own reason for wanting to teach the team a lesson—but it’s only when circumstances bring them together that they come up with the plan to steal the one thing the boys hold sacred. All they have to do is beat them at their own game.

Brimming with sharp observations and pitch-perfect teen voices, fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Mlynowski are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp tale—by the author of 17 First Kisses—about the unexpected roads that can lead you to finding yourself.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Chapters Indigo

The Revenge Playbook sounded interesting and I totally requested it on impulse. I was in the mood for a good story, one where friendship is very important and strong message. I got it. For sure. - Nova @ Out of Time

I don't go to a school where the football team is worshiped by the faculty and student body, however, I feel like that situation is only an example of what happens so often. There's a double standard in a lot of things we do. I know that sometimes, teachers are "easier" on me not doing homework because I have good grades and it isn't fair when I was being lazy whereas when someone who's getting average grades doesn't do their homework, they get in trouble.

The example that sent me into rage was when Peyton wanted an extension because of her IEP [which is what she deserves] and didn't get it because the teacher happens to be the football coach. Next thing you know, the star football player asks for an extension without a reason and gets it in a blink of an eye.

This book sends a strong message of how the system in the school was completely unfair and how four girls sought to change that. This seems to be a problem in other schools but since my school isn't just a football school, we don't have that problem. I'm glad that it raises awareness of what's going on in other places, though. Just because it isn't happening to me doesn't mean that I don't need to know about it [which I do.] I really enjoyed how this book made me feel. I felt... empowered and all excited because it's the nature of these types of books.

It also reminded me a little bit like All The Rage because in one scene, a girl confesses to the guidance counselor that she may have been raped. The counselor say something like, "are you sure? The person you're accusing is on his way to getting a football scholarship. You should keep this to yourself so his career doesn't get damaged." I don't know why that sent me into a rage so much but the idea of a counselor advising that to a scared girl is sickening.

I wasn't sure about the four different perspectives. It was a little difficult at first because I thought there were five characters [one has two names.] However, they had their different personalities and Allen was very versatile in writing them so I could tell them apart. Also, the change in font was really helpful. Just a personal thing, but I love it when books with multiple perspectives do that.

Something that wasn't so good was that is was very predictable till the very end. I knew what was going to happen the whole time and while there were what seemed like twists, I just skimmed over feeling completely the same. And I know this isn't a thriller book but I would liked it if there were things that shocked me. It was cliche and cute but cliche nonetheless. Also, I did end up LOL-ing multiple times because some of the dares they had to do were so unbelievable and the way they were done was fabulous.

In essence, The Revenge Playbook got me feeling some type of way. My heart went out to the girls who had been victimized by the boys in a place where the adults wouldn't do anything about it. It was predictable but as a story, I would definitely recommend it to someone who wants a fun contemp with some great messages.

Rachael's Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Rachael Allen lives in Atlanta, GA where she's working furiously on her PhD in neuroscience. When she's not doing science or writing YA, you can find her chasing after her toddler and her two sled dogs. Her debut YA novel 17 FIRST KISSES, is forthcoming from Harper Teen. Rachael may or may not have had 17 first kisses...luckily she doesn't kiss and tell.