The Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen

by Rachael Allen

Four girls. One plan. And the night that changes everything.Liv is the girl everyone gossips about. But when the rumors threaten to crack her relationship with her longtime boyfriend, she’s desperate to prove that not everything you hear is true.Peyton is the girl no one knows. But flying under the radar doesn’t mean she’s willing to let people walk all over her.Melanie Jane is the girl everyone wants to be or be with. Beautiful, sassy, and untouchable, she breaks hearts before hers gets broken. Most of the time.Ana is the girl no one talks to. Not after what happened at the party that ended her friendship with Melanie Jane.They have nothing in common…except for revenge.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.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, High School, Sports, Young Adult Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Quick bio:
RACHAEL ALLEN is a scientist by day and kid lit author by night. She is the winner of the 2019 Georgia Young Adult Author of the Year Award, and her books include Harley Quinn: Reckoning (forthcoming, RHCB ‘22), 17 First Kisses, The Revenge Playbook, The Summer of Impossibilities, and A Taxonomy of Love, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection and was among the 2018 Books All Young Georgians Should Read. Rachael lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two children, and two dire wolves. She loves homemade peach ice cream, having adventures all over the world, and stories that make her feel like she’s been poured inside another person.


More stuff about me:
- I love reading and writing YA.

- I'm represented by the fabulous Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary.

- Laurie Halse Anderson once gave me writerly advice on a post-it, and it was the culmination of my being.

- I'm obsessed with football. Playing flag football, watching pro football (Falcons Rise Up!), being a belligerent Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fan, and playing fantasy football with my family.

- I have held a human brain. (It was during anatomy lab. I'm not, like, a serial killer.)

- I'm such a wuss, I get scared watching the previews for horror movies. Seriously, when a scary commercial comes on, I squeal and frantically jab the fast forward button on our DVR remote.

- I love reading about strong women protagonists, fully imagined worlds, anything STEM, rebellion against the establishment, neurodegenerative diseases, and makeover montages - though probably not all in the same book.

- Some writers I love: Laini Taylor, Raina Telgemeier, Becky Albertalli, Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, Aisha Saeed, Libba Bray, Kara Taylor, Elizabeth Acevedo, Adam Silvera, Nina LaCour, E. Lockhart, Nicola Yoon, Julie Murphy, Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, I could go on forever.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m so sick of it. Those guys think they own this town. They say and do whatever they want. They loogey the freshman boys. They haze the crap out of the new guys. They treat women like objects. They cheat in all their classes, if they even bother to do the work at all.”

“I’m over it,” I say. “I really am. I’m not going to put up with it anymore. I’m going to make them pay. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure it out.”

“We,” says Liv. “We are going to make them pay.”

This was a delightful, refreshingly fun summer read about girl empowerment and female friendship. It deals with the issue of slut shaming and double standards, and is the story of four different girls banding together to get revenge on the macho assholes on a versity football team. It's about girl power, taking control of your own situation, accepting who you are, not allowing one's self to be shamed, and while others might compare it to Jenny Han's Burn for Burn regarding the 4-girls-taking-revenge, I don't believe it's too similar because this book is a lot more lighthearted than that.

I absolute love the fact that this book confronts the issue of double standards, how a guy can sleep around and have a good reputation, while a woman who does the same will be called a slut.

Because life isn’t fair. If it was, my dad wouldn’t have been able to break all the rules and have a perfect life while my mom who did everything right can barely keep it together. And still, she’s the one facing all this judgment, like if she’d only had sex with her husband more or been sweeter or cooked better, it all would have been okay.

In small-town America, football rules, and football stars are the king of the school. As in the above quote, they get away with all sorts of bullshit, and four girls from four very different backgrounds are embroiled in their mess.

Melanie is the picture-perfect church girl whose football-player boyfriend really, really wants to sleep with her, and she won't have it.

“I want to remain a virgin until my wedding night. Do you really think I’d lose it in a bathroom? What is wrong with you?! No, you know what, don’t answer that. We’re done here. Get. Out.”

“But how are you going to get home?”

“I’ll figure something out. Just go. Don’t act like you give a shit.”

“I thought you said God doesn’t like it when we swear.”

Wrong. Wrong thing to say.

She fixes him with a glare that could singe your eyebrows. “God makes exceptions for asshats like you.”

Peyton is the shy dancer whose ex-boyfriend is the king of the slut-shamers.

The things he said to me last year when I called him crying after the lock-in and told him I was having second thoughts about dance team tryouts replay in my head.

They dance like how strippers dance. I can’t believe that’s even something you would want.

I’m just trying to protect you. Women who do stuff like that are one step above whores. I don’t want people thinking about you that way.

Liv is the girl with the slutty reputation...but it's only a reputation because she's not a slut, no matter how she dresses.

But the thing is, I do kind of know why people call me a slut. Nice girls aren’t supposed to wear short skirts or dare everyone to jump in the lake naked because the water is exactly the perfect temperature. And they aren’t supposed to kiss their boyfriends the way I do. I’m energetic. And impulsive. And passionate. But just because I’m all those things doesn’t mean I give my body away like free samples at the perfume counter. I wish I could make people understand that.

Her boyfriend on the football team is being forced to dump her because he's dating a "slut."

“I can’t believe they can really do that,” I whisper. They’re horrible, the things he’s saying. That these guys are willing to completely torpedo someone’s life because he’s dating an alleged slut. But even though my heart is breaking for him, it doesn’t excuse what he did to me.

And outcast Ana is the one with the biggest secret of all.

The scars I’m hiding are bigger than the ones you get from being called a slut or getting dumped by your loser boyfriend. A silly little revenge plot isn’t going to erase them. But the idea of being united instead of facing the great heaving darkness alone? That feels like it could change everything.

I like how this book doesn't just deal with the fact that girls are the ones being pressured...the football team is important to the guys involved...for some of them---many of them, this is their ticket out of a shithole town, and any mistake can ruin a lifetime of dreams.

“What does that even mean? They’re a football team, not the mafia. They can’t force you to do things.”

“They don’t need to hold a gun to my head to ruin my life.” He paces around the laundry room like it’s a cage. “Football is everything for me. It’s my one chance to get out of here and do something better because you know my parents can’t afford college.”

It’s true. My mom may work two jobs, but Trevor is the kind of poor where you get free lunch at school.

Really, this was such a fun, empowering book. It's so damned nice to read a book where there's no slut shaming, no girl hate, where the relationships between the girls are cute and enjoyable. And may I state again how much I absolutely LOVE a book that deals with issues like slut-shaming in a way that's completely relatable to young women.

“The Cyrus-Swift Phenomenon. Taylor Swift has had, like, eighteen boyfriends, but everyone still thinks she’s really classy because she’s just so poised and sweet and appropriate-looking. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus was with the same guy for practically forever, and people are always calling her a slut. And I’m not saying we should be calling T. Swift a slut instead—even if you do date a lot of guys, you don’t deserve that.

Forget Jenny Han. Forget Sarah Dessen. Read this book instead.

[Paula M · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW + PLAYLIST (Taylor Swift edition)


 
GIRL POWER YASSSSS

I can't remember the last time I fangirled this hard over a book. The Revenge Playbook screams 'I'm a girl and I LOVE IT!' This book has lots of elements that made it such a great awesome read and Rachael Allen is all kinds of amazing because of that. I don't know why I still haven't read Rachael's 17 first kisses but I'm sure gonna fix that soon. If this is how excellent she writes, and this is how great her plotlines are... then I will surely LOVE IT.

The characters in this book are golden. Each and every one of them. And I like how un-cliche they are and how each of the girls represent a type of girl in this world. I mean, I'm totally LIV. And sad to say, I'm also one of those girls who is affected by the Swift-Cyrus phenomenon (you'll understand this when you read the book) Its amazing how different kind of girls can get along because of one ultimate goal. I'm telling you people, GIRLS ARE GENIUSES ATTRACTIVE HUMAN BEINGS THAT CAN REALLY RULE THE WORLD IF THEY WANTED TO. That is a fact! I can't pick a favorite or the best character because each of them are written in amazing way. Even the guys! They're far from perfect, which makes them great characters as well.

I cannot even explain the amount of swoony moments this book have and HEY, I'M NOT COMPLAINING! I did not only swooned over the relationships, but also over the friendships. Friendships that is totally written in the most realistic way!

The Revenge Playbook is such a gem that you won't stop recommending to everyone. It was fun and light and swoony but also provocative. You'll feel empowered and warm fuzzy feelings will just took over your body. There's a lot of message and poignant topics that was tackled in this book and Rachael Allen did it in the most epic way!


 

 
PLAYLIST:
 

With the help of my peeps over at Twitter, I compiled a list of Taylor Swift songs that would be perfect for this wonderful novel (Shoutout to you all!)
 
Bad Blood
- If I would choose a OST, this would be the one. Just like the book, theres something sk empowering about this song. And for some reason, it screams GIRL POWER! (Just like the book)

 
You Are In Love
- Uhm, it wouldn't be right if I won't dedicate a song to my favorite couple ever. I just really, REALLY, love how Melanie Jean's relationship with Michael happened. You know that book couple that you root from the very start? Yes, its them!

 
All You Had To is Stay
- I love the four of them individually and especially when they're together. But I'll dedicate this song to Ana and MelJean only. Their friendship was tested and went through the toughest time and I just adore how they survived it,

 
I Wish You Would/I Know Places
- Well of course! Just because Michael and MelJean is my favorite doesn't mean Liv and her man will be ignored. The guy just melted my (and Liv's) heart, he deserves a song(s)!!

 
Out of The Woods
- Out of all mg OTP's in this book, Peyton and Ray is the one I feel so deprived of. I want more of them. And everytime I listen to this song, I can't help but have all the PeyRay feels. Quiet. But leaves an impact. img src=img src=

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“We started something. And we’re going to finish it. We will steal that football. We will have our revenge. And we will change this town.”



This was a story about a group of 4 girl’s verses the football team at their school.

I felt really sorry for the girls in this book. Melanie Jane got dumped because the football team wouldn’t let her boyfriend date a girl who wanted to save her virginity for her future husband.

“We could compromise. Just let me tell the guys we’ve had sex,” he says. There’s so much pressure on me.”



Liv got dumped because the football team thought she was a slut, which wasn’t a good reputation for a football girlfriend.

“We all know Liv Lambros is a gigantic whore. What we need to know is that our man Trevor is going to do something about it.”



Ana was drugged and sexually assaulted by a member of the football team, and nobody cared because he was such a great football player, and Peyton was just generally sick of the football players getting special treatment with their grades.

“Everyone knows fat girls don’t have feelings because their blubber insulates them, so just dump her and get it over with.”



The storyline in this was about the girls trying to get revenge on the football team, by completing their scavenger hunt before they did, and stealing their lucky football. I have to say that I didn’t really find this part of the story all that interesting though. I liked the bits about the girls problems, but the actual dare stuff was a bit boring. I was also a little unsure why the girls thought this was such a great idea anyway? Why did they think that completing the scavenger hunt/dares first would really make all that big of a difference?

“I picture us holding that precious football, Weston having to walk onto the field naked at Homecoming, and I grin.”



There wasn’t a lot of romance in this, but there were a couple of sweet moments. This story was mostly about the break-ups caused by the football team though.

“My girlfriend’s not a slut. So, I’m just going to keep dating her because I’m kind of in love with her :)”



The ending to this was pretty good, and I was glad that things seemed to work out okay.
6 out of 10

[Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was okay. Trevor was the only thing that really kept me interested after a certain point.

Whadya guna do?

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much fun was this book? A group of crazy-awesome girls plot revenge on their ex-boyfriends by stealing their football… Where can I sign up?

First off, I loved how much female empowerment was packed into this story. Peyton, Ana, Melanie Jane, and Liv are from different cliques but they come together when they realize they have all been mistreated by guys on the football team. After a series of breakups the girls coincidentally meet at an ice cream shop and form a plan to get back at the boys: steal their precious football and compete in a scavenger hunt.

If you're one of those people who thought Emily's bucket list in Since You've Been Gone was kind of pathetic, then you should pick up The Revenge Playbook because the things the girls did were so much more embarrassing, risky, and inappropriate… like doing a crazy dance in public, vandalizing a statue, and peeing on a rock at night. It was so much fun to read.

Don't think this book is all fluff, though. It dealt with weighty issues that are often overlooked such as double standards and slut-shaming. It really disgusts me that people will label girls sluts based on how they act, what they wear, and whether they compete on a dance team or not.

A list was sent out ordering football players to break up with their girlfriends because they were ugly, fat, or had slept with a ton of guys (even when they hadn't). Reading about what these boys said made me feel sick and infuriated. They were horribly discriminating against women. This is one awful description of a guy's girlfriend:

She has an ass that is 50 percent cottage cheese and 50 percent bacon grease, and every time she wears shorts I throw up in my mouth a little bit. Seriously, whenever I see her eating (which is often), I lose my appetite.

But what I really think made this book stand out from your average chick lit were the characters. I feel like a lot of the time in chick lits authors slack on character development. After all, it's pure entertainment. Why bother to create anything more than lightly sketched characters? That's why I was surprised when the narrators in The Revenge Playbook all had distinct voices and in-depth personalities.

The girls were also totally awesome because they delivered so many great messages opposing slut-shaming.

The Cyrus-Swift Phenomenon. Taylor Swift had, like, eighteen boyfriends, but everyone still thinks she’s really classy because she’s so poised and sweet and appropriate-looking. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus was with the same guy for practically forever, and people are always calling her a slut. And I’m not saying we should be calling T. Swift a slut instead—even if you do date a lot of guys, you don’t deserve that.

This was a fun thrill ride that brought up a lot of important issues and had just a touch of romance. And I cannot tell you how awesomely the main characters worked together. Seriously, so much girl power. It was quite the pleasant surprise.

[Stormy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Group of girls coming together for a purpose? Check.
Girls supporting each other and having each other's backs? Check.
Girls taking control of their own agency, making their own sexual choices, and not being shamed for them no matter the choice? Check.
Girls confronting slut shaming? Check.
Girls generally being awesome?Check.
Full review closer to the release date, but obviously I really enjoyed this one.

[Gisbelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to HarperTeen

--------------------------------------------------------------
Point of View: Multiple (Melanie Jane, Peyton, Liv & Ana)
Writing: First Person | Present Tense
Setting: Tennessee
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
--------------------------------------------------------------

After reading and loving 17 First Kisses, I was extremely excited to read Rachael Allen's second book. I wasn't disappointed because oh my gosh this book was mind-blowing. It was even better than 17 First Kisses.

This book is centered around four girls, Melanie Jane, Peyton, Liv & Ana, who have formed an unlikely alliance after being mistreated by a bunch of high school football players.

After I finished reading a few chapters, it hit me how much this book reminded me of Burn for Burn (which I seriously love as well), only this book was more of a lighter, more humorous side.

Anyway, I loved the whole taking justice in your own hand kind of thing that this book had going on. It was a thrill following these girls adventures when they tried to complete the tasks on the scavenger hunt list. It was witting, hilarious, and from time to time, sweet.

The way that the author wrote flashback in between each chapter made me so engrossed in the story even more, if it was even possible. It put the spotlight on each girl equally which was perfect because sometimes I only like some of the main characters in a multiple POV book, and it wasn't the case here since I loved all four of them.

In short, I loved everything about this book. I enjoyed reading from page one until the very last paper. I cannot wait to read more book from this author.

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me WEEKS to finally crack open the spine (or more accurately, open it on my kindle) to trudge through this again and every few pages, I fell asleep. There was nothing (much) truly awful about this and there was obviously an intended message about guuurl power, which I really liked, but was ultimately, sloppily done.

These girls have issues which each other but don't bother to freaking talk about it. Now, if I found my best friend in bed with my crush, the first thing I would do is to ask her why. Call me stupid, but this is the same girl you trust with your most embarrassing secrets and spend the most time with. A little more trust and one conversation isn't going to hurt anybody.

Another problem I had was how confusing and nearly indistinguishable the 4 POVs are. If we're not for Ana's random peppering of Spanish words or Peyton's constant difficulty over simple seventh grade math (more on that later), it would have been a near disaster. I had to constantly go back a few pages to check which girl's POV I'm reading.

For about 25% or so of the book, I was under the impression that these girls were about 15/16 with all the references of rave parties, drinking and sleeping with one another. But then I come across Peyton struggling to do her math homework with questions my 11 year old self will have no problem completing.

"...so far, all [Peyton has] accomplished is turning to the correct page of [her] textbook and reading the first problem of tonight’s geometry homework approximately eighty-seven times.
[Peyton] sigh[s] and begin[s] attempt number eighty-eight.
1. State whether the figure is a line, a ray, or a segment"

Are. You. Serious?

"Today, we’re doing these problems where there are all these lines intersecting to make angles, and even though they only give you like two of the angle measurements, you’re supposed to be able to guess all the others."

This is not what people freaking when they're 15. If this was Middle Grade, it would fit right in, but it's definitely not and these people are in High School.

Coming to what I liked, the romance was light and not the centre of attention, which is also great because I didn't like any of the love interests (well, except Liv's boyfriend, who in my opinion, is probably the most fleshed out of the love interests. What Im also saying is that none of the love interests where properly done well). So, not a fan of the romance at all.

Then there are these little references to other books which is quite chuckle worthy. This one is from one of the dares-

"Go up to a fat girl and tell her “You’re so beautiful . . . for a fat chick.” Bonus points if she throws her drink on you."

The friendship message is good, if a little twisty and in-your-face.Their friendship grows as they do each dare. My favorite girl out of the four is undoubtably Liv, who is really sweet and judged as a slut by people around her just because she wears slightly provocative clothing.

But despite all this, there is some slut shaming which feels completely out of place in what is essentially a book about friendship and girl power . I'm not happy, but the dares saved this from a one star.

All quotes are taken from the ARC provided and are subject to change in the final copy

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm recommending this to everyone!

I enjoyed this book so much! It shows that "strong female characters" doesn't fit into one kind of person. It shows that said strong females can have shenanigans and are worthy of love!

[♛ may · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness, this book was so. Much. Fun!

The Revenge Playbook follows four high school girls as they plot their way to sweet revenge. Melanie Jane, Ana, Liv, and Peyton have had enough of the extreme favouritism bestowed upon the football players and decide to get back at them - but at their own game.

Each of the girls had their own reason for working together on this revenge scheme and that’s what makes this book so incredibly enjoyable to read. We get to see four girls, from four different cultures, who live four different lives ban together to put an end to the misogyny they face at school.

The only part that you’ll hear me grumbling about is how the girls’ POVs were sorta confusing. Because we were switching POVs and times periods so often, I was initially confused as to which character did what and who was friends with the other but that quickly got sorted out as I continued to read.

Reading about the wild adventures they embark on together while they try to grasp their revenge was so entertaining. The girls are a hoot when they’re all together!! We get to see their friendship bloom and watch them comfort each other and solve their problems together, it’s just really all heartwarming and beautiful.

And funny! Despite all the teenage hurdles that were openly discussed, the book had a cute humour that really made it so much more delightful to read.

Would totally recommend!

Melanie Jane says they have a word for it in Denmark: hygge. The cozy, intimate feeling that wraps around you like a hug when you’re surrounded by your best friends and doing things like eating ice cream and laughing.

4.5 stars!!

[Kirsty-Marie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to write this review, usually, I like writing them not long after I finish a book so it's still fresh and really, just to get it done. This one? Nope. Because I honestly couldn't put into words how amazing and important and empowering The Revenge Playbook is, and here's me trying now (but you know it's going to be a rambling review, right?)

Firstly, have to say this. I usually don't comment on a title or the cover in a review, because, you know, it's what's inside that counts, but I wish The Revenge Playbook had a different cover and a different name. When you saw it, read the name, what did you think? It seemed light and fun, and something that you'd read when you need a book like that, and I mean, that part of the book is fun, and in some parts, hilarious. The whole idea behind it was exactly what the cover and title portrays, but the reason behind everything really doesn't and it's not fun and it's not light. This isn't a 'I am a woman, so hear me roar' type of book, it's a 'I am a woman and my voice should be heard' type of book, and it's fucking sad, it really is.

The Revenge Playbook brings up a lot of issues, small town mentalities, sexism, slut shaming, equality and just plain old fairness. And it took something so ridiculous as stealing a fucking football (or in the UK, rugby ball) to get their voices heard. We're still fighting for that, when we shouldn't be, but we still do. But mostly importantly, The Revenge Playbook delved into rape culture, and rape culture in a small town, and I am so fucking angry (you can probably tell, by all the swearing.) because of it. It doesn't matter if you were wearing a short skirt or hot pants, it doesn't matter if you wore a low cut top or a skin tight dress, it doesn't matter if you were drunk or drinking or tipsy, and it sure as hell doesn't matter if you were dancing like Beyoncé or a stripper, it shouldn't matter. You are not asking to be harassed or touched up, you are not asking to be violated and you are not asking to be raped. It shouldn't matter, but it does, doesn't it? Because if any of the above applies to you, you were a tease, or a slut, or you led him on or it was consensual because you didn't say no or it was consensual and you changed your mind in the morning. And you know what? You don't even need to hear that because a victim is already thinking all of those things, because that's what society tells us when it's word against word, and a small town mentality against a football star. And that's what happened in here. Okay, that's my preach, I'll shut up now.

The Revenge Playbook isn't perfect, it's downright horrible at times but it really shows what needs to be showed, and it is so empowering in a way that shouldn't even have to be empowering. Voices should be heard, female voices should be heard, small town syndrome or not, we shouldn't be shamed, we shouldn't be shamed over sexuality or beliefs or our bodies. I got so fucking angry (not at the book, but at the reality of it all), especially with Ana's perspective because it's painful. And honestly? If you've never really considered yourself as a feminist, read this, and think again.

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

Looking for a fun summer read that will leave you with warm fuzzies? The Revenge Playbook is a hilarious novel with a twisty plot told in multiple perspectives. It is all about girl power and is sure to engage the reader with its message.

The plot of The Revenge Playbook is a whirlwind of events that will keep readers in anticipation. It follows four girls, Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane and Ana as they rush to complete a list of dares in a competition with their school’s football team. Watching the characters make fools out of themselves as they do things like hug a biker and the egg-on-a-string prank is so entertaining! The storyline is so unpredictable, which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

I really enjoyed how The Revenge Playbook incorporates the perspectives of each of the main characters. It is really enlightening to read each girl’s opinion concerning the same event. For instance, when an argument ensues, the reader is privy to both sides of the story. Allen gives her readers a deeper understanding of important events through the use of different character point of views in this novel.

This book is all about girl power. The main characters seek revenge on their ex-boyfriends and the school football team by completing a set of dares faster than them. While completing dares, the girls become better friends and show readers that girls can do anything boys can. Reminiscent of a revengeful Taylor Swift song, the girls band together after being wrongly shamed for different reasons. The Revenge Playbook is definitely a book that promotes the empowerment of girls.

Fans of Rachael Allen’s other book, 17 First Kisses, will not be disappointed with The Revenge Playbook. It contains laugh out loud moments as a group of teenage girls vow to take down a football team. It is a pretty quick read that is perfect for a relaxing summer day.

[Jessica {Litnoob} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I thought I would be able to breeze through this book with ease, and I was wrong.

The writing style is easy and it’s under 400 pages so I thought easy to finish. But I had to keep pausing because the extreme fuck boy culture was strangling. But the way we learn about what the girls have gone through, the way they come to terms with it, and fight against it and ultimately support each other is priceless. And everyone should read this honestly.

[KL (Cat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody should read this for their next book! It's about four girls who stand up against misogyny, starting from their high school- they're all very different in personality, but there's some seriously sweet sisterhood bonding going on.

Longer and more detailed review up closer to release date!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl power. Best friends. Making things better. I flipping LOVED this book. Best contemporary I've read in awhile.

[Dahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, growing friendships, feminism to the nth degree, varying perspectives on sexuality and virginity that emphasize personal empowerment over an objective morality, and a serious look at the way society deifies male athletes - God, I love how much Rachael Allen manages to incorporate in generally lighthearted contemp. I feel like she's fast becoming my Queen of Subversive "Fluff" and that is just the best thing.

[Rhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then, you find a book that makes you stop and think. It makes you look into the simplest of your actions, things that you do almost subconsciously, and introspect. And once you’ve done that, it makes you reflect on the actions of others. On things you’ve seen people do and turned a blind eye towards. Or maybe things that happen all around you, every day, all the time, and you never knew what consequences those actions could have.

The Revenge Playbook was that type of a book for me…and so much more. While obtaining revenge was what the book was based on, there were so many other things that the book spoke about. Bullying, for one. Learning to be comfortable with your virginity (or lack thereof) but also learning to respect other people’s choices in the same. Shaming girls for their choice in something as stupid as clothing. But for me, the message that made the deepest impact was the coming together of four completely different girls for one common goal and forming an unexpected friendship beyond belief as a result.

The synopsis states clearly that the football team of Ranburne are kings and get away with just about anything…but that does not even begin to scratch the surface of what I read in the book. There were times in the book where I was pretty sure that the stupid jocks in the book were naive, they didn’t know what they were doing, but it quickly became clear to me that that was not the case. The boys went on bullying girls and other boys alike, shaming girls and calling them names publicly, harassing students while class was in session, and more. And all of this, every single incident was deliberately done to break someone down. What was even more bizarre was the the non-reaction of the teachers and staff at the school. The girls kept being blamed for the misdeeds of the boys and none of the adults seemed to give a flying fuck when this clearly was happening under their noses. It was outrageous to read and there are no excuses for this type of behaviour.

Rape culture. This is what the book was about. The she-asked-for-it stigma and the boys-will-be-boys excuse. That is what this book was based on. But more importantly, it was about the overthrowing of this cheap and sadly, rampantly prevalent way of thinking.

Which brings me to the characters of the book itself. The Revenge Playbook book is narrated by four girls—Ana, Peyton, Melanie Jane and Olivia—as they narrate their reasons for wanting revenge from the wretched football team of their high school. I loved reading their individual voices—so well written and each of their characters represented something that I’ve been seeing a lot around the bookish world lately: Diversity of Personality. None of these girls fit into a stereotype: they weren’t all overly shy or diva-ish or nerdy or outgoing. Instead, each of them had a mix of some these attributes, thereby bringing the appropriate amount of personality diversity into the book.

The Revenge Playbook is also one more thing: A mere glimpse of what girls can do when they band together and put their minds to something. Too often it is said that a woman is a woman’s greatest enemy, and true as it might be, a completely different side of this has been illustrated in this book. This book wasn’t just four girls coming together and fighting against the football team and rebelling against the stupid way their school seemed to run, though it was definitely that. No, to me, this book was about standing for what you know and understand are your rights. Your right to live in dignity. Your right to be respected simply because you are as much a human being as the next person. Your right to be able to express what you feel, without fear of recrimination from an ignorant authority figure.

It seems almost impossible that an author past the point of teenage could capture a teen voice as perfectly as Rachael Allen did. And, contrary to my review, this book isn’t only made up of the heavy…it shows all the little joys of being from a small town too! It made me smile on multiple occasions and each character had her own way of doing it. Each girl brought something new to the book, and that would have been impossible if not for the flawless writing that comes from its author. And to believe that this is only her second book!

This book, as you may have read, has a huge message to give. Yes, the girls were flawed and occasionally, obtuse. Yes, I know that high school math consists of more than the learning the difference between rays and segments and I do believe that may have been poor research. Yes, this book doesn’t have too many moments of romance. And yet, I chose to set all of this aside, because I don’t believe that this was the point of the book. Ultimately, what was important to me was that the book made me think and feel and rage. And as a reader, that’s all I can ask for from mere words on a page.



*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*

[Kelsey van Dillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that this book jumped from present to past every chapter was quite confusing for me. Other than that, it was a great book. Couldn't stop reading.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the review for the ARC.

Liv, Melanie Jane, Ana and Peyton, 4 girls, and they couldn't be different. But they are united for one goal. Get revenge on/kick the football team's ass. It is something that is shown often in books, football (or any other sport) getting preference in school, allowed to do anything without any consequences. It is still something I cannot wrap my head around. Maybe because I am from Europe/the Netherlands. We don't have all these things in this book. I think that is also what pulls me in. Just like stories about prom, I am interested in those as we don't have them (unless they are now in schools here (been a while since I last was in a school), but I don't really see it happening).

Our 4 girls decide to take revenge by participating in a scavenger hunt. The boys are also doing this and they have no clue the girls are doing it. The girls wiggled their way in and got the list with all the things and instructions they need to do. Some of the things on the list were rude and mean, and I disliked the guy who made the list. I won't spoil anything on whether the girls made it or not, you will have to read the book.

I was horrified by the backlash that happened near the end of the book. Luckily, the girls don't give up and they have a plan. They will tell their story, they will show the proof they collected against the football team (and my, oh my, there is a lot).

Because yes, the football club is bad, it is something we notice quite early in the story. Abuse, rape, beatings, bullying, forcing their members to do stuff, weird rituals and several other things. It is all kind of sick and I don't really get why anyone would want to be part of that. I guess something to do with status and the fact they are apparently dying to play ball regardless of whatever happens to them or the ones they love.

Next to the whole Football team needs to be kicked by a notch, we also have another plotline. Namely the relationship between Melanie Jane and Ana. They were best friends but then something happened. And I will post this in the spoiler field as it is a big one.
Ana was almost raped by one of the biggest guys in the football team. He had her drugged with date-rape drugs. Her best friend walked in on the gory scene and probably thanks to that prevented that Ana was raped. However. Ana doesn't know all this as she was too far gone by that time. So all this time she has been under the impression that she was probably raped, she was uncertain about her virginity (is it still there or not?). She did talk to someone, but due to the high status of Chad (the rapist) they advised her to think it over. After all it might not be true, and how much did Ana remember? Is she sure she wasn't just drunk? In the end Ana gave up and she also didn't consult with her friends or family.
Now comes the even more fun part. Melanie Jane was in love with Chad. She didn't know or see that her friend was drugged. She assumed (yeah, assuming *rolls eyes) that her friend stole Chad from her. And thus they broke apart.

The book is told from the 4 girls, each one gets her spotlight. They all have their little or big problems. Next to this we have the whole scavenging hunt and also we go back to the past and back again to the future. At times this confused me, at other times it made the book more fun.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a bit gruesome and at times horrific, but it was also a tale of 4 wonderful girls trying to fight to get something wrong beaten and destroyed. I would really recommend this book to everyone. You should read this book!

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

The Revenge Playbook is told through alternating POVs of the four main characters in this story. Usually I have trouble with alternating points of view when there are more than two, and honestly at first I did have a bit of trouble remembering which girl was which. But after a few chapters I was already connecting with each of these girls and was able to follow the story without a problem.

The whole "list" thing that the football team came up with was really infuriating. I'm sure almost every reader of this book will feel the same way. To think that these guys put together this kind of list is really insulting. I'd embarrass the football team myself to get back to them for the list alone, never mind the actions that were taken related to the list. Not cool, guys. Not cool.
 

 
This group of girls wouldn't normally have been friends, but they were all drawn together for a common cause: revenge on the football team. Ana, who was a bit of a geek; Liv, the lively, outspoken dance fanatic; Melanie Jane, the gorgeous pageant princess; and Peyton, the shy and sensitive sweetheart, all in one way or another were screwed over by the football team unfairly. Each of these girls wanted them to get what they deserved. And they realized that together they could attempt sweet, sweet revenge.

I loved the "girl power" message in this book. There were terrible things that happened to these girls, some worse than others, and instead of letting it get the better of them, they all decided to seek revenge instead. Maybe not the best, smartest and healthiest idea out there, but I loved the bond they formed while working together at a common cause. Go girls!

 

 
I've read a couple other books with a similar vibe, but this one really stood out to me. I also was very satisfied with the way it all came together in the end. A fun, quick read for a lazy Saturday afternoon. I think a lot of people will find these girls entertaining, this story a lot of fun, and the friendships formed very encouraging. Standing up for yourself, being the bigger person, and forgiveness are all strong messages in this book that many teenagers will benefit from reading.

(Thanks to HarperTeen for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

[Glire · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I want football players to be treated like everybody else, and for the guys at this school to realize that rape culture isn’t something feminists invented so they could have something new to be pissed about, and so many other things I don’t even have words for yet."

2015 Reading Challenge #36: A book set in high school

Finalmente, luego de un poco mas de dos semanas, lo he terminado. Cansancio, I blame you por la tardanza.

- RATING -

Como entretenimiento: 2 estrellas.
A la historia le faltó muchísimo en el desarrollo de los personajes; todos son unidimensionales y están dispuestos en la historia solo para cumplir con un rol especifico. Tenemos a la chica tímida, a la extrovertida, a la reina de belleza que hace todo perfecto y a la que usa ropa vintage y recrea escenas de Game of Thrones con sus amigos. Mientras que los "malos" (los jugadores del equipo de fútbol americano) parecen villanos de comiquitas. De hecho, no puedo dejar de imaginarme a Chad como Scar y a los demás jugadores como las hienas.



Por otra parte, de los personajes secundarios no hay mucho que decir, solo vemos un atisbo; una mención a un padre por aquí, una mención de otro amigo por allá y nada más. Simples nombres de relleno. Sin embargo, a pesar de todo, la historia es divertida a ratos, especialmente cuando las chicas están cumpliendo los retos.

Como enseñanza: 4 estrellas.
En The Revenge Playbook nos encontramos con cuatro chicas -Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane y Ana- que se unen para luchar contra las expectativas de género. Que defienden su libertad sexual, y deciden no permitir siendo juzgadas por sus decisiones; ya sea permanecer virgen hasta el matrimonio (Melanie Jane) o no (Peyton y Liv). Que no están libres de los prejuicios machistas que inculca la sociedad, pero que han tomado conciencia.

"It takes about a second to look at their pictures and know why they made The List. And then another second to feel sick to your stomach that you just snap judged them the way the football team did."

Es la lucha contra el slut-shaming. La lucha por la verdadera igualdad: esa donde las mujeres dejamos de juzgarnos entre nosotras, por culpa de ideales de hombres. Un gran mensaje para su publico base, que son adolescentes. Y para las no tan adolescentes que aún sienten la necesidad de censurar a las demás por sus comportamientos sexuales.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I don't even have words for how wonderful this book was. It's not just a story about girls getting much needed revenge on a football team. This book is about a culture that idolizes football players and lets them get away with anything--although depending on where you are, this applies to a different sport--about friendship, love, family, and so much more.

I can't express how much I appreciate all the lessons in this book and how everyone--especially football types like this and girls who've been hurt by them--needs to read it.

When I started reading this, I was kind of skeptical because I didn't understand how a book based on dares could be so wonderful. If this happens to you, KEEP READING!

There are four main characters in the book--Ana, Liv, Melanie Jane, and Peyton--who've all been affected by the football team in one way or another. As I said, I was skeptical at first, but once the point of view switched between all four girls, I was hooked. I was never once confused by who was narrating the story as each girl had her own unique story and voice. Each girl told a part of the story and scavenger hunt--the dares--in such a way that all the stories blended perfectly into one. Not only did the girls narrate their experiences during the hunt, but the book also switched between time periods and told the story of how the girls united together to get revenge. Seeing their friendship evolve through each of their eyes was special and wonderful. I felt a personal connection to each girl and her story. Experiencing the friendship through all four girls was beautiful because I was able to see each girl's motivation and feel what she felt. I honestly wish more books told stories like this--so seamlessly and through multiple points of view.

Not only did the girls tell a story of friendship and support and revenge, but each girl gave a glimpse into her family life. Yes, they all seemed perfect on the outside, but it was really comforting to see that even though they appeared perfect, each girl had something going on. Sometimes when I read books with great messages, I don't often see how other girls are feeling and feel alone because I think I'm not perfect or beautiful enough. Reading about girls--albeit fictional ones--who have the same struggles is comforting because it lets me know I'm not alone.

Overall, this book was beautiful and amazing and I will definitely read anything else Rachael Allen writes. I recommend this book to anyone who feels alone, any girl who's been hurt by a jerk and feels no one supports her, and to all those jerks out there so they can see their actions do have consequences and do hurt real people.

[jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"if you had told me two months ago that the four of us wold be sitting together in this car, i never would have believed you."

i don't even know where to start with this book, so let me just say that i loved it. i loved every word, sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter completely and totally. admittedly, i rolled my eyes when certain things were introduced (like boys) but they didn't take away from the theme of the story at all - if anything, they added to it.

this was a lovely little slice of girl power, a tale of friendship, forgiveness, and acceptance in the most unlikely of situations. it made me feel all warm and bubbly. it made me laugh, it made me cry. i felt a definitive sense of loss when i closed this book - like i was saying goodbye to friends, like i wasn't really ready for it to end. that's the best way to feel when you read a book, if you ask me.

the girls in this book were all four strikingly different - i mean, sometimes i didn't even have to read the name at the start of each segment/pov switch because i could tell from their personalities alone who was who. they had different reasons for doing what they did, and they each perceived every single situation in their own unique way and told it in their own voice. every girl in this book had her own voice. there was a sense of unity, respect, and loyalty in this book, not only between the girls who were friends but the girls who were not: our mcs did not think badly of other girls; they did not "other" other girls at all, in fact.

this book touched on subjects that need to be touched on (the cyrus-swift phenomena, rape culture, how certain privileged boys get by with anything while most others can barely scrape past, especially girls) but it did it in a gentle, respectful, realistic way. i loved everything about this book, absolutely everything.

[hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've actually read in months! I've been so busy these last few months with school and also I just haven't been feeling up to reading for some reason. But now I have two weeks off of school for the winter holidays, and so hopefully I will be back on GR as often as I used to be, at least for a little bit.

And this was a great book to get me back into things. This is a story about revenge on enemies but it's also about friendship. There were many moments where I was fuming- the sad truth is, rape culture is alive and well, and there are still too many men and boys who feel entitled to treat women like garbage and feel justified in doing so. It makes me furious, but it made me happy to read this story of four young women pushing back against a society that idolizes men and demonizes women.

Each girl had something special about her, and all of them had such distinct voices. With multiple narrators, there is the risk of them all blending together but with this book Ana, Liv, Peyton, and Melanie Jane all had distinctive and interesting voices.

My one complaint is that there are a couple loose ends that I feel didn't get fully resolved. For instance, the conflict with Toby is unexplained and kind of brushed over, I feel like

But nonetheless, this was a really good book, one that I enjoyed and more importantly, one that sheds light on a very prevalent issue so it's not only a good book, it's one that very much needed.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two things I love in life ........ Football and getting Revenge! Tehehehe I know I should not say that but it is the truth and I can't help it. So when I saw this book I just knew I had to read it and I am so glad I did.

It is your typical high school Football Team that runs the show and treats everyone like crap and expects that everyone treats them like Kings. I will say this that I did get a little pissed off when the girls just went along with things and didn't discuss the real issues they had with each other. Instead the four girls just plan to get revenge on the team.

Throughout the book I kept laughing thinking they should do worse to the guys since the guys did worse to them but what happened was awesome and made me want to keep reading so I did and I read it in One Night. Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane and Ana will stop at nothing to get their revenge and what they do is awesome and I know you will love this book just like I have.

[Bárbara Morais · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

The book is amazing, but the last part felt a bit rushed to me.
My real problem was with Ana. Don't get me wrong - I loved the character, her story, how her storyline was handled. My problem was with the <>, how you would say. I'm born and raised in Brasil and some stuff just sounded fake and unnatural, you know? It's not offensive, it's just not... common. Not relatable. There are many things, tiny details, really, that don't interfere in nothing with the story, but that made me think that Ana (or Juliana, her full name) (really, WHO IN HEAVENS IS CALLED JULIANA AND HAS ANA AS A NICKNAME? Julie would make more sense, if the problem was americans being unable to say her name) is a "para inglês ver" brazilian.

Well, but apart from that, it's an amazing book! I believe people who are not from Brasil wouldn't even be able to notice the things I noticed. And it's an amazing book about feminism, friendship between girls and double standarts.

[Liz* Fashionably Late · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good one.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was a quick but cute read. Very reminiscent of John Tucker Must Die, but instead of being against just one guy, the girls are against the entire football team - and there are some pretty heavy topics.

This book focuses heavily on jock culture. The football team are the stars and they know it, they also get away with anything they want from grades to how they treat girls. It's something that is very prevalent in our society and has been the focus of much speculation.

I really enjoyed the coming together of the girls. Most of them didn't really know each other before this while two of them were ex-best friends. Allen did a great job of showcasing women supporting each other and also what it's like to really become a part of something. I also liked how each of the girls had their own distinct personalities but just came together so effortlessly.

There's Melanie Jane, the perfectionist who gets dumped by her jock boyfriend because she won't sleep with him or let him tell his team that they've had sex even though they hadn't.

There's Liv, the firecracker member of the dance team who gets dumped by her jock boyfriend because his team mates told him to.

Then there's Peyton, the quiet one who watches as the football team gets passes on homework and exams but yet she, who has a documented learning disability, gets ridiculed and picked on without anyone stepping in - meaning the teacher.

Finally there's Ana, who probably has the hardest story of them all. Ana was drugged at a party and sexually assaulted by a member of the football team. When she tried to tell someone about it, they turned the blame on her.

Each girl has their reason for revenge, but it's their strength and friendship that guide this book. Allen does also make it a point to mention that not all of the football players are assholes. It's definitely not a blanket generalization, and there are some really good guys from the football team in here. I thought that was important that she showed that.

This book was a quick read but it was funny, sad, and motivating all at once. Will definitely check out more from Allen.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and more can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

Lately I have been stuck in a rut of reading a lot of bad books one after the other, which made me so happy to break into this one! I loved every minute of reading it and knew I would love it the moment I started this book.

What I loved most about it had to be the strong theme of friendship that was running through it. We get these four girls – some who have met before and some who haven’t. And they are the ones who come together, all driven by revenge (well-deserved revenge) to try and make a difference to their school and the way it works. I loved the way I could see the friendship blossoming and transforming in this book, and it just made my heart squeeze with joy.

Before I break into each individual character I want to mention that I also liked how they were trying to get revenge on the football team because some members on the squad have the habit of being given special treatment just because they play a certain sport. They were basically the spoiled champs of the school and they could do whatever they wanted to and get away with it. No matter who anyone is, they shouldn’t have the right to doing that. We should always be treated as equals, which is why I could admire the girls for trying to make that difference.

Let’s start off with Liv. Her full name is Olivia (yay!) and I liked how enthusiastic and playful her personality was. She was confident, easy going and would find pleasure in the smallest things. And even though she was always an outgoing get-out there girl, I felt like she was also someone who had her difficult moments. Her parents are split up and you get to see into the divorce a bit, which I think was a good thing. Liv also has a boyfriend called Trevor who is so sweet. In this book they have some tough things to try and overcome. I won’t tell you the outcome, but I will say that Liv had a really difficult time with it :/

Then there is Melanie, who might seem to be a bit prissy at first. She’s the popular girl who everyone assumes has the perfect life. She’s a Christian who goes to beauty pageants and all that stuff. Her parents can be pushy sometimes, but I did get the impression that she loved them. Melanie and another character Ana had some trouble in the past which I won’t mention anymore because it is really important for the book. But Melanie is someone who since then doesn’t let anyone get very close to her – not even her boyfriends who all have an expiration date on them in the end. Oh, and Melanie is a virgin, and her boyfriend chooses to dump her because she is someone who wants to wait for marriage.

I mentioned Ana before. She’s one of the quieter girls in the group. She has a really difficult time at school, especially as she went through a period of depression and serious bullying at school. She also has an inner conflict running through her mind which again, relates to what was mentioned before. I feel like she’s the girl who I can tell you the least about, so I’ll leave that aura of mystery there.

And finally, there is Peyton. A tall, talented dancer who loves hip hop. She was dating Karl who was controlling and basically tried to run her life. Now she’s dumped him and is trying to move on with her life, but is finding it incredibly difficult. As well as that, her parents are also divorced and seem to be competing with each other to find out which of them could get over the other faster. It’s pretty difficult on her. She seemed to be the shyest of the group and struggled with self-confidence. I could relate to the shy personality.

I did mention the characters more than anything about the book. But it was an incredibly fun read, and I loved the characters a whole lot. Highly recommended from me!

[Lisa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved 17 FIRST KISSES and I think I might love THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK even more.

Allen masterfully weaves 4 very different POVs together to tell the story of 4 very different girls who come together to get revenge on the football team for ruining their relationships, reputations, and lives. In a small, Tennessee town, football (and its players) are King. These four girls devise a plan to steal an almost-sacred game ball and teach them a lesson. The book touches on some very topical and heavy themes--slut shaming, sexual assault, overbearing parents, the effects of divorce--but somehow manages to make you laugh as you turn the pages. Probably because the 4 voices are so distinct and sharp and relatable, you can't help but root for these four girls as they set out to right the wrongs done to them.

Seriously. I loved this book-- stayed up to finish it in one setting. Can't wait to see what Allen has next.