FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson Book Review
Series: Flirting in Italian, #1
Publication Date: June 12th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Rating: – Poor |

Book Summary: Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

Book Review Overview:

• Contradicting and shallow main character
• The plot was overshadowed by partying with hot Italian boys but not in a good way
• Book with no ending

After spotting a striking resemblance between herself and a girl in a centuries-old painting in a museum, Violet travels to Italy to uncover secrets about herself and her family. Violet attends summer school in the Italian countryside with three other girls to learn about the Italian culture and meet cute boys at the same time. FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson is a quick contemporary beach read, but it will have you feeling dissatisfied.

To be honest, I was tempted to quit reading FLIRTING IN ITALIAN after the first 50 pages due to character inconsistencies. Violet is not afraid to voice her opinion on shallow people who base their opinions on first impressions. The irony in this situation is that Violet does exactly what she criticizes. Violet immediately judges the daughter of the hostess at the villa, Elisa. Elisa may not be the nicest person, but there is immediate tension between the two girls.

Furthermore, there is so much emphasis on physical attributes in FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson that it drove me nuts. Violet and the other girls are always concerned about the way they look and the way that they are dressed. There were way too many descriptions of their appearances as well as how hot the Italian boys were. After the first 50 pages of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson, I just wanted to bang my head against a wall and say, Geez, I get it already. All the characters are pretty much vain and shallow, and it’s hard to remember that these four girls are here to learn over the summer. (Yeah, right.)

What intrigued me most about FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson was the mystery behind the painting – the main reason why Violet traveled to Italy. I wanted to know why there is a striking resemblance between the main character and the girl in a painting that is centuries old. Unfortunately, this plot line was overshadowed by vapid cattiness and partying with gorgeous Italian boys. Okay, the novel is called FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, but the prologue hinted at something with a little more substance. I was so wrong.

I guess it’s safe to assume that Lauren Henderson’s books follow a specific style. FLIRTING IN ITALIAN is my second Henderson book, and like the first, I liked reading it up until I got to the end of the book. Just when I thought Henderson was finally back on track with the mystery behind the painting, the book ends. I felt such an overwhelming dissatisfaction at the end of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, similar to the dissatisfaction that I felt after finishing Kiss Me, Kill Me. It’s as if Lauren Henderson wrote a novel and just chopped it in half.

FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson had the potential to be a cute contemporary novel with a bit of substance. Unfortunately, the novel was underdeveloped and lacked an ending. While I’m still curious to know the mystery behind the painting, I am too frustrated at this point to even contemplate reading the rest of the series.

Other Book Reviews:
The Lost Book Reports
Me On Books

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Permalink Book Review, Two Stars - Audience: Young Adult, Author: Lauren Henderson, Book: Flirting in Italian, Borrow It, Genre: Contemporary, Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, Series: Flirting in Italian | 1005 words

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

Expected Publication Date: June 12th 2012 by Random House Children’s Books

For the most part, I do love this just based on the cover alone. I read Lauren Henderson’s other book before, but I wasn’t the biggest fan. But, I am willing to try Flirting in Italian just because I love the sound of sexy Italian boys.

 Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

1 Concert
2,000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van know as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

Expected Publication Date: June 12th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

I’m quite a sucker for road trip novels.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her entire family, and she must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors–or suitors of any kind–in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then, the young and attractive (and very rich) Lord Boring arrives, and Althea sets her plans in motion. There’s only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has his own set of plans . . . This witty take on the classic Regency–Patrice Kindl’s first novel in a decade–is like literary champagne!

Expected Publication Date: June 14th 2012 by Viking Childrens Books

I love the sound of this book and I love the cover even more. I’m looking forward to picking this one up.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase’s family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

Expected Publication Date: June 14th 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers

My June list is full of great summer reads. Looking forward to reading My Life Next Door!

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Expected Publication Date: June 19th 2012 by St. Martin’s Griffin

I’ve already read this one but I’m looking forward to getting a copy for my shelves. I love zombie books.

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Permalink Memes, Waiting on Wednesdays - Author: Courtney Summers, Author: Hilary Weisman Graham, Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick, Author: Lauren Henderson, Author: Patrice Kindl, Book: Flirting in Italian, Book: Keeping the Castle, Book: My Life Next Door, Book: Reunited, Book: This Is Not A Test | 1125 words

KISS ME KILL ME by Lauren Henderson
Series: Scarlett Wakefield, #1
Publication Date: January 8th 2008 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Rating: |

Summary: When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she’s safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can’t. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed.

Review Overview:

• Reminds me a bit of the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison
• Love the premise and the mystery
• Where was the ending? Abrupt conclusion was unsatisfying

Reading KISS ME KILL ME was like a throwback to my younger teen days of reading Louise Rennison’s Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series. British girls and their teen drama with boys, popularity, and fashion. But KISS ME KILL ME is all of that plus more. Scarlett is finally invited to a party hosted by the richest and most popular girls in school, and the guy she’s been crushing on is paying attention to her. But just when things could not get any better, Scarlett’s world comes crashing down when the hottie Dan McAndrew suffocates to death in her arms. Right after he kisses Scarlett.

The premise could easily have a supernatural/paranormal spin-off, but trust me, KISS ME KILL ME is pure contemporary with a mix of mystery. I liked Scarlett, but she isn’t my new favorite character. It was hard for me to relate to her because I was just never one of those girls who wanted to be part of the rich, popular clique. I see the appeal, but its not for me. However, I am glad that Scarlett sees these girls for what they really are. She knows that they’re popular because of money and confidence, and she understands the dynamics between the girls.

Other than Dan McAndrew, who doesn’t make it very far into the book, sorry to say, there is a love interest, and he is quite dreamy. There is very little development in the romance department in KISS ME KILL ME. But I’m certain that Henderson won’t disappoint in this department in the subsequent books.

A huge part of the novel is mainly about Scarlett coping after Dan’s death. It’s a traumatic experience, and despite a police investigation, no one knows what happened. This is where the mystery comes in. Scarlett tries to recall what happened that night at the party to figure out how exactly Dan McAndrew died.

MASSIVE SIGH. My biggest qualm with this book was the ending – or lack hereof. KISS ME KILL ME ends with Scarlett one step closer to figuring out the exact cause of Dan’s death, but that’s it. Mystery not solved. This ended up being a book in which nothing happens. All development. So as much as I did love the mystery, this wasn’t a page-turner because nothing ended up getting resolved. It lacked a proper story arc in my opinion, and it was just disappointing.

I wanted to give KISS ME KILL ME a three-star rating, but I just couldn’t do it. Based on my standards, a beginning, middle and end are so important, and the fact that this felt like a half-written novel is not acceptable for a 3-star rating.

Despite my disappointment, I am still willing to continue on with the series, but it’s definitely not at the top of my TBR. I think that fans of the Georgia Nicholson series will enjoy this one as well as those who are fans of contemporary and mystery young adult novels.

Why I’m Biased: I went to a reading at the NYPL a while back with Lauren Henderson. I really loved her reading so I was looking forward to picking up her books.

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Permalink Book Review, Two Stars - Audience: Young Adult, Author: Lauren Henderson, Book: Kiss Me Kill Me, Borrow It, Genre: Contemporary, Genre: Mystery, Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, Series: Scarlett Wakefield | 1122 words