Dare Me

A Novel

By: Megan Abbott

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

From the award-winning author of The Turnout and Give Me Your Hand: The searing novel of friendship and betrayal that inspired the USA Network series, praised by Gillian Flynn as "Lord of the Flies set in a high-school cheerleading squad...Tense, dark, and beautifully written".

Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy's best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers. Now they're seniors who rule the intensely competitive cheer squad, feared and followed by the other girls - until the young new coach arrives.

Cool and commanding, an emissary from the adult world just beyond their reach, Coach Colette French draws Addy and the other cheerleaders into her life. Only Beth, unsettled by the new regime, remains outside Coach's golden circle, waging a subtle but vicious campaign to regain her position as "top girl" - both with the team and with Addy herself.

Then a suicide focuses a police investigation on Coach and her squad. After the first wave of shock and grief, Addy tries to uncover the truth behind the death - and learns that the boundary between loyalty and love can be dangerous terrain.

The raw passions of girlhood are brought to life in this taut, unflinching exploration of friendship, ambition, and power. Award-winning novelist Megan Abbott, writing with what Tom Perrotta has hailed as "total authority and an almost desperate intensity", provides a harrowing glimpse into the dark heart of the all-American girl.

©2012 Megan Abbott (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Eh... quick listen

If you have a cheer leading background you’ll most likely enjoy this more, story like was a bit boring and predictable

Cheerleaders Just Want to Have Fun

The Story was ok - catty high school drama just isnt something I vibe with, BUT the narrator of the story did great

not like the show AT ALL

I was hoping to get an ending for the TV series [which was amazing and the most perfect show ever I love it] but I did not. the story was horrifically boring until the last few chapters, which is the reason this is getting 4 stars and not 5. the events did not match up w the show which was disappointing and the whole story line is different, so if u are planning on listening for that reason. yeah. however if u listen to it b4 the show. it is relatively good [reason it's getting 4 stars] I wish the narrator had more differentiation with the voices though. As for end opnions, I still hate Collete and I am a Beth defender 4life ♡

Good, but it feels like something is missing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It feels like a lot of waiting for something to happen. Halfway through, I still wasn't sure what the plot actually was. Something about the book, and most of the characters, felt hollow.

What about Khristine Hvam’s performance did you like?

Khristine Hvam is always great. (Although is it just me, or did her voice for Beth sound a lot like Romy from Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion?)

Was Dare Me worth the listening time?

Yes.

A guilty pleasure... Heavy on the guilt.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No... I didn't gain anything from it, but, I don't think that's the point of this kind of book. I'll admit that it had a few moments that were tense and made me keep listening when I needed to stop. But, in general, this story is trite and everyone in it is incredibly unlikeable.

Would you recommend Dare Me to your friends? Why or why not?

No.... I'd be embarrassed for them to know I listened to this one.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She's one of my favorite narrators out there. I'm glad I listened to this instead of reading it. I would have hated it if I read it, but Khristine Hvam made it at least entertaining.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe... Just to see who would play all of the characters.

Any additional comments?

I downloaded this as a suggestion for people who like "Gone Girl". Ummmm... No. This is NOTHING like that book.

Self obsessed teen cheerleaders gone wild

If you like Pretty Little Liars you will like this teen version. The performance was good but the story seemed unrealistic as there is No parental supervision and lots of drinking/drugs/casual sex under the eye of a coach with no boundaries. I also didn't like the "twist" at the end...

Can See This More As a Movie

First... I liked it. Megan Abbott knows how to make you perfectly uncomfortable with her portrayals of teen angst and pubescent melodrama. The power struggles between the egotistic girls were well thought out. The narrator was good except her portrayal of Beth was a little too "mean girl" for me. The story did keep you guessing. It felt like it could have worked better in a screenplay. I also would have liked a better focus on Addy's takeaway from all of it. All in all -good!

Not the best

Had bigger hopes given the reviews. The storyline and dialogue was a little petty for such a heavy theme.

Intense reading

If you could sum up Dare Me in three words, what would they be?

Mutually assured destruction

What other book might you compare Dare Me to and why?

The secret history by Donna Tarrt due to the intensity of the relationships; the adult/ teen interplay & the dark undercurrent. Several of the Nicci French novels have similar themes of the perils of self/ other confusion.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The reader delivered the teenage voice with credibility & maimtained my interest in some of the details of Cheering, not a subject matter which initially engaged me.

Who was the most memorable character of Dare Me and why?

Addy remains memorable for prevailing in the midst of the self destruction of Beth, Will & Coach. Beth was right, Addy was always the strong one.

Any additional comments?

For the first couple of chapters, i thought i had erred in buying a YA listen but after that this 50 something year old was fully engaged with the characters & their motivations while a vivid mind movie of their athletic feats was running throughout.The author managed to evoke memories of my own high school humiliations & gratitude that those memories now have the benefit of life experience.

Not for adults unless you're feeling nostalgic

This book is definitely for the YA crowd. Good story and well written for teens. If you want to remember the intensity of every little incident in high school, this book captures those feelings perfectly. I would give it to my teen cousins and nieces, but if you're over 21, I would not recommend it.