The Rumor Game By Dhonielle Clayton

Hailey (Hailey in Bookland)

I read this book in
this reading vlog!

DNF @ 80ish %

I was almost done with this one and I was enjoying it, but then something happened that was too triggering for me to continue unfortunately. It had been mildly triggering throughout in other ways but this event was just a bit too much for me personally. Definitely look into trigger warnings before reading this one, but it is quite well done if you are able to read it!

Carrie

The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra is a young adult thriller novel that is set in an elite private school. The story in The Rumor Game is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters to give all sides of the story.

Foxham Prep is a private school located in Washington DC where the children of the area’s elite attend. Bryn used to be a queen of the school thanks to her best friend,, Cora, until a rumor brought her crashing down. This year Bryn is hoping for it to all be forgotten when a new girl, Georgie, becomes the focus of the Foxham Prep’s rumor mill.

When finished with The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra I was left with a feeling of wanting a bit more which seems odd with the length of the novel. It just seemed to me that I had trouble connecting with the characters and becoming fully invested in the story wanting more out of it. There were some things that seemed repetitive and felt as it it could have cut back on which may have improved the flow but overall I just felt this one was just an OK read in my opinion.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit
https://carriesbookreviews.com/

Kalena W

4/5 stars, a really compelling and truthful novel about expectations and high school

Thank you to the folks at Girls Life for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

Initially, I had no idea that this book existed, but I was reached out to, I agreed to review this book and I was pleasantly surprised. I have not read anything by either of the authors I do not believe and so going into this I had no expectations. I think this greatly helped as this book was a bit different than I was expecting but not necessarily in a bad way.

The plot is centered around a few girls at an elite boarding school which instantly intrigued me, and it was really easy to feel like I was in on the gossip. Right from the first page it really reminded me of gossip girl, and euphoria even though I have never seen it. That feeling continued on through the pages as the teens all struggled with very real things, like body image, less than sub-par relationships, and the pressures of being a teenager in this world today. I connected very deeply with these themes, however, the writing style never really wowed me. It was an intriguing story and I really enjoyed seeing some forms of media in here like texting, posts, and comments on said posts. However, the actual writing never felt very intense or thriller-y for me, it was just reading like a contemporary. I think that was my biggest complaint as I always love seeing media in stories.

The big twists towards the end are never really twisty, as the reader is let in on these secrets fairly early on. Or at least, given very direct hints towards what is really going on (before subsequently being revealed before the others know about it). I think if this had wanted to be made out as a thriller more than realistic fiction, as it was marketed as it shouldn't have had as many points of view. Due to the depth that each character gets, it allows the reader to guess prematurely what is really going on and see behind the curtain. That didn't make it very mysterious for me at least.

Bryn was my least favorite character of the main three, and that may have been because I connected with her a lot less than the other two. She is not however the worst character in the book (that instead goes to one of the boys who acts like Nate Jacobs, if you know you know). In the beginning, it is revealed she did some really bad things to her boyfriend, and even got him in a car accident. That is not explained until later in the story, but through all of it, she says she didn't mean to. I also initially thought that she was going to have more page time but it felt like she was pushed off to the side. I never connected with her and didn't feel like she grew as a character.

Georgie might've been my favorite out of the three main girls, but I cannot say for sure because each of them did things that were not amazing. Though she really struggled with maintaining her new "weight loss" because her parents wanted her to be this "perfect indian girl." It was a lot of pressure to put on someone who had always felt a bit like an outsider, and I totally had sympathy for Georgie. However, she did do some things that I didn't love. Such as openly flirting with someone who had a girlfriend, though he didn't always stop her, and sort of felt like things should be about her now that she is a new person. Though I do think that she reacted in some ways that were appropriate to a person of her age.

Cora was a really interesting character, she had the mean girl persona going but there was also a TON behind the scenes that the majority of people in her life did not see. She struggled to maintain good grades and impress her parents at home as she had a twin sister who was way ahead of her in terms of intelligence and grades. This was a big expectation and disappointment placed on her shoulders that her parents shouldn't have, I really connected to her in this way as my parents are pretty strict with grades as well. She also did some things that were not amazing morality-wise, but she was also struggling with rumors and cyberbullying.

Overall, this was an interesting story that was very accurate to what problems many teens are experiencing today, even if it was a bit over the top. All of the characters had lots of layers and each was given the same amount of attention, which was really nice to see. My biggest advice would be to go in without expectations, and without thinking that it's a thriller as it really doesn't feel like one.

[TW: bullying and cyberbullying, sexual abuse, assault, weight loss, body image, fatphobia, racism]

Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell

This is giving me ACE OF SPADES vibes and I want it

Beary Into Books

Rating 3.75

This book was enjoyable, it reminded me a lot of the show Gossip Girl which I absolutely love. You can definitely feel the drama, heartbreak and tension between all of the characters. Some characters I loved more than others and I definitely would roll my eyes during certain events. Reading this made me feel like I was back in high school. It’s so easy to become part of drama and gossip even when you think it might not hurt anyone. You truly feel like you're right beside these characters as they make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. It’s marketed as a thriller but I found it to be more of a YA contemporary. I Feel as though if you know that going in then you will not be disappointed. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I also loved the incorporation of the chat images; it helped bring the story to life in a fun way.

Thank you to @disneybooks for sending me a copy of the book.

Rose

Initial reaction: This was a whole journey of teens being terrible to each other and a steadily unfolding mystery with high stakes, but in a way that I think is meaningful and realistic for what it chooses to explore. The comparisons to "Ace of Spades" and "Tiny Pretty Things" make a lot of sense (of course the latter since the same authors penned this). I followed the characters in this very well and my heart ached for a few of them. Take the trigger warnings seriously, there are quite a bit here and they don't pull punches.

Full review:

"The Rumor Game" is an experience that I'd give a pretty solid 4 stars - immersive, intense, and while I wouldn't say it's necessarily a thriller, it definitely had a driving mystery and emotionally invested moments where you could feel the weight of events for what they were. I received this book as a galley, but I also listened to an audiobook copy of the novel after it was published, so I'm actually rounding this up to about a half-star more because of the strong audio performances by Joniece Abbott Pratt, Taylor Meskimen, Deepa Samuel, and Julie Nathanson.

Granted, this is not a book that is an easy read - take the trigger warnings seriously because there are quite a number of them to be had. To reiterate, content warnings for the book include bullying/cyberbullying, sexual abuse, sexual assault, weight loss/ED issues, body image, fatphobia, and racism (both in the form of microaggressions and overt displays). I do like that there's quite a bit of pushback/emotionally invested dialogue from the characters on these issues, especially when they come up.

This is a stand alone story from both Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipota, authors of the "Tiny Pretty Things" series. I enjoyed that duology for what it offered for the intensely emotional mystery, setting, and the showcase of the cast of characters and their subsequent development through the series, dramatic twists in tow. "The Rumor Game" illuminates yet another competitive environment - Foxham Prep - centering on a group of three very flawed teens embroiled in a rumor scandal that shakes their respective lives in different ways. We have Bryn, former queen bee and political hopeful involved in causing a vehicular accident that put her Student Council presidency on the line, alongside a heavily tarnished reputation. We have Cora, Black cheerleading captain whose social status has improved, but strongly pushed rumors by a mysterious tipster threaten to tarnish her relationships, both with her boyfriend and a new girl. And then there's Georgie (oh Georgie...), an Indian teen who has transformed physically and emotionally with a weight loss journey and tries to strike the balance of navigating those changes while becoming a newfound target for scrutiny.

I think this is a realistic novel to portay the issues of bullying/cyberbullying and how cruel teens can be to each other, though it also has some events that are a little more out there and you can tell it's more for the driving conflict of the novel. Fair point to make: Bryn, Cora, and Georgie alike all are quite flawed characters where their fallibilities are put for full display online and at school. Told in a mixed media format combining prose, simulated text messages, articles, among other features, you follow Bryn, Cora, and Georgie as they navigate past and present events while also trying to determine who might be trying to sabotage their relationships with each other. The answer is a little more closer to home than any of them expect, and the game of trying to add on to the tide of rumors results in some horrible events that spiral out of control as the novel marches to its respective conclusion - revealing all and noting the fallout. I didn't think the consequences of said fallout were evenly handed when it was all said and done, but I did at least appreciate the journey overall.

The novel is a slow-burn in places, establishing the backgrounds of each of the girls and how they navigate some of the bigger conflicts at the center of their lives while also navigating the dialogue spiral the rumors become. I did not expect the twists, did not expect some of the respective players who had their hand in the conflict to be what they were, so it kept me guessing and wanting to find out who had the most to gain and lose. There were times I internally raged at some of the things the characters did, but I also understood emotionally where each of the teens were at the time (Georgie goes through...a lot. Whew. There were times I had to put my book down and re-center with all of her respective body issues and the blows she's dealt with her social reputation.) I think those who are familiar with "Tiny Pretty Things" will see parallels in the kind of dramatic and petty plays the teens make, alongside misunderstandings (*cough* lies, lies, LIES *cough*) the characters engage in.

I think teens will be engaged with this to see what happens and how far it goes, though it falls in line with having moments where its realistic and others are the more drama-style conflict you see in series like PLL, Gossip Girl, Private, etc. I would argue that there aren't as many moments to see the teens really flourish in happier spaces to round them out a little more from the heavier events, but I did like seeing their respective arcs in this.

Overall, I think it was an engaging read and it makes me want to see more collaborations and offerings from both of these authors alike.

Overall score: 4/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher.

Monte Price

This is a book that has been vaguely on my radar since before it came out, and while it's not a perfect book it's definitely the book I thought I was signing up for when the cover dropped and a vague synopsis appeared in front of me.

In some ways it's a book that makes me feel nostalgic for my own teenage years, the kind of book that I would have devoured in a day and then tried to get all of my friends at the lunch table to pick up so we could obsess about it together. So I hope that in middle schools and high schools somewhere some kid is doing that because they definitely should be.

It's not a perfect text, and the way the third act played out did bother me a little. I did start to wonder if I had actually lost the plot, but thankfully I hadn't and the thing I was concerned about did finally get addressed at some point.

I still don't find myself totally satisfied with the ending, but that's fine. I went into this book wanting to read about the messy lives of DC prep school kids and while that took a somewhat dark turn as the content warnings at the beginning of the book told me would happen, the journey was still excellent.

Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)

If you go into The Rumor Game expecting a fast-paced, page-turning thriller, you're probably going to be disappointed. That said, I think this book does a fantastic job of examining the social pressures modern teenagers face with social media, online bullying, and the digital rumor mill.

Featuring a diverse cast of characters, we get a fairly deep look at how these dynamics can play out not just in privileged white families, but also in conservative families of immigrants, in an African-American family, for queer kids, etc. But this is also a book about trauma responses, rape culture, mental health, white privilege, misogyny, and fatphobia. It can be quite intense at times, but personally I thought things were pretty well-handled.

Are the characters likeable? No, not really. But they feel real. They are messy, complicated young people trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, struggling with morality, social pressures, and their own trauma. I could see this really hitting with actual teenagers.

I want to speak to the plotline on weight and fatphobia because I think it's important. This book features a character who was sent to fat camp over the summer and is suddenly getting all this attention after losing a significant amount of weight. But she's struggling. With disordered eating linked to past trauma, with how to conceptualize this new identity and manage people's expectations with uncertainty of who she wants to be, with body dysmorphia, and with navigating new sexual pressures from people who might fetishize her as a woman of color and ignore her consent or lack thereof. As a currently (and happily) fat person who has has the experience of losing a lot of weight and being treated very differently, I found this to be a really nuanced, well-done handling of these issues. It's painful and messy to read, but it feels very true, especially for a high school context. I appreciate how they took on this story, and that the ultimate message is not that thinness should be the goal.

This is more of a slow-burn book, there are moments that can feel repetitive, and I can't say any of the "twists" were super surprising. But that's where I think you really need to go in with the right expectations, not anticipating a thriller. Overall, I really liked this and appreciate what it's doing. AND they have content warnings at the beginning of the book! Which I applaud. Those include fatphobia, sexual assault, bullying, disordered eating, drug use (consensual and non-consensual), drinking, mention of self harm, panic attacks, racism, graphic OCD depictions...

The audiobook includes a full cast and is really well done! Though I could see some of the social media parts working better in a physical copy. There are posts and comments with number of likes etc.

I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Mary BookHounds

OMG - THIS - THIS IS WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS HORRIBLE FOR TEENS.

Bryn has a fall from grace when the break up with her boyfriend leads to her running him off the road in a rage. Her best friend, Cora's boyfriend is in the car and is injured. So now she has been reduced to the trashy white girl at her prestigious prep school. Her next-door neighbor, Georgie is trying to start over after her parents send her to a fat camp. As Cora now takes Bryn's place at the top of the school hierarchy, Georgie and Bryn try to start new lives.

Then the rumors start as someone posts a picture of Cora's boyfriend on the stair with Georgie on social media. The picture is made to tell a story that isn't real but gossip. This one is what can happen with anonymous posts on social media combined with malicious gossip and jealousy.

This story is like the old game of telephone where you repeat a fact and it becomes distorted over time to resemble nothing like the truth. It snowballs and takes out innocent bystanders and just doesn't seem to stop until it rolls over everyone. The story told in alternate voices of the three main characters exposes what really goes on at exclusive schools - racism, body shaming, status, and perfectionism. This is really a quick and fast-paced read. I loved all the little details and settings.

Zannie

There is no synopsis included in this review... :)

I enjoyed this book; it conveys an essential message about how rumors spread, how rumors change over time, how they go viral, and how they can ruin lives. This aspect of the book, I enjoyed immensely! I also enjoyed the running list of rumors, including those from earlier in the book that were continually included. I can see where the repetitiveness of the early parts of the list could be frustrating to some, but for someone who forgets very quickly, I liked this; it kept the list fresh in my head.

Sometimes when I read (listen to) books, I have the terrible habit of missing things (thanks to my ADD!). So please feel free to correct me if I am wrong on this point... (I very well might be!). I like the vast array of cultures represented in the book... DC was a perfect setting for that, with politics and embassies. However, there seemed to be literally one of each culture, rather than a true mix as there would be in real life. It made each character come across as the token representing that culture... it felt like each culture came across as a stereotype rather than just a natural mix. If that was the authors' intention, they achieved it; however, that made the reading experience regarding the characters feel awkward to me, which was a big deal and why I gave three instead of 4 stars.

Last, to end on a positive note! The book takes place in DC... I live in the DC Metro area, so it was easy to distinguish what was fictionalized and what was geographically accurate. The authors did an outstanding job with this! I often get frustrated when I read books that take place locally because of how ridiculous some geographical facts are. Even living in the area, the fictionalized portions of the setting were entirely believable, and it's one of the few books where I enjoyed the DC setting. Kudos!

Thank you to netgalley, the authors, and Disney Audiobooks for the opportunity to read (listen to LOL) and review this book!

krystal

Yikes...this book was not great. To be fair, I didn't enjoy Tiny Pretty Things either, so maybe this style of writing just isn't for me. I'm okay with reading unlikable characters and girls with edge, but this was just cliche after cliche after cliche.

I started skimming at 15% and dragged myself through the rest of the book. I don't feel like I missed much, even if I did flip ahead a few pages.

I did appreciate that the characters represented several different cultures, but I could have lived without the "a guy like this wouldn't date a girl like me" (meaning formerly fat and awkward) and "Exotic. Black girls like me don't get called that." It was too easy to figure out the pot-stirrer and it made the characters who struggled to figure it out seem a little dense, despite the fact that they were portrayed to be the super smart, on-to-the-ivy-leagues type.

The plot was a little tiring and didn't seem to work that well. It was like the authors were trying to have both, "let us tell a message to the youths and remind them all to not spread rumors because they can hurt people" and also, "let us write the most backstabbing story in order for you to play guessing games." Just didn't work for me.

Thanks Disney Publishing Worldwide for a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Aly

This is an all too real story of how rumors start, get out of control, and ruin people's lives. Everyone has a camera and your most embarrassing moments can be captured and posted for the world to watch again and again. Three girls get caught up in rumors, both about them and starting them and soon things spiral out of control and people are getting hurt. Who can they really trust and what is fact or fiction?

The book is a mixed format, going from the three main characters' points of view to social media comments to articles in the news. I liked that it jumped around because it kept the story exciting and showed what was actually happening versus what people's perceptions were. There are some terrible things that happen and it was sad when the girls didn't have good support from their families. A couple of the characters are truly horrible people and I just wanted to see them taken down and get the punishment they deserved.

I thought this played out fairly realistically, with a few exaggerations here and there. This is a great look at how rumors and lies can affect people severely, even those on the periphery. Be prepared for this book to get your blood boiling and rethink everything you see on social media!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for the copy

Alaina

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Rumor Game dives into the very realistic world of cyberbullying. Especially when it comes to high school kids. Whether it's a lie, the truth, or your every day king of rumor - things explode until the damage is done. So much happened throughout this book and each twist kept me on the edge of my seat.

Even though it was realistic, I did think things were a bit predictable. I'm also not happy that the consequences for everything that happened were basically slim to none. Which, yes, can also be very realistic when it comes to people with money and power. It still annoys the shit out of me.

Other than that, this was a pretty addictive book and hard to put down. I just felt like I needed to solve it before the big reveals came my way. Which, I didn't really do but some of the clues definitely helped narrow some it down (for me). I'm really happy that I got the chance to dive into this.

Kayla Crone

I made it to 50% and have decided to dnf this one. I really tried to get through but I found it absolutely boring. I felt like it was useless information from page to page. I made it this far and realized this was just useless to me. I didn’t like any or the characters I didn’t really care for the plot or the rich people vibes in this. I’m sorry that I’m having to dnf this book because I really wanted to like it and I give a 3 stars of the first half I read because I was interested just not enough.

soph (rhy kinnie)

DNF

I don't have a lot of time to read these days and i'd rather spend them reading a book I actually want to read. Best way I could describe this book is corny. The way the characters talk and act come across as trying too hard. I was a clown for thinking this would be similar to Ace of Spades. Also weirdly enough, the three main characters reminded me of the other three main characters from Tiny Pretty Things (this author duo's other book) which is so much better imo.

Ps. First person pov should be illegal.

Trina (Between Chapters)

This was giving PLL (the show, not the books) vibes and I would gladly take 12 sequels please.

Jen Ryland

Not a bad book but solidified my decision to move away from YA.

At a private school in the DC area, a group of teens cope with romances and rivalries, gossip and betrayal. All the drama, rivalries etc are played out on social media. A more diverse Gossip Girl.

Read more of my reviews on
JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on
Bookstagram!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

Jennifer

3.75-4
Really enjoyable read, thank God I was out of middle/high school before social media, kids that age are the WORST and I can't imagine social media adding to it.

Avid Reader and Geek Girl

4.25 stars

It was really good and tackled some very hard subjects. I liked that all the characters faced consequences for their actions. The atmosphere was great. I wish the secondary character had been more fleshed out as we only really got to know Baez and Riley, and a bit about Jase outside of the MCs. Lots of rep which I liked. I would have liked to learn more about JuJu especially, and Chance as well.

elhyza

— Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

the rumor game was vividly realistic to what gen z teens are put through in the era of the twenty-first century. the writing didn't exactly do it for me at times, but i always enjoy a good multi-perspective as we follow three girls who go to an elite prep school set in dc. the authors do well in showing depth to the characters insecurities and mental and physical health that they are go through with all the pressure put on them. and then we see how repercussions of rumors affect them in the worst possible way without any proof but the damage is already done and the nasty words are already out there on social media spiraling out of control and people in the hallways for these girls to see and hear. what kept the intrigue going was the back and forth seeing the media and public perception compared to the girls' who were the only few who knew of the truth and it was brutal to see when they didnt have a good support system around them especially coming from their own family. though it didnt end as readers wish it did, with consequences for the terrible people who's words have changed georgie, bryn, and cora's lives, its a message to tell that these are how things go in our reality for the people in power.

Erin

3 Stars

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

I'm not sure if I've read a book that I've felt less about. There wasn't anything here that excited me. There wasn't anything that hasn't been touched on before. There always wasn't anything that made this book particularly bad. For the right person, I'm sure this one will be a hit. For the average person, it won't make much of an impression.

I do have some good things to say, and those things will be available at
my link text on February 11, 2022.

kashmala

o wow o golly gee

reading this book felt like throwing darts at a dartboard

half the time the messages landed and half the time they were so far out left field that it was unrealistic and not as grounded in reality as this book wanted to portray itself to be

⭐️ for monica
⭐️ for representation?? diversity in characters?? idek🧍‍♀️.

Kit

Booksplosion book of the month for March 2022. It took me so long to read this because I was in a bit of a book slump but once I started I absolutely couldn’t put it down! I read through more than half of it in one day. Loved the drama and the characters with their romantic interests. Fuck you Bryn. She’s the only character I didn’t like.

Kristin Sledge

The Rumor Game can best be described as a modern day Gossip Girl, only without the blogess to spill the tea. Utalizing Instagram posts complete with comments, email documents, new paper articles, and a sticky note rumor board set up by the antagonist we watch helplessly as the story unfolds. First, there's Bryn. Once popular and madly(literally) in love with her then-boyfriend, Jase she finds herself the pariah after causing a car crash that involved many students. Second, Cora; Bryn's former best friend and leader of the cheer team. Boo'd up with her boyfriend Baez who just happens to be at the center of all these rumors. And last but certainly not least, former invisible girl turned it girl Georgie. After a summer away at a camp set to regulate her eating habits, Georgie comes to school fresh faced and bikini ready. What terrors await our three online, and how will their lives change forever?

This was a heavy read. Content warnings in the beginning include but aren't limited to: sexual assault, self harm, body/fat shaming, slut shaming, and victim blaming. The layout of the story itself reads like a who dunnit mystery, with all the posts and the growing rumor board laid out for the reader between chapters. The evolution of the story is one that was hard to swallow, but can also serve as an outlet for those going through these same circumstances. The way the authors handle these tough topics aren't preachy or unrealistic, and it isn't just in the story for shock value. I really enjoyed seeing how it was all layed out for the reader.

Overall, 4 stars for this read, even with addressing tough topics. I recommend this for anyone 14+ as the topics are depicted in a real light, but as I said could be helpful for someone going through the same thing. I was really impressed with The Rumor Game, let me know if you feel the same

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Reading Raccoon

The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

The Rumor Game is a young adult contemporary novel about cyber bullying and sex shaming among the children of Washington D.C.’s elite.
This novel centers around Georgie, Bryn and Cora as they navigate their senior year at an exclusive D.C. prep school. Georgie is back from a weight loss camp and is suddenly noticed by the popular kids at Foxham Prep only to have rumors starting that she’s flirting with a boy who isn’t available. Cora is the school’s Queen Bee but she is struggling with her self-esteem after her twin sister graduates early and attends Harvard and she’s faced with rumors her boyfriend is cheating on her with Georgie. Bryn is used to having everyone gossip about her after a car she was driving almost killed her ex-boyfriend and his friends and everyone believed it was on purpose. These three girls will experience personally how the culture of cyber bullying, gossip, sex shaming and issues around consent will begin to unravel everything they’ve worked for.
This novel had a lot to say but wasn’t boring or preachy. The storyline moved along quickly and it was entertaining. It has a diverse cast of characters and the backdrop of Washington D.C. and the offspring of political movers and shakers made it stand out from the rest. Like the authors’ previous novel (Tiny Pretty Things) I think this would make for an entertaining movie or series.

3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Kate

Bryn, the class president, has launched an anti-bullying campaign, but it doesn't seem to stop all the rumors about her friend Georgie, who returned from summer break with a new look that's turning all the boys' heads - including Cora's boyfriend Baez. With all the rumors swirling, Cora is mad at Georgie and that's bringing Bryn and Cora back to being friends. But who is really behind the rumors, and what are the consequences?

The "rumor game" aspect of the story didn't really come in until about halfway through, and I did struggle a bit to understand how the three narratives were related in regards to the rumors. The midpoint reveal of who was responsible for the rumors and why fueled the second half the story, which I raced through. The use of newspaper articles, text messages, Instagram posts, and other media was a great way to illustrate how social media fueled people's behavior towards Georgie. The novel ends realistically, which means the guilty parties were punished only so far as we typically see in real life (e.g. a slap on the wrist). The message is strong without being didactic.

Content advisory: Teen drinking and drug use, demeaning language (used by the internet trolls), sexual assault (off-screen).

Jeannette

Bryn was the queen of Foxham Prep with her best friend Cora, until her relationship went south at the same time that her family life took an unexpected turn. The desperation she experiences as a result leads to some bad choices and she is ostracized by her peers and former friends. The only person left listening to her is her neighbor Georgie, who has experienced a change herself this summer: from overweight outcast to the newly "hot girl" in the spotlight. Bryn decides to use Georgie's new status to her advantage, and the resulting rumors and backlash lead to problems for all three girls.

Clayton and Charaipotra do a great job of developing these characters and the stress they are under in a way that is both believable and sympathetic, despite the questionable choices they sometimes make. The result is a great commentary on high school rumors and social games, and the resulting impact these things have on teen mental health - especially for girls. I really felt for all three of them, both sympathy for their suffering and anger for the unfair blame that is thrown on girls when these status games are played. I'd definitely recommend this in a print version to really enjoy the online exchanges.

Samantha Kossa

It had a slow start but once I got into it I couldn't put it down.
Rumors. They spread far and fast and become like a living being all on their own. For high school students it can be devastating. Georgie goes to fat camp over the summer and comes back to school a while new person. Georgie's neighbor is another high school girl.
Once a member of the "it" crowd but no now an outcast, Bryn's life is falling apart. Both victims of rumors. Horrible rumors. From my perspective the authors could have done a better job at explaining what really happened with Bryn at the end, it felt like they used an easy out. And I would have really liked to see the characters learn the power of forgiveness and giving second chances which so many people don't do anymore...well for anyone but Jase.

Emma Ann

2.5? ish? This book felt like it was trying to do two things at once to the detriment of both.

On the one hand, it’s a thriller about social media rumors gone out of control. On the other, it’s a cautionary tale about the same thing. But the story moves way too slowly for a real thriller and the characters are too thin for a contemporary. They feel a bit like paper cut-outs, moved around to make A Point.

That said, the story is mostly entertaining (if a bit slow), and I appreciate the students’ diverse backgrounds. I only wish the characters were portrayed with a bit more emotional nuance.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy.

Title	:	The Rumor Game
Author	:	Dhonielle Clayton
Rating	:
ISBN	:	1368014143
ISBN-10	:	9781368014144
Language	:	English
Format Type	:	Hardcover
Number of Pages	:	480
Publication	:	First published March 1, 2022

The Rumor Game Reviews

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