Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 81 of 97)

BOOK REVIEW – Isn’t She Lovely (Redemption #0.5) by Lauren Layne

February 8, 2015 / / 0 Comments
BOOK REVIEW – Isn’t She Lovely (Redemption #0.5) by Lauren LayneIsn't She Lovely (Redemption #0.5)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

Review:

I laughed, I cried, I fell head over heels in love with Isn’t She Lovely.  It was the perfect blend of everything that makes a book fabulous.  It was sweet but sexy and hilarious yet serious.  And the banter between Stephanie and Ethan was spectacular!  I’m still in shock over how much I loved this book!

After an embarrassing run in, Stephanie and Ethan get stuck as partners in a summer college film class where they have to write a script together.  Stephanie is a closed-off goth girl who recently just lost out on where she was supposed to live.  Ethan is a rich, preppy frat boy who is in desperate need of a fake girlfriend for upcoming family events.  In an attempt to not only have material for their school project, Ethan proposes that Stephanie pretend to be his girlfriend in exchange for getting a free place to live in his two bedroom apartment.  Sounds innocent enough right?  Wrong!  Because in the middle of kissing and acting like you love someone, what happens when you start to feel more than you should?  When you don’t want it to all be an act anymore?  Where do you go from there?  Be prepared for an amazing story!

I’m thinking that Ethan Price is putting on a damned good show in an effort to cheer me up. In an effort to make me forget.
But mostly I try not to think about what I’m feeling.
Because what I’m feeling has nothing to do with our charade.
What I’m feeling seems real. – Stephanie

Stephanie is a multi-layered girl that you can’t help but love and sympathize with.  She is quick witted and hilariously sarcastic!  She made me laugh time and time again and quite a few of those laughs were so hard that I had tears pouring down my face and couldn’t breathe!  But at the same time when she was experiencing self doubt, I felt her pain and just wanted to reach through those pages and hug her.  Not like she would let me though haha.  Her past and family will tear you apart but at the same time her ability to hold her own and tackle uncomfortable situations will make you so proud of Stephanie.  She was a phenomenal character that constantly pulled at my emotions.

She doesn’t finish the sentence, so I turn to glance at her, and … ah, hell, she looks vulnerable. Those wide blue eyes are silently begging me to reassure her that yes, she can pull this off, and yes, she’ll be okay without her black-eyeliner defense against the world.
“You look beautiful,” I say softly. – Ethan

Ethan was a beautifully flawed person.  Not only was he gorgeous, but his intentions were breathtaking.  He made me weak in the knees how he would tease and banter Stephanie one moment and then the next he would be holding her cheeks in his hands.  His past will drag you in, and the sadness of it all is so unfair.  It’s hard not to get twisted in everything that is Ethan.  He was sweet, stubborn, hilarious and guarded.  And when you pair Ethan with Stephanie together, be prepared to be hypnotized and for fireworks to explode right before your eyes!

I want to get back to the easy companionship we had before the trip. Before that kiss. Because now I don’t just have to play pretend when other people are around. I also have to put on a show when we’re alone. And in some ways, the act when it’s just the two of us is that much harder. Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending you are.

Isn’t She Lovely is like eating you’re favorite ice cream (or cheesecake for me) while curled up in front of a fire with your favorite throw.  I still have a smile on my face and my heart is so happy from all of those sweet, beautiful and heartbreaking scenes.  You don’t want to miss this one!  Now don’t mind me while I go devour the rest of Laruen Layne’s books!

Reading Order & Links:
Amazon (click on covers) & iBooks (click on titles)
***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***
isn't she lovely lauren layne
Isn't She Lovely
Reviews:
Jen
Chelsea		broken lauren layne
Broken
Reviews:
Chelsea		crushed lauren layne
Crushed
Reviews:
Jen
Chelsea
Anna

BOOK REVIEW: Crushed (Redemption #2) by Lauren Layne

January 30, 2015 / / 0 Comments
BOOK REVIEW: Crushed (Redemption #2) by Lauren LayneCrushed (Redemption #2)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.

Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.

Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.

After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?

♥ Buddy read with my wonderful Star-Crossed Ladies-Anna Banana and Jen ♥
**Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

*4.5 Stars*

It’s been six months since I betrayed my best friend.
Six months since I walked away from her. No. Since she walked away from me.
But more than that…more than any of that…
It’s been six months since I’ve bothered to care.
About anything.

Let me just come clean, as I do whenever I read one of this author’s books-I am in love with this author. She is my rainy day, bad mood, giggle-fest, any mood author. So, while I am actually a very fair rater and reviewer, I still have warm feelings towards every single one of her books, even the one that I didn’t rate a 5 *gasp*. I did have things I do wish would have been different-just minor, baby things. But nothing deterred my mood once. Not. Once. There wasn’t a moment I wasn’t on cloud nine as I read this story and no page was turned without me being all fangirly. So, yeah, that’s right-I’m a Lauren Layne fan girl-DEAL WITH IT. And proceed with caution.

“Beefcake!” Again with one of those dopey, guileless smiles.
She plops down at one of the few vacant spots at the bar, and unlike the usual solo girls that daintily perch themselves on the stools, there’s no glancing around to see who’s noticed her arrival. No careful positioning to ensure her posture’s just right to show off her best side. She’s just there…and happy.
So annoying.

It’s so hard for me to say or admit to a favorite Lauren Layne series as a whole, but I am going to have to level with you guys-This is probably the series I get the most excited about. It’s the series I go out of my way to stalk netgalley for and it’s the series that I have fallen the most deeply in love with. I just connected with it on a visceral level and it touched me so deeply. Each guy and each girl holds a special place in my heart for very different reasons, but it all comes down to this: Every single person in this series is a tortured soul…..and I must say, masochist that I am, it’s the reason I think I fell so hard for the Redemption series. Ethan, the guy who’s girl cheated on him with his best friend. Stephanie, the girl who was ALSO cheated on and helped Ethan realize he didn’t need to impress anyone but the girl he wants to spend his life with. And then Olivia. The cheater. The one that broke her long time relationship with THEIR best friend. The one who went to Maine to help atone for her sins with a scarred ex marine….PAUL. Omg I LOVE PAUL. The asshole marine who didn’t think anyone could love him because of his scars and surly, asshole attitude. He brought Olivia out of her deep depression, and she him, and they became happy again-TOGETHER. And then our dear, Michael. The. Best. Friend. The one who technically lost two loves-his best friend and the girl who he had been in love with, secretly, for ten years. These are our three main characters that had problems throughout the series…but this story is about the one who royally fucked up their little trio and set them all on a path out of their comfort zones.

“You’re an idiot,” I say gruffly. It’s not what I mean to say. I don’t know what I mean to say. I just can’t stand the thought of this cheerful, good person going through what I went through.
Instead of being offended, she laughs. “Good pep talk, Beefcake.”
She laughs again, and it’s genuine and bold, and suddenly it hits me: Chloe Bellamy deserves better. She deserves better than what I got.

I must say, I fell hard for Mr. Asshole With A Horrible ‘Tude. I didn’t know how I’d feel about him, really, but the minute he opened his not-so-talkative mouth, I was smiling ear to ear and knew he’d be a tough one to crack. Just like I like ’em. He’s had more problems than just cheating with his best friend’s girl. When family is involved, it’s even worse. So, to say he is tortured is mild. But then this totally snarky chick starts to call him out, pull him into an area of his life he’s not accustomed to, and he starts to come out of his shell….a little. He lusts after the stick figures with perfect hair and toned bods, but he starts to connect with the sister (of his client) who is curvaceous, loud, and has untamed hair. What starts out as an agreement to help her becomes an understanding, becomes a partnership, makes them become….friends. He can’t believe, after months of seclusion and brooding, that his one true friend is this girl who won’t ever shut up and who constantly gropes and teases him.

Well, would ya look at that? I didn’t even try to cop a feel.
Progress. Definitely progress.

Lauren Layne is officially a weekend-only author. Her books are too good to destroy during a work week and I really screwed up with this one. Every time I started to get truly immersed in my reading or get to a super juicy part, I would start to get dizzy because I was forcing myself to stay up late….it hinders my reading experience and I hate that I felt that way this time-SO NEVER AGAIN WILL THIS HAPPEN. But that just proves my point on how good this was-I still got through it and loved every little bit…albeit a little bit hazily and strained because I was literally about to pass out from exhaustion.

That’ll help distract me from the real reason I asked if he wanted to go to dinner.
Because he’d looked lonely.
Or the real real reason.
Because I’m lonely, too.

Here’s another reason I love the Redemption series: It has formulas, sure, but omg they are the most FANTASTIC formulas. They all have grand gestures (and she doesn’t try to hide that every one of the stories ends with a grand gesture-she embraces it and literally says it multiple times in the story-it’s brilliant!! And so so cute) and ways to get the girl back and I absolutely ADORE that aspect. And it’s INDIVIDUAL TO THIS SERIES. She doesn’t use the same theme in any of her other stories, at least not so openly, and I LOVE going big to get the girl. I cannot believe LL kept up this theme from book one until this fantastic finale to wrap up all of these wonderful characters’ lives. It was just all so perfect.

“Um, I’ve seen the way you talk about your car. I’d be too scared to eat snacks in there.”
“Snacks?”
“It’s a three-hour drive,” she says, jerking her thumb over her shoulder.
I glance back and see a cooler and a paper bag with Lay’s potato chips perched on top. I can just imagine what other junk-food monstrosities lay beneath.
“Three hours,” I repeat.
“Lots of time to get to know each other, Beefcake.”
“Nope.”
She grins and pats my leg. “Okay, no problem. How do you feel about Broadway tunes?”

And the thing is, LL doesn’t forget her roots. At one point, it literally quotes: “Yeah….She’s really lovely.”-which is an homage to book one Isn’t She Lovely.-it was said in the same dry way that Ethan said it in book one about Stephanie (The person above, coincidentally, was also talking about the firecracker, Stephanie) and it was just so funny and exactly as it should have been. It made me goon like a loser to see that idea resurface and it brought back so many wonderful memories-I fell in love with book one the minute I started it.

“Really.” My voice is sarcastic.
“Do you love her?”
If the room was quiet before, it goes downright soundless now. At least until Stephanie steps on a chip. “Shit. Damn it.” She crouches down to pick up the pieces. “Mikey, you got a vacuum?”
Olivia tries to hide a smile, and Ethan looks to the floor in exasperation. “Such a lady, this one.”
“Yeah. She’s really lovely,” Paul says, stepping out of the way when Stephanie bats at his leg to get the rest of the crumbs.

Is it weird that I not only got butterflies from the romance but also from this age-old, damaged bro-mance?? BECAUSE IT TOTALLY HAPPENED. Ethan and Michael…just omg it was too much. Odd of me, but true, nonetheless.

With Michael, it’s a little bit different. He’s a project invite, yes.
But he’s also the first of my projects that feels a little bit like…a friend.
Not that I’d ever tell him that. The guy’s about 84 percent scowl, and I think words like friendship would up that percentage to 90-something.

I did want a little more from the ending-that’s the only reason I took .5 away. I just wanted it to be a bigger deal than it was…but that wouldn’t have fit Michael and Chloe’s style, so ugh, anyway. And I also think this stems from me loving Broken (book two) so much. I couldn’t let it go, it was perfect and amazing and I was an utter addict for Broken.…And I’d even venture to say I loved Isn’t She Lovely about as highly as Broken, if not a little less-I dunno, it’s a beautiful Lauren Layne blur-but that doesn’t make this book any less great. I loved and obsessed over the moment I could get back to this story and I adored our brooding, mercurial Michael-I’d never discount my love for this book and this amazing series. But I did want to draw attention to the fact that the prior two were absolute favorites-maybe because they were my first two by this author and they hold a special place in my heart.

“Fine what?” He asks
“I mean fine, I’ll stick my tongue in Scott’s mouth and play with his hair while I let him pet my boob.”
I start to walk away, but Michael’s laugh stops me. Both because it’s a rare noise, and because I’m not sure what the funny part was.
“Chloe, I don’t know how you do it, but you just managed to take the sexy out of the idea of making out.”

So, wow, this is way too long…..but still not long enough. It’s so rare I enjoy a NA book this much. It just is. So when I pick up a book I know I’ll love, I guess I feel the need to express how much others could love it, as well. I won’t even get started on all the other books she’s written and the wonderful, successful, HOT AS SIN male leads that have me wishing I could make them real every day, but just know, she creates some of the most addicting characters ever. I am still tangled in all of their webs….I have been from the beginning. But this series holds a place deep in my heart, and I will likely re-read all three books over and over again until I have them all memorized. It’s a series about three best friends who found their way back to one another….it’s so poetic. And I wouldn’t have ended it any other way.

Reading Order & Links:
Amazon (click on covers) & iBooks (click on titles)
***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***
isn't she lovely lauren layne
Isn't She Lovely
Reviews:
Jen
Chelsea		broken lauren layne
Broken
Reviews:
Chelsea		crushed lauren layne
Crushed
Reviews:
Jen
Chelsea
Anna

********************************************
EEEEP!!! I GOT THE ARC!!! WILL BE READING NEXT WEEK-NO MORE WAITING!!!! ♥ ♥

Aaaahhhhh…I need this…badly.


photo when_i_wake_up_and_realize_it_is_friday-2932_zpse53bf97e.gif

Can I have it?? Pleeassee?? Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease


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BOOK REVIEW: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

January 21, 2015 / / 0 Comments
BOOK REVIEW: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy NelsonThe Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

“The sky is everywhere, it begins at your feet.”

AAAAAAH! My first review since…like…ever!!! I have MISSED REVIEWING!! Well, I’m finally back and I am so glad I chose this book to revive me in the reading world. It was just light enough, just angsty enough, just just just what I needed. I needed a shock to my system. It’s like this totally angsty book brought me back to life, a tad. Not to say I didn’t have a wonderful honeymoon and all that jazz, but…well….books. I missed them. They are like my right arm. I cannot function without them. So…to say I am sooooooo happy to be reading and FINALLY not stressed about planning anything (holidays, bday, wedding, honeymoon, OH MY)…is an understatement.

Later, as he plays and plays, as all the fog burns away, I think, he’s right. That’s exactly it-I am crazy sad, and somewhere deep inside, all I want is to fly.

This book…it was super weird. And I was kinda mad when everyone kept saying that in reviews. I was thinking-nah, people are just super judgmental (Anna-I SWEAR I’m not pointing at you-I love you too much…*side smirk emoji*). But, it really was just super odd. From the sex-crazed mourning main character, to the mourning boyfriend, to the type of writing-It made for a super interesting plot. I don’t think I particularly disliked anything. I just think certain things made me feel a little weird.

Grief is a house where no one can protect you
where the younger sister
will grow older than the older one
where the doors
no longer let you in
or out

For instance, a lot of times, and at first I didn’t mind because it was one character speaking like this, characters left out words at the beginning of the sentence. They would leave out “I” or “It” or something that added extra emphasis on what they were speaking about, and being a perfectionist….by about 50% I was tired of EVERYONE talking in such a manner. I thought it was cool for a couple people, but when they ALL started to, it lost it’s poetic emphasis.

There were once two sisters who shared the same room,
the same clothes,
the same thoughts at the same moment.
These two sisters did not have a mother
but they had each other.
The older sister walked ahead of the younger
so the younger one always knew where to go.

Hmmm what else?? OOOH the big ol’ elephant in the room-If, and I do mean IF, I were to pass for some reason, I can assure you that my amazing sister and my especially (and sometimes asshole-ish) amazing HUSBAND wouldn’t hook up. Here are the reasons I know this to be true: A) It’s icky. B) I have the most loyal sister and he was the most loyal boyfriend for 8 years. C) It’s icky. Not that this doesn’t happen in real life but….It wouldn’t happen. Even in the past 8 years, I know for a fact my was-a-boyfriend wouldn’t have crossed that line. I hope I will NEVER know that grief-EVER-but I just don’t see myself immediately falling for the boyfriend of my deceased sister. I guess this is why it is labeled fiction. I might never know the answers to these horrific and complex questions. All I know is-If there was a boy (not the deceased sister’s boyfriend (yes this is a love triangle)) with a smile that was saved just for me and he made my heart burst with beautiful and hopeful emotion…I’d be hanging on to him with my very being.

I look into his sorrowless eyes and a door in my heart blows open.
And when we kiss, I see that on the other side of that door is the sky.

And this is where the fabulous, adorable, and talented Joe comes in. I loved his personality! He was so sweet and charming and wow was he in love with Lennie. He fell for her so quick and gave her his undying attention from the start. His mile long lashes would bat at her and her libido would go crazy. He was optimistic and always blushing when caught off guard when people called him out on his feelings-to say it was adorable would be underselling it. In fact, I don’t quite know how to sell Joe. I think I’m underselling him, hmmm…*Squinty-eyed emoji*….let’s leave it here-While there was a lot that made me skeptical in the beginning, Joe made this book addictive the minute he started coming around-It’s that simple. I really liked, almost loved, this story because of Joe’s adorable love/crush on Lennie.

He shakes his head like it doesn’t matter, and then to my surprise he doesn’t kiss me but wraps his arms around me instead. For a moment, in his arms, with my mind so close to his heart, I listen to the wind pick up and think it just might lift us off our feet and take us with it.

Like I said, there was a lot going on with this book-a lot that I still don’t quite understand-but it really was a great book for me to start out with. It was cute, funny, sad, witty, addicting….weird (just like me)….so it worked. I am so happy I finally read this-I had it picked out probably 5 years ago, maybe longer-I can’t remember, and never ended up buying it at the store. So, after all these years, I finally read it. And I think I have to admit something-I’m glad I forgot waited this long….I don’t think I was as developed as a reader back then. Sure, I read a ton, but my preferences were narrow-minded and a lot of the same type of book on repeat. So, in essence, back then I probably would have hated it, whereas now I can appreciate the complexity of the story. I believe everything happens for a reason…and I am so happy I finally got to this book. ♥

BOOK REVIEW – The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

December 31, 2014 /
BOOK REVIEW – The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly OramThe Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Theory : The Avery Shaw Experiment isn’t a contemporary romance but a fairy tale.


Hypothesis : She is the perfect picture of a Damsel in Distress.


Evidence #1
 She doesn’t know how to deal with emotions and loss alone. Like, at all. She needs everyone all the time. Of course I understand she has issues with social interactions. I get it, really. However I’d have appreciated if she had less seemed like a bag others must carry. If I’m totally fair, she does improve toward the end, I must admit.

Evidence #2
 She’d never been kissed and has big pleading eyes. Plus her scent is fruity mouth-watering. Oh, and she blushes! All the freaking time. I’m pretty sure that’s her number one occupation. Blushing.

Evidence #3
 She’s smart, yet beautiful in a doll way (aka all cute and soft) and of course she hasn’t any clue about it. She’s different and special.

Evidence #4
 She’s annoying. I wanted to slap her at some point. Yes, that’s totally a proof, duh.

Consequences : I had a hard time connecting with her and wasn’t either keen on her personality or her behavior.


Hypothesis : He’s Prince Charming.


Evidence #1
 He falls for the damsel in distress mentioned above faster than I read. Okay, I know what you think : he knew her before and hadn’t fall for her but let’s face it : the first time he sees her all heart-broken he’s completely charmed.

Evidence #2
 He’s such a symbol of acceptance and understanding. Seriously. Even when Avery abandon him in the middle of their date, he stands here, all adorable. Kind of wanted to both kiss and shake him. The guy spends the whole book helping Avery without never ever complaining while the girl is seriously aggravating sometimes.

Evidence #3
He’s perfectly handsome in a golden boy way. How boring. I’m sorry but golden boys without any freckles (yes, Avery says that) are only so damn dull in my opinion.

Here’s how I picture him :

Yep. Frightening, I know.


Evidence #4
 He used to be a womanizer. Okay, we’re never told about Prince Charming’s love lives before they met the princesses but let’s face it. Seriously. Handsome. Rich. Powerful. Duh.
Bonus point! He’s called “the King of the school”. Of course that’s a clue, isn’t it?

Consequences : I’m not saying Grayson wasn’t cute or adorable or swoon-worthy. He was. But he was also completely unbelievable and well, he looks like Ken.


It was a cute read but certainly a fairy tale disguised as a contemporary romance. I wanted to read the later that’s why I’m disappointed. And who says fairy tale also says more clichés.

And more clichés mean –

BOOK REVIEW: Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

December 17, 2014 / / 0 Comments
BOOK REVIEW: Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) by Jenny Han & Siobhan VivianBurn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1)
by Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is the kind of place where nobody locks their doors at night, where parents can sleep easy, knowing their daughters are tucked away safe and sound in their beds.

But bad things can happen, even to good girls . . . and sometimes, the only way to make things right is to do something wrong.

Lillia used to trust boys, but not anymore. Not after what happened this summer. And she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her little sister from the same fate.

Kat is over the rumors, the insults, the cruel jokes made at her expense. It all goes back to one person--her ex-best friend. Someone needs to teach her a lesson, and, with Lillia and Mary behind her, Kat feels up to the task.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. Now that she’s got friends who have her back, he's going to be in big trouble.

Three very different girls who come together to make things right. Will they go too far?

Welp. That wasn’t what I expected. In many ways I think I’ve been putting this one off because I knew it wasn’t going to be what I wanted. It’s not that it didn’t have it’s exceptional moments where I found some immense enjoyment out of the three girls’ bonding experiences or the revenge they were seeking on the individuals who treated them badly. But, at the risk of sounding hoity toity, it all just came across so….juvenile.

So many people liked this book and I have to think that maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it-but then I start to backtrack and wonder: would I have enjoyed the cliquey cliches even months ago, even when I was in the mood? Would I have enjoyed the somewhat childish conversations everyone seemed to have? And, most of all, would the fact that those people didn’t deserve to have even a little of their lives ruined bother me? And I have to believe that, even when I was excited about this book, it all still would have bothered me.

And that’s not even mentioning probably my biggest problem with the whole book: Every single scene or idea seemed like a contrived, watered down, wannabe version of other books and movies that, frankly, did it way better. I feel so bad saying that, but it doesn’t change the fact that every other page I kept seeing Janice from Mean Girls or Brittany Snow from John Tucker Must Die. Literally every single scene had me unintentionally thinking of other movies I have watched over and over again and loved in the past ten years of my life: Mean Girls, John Tucker Must Die, and I know there was one other that I just can’t remember at the moment. And then it also reminded me of a book that I LOATHED-*The Keatyn Chronicles*-though I must say Burn for Burn was written way better and had a little more class. That much I can say for it.

Which leads me here. People loved it. Hell, I even loved the idea of getting revenge on the bitches that I felt wronged me back in the day. Don’t we all have that secret little (if only a minuscule, tiny piece) place where we wish people that were cruel would get what’s coming to them? So yes, on that level I enjoyed it-that’s why I couldn’t one star this story. The writing was great. The IDEA of all of it was great. I just…something was missing. I rolled my eyes more often than not, the only character I really and truly connected with was Lillia (And Mary, sometimes-she could be a bit pathetic…I don’t know) and that’s only because I could see some humanity in her even as she hung out with the devil. Her love for her little sister was great and I could totally relate, remembering how protective (I still am) of my little sister I was when she started to stray from the path. But nothing could really ground me and connect me to this story. At the end of the day, all I could think of was how annoying Kat was (And I felt a tad trashy, for that matter), how I wished Mary could move on, and how Lillia was going to be heartbroken after all the acts they planned against her ‘friends.’

So, all in all, I don’t know if I’ll ever continue to the next book. It all seemed so petty, which of course it was supposed to be, and I felt bad for the people they targeted. Some of the things they had planned were vile, but then I felt some fell short. I don’t know HOW the plan at the end would truly scar Rennie-it seemed very small, really, compared to everyone else’s revenge. I just, AGH. I don’t know. I suppose I never will. It’s one of those books that is a super easy read, fast-paced, and fun if you are in the mood. In the end, I guess I just really, really, really was not in the mood. Maybe next time.

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