"Unfortunately, not a book I enjoyed all that much"
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: I received a free ARC for review
Summary:
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...THEY GET EVEN.Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.Kat is tired of the rumors, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste. (from Goodreads)
MY THOUGHTS:
Writing this review has been somewhat difficult as there isn't one thing I can point to that I didn't particularly like, but overall, I can't say I enjoyed this one very much.
It started out good - we get to meet Lillia, Kat and Mary and their friends (or lack there of). The story progresses fast, with POVs switching up every chapter. It's fast moving yes, but it was also a little all over the place and I found myself lost a couple of times trying to remember just who each character was and how they fit into the story line. In some cases, it turns out, they weren't even important at all.
In the end what really threw me is the fact that as reprehensible as our three character's 'enemies' are - the girls themselves weren't exactly saints and it was hard for me to feel pity for them - especially enough to condone their actions. It felt at times like a giant bully fight. The 'good' bullies were attacking the 'bad' bullies but in the end I wasn't left with much sympathy for anyone.
The exception perhaps being with Mary. BUT there is something weird going on with her character and I'm not sure I liked it at all. Book 2 might flesh out this strange twist that in my mind didn't fit into the story AT ALL but even if it does I'm not sure I like where the authors might be going with this one.
FINAL VERDICT:
Unfortunately, not a book I enjoyed all that much.
Overall? I'm disappointed with Burn for Burn. The good girls weren't good enough, some of the bad boys weren't all that bad. Something strange and totally out of left field is added in, seemingly without purpose and the ending? Yeah, there wasn't one.
Being my first book written by these 2 authors, I'm not about to give up on them just yet. I've heard others say they really enjoy the writings of Han and Vivian and I've also found people who feel the same way I do abut Burn for Burn.
WILL I CONTINUE WITH THIS SERIES?:
Unless book 2 gets raving reviews, I would have to say at this point, probably not. My feelings may change over time though - we'll see!
Overall Rating:
3 / 5 Stars
Books in the Burn for Burn Series:
#1 Burn for Burn
#2 Fire with Fire (2013)
#3 Ashes to Ashes (2014)
I actually was expecting this book to be really good what with the awesome authors and all but I guess that's not the case.
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