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A review by alborland
After the Game by Abbi Glines
1.0
spoiler: SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS.
In case you've never read a novel by Abbi Glines (in which case, I'm jealous. I've been tormenting myself since Fallen Too Far was released in 2012), let me just set you up for the foundation of any of her love stories: the female lead is better than every other female. I use female in the biological sense because that's how the majority of Abbi's characters think. This time, Riley Young went from evil wench who ruined lives in the previous books, to amazing for her age teen mom who is immediately noted and loved by all. And she's constantly impressing her love interest Brady (who less than a week ago was torn up about a different girl in this series, but we don't need continuity).
She orders ribs? WHAT OTHER GIRL COULD BE SO CAREFREE!
She doesn't brush her hair before coming to see him? SHE DOESN'T NEED TO GAF ABOUT HER LOOKS! SHE'S NOT VAPID LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!
She kept the child that was conceived after a horrific rape? NO OTHER GIRL AT SCHOOL WOULD BE SO BRAVE!
And this is why the 'she's not like other girls' trope went from being annoying to completely unacceptable this time. Ms. Abbi proves she can't be petty about other women (that she hasn't already developed in an entire novel) in order to develop the one centered in her story. Yes, Riley has overcome something awful, but why even imply the other girls from school wouldn't have been able to do so too? Rather than demonstrating why Riley is brave, loyal, strong, and mature through her actions, we have to get Brady's dumbass commentary on why she's better at being those things than anyone else.
I feel like I've beaten my head to a bloody pulp on this massive shortcoming of Ms. Abbi's, so I can't really allow myself to waste anymore time on this. Let me just say, feminism is a choice, but it shouldn't have to be. Maybe one day the character's of this horribly stunted author will realize this.
In case you've never read a novel by Abbi Glines (in which case, I'm jealous. I've been tormenting myself since Fallen Too Far was released in 2012), let me just set you up for the foundation of any of her love stories: the female lead is better than every other female. I use female in the biological sense because that's how the majority of Abbi's characters think. This time, Riley Young went from evil wench who ruined lives in the previous books, to amazing for her age teen mom who is immediately noted and loved by all. And she's constantly impressing her love interest Brady (who less than a week ago was torn up about a different girl in this series, but we don't need continuity).
She orders ribs? WHAT OTHER GIRL COULD BE SO CAREFREE!
She doesn't brush her hair before coming to see him? SHE DOESN'T NEED TO GAF ABOUT HER LOOKS! SHE'S NOT VAPID LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!
She kept the child that was conceived after a horrific rape? NO OTHER GIRL AT SCHOOL WOULD BE SO BRAVE!
And this is why the 'she's not like other girls' trope went from being annoying to completely unacceptable this time. Ms. Abbi proves she can't be petty about other women (that she hasn't already developed in an entire novel) in order to develop the one centered in her story. Yes, Riley has overcome something awful, but why even imply the other girls from school wouldn't have been able to do so too? Rather than demonstrating why Riley is brave, loyal, strong, and mature through her actions, we have to get Brady's dumbass commentary on why she's better at being those things than anyone else.
I feel like I've beaten my head to a bloody pulp on this massive shortcoming of Ms. Abbi's, so I can't really allow myself to waste anymore time on this. Let me just say, feminism is a choice, but it shouldn't have to be. Maybe one day the character's of this horribly stunted author will realize this.