There are times when Heather & I finish a book, but don’t have time to write a full, comprehensive review… or even a shorter “flashbulb” review. BUT we still want to share our thoughts with you on what we’ve been reading. That’s why every Saturday we’ll be featuring 2 “snippet” reviews — short, sweet, to-the-point reviews that we’ll try to keep to 2-7 sentences, though sometimes they’re slightly longer. So we hope these snippets are helpful!
Title: Wrong About The Guy
Published: April 21, 2015 by HarperTeen
Format: 368 pages; Hardcover; Ebook
Website: www.clairelazebnik.com
Source: Library
My rating: 
Blurb: Ellie Withers is definitely not spoiled… so she wishes that George Nussbaum would stop implying that she is. It’s not her fault that… Read more
I know that Emma isn’t the most endearing heroine of the Jane Austen pantheon, but I can’t help but like her and her many incarnations, and LaZebnik’s extension of her in Ellie is no exception. Ellie is confident, ambitious, and she just is who she is. Sometimes confidence can become arrogance and ambition looks more like selfishness, but her actions and decisions are typically driven by good intentions and a love for her family and friends. While this novel did start off slow and I had a little trouble being drawn in at the beginning, I pushed through because I have enjoyed LaZebnik’s previous Austen retellings, and I’m glad I did. The story picked up the more I read, and I found myself becoming emotionally invested in Ellie & George — the slow evolution of their relationship and their self-realizations. I also really enjoyed how certain elements and plot points of Emma were incorporated into this particular young adult reimagining.
Overall, a cute, modern-day retelling of Emma.
Title: Mortal Danger
Series: Immortal Game (Book #1)
Published: Aug. 5, 2014 by Feiwel & Friends
Format: 384 pages; Hardcover; Ebook
Website: www.annaguirre.com
Source: Review copy via publisher
My rating: 
Blurb: Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn’t imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian… Read more
Meh. Not my favorite. I was expecting great things because I loved Aguirre’s Razorland series so much, but this just wasn’t for me.
This was an ARC so maybe things will change in editing, but I felt the plot and characters were very underdeveloped. The conclusion seemed rushed and a little forced. I didn’t really understand what was going on with the “villain” and the romance was a little wishy-washy and not really all that interesting. The whole world seemed vague and a little lackluster. I could never really get a firm handle on where the plot was headed. I did, however, like the whole “everyone has problems not just the ‘misfits’” message. I was concerned it would simply be a PSA against bullying, but it wasn’t.
Overall, I could sort of take this one or leave it which was disappointing. Hopefully, things get ironed out through rewrites and edits, and I can be totally proven wrong. =)
