I really wasn’t expecting much from this book--I don’t know why since I hadn’t heard anything about it. I’m really not big on werewolf books in general. I’ve been slowly branching out into the different types of paranormal YAs, but werewolves just don’t do it for me. So I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a quick, fun book. Since it was a pretty light book, it didn’t create a whole werewolf mythos or anything, which I really liked, since, hey, I don’t really care about werewolves and I don’t want to waste my time learning their complete history or anything. The lack of werewolf background might bug other readers who like these things to be more explained, but I was happy with the superficial explanation.Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately. But her stepmother totally overreacts when she packs Shelby off to brat camp. Suddenly, it’s good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.
Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star!) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there’s more to Austin than crush material--his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby’s help guarding it. . . .
Shelby, the main character, is fairly likeable. She was slightly annoying to me, but mostly because she kept doing things I would never do rather than for any real reason. I liked that even though the book (and the time span it takes place in) was short, Shelby’s character growth was pretty believable--she didn’t make any huge changes, but she did mature enough to satisfy me. Plus, she was pretty funny, and if a character can make me laugh, I’m willing to ignore a lot of other less great things about them.
Austin, the werewolf love interest, was likable as well. I mean, he’s British, so how can he not be? He’s maybe a little bland, but I was so happy that he wasn’t a brooding bad boy that I didn’t really care.
I was kinda confused about the fact that Shelby’s supposed to be at a brat camp, and yet only a few of the secondary characters were actually brats. It felt more like she was at a normal summer camp than a brat camp. It didn’t really bug me, except it made me wonder why the author chose to create a brat camp if she wasn’t going to follow through.
Overall, if you’re looking for a quick, light werewolf book, give this one a shot. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and there’s only one werewolf to deal with--which made it a winner in my eyes.
Never heard of this one before but I generally don't like annoying and well... dumb protagonists haah. Great review Karen!
ReplyDeleteGiselle
Xpresso Reads
Is brat camp meant to be like some kind of boot camp? And if so why does Shelby deserve to be there? It can't be just because she likes the wrong kind of guy! So many questions. But like you said, it's an easy read and there's only one werewolf and no vampires so that's a plus!
ReplyDeleteLOL I'm exactly the same way!! If a character or story can make me laugh or smile a goofy smile, then I tend to be more easy on how much I judge them! x) But I like that there's only one werewolf, because it really intrigues me into how the author makes it work!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, Karen! I love it when you like a book so much more than you were expecting to -- because that beats liking a book so much less, right? ;)