Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Obvious Game

by Rita Arens (Goodreads Author)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 49 ratings · 26 reviews

“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”

"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens,...more

Paperback, 312 pages

Published February 7th 2013 by Inkspell Publishing

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Win a Copy of This Book

The Obvious Game
by Rita Arens (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Feb 07, 2013

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As she buries her shock about…more

Enter to win

Giveaway dates: May 06 - Jun 06, 2013

1 copy available, 236 people requesting

Countries available: US

View details »

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

2013 Standalone Reading Challenge

98th out of 124 books — 224 voters

Indie Young Adult – February 2013 New Releases

21st out of 24 books — 25 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,225)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 04, 2013 cagey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was very excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. THE OBVIOUS GAME is the story of a teenage girl living in a small-town in Iowa. Diana's world is falling apart as her mother battles cancer and just as Diana takes part in that delicate social dance known as "high school". Her best friend (who is not always the nicest person in the first place) is losing her own footing and her other friend is too wrapped up in her new boyfriend to take notice of the downward spiral that Diana is i...more

like · see review

Mar 21, 2013 Jhobell Kristyl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-maven-s-picks-bookshelf

Source: http://bookmavenpicks.wordpress.com/2...

The Obvious Game is the first Young Adult novel written by Rita Arens, published by Inkspell Publishing. It is a story about the struggle of fifteen-year old Diana with insecurity issues which leads her to develop an eating disorder, while at the same time dealing with the fear and stress of losing her mother due to cancer. This is excellent drama and romance for young adult readers.

If you haven’t read The Obvious Game yet, I say grab a copy now an...more Source: http://bookmavenpicks.wordpress.com/2...

The Obvious Game is the first Young Adult novel written by Rita Arens, published by Inkspell Publishing. It is a story about the struggle of fifteen-year old Diana with insecurity issues which leads her to develop an eating disorder, while at the same time dealing with the fear and stress of losing her mother due to cancer. This is excellent drama and romance for young adult readers.

If you haven’t read The Obvious Game yet, I say grab a copy now and read it but I’m warning you, this book is painful. The feelings this book evoked in me greatly reminded me of Sarah Dessen books. The first person narration from Diana’s point of view is very effective in connecting you to her sufferings. Whenever she’s in pain, you will be too. Trust me. I therefore declare this book a certified emotional roller-coaster. Once you start reading it, you won’t be able to stop. The ups and downs are so extreme that even if you’re exhausted and pained, you have no choice but to hold on until the end. This is especially true for me. I made the mistake of reading it just before midnight. I became so absorbed that even if I badly needed to sleep (I’m an insomniac, by the way), I just continued to read until God knows what time. So thank you very much Rita Arens for writing a novel so good, it made my insomnia worse. Not that I’m complaining.

I admire that The Obvious Game is not one of those “shallow” teen books out in the market today. You know, those types where all the protagonist care about is her appearance, keeping up with the latest fashion, competing against the most popular bitch in school, and getting the hottest guy. Although there are some of these elements in The Obvious Game, the issues presented in this book such as cancer and insecurity issues leading to a dangerous eating disorder are far too serious to be taken lightly. Let me say this clearly. This is HEAVY stuff, folks. So buckle up.

I like the character of the protagonist Diana, but sometimes I just want to shake her and force her to see that she’s destroying herself. Since I’m not suffering any eating disorders, I can’t completely understand her thinking. Although the emphatic side of me sympathizes with what she’s going through, the logical side of me wants to whip her life back to normal. That’s a key word in The Obvious Game—“normal”. Diana and Jesse just want to be “normal”. I can already imagine my Humanities Professor asking “what exactly is normal?” But I won’t dwell on this question as this is a book review and not a formal essay.

Let’s move on to the romance aspect of The Obvious Game. For me, the romance between Diana and Jesse is very good but I don’t think that it’s the central element in this book. Assuming that it is the most important is a mistake because you will miss the serious issues. I like the character of Jesse but I think his character is too flat and more of a minor character. He doesn’t have much character development and the sub-plot concerning him is too predictable for my taste. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the ending of the book. You have to read it to know. I absolutely won’t tell.

The Obvious Game is definitely one of the best Young Adult novels I’ve ever read. I am tremendously honoured to be given the opportunity to read it and write a review about. I don’t regret the tears I shed and the pain it caused me to read this. I highly recommend The Obvious Game by Rita Arens if you want a meaningful book to read. Yes, it will be painful but once you reach the ending, I promise that you will thank me for recommending this book to you.

Read on!
Jhobell Kristyl
http://bookmavenpicks.wordpress.com/(less)

like · see review

Mar 10, 2013 Judy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The target market for The Obvious Game is teen-aged girls, and the book hits the target with a bulls eye. It blends just the right amount of romance and typical teen angst with hard facts about anything-but-typical teen eating disorders. The author's gritty descriptions of what drives her protagonist to control every morsel that goes into (and comes out of) her mouth balanced against her wicked sense of humor had me laughing through tears more than once.

The character of Diana, her struggles with...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Neysa Kristanti rated it 4 of 5 stars

[FOR MORE REVIEW, CHECK OUT : http://mnkbooklife.blogspot.com/]

"I was terrified of never feeling happy again. I was scared of losing Jesse. I was scared of killing myself. I didn’t know if I could stop. I didn’t know if I could not stop. I didn’t, actually, know anything about myself. "
—Diana

I didn't actually know what to expect when I first read the blurb of The Obvious Game, so when I knew that it was mainly about anorexia, I was a bit pessimistic. I never read any anorexia-related novel befor...more [FOR MORE REVIEW, CHECK OUT : http://mnkbooklife.blogspot.com/]

"I was terrified of never feeling happy again. I was scared of losing Jesse. I was scared of killing myself. I didn’t know if I could stop. I didn’t know if I could not stop. I didn’t, actually, know anything about myself. "
—Diana

I didn't actually know what to expect when I first read the blurb of The Obvious Game, so when I knew that it was mainly about anorexia, I was a bit pessimistic. I never read any anorexia-related novel before. But this book totally changes my perceptive. And I glad it did.

The Obvious Game told us about the everyday life of Diana Keller, how she struggled with her mother who had cancer, how she kept up with her friends Amanda, and how she dealt with her past as an overweight kid and was mocked because of it. But when Jesse, a new boy from Kansas City, moved in, everything suddenly changed for Diana. That's when her past decided to come back and haunt her once again. And this time, she had to choose, whether to fight it, or run away from herself.

The plot of this book was actually quite great. It was fast-paced, and I like how not one part was meaningless and sagging, but rather advancing the story even more. Every chapter ended in such an interesting way it made the readers craved for more and more, curious about how it all would ended. I love how the problem seemed to pile up more and more, creating a great tension, and then it all resolved in such a beautiful way. The ending was satisfying too, with all problem solved, and all well ends well. And the concept for The Obvious Game, the game which was originally between Diana and her friend Seth of stating the obvious thing, was quite funny and original as well.

Diana Keller, as our main character, was actually pretty believable. I could totally feel her emotion throughout the book, when she was happy, sad, struggling with her life, etc. She was not all perfect too, which made it easy for readers to relate to her. One thing I loved very much from her was that she represented teenage girls these days perfectly. As a teenage myself, I could really feel what she feel, and yes, everyday we live with insecurities of not being good enough for the society. And Diana sounded just like a true teenage girl.
Jesse, Diana counterpart as well as her first love, was well-developed as well. I love how he could understand Diana's situation perfectly, because he too, had a brother who died from cancer. And not like any other male protagonist out there, Jesse didn't stick around when things got rough, which may be insulting for some readers, but interesting to me actually. It's just so like the real world, where not many people might stick up when his girlfriend got into trouble. I love how Arens made her characters pretty flesh and bone and not just following the stereotypes.
Lin, Diana's soon-to-be friend, was very likable as well. She didn't have any major part early on the book, but when things start to get rough for Diana, the world eventually shown her who her real friend truly was, and that was when Lin started to be something in Diana's life. I love how she was so mature and composed, and she accepted things the way it is, with no complain and whatever.

One thing I'm not quite fond of this book was the character of Amanda, Diana's friend.
Even though most of the character of this book was shaped perfectly with believable flaw and personality, Amanda totally was another story.
I didn't really like her, mainly because she was simply a brat. she did anything however she want, and she totally didn't care about anyone around her. She also acted without thinking first, and then apologized later like it was no big deal, when she didn't know how big the damage she had cause. it's actually okay for an annoying best friend to have this trait, but what made it hard to like her was that she didn't have any redeeming trait at all.

Overall, if you would like to read something that deals with teenage's world : their life, love, insecurities, friendship, betrayal, and a whole lot more, you should definitely give this a try.(less)

like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm wasn't going to discuss Diana's problem because the book synopsis doesn't but most of the blurbs on the back of the book do reveal it. Diana has an eating disorder (and I wouldn't consider that a spoiler because very early on, the reader starts to get a hint that her relationship with food is complicated at best. But anorexia isn't not her only problem. Her mom also has cancer, and Diana is doing everything she can think of to keep from dealing with that.

And while it would be easy to dismiss...more

like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Erin Margolin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reading The Obvious Game reminded me of the way I felt when I read Judy Blume books as a young girl; I could never put them down, they were all so perfectly relatable, and I saw pieces of myself in the main characters. Even reading this at age 36, I was immediately transported back to those awkward teen years, feelings of vulnerability, wanting to belong, but also wanting to be myself (whomever that was). Diana is dealing with a lot: a mom who has cancer, losing her virginity to her boyfriend, a...more

like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Angela Amman rated it 4 of 5 stars

I couldn't wait to read The Obvious Game. As a mother who's always fought against body image issues, I feel compelled to learn more about girls and their self esteem and how someone goes from wondering why the rules are different for them to redefining the rules all together.

Like so many girls, Diana goes to high school each day feeling a little prickly and wraps herself in her own inadequacies. Her mother is undergoing cancer treatment, her best friend is exerting her pretty-girl power and Dian...more

like · see review

Jan 10, 2013 L rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Honestly I thought it was going to be just another YA novel, but I was so wrong! The Obvious Game is intense! It is beautifully written with believable characters - a story of despair, hope, pain and courage. I felt the author has a knack of knowing how much to explore each emotion, when to write and express a little more and when to hold back. I would say it was quite an emotional writing, almost on the verge of being dark and scary but also bringing in hope and light.

Diana seemed like the usu...more Honestly I thought it was going to be just another YA novel, but I was so wrong! The Obvious Game is intense! It is beautifully written with believable characters - a story of despair, hope, pain and courage. I felt the author has a knack of knowing how much to explore each emotion, when to write and express a little more and when to hold back. I would say it was quite an emotional writing, almost on the verge of being dark and scary but also bringing in hope and light.

Diana seemed like the usual shy teenager with a popular friend. And the usual stuff about how a new good looking guy would still fall for her instead of going after the hot chick that every other guy is after. But her transition to almost being emotionally damaged and helpless was something that felt too real. With such powerful writing, I could totally feel the agony and pain Diana must have been feeling and how emotionally hard it could be to handle such situations. I could really understand the reasons behind her seemingly irrational behavior, what the fear of losing a parent could do to a kid, what peer pressure could make a person out to be and how a low self esteem could destroy a perfectly fine person. Kudos to the author for bringing out the psychology so vividly. While I was reading about what Diana was doing to herself, I couldn't stop myself from saying "Someone please help this kid!!" every now and then. I was feeling sorry for her but still rooting for her to emerge as a winner. It was very relieving to see Diana successfully fighting her demons.

The plot was pretty good and different. I also loved the parts with Diana and her mom. Those were the most touching and a good indicator of how much we need our mothers! Much more than we can even imagine! No matter what our age is, how far away we are, how close we are.

This is not a romantic light read. This calls for complete involvement of your mind and heart. This book will leave you thinking and in my case a little drained, but in a good way.
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2013 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Obvious Game is a beautiful rendering of the incredible highs—the warmth of your first love’s breath--and devastating lows—everyone knows your “secret”—of high school in a small town. From the first few pages, I was quickly absorbed in the world of Diana and her friends and family. All the characters were realistic, especially the flirty Amanda, Diana’s oldest friend. It can be very hard to break old habits even when you know they are destructive, and I found myself cheering and weeping for...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Jennifer Rayment rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Good Stuff

This one was a real challenge for me to read as it is way too close and personal. It's funny how I can speak so openly about wanting to kill myself while suffering with post partum depression but the thought about even discussing this makes me break out in sweats. This girl was almost me and it hurt to read about those same emotions I had and all the stupid shit I used to do to my body. I was very lucky that it never got this far, but I won't lie, it was very close. Even to this d...more

like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Monaliz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, ebook, for-review, read-2013

My rating: 4/5 stars
Remember to stop by my blog!

May contain some spoilers
I know the synopsis doesn't really reveal anything, just gives a little hint. So, if you didn't already guess, Diana has an eating disorder. Well, there's only some small signs in the beginning but after all the problems keep piling up (her mother has cancer, her best friend is a total b*tch, things get tough with boyfriend..), things get worse. Really, her eating is all she has control over in the chaos called "life".

So,...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Brigid Keely rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fiction, ya, yay-girls

First of all, I was given the chance to read an advance copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been compensated in any way (other than being given a PDF copy of this book) and my opinion on the book are entirely my own.

Second, this book contains depictions and discussion of disordered eating/anorexia and cancer and may be triggering for some people.

15 year old Diana Keller is having a really hard time. Her mom is sick, incredibly sick, with cancer and that's a lot to deal with. Her fr...more First of all, I was given the chance to read an advance copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been compensated in any way (other than being given a PDF copy of this book) and my opinion on the book are entirely my own.

Second, this book contains depictions and discussion of disordered eating/anorexia and cancer and may be triggering for some people.

15 year old Diana Keller is having a really hard time. Her mom is sick, incredibly sick, with cancer and that's a lot to deal with. Her friends are maturing and changing and she's feeling left behind and left out. And she's tired of being Fat Diana. She meets Jesse, a new arrival in their tiny rural town, and they start dating, and she wants to be perfect for him. So she starts doing something... she starts exercising, a lot. And she stops eating.

It... doesn't really help.

This is a pretty unflinching look at ED and the way it impacts people. Arens really digs into the mindset of ED, the obsession, the logic and illogical. It's beautifully written, but sometimes hard to read because it's so meaty. Despite the meatiness, however, there's a lot of humor in the book, and a lot of hope. Diana is, ultimately, lucky: she has some very good friends, and a very close and supportive family. A lot of people notice that Something Is Wrong and do their best to help her. Arens also draws parallels between acceptable ED (young men trying to drop weight to get into a lower weight class for sports) and unacceptable ED (young women trying to drop weight because women are supposed to take up as little space as possible).

If you're of a certain age, you might have spent Junior High and High School inundated with "problem books" or "issue books," edifying fiction novels usually featuring teen aged women who have SERIOUS problems in an unending stream. Their parents have cancer or are dead, they have cancer, they want to be concert pianists but break their arms on the weekend before The Big Audition, someone is beating them, someone is raping them, they can't stop shop lifting, etc. They were depressing books. It would be easy to glance at this book and see "mom has cancer" and "ED" and assume it's more of the same. It really is not, however. There's far too much hope, humor, and support in the book. Additionally, giving a character's mom cancer is usually a way to write mom out of the picture while giving the protag some big drama thing that shapes them. Arens manages to center Diana's relationship with her mom. Her mom has cancer, but she's still mom, and she's still important.

There are two other things I adored about the book. One is Diana's best guy friend. They love each other very much and trust and respect each other and are siblings with different parents, basically. They are very close emotionally and comfort each other physically (hugs, cuddles) but there's no romantic pressure or expectations. I really hate the idea that men and women can't be FRIENDS because SEX/ROMANCE IS INEVITABLE. So it's super refreshing to see a positive, affirming heterosexual relationship. And speaking of sex, another thing I liked is that Diana has sex and doesn't get shamed/punished for it. She worries briefly about the consequences of pregnancy and if her boyfriend will still respect her, but he does. She worries her parents will find out, but they don't. (and if they did, well, they stick by her in every other way so I doubt finding out she got her bone on would be the end of the world) One of her best friends is well known for "kissing" every available guy she sees, and another has a very serious boyfriend and spends a lot of time behind closed doors with him. Neither gets in trouble/shamed for their actions. Whaaat! Young women have sex and it's not the end of the world!?! ADORE.

That said, I think my absolute favorite scene in the book is Diana's snippy Passive-Aggressive "attack" on a teacher she doesn't like. She cracks open "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" and slips a saying about hypocrisy under his door. Oh, nerdy teen angst, I adore and identify with you!

(less)

like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Henrietta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Diana has a lot on her mind. Her friend is acting weird. Her mom is sick. She is unhappy with the way she looks. She wants things to change for the better but she is frustrated that nothing seems to be under control. Deep down, Diana yearns to do something that makes her feel she can be in control and when she finally sets her goal and forces herself to attain what she wants, she thinks she is finally doing something right, but is she really making her life better with her relentless goal settin...more Diana has a lot on her mind. Her friend is acting weird. Her mom is sick. She is unhappy with the way she looks. She wants things to change for the better but she is frustrated that nothing seems to be under control. Deep down, Diana yearns to do something that makes her feel she can be in control and when she finally sets her goal and forces herself to attain what she wants, she thinks she is finally doing something right, but is she really making her life better with her relentless goal setting?

I like the message offered by the book. Self-loathing is a serious issue. We may have our own opinions about what we like or dislike but when a person loathes herself, it’s almost impossible for her to develop a healthy relationship with the body. It’s not an easy experience for me to watch Diana. She has a beautiful voice but she stops singing because of a remark that she overheard when she was twelve. And while she desperately wants to be somebody special, the way she goes about achieving it is torturous, unloving and unrealistic.

I’m just glad that Diana’s parents and grandparents are there for her when she is at her lowest. Although not every friend is as caring and supportive as I wish them to be, I think it’s a good thing that Diana learns to discern who her real friends are in the process.

Since the setting here is in the late 80s/ early 90s, there are scenes where cassette tapes are played and pay phones are used. I’ve never paid much attention to how many coins are required to make a phone call but reading about it helps me see how much our lives have improved in the last twenty years or so.

Because Arens has personally suffered and recovered from unhealthy eating patterns, the story of Diana feels very real and authentic here. The Obvious Games captures the pain, fear and inner struggle of an adolescent. It’s an honest account of how detrimental negative thoughts can be and how it’s never too late to admit what’s going on and seek help. I enjoyed reading this story and I hope you will too.

--

Originally posted on Leisure Reads.

A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review originally featured on Bookluvrs Haven

A hard to put down, coming of age story about a young girl that struggles with her self image and self esteem. Feeling as if most of her life is spinning out of control, Diana latches on to the one thing that she CAN control - eating.

This was an insightful story into the mind and emotions of a young girl coping with some difficult circumstances. Her warped perception of her body was saddening. Her anger and need to push everyone away during her most...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Britta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-sarc

I have read a few novels that center around eating disorders, but this story is told a bit differently. What makes The Obvious Game stand out to me is that the main character, Diana, does not start out with this problem. She turns to self induced hunger as an aspect of her life that she can control. As her life seems to get more unwieldy and emotionally wracking, the sources of which are out of her domain, she starts reaching for something - a goal - that she can have complete control over. For...more I have read a few novels that center around eating disorders, but this story is told a bit differently. What makes The Obvious Game stand out to me is that the main character, Diana, does not start out with this problem. She turns to self induced hunger as an aspect of her life that she can control. As her life seems to get more unwieldy and emotionally wracking, the sources of which are out of her domain, she starts reaching for something - a goal - that she can have complete control over. For her, that means not being the "fat girl" anymore. This strive to be skinny, to leave her past behind, to finally be in charge of what happens to her, becomes an obsession. An addition - an illness - which may just take everyone around her down with her.

The novel starts out dated in the early nineties. Honestly, this confused me. The reader is given a specific date, and I kept looking for a reason for this to be relevant. Was there a specific event that happened in that year? Will we get a "ten years later" or something like that towards the end? It wasn't until my interview with the author ( which you can see here ) that I understood what the author was going for. She wanted a time period where Diana wasn't plugged in all the time. Her friends and parents couldn't constantly call or text her. It was time where secrets were easier to hide, and consequentially, help was harder to find. I wish I made this connection on my own, because looking back, I really do see how it adds to the story.

The actual obvious game is when people talk to each other only by saying obvious statements. For instance, if we were having a conversation right now, I would say "I am writing a blog post." To which you would say, "I am reading your review". This doesn't seem like much, but the way in which it is entwined into the story is really well done. The obvious game means something different to each of the characters, and it really seems like another character in itself. For something so silly, it carries a lot of weight in the story. It is both comedic relief for the reader, as well as an odd symbol of hope for Diana. She teaches the game (accidentally) to her love interest, and she wants him to be able to relate, for it to mean as much to him as it does to her. But it isn't his game. The game has ties to Diana and her best friend. Ironically, it is probably the one stable factor in her life, but she just can't see that.

My criticism with this novel is that I was not too keen on Jesse, the new kid/friend/boyfriend figure. I understand the need for some romance to lighten up the very dark plot, but I did not find him likable. He fulfills his role for the evolution of Diana, but I'm not quite sure if it was in the way that was intended. I never saw him as a source of light for Diana, but rather an entity adding to the disfunction and disappointment of her life. I saw him as a figure pushing her towards her eating disorder, not pulling her away from it. Again, I'm not sure if this is intentional, but he does have his role.

Overall, this was an enlightening novel. Previous novels I've read with this subject matter usually take off with the disorder in full swing, giving the reader insights into its origin through flashbacks. Being able to see the triggers and the progression of her anorexia helped me to better understand the disease and become a little more sympathetic to it. (less)

like · see review

Mar 14, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya, teen, recommended

I know this book was written for teens, and it's perfect for them, but it's also perfect for adult survivors of the teen years! Though the book is set in the early nineties, its story is timeless.

Diana is a young girl facing the anguish of her mother's illness and her own eating disorder. It was handled with brilliant sensitivity. I found myself not only relating to Diana on such a deep and emotional level, but also not seeing the early symptoms of an eating disorder.

This is where it hit home fo...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 17, 2013 Kerry Ann Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Complete review at Vinobaby's Voice

I don't read a ton of YA. Yes, I've read today's YA blockbusters. I vaguely remember reading Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes back in about fifth grade, some Sweet Valley High and Girls of Canby Hall before I made the switch to hard core "adult" books. Back then, books for teens didn't include premarital sex, eating disorders, or underage drinking (as this one does). At least none that I recall. I could have been looking in the wrong place. I hated everything about bein...more Complete review at Vinobaby's Voice

I don't read a ton of YA. Yes, I've read today's YA blockbusters. I vaguely remember reading Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes back in about fifth grade, some Sweet Valley High and Girls of Canby Hall before I made the switch to hard core "adult" books. Back then, books for teens didn't include premarital sex, eating disorders, or underage drinking (as this one does). At least none that I recall. I could have been looking in the wrong place. I hated everything about being a teenager—reading was my form of escapism, and the last thing I wanted to do was jump into the life of another angst-filled teen—instead I pretended I was an adult, freed from pubescent hell. So I don't know if I would have been drawn to read Rita Aren's debut YA novel The Obvious Game as a teen.

But I should have.

None of my close friends struggled with eating disorders...none that I noticed. I never caught any Heathers-esque barf fests in the bathroom after lunch or saw any of my friends wither into slight shadows of themselves. But considering estimates that millions of teens battle E.D.s, I'm sure some of my friends and classmates silently suffered. They just hid it well. And I didn't look. I didn't see. This book will open some eyes, and hopefully let some teens hiding in plain sight be seen.

I found the thought process, the reasoning behind the spiral into Diana's disorder fascinating and terrifying at the same time. While I kept rooting for Diana to stop, just slow down, just eat for Christ's sake, I could see how somehow the destructive behavior made sense to her. And how it became too powerful for her to control, and engulfed her. This sensitive portrayal of her struggle was obviously written with great care, and by someone with firsthand knowledge.

The characters seemed like people I could know. I wanted to be friends with Diana, call her up so she could vent, hang out with her and give her a shoulder to lean on. I liked her father and his mix of awkwardness, love, and quiet strength. I would have loved to have found a Jesse, an attractive, slightly more worldly guy from a big town, who had experienced loss as well. We've all had an Amanda, a friend who's beautiful and popular and everything we wanted to be on the outside, yet was often ugly and cruel on the inside. And Diana, like many of us, chased after her version of pretty-girl perfection anyway.Thankfully she has a great guy friend—you know, the type with no attraction strings attached.

I enjoyed how the story was set in a somewhat simpler time—before sexting and cyberbullying—which allowed Rita to include chapter song titles from my own youth (The Obvious Game playlist). Pretty awesome.

The Obvious Game is raw, real, yet filled with humor and hope.

(less)

like · see review

Feb 07, 2013 Joli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

I came across a review for The Obvious Game where the blogger (whose name or blog I cannot remember) highlighted a quote from the book. "Fat is not a feeling." That was enough to let me know that I needed to read The Obvious Game. Having just finished it, I must say that this is a book that makes me want to go all-confessional and share my own story rather than offer an official review.

No I am not a fifteen year old like Diana, and no my mother does not have cancer. But when I was fifteen I stru...more I came across a review for The Obvious Game where the blogger (whose name or blog I cannot remember) highlighted a quote from the book. "Fat is not a feeling." That was enough to let me know that I needed to read The Obvious Game. Having just finished it, I must say that this is a book that makes me want to go all-confessional and share my own story rather than offer an official review.

No I am not a fifteen year old like Diana, and no my mother does not have cancer. But when I was fifteen I struggled with weight issues and self-esteem and relationships (friendships and familial) and in so many ways I related to Diana's character. My weight issues weren't anywhere close to being as extreme as what Diana went through, but there were passages of Diana's thoughts where I thought, "Yes - I know that feeling." Sometimes while reading The Obvious Game, I felt like I was reading my own diary from when I was a teenager.

A few weeks ago my mother and I were talking about weight-loss and weight-gain and how it is always something that we've both dealt with throughout our lives. She told me that she remembered a time when I was a teen when she was really worried about me because I wouldn't eat. I had no idea what she was talking about because I didn't remember that at all. I remembered times when I didn't eat that much and was restrictive, but not times when I would starve myself. I guess like Diana, my self-perception was skewed. I can remember how I thought of myself as fat, not as thin as my friends, and when I look at pictures of that time now, I see that I was too thin. I could have had an extra 10 pounds on my bones.

I knew that reading about weight and eating disorders and self-perception and control would bring up some memories for me and be an emotional read. It is exactly why I seek out books like The Obvious Game which make me consider how I think about my physical self, both then and now.

What I liked about The Obvious Game:

set in 1990 - no cell-phones, no texting, no social media
realistic teenage relationships: Seth - the best friend, Amanda - the frenemy, Jesse - the perfect? boyfriend
present parents - the family is central to the story
small-town Iowa - Homecoming, field parties; create your-own-fun: been there, done that!

What I didn't like as much:

the jump in time-span between the last 2 chapters

I'd like to thank the blogger who highlighted "Fat is not a feeling" - without that acknowledgment, who knows if I ever would have found this book. And I'd like to thank Rita Arens for giving us Diana and sharing her experience which, I'm sure, many readers will be able to identify with.

Would I recommend The Obvious Game? Yes. Obviously. (less)

like · see review

Apr 06, 2013 Rachael Woohoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-favorites, all-time-favorites, arc, blog-tour, book, ebooks-i-own, review-copy, reviewed

[4.5/5]

To read an excerpt of this novel and enter for a chance to win one of 7 copies of the book, check out my tour stop here! (:

I once read a guest post by an author that said that teenagers weren't very complex, so why make your characters in YA novels complex? This might just be me, since I'm a teenager, but I completely disagree with that statement. Everyone, including teenagers, might seem simple on the outside, but might be fighting a battle inside. And everyone has a story to tell. In Th...more [4.5/5]

To read an excerpt of this novel and enter for a chance to win one of 7 copies of the book, check out my tour stop here! (:

I once read a guest post by an author that said that teenagers weren't very complex, so why make your characters in YA novels complex? This might just be me, since I'm a teenager, but I completely disagree with that statement. Everyone, including teenagers, might seem simple on the outside, but might be fighting a battle inside. And everyone has a story to tell. In The Obvious Game, Rita Arens is somehow able to beautifully and realistically portray the story of a girl who is faced with an eating disorder and the scarier parts of falling in love.

Diana, in a way, is an ordinary girl. She has friends, some closer than others, has crushes on boys, and faces the same self-esteem issues that any teenage girl might face. During the book, the author focuses on those issues, and flushes out her thoughts with detail and emotion. There were just so much feelings involved, and they really tugged at my heart. At times, I just felt so much sympathy for her and wanted to give her a giant hug. That being said though, when she finally recovers, it was also really heartwarming, though the journey there is grueling both for Diana to go through, and for me to imagine.

The side characters, though, were where I thought the book really shined. It's not that the story, main protagonist, or romance were bad, but because I thought that characters like Amanda, Lin, Seth, and her mother were also so powerful. I'll say it once, and I'll say it again - this book isn't all rainbows. Among many problems, the side characters had to battle against cancer, learn to deal with pregnancy issues, and also drank a lot. Even Lin, who didn't seem to have "direct" problems was dealing with how to try to help Diana, and had to become really understanding and patient.

I was also a fan of the romance. In the beginning, it was more slow and drawn out, but it was also really sweet. By the end of the book though, you can tell that it's obviously not a perfect relationship, which I appreciated. In many YA romance novels, even ones that I really enjoy, you have "perfect" couples who support each other no matter what. In contrast, in The Obvious Game, you can see the limits and the different stresses and darkness in Diana & Jesse's relationship, which made the book more realistic. The romance is also not the main focus of the book, which I also liked.

And then the plot puts all of this great stuff together. Like in many novels, the story really was the basis of the book, while things like the romance and characters were added pluses in the novel. That aside, the plot was also drawn out, although I was never bored with it. Most of the story's not very happy either, but, again, it makes the book scarily realistic, which was why I couldn't tear myself from my Kindle until I was absolutely forced to.

The Obvious Game was overall an amazing read, with complex characters, scarily realism, emotion, pain, hope, and everything in between. Any contemporary reader, especially YA readers, teenagers or fans of "problems" books should consider reading this book. In fact, I'd go as far as to say any teenager, parent, or reader should consider picking up this book, because of its message and complexity.

* A review copy of this novel was provided by the publisher. This did not affect my opinion of the book.(less)

like · see review

Mar 22, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it, favorites

The minute I saw this book on Goodreads I needed to read it. Ever since the 7th grade when I read a book about a girl who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and struggled through a hospitalization regiment in order to save her life, I've been fascinated by this desease. And when I say fascinated, I don't mean in a glamorous way but in a way that made me want to research everything I could possibly find out on this illness.

The book I read in the 7th grade Even If It Kills Me, focused on the cha...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Megan Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya

This review first appeared on Books i View.

The Obvious Game is the story of a young girl living whose world is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Even though she has a great support system through family and friends the pressure of life gets to her and she starts to develop an eating disorder.

I liked how the author decided to approach this delicate subject. You could tell that she knew what she was talking about especially through the teenage viewpoint of things. Diana’...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Pragya rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: interested in learning about eating disorders

Shelves: 2013

This book took me by surprise. From starting on a completely different note to the path it finally took, it made for a roller-coaster ride.

The book is an amalgamation of so many themes that I can almost do a thematic analysis of it (ah, my psychologist cum researcher self peeking through).

Although the main focus of the book is on eating disorder and what goes inside the mind of the afflicted, the book is so much more than that. There're a lot of difficult lives involved, trauma and sickness.

And...more

like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Linda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

NO SPOILERS--I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Being a mother, I'm not the target audience for this YA novel. I would have loved for the book to be longer. The characters were interesting and their stories engaged me but the pace was too quick--as though an overzealous editor was trying to keep things moving right along. Diana's problems were complex, her resolutions too easy. My teenager has asked to read this. I'll post her review when she's finished. It will be interesting to see the...more

like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I really liked this book, and that is saying something for somebody who typically doesn't enjoy YA novels. The story rang very true, if not in the plot, the very much in the characters, the dialogue, and especially the internal monologues of Diana, the teenaged protagonist. Certain scenes, particularly those between Diana and her mother, felt so real they were painful. Rita Arens really has something to be proud of in The Obvious Game.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Randi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I really really liked this book. It was well written, I felt like I could connect with all the characters. It touched on so many things that teenagers deal with and also alittle on how it affects parents.

This book will forever be a book that I never part with and will encourage my daughters to read it. It may spark some conversations and questions that they may have never thought about.

Kudos to you Rita...GREAT BOOK!!

I received this book through Goodreads first reads giveaway.

like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful and heartfelt debut novel. Well written and charged with emotional impact. As a father of two daughters, the lesson is "be attentive." Take time, and notice things. And, most of all, be there. The years are hard, and our girls need us now more than ever ...

like · see review

Mar 11, 2013 Kim Court rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fabulous YA novel about a teen struggling with an eating disorder and her mother's serious illness. So well-written...I finished this book weeks ago and can't stop wondering how the main character (Diana) is doing.

like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Natasha Noriega rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book. Really gets inside the head of someone with an eating disorder and helps you understand the control issues they deal with.

like · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Kelly Hashway rated it 5 of 5 stars

Powerful read. Full review to come.

3 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2013 Melanie (Moviemavengal) marked it as to-read

Met the author at RT 2013

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 40 41 next »

Contemporary

7 users

Book Club

2 users

Realistic Fiction

2 users

See top shelves...

About Rita Arens

My debut young adult novel is The Obvious Game from InkSpell Publishing. I'm represented by Eric Myers of The Spieler Agency.

I edited Sleep Is for the Weak (Chicago Review Press, 2008), which won a 2009 National Parenting Publications Award.

I now author my blogs Surrender, Dorothy and Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews and am the senior editor for BlogHer.com. I'm on the board for the Writers Place in...more

More about Rita Arens...

Books by Rita Arens

Sleep Is for the Weak: The Best of the Mommybloggers Including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shoulda, Mom-101, and More!

Roots: Where Food Comes From and Where It Takes Us: A BlogHer Anthology

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Obvious Game

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Obvious Game
avg rating	preview: The Obvious Game Goodreads rating: 4.24 (49 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17159178-the-obvious-game?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356056533l/17159178.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17159178-the-obvious-game?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Obvious Game by Rita Arens[/url]

The Obvious Game

Win a Copy of This Book

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

About Rita Arens

Books by Rita Arens

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Obvious Game

The Obvious Game

Win a Copy of This Book

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (1)

Genres

About Rita Arens

Books by Rita Arens

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Obvious Game

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)