REVIEW: Skin Game by Cara McKenna

Skin Game

by Cara McKenna

4 HEARTS

From Goodreads

Seven days, seven challenges. Twelve strangers. Eight thousand cameras. Only one winner.

Welcome to The Ant Farm, a social study in the wilds of interior Alaska, documenting the dynamics between a dozen competitors as they take part in a series of physical and psychological face-offs. With five hundred grand up for grabs at the end of the battle royal, the stakes are high and the tension blazing.

Could the seemingly mild-mannered nice guy win it all? The cutthroat alpha female? The strongest or the smartest, the idealist or the cynic? It's anyone's guess as teams are undercut by alliances, loyalties tendered and tested, and passions enflamed by both affection and animosity.

In this contest where even knives and guns are fair game, sex may prove the most dangerous weapon of all.

Reader Advisory: This book features the recreational use of illicit substances, and non-explicit references to childhood abuse and trauma. It also features an unlikely mix of romance, lust and hate-sex, plus a ton of way crazier crap that the author delights in not preparing you for.

Skin Game is a very unusual book. It wasn’t what I expected after reading the blurb but I enjoyed it. I kinda expected this all out sexfest with a few contested mingled in but it wasn’t like that. It had some substance which surprised me. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t most people’s definition of a romance.

At first it was hard to keep track of all the characters but that ended after the first objective. I had some characters I liked while others I didn’t. I liked the concept. I hadn’t seen this before and I was really drawn in. It was like survivor but book style. 

My favorite main guy was probably Ian. He was kinda of ass but it really worked for him. He was a strategic genius about trying to win too. I also really like Pike even though he took out Ian. He was a medic in the service and every woman loved a military man. Plus what he did for Mac was out of this world brave/stupid your choice. My least favorite guy was probably Daisey and that was because of his name. Ok well mostly because his assholeish-ness didn’t work for him. Plus I hated how he treated Mac.

Mac is the main woman and pretty much the only likeable one. She is kind and knows what she wants sexually. I also liked that she knew who was and had no excuses. I really like her ending because I felt like for the most part she played the game not the people. My least favorite girl was probably Leah because this could have been a major game changer instead she kind of gave up after being dumped. It was a little sad.

Hands down my favorite objective was the 21 question one. I think it was because the psychology is easier to understand as a reader… or maybe because I found it more entertaining than all the rest. If you are looking for something different to read I would suggest you check this out but be warned not your usual romance. 

~Special Thanks to Ellora's Cave for the loan of this book in exchange for an honest review.~

Hotness Rating

3 out of 5