**There’s a maybe, kinda, sorta…spoiler…thingy…in this review. Beware.**
One recent Wednesday that Christine and I, and a couple others probably, were doing a read-a-thon night (we stayed up reading all night…yep) I decided to start the evening with Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma. It was good, it was really good. In fact, I have to write a review for it soon. But afterward, I wanted to read something light. So, I examined my egalleys and saw this one. It’s from HarlequinTeen and I’ve been loving their titles recently. And it just sounded fun.
What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?
Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to-Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.
But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives-visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.
I thought to myself, this sounds like a fun, paranormal romance that will have a happy ending. Which was exactly what I wanted. And it was exactly what I got. Is that a spoiler? I don’t know. Maybe.
I loved Emma. She was sarcastic and smart and wouldn’t let herself get beaten down. I enjoyed how she held on to the fun in her life despite some awful things happening to her recently. She wasn’t all sunshine and daisies, but the book wasn’t depressing either. It was a delicate balance to maintain, and I think it was maintained well.
Now, the mysterious boy who runs hot and cold is a little bit…done. But Brendan is his own character as well. I liked him, and how he took the situation seriously, but still wanted to do what he could to circumvent the….uh…circumstances making him act hot and cold. Also, I just really liked him, you know? Like for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on, I just preferred it when he was on the page. Possibly I just thought he was hot. Who knows.
But what I really loved about this book was it’s light-hearted-ness. Yes, bad things had happened to some of the characters, but the book never took itself too seriously. It was like the plot knew it was about witches and reincarnation and high school drama. The last book I read about reincarnation, The Eternal Ones by Kristen Miller, was good, but took itself a little seriously for my liking.
I can’t think of a single thing I disliked about this book. It certainly isn’t for everyone, it’s a pretty typical paranormal romance book, but I loved it nonetheless. It was exactly what I wanted to read when I read it and it didn’t disappoint in any way. Also, Emma participates in the final showdown. I always appreciate a woman of action and intelligence and Emma was both.
If on June 28th, you’re looking to read something fun with easy to like characters and an intriguing plot that doesn’t have a cliffhanger ending, well then, read this. You won’t regret it.