Wicked Games

June 23, 2014
First in a planned series, Olin's (Brother/Sister) novel opens like an episode of Dawson's Creek and morphs into a lurid exposé of breakup violence. Carter and Lilah are voted "class couple" during their senior year of high school in the sleepy beach town of Dream Point. But their relationship isn't what it seemsâLilah is mentally unstable, and they argue constantly. They've planned to attend the University of Pennsylvania together in the fall, but Lilah hides her rejection letter from Carter, and her anger, insecurity, and codependence eventually become unbearable for him. After a dramatic fight, Carter falls for an artsy, easygoing beauty named Jules and dumps Lilah, which sends her into a rampage. Amid Lilah's over-the-top terrorizing of Carter and Jules, Olin explores the insidiousness of jealousy, as well as the liberation of finding release from a toxic relationship. However, the omniscient narration leaves little of the characters' feelings and motivations concealed, resulting in storytelling that lacks subtlety and often tilts toward cliché. An intriguing but unexceptional thriller. Ages 14âup.

May 1, 2014
A novel that feels inspired by nighttime soaps like Revenge.Carter and Lilah's romance began sweetly when they were high school freshmen. By the time they're seniors on the verge of graduation, though, Lilah's unstable emotions and Carter's inability to deal with her have created distance between them-a distance that is filled by the sexy, alluring Jules. Carter has a one-night stand with her and wants more. So does Jules, but they both know nothing can happen while Lilah's in the picture. But when Carter breaks up with Lilah, it predictably sends her spiraling out of control. Lilah stalks and humiliates Jules, keying her car and airing a sexually explicit video Jules made at graduation. Carter and Jules think they've escaped when it's time to head off to college at the end of the summer, but it's really just given Lilah time to plot her ultimate revenge. And to achieve that, someone will die. Beyond the trite plot and stereotyped characters, the most grievous sin is the writing itself: Perspective shifts occur frequently within chapters; dialogue and description are stilted; and there are head-scratching gaps in logic.When readers reach the sequel-promising ending, their feeling will be more weariness than excitement. (Thriller. 14-18)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 10 Up-Carter has been Lilah's "forever" since the perfect evening he carved their names into a bench after their third date, back in ninth grade. Though they have been the quintessential couple in their Florida beach town for nearly four years since, their relationship seems unlikely to survive until graduation. Lilah gets drunk at a party, causes a nasty scene, and leaves Carter thoroughly disenchanted at having to treat his fragile and apparently mentally unstable girlfriend with kid gloves. He's also vulnerable to school hottie and drama queen Jules, who reaches out to him after Lilah is taken home. After another perfect evening with this different girl, Carter is confused, Jules is smitten, and Lilah is soon out for blood. She is not looking to punish Carter for hooking up with another girl but wanting to wound Jules for taking her man. Lilah's taste for revenge and obsession are downright scary and exaggerated to a near caricature. She launches dual campaigns to humiliate and intimidate Jules while winning back Carter by reminding him of what they have meant to each other. Ultimately, neither of Lilah's ploys nor the book's devices really work all that well. Use of designer names and current musicians are peppered among shallow descriptions of characters that focus on appearance. This style does little to elevate an uninspired plot. Nonetheless, casual or reluctant readers drawn to books with elements of romance, scandal, and suspense may not mind the two-dimensional villain or paltry treatment of her psychosis.-Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Grades 8-12 Carter and Lilah are the perfect couple, at least if you believe the senior awards vote. But Lilah is insanely jealous, Carter is tired of trying to keep her from hurting herself, and gorgeous theater geek Jules is enticing and available. When Carter and Jules hook up one night after Lilah has humiliated Carter in front of his friends, the stage is set for disaster. With an eerie tip of the hat to Fatal Attraction, Olin examines the power and destructiveness of jealousy on not only the person experiencing it but on those faced with its unfortunate consequences. The drama is escalated by Jules' sexting video gone viral, Carter's intense feelings of responsibility for both young women, and Lilah's mental illness. While some may find this novel didactic, its terrifying trajectory quickly moves it from the typical romance to reality horror.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2015
In this psychological thriller, Lilah and Carter seem like the perfect couple, but their relationship has been unraveling. Enter gorgeous Jules, who quickly captures Carter's attention; their transgressions ultimately rock the sleepy town as Lilah's jealousy and obsession turn into a dangerous game of vengeance. Stock characterizations aside, Olin's intense, sexy novel will have many readers in its grip.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)