Movie Game

Movie Game is the story of teenager Joe. Joe is living what appears to be the dream life for a seventeen-year-old kid. It’s the summer before his senior year, he lives with only his sister, he’s having a secret relationship with an attractive girl, and a summer fling with an older college girl who goes to Yale, and he gets to see all the movies he wants for free (as long as he sneaks in when a certain usher friend of his is working, he’s been banned for life from the theater several times for his “movie crusade,” making sure the other people don’t distract from the movie). He hangs out in a bar in the evenings with fellow movie-buff friends, drinking and playing the movie game, despite the fact that he’s underage.

Of course, this seemingly perfect setup hides the bigger problems in Joe’s life. His girlfriend died three years ago, on the same day that he walked in on his mom cheating on his dad. His dad left them around the same time, and, more recently, his mom moved out too, to live with her boyfriend. Now Joe’s sister is forced to play mother to him, despite offers she’s received to live and work in Paris, not to mention the fact that she has to finish school. Joe’s secret girlfriend has a boyfriend. Oh, and there are the two feds that are stalking Joe, hoping he’ll lead them to his missing father.

Ebner’s writing style reminded me of James Patterson’s, short snappy sentences that keep you wanting more. This style works well for Movie Game.

I found the premise of this book to be completely unique, and I thought Ebner executed it well. Movie Game is exciting and fun to read. I would definitely recommend it.