This Gorgeous Game Donna Freitas

Rating:

Characters: 19/20

Plot: 18/20

Originality: 18/20

Writing: 19/20

Recommendation: 19/20

Overall: 94/100 or A

Source: Publisher

Olivia Peters has just gained the opportunity of a lifetime. Her literary idol is much adored local priest Mark D. Brendan offers to become her personal writing mentor. But Father Mark's enthusiasm for her writing, but it turns into something else. At first, Olivia enjoyed all of the attention, but he has been asking too much of her. He wants her to meet him at a bar to talk about writing, and also begins to frequent the place that she goes to. Her phone is also overflowing with texts and call from him. She should be grateful that he is making so much time for her, to help her write better, but she is afraid what she has gotten herself into and what exactly what length will he do to get her alone and the possibilities of what could happen.

Olivia was such a strong character, I can't believe all that she went through and has to experience. I also like how she questioned her faith. I loved how her life was slowly unraveled by Father Mark. She begins to fear every gift and letter. Her wonderful life begins to fall apart and she loses the spark that she once had. Her mother and sister Greenie were star sturked by Father Mark and weren't able to see the personal hell that Olivia was living in. Jada and Ash were great best friends and added fun to such a dark and twisted novel. The romance between Olivia and Jamie was really sweet. I loved that Jamie was able to see past all the charms that Father Mark had.

The plot of This Gorgeous Game is captivating from the first page. Instead of the relationship being about anything sexual, it is about what attention could do to someone and totally change their life. I really liked how genuine this book was. It was also well paced and written. Freitas is a fantastic writer with a great voice. I also enjoyed her last book, The Possibilities of Sainthood. I would recommend this book to fans of Sara Zarr, Melina Marchetta, R.A. Nelson, and Lisa Levchuk.