The Single Game by Amanda Black

The Single Game by Amanda Black

Goodreads Synopsis
When Eden Foster’s parents tell her they’re moving from Chicago to the Illinois suburb of Aledo, Eden is crushed. That is, until she runs crying to her jock boyfriend, who she finds on top of her so-called best friend. Moving’s not looking so bad anymore.

Now a senior at Mercer County High, Eden is ready to re-enter the dating scene. Still burned over the betrayal of her ex, she’s looking for someone sweet and innocent. With the help of her two new friends, Zoe and Amy, Eden makes a list of what she’s looking for: an eager virgin, ready for training—and no jocks.

Eden thinks she’s found what she’s looking for in Logan Black, a shy and geeky classmate. But why are Zoe and Amy convinced that the answer to her search is a party game…with kissing?

Eden better get ready, because she’s about to play the Single Game.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this one just not as much as I thought I was going to originally. I feel like I was expecting Eden to play a bit more than she did especially with the title of the book.

I loved Eden. I loved how confident she was and how she was the experienced one and not the other way around. Most of the time I was like yas girl get it. It was so refreshing to have a female character not be ashamed of wanting or having sex. And her relationship with Logan on this front was very intriguing. The sex aspect is all that I liked about them. Especially Eden taking command and getting things done for herself.

Logan was alright. He seemed kind of flat to me at times, just a blank slate for girl's to project their own fantasies onto. I also thought he was a little cheesy at times and that Eden was way too into him being so nice. There is something called the "contrast effect" where you meet someone who is horrible so the next person seems amazing in comparison. This is what I felt Logan and Eden's relationship was like: she had a bad experience with Riley, so dating Logan next made him incredible. She says so often that he is perfect and he was like too perfect.

The worst was the slut shaming. Like Eden was all about having sex and was totally okay with the sex thing if it was her or her friends, but deliberately called other girls skanks??? That's not okay Eden. Until that point, she could have been someone for people to maybe see as a sex role model, but that type of misogyny just doesn't bode well for me.

I really hated the insta-love. Like this book took place over six months before the epilogue. I think it was just ridiculous how quickly things moved along. I was all for their relationship until they said I love you. I feel like it was actually a semi-accurate depiction of high school romance until then and the whole prom thing was just...no. And the sex scenes were a little iffy. I always feel awkward when they say an orgasm "tore" through you, like is she okay? It shouldn't feel like that??

Overall: 2/5 stars. I feel bad for not liking this one as much as I thought I was going to. I did like Eden's character, I just wish some things had gone differently.