Game Over

I'm as hard as nails on the outside. Scratch the surface and I'm as hard as nails on the inside. Impenetrable. Well, emotionally impenetrable, not the other. Not frigid. Technically, I guess, for want of a more user-friendly term, I'm a slapper.

Cas Perry's self-portrait is astute. Since her father deserted the family home when she was only seven, Cas has led a life "awash with cynicism, constraint and calculation". As she points out, the psychology isn't difficult to figure--to protect herself from being betrayed again, she "dumps before she's damaged." And there are plenty of men queuing up to be dumped--what with her glamorous job and "sexy, cool, flawless" looks, Cas normally has charge of the relationship reins, until she meets Darren. A breathtakingly beautiful tree-surgeon, with long gypsy hair and a set of teeth the Osmonds would be proud of, Darren looks as if he has just what it takes to smash through her tough-gal stance.

Game Over is a saucy twist on the twentysomething girl-meets-boy fiction that has bombarded our bookshops recently. Cas is an exhilaratingly unconventional female protagonist and it's refreshing to read a city-girl novel about a woman who is trying her hardest not to find Mr Right. That said, there's also a comforting predictability about her--just like the hero (yes male) in a Mills and Boon romance, it's inevitable that Cas will "submit" to love. The question is will Darren be interested when she does. Like Adele Parks' debut novel Playing Away, Game Over looks set to be another winner.--Jane Honey

View other editions of Game Over.
View books by Adele Parks.

not good - Rated
having read most of adele parks novels and had enjoyed them i was very disappointed in this one. was bored with the story by about 3 chapters and felt the story was silly, didnt like the main character cas and she so didnt deserve darren.

avoid this one but i would gladly recommend any other adele parks novel.

Started well but lost its bite - Rated
This had such a promising beginning and I raced through the first few chapters fully expecting to love it. Despite the fact that Cas was quite an unlikeable character, I was really taken with her and thought this chick lit book really benefited from having such a sharp and different main female. I suppose what let it down was her complete about turn over the remarkably unbelievable Darren. What spoilt it was that he was too good to be true and quite frankly put up with more than any bloke would have: he was a bit of a doormat actually. I guess I just expected a fresher approach to their developing relationship. It turned out to be rather predictable and I was left disappointed.

So cliche - Rated
I got this book for 50p from a charity shop, the resting place of Chick-lit, and I was half tempted to go and ask for my money back!!

I didn't take anything from this novel. The characters were walking cliches and the plot was paper thin.

The character Darren was far too good for that self-absorbed trollop who you have to put up with throughout the course of the book.

I actually stopped reading this halfway through as I found it so dull but I figured I'd invested some time in it (and I'd finished my other book!) so I might as well finish it.

It's now going straight back to the Charity shop!!

I love this book - Rated
I hae read this about 20 times now, as I just really love it. It makes me smile, laugh out loud, cry and get angry with the characters, but totally love it and always leaves me in a good mood. Wonderful chick lit, easy going read that I would recommend to anyone.

good holiday book - Rated
I took this book on holiday with me last week and although it is a bit predictable it was a good read and made me laugh. I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days a great girly beach book.