@jowellington you ATE THE GIRLS UP WITH THIS ONE 👏🏾🖤 I mean, how do you come out swinging with a 5⭐️ read like this that had me fully 100% captivated from the second I started reading. I’m gonna keep this spoiler free which means I can’t say too much so let’s just jump straight into ⁣
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𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:⁣
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• first things first, s/o to my girl @iyanagoestothelibrary for posting the most interactive and interesting stories about books that make you seriously drop everything to read. This was the case when she had me cracking up at her commentary on this one 😂💖
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• second of all I WILL WHOOP ESMES ASS! Idc, how the whole book you had me ready to square up. Like not once did I feel bad/ think of she’s a great person 😂⁣
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• “𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝.” * story of my life⁣
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• This is the book of my dreams, like a black final girl YESSSSSS 🖤 I will say that Penthesilea was my overall
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• favorite though. Something about a totally unapologetic, unhinged, badass that makes me obsessed.⁣
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• Saint and Adina’s friendship was so sweet and special and I didn’t see it coming but I loved every second 🫶🏾✨⁣
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• The little queer moments were 🥹 I need a whole book about Hawthorne at this point.⁣
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• THE CHEESE SLID OFF THE FUCKING CRACKER BY LIKE 60% AND IM TYPING IN ALL CAPS BC I WAS STRESSED 😰⁣
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• “𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”⁣
* damn man 😔💔⁣
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Overall yall, I wish I could say more but I don’t wanna ruin it so yeah RUN and read this. I promise you won’t regret it.⁣
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And thank you @simonteen for sending me the arc I read and this finished copy. Y’all the 🐐

I really enjoyed this thriller.  It was a Bachelorette meet the Hunger Games situation.  I think teens will really enjoy this fast-paced novel.

💎BOOK REVIEW💎

Their Vicious Games - Joelle Wellington
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️ 

“A Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren’t just high, they’re deadly, in this searing thriller that’s Ace of Spades meets Squid Game with a sprinkling of The Bachelor.”

After losing her Yale scholarship for an out-of-character moment of violence, Adina is feeling helpless and like she’s wasted all of her hard work. Enter The Finish, a secretive, elite competition hosted by the wealthiest family in town to give a local girl all the connections and money she would need to get ahead. Adina has heard the rumors about how successful the winners are and sees this as her only way out. Only she doesn’t know just how dangerous and deadly the competition is going to get!

I was immediately pulled into the story and loved the no holds barred ruthlessness of the competition. I loved the backstory of how each girl found herself there, willing to gain OR LOSE, everything. This is an over the top thriller and I was here for it. 

Recommend if you like:
- YA thrillers
- Strong friendships
- Deadly competition
- Dark satire 
- Eat the rich vibes 

Thank you to @simonteen and @netgalley for my copy!

I gave up at the 65% mark.  There were so many plot holes in the book. How they kept what was really going on so quiet for so long is anyone's guess.  Also, why?  What was the motive?  The main character comes from an upper middle class family.  Her parents have excellent jobs as teachers in an elite private school.  They aren't poor.  Yet all she does is complain.  Not for me.

This book.... WOW! 

Just wow! 

It was so intense, riveting, and I highlighted so many amazing quotes. 

The story was gut wrenching, powerful, and so thrilling. Every new chapter was a surprise and I am just in awe of how crazy this book was. 

All of the characters had such a deeply flawed and powerful story that no one (welllll.... Except 3rd and 4th) was truly the villain. Everyone had a perspective and a story and a reason to do the things they did and I just loved it. 

This book was gold and I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store because SIGN ME UP!

This book was so great.  I loved the satire.  It reminded me so much of Get Out.  I was horrified by most of the characters but I understood what the author was trying to do here.

Their Vicious Games was so good I started pitching it to anyone that sounded halfway interested in a recommendation aligned with it.

2.5 Stars.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with this book. The synopsis promises Ace of Spades, Squid Games and The Bachelor and to me, this mix of story elements should not have been combined for this particular book.

My biggest issue I would say is the romance featured in this story. So Adina is (sort of) stuck between two brothers, the Perfect Second Son who is the prize at the end of the games, who Adina doesn't actually like and the Disappointment of a First Son whom Adina randomly starts having feelings for. The thing is, I didn't believe the romance for a second, it came out of nowhere and there was no real build-up or romantic tension between Adina and Graham (the second son) and since Pierce was really a means to an end for Adina, I see no reason to criticise the writing of their relationship.

The author has stated that this book is supposed to be a Satire but I still reserve the right to be annoyed at how often Adina mentions that she's from Suburbia and how terrible that is.

I also feel that the book was very slow to start and that did nothing to help the book, it just made the story drag.

3.5 stars

This book, to me, felt a little unbalanced. Once the games began, I was all in and rode that momentum all the way to the finish. Brutal, unflinching, human. I’m here for it.

What didn’t work for me was the beginning, the setup. Adina didn’t blossom until the games, which is fine (even, perhaps, expected from the main character) but the problem is that neither did anyone else. There was little to no effort spent on making the other characters feel human - even if they’re terrible and ruthless, we needed to see that kernel of humanity pop into savagery. We are told, not shown, about all of Adina’s relationships to other people. The only bond that truly fit was with Saint (whom I loved dearly, but she also didn’t feel like a person except in the briefest flashes).

There’s so much room for depth in a story like this and I feel like we simply didn’t get it. Though I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author in the future.

THEIR VICIOUS GAMES by Joelle Wellington pulls absolutely no punches. It provides excellent commentary on patriarchy and White supremacy and their interlinked relationship within a YA novel that’s also balanced with action, high stakes, and well-rounded characters. I loved the character work, especially on Adina, our protagonist: she’s smart but also quick on her feet and driven. THEIR VICIOUS GAMES asks the questions about what girls and women are willing to do vs. what they are FORCED to be willing to do given the circumstances and barriers put forth to them. Also, the cover is beautiful and smart and decadent, and I appreciate it even more after having finished it.

Their Vicious Games is indescribable. It is like part competition book, part examination of our future, and part a pointed glance at racism and elitism. About the ways our future can feel decided, the rules of the game set, but how everything can change if we will it to be so. If we are strong enough, clever enough, to see the way to turn the tables.

Their Vicious Games is all about our definition of success and what it means to fall. To fail. To succeed. It is about how we fight back when we lose, when everyone counts us out. Full of deadly betrayals, Their Vicious Games immediately hits the ground running with action. With stakes higher than we ever thought before to gain rewards which we think will set us up for life.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington is a sinister thrill ride of a book. I am still reeling and it’s been days since I read it. Their Vicious Games follows Adina Walker who has just graduated from the prestigious Edgewater Academy. Unlike her classmates, she’s not off to the Ivy League after making a bad choice which left all her acceptances rescinded. However, there may be a chance for her future if she competes in the Finish. The Finish is an elite competition for the best girls. The winner goes on to have vast influence and all kinds of doors in life opened up to her. There’s a Ride, a Raid, and a Royale. As it turns out, these events are quite deadly. Will the Finish change Adina? Will she get the future she’s been denied?

I really thought Wellington wrote a perfect book for Autumn. I get that this book is set during summer, right after graduation. However, the sinister, scary vibes are perfect. You can immediately tell that something is off about the Remingtons and their mansion. Although they are obscenely wealthy and old money, they are very bad people in both small ways — microaggressions — and big ways — murder. Adina is Black and her roommate for the Finish, Saint, is Chinese. The two are the only women of color in the Finish. That comes with its own complications. We then see a world where women are at the whim of powerful men – molded to what those men want. Honestly, this book is so deep and so smart. I feel like it would be a good book club book. Adina, fyi, is someone I was really pulling for. She goes through so much, but retains her humanity and her innate goodness. If you want a book that will have you on edge but also activate your brain, pick up Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington.

I really liked the concept of this book but did not really enjoy the execution of this book. I will definitely be reading more from this debut author.

Joelle Wellington's "Their Vicious Games" is an electrifying rollercoaster of a read that blends "Ace of Spades," "Squid Game," and a dash of "The Bachelor" into one adrenaline-pumping narrative.

Adina Walker, our resilient Black teen protagonist, is an immensely likable character whose growth and journey had me deeply invested. Her unwavering determination to overcome obstacles and reclaim her dreams is inspiring and relatable.

The Finish, the heart-pounding competition that sets the stage for the story, is an absolute whirlwind. Its suspenseful and unpredictable events kept me riveted throughout, making it a gripping exploration of the human desire for power and opportunity.

Wellington's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a world where the stakes aren't merely high; they're a matter of life and death. Adina's quest to defy the rigged rules in this high-stakes game is both empowering and heart-racing.

For those seeking a book that seamlessly combines intense suspense, relatable characters, and a thought-provoking narrative, "Their Vicious Games" is a must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a thrilling literary adventure that dives deep into the complexities of ambition and determination. Don't miss this electrifying novel!

THIS BOOK! I think I would pitch this story as The Hunger Games meets The Selection meets Ace of Spades, grabbing all of the best things of each of those books. 

Adina was a character that you couldn't help but root for and want the best for. Pretty much every character was super well developed and the motivations added so much suspense and intrigue to the plot line. The crazy twists and drama that happened in the story were very WOW. 

I will be recommending this book to like everyone I know and really can't think of anything that I would change about the story.

I love a good Black girl thriller. It was so easy to pick up this book and descend into the absolute madness of what goes on in its pages. This book will compel you within the first few chapters. The competition of it was very interesting and it was really what kept me so invested. Most of the characters in this book are unlikable, so prepare for that, but I cared so much for seeing our heroine win that she was all I needed throughout this. It got bleak sometimes and the ending wasn't all rainbows, but I liked how authentic that felt. This book is so cool and I can't recommend it enough

Adina is a scholarship student at an elite upper class New England private school. She works extra hard to be perfect and beyond reproach. The one time she lost control, it cost her a full ride scholarship to Yale. Her only chance to regain the future, she so desperately wants to participate in the Finish – a high stakes game put on by the community’s founding family. As soon as she arrives at the finish things are off. She must participate in three events to win…but it seems leaving with her life might be the only prize she gets. With the deck still stacked against her, will she survive?

This book was a lot of fun and gave me vibes of The Family Game. It very much has those uber rich white people doing horrible things vibe. I loved the main character, Adina. It was really horrible that she lost her scholarship for something ridiculous, but it very much played into the elitist vibes of the book. Adina has had to work so hard for so much in her short life, and then she must work for her life when shes playing the Finish. I did struggle a little in the beginning just getting into the story and jumping around, but the pacing picked up after a bit. I have really been getting into YA thrillers lately and this one was no different – I really enjoyed it. The ending of this one was really good, and I recommend it to thriller and horror fans alike.

If you are looking for a fun and over the top ya thriller, then check this one out.

Their Vicious Games reminded me so much of The Inheritance Games but with a twist. Adina Walker will do anything to regain a Yale acceptance, even walk mindlessly into a competition that can end deadly.
 
Joelle Wellington really packed a punch in this novel with the dangerous games. I was shocked at how far they went. With a group of girls, all selected to compete, I could not imagine how they felt waking up every day to a new task. Adina and Saint had the sweetest friendship, and you love to see it! I was eager to see how everything played out, and with the stakes so high, every girl had their reason and motivation for being there, which made the games more intense.
 
If this book could have been written as an adult mystery/thriller – horror, it would have been even better. There would have been no limits, and the games could have been deadlier.

Thank you NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending me a copy of Their Vicious Games. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Dnfing!! Sorry, I just cannot get into the story. The characters and plot don’t engage me so I won’t be continuing past 10%. Thank you so much for the ARC though!

A wild ride of a thriller and satire examining privilege and institutions. Adina was a force to be reckoned with, and The Finish was just the kind of contest I was promised. It felt very much like a more vicious The Bachelor. A Bachelor with bite. Very entertaining.