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A review by bella_cavicchi
The Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen
5.0
{originally posted on my blog: Ciao Bella}
There’s rarely a time when a revenge novel does not have a home on my bookshelf. I could list a number of reasons as to why – I love the intricacies of rivalry, the suspense of a plan in action, and the motivations of enemies – but to put it simply: a well-plotted act of revenge is, at the very least, entertaining, if not exactly taxing to consume. You can then imagine my interest and excitement when I came across Rachael Allen’s sophomore novel, The Revenge Playbook, at my local library. As its title suggests, acts of revenge meet a small town football team, shaping a conversation on female empowerment, slut-shaming, and rape culture through a relatable and, sadly, all too realistic narrative.
Consider The Revenge Playbook a feminist manifesto for the YA audience. Allen lends a keen eye for controversial issues, weaving the never-ending question of blame in the storylines of each of the book’s four main characters, Melanie Jane, Liv, Peyton, and Ana. Working with four point-of-views is ambitious, to the point where their voices blend together, but they nevertheless illustrate the message of the novel: that girls can be “king” just as much as the players of the football team, or any group that holds dominance in society. Furthermore, the best novels need not be fun or thought-provoking; they, as seen here, can be both. The girls’ plan for revenge is lighthearted – steal the team’s precious football – but their motives – to fix what was done wrong to them – hold a more serious tone.
Allen writes in her bio that she loves a “strong female protagonist.” In her second book, she presents her readers with four. Melanie Jane, Liv, Peyton, and Ana may hail from different backgrounds and beliefs, but where they bond is in taking charge of what they rightfully deserve, even if society tells them otherwise. Empowerment is in abundance, the plot is well-paced, and the themes are important. Revenge novels have long been on my auto-buy list. I’m now thinking books by Rachael Allen deserve a spot on there too.
There’s rarely a time when a revenge novel does not have a home on my bookshelf. I could list a number of reasons as to why – I love the intricacies of rivalry, the suspense of a plan in action, and the motivations of enemies – but to put it simply: a well-plotted act of revenge is, at the very least, entertaining, if not exactly taxing to consume. You can then imagine my interest and excitement when I came across Rachael Allen’s sophomore novel, The Revenge Playbook, at my local library. As its title suggests, acts of revenge meet a small town football team, shaping a conversation on female empowerment, slut-shaming, and rape culture through a relatable and, sadly, all too realistic narrative.
Consider The Revenge Playbook a feminist manifesto for the YA audience. Allen lends a keen eye for controversial issues, weaving the never-ending question of blame in the storylines of each of the book’s four main characters, Melanie Jane, Liv, Peyton, and Ana. Working with four point-of-views is ambitious, to the point where their voices blend together, but they nevertheless illustrate the message of the novel: that girls can be “king” just as much as the players of the football team, or any group that holds dominance in society. Furthermore, the best novels need not be fun or thought-provoking; they, as seen here, can be both. The girls’ plan for revenge is lighthearted – steal the team’s precious football – but their motives – to fix what was done wrong to them – hold a more serious tone.
Allen writes in her bio that she loves a “strong female protagonist.” In her second book, she presents her readers with four. Melanie Jane, Liv, Peyton, and Ana may hail from different backgrounds and beliefs, but where they bond is in taking charge of what they rightfully deserve, even if society tells them otherwise. Empowerment is in abundance, the plot is well-paced, and the themes are important. Revenge novels have long been on my auto-buy list. I’m now thinking books by Rachael Allen deserve a spot on there too.