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Bluff
Seventeen-year-old Chelsea Knowles is surrounded by the privileged. Michael Kors gym bags and designer shoes are part of her daily scene, but the talented cheerleader has a secret: she and her dad can barely pay the bills. Broken by his wife walking out on their family, Chelsea’s father ignores his responsibilities. Between cheer costs, grocery bills, electricity, and other regular financial burdens, it’s no surprise when a cut-off notice arrives in the mail. Chelsea knows it’ll be up to her to keep the lights on.
With the deck stacked against her, Chelsea decides to bet their future on the dubious poker knowledge she learned from her father before he gave up on parenting. Nervous but determined, Chelsea heads to a casino with very little security and wins big. Thrilled by her win, she’s quickly drawn to the casino again and again. She risks it all, especially when the attractive, young pit boss takes an interest in her.
Chelsea’s life, no longer filled with cheerleading, school, and hanging out with her friends, is now consumed by smoky casino floors and the ups and downs of a gambler’s life. True gamblers know when to fold, but Chelsea keeps betting long after her needs are met. The complicated web of lies soon begins to spin out of control, threatening to expose everything. Will someone see through her bluff?
With the deck stacked against her, Chelsea decides to bet their future on the dubious poker knowledge she learned from her father before he gave up on parenting. Nervous but determined, Chelsea heads to a casino with very little security and wins big. Thrilled by her win, she’s quickly drawn to the casino again and again. She risks it all, especially when the attractive, young pit boss takes an interest in her.
Chelsea’s life, no longer filled with cheerleading, school, and hanging out with her friends, is now consumed by smoky casino floors and the ups and downs of a gambler’s life. True gamblers know when to fold, but Chelsea keeps betting long after her needs are met. The complicated web of lies soon begins to spin out of control, threatening to expose everything. Will someone see through her bluff?
252 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2017
7 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Julie Dill
1 book24 followersJulie Dill lives in Oklahoma City where the wind always comes sweeping down the plains—literally. As a young girl she always wanted to be a teacher, so she went on to receive her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and taught in elementary schools for ten years. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor and loves helping students achieve success. One of her greatest professional accomplishments is earning her National Board Certification. She holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University and continues to work on various writing projects. From hiking in Colorado, to playing poker in Vegas, she’s always up for a new challenge. Julie is a busy mom of two teenage daughters, and any extra time that she may carve out is spent reading, writing, and rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 25, 2017
Bluff was a book I decided I wanted to read on a whim. I don’t do that too often anymore because I have plenty of books that I own which I should read already. But the cover and the synopsis intrigued me. It was also a book about something I don’t read about often at all – gambling, and the addiction that comes with it. I was intrigued.
The story here was pretty straightforward. Chelsea needs the money, so she pretends to be someone that she isn’t in order to get it. However, she makes a life for herself out there. She makes friends, she starts to date this older guy, and she’s still struggling to balance her usual, everyday life as well. There aren’t too many characters to the story, and the plot focuses on this alone. But it was enough to have me hooked, and I flew through the book quickly.
I was mostly wondering when everything would fall to pieces for her, and when her lies would catch up with her. It’s quite realistic with how everything goes down. The most interesting thing was to see how she kind of separated herself from her real life to trade it in for the addiction one. She really doesn’t realise how addicted she is, and how she is ending up in over her head. As someone who doesn’t play cards at all as well, I kind of enjoyed reading and learning more about the game from this one.
The writing was straight forward and simple, but I didn’t mind. The style suited the novel appropriately and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was definitely descriptive enough when it needed to b, and simply met all of my needs when it comes to writing styles.
I wished for a wider range in characters at times, or more of a subplot to liven things up a bit. But it was okay without one. Oh, and I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. It was a bit disappointing, because I really believed the main character had achieved something in particular. Yet, at the same time, I do believe the ending was realistic as well. Despite it being all those things, it could have been a bit more slowed down and developed, like the rest of the novel was.
All in all, this was a quick, nice read which maintained my interest all the way through. It may not have had that wow factor to make me fall in love with it, but not every book needs that to work out well.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
The story here was pretty straightforward. Chelsea needs the money, so she pretends to be someone that she isn’t in order to get it. However, she makes a life for herself out there. She makes friends, she starts to date this older guy, and she’s still struggling to balance her usual, everyday life as well. There aren’t too many characters to the story, and the plot focuses on this alone. But it was enough to have me hooked, and I flew through the book quickly.
I was mostly wondering when everything would fall to pieces for her, and when her lies would catch up with her. It’s quite realistic with how everything goes down. The most interesting thing was to see how she kind of separated herself from her real life to trade it in for the addiction one. She really doesn’t realise how addicted she is, and how she is ending up in over her head. As someone who doesn’t play cards at all as well, I kind of enjoyed reading and learning more about the game from this one.
The writing was straight forward and simple, but I didn’t mind. The style suited the novel appropriately and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was definitely descriptive enough when it needed to b, and simply met all of my needs when it comes to writing styles.
I wished for a wider range in characters at times, or more of a subplot to liven things up a bit. But it was okay without one. Oh, and I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. It was a bit disappointing, because I really believed the main character had achieved something in particular. Yet, at the same time, I do believe the ending was realistic as well. Despite it being all those things, it could have been a bit more slowed down and developed, like the rest of the novel was.
All in all, this was a quick, nice read which maintained my interest all the way through. It may not have had that wow factor to make me fall in love with it, but not every book needs that to work out well.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
March 9, 2017
17 year old Chelsea goes into a casino in an act of desperation to attempt to get money to pay for the electricity bill since her father has pretty much just given up on life. When one lucky night turns into two, where can she drawn the line to stop? When does her desire to gamble and the high she gets turn into an obsession?
Can I just say that this book was absolutely nothing like I was expecting? I went into reading this story expecting a fun high stakes book, kind of like an Oceans 11 but with a teenage girl. Well, let me tell you, I was so off. Instead this is the emotional struggle of a girl who is desperate, in over her head and so very alone. This was not an easy read for me because I spent most of the book either wanting to have an intervention or at least give Chelsea a hug.
The story it's self was very quick and the author created such a believable character in Chelsea. I did have a hard time accepting the fact a 17 year old girl was allowed to gamble at a high stakes poker in a casino ( My mom is a card dealer at one and man are the rules strict and you are ALWAYS being watched). I did have to suspend my belief with that one, but the emotions were 100% real. There was a hint of love in this story, with the cute older Nick, but that was not the focus of the story. Instead the story focused on Chelsea, the responsibility of her life as well as the inner struggles that weigh her down.
Overall I feel a little sad about this story, and the very end made me want to throw my ereader on the the floor because it was awful (and so very honesty). This was a well written book, but it was not something I want to read again since the topic of addiction hits too close to home with some that I know. I would like to read more from this author though.
I received this title in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
March 1, 2017
I was immediately pulled in by the synopsis of this book, although I wasn’t really sure what I expected. It sounded interesting but I was unsure as to whether or not it would deliver an interesting read. Fortunately, I had a lot of fun with this one.
Whilst this book is somewhat slow at times, from quite early on the story grips you. You’re pulled into the life of the main character, wanting to know what comes next and where her choices will lead. There are many books out there on teenage addiction – you really don’t need me to name them, and if you’re unsure a simple Google search will easily help you – but off the top of my head I cannot think of any that deal with gambling, even rarer is for it to be a female with a gambling addiction. There were instant points in favour of the book right there – add in the fact that it was a lot of fun, and I didn’t care that the book was somewhat slow at times.
Our story follows Chelsea, somewhat of a cliché in the young adult world. She comes from a broken family. Her home is rather decrepit. Her father isn’t the man he should be. She keeps her living conditions away from her friends. Due to all of this, there was a bit of a groan from me at first. However, I plead you to ignore such a reaction if you feel it coming on. These things are actually important. They’re not around for the usual excuses of ‘it adds more depth’ (because we all know that excuse is very rarely the case), but rather these are important for the overall story. Remember how I said the story is of gambling – well, yeah, these things come into the story and play a part.
Whilst it does take a bit of time for the story to really get moving, once it does get moving you’re pulled right in. Lie after lie builds up, and we watch as Chelsea tries to keep her life moving in the right direction. In fact, what even is the right direction? This is something our character tries to deal with, a rather simple look at moral dilemmas. Honestly, it may seem like very little is happening but all these little things come together to create a wonderful depiction of gambling addiction. Wonderful in the sense of it being an eye opener, not in the sense of it suggesting you go out and take up poker to pay the bills and buy a few nice things.
Another cliché point that I should point out is the romance. It’s predictable from the start, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. Although it does add something to the story, I’m not quite sure just how much it truly adds. It is necessary for some events – but as a whole, I felt rather indifferent to the romance element. This, however, is due to the fact that I’m rather picky with my romances. I don’t ship half the things other people do. I accept that some will enjoy the romance element of this one, but I wasn’t overly bothered by it.
I’m unsure about the ending, too. Not in the sense of I don’t know how I feel about it. I know exactly how I feel. I liked it. You’re made to believe one thing and then things are turned around. It’s great. I simply don’t know if it’s the case of a possible sequel or if it’s just a way to make people stop and think. A part of me hopes it’s the latter. I’m not entirely sure how a sequel would work. I feel as though it would work better as a standalone, with one of those endings that has a bit of a shock factor. If there is a sequel, though, I will be interested in reading it.
Overall, this was a great little read.
As a final note, I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to advance read this.
Whilst this book is somewhat slow at times, from quite early on the story grips you. You’re pulled into the life of the main character, wanting to know what comes next and where her choices will lead. There are many books out there on teenage addiction – you really don’t need me to name them, and if you’re unsure a simple Google search will easily help you – but off the top of my head I cannot think of any that deal with gambling, even rarer is for it to be a female with a gambling addiction. There were instant points in favour of the book right there – add in the fact that it was a lot of fun, and I didn’t care that the book was somewhat slow at times.
Our story follows Chelsea, somewhat of a cliché in the young adult world. She comes from a broken family. Her home is rather decrepit. Her father isn’t the man he should be. She keeps her living conditions away from her friends. Due to all of this, there was a bit of a groan from me at first. However, I plead you to ignore such a reaction if you feel it coming on. These things are actually important. They’re not around for the usual excuses of ‘it adds more depth’ (because we all know that excuse is very rarely the case), but rather these are important for the overall story. Remember how I said the story is of gambling – well, yeah, these things come into the story and play a part.
Whilst it does take a bit of time for the story to really get moving, once it does get moving you’re pulled right in. Lie after lie builds up, and we watch as Chelsea tries to keep her life moving in the right direction. In fact, what even is the right direction? This is something our character tries to deal with, a rather simple look at moral dilemmas. Honestly, it may seem like very little is happening but all these little things come together to create a wonderful depiction of gambling addiction. Wonderful in the sense of it being an eye opener, not in the sense of it suggesting you go out and take up poker to pay the bills and buy a few nice things.
Another cliché point that I should point out is the romance. It’s predictable from the start, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. Although it does add something to the story, I’m not quite sure just how much it truly adds. It is necessary for some events – but as a whole, I felt rather indifferent to the romance element. This, however, is due to the fact that I’m rather picky with my romances. I don’t ship half the things other people do. I accept that some will enjoy the romance element of this one, but I wasn’t overly bothered by it.
I’m unsure about the ending, too. Not in the sense of I don’t know how I feel about it. I know exactly how I feel. I liked it. You’re made to believe one thing and then things are turned around. It’s great. I simply don’t know if it’s the case of a possible sequel or if it’s just a way to make people stop and think. A part of me hopes it’s the latter. I’m not entirely sure how a sequel would work. I feel as though it would work better as a standalone, with one of those endings that has a bit of a shock factor. If there is a sequel, though, I will be interested in reading it.
Overall, this was a great little read.
As a final note, I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to advance read this.
March 16, 2017
Bluff is a novel by Julie Dill. It is a great novel about a young girl who gets addicted to gambling and the consequences for her pretending to be of age.
Chelsea lives with her Dad in a small town in Oklahoma. They live on what little he brings in from his job and on how well Chelsea can stretch his money. Her Mother left them when Chelsea was about six and they have been on their own all this time. Chelsea had joined the cheer squad and is scrambling to get the money to pay for her uniforms and fees while keeping the bills paid. One evening, she sees The World Series of Poker on television and begins to get ideas. She has always been good at playing poker with her Dad, so why can’t she win at the casino?
Three days later, armed with $100 taken from her college fund account, she heads for the nearby casino in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma. She just hopes she can get in without having to show an ID. Carefully she enters the casino and makes her way to the poker tables. After watching for a while, she gets a seat at a table and starts to play. She is very nervous about being caught but luck is with her and she leaves with $395. However, she is stopped by one of the floor men who wants to know her name. Terrified, she gives a false name. He just wants to get her to join a special club which gives her food points every time she comes in. Thankfully, she manages to leave. However, he was cute.
Will she return and will she get caught?
This novel is easy to read and is suitable for junior high and high school students. The language is just fine, although she does break the law by gambling. The consequences are forthcoming.
Chelsea lives with her Dad in a small town in Oklahoma. They live on what little he brings in from his job and on how well Chelsea can stretch his money. Her Mother left them when Chelsea was about six and they have been on their own all this time. Chelsea had joined the cheer squad and is scrambling to get the money to pay for her uniforms and fees while keeping the bills paid. One evening, she sees The World Series of Poker on television and begins to get ideas. She has always been good at playing poker with her Dad, so why can’t she win at the casino?
Three days later, armed with $100 taken from her college fund account, she heads for the nearby casino in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma. She just hopes she can get in without having to show an ID. Carefully she enters the casino and makes her way to the poker tables. After watching for a while, she gets a seat at a table and starts to play. She is very nervous about being caught but luck is with her and she leaves with $395. However, she is stopped by one of the floor men who wants to know her name. Terrified, she gives a false name. He just wants to get her to join a special club which gives her food points every time she comes in. Thankfully, she manages to leave. However, he was cute.
Will she return and will she get caught?
This novel is easy to read and is suitable for junior high and high school students. The language is just fine, although she does break the law by gambling. The consequences are forthcoming.
May 2, 2018
*3 and a half stars*
February 7, 2017
Thank you Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for my copy of Bluff by Julie Dill!
Bluff by Julie Dill tells the story of 17-year-old Chelsea who lives with her irresponsible dad. Every month they can barely pay their bills, and in a moment of desperation Chelsea goes to a casino in the hopes of making some cash. There she lies about her name and age, and starts playing poker. Bluff had a lot of potential, potential to do amazing things. When I first saw the book, and read its synopsis, I thought, finally a book about teenage addiction, specifically gambling addiction. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.
As someone who knows how poker works, at least well enough to understand the majority of the lingo, I really liked that we got to see so many scenes in great detail of how Chelsea plays poker. However, the book falls short in its execution of the fact that Chelsea actually has an addiction, which is clear in her actions, but is never actually addressed. Two parts that really signal that Chelsea has a problem with her gambling can be seen in the following quotes,
“It’s almost by default that I end up where I do. My car just goes there. I need to see Nate. But even more, I need to play poker.”
&
“A perfect life would be just hang around here and play poker. Forever.”
What the book fails to do is acknowledge, on the page, that Chelsea has an addiction, and that the gambling needs to stop. Another problem I had with the book was the love interest, who worked at the casino. Even though he didn’t know Chelsea was underage, and he did break up with her when he found out her age towards the end, it really irked me that the romance was even a part of this book at all, at least with someone older. There were some amazing friendships in this book, and I would have loved to have them developed further instead.
Julie Dill managed to create a main character that the reader easily relates to and feels for, but failed in story and plot for me. Towards the end, the story really seemed to be turning around. The romantic relationship ended, and both the father and Chelsea got stable jobs. What completely ruined the book was the last scene. Everything had started to turn for the better for Chelsea, she got a second chance, and the reader gets the impression that she is ending her gambling. Then this happens at the very end,
“And some time later, at two o’clock in the morning, I find myself walking into a new, different casino.
Looking for something.”
I understand that addiction is complex, and doesn’t just go away because you are met with obstacles that are impossible to overcome. However, that’s why I feel this book should have taken a different route. There was room to do so much good with this book, to show how addiction works and how to get help. Instead this book basically romanticized addiction in the way it didn’t really take it seriously, and teens that read Bluff need to know that Chelsea’s behavior is not okay. I feel that Bluff really needs a sequel to address and sort out everything it missed in the first book.
The review will go live February 7, 2017 on my blog.
Bluff by Julie Dill tells the story of 17-year-old Chelsea who lives with her irresponsible dad. Every month they can barely pay their bills, and in a moment of desperation Chelsea goes to a casino in the hopes of making some cash. There she lies about her name and age, and starts playing poker. Bluff had a lot of potential, potential to do amazing things. When I first saw the book, and read its synopsis, I thought, finally a book about teenage addiction, specifically gambling addiction. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.
As someone who knows how poker works, at least well enough to understand the majority of the lingo, I really liked that we got to see so many scenes in great detail of how Chelsea plays poker. However, the book falls short in its execution of the fact that Chelsea actually has an addiction, which is clear in her actions, but is never actually addressed. Two parts that really signal that Chelsea has a problem with her gambling can be seen in the following quotes,
“It’s almost by default that I end up where I do. My car just goes there. I need to see Nate. But even more, I need to play poker.”
&
“A perfect life would be just hang around here and play poker. Forever.”
What the book fails to do is acknowledge, on the page, that Chelsea has an addiction, and that the gambling needs to stop. Another problem I had with the book was the love interest, who worked at the casino. Even though he didn’t know Chelsea was underage, and he did break up with her when he found out her age towards the end, it really irked me that the romance was even a part of this book at all, at least with someone older. There were some amazing friendships in this book, and I would have loved to have them developed further instead.
Julie Dill managed to create a main character that the reader easily relates to and feels for, but failed in story and plot for me. Towards the end, the story really seemed to be turning around. The romantic relationship ended, and both the father and Chelsea got stable jobs. What completely ruined the book was the last scene. Everything had started to turn for the better for Chelsea, she got a second chance, and the reader gets the impression that she is ending her gambling. Then this happens at the very end,
“And some time later, at two o’clock in the morning, I find myself walking into a new, different casino.
Looking for something.”
I understand that addiction is complex, and doesn’t just go away because you are met with obstacles that are impossible to overcome. However, that’s why I feel this book should have taken a different route. There was room to do so much good with this book, to show how addiction works and how to get help. Instead this book basically romanticized addiction in the way it didn’t really take it seriously, and teens that read Bluff need to know that Chelsea’s behavior is not okay. I feel that Bluff really needs a sequel to address and sort out everything it missed in the first book.
The review will go live February 7, 2017 on my blog.
February 23, 2017
2.75-3 STARS
After reading the blurb for Bluff I wanted to read it instantly. This is a hard review to write even after sleeping on it for a couple of days. To say my feelings are mixed is an understatement. On one hand I enjoyed the fast pace of it and the author’s writing style. But on the other I found it lacking certain elements that I need in a story. I have read books within the YA genre before and loved them. I think if a younger person picks up Bluff that they will probably enjoy it, I unfortunately was overall disappointed. I quickly made my way to 70% of the book and found myself wondering “where is this going?” Her relationship with her “love interest” goes nowhere. I would’ve liked to see more of them together. Chelsea is very good at reading people and the table. I thought that was a unique trait and appreciated seeing something told other than card counting. Yet, she cannot see her own addiction. Maybe it’s her age? IDK but she seems very bright so that threw me. Bluff comes with a hefty price tag that I don’t think is worth it Y.E.T. after the abrupt ending IF there is a sequel I would give it a chance to see where Chelsea ends up.
After reading the blurb for Bluff I wanted to read it instantly. This is a hard review to write even after sleeping on it for a couple of days. To say my feelings are mixed is an understatement. On one hand I enjoyed the fast pace of it and the author’s writing style. But on the other I found it lacking certain elements that I need in a story. I have read books within the YA genre before and loved them. I think if a younger person picks up Bluff that they will probably enjoy it, I unfortunately was overall disappointed. I quickly made my way to 70% of the book and found myself wondering “where is this going?” Her relationship with her “love interest” goes nowhere. I would’ve liked to see more of them together. Chelsea is very good at reading people and the table. I thought that was a unique trait and appreciated seeing something told other than card counting. Yet, she cannot see her own addiction. Maybe it’s her age? IDK but she seems very bright so that threw me. Bluff comes with a hefty price tag that I don’t think is worth it Y.E.T. after the abrupt ending IF there is a sequel I would give it a chance to see where Chelsea ends up.
February 9, 2017
I received this eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion of the work.
Addiction, but more specifically gambling, is nothing new to me. I’ve only had the experience of seeing both a parent and sibling fall down that dark hole, but this was something else. It was very surprising to read about a gambling addiction evolving in an adolescent, much less an adolescent girl. Personal experience tells me that this compulsive behaviour would have been more typical/expected of the Deadbeat Dad character but that was not the case here. Major points for originality.
The writing was succinct and easy to follow. I finished this in one sitting because I kept turning the page waiting for the downfall (read: the point where our heroine hits rock bottom). But she just kept digging herself deeper and deeper into her lies. It was fascinating to see all of the bad choices she made and lies she told slowly stacking up like chips on a poker table. It was only a matter of time before she lost everything. On a side note, I feel like the author did a great job in showing the euphoric state that transpires from feeding an addiction. I would have liked to read more about the lows though. The crash. The burn. The complete destruction.
Now let’s talk about the love interest. A couple chapters in and we are introduced to a character that is described like this:
What’s great is that even though the romance is cute, I would have still enjoyed this book even if it was only about Chelsea’s gambling (and that’s saying something).
I honestly thought that everything was going to wrap up perfectly until that darned last page. It was so unexpected. Or was it? Any semblance of closure I could have had was gone and now I’m going to be strung out until a sequel is released.
From my experience, all I can say is: Once an addict, always an addict. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m nauseous just thinking about it.
Also, I really need a Miss Stella in my life. Like now.
“My first thought is that I hope they will let me keep my winnings to use for bail money. My dad cannot afford to bail me out of jail.”I wanted to get my hands (or eyes, I should say) on this book as soon as I read the synopsis, and let’s just say that it was everything that I thought it would be. For once, I mean that as a good thing. My expectations were met and then some.
Addiction, but more specifically gambling, is nothing new to me. I’ve only had the experience of seeing both a parent and sibling fall down that dark hole, but this was something else. It was very surprising to read about a gambling addiction evolving in an adolescent, much less an adolescent girl. Personal experience tells me that this compulsive behaviour would have been more typical/expected of the Deadbeat Dad character but that was not the case here. Major points for originality.
The writing was succinct and easy to follow. I finished this in one sitting because I kept turning the page waiting for the downfall (read: the point where our heroine hits rock bottom). But she just kept digging herself deeper and deeper into her lies. It was fascinating to see all of the bad choices she made and lies she told slowly stacking up like chips on a poker table. It was only a matter of time before she lost everything. On a side note, I feel like the author did a great job in showing the euphoric state that transpires from feeding an addiction. I would have liked to read more about the lows though. The crash. The burn. The complete destruction.
Now let’s talk about the love interest. A couple chapters in and we are introduced to a character that is described like this:
“Cute guy . . . in a Sopranos kind of way.”Just my type. Doubtless I’d love any book that has a character affectionately known as “Cute Mafia Guy”, even if no one actually calls him that to his face. At this point, I was already putty in the author’s hands. Is Cute Mafia Guy actually a Mafia guy? How far will Chelsea go? Is he ever going to find out who she really is?
What’s great is that even though the romance is cute, I would have still enjoyed this book even if it was only about Chelsea’s gambling (and that’s saying something).
I honestly thought that everything was going to wrap up perfectly until that darned last page. It was so unexpected. Or was it? Any semblance of closure I could have had was gone and now I’m going to be strung out until a sequel is released.
From my experience, all I can say is: Once an addict, always an addict. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m nauseous just thinking about it.
Also, I really need a Miss Stella in my life. Like now.
February 7, 2017
There's something about a casino that you can't quite find anywhere else. It's all about the glamour, the possibilities of getting rich, and the incessant sounds and lights. Then, when you take a step back, you also see how dangerous it can become, and how quickly it can ruin a life. In this novel, Julie Dill meshes the unpredictable live of a gambler with the simplicity of being a high school student. Cheerleading practices, movie dates with a best friend, and shopping excursions are thrown into contrast with the thrill of walking in a casino, of leaving with ten times the amount of money one entered with, of the glitz of being rich -- even if it's just for a moment... and then the book hits you with the dark despair that accompanies a heavy loss.
The protagonist of this story, Chelsea, is unfortunately faced with the hardship of trying to manage a household at a young age. She chose to gamble in order to pay off some outstanding bills, but the gains are never enough to also help her maintain the lifestyle she wanted to have for herself. Every time she entered that casino, I would hold my breath and pray this would be the last one. I think that the author portrayed the addiction quite realistically and explores the unfortunate truth that an addiction can ruin many things.
This is a very fast read - I finished it within just a few sporadic hours. It's not very complex, and I found that some depth could have been added to most of the characters... To be fair, it's targeted perfectly for a high school student, or even middle school crowd, so take this with a grain of salt.
I loved the final page, though. It's a final page that will stay with me for a long time. For those readers who read the last few lines before starting the book, do yourself a favour and make this one an exception!
I'd like to thank Amberjack Publishing, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Keep an eye out for this book as it will hit the shelves on February 7th, 2017!
The protagonist of this story, Chelsea, is unfortunately faced with the hardship of trying to manage a household at a young age. She chose to gamble in order to pay off some outstanding bills, but the gains are never enough to also help her maintain the lifestyle she wanted to have for herself. Every time she entered that casino, I would hold my breath and pray this would be the last one. I think that the author portrayed the addiction quite realistically and explores the unfortunate truth that an addiction can ruin many things.
This is a very fast read - I finished it within just a few sporadic hours. It's not very complex, and I found that some depth could have been added to most of the characters... To be fair, it's targeted perfectly for a high school student, or even middle school crowd, so take this with a grain of salt.
I loved the final page, though. It's a final page that will stay with me for a long time. For those readers who read the last few lines before starting the book, do yourself a favour and make this one an exception!
I'd like to thank Amberjack Publishing, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Keep an eye out for this book as it will hit the shelves on February 7th, 2017!
July 5, 2024
I’ve reread this book so many times I’ve lost track…
January 13, 2018
This review was originally posted on my blog, Sav Scribbles.
*Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of BLUFF via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
(2.5 stars)
I am frustrated.
This novel is frustrating.
I'd like to fling my Kindle across a room.
I was so excited for this book. Look, a quick YA read dealing with a topic we don't usually see: gambling, and underage at that! Whoa!
Well, BLUFF did center around a gambling addiction, but it sure didn't portray the addiction as... well, an addiction.
(I think I know how to play poker now.)
That being said, let's get into it.
P L O T & W R I T I N G
I'd like to start this off by saying that this book either needed to be way longer or way shorter because of development.
Let me clarify: there was one (1) plot throughout this whole 250-page novel. No subplots at all, as far as I'm aware. All conflicts- the, like, 3 or 4 of them that arose with the 3 or 4 other characters- came from this one plot. We know I love me some subplots and a wonderful, unpredictable overarching plot, and I didn't get either of those with this novel.
I wish it was shorter because this one plot could've been fit into 100-150 pages if we cut the unnecessary scenes (mainly the flashbacks. What purpose did they serve?).
I wish it was longer because I want more subplots and to develop the characters more and to make this book focused on more than a simple plot.
Because of the length of BLUFF, I flew through it- a common theme in the books I read in 2018, weird- but the writing helped with me flying through it as well.
And in this case, that's not a good thing.
I don't really know how to explain the writing besides for simple and underdeveloped, a common theme in this book.
Let me give you an example of this writing:
I'm sorry, WHAT? HOW DO YOU MERGE IN A MASCULINE WAY???
That was the type of writing the WHOLE BOOK. Give me a BREAK.
C H A R A C T E R S
Chelsea. How dumb can a girl get? Pay your bills before you shop! Geez! And, I'm sorry, but being poor is NO excuse for gambling, being rude, or acting like you're better than rich people. She always complained about having no money but refused to get a job. UGH.
Nate. I hated him from the start. I always thought he was going to turn against her at some point because I never trusted him, but that never happened.
The father. He annoyed me a lot. How did he never realize that Chelsea was paying all of the bills while he just enjoyed staying at home? Give me a BREAK.
Cassidy. Easily the most sensible person in this novel. All she wants to do is help her friend! I'm pretty sure I was supposed to dislike her because she's rich and oh, she'll never understand poor me, but I liked her. Oops?
All in all, I kinda regret my time with this book and fully regret how it portrays addiction. I recommend this book to people who want to learn how to play poker while getting a mediocre-at-best story along the way.
*Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of BLUFF via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
(2.5 stars)
I am frustrated.
This novel is frustrating.
I'd like to fling my Kindle across a room.
I was so excited for this book. Look, a quick YA read dealing with a topic we don't usually see: gambling, and underage at that! Whoa!
Well, BLUFF did center around a gambling addiction, but it sure didn't portray the addiction as... well, an addiction.
(I think I know how to play poker now.)
That being said, let's get into it.
P L O T & W R I T I N G
I'd like to start this off by saying that this book either needed to be way longer or way shorter because of development.
Let me clarify: there was one (1) plot throughout this whole 250-page novel. No subplots at all, as far as I'm aware. All conflicts- the, like, 3 or 4 of them that arose with the 3 or 4 other characters- came from this one plot. We know I love me some subplots and a wonderful, unpredictable overarching plot, and I didn't get either of those with this novel.
I wish it was shorter because this one plot could've been fit into 100-150 pages if we cut the unnecessary scenes (mainly the flashbacks. What purpose did they serve?).
I wish it was longer because I want more subplots and to develop the characters more and to make this book focused on more than a simple plot.
Because of the length of BLUFF, I flew through it- a common theme in the books I read in 2018, weird- but the writing helped with me flying through it as well.
And in this case, that's not a good thing.
I don't really know how to explain the writing besides for simple and underdeveloped, a common theme in this book.
Let me give you an example of this writing:
"He makes his way to the highway and merges on in the most masculine way possible."
I'm sorry, WHAT? HOW DO YOU MERGE IN A MASCULINE WAY???
That was the type of writing the WHOLE BOOK. Give me a BREAK.
C H A R A C T E R S
Chelsea. How dumb can a girl get? Pay your bills before you shop! Geez! And, I'm sorry, but being poor is NO excuse for gambling, being rude, or acting like you're better than rich people. She always complained about having no money but refused to get a job. UGH.
Nate. I hated him from the start. I always thought he was going to turn against her at some point because I never trusted him, but that never happened.
The father. He annoyed me a lot. How did he never realize that Chelsea was paying all of the bills while he just enjoyed staying at home? Give me a BREAK.
Cassidy. Easily the most sensible person in this novel. All she wants to do is help her friend! I'm pretty sure I was supposed to dislike her because she's rich and oh, she'll never understand poor me, but I liked her. Oops?
All in all, I kinda regret my time with this book and fully regret how it portrays addiction. I recommend this book to people who want to learn how to play poker while getting a mediocre-at-best story along the way.
December 7, 2017
If you like a problem-solving mixed with a chain of bad choices and mixed emotions, this book is for you! I really enjoyed this book! I would definitely recommend reading this for any age. I thought Julie Dill does a great job with making it easy enough to read, but also going into great detail about certain things. Dill is able to let you totally imagine the entire book in your head, so it's like watching a movie being played out on screen. The book is also very relatable if you are a teenage girl who feels like you don't belong in your school. This book has also allowed me to enter the main characters position since it is so descriptive, but not too complex. The author made sure that I was very sympathetic toward the main character, but I also think this character could have definitely made some better choices during the book. I got a very heavy dislike of some of her choices, but I also loved her, so I was very much torn.
The main character of this book really, really made me mad sometimes. But, I guess that’s what made me so intrigued about the book. Even though I couldn’t stand some of her actions and how she followed up her actions, I still wanted to see how it all works out for her in the end. Which is very smart on the author’s part. Dill made me not want to stop reading this book! Sometimes, I didn’t even want to put the book down! I never read books fast, but this one I did, and it made me so happy!
For me, this book made me realize that, yes, we as teenagers think we are able to make decisions all on our own, but without help, we wouldn't get anywhere. So in order to go far in life, we have to take a step back, and just ask for some help, even if we don’t necessarily want to sometimes. This book also shed light for me that the bad choices you make now, can indefinitely have a negative impact on your future.
The main character of this book really, really made me mad sometimes. But, I guess that’s what made me so intrigued about the book. Even though I couldn’t stand some of her actions and how she followed up her actions, I still wanted to see how it all works out for her in the end. Which is very smart on the author’s part. Dill made me not want to stop reading this book! Sometimes, I didn’t even want to put the book down! I never read books fast, but this one I did, and it made me so happy!
For me, this book made me realize that, yes, we as teenagers think we are able to make decisions all on our own, but without help, we wouldn't get anywhere. So in order to go far in life, we have to take a step back, and just ask for some help, even if we don’t necessarily want to sometimes. This book also shed light for me that the bad choices you make now, can indefinitely have a negative impact on your future.
March 18, 2024
3.5 Stars Although I don’t have personal experience with gambling addiction, that aspect of the book for the most part seemed well done, not only establishing a believable scenario for how a teenager could wind up in that situation (a negligent parent not taking care of Chelsea/the bills, society’s tendency to make material things seem necessary, and casinos eager to take anyone’s money), this also did a good job of capturing the rush Chelsea gets, the compulsion that she can’t quite talk herself into resisting, and the denial that it’s a problem for her even as she recognizes the problem in others.
I didn’t love the romance, I felt like the age gap should have been explored further, and I wanted more information about who Nate is beyond the surface stuff that would attract a young girl. I had a similar feeling about a woman Chelsea befriends at the casino as well as Chelsea’s best friend, both seemed slightly underdeveloped, a little more background/depth for each of them would have made for a richer reading experience. On the flipside of that, even though the dad isn’t the biggest presence in Chelsea’s life, what was written of him gave me a firm understanding of the parent he was and how that contributes to Chelsea’s choices.
Certain things wrapped up easier than I thought they maybe should have, but I did like the note this ended on, the last page or so, there was a realism there that was missing in those aforementioned easier resolutions.
If you’re looking for something that’s a little different for contemporary YA (I don’t know of many that feature a teenage girl with a gambling habit) and if you like a swift pace that’ll have the pages steadily turning, Bluff is worth a try.
I didn’t love the romance, I felt like the age gap should have been explored further, and I wanted more information about who Nate is beyond the surface stuff that would attract a young girl. I had a similar feeling about a woman Chelsea befriends at the casino as well as Chelsea’s best friend, both seemed slightly underdeveloped, a little more background/depth for each of them would have made for a richer reading experience. On the flipside of that, even though the dad isn’t the biggest presence in Chelsea’s life, what was written of him gave me a firm understanding of the parent he was and how that contributes to Chelsea’s choices.
Certain things wrapped up easier than I thought they maybe should have, but I did like the note this ended on, the last page or so, there was a realism there that was missing in those aforementioned easier resolutions.
If you’re looking for something that’s a little different for contemporary YA (I don’t know of many that feature a teenage girl with a gambling habit) and if you like a swift pace that’ll have the pages steadily turning, Bluff is worth a try.
January 2, 2021
Chelsea has been in charge of making sure bills get paid on time and that she and her dad always have a roof over their head. This is a lot for a 17-year-old girl to be worried about while also trying to fit in with all her friends who have money. Her dad doesn't really seem to understand how expensive everything is and is just kind of over everything when it comes to working, which leaves Chelsea with very few options. One thing she knows she can do to earn money is play poker so that's exactly what she ends up doing.
Overall I found myself getting annoyed with Chelsea and some of the decisions she was making. She would say she was going and gambling in order to pay the bills but then she would go and buy just clothes and other fun stuff for herself. It just didn't make sense to me considering how worried she always was with making sure all the bills were covered. I know some of it's just her age and things like that, but it just seemed like at times the book was disjointed with what she was doing and what she was worried about with her winnings if that makes sense. I also could have done without the romance in this book considering she was underaged and the guy was 5+ years older than her, and it was her decision to pursue said person and keep secrets from him.
So for me, while the premise of this book was interesting, the book itself ended up being frustrating and disappointing.
Overall I found myself getting annoyed with Chelsea and some of the decisions she was making. She would say she was going and gambling in order to pay the bills but then she would go and buy just clothes and other fun stuff for herself. It just didn't make sense to me considering how worried she always was with making sure all the bills were covered. I know some of it's just her age and things like that, but it just seemed like at times the book was disjointed with what she was doing and what she was worried about with her winnings if that makes sense. I also could have done without the romance in this book considering she was underaged and the guy was 5+ years older than her, and it was her decision to pursue said person and keep secrets from him.
So for me, while the premise of this book was interesting, the book itself ended up being frustrating and disappointing.
February 21, 2017
(I received an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
This is not my usual teen/YA book, but I enjoyed this. I really connected with Chelsea and the pressure she felt to get money and keep her family afloat. I sympathized with her desire to feel "normal" and do the things kids at school could do because they had all the money they could want.
I liked reading about teens and addition from a new angle - gambling instead of drugs/alcohol. I thought the author did a good job of showing the highs and lows of Chelsea's addiction as well as the lies that she told to hide the truth from the people around her. This would be a great book to read with teens and then discuss together. (Some language)
This is not my usual teen/YA book, but I enjoyed this. I really connected with Chelsea and the pressure she felt to get money and keep her family afloat. I sympathized with her desire to feel "normal" and do the things kids at school could do because they had all the money they could want.
I liked reading about teens and addition from a new angle - gambling instead of drugs/alcohol. I thought the author did a good job of showing the highs and lows of Chelsea's addiction as well as the lies that she told to hide the truth from the people around her. This would be a great book to read with teens and then discuss together. (Some language)
September 17, 2017
I was provided an ARC via Netgally for an honest review.
I was excited to read this book because the cover and synopsis sounded like a good read. This just wasn't my cup of tea. It was hard to get into and I had to push myself to finish. The writing as okay, nothing great but definitely not the worst I have read.
This book dealt with a lot of topics and the story was straight forward. The main character needed money and needed it fast so of course gambling sounded like a good way to make that happen
I was excited to read this book because the cover and synopsis sounded like a good read. This just wasn't my cup of tea. It was hard to get into and I had to push myself to finish. The writing as okay, nothing great but definitely not the worst I have read.
This book dealt with a lot of topics and the story was straight forward. The main character needed money and needed it fast so of course gambling sounded like a good way to make that happen
January 4, 2017
Knew i was going to like this book as soon as i read the blurb.this was a great read was a bit slow at times but i was already hooked so didn't really bother me to much.Like the twists it keeps you guessing right till the end would read more by this author recommended
May 17, 2017
Fast pace makes it a quick read. I felt mildly sympathetic with Chelsea at times but at others was so frustrated with her as her choices were just so, so bad. Also, there's a bit of copy editing that needs to be done. Walmart was spelled two different ways on the same page, among other errors.
June 20, 2017
I couldn't put this book down. It was heartbreaking. I was completely involved in the main character's life. The writing pulled me in immediately; reading it was a visceral experience. I felt that I was living Chelsea's challenges with her.
July 6, 2017
This is the story of a girl who thinks that playing a few hands of poker will ease some of the financial problems she and her father are facing. Winning a few times gives her a thrill and the need to gamble again begins to overtake her life.
March 14, 2018
Very interesting. Everything about the novel was unique. I really like the cover and I adore how the girl feels responsible for the financial situation of her house. She is clever and definitely deserves all the money she won from the casino.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2021
Great for high school girls- cheerleaders 📣 or someone who can relate to having one parent trying to make ends meet... there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to see it! Play your cards right lol
September 26, 2019
I thought this book was a really good look in to addiction- I really enjoyed the book and the characters. I received this book from GoodReads for an honest opinion.
May 3, 2018
Chelsea is a 17 year old in highschool and all she wants to do is fit in just like everyone else. You can't really do that if you're that old and stuck paying the bills and praying that no utilities get shut off. She doesn't have the nicest clothes and has cheer fees to worry about so she can procede with that. Late one night she had just gotten home from cheer and flipped on the TV and scrolled through channels and came across Poker. She saw Poker as a way to help her and her dad out with the financial struggles they were facing lately, even if it does mean pushing everyone who cares most about her away. Although she is 17 so how could that be possible? This book does not have a wide variety of characters, it is easy to follow along, really fast read and a great book. I hope there will be a sequel because you can't leave it just like that it was kind of upsetting how much was put into the book until the ending.
March 2, 2017
Chelsea, a 17 yr old girl, to meet her and her father's need for money she decides to play poker, under the false name of Chandra. When in front of casino she saw that no one is checking the IDs so she decides to give gambling a try. But soon poker transforms into something she can't stay away from...
I think the best thing about this novel was that I was easily able to relate to Chelsea. Chelsea is like any 17 yr old girl, having dreams and desires. But in the same time, she is also very different, she has a irresponsible father, so the responsibility of the whole house, to pay all the bills is on her shoulder. Chelsea character was a really well built one.
Another thing that I liked about this book is Chelsea and Ms Stella's friendship. Chelsea and Ms Stella met at the casino, and Chelsea was immediately drawn to her. Both have their own set of secrets, which both of them keep to themselves, they don't ask each other questions. They both realise that friendship is more important than feeding their curiosity.
I also liked Nate and Chelsea's romance. Their were some really cute moments between them. Nate knew her as Chandra but still when he discovered her truth he didn't break their relationship, and understood her.
This novel showed gambling/poker addiction really well.
Sometimes a event triggered a childhood memory, so snippets from Chelsea's childhood were thrown here and there through the book. These snippets showed Chelsea and her father's relationship after her mother left. These were really sweet.
Even though Bluff was not from the genre mystery but it was quite a page turner for me because l found myself asking questions like When will all this end? What would happen when casino people will know about her age? What will happen when Chelsea's dad would know about gambling? How would he react? What will happen to Ms Stella and Chelsea's relationship? And what about Nate and Chelsea? In quest of finding the answer to these questions I kept on reading more and more.
Bluff had a different kind of end, that is not very typical. It was quite unpredictable and really very practical. It's kind of a end where your heart doesn't want it that way but your brain says this is what happens in real life. But inspite of this dilemma I quite liked the end.
Overall I would say that Bluff is a different kind of story and also a very well written one, which you would surely love if you are a Young Adult fan.
I think the best thing about this novel was that I was easily able to relate to Chelsea. Chelsea is like any 17 yr old girl, having dreams and desires. But in the same time, she is also very different, she has a irresponsible father, so the responsibility of the whole house, to pay all the bills is on her shoulder. Chelsea character was a really well built one.
Another thing that I liked about this book is Chelsea and Ms Stella's friendship. Chelsea and Ms Stella met at the casino, and Chelsea was immediately drawn to her. Both have their own set of secrets, which both of them keep to themselves, they don't ask each other questions. They both realise that friendship is more important than feeding their curiosity.
I also liked Nate and Chelsea's romance. Their were some really cute moments between them. Nate knew her as Chandra but still when he discovered her truth he didn't break their relationship, and understood her.
This novel showed gambling/poker addiction really well.
Sometimes a event triggered a childhood memory, so snippets from Chelsea's childhood were thrown here and there through the book. These snippets showed Chelsea and her father's relationship after her mother left. These were really sweet.
Even though Bluff was not from the genre mystery but it was quite a page turner for me because l found myself asking questions like When will all this end? What would happen when casino people will know about her age? What will happen when Chelsea's dad would know about gambling? How would he react? What will happen to Ms Stella and Chelsea's relationship? And what about Nate and Chelsea? In quest of finding the answer to these questions I kept on reading more and more.
Bluff had a different kind of end, that is not very typical. It was quite unpredictable and really very practical. It's kind of a end where your heart doesn't want it that way but your brain says this is what happens in real life. But inspite of this dilemma I quite liked the end.
Overall I would say that Bluff is a different kind of story and also a very well written one, which you would surely love if you are a Young Adult fan.
July 10, 2019
I had mediocre expectations for this book, but I didn’t expect to hate it so much. Honestly, the premise was intriguing, and I liked the way that it was going, but a lot of things needed to be challenged in order for the story to work. I would not recommend this for anyone because there is no growth within the character and it promotes stupid and unhealthy life choices (of many kinds) without any repercussions or challenges. I’m so glad it’s over.
February 6, 2017
DNF. There are many reasons for me not continuing this book. The main reason is that I was just plain bored with it.
Something that bothered me right off the bat: the author should've done her research. The book shows Chelsea watching the world series of poker on tv and it's down to the final 2 players. The screen leaves the players and goes to a model holding the money and then it zooms in to see the 100 on the bill. Well, in the world series of poker, once it's down to the final 2, the cash (and bracelet) are actually right on the table between the two players. Considering this book is likely to attract people who are actually interested in poker (like myself), you would think the author would make herself familiar with such things.
Something that bothered me right off the bat: the author should've done her research. The book shows Chelsea watching the world series of poker on tv and it's down to the final 2 players. The screen leaves the players and goes to a model holding the money and then it zooms in to see the 100 on the bill. Well, in the world series of poker, once it's down to the final 2, the cash (and bracelet) are actually right on the table between the two players. Considering this book is likely to attract people who are actually interested in poker (like myself), you would think the author would make herself familiar with such things.
March 7, 2017
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibraian – I Dig Good Books
This review wasn’t an easy one to write. I’ve just finished the book and am processing my thoughts.
As much as I want to say I enjoyed what I read, I can’t quite do it. I didn’t hate the book, I didn’t hate the write style or details. I didn’t hate anything about the story but I didn’t necessarily enjoy the story. I did expect a little more to happen, for the lead character to do more. It’s really a sad story about gambling addiction and that addiction is never satisfied nor overcome nor really addressed.
The writing was great and the details were written well. It was easy to visualize exactly what happened and what was happening. It was easy to visualize her home and the casino. The writing style does keep you reading in hopes something more is on the next page. There is promise in the authors writing.
While the story line wasn’t my favorite and felt kind of let down at the end, if the story sounds like something you might like, give it a shot. It was an entertaining story, I will definitely give it that. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t put this story on my re-read list unfortunately.
*A Copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
This review wasn’t an easy one to write. I’ve just finished the book and am processing my thoughts.
As much as I want to say I enjoyed what I read, I can’t quite do it. I didn’t hate the book, I didn’t hate the write style or details. I didn’t hate anything about the story but I didn’t necessarily enjoy the story. I did expect a little more to happen, for the lead character to do more. It’s really a sad story about gambling addiction and that addiction is never satisfied nor overcome nor really addressed.
The writing was great and the details were written well. It was easy to visualize exactly what happened and what was happening. It was easy to visualize her home and the casino. The writing style does keep you reading in hopes something more is on the next page. There is promise in the authors writing.
While the story line wasn’t my favorite and felt kind of let down at the end, if the story sounds like something you might like, give it a shot. It was an entertaining story, I will definitely give it that. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t put this story on my re-read list unfortunately.
*A Copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
September 10, 2016
Bluff is a short, quick read I finished in one night. It was easy to read, and to be honest, also easy to forget. By all means, it wasn't a bad read but come the next few months, it'll be just another book I read.
Bluff revolves around a girl called Chelsea who lives with her dad. Her mother divorced her father years ago and has moved away and her father, stricken with the loss, has all but disconnected from Chelsea's life and has not been the father Chelsea wishes he could have been. Her father doesn't really interact with Chelsea very well and he hasn't put much effort into finding a good job, and thus doesn't earn all that much. This puts Chelsea in a difficult situation; she has already tried getting through to her dad but nothing seems to work and worse, they are running out of money and could lose their home. Therefore, when Chelsea sees that she could earn money quick through poker, she leaps for the opportunity.
Of course, this has impacts on Chelsea and her relationships. I think seeing how a gambling addiction could affect Chelsea though she felt she had no other choice was the most interesting part of the story. Chelsea finds that she has a knack for poker which I wasn't exactly convinced of but went with anyway. There is great risk involved in gambling but Chelsea continues to return to the casino time after time, in the end not just for the money but for the thrill of winning and to satiate what seems to become an addiction. It was very easy to see how it could all just spiral out of control and even Chelsea realises that throughout the story.
Reading about the poker was also quite interesting.
I wasn't entirely invested in the romance, and I wouldn't have included it, except it did keep the pages turning when everything got a little slow. As for the characters, I felt bad for Chelsea as she didn't have much of a support group; with almost no friends and a barely-there father, she didn't have many people to turn to, and maybe that is why she was quick to connect with Nate. There aren't very many likable characters in this book and even with the MC and love interest, I sometimes felt my mind straying. However, the plot and pacing were enough to sustain me to the end.
Chelsea eventually gets a job, and I did question why she didn't try getting one earlier. It is a big step and an enormous sacrifice as Chelsea has to still attend high school, but it would have been the most logical step, especially before resorting to poker. I also felt that Chelsea's friend, Cassidy, could have been a better friend, especially as she has so much more money, though that did complicate things as well and really juxtaposed how different their lives were.
The writing overall is also okay. It wasn't bad but neither was it stand-out. It conveyed the story well enough and that was all I needed.
So overall, Bluff was a somewhat interesting read about poverty, addiction and the troubles that one girl has to face and overcome to build a better life for herself and her family. It did have a mildly depressing ending, albeit a realistic one and does revolve around a more unique story line than much of the YA fiction out there. The characters, writing and lack of depth however stopped me from engaging with this novel fully and that is where I think this story falls short.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bluff revolves around a girl called Chelsea who lives with her dad. Her mother divorced her father years ago and has moved away and her father, stricken with the loss, has all but disconnected from Chelsea's life and has not been the father Chelsea wishes he could have been. Her father doesn't really interact with Chelsea very well and he hasn't put much effort into finding a good job, and thus doesn't earn all that much. This puts Chelsea in a difficult situation; she has already tried getting through to her dad but nothing seems to work and worse, they are running out of money and could lose their home. Therefore, when Chelsea sees that she could earn money quick through poker, she leaps for the opportunity.
Of course, this has impacts on Chelsea and her relationships. I think seeing how a gambling addiction could affect Chelsea though she felt she had no other choice was the most interesting part of the story. Chelsea finds that she has a knack for poker which I wasn't exactly convinced of but went with anyway. There is great risk involved in gambling but Chelsea continues to return to the casino time after time, in the end not just for the money but for the thrill of winning and to satiate what seems to become an addiction. It was very easy to see how it could all just spiral out of control and even Chelsea realises that throughout the story.
Reading about the poker was also quite interesting.
I wasn't entirely invested in the romance, and I wouldn't have included it, except it did keep the pages turning when everything got a little slow. As for the characters, I felt bad for Chelsea as she didn't have much of a support group; with almost no friends and a barely-there father, she didn't have many people to turn to, and maybe that is why she was quick to connect with Nate. There aren't very many likable characters in this book and even with the MC and love interest, I sometimes felt my mind straying. However, the plot and pacing were enough to sustain me to the end.
Chelsea eventually gets a job, and I did question why she didn't try getting one earlier. It is a big step and an enormous sacrifice as Chelsea has to still attend high school, but it would have been the most logical step, especially before resorting to poker. I also felt that Chelsea's friend, Cassidy, could have been a better friend, especially as she has so much more money, though that did complicate things as well and really juxtaposed how different their lives were.
The writing overall is also okay. It wasn't bad but neither was it stand-out. It conveyed the story well enough and that was all I needed.
So overall, Bluff was a somewhat interesting read about poverty, addiction and the troubles that one girl has to face and overcome to build a better life for herself and her family. It did have a mildly depressing ending, albeit a realistic one and does revolve around a more unique story line than much of the YA fiction out there. The characters, writing and lack of depth however stopped me from engaging with this novel fully and that is where I think this story falls short.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2019
Where was the lack of security my first visit to the casino. I remember that day clearly. My husband, at the time my boyfriend took me on my 21st birthday. The security guy gave him the head nod and said Sir have a good time. He then looks at me and IMMEDIATELY waved me towards him, looked over my ID for what felt like forever. He even ran it through the card reader machine. Saying all that I'm sure how Chelsea managed to sneak in so often.
Bluff was definitely able to live up to the definition of its title, just when I thought things would go one way of course I was proven wrong. Like many after reading the blurb and seeing the cover I was hooked. In my mind this story was going to have a Kevin Spacey’s 21 feel.
Chelsea Knowles is frustrated with her life. Her mom has abandoned her and her dad has basically checked out on life a well. Chelsea just wants to be a normal kid and do normal things like cheerleading. After receiving multiple disconnect notices and upcoming dues for being on the squad lands Chelsea in casino. There was no denying that high after she won a few times, I myself was excited for her. Each time she snuck in my heart was even racing. It didn’t take long for Chelsea to become addicted the thrill of the unknown. Will she get caught? How much will she win? Of course there was the sting of losing.
One of the things I didn’t understand about Chelsea wa after winning why would she spend money on things that didn’t matter and still neglect the bills that were due. Wasn’t that the main reason for taking this risk.
Overall I enjoyed the pace of the story and writing. The ending was not what I expected, but still very exciting. I feel Julie Dill debut novel Bluff is an exciting weekend read that will leave you wanting more
AUTHOR BIO
Julie Dill lives in Oklahoma City where the wind always comes sweeping down the plains—literally.
As a young girl she always wanted to be a teacher, so she went on to receive her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and taught in elementary schools for ten years. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor and loves helping students achieve success. One of her greatest professional accomplishments is earning her National Board Certification.
She holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University and continues to work on various writing projects. From hiking in Colorado, to playing poker in Vegas, she’s always up for a new challenge. Julie is a busy mom of two teenage daughters, and any extra time that she may carve out is spent reading, writing, and rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Her debut novel, Bluff, is scheduled to be released on February 7th, 2017.
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