Sometimes it’s really not the best idea to read something out of nostalgia. It just doesn’t ever seem to live up to your childhood based expectations. I picked up The Dead Boyfriend by RL Stine hoping to recapture the delight of childhood. I especially loved the Fear Street books in middle school. Thus, I thought perhaps this relaunch of the Fear Street series would be a fantastic throwback.
The Dead Boyfriend by RL Stine is what happens when a girl goes off the deep end, kills her boyfriend out of jealousy, only to see him wandering around and at various places when he’s supposed to be dead. Caitlin is really into her new boyfriend, Blade. However, she sees him out one night with some other girl so she stabs him to death. She feels guilty about her crime of passion. But then he comes back to life and she thinks that weirdo goth girl Deena Fear has something to do with it.
If you do end up reading The Dead Boyfriend, keep your expectations low. It’s not super well written. I mean, the teenagers do not talk or act how teenagers actually act. I mean, they’re 16 and acting as though they are 11 or 12. Caitlin is a bit hard to believe as a character. I felt like she wasn’t well developed nor was her relationship with Blade. There was a lot of eye rolling going on as I read this book.
I admit that I wanted to love this book, given how important Fear Street and Goosebumps were to my childhood. Alas, I have definitely outgrown these books. However, I think that the reluctant reader audience may enjoy these books. They’re very quick, easy to understand reads. There’s no pretense in The Dead Boyfriend and I think that can be a pretty big draw.
Other reviews of The Dead Boyfriend by RL Stine:
- Under The Book Cover – “this was still a great read for me“
- Musings Of Madjy – “a quick read, but just didn’t wow me“
- Lili Lost In A Book – “a weird, frustrating ending“
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So, first things first, I ended up DNFing Girl In Reverse by Barbara Stuber. I quit around the 43% point. I was actually really interested in Girl In Reverse back in 2014 based upon the amazing cover. Also, because of the diverse lead. Alas, I just could not make it through this book and I think a large part of the reason why is all of the things I am learning in 2016.
Girl In Reverse by Barbara Stuber is about this Chinese girl named Lily who is abandoned by her mother at the age of three and then is adopted by white people. The book is set in the 1950s. Lily is an outcast at school. She’s also got no real connection to her Chinese heritage. That is, until her little brother who is a Boy Scout finds some ancient Chinese relics in the attic. I did not get beyond the discovery of the relics.
I gave up on this book for several reasons. One being that I was SO incredibly bored. I mean, it just felt like NOTHING was happening. The pacing was so slow. The second reason was now that I am learning and becoming more aware of the different facets of diversity, I am valuing my time and own voices a bit more. Sure, this book features a main character who is of color. However, it is written by a white woman who has not also lived through being adopted. Something about this just did not ring true or authentic to me. And so, rather than waste my time on a book that isn’t own voices, I just gave up.
Other reviews of Girl In Reverse by Barbara Stuber:
- Rich In Color – “I cannot give it a glowing recommendation“
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Sublime by Christina Lauren is a book that I’ve had on my physical ARC TBR stack since BEA 2014. I know, I am basically the worst. I received it as part of this luncheon or event, whatever it was, that I attended. I remember being initially interested in it because the authors wrote this adult book that I guiltily enjoyed called Beautiful Bastard. Alas, it turns out that I am 100% not in love with Sublime.
Sublime by Christina Lauren is a story of love – sort of. It’s about this girl named Lucy who appears out of nowhere pretty much. She was in this forest and she walks out wearing an outfit that is impractical for the weather. She sees this guy named Colin and is instantly smitten with him. Colin is a bit of a daredevil and he totally has a thing for Lucy. He’ll do whatever it takes to get with her. Only, it just may rob him of his life. Oh snap!
Okay, so this book was another one where I thought hmmm, this is going to be really good. Only, I ended up pretty bored while listening to it. I just didn’t feel a whole huge amount of chemistry between Lucy and Colin. I did care a little bit about Lucy’s revelations about her life and death. I just, didn’t care so much about her relationship with Colin.
I listened to the audiobook of Sublime by Christina Lauren. It is narrated by Cal Wembly and Elizabeth Louise. It’s eight hours and two minutes long. Even now, I still can’t muster up the energy to really care about this audiobook. Listen to it, or not. I really just am not all that invested.
Other reviews of Sublime by Christina Lauren:
- All Things Urban Fantasy – “will put your emotions through the ringer“
- The Young Folks – “full of twists and turns that the reader doesn’t see coming“
- Not Yet Read – “It is a romantic read“
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