Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Rodzinna gra

CW: death, blood, pregnancy, gaslighting, mentions of abortion, ableism, suicide, alcohol & drug use, death of a parent/sibling, violence, toxic relationships, gun violence, classism, murder, gaslighting

So there were aspects of this that I did enjoy, but overall it was an absolute miss for me. I do find myself interested in any other books Steadman puts out, though.

the book blurb makes it sound like the movie Ready or Not and it really isn't. the only similarities are rich people have weird drama & traditions & the MC is meeting them all for the first time. the MC listens to a tape she's given over time instead of right away and though the first time she stops it part way through was believable to me, not after that. so many things could've been dealt with sooner if she had just not waited and it really just helped the book drag. leaving out info to have a twist or something later is just a thing that bugs me, especially if not done well. which this felt like.

and the ending totally took me out of it. I liked the climax part when the game takes a turn, but afterwards made me roll my eyes so hard, just not for me. a few entertaining bits does not make me invested and this missed me. so....yea.

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kimveach's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another good and creepy thriller from this author.

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shannasbooksnhooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"As every writer knows, even if a story is pure fiction, there are truths hidden in there - about the writer, about the time it was written - that are incontrovertible."
I am...not sure what to say about this book. It was such a well-written mystery thriller, and I enjoyed every moment. Each twist was well-placed and well done. I honestly think I found a new favorite genre with this book. I think the last chapter was the first time in a while I felt that tightening in the chest that you get at a bittersweet ending where you almost feel like crying. (I haven't gotten this feeling since I first read Natasha Lester's The Paris Orphan, which was around 4-5 years ago.)

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our_bookish_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Family Game was a fun and twisted ride that I wasn't quite expecting. This was brilliantly written, however the first half of the book moves incredibly slow for my liking. I love how very similar it is to the movie Ready or Not. There wasn't a lot of thought put into the building of all characters that were in active play, which I wish there had been.

All-in-all I'd recommend this book if you want something that is full of unexpected twists and secrets.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Catherine Steadman for granting my wish for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

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katieav's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

Summary: Harriet is thrilled that she has found a man who she loves so completely and is so excited to start a new life with him in New York. However, very soon she is forced into his family's life which includes lies, secrets, and games.

The second my eyes saw the cover of this book I was enthralled. I wanted to read it because I'm very interested in thrillers and the premise reminded me of the movie Ready or Not. The beginning is a little slower paced, but once you get into the curious situation the main character has found herself in, it is impossible to put it down. There were certain times where I just wanted to shake her, but I rarely find that I do not have the desire to scream the answer at the protagonist. While I found the twist thrilling, I wish we had a little more of the story after we learned the twist to the end of the novel in order to finish out the characters' story.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books of the year and I plan on recommending it to everyone.

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