Burn For Burn | Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian | Book Review

I think you guys have heard me prattle on enough about the sort of guilt my TBR places on my conscience. You know, because I actually do care about things like reading books sent for review like a year after they’ve been sent. So instead, I think I’ll start my review of Burn For Burn by the dynamic duo Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian by saying that I am so glad I finally picked it up. What prompted me to pick it up was a spectacular review that I had read by Elizabeth over at Gossamer Obsessions. She had some pretty great things to say about the book and she is someone who does not bullshit in her reviews so I was like oh my goodness I NEED TO READ THIS NOW. And by now, I mean in a few weeks when I get some time. Y’all, Burn For Burn was a freaking good book and I am an idiot for waiting so long to read it because I really enjoyed it.

Burn For Burn Jenny Han Siobhan Vivian | Good Books And Good Wine

Who does not like a good tale of revenge? Seriously, who? Okay, okay, I know some people are like the moral police and are all like boooo revenge is bad boooo. Whatever. I personally believe revenge is awesome and it’s a dish that’s best served cold and sometimes people get what’s coming to them. Hah, I bet you all think I am crazy now, but hear me out. One of my favorite reads ever is this epic tale of vengeance, you might have heard of it – The Count Of Monte Cristo, yes? Well, Burn For Burn is about three teenage girls who are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore. Mary, Kat, and Lillia are senior girls who live on Jar Island. Each girl has had something quite horrific happen to her and karma needs a little help along the way. So, the three band together to carry out some pretty grand vengeance. AND IT IS AWESOME.

Mary, Lillia, and Kat come from different walks of life and different social circles. Mary has been living off the island for years and has decided to move back for her senior year because she wants closure from this guy named Reeve who made her life hell in the seventh grade. Y’all, you’ll meet Reeve and agree that he’s a total dick. Also, Mary is kind of weird, but when you find out what happened to her in the past you’ll have some empathy for her, I think. Lillia is extremely wealthy, her dad is a research scientist for cancer, hence her family having gobs of money. Anyways, she is in the popular circle and an unlikely member of the group. Yet, when this guy Alex comes sniffing around her sister and might have taken advantage, Lillia is pissed. Like, SERIOUSLY pissed, so she’s ready to get him good. Kat used to be very close with Lillia and this other girl, Rennie. Until Rennie decides she’s too good for Kat. So, Rennie starts spreading vicious rumors about Kat. And so, Kat decides enough is enough.

Told in alternating first person point of view chapters, I thought that Burn For Burn was a pretty seamless book. I couldn’t tell where Jenny Han ended and Siobhan Vivian began. The book just flows really well, and even though it’s 354 pages, it’s one that basically you look up from and go whoa, did I really just read 100 pages in 40 minutes? This essentially happened to me when I finished reading the book this morning (as of the date I am writing the review, when this posts, it’ll be a few weekends ago). The alternating point of views really gave me the opportunity to understand the motivation of each girl and each girl’s unique personality. I still can’t tell you which is my favorite – probably Lillia. Anyways. The chapters are mad short and because the point of view is consistently shifting, I never felt that the book was dragging or slow or boring. To go along with that, I also never felt confused at what was going on. The chapters opened and closed at logical points instead of ridiculous, questionable points.

Look, revenge is awesome. Straight up. And if you are kind of vengeful like I am, I bet you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE Burn For Burn, because sometimes people do things that are really awful and things with the worst of intentions and they don’t get any sort of karmic payback. This book let me vicariously see what would happen if those people did get payback. And now that I think about it, reading Burn For Burn makes me want to check out the big deal around that TV show, Revenge. Anyways, give Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han’s Burn For Burn a chance because it’s basically awesome.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher… in 2012, because I am the worst at reading things on time.

Other reviews of Burn For Burn by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han:

Gossamer Obsessions – “Part of what I love about Burn for Burn is how unexpectedly complex it is
Alexa Reads Books – “managed to ensnare me with its addictive plot
Rally The Readers – “compulsively readable

Books by Jenny Han:
The Summer I Turned Pretty

Books by Siobhan Vivian:
The List

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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. I freakin loved this book so hard. I thought it was just so much FUN. I loved the revenge and the alternating POV and I completely 100% agree with this –> “I couldn’t tell where Jenny Han ended and Siobhan Vivian began.” which I thought was incredible since, you know, writing with two people doesn’t seem very easy to me and all. And that ending?? Such fun. Anyway, I’m really excited about going further with the series, I think I’m audioing that one and reading along in print, you know how I do that thing I do and I’m anxious to see how things progress. I’m really glad you liked this one, though, because I was sort of sad to see how there were mixed reactions when it came out. I sort of hoped everyone would be all fist-pump-y like I was. I was all eating candy and vegging out on my couch while I was reading, which is basically my way of saying HEY THIS BOOK IS FUN AND AWESOME. So yay for you liking this one! Also, how much do you love these covers? They’re so great.

  2. You know, I haven’t really enjoyed the show Revenge because I feel like the main character passes up the chance to be happy to pursue her revenge and I thought that was just silly. At the same time, I agree with you that a good revenge story can be awesome. One of the nice things about books is that things always can be fair and the bad guys get what’s coming to them!

  3. I love revenge books too, they get my heart pumping, and the whole time you’re rooting for them to exact their revenge instead of flaking out at the last minute. What goes around comes around. I can’t wait to read this! Great review.

  4. GAH! I need to read this still. I just love me some revenge. Lol. And I have yet to read Count of Monte Cristo…I should get on that.

    I am super excited to read this book. I have it on my NOOK. I might have to pick this one up right now.

  5. Okay, so while I may not be a fan of getting revenge in real life, I loooove books/movies/tv shows about getting revenge. So fascinating! Anyway, I’ve heard a lot about this book but haven’t really been interested. Your review was the first to make me think I might want to read it, and I know Elena from Novel Sounds adored the second book even more… so that’s a good sign! Definitely adding it to my library wish list now.

  6. This book was just so much fun to read! There’s certainly something to be said for a book that takes our secret fantasies of revenge and brings them to life with this story. Even though the length certainly intimidated me at first, it’s really a book that flies by once you start it!

  7. I just got around to this one too, and absolutely LOVED it!