Death and the Girl Next Door
byDarynda Jones
Darynda Jones, author of The New York Times bestselling series that began with First Grave on the Right, brings us Death and the Girl Next Door, a thrilling Young Adult novel garnering high praise and early buzz from major authors
Ten
years ago, Lorelei’s parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by
her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei
is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never
coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite
as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they
can be. Until the day the school’s designated loner,
Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects
it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things
get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared
Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other
and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared
know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can’t have
Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for
real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones’s first
foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next
installment.
When I first saw this book and started reading it, I was sure this was going to be a typical young adult love triangle with a supernatural twist. Thank you Twilight for giving us this model. The truth is that this book is anything but a typical love triangle. In fact, about 1/3 of the way through, the reader is sure who Lorelei is supposed to be with. (Side note: love the name Lorelei! Shout out to Gilmore Girls fans!!!)
This book is definitely fun. The summary doesn’t mention this, but Lorelei has two best friends are constantly interjecting humor and stability into he main character’s life. Plus, the love triangle is actually somewhere in the best friends, but I won’t go into those details, too many spoilers.
The plot for this book was good, and actually got more complex than expected as the book went along. I really enjoyed the pace, the writing and the characters. I can’t wait to read the follow-up book and find out what happens! I was informed that if I liked this book, I should read her adult series’, as this was the author’s first foray into young adult. That means, I gotta go, BN.com and Amazon.com are waiting!
- “If Cameron kidnaps you, kills you, then buries your lifeless body in a shallow grave in the desert where your remains lay decomposing for several decades until they’re accidentally discovered by some guy on a journey to awaken his spirit at the Salinas Pueblo Missions, can I have your iMac?”
I gaped at her. “You’ve really thought this out.
“I love your iMac.”
“I love my iMac too, and you’re not getting her.”
“But you’ll be decomposing.”
- “Because you move like fire rushing across a floor,” he said, his voice hushed, velvety smooth, “like flames licking up a wall.” The rest of the world crumbled away as he lifted my chin. “Your energy is liquid and hot. Even from a distance you burn, you scorch anyone who gets too close. You are wine on my tongue and honey in my veins, and I cannot get enough of you.” He leaned forward and whispered into my ear. His warn breath sent shivers cascading over my body. “You intoxicate me, Lorelei McAlister. You will be my downfall.”
- “I’ve been thinking,” Brooklyn said as I gawked at the god sitting next to me, “if you get all lovey-dovey and decide to elope to Las Vegas where Jared uses his powers to clean up at the poker tables and you guys buy a mansion in the Manzano Mountains with twenty-seven rooms and decide – because you’re rich and all – to buy a new computer, can I have your iMac then?”
“Um, no, you’re not getting my iMac.”
“Dang.”
- “What did one say to a stalker? Um, pardon me, Mr.Stalker, but could you, like, not?”
I was on the fence until the quotes. They sound great!
I also like that the love triangle doesn't drag on for forever. That's the number one reason why I typically don't enjoy YA books.
~Krista
Yeah. I got the book and decided to read it honestly because I wanted something easy, and lets be serious, YA books are easy. So, when I read it I was excited that it was very obvious after just a little bit of time that the the other guy was absolutely not a love triangle. So the story got to progress without being stunted by love indecision!