Click the link to skip to the book’s review:
- The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
- Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
- An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves
- Yours Cheerfully by A. J. Pearce
- A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
- The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray
- Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
- Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
- If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT! (Skip to my overall thoughts for my spoiler-free verdict)
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
CONTEMPORARY | MAGICAL REALISM | COMING-OF-AGE
No wonder I feel nothing like his wife. The road she has travelled, I can’t even begin to imagine.
Lucy Young is only twenty-six, but she’s exhausted and ready to skip to the good part of her life. After making her wish, Lucy wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job and two perfect children, but when she looks in the mirror she’s staring back at her own forty-something face.
This was a contemplative yet sweet read. It followed Lucy as she came to the realisation, with a little help from time travel, that you NEED to go through the not so great parts of life before you can get to the good part. Each new stage brings its own sorrows and joys, and through that you get to deepen your relationships and gain hard-earned wisdom.
Lucy’s future husband Sam was kind and (maybe unrealistically) supportive of her when she (surprisingly quickly) told him that she had no memory of her life beyond 26. I was actually expecting Lucy to fake her future life a bit longer and was waiting for hijinks to ensue. However, this novel didn’t take the humorous, wacky approach as seen in 13 Going on 30 or The Family Man. As soon as Lucy started telling people, the pace dipped a bit to accommodate her grief over the years (and best friend) she had lost. In this way, the novel toed a weird line between magical realism and real life as Lucy herself grappled with the idea that she could just be suffering from memory loss. Despite this, her future son Felix never gave up on the idea that she really had been transported through time. His character was adorable and he ended up being the MVP in getting her back to her current self.
While this book was marketed as a romance, it felt less like a love story and more like Lucy’s own personal journey. I liked the rare occasions Lucy and Sam spent getting to know each other but their storyline never felt like anything more than a subplot. As Lucy had no memory of Sam before the time jump, he was essentially a stranger to her. Therefore, I appreciated how she gradually fell in love with him and the future she created for herself. Nevertheless, I was relieved that she decided to go back to her 26-year-old self and actually live her life.
OVERALL: This was a sweet, lighthearted, yet reflective read which followed its relatable heroine on her journey to realise that the not so great parts of life are necessary to get to the good parts.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you want to go on a wholesome adventure (but don’t expect too much romance)
READ NEXT: Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
FANTASY | ACTION | ROMANCE
When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off an impossible heist but instead of divvying up a handsome reward, they’ve been double-crossed and badly weakened. As powerful forces descend on Ketterdam, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.
Picking up immediately where Six of Crows left off, the sequel somehow managed to fit in even more surprises and schemes this time around. It weaved a complicated plot that jumped from action sequence to action sequence. Unlike its predecessor, there wasn’t one major heist to focus on. Instead, the Crows were faced with numerous deadly challenges to overcome and outsmart.
The plot kept me on my toes but it still managed to take time to delve into the backstories of its six main characters. The different perspectives the chapters took were even able to give important insights into characters outside of the POV. Notably, we were treated to Wylan’s own POV chapters. I loved his dynamic with the rest of the Crows, especially his adorable romance with Jesper and unlikely/reluctant partnership with Kaz. All of the characters bounced off each other effortlessly, making for dialogue that buzzed with energy and, when needed, angst. Specifically, Kaz and Inej’s will-they-won’t-they turned up another notch. Each of their scenes felt charged with a feeling of inevitability. Beyond the core six, I loved the cameos from other Grishaverse characters. Nikolai was on form as always!
Despite the impossibly high stakes of the novel, there was a sense of humour threaded through which offered welcome levity. The more outgoing characters like Jesper and Nina were usually the ones ready with a quip, but that’s not to discount the unexpected/unintended humour from Matthias. The stoic ex-soldier definitely went on the biggest and most admirable journey of character development. For this reason, I was so shocked to see him killed in the final few chapters. I understood why it happened but still, I didn’t understand why it HAD to happen – poor Nina.
Other than Matthias’s unexpected demise, the ending was satisfying. They each had different paths laid out in front of them, which were either well-earned or much-needed. By the time I finished the book, I was already missing my favourite morally ambiguous band of outcasts.
OVERALL: With even more scheming and surprises, this sequel was a whiplash-inducing, heart-pumping read. It expertly furthered the stories of its main characters and offered up a bittersweet yet satisfying conclusion.
Would I recommend?… Yes, how could you not want to immediately pick up the sequel after reading Six of Crows!?
READ NEXT: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves
HISTORICAL | ROMANCE | FAMILY
I refuse to make myself smaller for anyone. They should love me as I am, or not at all.
When Thalia, Kalliope and Charis embark on their first Season, they each have clear goals but their plans soon go awry. Kalli finds herself embroiled in scandal and reliant upon an arranged marriage, Thalia’s distracted by a charming rake, and Charis finds herself an unexpected social hit
This was a fun, yet sometimes frustrating, regency romp. It was difficult, especially at the start, to differentiate between the POV chapters of the three girls. Charis had the most distinct voice as she was usually very matter-of-fact. While she could be oblivious to people’s intentions or feelings, I liked her for her strong morals and kind heart. I was initially charmed by her love interest but I didn’t appreciate the condescending manner in which he bantered with her. Honestly, I felt like Charis’ story didn’t need romance in it for me to be interested.
I definitely liked Thalia the least. As the novel progressed, she became increasingly snobbish and hard to tolerate. She seemed to be jealous of whatever positive thing that was happening in Kalli and Charis’ lives. Considering the turmoil Kalli was going through this season – a time when she needed the support of her sister the most – Thalia’s behaviour was immature and narcissistic. Her particular spitefulness to Kalli did nothing to help me sympathise with her when her entanglement with Darby (who gave obvious Wickham vibes) inevitably blew up in her face. At the beginning, I had actually wanted her to end up with her neighbour Adam, so as to follow the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, but she soon proved not to deserve him. I wished Thalia’s steep learning curve occurred sooner in the novel as it meant that for the majority of it, I found her POV chapters to be frustrating and I would try to rush through them. It’s very predictable what’s on the horizon for Thalia in the next book – her love interest is indisputably going to be Salisbury – but I don’t think I care enough about her story to continue.
Kalli was my favourite main character. She was intrinsically kind and thoughtful. She entered the season only looking to have some frivolous fun. Her concern for her cousin unwittingly led her to scandal and an engagement of convenience with Adam – who she had been harbouring a crush on for most of her childhood. I felt terrible for Kalli and was hoping that Adam would actually fall in love with her. I liked the idea of their relationship as it gave me strong Laurie and Amy (from Little Women) vibes, but I wished the seeds for Kalli’s crush were planted earlier and that more time was dedicated to watching Adam’s feelings develop. In truth, I could have easily enjoyed a whole book of the couple’s story, with Adam getting POV chapters of his own. Therefore, while I loved the concept of their romance, it really could have been amped up to achieve maximum heart-fluttering effects.
OVERALL: Intertwining three regency romances, this book had a lot to juggle. While I enjoyed the majority of the storylines, I wish less focus was given to those that I found to be unsympathetic.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you’re after Bridgerton for teens
READ NEXT: A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
Yours Cheerfully by A. J. Pearce
HISTORICAL | FRIENDSHIP | ROMANCE
Let’s show the Ministry what our readers can do, and let’s look after our readers while they’re doing it.
When the government calls upon women’s magazines to help recruit female workers to the war effort, Emmy Lake is thrilled to do her part. But when she learns of the very real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must tackle a life-changing dilemma between doing her duty, and standing by her friends.
Despite the naturally heavy subject matter, this novel was a delight to read. I actually preferred it to its predecessor. It buzzed with energy as it seemed Emmy was always on some kind of mini adventure. However, it still found time to develop the dynamic cast of characters to ensure I was thoroughly invested.
As usual, Emmy was a wonderful heroine. She made mistakes and was sometimes ignorant of certain issues but she always made an effort to learn and improve. Her desire to help and generally do good was infectious. It was impossible not to want to cheer her on.
The empowering friendships, both old and new, were the focus of the novel. Emmy’s best friend Bunty was as lovely as ever despite the grief she was still carrying. Likewise, Mr Collins was still an emboldening force in her life, firmly believing in her capabilities. Emmy made new connections amongst the female factory workers she was reporting on. Anne was particularly a great new friend. She had been through so much already in her life, yet was such a strong woman, mother and, definitely by the end, leader.
I felt so bad for the factory workers. The novel highlighted the systemic sexism they were faced with and how the world of work wasn’t (and still isn’t) set up for women. It didn’t consider that they could already have a full-time job looking after their children, just because the male workforce had the luxury of leaving their wives to manage the home. I was shocked by how the higher-ups didn’t seem to want to help women help them in the war effort. It was empowering to watch Emmy and her band of factory workers take matters into their own hands. The workers risked their jobs and went forward with a public march. It swayed opinion in their favour so they could finally gain nurseries for their children. However, this plot line’s conclusion wasn’t entirely rosy. Making it more realistic, the author did add that some of the workers had to give up their jobs in the factory and move away. Despite this, I still felt like the women achieved an important victory.
While it never outshone the strong ties of friendship, there was definitely more of an emphasis on the romance in this instalment. Emmy’s relationship with Charles was achingly sweet. He was a good-natured, kind man who never failed to listen and encourage Emmy. After the couple got engaged, I became increasingly scared that something terrible was going to happen to Charles. The couple didn’t deserve all the chaos, uncertainty and separation the war was causing them, but that was a reality of the time. I was so glad that they got to have a perfect (for them) wedding by the end. I particularly loved how Charles and Mr Collins went to the march because he didn’t want to spend the day without Emmy, and instead, wanted to support her. This was the kind of romance Emmy deserved! It helped leave me with not just a smile on my face, but also a feeling of hope.
OVERALL: Filled with charming characters, uplifting friendships and a touch of romance, this novel was a delight to read. Despite grappling with some heavier issues, it managed to leave me with a feeling of hope.
Would I recommend?… Yes! This series just keeps getting better
READ NEXT: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
FANTASY | MYSTERY | DRAMA
Survival is bravery, too.
Since childhood, Effy Sayre’s found solace in Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about the Fairy King and the girl who destroyed him. When she learns of a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny. However, after she arrives, she realises there are sinister secrets lurking there.
This was an atmospheric read but I couldn’t say that I enjoyed said atmosphere. It was a story of sexual assault disguised as a fantasy. I was not expecting this major plot point so there was something quite jarring about it. I understand the power in telling the story of a sexual assault survivor but the world-building and magic system was where it really lost me. The novel was slow to get into and somewhat confusing due to the casual yet constant use of character/event/place names that were never properly introduced. The added layer of geopolitics was mentioned enough to make it seem important but not enough to make me understand as to why. Similarly, magic was liberally interweaved into the plot and history of the world. However, I found the concept of the fairy king just too weird. I think this was due to both the disturbing nature of his magic and the way everyone was in denial of his existence for most of the book. This weakened his threat and added to the feeling of disorientation.
All of the men in this novel were undeniably creepy apart from the stodgy literature scholar, Preston Héloury. Preston was residing at Myrddin’s house in order to uncover the late author’s secrets. Effy was at once at odds with the young scholar but then gradually developed a romance with him. Honestly, after all the harassment Effy had faced in her short life, I just wanted her to be left alone. Preston’s character was so lacklustre that I wasn’t willing the relationship on. I thought the novel could have done without a love story. I felt terrible for Effy. She had such a low opinion of herself and her abilities that I wished I could have given her a hug and a pep talk. She just needed a friend.
Unfortunately, I never meshed with this novel. The mystery as to whether Myrddin really wrote his renowned and beloved epic wasn’t as engaging as I hoped. I guessed that his former lover and eventual wife, Aranghard (who, in truly creepy fashion, was decades his junior), was the true author early on. With all its faults, at least the story had an empowering ending, with Effy slaying the fairy king and Aranghard on the road to finally getting the recognition she deserved. It felt rewarding that Effy was able to help Aranghard. Nevertheless, the novel still left me feeling somewhat despondent.
OVERALL: Inadequate world building and an ambiguous magic system made for a disorientating reading experience. I sympathised for the heroine – I wanted the story to end for both of our sakes.
Would I recommend?… Nope not really, but if you do, know that sexual assault is a major plot point
READ INSTEAD: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
FANTASY | ADVENTURE | MYSTERY
One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.
Curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discover the elusive Hidden Ones. Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk, nor does she care to spend time with her dashing yet insufferable academic rival Wendell Bambleby.
I desperately wanted to fall in love with this book (as much as I did with the cover) but unfortunately neither the characters nor the plot properly engaged me for long. Regardless, I appreciated the whimsically imagined world the author created.
Emily wasn’t particularly charismatic but I did like her passion and determination. She definitely erred on the side of curmudgeonly but she did show some kindness when trying to bring back the village’s missing girls and ridding a family of its demonic changeling – her help wasn’t entirely motivated by the chance to further her research. Wendell on the other hand, while not as moral as Emily, was much more fun to read about on the page. He was entitled and pompous, yet the village, along with myself, couldn’t help but be slightly charmed by him. He brought a much welcome energy to the story. Wendell was definitely the sunshine to Emily’s grumpy.
Even though stuff technically happened, none of it felt high-stakes, nor that interesting or exciting. There was potential for intrigue in the fact that Wendell was secretly fae but Emily herself drained all the possibility of surprise from this reveal. Early on she explicitly stated her suspicions of his heritage so when he finally displayed his fae nature, the shock value was dulled. While, I liked the fact that Emily went on mini missions to help the village, the narrative would often take tangents. This would slow the pace down and therefore, again, lessen my interest.
Hints of a potential romance between Emily and Wendell were peppered in throughout the first two thirds of the novel. I was fully expecting their relationship to take a slowburn trajectory, right up until Wendell rather suddenly and anticlimactically proposed to Emily. This was so out of the blue, I felt robbed of a satisfying romance. Wendell’s love for Emily was never properly actualised on paper. Granted, it was obvious he cared for her, but he had slept around quite a lot during their current expedition. This made me believe that he may have had feelings for her, but certainly not enough for marriage. I was hoping that a rewarding romance would help elevate this novel, but alas, it lost me at that too.
OVERALL: While set in a whimsical world and including some memorable characters, the plot wasn’t as compelling as I hoped it would be and I wasn’t truly invested in the characters’ journey.
Would I recommend?… Only if you love cozy fantasies, but don’t expect an epic romance
READ NEXT: A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray
HISTORICAL | MYSTERY | FAMILY
Doing what is right may be painful to us, but doing what is painful to others is rarely right.
The Knightleys’ house party turns into a whodunnit when the uninvited Mr. Wickham meets a sudden and suspicious end. Luckily, the two youngest guests, Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy, are on hand to solve the mystery. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone has a motive.
This novel was so much fun! Granted, I do think that reading all of Jane Austen’s books is necessary to get the most out of it… but still, I had a great time.
The author managed to skilfully juggle so many different and unique perspectives. The vast majority were Austen’s main characters. Having prior knowledge of her work was extremely helpful to better understand them. I think the author did a great job in extending the storylines of the well-known characters. Indeed, I liked getting to spend time with characters I was already attached to and see how their story could have unfolded. The author put all of the marriages in varying degrees of crisis, however they were plausible for the couples and made sense in relation to the plot. I particularly loved seeing the Darcys and the Knightleys decades into their relationships. As expected, I was excited to read from their perspectives and watch as their dialogue sparkled. To a lesser extent, I also liked the Brandons and the Wentworths. The same couldn’t be said about the Bertrams as I was not a fan of the priggish Edmund Bertram. I felt bad for his poor wife Fanny that she had to be tied to such a man. Nevertheless, each character was given space to develop and grow over the course of the novel. Most became more open with their partner and honest about their feelings. In my opinion, the author did Austen justice, both in her handling of beloved characters and her witty, yet elegant, writing style.
I really liked the author’s addition of Juliet and Jonathan. They were both endearingly plucky and resourceful, with him definitely being more on the reserved side. It was lovely to watch them bring out the best in each other. Juliet made Jonathan more open and (somewhat) braver, while his support helped her embrace her true daring nature. I loved watching their budding relationship grow. I definitely want to see them go on more adventures together!
The mystery itself somehow didn’t seem central to the novel. It was as if Mr Wickham’s death helped unearth problems each of the characters were facing so that they could finally work through them. In fact, his death came surprisingly late in the book. Much to the chagrin of the house guests, Wickham spent a lot of time mixing with them. Even though the murder investigation did seem to take a back seat, I was still interested to learn what actually happened the night he was killed. The fact that each guest had a motive kept me guessing and propelled the plot forward. Honestly, I wasn’t too eager to get to the big reveal as I just loved living in the world the author created.
I found the ending and the eventual reveal of the ‘murderer’ to be a satisfying conclusion to the story – Marianne Brandon killed Wickham by accident in self-defence. Each of the couple’s storylines were wrapped up well, but I want them to soon reunite just so I can see what happens next (but maybe don’t invite the Bertrams).
OVERALL: Thanks to its captivating mystery, witty writing style and how it honoured beloved characters, I thought this novel did Jane Austen justice. I was charmed by the characters, both old and new.
Would I recommend?… Yes, but it definitely helps already being familiar with Austen’s characters
READ NEXT: A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales
Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
FANTASY | ACTION | ROMANCE
We do not make these wars. We merely win them.
To become a legendary Aristene warrior, Reed must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. As she forms an alliance with her hero Hestion, she uncovers what it truly costs to become an Aristene. With battle looming, Reed must make an impossible choice – her hero or her order.
Packing a punch almost immediately, this novel began by detailing the massacre of Reed’s village and her subsequent rescue by the Aristene warriors, Aster and Veridian. Straight away, I was interested to see where Reed’s life would take her.
The novel was jam-packed but the pace never felt rushed. It slowly weaved its way through Reed’s initiation ceremony, her fated meeting with Hestion and then the many trials she faced to bring glory to her hero. The action sequences were exciting but I didn’t feel like Reed was ever in any true jeopardy. This made it all the more shocking when those around her, like her precious horse Silco or her beloved mentor Aster, were injured. I was genuinely scared Aster would die. Nevertheless, I didn’t feel the menace of the villain of the story. The evil king wasn’t afforded nuance. Instead, the ambiguous morality of the Aristene order was examined. I was intrigued by the secrets and motives they were hiding but I still wished the actual villain was given another dimension outside of being a power-hungry king.
The most complex relationship within this novel was Reed’s friendship and rivalry with Lyonene, a fellow wannabe Aristene. I appreciated how their dynamic was about more than simply one-upping the other. Reed and Lyonene pushed each other to constantly improve and earn their victories, but regardless of the ‘winner’, they loved each other deeply. When it counted the most, Reed could depend on Lyonene’s loyalty to her.
This novel was billed as a romance but unfortunately I didn’t feel any real connection of love between Reed and Hestion. This dampened the impact of the ending – Reed essentially sacrificed Hestion’s brother Belden to save Hestion’s life, giving Belden the glorious death Hestion was destined for. I completely understood why Hestion was furious at Reed as he had clearly adored his brother and felt betrayed by her. This has definitely set the series up to go down an interesting path, one which is sure to surprise. However, I’m not sure I care to continue, as Reed herself failed to capture my heart. I liked her spunk at the beginning but I wish she hadn’t ‘fallen in love’ with Hestion and instead stuck to being a badass warrior.
OVERALL: Packed full of action sequences and moral reckonings, this YA fantasy read like an Arthurian legend. However, I did wish some elements, especially the romance, were further developed.
Would I recommend?… Yes, if you’re after a YA fantasy that’ll certainly surprise you
READ NEXT: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
HISTORICAL | MYSTERY | ROMANCE
But death was her curse and her gift, and death had been her good friend these long, long years.
Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become the King’s Champion yet she is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult as Celaena tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the castle and realises that a rebellion is brewing.
After finding Throne of Glass to be surprisingly fun and twisty, I had my expectations raised for the next instalment in the series. Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be relatively slow and was exasperated by a lot of the characters’ decisions.
As expected, Celaena kept her morals intact despite becoming the king’s champion. I knew she’d never actually assassinate people for him. Just to balance her character out, she was still as arrogant as ever. Luckily, I’ve accepted this trait of hers.
I liked how the POV of the chapters were spread out more evenly between the characters. I especially appreciated to hear more from Chaol. I liked seeing his side of the romance between him and Celaena play out. They already had a solid friendship but there had always been an underlying layer of angst. Here, this really came to the forefront, as the couple battled between duty and desire. I was so glad when they finally got together but I knew that as soon as Chaol failed to tell Celaena about the threat on her friend Nehemia’s life, it was going to go all downhill from there. I was 100% correct.
Dorian started the novel extremely whiny. He pined after Celaena way too much. They were definitely better as just friends. At least when he discovered that he had magic, he was given something to do. However, I wished this revelation was inserted more seamlessly into the novel. It felt random, as it all started after Nehemia merely touched him.
The book was paced quite slowly. For much of it, it felt like Celaena was just learning she had to do things without actually making any progress to achieve them. She was tasked with uncovering the plot against the king and the king’s own nefarious plan, but seemed to take an age to find each clue.
Everything picked up about three quarters of the way into the book when Nehemia was assassinated. This seemed to spur Celaena into action. However, this was also the point where I got most confused. Celaena blamed Chaol for preventing her from possibly saving Nehemia’s life – as she should – which caused their short-lived romance to implode. Yet, it was later revealed that Nehemia had full knowledge of the threat on her life and willingly accepted it, just so Celaena would be motivated enough to get involved in the rebellion against the king. This was the most frustrating element of the book as it seemed completely unnecessary. Nehemia easily could have lived. I didn’t understand why she let it happen. Nehemia could have finally revealed to Celaena that she knew about her fae heritage and then encouraged her friend (with her words!) to join the fight. The assassination itself was so confusing. When Celaena suddenly figured out that Grave did it, I was completely stumped. Who even was Grave!? The assassin hadn’t been mentioned at all previously within the book. He turned out to have been a minor character in Throne of Glass. At least the assassination made more sense when it was revealed that Archer, a rebel who Celaena had been trying to help so she could gather intel on the plot against the king, was behind it all. The double-cross was shocking yet believable.
Somehow, that wasn’t the biggest reveal of the final act. It turned out that Celaena was secretly fae and the long-lost heir of Terrasen, Aelin. Honestly, I was baffled because she had never even hinted of her true lineage. I understand she had ‘killed’ that part of herself, but I just wished there were more signs. At the very least, the significance of Aelin should have been emphasised more. Due to this, I wasn’t as blown away by this revelation as I could have been.
OVERALL: While I liked being in the world again, the novel suffered from a slow pace and too many frustrating character decisions. Still, the ending left me with questions I have to have answered.
Would I recommend?… Yes, but be prepared to be annoyed
READ NEXT: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
CONTEMPORARY | FANTASY | ROMANCE
Even if I fail, don’t go. Stay and haunt me.
Ghost speaker Cara Tang reluctantly makes a deal to raise her high school nemesis Zach from the dead. As they’re forced to depend on each other to survive in a dangerous new world of monsters and magic, the pair grow closer and Cara finds that she might not hate Zach so much after all.
This YA novel had a promising premise, yet sadly I never gelled with it. This was in large part because I didn’t find Cara and Zach’s dynamic to be compelling. I understood why she didn’t like him – he was a complete jerk at the beginning – but the root of their mutual animosity was never fully explained. This meant their tit for tat seemed too immature for their age and it was difficult to imagine a convincing romance developing from it. Ultimately, I didn’t think their love story was all that captivating. The transition from annoyance to love could have been handled more smoothly. Their banter was lacking and as individual characters, I didn’t much care for Cara nor Zach.
Another aspect of the novel that I had trouble with was the off-putting tone. I understood that they were meant to be longtime rivals, but Cara seemed way too relaxed with the idea that Zach was dead. He himself barely freaked out. I always get annoyed in contemporary paranormal novels when the characters act too casually about things like death, ghosts and magic. It makes it harder to relate to the characters and thus immerse myself into the story.
The major plot line of trying to bring Zach from the dead saw the protagonists embark on a truly wacky adventure… Snake men! Cannibals! Plants with teeth! Unfortunately, as the magic system was never properly explained, all these elements felt less surprising, and more just jarring. The addition of Brittany, a young ghost hunter, also seemed pointless to the story as she entered over half way through. While a lot occurred on their adventure, I wouldn’t necessarily call it thrilling.
OVERALL: Despite having a lot of ingredients to make for an exciting and swoon-worthy read, this YA novel didn’t hook me due to its bizarre adventure storyline and unconvincing romance.
Would I recommend?… Nope, unfortunately it didn’t meet its potential
READ INSTEAD: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Wishful Thinking 
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