Down with the Shine

There was quite a bit of language, which is kind of to be expected, but it tended to get a bit distracting at times. It was almost painful to remember how much teenaged hormones control you and mess with your logic. Ugh. But overall a good book that I enjoyed.

I read an e-arc of this novel and I hope it's not the finished copy because there are a couple of things that need fixing, pronto. I'm being honest and generous with this review.

I started out loving this book. It was so very different and I loved the snarky tone of the female protag. We have a female protag with a true love for her best friend who has recently left this world. Then Smith happened and the book just started this long uphill buddy/romance climb that just irked the hell out of me. Lennie and Smith have zippo in the chemistry department and his effect on her seems to dull her sharp wits to the point where she can't think to ask for help. The couch nap chapter was just...weird in a bad way. It turned my stomach and didn't make much sense.
Another thing that needs a rewrite pronto is the unfinished bit about a kiss that Lennie walked in on while fetching wine coolers in a flashback. You can't drop something like that on a reader and then never mention it again. WTF?
I was also deeply disappointed in the big bad, but, to be fair, almost all of the big bads in the YA world disappoint me, so we'll let that go.

And currently the moral of the story is never want more for yourself. Ever. Cause it ends up bad.

So, original awesome story. There is a great sense of humor running through most of this story. A lead with potential. Some sloppy chapters. Unclear message. If it's not fixed, it's going to be one of those unmemorable reads.