Like many people, I was familiar with Blair Braverman from her social media around her dogs—I was delighted to find that she is also a skilled and talented author! Small Game is a gripping and suspenseful survival thriller that what happens to human nature under pressure. Braverman uses what she knows about extreme wilderness and survival to give the book tension and an excellent setting. The book focuses on a survival reality show cast and as you can likely guess, things quickly turn from being a game to something much more serious. The writing is vivid and compelling, and I would absolutely be on the lookout for whatever she writes next.

Small Game is a thrilling and immersive debut that had me hooked from start to finish. The survival reality show premise was unique and compelling, pulling me into Mara’s rugged, no-nonsense world right away. I loved how the story balanced high-stakes action with deeper reflections on trust, survival, and human connection.

Mara’s character felt raw and authentic – her tough exterior and complicated past added so much depth to the narrative. The dynamic between the diverse cast of strangers was fascinating, and I found myself constantly questioning who could be trusted. The tension escalated perfectly, and when things took a darker turn, I was completely glued to the page.

The atmosphere was vivid and unsettling, and the unpredictable twists kept me guessing. I appreciated how the book explored not just physical survival but also the emotional and psychological toll of isolation and uncertainty.

This is more than just a survival thriller – it’s a gripping, thought-provoking story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommend for fans of edge-of-your-seat adventure with a side of psychological depth!

If you're at all a fan of SURVIVOR and/or survivor fiction in general, SMALL GAME by Blair Braverman is an absolute must-read! This book had me on the edge of my seat from the get-go.

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

This book somehow got buried in my Kindle and I am so happy that I finally read it. A fantastic debut novel - it's like Alone meets Survivor. I loved this book and cannot wait to recommend this one! I am looking forward to Braverman's next book. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy.

This book is so great! Suspense and climate commentary combined...I can't wait to read more from Blaire Braverman!

Survival story that really didn't dig into the action of survival, but the human aspects of how difficult it is, how isolating it can be, and its psychological effects.

Those who despise an unfinished ending or unresolved questions will likely be angry, but this story wasn't about the aftermath, it was about the during, and it worked perfectly in my opinion.

Great read! I love Survivor and like competitions! Fantastic character development, fast paced, end was a little bit of a let down, I wanted "more" and deeper reasoning, but all in all a great summer read for me this year.

This book was a pretty fun little adventure. However, I was expecting something a little different. I might have had too high of hopes, so I won't fault the book for that. I like the game/tv aspect of it all. And a few of the characters were fun to follow. But overall, it just didn't really keep any kind of hold on me.. that you are looking for in an adventure story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

A fascinating look at reality tv from a different perspective. Blair’s experience from her own reality tv adventure along with her mushing experience created a unique book.

Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4/5 stars

Mara is a survival instructor who agrees to take part in a reality television survival show—but when something goes terribly wrong, she and the other survivors may be forced to face much more than they signed up for.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting—the synopsis reads to me like a fairly straightforward thriller, and instead this book ended up being more literary suspense (bordering on horror in some instances) with a touch of a dystopian/apocalyptic feel.

That said, once I realized the kind of book I was reading and stopped judging it based on what it wasn’t, I really enjoyed it. It’s fairly character-driven and I really enjoyed the characters. The setting also really kept me on edge and I could feel the tension and the high stakes as the plot built. I particularly appreciated the ending, which I thought hit exactly the right note for this kind of story!

In short, if you’re a lit fic fan who enjoys thriller/suspense/horror elements, you should definitely pick this up!

CW: Animal harm/death (graphic and on-page); some mentions of suicidal thoughts; death/blood/injury (graphic

This book starts off SO strong and I’d even suggest reading just the first half for it.
It the last half that just fell flat. And I’m sorry but where was the ending!?!
Overall it was entertaining and enjoyable but could have been great with any true ending.

I came into Small Game already a fan of Blair Braverman. I've been following her nonfiction work for years, and enjoyed her memoir Welcome to the Goddamned Ice Cube. I also have loved her recent turn as a kind of survivalism expert on the podcast Your'e Wrong About. Braverman is great at providing a consistently generous, curious look at survival incidents gone wrong, like the Dyatlov Pass incident. Suffice to say, I was psyched to read this novel. Small Game is about a group of reality show contestants in a Survivor-like game called Civilization, forced to make the best of living off the land for six weeks. The twist comes when the television crew abandons the team, leaving them to actually survive in the wilderness until they can make a way out. Braverman does a really great job of conveying why anyone would want to do something like that—the descriptions of the many treasures that the woods hold and the ingenuity of the contestants, particularly the main character Mara, as they try to build shelter, feed themselves, and stay alive. But Small Games also excels in dissecting the weird machinations of reality television, and how it must feel on the other side of the lens (something Braverman, who has been on a few survival-style television shows, must know well). The plot gets a little repetitive and the end leaves a lot of loose ends. But overall, I enjoyed this book tremendously, and I look forward to reading whatever Braverman puts out next.

This was an engaging read! Thinking back on this book, I struggle to give it one genre. This book had twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The middle of the book seemed slower, but the end was rushed. I'm anxious to read more of this author--the plot and premise was interesting and held my attention.

Small Game by Blair Braverman is a survivor novel which is well written (by an actual reality TV star!) and quick. This follows the story of a group of actors chosen to rough-it in the woods and be on camera. The contestants all bring to the table a general idea of survival, but soon each contestant is dropped into their role on the location. The players are all very different people and hold in their brains very different life goals. True survival begins when the camera crew starts to disappear. Small Game is a fast-paced work of fiction which provides commentary on what decisions we make when we are on camera and why we make those decisions. The setting is in a lush, wooded area with a body of water. All the characters are different from one another but they end up all playing a part and learning about what it means to truly survive. Some want it more than others. The writing is quick and witty. The story kept me engaged.

If you love a great outdoor camping experience, you’ll love this book!
The story is about five adventurous people who are chosen to be on a survivor type show. Those who last until the end of six weeks will win money.
Each one of the contestants has a different motivation for joining the show, as well as varying degrees of outdoor experience. We meet the contestants, and experience in detail the adventure in a remote wilderness, foraging for themselves, while the camera crews lurk behind at all times- until one day, the crew disappears!
The survivors are left on their own to wonder if and how they will ever get home.
This book was very descriptive about survival skills and was a thrilling adventure. I highly recommend reading this fine book.
5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins publishers for the ARC in return for my honest review.

A heart throbbing, unputdownable, fast read that will leave you wanting more... literally! I am obsessed with this book and can't wait to read more by Blair Braverman!

Small Game Hunting Along the Kill by Blair Braverman is a captivating memoir that explores the author's journey to find her place in the world. The book tells the story of Braverman's move to Norway to work as a dog sledder, and her subsequent experiences hunting and living in remote wilderness areas. The writing is vivid and engaging, bringing the reader along on Braverman's journey and immersing them in the unique and challenging environments she encounters. Braverman is an excellent storyteller, weaving together her personal anecdotes with broader reflections on the importance of community, the natural world, and the meaning of home. The book is also a meditation on the relationship between humans and animals, and the ethical implications of hunting and using animals for food. Overall, Small Game Hunting Along the Kill is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book that is sure to resonate with readers who are seeking adventure, connection, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Review - Small Game by Blair Braverman

I love the premise of this book-Mara is approached by producers of the upcoming reality show “Civilization.” Mara and 3 other strangers are dropped via helicopter into a remote location where they must survive for 6 weeks and then they collect big time money dollars 💵. The lead producer is a manipulative d-bag. One morning, the cast wakes up and something is clearly very wrong. For awhile, they roll with it because they think it’s just the producer being his manipulative d-bag self, but eventually they realize that’s not the case and now they really are on their own to try to survive.

Something about reality tv gone wrong just draws me in! I think it’s so fun for the premise of a horror novel. Some of the book was a tad boring-I’m not a survival person and the author clearly is so some of that stuff lost me. But the main mystery is a really interesting and frankly terrifying concept. Didn’t love the ending, but another solid book. 3 stars, plus 1 for the Wisconsin/upper Midwest references!

Thank you net galley and Harper collins for a copy of this book in exchange for a review!