My Book Reviews

Category: Young Adult

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Young Adult genre.

A Tale Dark & Grimm (A Tale Dark & Grimm #1)

A Tale Dark & Grimm (A Tale Dark & Grimm #1) by Adam Gidwitz
Release: August 18, 2011
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin Books
Source: Edelweiss+

Tale Dark and Grimm Synopsis:

Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm (and Grimm-inspired) fairy tales. An irreverent, witty narrator leads us through encounters with witches, warlocks, dragons, and the devil himself. As the siblings roam a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Because once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.

Book Trailer:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q08Ad7D98h8[/embedyt]

Review:

A BIG Thank You to Edelweiss+, Puffin Books and Penguin Publishing Group for providing me a copy of “A Tale Dark & Grimm (A Tale Dark & Grimm #1)” by Adam Gidwitz in exchange for my review. Edelweiss+ only had a snippet preview of this book, but I was hooked on the first page itself and decided to purchase it online immediately. I loved every bit of this story!

I’m not sure how true this story is to the original Grimm version, but it kept me glued. It is fast paced and has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Initially, I expected the main plot to only cover the story we are used to. Instead, in this retelling, the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale that we know of gets over in the beginning itself. What follows are more gruesome unfortunate adventures of the siblings. The book wonderfully portrays how they grow and mature and adapt to the harsh realities of life.

Even though the story and the world building are purely fantasy, the characters are very realistic and down to Earth. I loved the three ravens who part their wisdom with their cranky humor. Hansel and Gretel are strong, smart, courageous and very inspiring. The story perfectly blends humor, suspense, adventure and mystery in it. The scenes where Hansel hides in the Devil’s home to outsmart him was hilarious and suspenseful at the same time. Another interesting factor is how the author disperses elements from the original story across this novel. For example, there are no breadcrumbs throws in the woods when the children are going to the witch’s house. Instead, Gretel throws lentils and seeds on her way to see the mysterious man that she has a crush on.

Adam Gidwitz has a wonderful talent for writing children’s books and especially fairy tales. I enjoyed how he put his own commentary and warnings, and it felt like he is narrating the story to the reader. Moreover, some of the passages are written in a pure fairy tale like poetic manner that is so delightful to read. The author uses a lot of hidden themes, metaphors and morals in each story that we can reflect with in our lives. Probably the only thing that was a little uncomfortable to read was the gory descriptions. This book gets really graphic for a children’s novel and I don’t think it is suitable for younger readers. Even though the author gives warnings for small children to not read the scary details following it, it would make them want to read it anyway.

Overall, I loved this first book in the ‘Tale Dark and Grimm’ series and I will definitely read the others as soon as I get my hands on them.

[Read my Review on Book 2: In A Glass Grimmly (A Tale Dark & Grimm #2)]

June 16, 2018
Broken Hearts (Fear Street Super Chiller #4) by R.L. Stine

Broken Hearts (Fear Street Super Chiller #4) by R.L. Stine
Release: February 1st 1993
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Amazon

Broken Hearts Synopsis:

Roses are red, corpses are blue. On Valentine’s Day, you’ll die too!

There’s someone out there, someone who kills on Valentine’s Day. Josie and Melissa are scared—especially when they receive threatening valentines. Then the murders begin. Who is sending these horrible valentines to the girls of Shadyside High? And who will be the next to die?

Review:

“Broken Hearts” was pretty good in terms of its twists and turns. Just when you have figured out who the suspect is, Stine shifts the focus on someone else. This becomes very entertaining as there are quite a few suspects and almost everybody seems guilty. Even the victim, Rachel, is extremely creepy. Her childlike mannerisms add a whole new level of eeriness to the book. You really don’t know what she might do because she is not in the right state of mind. There are some really suspenseful moments like when Dave enters the house to destroy the cards, and when Melissa sees a redhead running in the street. When the murderer is revealed in the end, the person’s motives seemed legitimate, in contrast to some of the others in this series.

The downside to this book is that there are just too many characters and at times they seem to be shifting their romance interests from one to the other. Erica likes Jenkman, but Jenkman likes Josie. Melissa likes Dave but Dave likes Josie. Josie used to date Dave, but now dates Steve, who shows an interest for Erica later. Then you have Luke who used to date Rachel but now has an interest on Melissa. As if the plot didn’t have enough twists and turns, we had to deal with who is dating whom! Secondly, I despised Josie and her attitude towards everyone. She has such an arrogance and haughty attitude that I didn’t feel any empathy towards her when she was threatened. There is no reason or motive given as to why she even behaves this way.

On a side note, it really irked me that the parents didn’t spend any time with their kids. The dad is supposed to own a chain of stores but cannot afford to take time to see his family during their time of need? And why does the mother have to work such long hours? Well, as this is a Fear Street novel, we really cannot expect doting parents be depicted in them, but it just seemed very unrealistic.

Overall, “Broken Hearts” is a decent Fear Street Super Chiller book. It is worth picking up if you are a fan of the series and haven’t read it yet. P.S. I also liked that this was one of the few Fear Street books where the cover accurately showcases an actual scene from the book!

June 9, 2018
The Wrong Number (Fear Street #5) by R.L. Stine

The Wrong Number (Fear Street #5) by R.L. Stine
Release: March 1st 1990
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Amazon

Wrong Number Synopsis:

It begins as an innocent prank, when Deena Martinson and her best friend Jade Smith make sexy phone calls to the boys from school. But Deena’s half-brother Chuck catches them in the act and threatens to tell their parents, unless the girls let him in on the fun. Chuck begins making random calls, threatening anyone who answers. It’s dangerous and exciting. They’re even enjoying the publicity, and the uproar they’ve caused. Until Chuck calls a number on Fear Street.

To his horror, Chuck realizes he has called THE WRONG NUMBER. The jokes are over when murder is on the line. The murderer knows who they are and where they live — and they have nowhere to call for help.

Review:

I always feel like the initial Fear Street books were much more refined and fun to read than their successors. “The Wrong Number” is one of books that’s genuinely fun and campy to read.

The story doesn’t rely on gore or supernatural elements to make it interesting. It is a good old fashioned murder mystery that has a touch of the creepiness of Fear Street. In some ways, I felt like I was watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie set for the 90s teenagers. In many Fear Street novels, there are multiple red herrings and suspects that keeps you guessing who the culprit is. However, “The Wrong Number” is pretty straight forward on who is responsible, and the thrills lie on the protagonists solving the mystery. While there are readers who might dislike this book because for the same reason, I personally liked it. There are still lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing whether Deena and Jade will be successful.

The characters are ok but not really that memorable. The main characters, Deena and Jade are also fun to read when they are together. The book would have been better had it focused more on Jade than Deena, as Jade has a vibrant personality. Deena, on the other hand is not as interesting as her friend. She seemed very unsure of herself and kept relying on Jade to take the first step for almost everything. Chuck is mysterious and interesting in the beginning, but we really don’t get to know anything about him. I wish there was some reveal about his past so that we can get to understand why he behaves that way.

The only part I didn’t get were the scenes of the dead cat. I am not going to spoil it for those who are reading it, but what was the point of even having that elaborate scene? Why would someone go through all the trouble for a dead cat? There scene was very random and could have been avoided. Overall, I enjoyed reading “The Wrong Number” and thought it was one of the better “Fear Street” novels. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

June 9, 2018
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Release: May 8th 2018
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Source: Amazon

Amal Unbound Synopsis:

Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal’s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she’s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when–as the eldest daughter–she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn’t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens–after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt.

Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal–especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal’s growing awareness of the Khans’ nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

Review:

I just finished reading this gem of a book in one sitting, and am writing this review while the story is still fresh in my mind.

The book takes inspiration from Malala Yousafzai’s life. The story deals with the harsh realities that we still face in countries like India and Pakistan. Being an Indian, I know that there are still many rural areas where these sort of incidents do occur. Families wish to have only boys to avoid spending on dowry, carrying the family name after marriage, etc. Amal is lucky in the story because she is born into a nice family with loving parents. Even when Amal faces her harsh new reality, she still has a decent job working for Nasreen Baji. In reality, children get physically abused and tortured when they fall into the wrong hands. However, since this is a middle grade novel, I liked the fact that it had a bit of a fairy tale like feel towards it and doesn’t get too gruesome.

Reading such stories remind me of how lucky and thankful I am for being fortunate to live a content life. True, it is not perfect in any way, but it could always be worse. There are people who steal children from the streets and sell them for slavery in the Far East. Parents disown their children and send them to orphanages just for being born as girls. People kill people just because of their skin color, race, religion or sexuality. While these things are not going to change overnight, stories like this do bring it one step closer towards raising awareness. It is important for everyone to have an education and become aware to treat others with equality and respect.

Anyway, coming back to the book, Aisha Saeed has done a wonderful job in beautifully portraying a serious issue in a simple yet compelling manner that would attract readers of all ages, not just children. Personally, I was hoping for a little more drama toward the climax where things don’t go according to her plan, just to make the story more interesting. However, I still loved reading this book! On a side note, the cover design is AMAZING as well! It has a wonderful contrast of colors and a beautiful henna of the world in the palm of Amal’s hands. I initially picked out this book without even reading the synopsis, just for the cover. Overall, “Amal Unbound” is a beautiful middle grade novel, and I feel should be a staple book read in schools.

June 5, 2018
Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen
Expected Release: July 10th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: NetGalley

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge Synopsis:

They say Château Beaumont is cursed. But servant-girl Lucie can’t believe such foolishness about handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, master of the estate. But when the chevalier’s cruelty is revealed, Lucie vows to see him suffer. A wisewoman grants her wish, with a spell that transforms Jean-Loup into monstrous-looking Beast, reflecting the monster he is inside. But Beast is nothing like the chevalier. Jean-Loup would never patiently tend his roses; He would never attempt poetry; He would never express remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. Gradually, Lucie realizes that Beast is an entirely different creature from the handsome chevalier, with a heart more human than Jean-Loup’s ever was. Lucie dares to hope that noble Beast has permanently replaced the cruel Jean-Loup — until an innocent beauty arrives at Beast’s château with the power to break the spell.

Review:

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me a copy of “Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge″ by Lisa Jensen in exchange for my review.

When I first started reading this book, I honestly did not expect to enjoy it. This story depicts a dark retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales. Moreover, I really didn’t like the idea of the main characters portrayed in a negative manner. Having said that, I enjoyed reading this book more than I thought I would.

Let’s start with the story line. Frankly speaking, I found the story to be dragging in the first half and I had trouble with the pacing. The plot is indeed very dark and disturbing in the first few chapters as it deals with rape and suicide. However, once the transformation happens and the two protagonists are stuck in the Chateau, the story shifts pace and nothing really happens for a while to progress it. True, it is interesting to see the nuances in the Beast’s personality initially, but I found this to be repetitive after sometime. However, the story considerably picks up in the second half when Rose enters the Chateau. There are lots of twists and turns that happens after she arrives, and I found myself glued to the book. I also loved the climax of the book and was satisfied with how the characters were treated.

Now let’s talk about the controversial topic that others are talking about this book, which is the victim falling in love with her rapist. I completely agree that if that were the case, I would have hated this book and put it down immediately. However, I disagree with respect to this story because I feel that the Beast and Jean-Loup are two completely different identities. It is clear that the Beast does not have any idea about the actions or the personality of Jean-Loup and vice versa. Furthermore, they don’t even look alike when they transform into their form. So while they may be using the same body to transform in, I felt that they were two completely different people and Lucie could clearly distinguish between both.

Lisa Jensen has written this story in a beautiful and majestic manner. Her words are like fine wine and compliment to the setting and timelines of the story. The cover design of the book is also amazing and I hope it remains the same for the final publication. Overall, this was an interesting retelling to Beauty and the Beast and I rate it 4/5 stars.

June 2, 2018
Whisper (Whisper #1) by Lynette Noni

Whisper (Whisper #1) by Lynette Noni
Release: May 1st 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Pantera Press
Source: NetGalley

Whisper Synopsis:

“Lengard is a secret government facility for extraordinary people,” they told me.

I believed them. That was my mistake.

There isn’t anyone else in the world like me.

I’m different. I’m a monster.

For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.

As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.

Review:

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Pantera Press for providing me a copy of “Whisper” by Lynette Noni in exchange for my review. This is such an amazing book to read!

“Whisper” is written from a first person perspective of Jane Doe, which I liked as it made me feel closely connected to her. Even though she doesn’t speak much, I was immersed in JD and her thoughts and could easily relate to her. Furthermore, I loved how complex Jane Doe is as we progress with her in the story. She is vulnerable, frustrated, confused, and scared, but yet determined and hopeful considering whatever she has been through. The reader can slowly see her becoming confident and in control once she learns more about what’s going on. In fact, all the supporting characters have their own unique personality that make them likable in some way. I loved Cam and Kael in particular because of their friendliness and honesty towards JD. I adored Enzo as well for how he supports JD throughout her battles.

The author has written the story in simple but gripping manner. Initially, I didn’t know how the story would turn out with Jane Doe being a prisoner in Lengard. As the story develops, there are so many twists and turns that made me wonder what will happen next! Without giving much away, the incidents that take place in the Market in Sydney, at the zoo and when JD sees Dinger are some of my favorite moments. Not just in terms of the plot, but the characters also shocked me as well. Sometimes I would image a character reacting a certain way, only to find that they behaved exactly the opposite. Even now, after reading this book, I am not sure whether I should love Ward or hate him!

Another aspect I particularly loved is that it focuses mainly on JD, without turning it into a love story between her and her love interest. While I would have enjoyed seeing more romance between JD and the men to come into her life, I liked that it primarily concentrated only on JD finding herself. I also enjoyed the fact that there is some closure in the end, but still so many questions that makes me want to pick out the next book in the series!

This book just has everything in it for a great read! Mystery, suspense, science fiction, supernatural, romance, friendship rooted on an unforgettable plot surrounded by wonderful characters! Lynette Noni has created a masterpiece with this novel and I can’t wait for the sequel to release!

May 8, 2018
Scavenger Hunt by Christopher Pike

Scavenger Hunt by Christopher Pike
Release: June 10th 1989
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Archway Paperbacks
Source: Amazon

Scavenger Hunt Synopsis:

School was almost over. A secretive club on campus had organized a scavenger hunt for the entire senior class. In small groups, and with the help of cleverly planted clues, the kids are led throughout the city, and then deep into a nighttime desert. The sponsoring club has promised a wonderful prize for the first group to reach the goal of the hunt. But for Carl Timmons, a troubled young man who has recently lost his best friend, the hunt will become a nightmare. Led astray by his love for a strangely beautiful girl, he will wander far from the others, and back into a haunted past, where the line between the living and the dead is blurred and broken.

Review:

I thought “Scavenger Hunt” was very interesting at first. The plot seemed unique and honestly unlike anything I have read. I enjoyed the way the clues were setup and how the team started to decipher them. Even though it was originally published in 1989, the story did not feel outdated. The characters also showed unique and varied qualities and it was fun reading how they reacted to the clues. I really thought this was going to be a great read. However, it all turned out to be a BIG disappointment in the second half.

There are three reasons I gave this an average rating, the first reason being that I hated Carl’s character. This guy is such a wimpy protagonist who keeps getting in trouble with the wrong crowd. He chooses the wrong team only because he thinks Cessy is hot. He’s a coward for not saving Joe and he admits it. Frequently I was put off having to deal with reading him whining over his inner conflicts. The list for me disliking him goes on. Davey was also a bit annoying. He comes off as your typical mustache-twirling villain without any complexity. Cessy is much more interesting, but she is not given much focus. My favorite character here is Tracie. I loved that she figures out what is happening and risks everything to save Carl. I also liked Paula and Rick and wished that there was more written about them.

My second reason for removing an additional star is the plot holes. I still have questions after finishing this book, such as:
– Who was that person (or creature) in the purple house?
– What happened to the other groups who did the Scavenger Hunt? Why didn’t Davey choose people from other groups as well?
– Why did Pike bring in a random alcoholic priest into the story who didn’t add any value?
– When I look at the cover of the original US edition (that I read), I still don’t know who these three people are.

Now for the third reason. I always felt like reading a Pike book was better than a Stine book because it was more profound. The author usually adds some deep philosophical texts about the universe and mankind in his books. Scavenger Hunt did not have any of that! The climax towards the end is just cartoony and I just felt ‘meh’ after reading this book. Pike has written better stories than this, and the fallout to this suspenseful plot is disappointing. Overall, if you want to read a vintage Christopher Pike novel, you can dismiss this one and pick up “Whisper of Death” or “Road to Nowhere”.

April 21, 2018
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
Release: March 6th 2018
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Dial Books
Source: Amazon

The Night Diary Synopsis:

It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.

Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.

Review:

I loved the concept of “The Night Diary”! Veera Hiranandani has done a wonderful job in portraying how the Indian Independence affected the lifestyles of an average family. She realistically depicts the hardships that someone would have faced to move from Pakistan to India during this period. When we read about our leaders in history books, we read only of their struggles faced prior to independence. However, this book opened my eyes to show how Nehru and Gandhi also faced a lot of issues post-independence. An example being this mass movement between the Hindus and the Muslims with the split of India and Pakistan.

I loved the way the author writes the story through Nisha’s diary entries during the time of Independence. It made the book feel more personal and felt like I was with them during their journey. There are some very gripping scenes that I don’t think I would ever forget. Some of these are:
- When Nisha and her family get on the train and start seeing people killing each other.
- The time a stranger seizes Nisha and threatens to kill her
- When Nisha experiences how hostile some of the students in school are to her and Amil
However, there are two aspects that disappointed me. The first was the pacing. I found the first half of the book to be a bit dragging and slow. Nothing really happens except for Nisha and Amil going on about their daily activities with their Papa, Dadi and Kazi. Nisha repeatedly talks about her mother, her brother’s lack in schoolwork, and cooking with Kazi. The story gets interesting only when they start moving towards their new destination, which is around halfway into the book. From then on, the story kept me on my toes and I kept wondering what was going to happen next.

Secondly, I found Nisha’s character to be annoying after a while. I hoped that the girl would gain some courage during her adventure, especially after the traumatic incidents she faced. However, the whole journey seemed to make her more quiet and secluded. As Nisha admits, rather than making things better, she only gets into trouble for trying to be friends with Hafa. She decides to remain quiet when she is scolded at, and doesn’t show any positive change after the whole experience. I wish the author had portrayed her as a stronger character.

Also, there are some minor incidents that I wish the author had given some closure on. For instance, as Amil shows symptoms of being autistic, I wanted details on how their Papa dealt with the issue. Moreover, their uncle Rashid seemed like a very interesting character and I wished that there was more details about him and his bond with their mother.

Overall, I actually loved the Night Diary and it is an unforgettable book in many ways. If the pacing and the characters had been slightly better, I would have given it 5/5 stars. Nevertheless it is really good and worth reading!
April 15, 2018
See All the Stars by Kit Frick

See All the Stars by Kit Frick
Expected Release: August 14th 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: McElderry Books
Source: NetGalley

See All The Stars Synopsis:

It’s hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.

THEN They were four—Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory’s whole solar system.

NOW Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.

THEN Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.

NOW Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away—no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won’t let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she’s lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.

The path forward isn’t a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies—the lies Ellory has been telling herself.

Review:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I…
I stumbled upon this book and was mesmerized!

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing me a copy of “See All the Stars” by Kit Frick in exchange for my review.

Before I get into the details, I LOVED reading this book and managed to finish most of it in one sitting.

The story is written in a beautiful way where each chapter shifted between what’s happening NOW vs what’s happening THEN. Even though the setting changed between the chapters, the pacing remained consistent and kept me invested in the story. Throughout the book, the author cleverly integrates topics of friendship, breakups, and betrayals masked with a level of suspense. Furthermore, the ending completely threw me off. I am not going to spoil it, but I did not see that plot twist coming at all! I had to go back and re-read a few passages to see if it all fit, and it did! It’s one of those books that made me sit in awe after finishing, just to grasp it all in. That in itself makes this such a memorable read.

Coming to the characters, the author has written them realistically that the reader can easily relate to. They are complex, have issues, make mistakes and act impulsively; in other words, they behave like teenagers. Moreover, I loved the analogy the author used to connect each character to a planet/star to describe their bond. Ellory is the main character and the person whom I could relate to the most. When she reminisces over her friendship with Ret, it made me recall about my past friendships and how they fell apart. Ret is a character you just love to hate. She oozes confidence and attracts people to be her friends for her own advantage. More than Ret, I think I despised Jenni. Even though she doesn’t appear much, I hated her attitude towards Ellory whenever she appeared.

Kit Frick has done an amazing job in her debut novel and I have instantly become her fan! When I think about it, the story is nothing new and has been done countless times before. However, the way the author has weaved the words and described the story is so captivating that feels fresh. There was never a moment where I got bored and felt like skipping a few pages. Now that I have finished reading “See all the stars”, I am already anxiously looking forward to her next book release. Overall, I loved “See All the Stars” and highly recommend others to give it a chance and read it.

April 7, 2018
The Dead Boyfriend (Fear Street Relaunch #5)

The Dead Boyfriend by R.L. Stine
Release: September 27th 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: Amazon

Dead Boyfriend Synopsis:

Caitlin has never had a real boyfriend before. When she starts seeing Blade, she throws herself into the relationship with fervor. She ignores her friends, who warn her that Blade may be a phony and that she is taking the whole thing too seriously. Caitlin is smitten. She doesn’t care if she loses her friends. All she wants is Blade. When Caitlin sees Blade with another girl, she completely loses it. She snaps. Everything goes red. When she comes back to her senses, she realizes that Blade is dead—and she has killed him. But if Colin is dead, how is he staring at her across a crowded party?

Review:

R.L. Stine continues to be one of those authors I gravitate towards for short, campy horror books for nostalgia. “Fear Street” and “Point Horror” were one of my favorite series growing up, and I still love re-reading some of these titles. So far, I am enjoying the new books in the Relaunch series and “The Dead Boyfriend” is a nice addition.

Unlike some of the other reviews I’ve come across, I thought the characters were well written. I felt that all three protagonists were strange enough to make the story feel like “Fear Street”. Caitlyn plays the perfect role of the girl gone crazy from being traumatized of the horror. Deena is very weird and creepy with her black magic, and you never really know what she might do next. Blade comes back as a zombie version and torments Caitlyn that also adds well to the horror. Stine cleverly blended various elements, like witches, zombies, black magic and murder and made the story very interesting.

The story is gripping for most part and keeps you wondering what will happen next. There were parts that completely surprised me, like when Caitlyn suddenly attacks Blade, or when Blade gets animated in church. It also has an interesting moment where it connects the characters and scenes to “The Lost Girl”, another book in the Relaunch series.

Now, the main part that ruined the book for me – the frustrating ending! We know that Stine’s novels always has a twist in the end that make you go WTH! But this one could have been better. It reminded me a bit about how his other Fear Street novel “Switched” ended. However, while the ending of “Switched” made the story creepier, this felt like a let-down. I guess the ending makes logical sense, but I would have expected something more innovative from the author.

I feel like I want to love this series as how I did back in the 90s. I’m not sure if I have outgrown this type of horror genre, or if Stine’s writing skills have dimmed, but I don’t find myself enjoying these books like I used to. Having said that, “The Dead Boyfriend” comes very close to creating the eerie suspense to the original, more than the other books in the Relaunch. Overall, I would have loved the book if the ending was written with a more original climax.

April 3, 2018