Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

This book is about Gretchen, an 18-year-old girl who lost her twin sister when she was seven, her brother Ansel, and her love interest Samuel. She travels to Live Oaks, South Carolina, where she befriends and moves in with Sophia, the town pariah who has secrets of her own. It's got a very fairy tale vibe, a la Alex Flinn.

My Thoughts:

1. Usually, suspense gets on my nerves; I HATE not knowing, but in this book, I really liked the lead up to discovering who Sophia truly was. 
2. This was surprisingly heavy for a teen romance. I'd say it has the same level of death as Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel, though not nearly the emotional impact. 
3. Samuel and Gretchen are great! There's this one scene, page 235, that is just adorable! He's your typical bad-boy-with-a-sensitive-side that populates the young adult section, and call me unenlightened, but  I really love those types!

Who Should Read It:

1. Fans of Jackson Pearce. Though I did not fall in love with this book like I did with As You Wish, this is still a great book if you like her style.
2. Fans of modern day fairy tale retellings. I've been buying a lot of those lately, and I don't know if it's a trend or if I just happen to be picking them up, but this book definitely delivers on that front.
3. Romance fans! What is a book without romance? Not a book at all! 

Final Score: 8.5/10

I have tons of new books, so check back soon for more reviews! The next book I'll be reviewing Fateful by Claudia Gray (and it is AWESOME)!

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

This is a wonderful book! It's fairly short (298 pages, I read it in 3 hours or so), but is it ever awesome! It's about a teenage girl, Viola, who is about to be granted three wishes by Jinn, who is A jinn. BUT they fall in love!

My Thoughts

1. First, the narration switches perspectives between Viola and Jinn! I absolutely love love love that!
2. Jinn! Oh, he is awesome! He's witty and sarcastic but super sweet and romantic, too! Some of his lines are just so swoon-inducing! He practically restores my faith in guykind! (Yes, I know the author is a woman. He still gives me warm bubbly vibes towards the rest of (fictional) guys, in terms of romance). He's like an archetypal character! Jinn: the Perfect Man!
3. Just enough angst to not be too angsty but still make me tear up!
4. Happy ending!

Who Should Read It:

• Anybody who loves a good romance!

Love this book! For more info, check out Jackson Pearce's website here! Stay tuned for my next book review, most likely of Jean Kalogridis' The Borgia Bride or Stephanie Perkins's Lola and the Boy Next Door.




EDIT: Just finished a quick rereading of this book. I still love it, and I totally teared up again and I just cannot get over how much this book pulls at my very soul. I think it might be because, like Viola, I have always had an unrequited desire to belong...or guys like Jinn set my heart aflame. Whatever the case, great book, I highly suggest you get this book and read it along with everything else Jackson Pearce has ever written.