Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Jessica #1) by Beth FantaskeyPublished: February 1st 2009
Publisher: Harcourt
Page Count: Hardcover, 351
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Find the Author: Website, Good Reads, Twitter, Blog
Buy This Book: Amazon
, Book DepositoryAdd It To Your Good Reads Shelf
The undead can really screw up your senior year ...
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction. - Good Reads
Reviewing this book is actually one of the hardest reviews I've had to do. I typically fix up review posts with the book cover, links and summary and then go back and write the review a few days to a week later. And this has been sitting in my unfinished posts for quite some time now. Now before I go and give you the wrong impression, I'd like to say: I liked this book. It was not earth shattering by any means, but it was something I'm glad I read and I'm eager to read the next book Jessica Rules the Dark Side.
I think this is the type of book that some may love, some may like and some may dislike. Unlike many paranormal books I had a difficult time taking this seriously. I'm not exactly sure of the authors intentions with this book, but it felt very... fluffy? Lucius, the vampire love interest was ridiculously arrogant and hard to take seriously. I laughed a lot throughout this book and it was mostly while reading Lucius's letters to home, where he bitched and moaned about nearly everything, but in such an old fashioned and off-the-wall manner. At times this books DRAGGED. It was a little longer than it probably should have been, but I do have to say I like how Jessica had a difficult time believing vampires exist and jumped to the conclusion that they think they are vampires, but are obviously mentally deranged. Of course Jessica is eventually given enough evidence to finally believe, but it takes a long time to settle and I actually liked that quite a bit. I think whenever vampires or anything supernatural is involved it's realistic to check your sanity and the sanity of others before you go believing. Maybe that's just me...
RECOMMENDED TO
This is tough. If you like the summary and think this is something you'd like to read, I'd definitely recommend trying it. I would probably check it out from the library though.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
Lucius smirked at me, raising one eyebrow. "Really? No suitors? How shocking. I would have thought your pitchfork skills would be attractive to certain bachelors here in farm country.”
3 out of 5 Hello Kitties!
I think this is the type of book that some may love, some may like and some may dislike. Unlike many paranormal books I had a difficult time taking this seriously. I'm not exactly sure of the authors intentions with this book, but it felt very... fluffy? Lucius, the vampire love interest was ridiculously arrogant and hard to take seriously. I laughed a lot throughout this book and it was mostly while reading Lucius's letters to home, where he bitched and moaned about nearly everything, but in such an old fashioned and off-the-wall manner. At times this books DRAGGED. It was a little longer than it probably should have been, but I do have to say I like how Jessica had a difficult time believing vampires exist and jumped to the conclusion that they think they are vampires, but are obviously mentally deranged. Of course Jessica is eventually given enough evidence to finally believe, but it takes a long time to settle and I actually liked that quite a bit. I think whenever vampires or anything supernatural is involved it's realistic to check your sanity and the sanity of others before you go believing. Maybe that's just me...
RECOMMENDED TO
This is tough. If you like the summary and think this is something you'd like to read, I'd definitely recommend trying it. I would probably check it out from the library though.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
Lucius smirked at me, raising one eyebrow. "Really? No suitors? How shocking. I would have thought your pitchfork skills would be attractive to certain bachelors here in farm country.”
3 out of 5 Hello Kitties!
Uh oh, this makes me nervous! I've traded for this book, I hope having read this review, I can go into it w/reasonable expectations.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
Well, fluffy can be good, if you in the right mood for it. I own this book, but never got around to reading it. Doesn't seem like I have to make it a priority, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liza.
OOf you're making me nervous about this book! I've had it on my TBR list for a while too. But I'm wait too nosy now to pass it up :P
ReplyDeleteGiselle
Xpresso Reads
I think this one sounds wicked cute! And I'm all about fluffy reads! LOL
ReplyDeleteHmm, it's always interesting with books like that! It sucks that it dragged and you couldn't take all parts seriously. Humor is good, but if the book isn't supposed to be, then it's worse. Glad you still enjoyed it though! I've been curious about this one, but I can't say if I'm sure I'm going to read it or not. Only time will tell, I guess! :) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteRebecca @ Kindle Fever
Fluffy?! Loves it. I know just what you mean. If I come across it in my library I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI like a light and fluffy read sometimes, but not usually to the extent that I laugh at moments that probably aren't intended to be funny:) It's always hard to write reviews for books where everything was just okay, not terrible but not great either, I think you did a brilliant job:)
ReplyDelete*steps away from the fluffy book* I can't do paranormal fluffy. Just can't. I can do paranormal funny, like Darynda Jones' books, or Kevin Hearne's books, but fluffy just doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeletehaha that quote sounds hilarious! I've been skeptical about this book and have read many mixed reviews! I think its going lower down on my to-buy list so I can get other books I can't wait for first!
ReplyDeleteGreat Review
-Kate
Nomalicious Reads
Bah, I hate it when books just drag on that's never good. The cover is pretty I'll give it that. Thanks for the review =)
ReplyDeleteit does look cute though! thanks for the review
ReplyDeleteI have this book sitting on my shelf so I should probably read it soon :) I'm glad you didn't absolutely hate it, even if it wasn't your favorite! Great review!!
ReplyDeleteAnna @ Literary Exploration
Haha! I have to agree with you about Lucius... he just did not seem believable to me in the slightest. His letters were HILARIOUS!!
ReplyDelete- Alyssa of Redhead Heroines
Book Review of “Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side” by Beth Fantaskey
I recently got a free copy of this on my Nook! It still sounds pretty interesting but I'll be sure to look out for Lucius and his letters! I love that Jessica questions their sanity!
ReplyDelete-Katelyn