Review: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
SYNOPSIS:
The Kendricks help make the problems of the Washington elite disappear…but some secrets won’t stay buried.
For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington, D.C., fixing runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties. When Tess is asked to run a classmate’s campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve life-shattering secrets.
Meanwhile, Tess’s guardian has also taken on an impossible case, as a terrorist attack calls into doubt who can—and cannot—be trusted on Capitol Hill. Tess knows better than most that power is currency in D.C., but she’s about to discover firsthand that power always comes with a price.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I read somewhere that Jennifer Lynn Barnes has a degree in psychology…which I am going to need after the utter betrayal this book left me feeling. I am gutted, to the core, in all honesty, I am having trouble processing this book. Lets just say there was a certain scene around 70% into the book that had me cheering, shouting to the roof top with joy…only to have the next chapter crush me, gut me, and leave me raw. AND I AM HAVING A LOT OF FEELS ABOUT THIS!
Alright, moving on, the plot was captivating, I was hooked instantly on the salacious world of D.C. politics, scandals, and double-crossings. Jennifer has mastered the art of running simultaneous plot lines, as they overlap and weave a tangled web, I couldn’t be more hypnotized. From the simplicity of what should be a high school election, into the blurred lines between work life and home, Tess and Ivy’s lives are never simple. The details from their struggling relationship, to the friendships and cease-fires with extend family members paint a vivid picture of the hardships both face while sprinkling much needed comic relief.
Tess is such a strong, kick-*ss herione, that her determination and sheer force of will are enchanting. She refuses to take no for an answer and watching her continuously rise to each and every challenge was awesome, she is just a bad-*ss. Asher, Vivvie, and Henry are the perfect rag-tag team to accompany her. I just adore the dynamic of these friendships.
The edgy plot is filled with endless twists and turns that left me reeling…h*ll, I am still reeling and its been hours since I closed the book. I just couldn’t hand the plot twists! So many, each betrayal and reveal was like a cut to my heart. I’d say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but sometimes you can’t see the enemy and sometimes your friends aren’t who they appear. This story left me speechless in the best way and all I can say is I am sad to see it end.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
