The Believing Game

May 09, 2013 WJ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Opening Line: I knew they'd caught me before the store manager came hustling down from the cafe area, before the checker from the next register over steeped out and blocked my cart with his foot.

The Believing Game was a very hard book to read and it was pretty much impossible to like this book. Basically, this is a story about a community of troubled teenagers, who have problems ranging from eating disorders to gambling issues. The tale of an isolated group of teenagers who find themselves entra...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-read

If you follow me on Goodreads, and saw my status updates, you know how overwhelmed and conflicted this book makes me feel. The Believing Game tackles a lot of heavy issues all at once, and at times that felt confusing and overwhelming. But the subject matter was so intense, and the characters so likeable that I just had to keep reading.

Greer, a petty thief who steals things like makeup and sunglasses from pharmacies and grocery stores, gets herself caught for the last time. Her parents, a distan...more

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Feb 11, 2013 The Lavabearian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Add this to the collection of books on re-hab. Although, I don't know very many centers or programs that are quite like this one. Greer has many problems and one of which is parents who think money can solve all her problems so if she isn't happy in this world they will pay to send her to Mackracken Hill, one of the most expensive rehabilitation centers in the country. The residents live in dorms, but are free to "visit" each other in the dorms without much mention of residence supervisor. In fa...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 2 of 5 stars

Greer's parents have sent her away to a sort of reform school since she started "acting out" (read: stealing and sleeping around). I'm not sure that McCracken Hill would call itself a reform school, but let's be honest: that's what it is. And Greer hates it...at least until she meets Addison and immediately falls for him. And the feelings are mutual, which is pretty rare.

And THEN she meets Addison's sponsor and best friend, Joshua. And immediately she knows (and so do we) that there is something...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Reving rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Believing Game was a hard read. It is the very creepy story of a very vile and manipulative man who draws in a group of teens who are residents in a reform school and tries to convince them that he is some kind of savior and that they are his "special ones."

Greer is in reform school because of her tendency to take things that don't belong to her, and her potential eating disorder. She meets Addison, a former skin head with a drug and drinking problem and a violent past. Addison is clean now...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Traci (The Reading Geek) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked The Believing Game, it was an intense story that left me with chills. I personally have not read a story quite like this one before. I liked that I never really knew where Corrigan was going to take this story next.

The Believing Game is filled with interesting and realistic characters. I really enjoyed getting to know this group of kids at McCracken and found that they were each developed quite strongly. Greer is sent to to McCracken Hill after getting in a lot of trouble. While...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-must-reads, around-the-world-arc-tours, july-2012

Can you say Psychological Thriller! I want to give a huge thank you to Around The World ARC Tours for allowing me to read and review The Believing Game. This book is so much more than a story. I say this because kids are influenced by other kids and they sometimes will follow the crowd without wanting to be a part of what they are doing. It is what I like to call the Predators Christmas when kids get together and are influenced by an adult and then they influence other kids. This is what happens...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Faye (The Social Potato) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, crime, drama, finding-oneself, good-heroine, horror, mystery, psychological, thriller, young-adult

Can be read on The Social Potato.

Just in case anyone is curious, Santa didn't give this to me (before you call on me saying such a tidbit was unnecessary, keep in mind that I did put it in my wishlist-ish list). I ranted sometime ago that the kindle edition was far too expensive (even more expensive than the frickin' paperback! The nerve!), but in the end, my yearning to read and devour this book triumphed over my disgust. Sigh. We bookworms are too soft, I tell you. Them companies just know we'...more Can be read on The Social Potato.

Just in case anyone is curious, Santa didn't give this to me (before you call on me saying such a tidbit was unnecessary, keep in mind that I did put it in my wishlist-ish list). I ranted sometime ago that the kindle edition was far too expensive (even more expensive than the frickin' paperback! The nerve!), but in the end, my yearning to read and devour this book triumphed over my disgust. Sigh. We bookworms are too soft, I tell you. Them companies just know we'll never be able to hold out.

But no matter. I shall try to convince myself and manipulate my mind to think that the book was expensive because Eireann Corrigan is a damn good writer. With all my heart and soul, I declare her one of the best out there. She doesn't just know how to write, she also knows how to deliver a story. A writer AND a storyteller. I kid you not when I say such writers are far and few between. With that said, I now proclaim the big, fat, sinful price of $11.89 (which was $12+ a few days before) forgiven. Well, kinda.

I'm still unsure how to talk about my feelings and thoughts of this book. I confess that it took me 2 days to read all of it, which is actually long given how fast I read, but this was the kind of book that you just don't read mindlessly. It will make you think about a lot of things, and maybe even provoke you to take a break because it can be quite overwhelming. It was a rather roller coaster ride, that I will admit. So what we have here are a bunch of teenagers who've had somewhat dysfunctional lives and a middle-aged, charismatic (read: creepy) guy who tries to take advantage of them using spiritual development and character growth as a pretext. If that doesn't sound like a juicy premise to you, then I don't know what does.

Where to begin? The writing. I've already stated that Eireann Corrigan is an awesome writer, and I still stand by that. I liked how she portrayed the characters, the escalation of events (a.k.a. brainwashing?) and the twists, turns, and tensions that were scattered all throughout the book. Sure, there were some predictable stuff here and there, but the author has written them in such a way that the revelation of such were still "shocking" and maybe a li'l bit "enjoyable". Prose was delightful to read as well. They were crafted and put together so well that sometimes I'd try to slow down so I can savor them a little while longer. The dialogues didn't seem forced and they actually felt natural. Okay, some were kinda creepy, but hey, the character saying those stuff was creepy in the first place, so that's forgiven.

Now that that's out of the way, let's focus on the characters. I had a love-hate relationship with the main Greer. I loved that she was observant, reflective and had common sense, but damn, her dependency on Addison, to the point of stupidity, was just mindblowingly annoying. She knew things were wrong, she knew the situations didn't feel right, but she was still willing to act all innocent and naïve and play along with all of it just because she loved her boyfriend and didn't want to lose him. Girl, get your shit together. I didn't like how she acted like she had no self-respect because of a brainwashed boy. Geezus, her dependency on him was all over the place 75% of the time and it almost drove me crazy. But then again, that was her character, and she was a troubled teen who was yearning for love and affection and Addison gave her that. I recognized her longing for a sense of security, so I brushed off this pet peeve of mine and tried not to let it cloud my judgement on a good and well-written book. I still like her, and I felt proud in the times she did try to make a stand. I just wish she wasn't so head-over-heels for a guy.

Joshua... man. He definitely has a way with people - charismatic, charming, seemingly knows what to say even in the most awkward of situations... but he's creepy. He's definitely the kind of guy I wouldn't ever want to hang out with because he just reeks of superficiality and ill intentions. He reminds me of Matthew from The Enemy series by Charlie Higson. His speeches sound so real and so sincere that it's obvious they're fake, but at the same time, you end up falling for the traps nonetheless. Imagine The Governor from The Walking Dead TV Show (yeah, 'cause the comic book Governor is way different, haha). He's exactly like that, except Joshua uses speeches that contain "inspirational thoughts" about "growing", "becoming a family", "getting past our problems" and all that in order to take advantage of the poor teenagers. I'm not going to say what he did, because that's what you (yes, you, who's reading this review of mine) are going to find out (so get this book now if you're curious! Mehehe...). He's the kind of guy who'll do anything to know you - your weaknesses, most especially - and then exploit them for his own personal gains. Scary, huh? These kind of guys, if you think about it, are scarier than zombies and vampires.

Why I didn't give this a perfect 5 out of 5 stars was because of the ending. WTF was that ending? Not that it was bad, but it was something that I absolutely didn't expect, and it left me feeling quite empty. Of course, don't let this discourage you, because while the end was definitely something that I wouldn't ever have imagined, it was realistic, and maybe the most feasible and probably situation if such a premise happened in real life.

All in all, it was a good read - fast-paced, thrilling, exciting and maybe even refreshing. It's not like your ordinary dystopian, post-apocalyptic young adult reads, making them even more real. It's definitely creepy especially with the fact that there are people like this in real life. Makes you wonder what wretched things are out there in the world. I recommend it to everyone. Well, maybe not for the faint of heart, but don't be a chicken now. :)(less)

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Sep 02, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read all my reviews at http://www.flyleafreview.com

4.5/5 Stars

So I initially signed on for the ARC tour of this book after reading the synopsis that it was about a cult. Ooh... I LOVE that kind of thing. It's a morbid fascination, I know, but a fascination nonetheless. Well let me tell you, I wanted crazy, whacked-out scary cults and I got them in The Believing Game. Guys, I could not put this book down. It was RIVETING. It's not a comfortable book to read. There are some serious head games goin...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Valia Lind rated it 3 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 stars! I enjoyed this book (in parts lol) Full review to come!

Review: http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.co...

At the beginning of the book, Greer Cannon gets caught for shoplifting. Tired of their daughters antics, Greer’s parents send her off to a “reform school” or school for troubled teens. In this place, everything you own has to be earned, and Greer works at keeping a low profile just so she can return home. Then she meets Addison.
Addison comes with his own problems. While h...more More like 3.5 stars! I enjoyed this book (in parts lol) Full review to come!

Review: http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.co...

At the beginning of the book, Greer Cannon gets caught for shoplifting. Tired of their daughters antics, Greer’s parents send her off to a “reform school” or school for troubled teens. In this place, everything you own has to be earned, and Greer works at keeping a low profile just so she can return home. Then she meets Addison.
Addison comes with his own problems. While he may look menacing and ready to take on the world, he has the kindest heart. Especially around Greer. Soon, the two are inseparable and Addison introduces Greer to Joshua, his mentor. From here, the book takes a spin, and Greer and Addison will never be the same.
Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I’ve never read anything by Eireann before and I was definitely excited by the premise. I think it was a very different kind of a story for me to read so it took me a while to get through it. The story is so complex, so real it makes you stop and think. I work a lot of people and their problems, and it amazed me in this book how Joshua didn’t really have to lie, he just had to say something in a particular way to make it something it wasn’t (if that makes sense). Joshua is so twisted, so bent on controlling these children, that it leaves goosebumps running up and down your arms.
As a main character, Greer was a good one. Even from the very beginning, she kept to her standards, keeping Joshua and his ideas at an arm length. Yes, I wasn’t happy with her making decisions based on what Addison would think or how she would affect him, but in the end, she took a stand and that’s what’s important. I think that’s the part I most enjoyed about the book. In the end, Greer and her friends thought for themselves and that’s winning.
Addison was a good character, so was Sophie and the other kids. Overall, the story was a web of thoughts and emotions and it was definitely an interesting read. If you like psychological thrillers, this book is for you!(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 Katie added it

Shelves: books-i-own, for-review

This has got to be the most psychologically twisted book I've ever read. And I mean that in a really, really good way. The way Corrigan tells such a big story with just characters is amazing and I was definitely on the edge of my seat the entire time. What was meant to be fifty planned pages of reading turned into me staying up until 4:30 in the morning to finish the entire thing.

Since there isn't much - if any - action, all I can really talk about is the characters. I loved Greer so much. She i...more This has got to be the most psychologically twisted book I've ever read. And I mean that in a really, really good way. The way Corrigan tells such a big story with just characters is amazing and I was definitely on the edge of my seat the entire time. What was meant to be fifty planned pages of reading turned into me staying up until 4:30 in the morning to finish the entire thing.

Since there isn't much - if any - action, all I can really talk about is the characters. I loved Greer so much. She is worlds away from the average YA protagonist. She's not shy, she's rebellious, she loves sex and she just generally felt like a realistic personality. But she's the only character I really liked besides a few of the secondaries. Addison, while he had his charming moments when he and Greer were alone, just came across as a patronizing asshat to me. But reading about Greer's attempt to unravel him from Joshua's - who manages to be one of the most terrifying villains without supernatural powers or anything - web was so engrossing. The steady building of Joshua's craziness was so freaking thrilling that it had my heart racing quite a bit.

But as much as I adored the intense character plot, there were two things that derailed me from loving this book and they both have to do with the ending. I won't spoil anything but I was severely disappointed. The entire book climbs higher and higher and I'm at this point where I think some epic, dramatic plot explosion is going to occur and then the most anticlimactic ending EVER happens. It's so random and so unfitting to the rest of the novel. The second thing I had a problem with was the questions that were left unanswered. I can handle when an author leaves one or two things to the imagination of the reader. I usually always appreciate that. But this is far more than one or two things and they were a bit detrimental to the plot. If I thought there'd be a sequel, I'd welcome those ignored questions with open arms but I know after the reading the last chapter that there isn't going to be one.

Overall, The Believing Game was full of OMG moments for me - both good and bad. But I can't deny that this story was so powerful and had my knee bouncing in anticipation for every chapter. Despite my hatred for the ending, I am definitely recommending that you guys check this one out because it absolutely scared the crap out of my brain. If that makes sense. Probably not but you get my point - read it!(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Jacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was weird and honest in some really good ways. I liked that Greer and Addison had this totally terrible and controlling relationship, but they were honest about it. You weren't supposed to want to be like them. That was kind of refreshing. Then the end happened and in like twenty pages everything wrapped up, but I'm not sure I can say in neat packages. I felt like the end could have used some more time instead of being so quick and convenient.

Joshua was supposed to be the big villain,...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, e-book, fiction, read-in-2012, review-for-smexybooks, there-s-an-arse-inhere, ya, coming-of-age, net-galley, romance-contemporary

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2012/12/review-...

Favorite Quote: “I chose to serve my time with broken people.“

Greer Cannon has pushed the envelope too far when she is caught shoplifting for the upteenth time. Her parents decide to send her to McCracken Hall, a private school for troubled teens. Greer does her best to obey the strict rules and participates in the therapeutic “help” sessions in order to gain access to privileges and make her stay less prison like. When she meets the g...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Gregg Matthews rated it 2 of 5 stars

I down loaded this e-book from Amazon.com to my Kindle Fire. The Author Eireann Corigan did a good job writing this book. The story started of strong with a lot of potential. Then nothing ever really happened in the story. The story line had good potential but again nothing happened in the story. I read on in the hopes of a plot twist or something but nothing happened. The story fell short of my expectations. There were three typographical errors in the book. There was a disconnect or inconsiste...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Michelle added it

To teens like Greer and Addison and their group of friends, all with extreme addictions, Joshua's self-love talk and enforcement of positive thinking is a highly attractive alternative to the more mundane and elaborate rituals of McCracken Hill. However, Greer soon discovers that all is not as it seems within Joshua's inner circle and must decide what she wants to do and what she is able to do with this knowledge. In The Believing Game, Eireann Corrigan explores what it is like to become drawn i...more To teens like Greer and Addison and their group of friends, all with extreme addictions, Joshua's self-love talk and enforcement of positive thinking is a highly attractive alternative to the more mundane and elaborate rituals of McCracken Hill. However, Greer soon discovers that all is not as it seems within Joshua's inner circle and must decide what she wants to do and what she is able to do with this knowledge. In The Believing Game, Eireann Corrigan explores what it is like to become drawn into a cult and the lengths to which cult leaders will go to maintain their followers. What follows is a chilling journey of love and loss, betrayal and friendship among a group of teens most in need of help.

Even though Greer talks tough and appears to have no real sense of shame, there are hints of vulnerability that prevent a reader from lumping her in with every other rebelling teenager with parental issues. Her love for Addison highlights her softer side and shows a girl who is craving to be normal and to achieve the love and affection afforded to others. Yet, she is refreshingly self-aware, something which prevents her from being a total cliche. Her recognition of the fact that McCracken is truly the last hope for her, as well as her forced willingness to follow the rules and play the game as set out by the school, is honest and insightful and contains none of the self-righteousness that she could have so easily had. Greer is just what she appears to be - a teen with a troubled past who wants to have a good time but knows that if she is going to succeed as an adult, she needs to get her act together.

Joshua is the creepiest type of bad guy. He looks innocuous, and taken at face value, his words provide much-needed hope and inspiration to a group of teens with very few chances left in life. Like Greer, a reader will immediately know that something is not quite right with Joshua and his influence over Addison. Yet, also like Greer, one will continue to hope that it is just one's imagination and that there is no insidious plot to be found. However, those niggling feelings of doubt never fade but grow stronger as Joshua begins to slip and show his true motivations. What follows is an intense journey as Greer slowly begins to understand the truth and rushes to save her friends and, most importantly, Addison from Joshua's grip.

While Joshua's true beliefs are ultimately laughable, the feelings of frustration and fear that surround those caught up in his net are strikingly real. Even though his ultimate goal may cause laughter, the steps he is willing to take to defend his vision are terrifying in their extremity. A reader is quickly caught up in Greer's inability to extract herself or her friends from his clutches. Ms. Corrigan's stark but effective writing makes it all too easy to understand how people can be drawn into a cult and how truly difficult it is to step away from it.

The Believing Game is the best type of psychological thriller and a very refreshing change of pace within the young adult genre. Greer and Addison are two regular kids struggling with very real demons, and not of the paranormal variety. There is no love triangle. The world is not post-apocalyptic and does not require superhuman intelligence or other mutations in order to survive. Joshua is subtly menacing and deliciously creepy, while the unraveling of the mystery surrounding Joshua's motives makes for an intense and thrilling read. The Believing Game is a fantastically creepy and quick read to help while away those gloomy winter afternoons.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to Netgalley and to Scholastic for my review copy!(less)

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Mar 04, 2013 Sherri rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: washyarg-finished

2.5 stars

Greer Cannon is sent to McCracken Hill rehab center due to shoplifting and anorexia where her new peers are troubled, addicted teens. Greer is not interested in making friends until the gorgeous Addison Bradley appears. Greer is stunned when Addison focuses his attention on her and they begin dating. Greer feels creeped out when she meets Addison’s 12-Step sponsor, Joshua, who is black and middle-aged, when he starts getting personal with her and saying things like he wants her to feel...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaway-wins, 2013-tbr, young-adult

The Believing Game is another book that I went into with no expectations at all. I just happened to have a copy, so I read it without knowing much about it or reading any reviews. I know I’ve said thrillers and suspense aren’t really by thing, but I did like this one. Greer is sent away to a boarding school (of course!) for troubled teens. She’s a bit of a klepto with an eating disorder, with promiscuity on top. Then she meets Addison and starts making changes for the better, until his sponsor,...more The Believing Game is another book that I went into with no expectations at all. I just happened to have a copy, so I read it without knowing much about it or reading any reviews. I know I’ve said thrillers and suspense aren’t really by thing, but I did like this one. Greer is sent away to a boarding school (of course!) for troubled teens. She’s a bit of a klepto with an eating disorder, with promiscuity on top. Then she meets Addison and starts making changes for the better, until his sponsor, Joshua, gets in the way.

My immediate impression of Joshua was that this man is freaking cuckoo bananas! He doesn’t do anything particularly strange at first. In fact, he presents himself as a very nice man, but some of the things he says are unsettling. It’s clear from the very beginning that something is not quite right about Joshua, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. It’s actually scary how he has the ability to twist what people are saying, but in a way that still makes perfect sense and makes them question themselves. It’s easy to see how he’s able to draw people to him. I also feel like this is how cults get started.

This is by no means an action packed book. I’d classify The Believing Game as a subtle psychological thriller, and I think it would probably make a good movie. Joshua is extremely charismatic, and is able to get his way in every situation. There’s this uneasy feeling in the background from the moment we meet him, but there are absolutely no clues as to what he’s up to. I think this makes the story even creepier (not in a monster with a chain saw jumping out from behind a bush scary way).

About halfway through, The Believing Game started to feel like The Waiting Game. I was waiting for Greer to start finding out the truth about Joshua. It comes little by little, and a bit too slowly for my liking. However, the situation does get really strange really fast, so I kept flipping pages. Dinosaurs, Jesus, and pig blood! Oh my! Yeah, it’s weird. There’s no big reveal, and the dramatic ending isn’t very dramatic. I wanted to know why Joshua ended up doing what he did, and more of the effect it had on the teens. The ending was a little unsatisfying, and that epilogue was really unnecessary. Overall, it was an interesting read though.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.(less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Bookworm1858 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, ya-read, netgalley

3.5/5

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was very drawn in by the knife on the cover (which is totally relevant to the plot although it's kind of a spoiler so I can't tell you exactly how) and knowing my love for contemporary books and stories about cults, I decided to try this one out.

Greer has issues, to say the least. She struggles with food and she's a bit of a maneater but most troublingly to her parents is her penchant for shoplifting and the fact tha...more

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Feb 12, 2013 C.J. Listro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, young-adult, thrillers, psychology, religion, reviewed

Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2013/...

I had pretty high hopes going into this book. I like cult stuff. It's just creepy and psychological and awesome. The Believing Game was pretty creepy and psychological, but it fell just short of awesome. Not that I didn't enjoy it. Greer was a fantastic viewpoint character. She's got a lot of inner strength paired with a lot of insecurities and issues that make her complex and very real. The supporting cast is well fleshed-out and represents a l...more Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2013/...

I had pretty high hopes going into this book. I like cult stuff. It's just creepy and psychological and awesome. The Believing Game was pretty creepy and psychological, but it fell just short of awesome. Not that I didn't enjoy it. Greer was a fantastic viewpoint character. She's got a lot of inner strength paired with a lot of insecurities and issues that make her complex and very real. The supporting cast is well fleshed-out and represents a lot of different maladies of the human psyche. What fell flat for me was the extent of the cult stuff. I thought the creation of the whole group went a little too quickly to be realistic, and I still have no idea why there's a knife on the cover because it makes it look a lot more deadly than it is. However, I did think Corrigan did a great job of showing how cult leaders worm their way in to vulnerable people's lives. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I'd pick up more from this author.

plot . 4/5
We start with Greer's fall, which I like. Right into the action. Except then there's this bit where we go into storytime mode and Corrigan describes Greer's first few months in summary fashion before we go back to action. It was jarring for me. Either we should have lived some of those first few months, or the story should have started when Greer meets Addison several months into her treatment (in that case, summary would have made sense). After that, it picks up a lot. I had a hard time putting it down. It's the kind of frustrating read where you can see the characters being idiots, but it's so believable because it's set up in such a realistic manner. It's creepy. It's intense, and at times, horrifying. So good-frustrating. As I mentioned, I thought the "cult" formed a little too quickly. We see a lot more of Greer's descent into it than the others'. The end is quick, too, and I was bummed not finding out what happens to Greer's friends. However, the epilogue was great. It was clearly not a fairy tale ending but it wasn't melodramatically tragic either. And overall, I thought the events and the characters' reactions to the cult leader, Joshua, were believable.

concept . 5/5
A manipulative guy taking advantage of troubled teens to form his own little mini-cult? What a fantastic concept. It's no Manson craziness either. It feels like something that could happen, and probably does. Adults with a touch of crazy who get off on being worshiped. Teens with no direction looking to someone who seems to care and latching on--and getting pulled in too far. The setting at the teen rehabilitation school was therefore perfect, I thought. Joshua's mission for the cult is also hysterically ridiculous, but since the characters all comment on it, it becomes funny instead of eye-rolling.

characters . 5/5
The characters were the strongest part for me. Greer's voice is super clear in the writing. I felt like I was reading someone's inner monologue sometimes. She's also so complex, but not a teen soap opera kind of way. She has problems but they're not that outrageous and she recognizes a lot of her own faults, even as she falls prey to them. She's also torn between craving belonging and knowing that being close to Joshua is dangerous, which keeps the tension high throughout the plot. Addison is beautifully broken--not in a Damon Salvatore bad boy OMGLOVE way, but in the way that you can see why Greer likes him, but you just know something is horribly wrong. And the secondary characters don't feel secondary. Jared is a little thrown-in, but Sophie, Hannah, Wes, and obviously Joshua are fully explored and are major players in their own right. Their have their own problems that drive the plot along and I really felt connected to them. Except Joshua. Whom I wanted to punch in the face.

style . 5/5
Not all writers can write teenagers. Corrigan nails it. Greer's voice is authentic and compelling, a mix of angst, snarky humor, and some stabs towards the profound. She's an intelligent voice, allowing Corrigan to explore some deep issues without beating you over the head with them or making them sound too grown-up. It's also a style that paints a picture and pulls you along.

mechanics . 5/5
Beautifully polished. Nothing to complain about.(less)

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Nov 01, 2012 Della rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan A review:

The Believing Game is a novel that deals with teens who are the traditional ‘problem children.’ There are druggies, alcoholics, thieves, and many other issues in McCracken Hill, a private academy that helps teens who have issues. As the book begins we meet Greer, who is being arrested, or at least detained for a repeated shoplifting scheme at a local store. Greer steals for the fun and thrill of it, not for the things she actually needs. Greer’s pa...more The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan A review:

The Believing Game is a novel that deals with teens who are the traditional ‘problem children.’ There are druggies, alcoholics, thieves, and many other issues in McCracken Hill, a private academy that helps teens who have issues. As the book begins we meet Greer, who is being arrested, or at least detained for a repeated shoplifting scheme at a local store. Greer steals for the fun and thrill of it, not for the things she actually needs. Greer’s parents send her to McCracken Hill to try to fix her problems. McCracken Hill seems to be a pretty good place, in several novels like this that I’ve read the teens that end up in places like this become victims of many different abuses because of the staff at the institutions. It’s nice to see McCracken Hill portrayed as a place that actually does try to help teens instead of another place of torture. In the beginning Greer has a hard time fitting in; she has no friends and hates it. Then an amazing thing happens, or rather an amazing boy named Addison. Addison is all she ever wanted in a guy, he’s handsome, sweet, kind, and he really likes her. With Addison by her side, Greer opens up to some of the other teens in the school and actually makes friends, and seems to make some progress on her problems. She talks to the others to learn why they are there and finds out that they all have their own problems and that no one is perfect. After a few weeks, Addison decides to introduce Greer to his mentor and best friend Joshua. Joshua helped Addison kick his alcoholism and according to Addison leads him in the right direction. Joshua is a middle aged black man who loves shock value. He accuses Greer of being a racist right off as soon as he sees her. He also immediately starts talking about she and Addison’s sex life while Addison is off getting pizza. Red alarms go off but Greer is so in love with Addison that she decides to put up with Joshua’s antics. This is a huge mistake of course. As the novel continues the reader follows Greer and her friends down a very dangerous path. Joshua is insane, and tries to make a cult out of the teens. He has gotten into the good graces of the school as a mentor and so he has free reign to ‘help’ the teens. Joshua uses psychological abuse to brainwash the teens, at first some of them are skeptical, and others downright unbelieving but most of them begin to follow his ‘teachings.’

The Believing Game does a good job of illustrating how a young person, even though they are intelligent, might fall for the schemes of someone like a cult leader. The novel demonstrates that by using manipulation and extended emotional and psychological abuse someone could make even the smartest of teens believe the extraordinary lies they might tell. There were many parts of this novel that made me shake my head in disbelief but at the same time I could see where these teens who had been brainwashed might believe something like what Joshua was telling them. There were a few things that went too far with this novel such as the field trip the teens are allowed to take with Joshua and the pure absurdity of the ideas he came up with in the end. It was painful to read this novel and see how these teens who were already messed up, began to trust someone who was going to lead them even further astray and cause them much more harm than good. I’ll give this one 3.5 stars, but only because it’s a little unbelievable in places.
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Jan 19, 2013 Chapter by Chapter rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Believing Game takes place in a rehab facility for youth. Within these walls, we are introduced to a group of characters who stand apart from each other. All have been given life with their own personalities and quirks. And all of them are equally unforgettable in this story. We are driven deep in to the mind of these youngsters, and are given a glimpse of the actions it took for them to get to where they are now.

Enter the vulture…Joshua. With the help of a fellow resident, Addison, he start...more The Believing Game takes place in a rehab facility for youth. Within these walls, we are introduced to a group of characters who stand apart from each other. All have been given life with their own personalities and quirks. And all of them are equally unforgettable in this story. We are driven deep in to the mind of these youngsters, and are given a glimpse of the actions it took for them to get to where they are now.

Enter the vulture…Joshua. With the help of a fellow resident, Addison, he starts to build up his own little cult following, convincing these kids that the words he preaches speak the truth and that only he will be their salvation. What a load of crap! But to some of these kids, it’s Joshua’s words and gestures that give them something to hope for.

After a weekend “retreat”, Joshua unveils his evil master plan to his little band of followers, and the beginnings of doubt start to leak through in this group. It’ll take more than just a few words to convince Addison that the person that he holds so high up on a pedestal is not whom he thinks he is. And inorder to save him and their other friends, Greer and Sophia have taken it upon themselves to find the truth about Joshua before someone gets really hurt, or takes the road from which there is no return.

I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started reading The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan. And to be perfectly honest, 100 pages into it, I still didn’t know how I felt about it! There was so much preaching and biblical references in it that it was making my head spin, and quite frankly, was annoying me terribly.

But then…beyond all of that…I watched this story unfold. This story that I didn’t think that I would even be able to finish. For me, reading The Believing Game was like driving past a car accident…you just can’t help but look. After all the moments that had me shaking my head, and wanting to pull out my hair with the actions that these characters were taking I became engrossed in the story. I needed to find out how the heck this group of teens were going to dig themselves out of this hole that they’ve dug themselves into.

It had me really questioning how Greer, Addison, Sophia, Jared, and Wes were going to untangle themselves from this wicked web that has been weaved by the extremely convincing but very disturbed Joshua. And then it had me step back and look at all the real life cults that exist and have existed in the reality, and how these madmen preyed on the weak and vulnerable. And it also showed me how impressionable young minds can be. Not only young minds, but minds of those who are at a vulnerable time in their life, and are easily swayed.

Strewn with sexual topics and other addictions, I wouldn’t recommend The Believing Game to younger readers. As more of an older YA read, the topics discussed in the book are dark and very real. With an ending that came out of nowhere, readers who are very much into psychological reads will come to enjoy The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan, or for those who are curious to see how the beginnings of a cult could manifest.(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Greer is caught shoplifting (again) her parents pack her up and send her to McCracken Hill, a reform school for troubled teens. Shoplifting is only one of Greer's vices (she also has a tendency to sleep around and has an eating disorder).To Greer, the move to McCracken Hill is all very annoying. She's not easily won over by the staff or the self-help chit chat that is supposed to be therapeutic and help her deal with her disorders. But then she meets Addison, ex-skinhead and drug and alcoho...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Marielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

FINALLY DONE! Review coming closer to the release date!

This and other reviews on Book Thoughts by Marielle!

I have no idea what to say about The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan. My feelings are so mixed that it’s crazy.

Greer Cannon never worried about being good. She shoplifted at every store she could find, she slept with every guy she could get her hands on, and she ate as little as possible. When she gets caught shoplifting one too many times, her parents send her away to McCracken Hill,...more FINALLY DONE! Review coming closer to the release date!

This and other reviews on Book Thoughts by Marielle!

I have no idea what to say about The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan. My feelings are so mixed that it’s crazy.

Greer Cannon never worried about being good. She shoplifted at every store she could find, she slept with every guy she could get her hands on, and she ate as little as possible. When she gets caught shoplifting one too many times, her parents send her away to McCracken Hill, a reform school for “bad” children. There, she meets Addison. He’s perfect in every way except for one: he is not in control of his own life. His “friend,” a forty-year-old man named Joshua, controls everything in his life, down to the friends that he has to his very actions. What is supposed to be a fun weekend at a Poconos mountain house turns into a creepy stay when Joshua tells the kids of an upcoming war against vegans. It is then that Greer discovers how much power Joshua has over these kids and how he has built this power on lies. Can Greer release his hold over her friends, or will they blindly follow Joshua, no matter what he asks of him?

This is an extremely hard review for me to write. The first half of this book was kind of annoying. It was like one of those horror movies where you’re screaming, “DON’T GO IN THERE!” but she goes in there anyway. Joshua was super creepy from the beginning and it was annoying how she kept thinking how weird he was and how wrong what he did and said was, but she never spoke up. When he overstepped his boundaries, she was like, “Someone has to speak up.” But no one ever did. So she didn’t either. She was a total sheep.

Greer and Addison’s relationship was so messed up. First of all, it was total insta-love (more like insta-lust) and I have no idea why she would even like him. He was really condescending. He said things like, “Greer that’s so ignorant,” and practically preached to the poor girl. I don’t know how she put up with it. She’s so attached to Addison that she’ll do anything for him (even let some creepy dude sleep in her bed) and she’s really dependent on him. It’s an unhealthy relationship.

However, the second half of this book was slightly genius. Only when Greer started to get suspicious and actually question what Joshua was doing (like any normal person would) the story got a lot better. For one, I no longer wanted to pound her head against a wall until she gained an ounce of common sense because she did that on her own. Back to Joshua: I have no idea why anyone would ever listen to him. I mean, he’s obviously a psycho. I wouldn’t touch that guy with a 39 ½ foot pole (Grinch reference, anyone?).

The genius in it was that it truly was frightening. This book showed how much power one person could have over a group. It also showed how some people preyed on the weak and that enough of the weak could become a strong army. It also demonstrated how desperate people will accept some lies, no matter how fantastic, if it suits their need.

And then there was the ending. There was nothing particularly sad about the ending; the words were happy, at least. But it still made me cry. There was just something about it that seemed really tragic to me. Needless to say, the ending, as well as the last 100 or so pages, was fantastic. The first half of the book was slightly annoying, but the last part of the book definitely made up for it. Oh, and one part of this book made me feel physically ill. For some reason that made this book so much more powerful.

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Aug 20, 2012 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the set up of this book. Greer must attend a strict academy that sort of doubles as a rehab type environment. She has to earn privileges and constantly meet with counselors for therapy. In the midst of it, she meets Addison, a seriously hot guy who, despite where he is, seems to have it all together. When Greer meets his sponsor, an older man named Joshua, things start to seem not quite so wholesomely normal. The contact that Greer and Addison, along with some of their other friends, begi...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Book Sp(l)ot rated it 4 of 5 stars

A private academy. A cult leader. A girl caught in the middle.

After Greer's caught shoplifting (again) she's sent to McCracken Hill. Part boarding school, part rehab, McCracken Hill is home to troubled teens with a plethora of issues from alcohol and/or drug dependency to eating disorders to Greer's shoplifting habit.

The school's high regimented operation doesn't please Greer and she's ready to be out of there -- until she meets Addison. Addison Bradley, charming and handsome appears to have McC...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Joli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wishlist, read-in-2012

The Believing Game is a story of manipulation and deception. It explores the lengths people will go to for self-preservation, acceptance, and even love. This story had my complete attention from the very beginning as the events have already taken place and are shared through Greer's retelling.

"Later on, he (Joshua) would claim he felt us all out there. Like a storm gathering -- that kind of crackling energy." (page 5)

McCracken Hill is filled with kids from families where trust is broken. Many f...more

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May 14, 2013 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: awkward-romance, ya, real-people-real-problems

When I heard that there was a YA cult book, I was sold. There are hardly ever YA books about a cult because, well, it's an adult topic.

Eireann Corrigan did a really good job with the character development, plot line, and world building making you think that the leader of this "group" was a freaking creeper while still being able to see why these kids would get involved in a situation like that. I have always found cults fascinating, and this is a great book if you want to dive into a world like...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Renee Patterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn In after the first few pages. McCracken Hill is the setting for this book. A reform school where we meet six students with varying issues from theft to eating disorders. The students are brought together by a mysterious man, Joshua Stern. We follow this unusual group of people as they become more and more drawn into Stern's world. Will they remain the family group Joshua created or will the group fall apart?

Well written novel. Easy to read. Enjoyed story line. Ending was not what I e...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Cheri Williams added it

Shelves: 2012, fiction-ya

Was up way to late last night reading this! I don't know when I've been so surprised by a book-totally didn't see the mid-point coming and am still thinking about the ending. The writing is fantastic, the characters compelling, the plot original. Definitely worth a read!

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Mar 16, 2013 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

It was a pretty long book I read it in a couple of days because I wanted to know how it ended. Now I wish I would've just stopped. I was very disappointed in the ending. The whole thing over all annoyed me with how dumb everyone in the story was.

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