Tempestuous Review and Giveaway

Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
A Twisted Lit Novel
★★★★☆
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Merit Press
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Retelling, Realistic Fiction, High School
Format: Hardback
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Recently banished, unfairly, by the school’s popular crowd, former “it girl,” Miranda Prospero, finds herself in a brave new world: holding dominion amongst a rag-tag crew of geeks and misfits where she works at the Hot-Dog Kabob in the food court of her local mall. When the worst winter storm of the season causes mall workers and last-minute shoppers to be snowed-in for the night, Miranda seizes the opportunity to get revenge against the catty clique behind her social exile. With help from her delightfully dweeby coworker, Ariel, and a sullen loner named Caleb who works at the mall’s nearby gaming and magic shop, Miranda uses charm and trickery to set things to right during this spirited take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Tempestuous is a catty and wit-filled teen novel with hilarious lines and relatable characters. Together these authors create a world that lasts one night, reminiscent of a mystery infused version of The Breakfast Club. Breaking all social boundaries Miranda and the other characters travel the roads of self discovery and find new friends along the way. It is a must read for fans of young adult comedies and fans of John Green.

Miranda is one of those girls that has all of the answers. A born leader, but this leader takes the fall for a cheating scheme in her school and is outcasted and forced to (exhale) get a job! As her life tumbles around her she meets some new and unexpected new associates. This princess begins working in the mall's food court and befriending a gang of unlikely misfits. From there her story just gets better. It is an all around feel good contemporary romance that left me smiling at the direction it took. Everything about this book screams brilliant; from the slew of characters to the drama that plays out. It happens to be a book that for me was unputdownable.

Tempestuous is a Nancy Drew, Clue, Mall Rats combination; filled with teen rivalry and some all around fun. When a winter storm strands mall employees overnight Miranda and her fellow consorts band together against her former friends; all the while evading a robber who is likely hiding out in the mall as well. The book is exciting and includes calculating tactics for revenge; it took me back to high school days and the vengeance I (we all) wished I (we) could've performed on some unsuspecting scum. Taking what they need from stores, with every intent on returning it, they set out to spend the night and in turn have the time of their lives.

The book begins near the end, the prologue highlighting the mess this group creates for themselves. Then goes to the beginning of the crazy night. From the start it builds and builds, keeping me hooked and interested. Fans of Young Adult fiction will swoon over Caleb's character in this PG rated romance, even if Miranda is too blind to see it. My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Caleb and Miranda. Beginning pretty much as enemies, the manipulator Miranda isn't used to someone who doesn't grovel at her feet. Caleb's character was real and authentic, he stood his ground and was overall a really great guy and great for her.

It is a fun and fast read that I really enjoyed. A loose adaptation of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, that many will love! Make sure to add it to your TBR pile!

Another Twisted Lit book by Kim and Amy: Exposure (Modern Day Spin on Macbeth)

Giveaway

One hardback copy of Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
US Only

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New Girl by Paige Harbison Review

New Girl by Paige Harbison
★★★★☆
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarliquinTeen
Age: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Mystery, Retelling, Contemporary, Disappearance, Drama
Format: e-book
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

They call me 'New Girl'... Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her. Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault. Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be. And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

I am no stranger to teenage drama, but the level of drama found in New Girl is pretty extreme and quite juicy. Loosely based on the adult book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, New Girl is a mysterious and haunting tale set in a New Hampshire Boarding School that is sure to make the reader feel so many emotions from hate to jealousy to hope.

The book switches points of view and switches back and forth in time. Between the past and what Becca's life was like at Manderly, and the present and the various struggles the 'New Girl' is facing there. It's easy to get drawn in and if you're like me, hard to put down (I read it in one sitting, I had to). Becca and the 'New Girl' have personalities that are nothing alike. I liked how there were two narrators, it was interesting to hear things happen from each of their point of views.

While I liked and respected the 'New Girl', I felt, she was (at times) a little inconsistent in her behavior. Yes, mass volumes of alcohol may have been the culprit as there is plenty of it being consumed in the book and I am well aware of the effects alcohol has (like making one act like an entirely different person) she still did and said some things that I felt were out of character. She's definitely a strong voice in this book, and it didn't take anything away from the story, but there were just a few times that I found myself thinking "I don't think she's say/do that". With that said, no one is perfect. Paige Harbison does an amazing job making characters that, wait for it, make mistakes. The 'New Girl' is strong, but she has her moments and I LOVE THAT!

Becca Normandy was and is my least favorite person in the story. She takes flawed and damaged fictional characters to a whole new high. But, I wouldn't have had it any other way. She was the girl she was for a reason and it worked, I almost ALMOST felt bad for her at times ALMOST. What the rest of the school saw of her, and what the reader learns (I loved her chapters), makes the book quite an exciting adventure. She makes me want to say "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, Becca, Becca, Becca" I know, how lame a Brady Bunch reference. But, everything is always about her, or so she thinks it should be. We all know someone like that and it makes her easier to reach and understand.

I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading I was hooked and had to stick with it until the end, even if the end came at 3 in the morning for me. There's a lot of, was that real?, moments found and it's going to make the reader think a lot. I would definitely recommend it for mature YA audiences as there is a lot of underage drinking, strong issues like rape, sex is a frequent backdrop, and language while not constant does appear.

New Girl is a book that has stuck with me and I frequently find myself thinking about it. Overall, this book is captivating and unlike any drama I've ever experienced. Rich in detail and an interesting mystery that still has me going over everything that happened.

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