Burn for Burn - Book Rant

Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1)
by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

What is it about:
Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

What did I think of it:
*spoilers*
I enjoyed the To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, so decided to try this book.

And I was hugely disappointed...

So the three girls have been hurt and bullied and decide to take revenge. And it's clear from the start that their first victim is innocent of what he's accused of. Immediately setting the tone of this book: revenge is not a good idea. Now in itself this is not a bad thing, but as the book goes on the message tasted more and more like: just let people hassle you and stay down.

And in the end the biggest bully gets off almost scot-free, while bully number 2 gets hurt and the girls are all "What have we done?" Sending even more of a message that you should let bullies get away with their bullying. I was annoyed and went looking for spoilers of the next two books.

Bully number 2 turns into a love interest!

I decided then and there I wouldn't read the other books and this book went into discard pile faster than you can say bully.

What's with this "bullies are hot and cool" thing!? Really! I will keep saying: bullies are not cool! Bullying is never OK! If someone bullies you it doesn't mean they like you! And if it does mean they like you: Run! Run as fast and far as you can! You deserve better!

Why should you read it:
Don't!!!

Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Book Review

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3)
by Jenny Han

What is it about:
Lara Jean is having the best senior year.

And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

What did I think of it:
This is an awesome conclusion to this trilogy.

Where there was a bit of a love triangle thingy in the other books, it was absent here. I liked that the conflict in this book was about where they wanted to go with their life and relationship and about growing up and becoming your own person.

Lara Jean certainly showed a lot more maturity than in previous books, and while once again they weren't communicating enough, I loved how Lara Jean and Peter were together.

All in all this book is the perfect fun and fluffy farewell to Lara Jean and you bet I'll reread this trilogy and will investigate other books by Han.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable fluffy YA read.


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P.S. I Still Love You - Book Review

P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2)
by Jenny Han

What is it about:
Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, so I eagerly picked up the next book.

And this is once again a very enjoyable and mostly fluffy read.

There is a bit more drama than in the first book. There were moments I wanted to bang Lara Jean's and Peter's heads together. Yes, this may be the first time for Lara Jean to be in a relationship, and the second time for Peter, but why they couldn't just communicate was beyond me.

Kitty and Margo were both just as annoying as in the first book. Kitty with her petty meddling and attention seeking, Margot with giving the worst relationship advice ever. Why she thinks she is an expert is a mystery for the ages.

That being said: I did have a great time with this book. It's mostly light, fun, and entertaining. I could mostly relate to how Lara Jean felt, and I loved that there was a healthy relationship between Lara Jean and her father. All in all a great read and I immediately picked up the last book after finishing this one.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and enjoyable YA read.


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To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Book Review

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)
by Jenny Han

What is it about:
Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. One for every boy she's ever loved. When she writes, she can pour out her
heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

What did I think of it:
I saw the Netflix movie that is based on this book and really liked it. So I decided to give the book a try as well.

I must say the movie made some changes to the story that made that some of the characters are more sympathetic in the movie than in the book.

Not that I didn't like the book. To be honest, I think the book is better than the movie. For those who haven't seen the movie or read the book:

Lara Jean's secret love letters get send to the boys she wrote them to. One of these boys is her sister's ex-boyfriend. In a foolish attempt to make things less awkward she pretends to have a relationship with another boy: Peter. Peter decides to play along for his own reasons.

I loved Lara Jean and Peter. They have so much more depth and background than can be shown in a movie. I loved reading about their fake relationship and how Lara Jean is forced into the spotlight instead of hiding in her usual shadows.

Lara Jean's sisters however...

In the movie her older sister Margot only has a very small part. In the book more is revealed about Margot. She's the typical older sister who decided to take care of her younger sisters, and thinks this allows her to control them. I seriously disliked her. The younger sister is even worse. She was a spoiled spiteful little shit, imo.

The sisters aside, I very much enjoyed this book. It's fun and fluffy, the perfect read when you want to relax. I'll be picking up the next book in this trilogy soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and fluffy YA read.


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