Highlights / Lowlights: GET EVEN | GET DIRTY | THE PERFECTIONISTS

Get Even

Title: Get Even

Author: Gretchen McNeil

Published: September 16th, 2014
Series: Don't Get Mad #1
Genre: YA contemporary | mystery
POV: 3rd person, multiple
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Electronic ARC
Source: Edelweiss | Publisher
Rating: The Royal Library, Bottom Shelf

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process.

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.

Highlights: A group of girls from different circles band together to get revenge on the more mean-spirited people at their school, and their antics are undeniably fascinating. But, McNeil raises the stakes by introducing a blackmailing killer, who is all too eager to put DGM (Don't Get Mad) out of business for good. Exciting, surprising, and even a little sweet and humorous at times, Get Even is a thrill-ride of a story. 

Lowlights: It took until the halfway point before I was finally able to distinguish each girl and her life from one another. Cliffhanger ending. It felt slightly too long, and there were too many moments where I was already a few steps ahead of the characters. 

Rating: The Royal Library, Bottom Shelf: Really Liked, 3+ or 4- out of 5. Just when everything begins to become intriguing, it concludes! But fortunately, the sequel wraps everything up and gives readers the chance to get to know each main character more. 

Get Dirty

Title: Get Dirty

Author: Gretchen McNeil

Published: June 16th, 2015
Series: Don't Get Mad #2
Genre: YA contemporary | mystery
POV: 3rd person, multiple
Pages: 384
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Electronic ARC
Source: Edelweiss | Publisher
Rating: The Royal Library, Bottom Shelf

The members of Don’t Get Mad aren’t just mad anymore . . . they’re afraid. And with Margot in a coma and Bree stuck in juvie, it’s up to Olivia and Kitty to try to catch their deadly tormentor. But just as the girls are about to go on the offensive, Ed the Head reveals a shocking secret that turns all their theories upside down. The killer could be anyone, and this time he—or she—is out for more than just revenge.

The girls desperately try to discover the killer’s identity as their personal lives are falling apart: Donté is pulling away from Kitty and seems to be hiding a secret of his own, Bree is under house arrest, and Olivia’s mother is on an emotional downward spiral. The killer is closing in, the threats are becoming more personal, and when the police refuse to listen, the girls have no choice but to confront their anonymous friend . . . or die trying.

Highlights: The killer from Get Even isn't gone yet, and they want Bree, Margot, Kitty, and Olivia to suffer. The stakes are higher, the death rate increases, the secrets multiply, and the mystery only builds with each new revelation. Family and friendship, shockingly, become a much more important part of the story in this novel. 

Lowlights: My #1 suspect from the first novel was, in fact, the Big Bad. A few things were rather obvious, to me at least. I kind of feel like if pieces of this book had been combined with pieces of the first, it would have made an incredibly entertaining mystery. Separately, I couldn't help but to feel like it was one book too many for a mystery that should have been solved in the first novel. 

Rating: The Royal Library, Bottom Shelf: Really Liked, 3+ or 4- out of 5. Readers who pay close attention will likely be able to spot a few reveals before they happen, but McNeil still manages to make a few mysteries quite surprising. I'd recommend this duology to anyone who is in need of a good mystery. 

The Perfectionists

Title: The Perfectionists

Author: Sara Shepard

Published: October 7th, 2014
Series: Don't Get Mad #1
Genre: YA contemporary | mystery
POV: 3rd person, multiple
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Electronic ARC
Source: Edelweiss | Publisher
Rating: Tea Party 

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them.

Highlights: As with McNeil's Get Even and Get Dirty, Sara Shepard's The Perfectionists is about a group of girls who decide to get revenge on a cruel person who later turns up dead. And every page is very mysterious and exciting to read. The multiple POVs are excellently written, with each girl portraying a distinct personality that makes it impossible to confuse them with one another. As the five girls dig around to find the Nolan Hotchkiss' real killer, many secrets are unearthed, and some of them are quite surprising. The mystery only grows with each new clue, and I am quite curious to see who the killer will turn out to be. 

Lowlights: Perhaps it was because I read Get Even first, but this book seemed like a disappointment. There were many exciting moments, but by the time the story concluded, I felt like barely anything had even happened. The novel is too short, and ends without resolving anything, which I am not overly fond of. 

Rating: Tea Party: Liked, 3+ out of 5. While I had a few issues with The Perfectionists, it was undeniably a fascinating story to get lost in for a few hours, and I cannot wait to see how this mystery unfolds. 

Highlights / Lowlights: FURY by Elizabeth Miles

Title: Fury
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Release: August 2011
Series: The Fury #1
Genre: YA paranormal
Publisher: Simon Pulse
POV: 3rd person, dual
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Won from Paper Lantern Lit
Rating: Tea Party

In this chilling start to a trilogy rife with revenge, two teens learn the hard way: Sometimes sorry isn’t enough.

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better—the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay. Em and Chase have been chosen.

Highlights: Miles pushes the Gothic elements in Fury enough to put readers into an uneasy mood and to give the story a rich, descriptive vibe. Fury is a delight to read, in a twisted sort of way. The Gothic elements added the right touch of eeriness to the story, and caused Fury to become a difficult novel to set aside. It was especially fascinating to read a novel where both main characters - Em and Chase - are utterly unlikable characters who make terrible decisions and then try to deal with the consequences. This is an easy story to lose yourself in for a few hours, which was exactly what I needed.

Lowlights: There's too much focus on social drama, appearances, and not enough on the Furies themselves. I wish the Fury mythology had been included more (as well as more of the Furies in general), but perhaps Miles will delve deeper into that in the next novel.

Rating: Tea Party (very high 3 out of 5). I genuinely liked Fury, enough that I want a copy in the palace even if it doesn't earn a spot in the royal library. It's a likable story, with some issues, but it proved itself to be highly entertaining.

Slow Week...and Links

Hey everyone!
I know things have been slow on the blog lately. My college courses started a couple weeks ago, so I'm a little behind on blogging (analyzing The Canterbury Tales and Beowulf is taking up so much of my time that it's almost ridiculous). However, I should be back on track with blogging, commenting, and emailing fairly soon. In the meantime, this week will have fewer posts than normal.
But in the meantime, I did manage to spot something neat while on Amazon buying textbooks -- Have you seen that the original script of the pilot episode for ABC's upcoming TV series Revenge is available free on Kindle? It even has a link to the full pilot episode at the end of the script to watch, so be sure to check it out! 
Also, make sure you enter to win Hades by Alexandra Adornetto here on my blog if you haven't already. It ends soon!
Hope you all are having a fabulous week so far :)


PS: I figured since I didn't have that many posts lately, I at least owed you guys an adorable photo of my dog from her puppy years. Don't be fooled by her innocent stare though....she was a rascal then, and even more so now ;)

Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook Review

Book: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood

Author: Eileen Cook

Age: Young Adult

Pages: 261

Copy Provided by: Won from Delightful Reviews/Eileen Cook

Summary:

Popularity is the best revenge.

In the final weeks of eight grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls -- and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.

But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren -- starting with her boyfriend.

Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.

Review: We know those girls. The one's that seem perfect, the one's that go through life with ease. The one's you trust, only to have them betray you any given second, for their own gain. We see them, love them, hate them, remember them, and all the things they messed up in our lives.

Helen definitely acts upon this remembrance, and gives us a show of revenge that had me addicted to each page. In some ways, it was fun to watch Lauren suffer, and see Helen/Claire get the revenge she justly deserved (watching your enemy suffer? priceless). Yet, how far is too far? In her attempt to ruin Lauren's life, Helen could ruin her own.

Highlights: The scandal, pranks, and everything in between was awesome. Helen/Claire's revenge was fun to read about, because it kind of allows the reader to have fun with the revenge, and then just let it go. The overall message to the novel is fantastic, and something I live by myself. Even though revenge is tempting, it's just not worth it in the end.

Lowlights: Me being me, I couldn't help but to feel bad for Lauren at times (even though she was so easy to dislike).

Rating:    

Lea

Looks by Madeleine George Review

Book: Looks

Author: Madeleine George

Source: Author

Summary:

Have you ever felt invisible?

Meghan Ball has. Despite her massive size, she's the most unseen person at Valley Regional High. People say things in front of her--all sorts of things--as if she doesn't exist. And most of the time she feels as if she doesn't.

Until Meghan sees Aimee Zorn. Aimee is as skinny as Meghan is large and as outwardly angry as Meghan is inwardly sad. Meghan instantly recognizes a kindred spirit in Aimee, another person using her body to say what she cannot.

Alone, they are powerless; but together, Meghan and Aimee have the strength to get sweet revenge against the one girl in school who hurt them both.

Review: Wow. I don't even know where to begin, but this novel was fantastic. 

Meghan is an outcast, and I really felt her pain. I thought this novel was so true to the horrors of high school, because let's face it, people can be harsh. Whenever J-Bar bullied her, I could see it happening. This novel dives deeply into a lot of issues like anorexia, obesity, betrayal, bullying, isolation, invisibility, I could go on. It felt so real to me. 

This novel really changed the way I look at some people, and I'm so glad I read this.

Highlights: When Cara showed her true colors. Okay, that should so not be a good thing, but I was just glad to see it. Sometimes, it's people like Cara who hurt you the most. Also, when Meghan and Aimee joined forces to bring down the one person that hurt them both, and they do not disappoint (I wish I had guts like these girls, but I have a conscience, which is horrible for revenge). I also really loved the character Mr. Handsley, I wish I had a teacher like him. Ms. Champoux was hilarious as well, especially with the morning announcements.

Also, how awesome is this cover? It's brilliant, as is the hardcover (check out the my interview with Madeleine to see the hardcover).

Lowlights: The action came a little later than I thought it would, and Meghan's constant following Aimee seemed a bit odd at times. I could understand where she was coming from, and in the end, they were kindred spirits. I also really, really wanted to punch J-Bar in the face. But I think he got what was coming to him. The ending was a little disturbing, because it just made me wonder about a lot of things...

Rating:     

Interview: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

Hello everyone! Today I have Eileen Cook here to answer some questions about her newest novel, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood.

What is your novel Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood about?

I would tell you the book is about friendship, figuring out what you really want in life, and how payback can be a bitch. Then because this is totally a vague answer that tells you absolutely nothing, I would point you to a more formal description that the publisher came up with.

Popularity is the best revenge.

In the final weeks of eight grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.

But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren--starting with her boyfriend.

Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I was talking with a friend about how most people we know had the experience of having someone you thought you could trust, someone you may have thought was a friend, totally screw you over. Maybe they cheated with your boyfriend, or they shared your secrets with someone, or you found out they were telling lies about you behind your back. Whatever they did, it totally rocked your world because until that point you didn't think someone you liked and trusted was capable of doing that. We each shared our story and then talked about the ways we wished we could have gotten revenge on that person. Later that weekend I was cleaning my bookshelves (which I have to do all the time because my house is basically buried under books) and came across a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo. This is a great book about revenge and I started flipping through it and thinking how great it would be to come back to town if no one knew who you were and to have a chance to take someone down who had hurt you.

The book combined with that discussion starting my brain spinning. I started to sketch out the idea and after a few pages I was off and running.

What are your main characters like?

Helen/Claire is the main character. She's been betrayed by someone who she thought was her best friend. She's convinced her life would be totally different if this hadn't happened to her. When she has a chance to come back and get revenge on Lauren, she can't resist. At first the revenge is a lot of fun, but she begins to notice that it is taking over her life.

There is Lauren Wood of course, the one who betrays Helen. I'll be interested to see what people think of her. I had a lot of fun writing her character. Writing people who are bad is fun.

Do you have any favorite characters?

I love them all! This is the problem with writing them. You spend so much time with them that you feel like they are friends except for the part where you realize they are all made up.

I have a fondness for Christopher. He is a classic film nut, he watches old black and white movies all the time and plans to be a director in the film industry. He's totally comfortable with who he is and doesn't worry what other people think of him. I admire people who have that much confidence. Plus, he's really cute.

Have you ever done something crazy in order to get revenge on someone?

I've never done anything to get revenge, but I sure have thought about it sometimes! If I want to sound all grown up and Zen I would tell you that living a happy life is the best revenge. If we use that definition then I've gotten revenge. I'm really lucky. I love my life, I have a great husband, dogs and get to write books. That's pretty darn good.

I am one of those people who does have a long memory. If you've been mean to me or someone I care about, I don't forget. I wouldn't get revenge, but I sure wouldn't go out of my way to do anything nice for you.

Thank you so much Eileen! It sounds fantastic!!!