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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I am so confused right now. I don't know what to feel. That was not an ending. I know it's a series but what the hell? This is obviously a story about revenge, more specifically about 3 high school girls getting revenge on 3 people who did them wrong. This story is interesting enough, I mean I did read it in one day, but I still think this book is missing that "wow" factor if that makes sense. I didn't relate to any of he characters and I wasn't attached to any of them. Even with Mary's sad story about the way Reeve wronged her, I didn't feel emotionally attached to her or Kat or Lillia. The thing I did like about this book was the way it felt like the movie Mean Girls. Obviously, Rennie is the Regina George and our 3 main girls are all trying to get revenge against her. I mean, some scenes in this book were very, very similar to Mean Girls. I think we've all known girls like Rennie in our lives. I sure have and it played out almost the exact same way. I had two best friends in elementary school who eventually grew to hate each other because one of them was a total brat and the other kept calling her out on it, and I tried to keep the 3 of us friends until I realized she was right, the other girl was a total brat, and it exploded from there. Ironically, she also became a cheerleader in high school and is so fake to everyone it makes you want to vomit. Kind of like Rennie. That's what I liked most about this book is that we've all wanted to get revenge against someone like that. I just wish they would've actually done more shit to Rennie cause she deserved it. (Does that make me a bad person? Idk.) All of the things they did to get revenge seemed very juvenile and childish and felt more like a prank than actual revenge.... I was expecting some serious shit to go down and then it was just like (minor spoiler) "we're gonna switch out his football jersey with limp instead of lind and that'll make everyone laugh" *insert eye roll*
Overall, I liked this book enough to give it 3 stars. It was written well and it kept a steady pace. I just wish the revenge stuff felt more like revenge instead of child's play. I'm not sure if I will continue the series. I might just out of curiosity since we don't get any freaking answers at the end of this one. This book is entertaining enough to finish it, and it's actually pretty short, so I would say it's still worth the read even though I had some problems with it (as discussed below).
*SPOILERS BELOW*
So, I kind of got frustrated with our main characters because it is decided very quickly that they want to get revenge against all of these people, and I get Kat and Mary's reason for wanting revenge, but Lillia only thinks that Alex is hooking up with her sister, she doesn't know that for sure. And when she finally realizes that Alex never hooked up with her sister she feels guilty about all the shit she did to him, and I'm wondering why the hell would she do all of that unless she was absolutely positive he deserved it? I mean shit, Reeve and Rennie deserved it, but Alex? I don't think so. Also, it seemed like 70% of the story was about all the ways they were getting revenge on Alex, and then the last few chapters were Rennie and Reeve's. I was slightly disappointed because as I said earlier, I thought Reeve and Rennie deserved it way more than Alex, and we barely get to see them get what they had coming. The ending was so abrupt and we are left with so many questions. I know it's a series but I would have liked a little more of a conclusive ending. Like - what the hell happened to Reeve? Will he live? Will the girls get caught? Does Mary have supernatural abilities that she is just discovering? Has Reeve seriously liked Lillia this entire time or was that just the ecstasy talking? Is Reeve going to get kicked off the football team? Will Alex, Reeve, or Rennie ever find out that Lillia was behind all of it?
I honestly think Rennie deserved to the worst with the way she treated everyone and she got the least amount of shit done to her. Who cares if she didn't win the Homecoming queen title? It's really not I that big of a deal and she deserved me something so much worse, like Reeve. I thought the part where they made the posters of Alex's Red Ribbon poem was almost exactly like that scene in Mean Girls with Regina George making copies of the Burn Book. Also, the way they switch out Alex's sunscreen for that moisturizer that will give him sunburn, was like when they gave Regina George foot cream for her face. And the way Rennie didn't win Homecoming queen in the end, but her friend Lillia did, just like in Mean Girls. There's probably even more similarities that I'm not picking up on. I liked that it felt so similar to Mean Girls but at the same time, I wish there was more originality with the revenge plotting. I also felt like some of the flashbacks seemed pointless but that's just me.
Overall, I liked this book enough to give it 3 stars. It was written well and it kept a steady pace. I just wish the revenge stuff felt more like revenge instead of child's play. I'm not sure if I will continue the series. I might just out of curiosity since we don't get any freaking answers at the end of this one. This book is entertaining enough to finish it, and it's actually pretty short, so I would say it's still worth the read even though I had some problems with it (as discussed below).
*SPOILERS BELOW*
So, I kind of got frustrated with our main characters because it is decided very quickly that they want to get revenge against all of these people, and I get Kat and Mary's reason for wanting revenge, but Lillia only thinks that Alex is hooking up with her sister, she doesn't know that for sure. And when she finally realizes that Alex never hooked up with her sister she feels guilty about all the shit she did to him, and I'm wondering why the hell would she do all of that unless she was absolutely positive he deserved it? I mean shit, Reeve and Rennie deserved it, but Alex? I don't think so. Also, it seemed like 70% of the story was about all the ways they were getting revenge on Alex, and then the last few chapters were Rennie and Reeve's. I was slightly disappointed because as I said earlier, I thought Reeve and Rennie deserved it way more than Alex, and we barely get to see them get what they had coming. The ending was so abrupt and we are left with so many questions. I know it's a series but I would have liked a little more of a conclusive ending. Like - what the hell happened to Reeve? Will he live? Will the girls get caught? Does Mary have supernatural abilities that she is just discovering? Has Reeve seriously liked Lillia this entire time or was that just the ecstasy talking? Is Reeve going to get kicked off the football team? Will Alex, Reeve, or Rennie ever find out that Lillia was behind all of it?
I honestly think Rennie deserved to the worst with the way she treated everyone and she got the least amount of shit done to her. Who cares if she didn't win the Homecoming queen title? It's really not I that big of a deal and she deserved me something so much worse, like Reeve. I thought the part where they made the posters of Alex's Red Ribbon poem was almost exactly like that scene in Mean Girls with Regina George making copies of the Burn Book. Also, the way they switch out Alex's sunscreen for that moisturizer that will give him sunburn, was like when they gave Regina George foot cream for her face. And the way Rennie didn't win Homecoming queen in the end, but her friend Lillia did, just like in Mean Girls. There's probably even more similarities that I'm not picking up on. I liked that it felt so similar to Mean Girls but at the same time, I wish there was more originality with the revenge plotting. I also felt like some of the flashbacks seemed pointless but that's just me.
3/5
Fun but fluffy, addictive but tropey, deep but not quite enough.
Also I read this book in two sittings???
Fun but fluffy, addictive but tropey, deep but not quite enough.
Also I read this book in two sittings???
(Review originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
Burn for Burn. Doesn’t that sound like something a girl would declare arrogantly and triumphantly after being able to successfully exact her revenge on someone who’s made her life a living hell? That’s how I like to think of it, anyway, and it’s actually sort of what this book by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian is about.
Anyone who has ever been bullied or who has ever felt oppressed in a relationship of any kind will understand that thirst to get back at or equally hurt the person who’s pushing your buttons. I know that I’ve experienced moments where I fantasized about concocting a grand scheme to get back at the girls who used to tease me. I think it’s natural – it’s a comfort, for the most part, and it makes one feel better.
Kat, Mary and Lillia, our three main characters, take this one step further – they actually band together to perform these acts of revenge they’ve come up with.
Before anything else, I’m going to take the time to state that I don’t condone bullying of any kind whatsoever. It doesn’t even matter whether or not a person deserves “what’s coming to them”; hurting other people or scheming against them is NEVER a good thing.
Anyway, Kat, Mary and Lillia start out with revenge that’s more like pranks on their first victim. I initially believed that their actions were going to remain like this for the book – little pranks that would mess with their targets, until they could escalate into a full-blown confrontation – and thought I would be entertained a la Mean Girls. But the thing is, the revenge escalates, especially as we discover the story behind each girl’s thirst for retribution. It finally peaks in the biggest act of revenge yet –and from there, everything just spirals out of control.
Honestly, I liked the three girls well enough, so the switching POVs weren’t a hassle to me. The authors did a brilliant job with making each girl sound unique, and giving them different life circumstances. It was very easy to distinguish their voices. The one I could relate to the best was Lillia, if only because I’m somewhat similar to her in personality (at least before the revenge monster took over).
I actually enjoyed when the three of them would convene and plot out what to do next. They had an exclusive little circle, and I liked watching them discuss things, open up to each other and scheme about what to do next. Whatever what happens in the end, I firmly believe that the three of them are tied together – whether as friends or enemies, that remains to be seen.
The book is actually darker than I expected it to be. The things these three girls had to go through were incredibly different from one another, but equally sad and hurtful. I could understand why they reacted the way they did towards their victims and why the revenge became so important to them. But I also, at times, thought they were crazy and that they were just taking all these things a tad too far.
Also, there’s absolutely zero romance in this book. Okay, fine, maybe there was a wee little bit of romance tossed in, but nothing too serious. While I personally find it refreshing, I know that other people enjoy having that aspect, so I’m here to warn you that there’s nothing of that sort here. I do like one of the guy characters though, so hopefully, something romantic happens in the next book.
One thing I didn’t get was the whole sort of paranormal/superstitious thing that started making appearances towards the middle of the book. While I’m mildly curious to find out the logic behind it, I’m not so sure it was really necessary to include in the book. It made for some interesting moments though!
I did have fun reading Burn for Burn, though it’s actually a lot more serious than I expected it to be. I’m really curious to find out where it’s going to go in the next book, as well as seeing how things are going to be resolved. There are a lot of unanswered questions left, and I’m eager to get all the answers. Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian have managed to create a book that’s escapist, thought-provoking and well, a little dark. Burn for Burn certainly managed to ensnare me with its addictive plot – and I’m certain most readers will feel the same.
Burn for Burn. Doesn’t that sound like something a girl would declare arrogantly and triumphantly after being able to successfully exact her revenge on someone who’s made her life a living hell? That’s how I like to think of it, anyway, and it’s actually sort of what this book by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian is about.
Anyone who has ever been bullied or who has ever felt oppressed in a relationship of any kind will understand that thirst to get back at or equally hurt the person who’s pushing your buttons. I know that I’ve experienced moments where I fantasized about concocting a grand scheme to get back at the girls who used to tease me. I think it’s natural – it’s a comfort, for the most part, and it makes one feel better.
Kat, Mary and Lillia, our three main characters, take this one step further – they actually band together to perform these acts of revenge they’ve come up with.
Before anything else, I’m going to take the time to state that I don’t condone bullying of any kind whatsoever. It doesn’t even matter whether or not a person deserves “what’s coming to them”; hurting other people or scheming against them is NEVER a good thing.
Anyway, Kat, Mary and Lillia start out with revenge that’s more like pranks on their first victim. I initially believed that their actions were going to remain like this for the book – little pranks that would mess with their targets, until they could escalate into a full-blown confrontation – and thought I would be entertained a la Mean Girls. But the thing is, the revenge escalates, especially as we discover the story behind each girl’s thirst for retribution. It finally peaks in the biggest act of revenge yet –and from there, everything just spirals out of control.
Honestly, I liked the three girls well enough, so the switching POVs weren’t a hassle to me. The authors did a brilliant job with making each girl sound unique, and giving them different life circumstances. It was very easy to distinguish their voices. The one I could relate to the best was Lillia, if only because I’m somewhat similar to her in personality (at least before the revenge monster took over).
I actually enjoyed when the three of them would convene and plot out what to do next. They had an exclusive little circle, and I liked watching them discuss things, open up to each other and scheme about what to do next. Whatever what happens in the end, I firmly believe that the three of them are tied together – whether as friends or enemies, that remains to be seen.
The book is actually darker than I expected it to be. The things these three girls had to go through were incredibly different from one another, but equally sad and hurtful. I could understand why they reacted the way they did towards their victims and why the revenge became so important to them. But I also, at times, thought they were crazy and that they were just taking all these things a tad too far.
Also, there’s absolutely zero romance in this book. Okay, fine, maybe there was a wee little bit of romance tossed in, but nothing too serious. While I personally find it refreshing, I know that other people enjoy having that aspect, so I’m here to warn you that there’s nothing of that sort here. I do like one of the guy characters though, so hopefully, something romantic happens in the next book.
One thing I didn’t get was the whole sort of paranormal/superstitious thing that started making appearances towards the middle of the book. While I’m mildly curious to find out the logic behind it, I’m not so sure it was really necessary to include in the book. It made for some interesting moments though!
I did have fun reading Burn for Burn, though it’s actually a lot more serious than I expected it to be. I’m really curious to find out where it’s going to go in the next book, as well as seeing how things are going to be resolved. There are a lot of unanswered questions left, and I’m eager to get all the answers. Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian have managed to create a book that’s escapist, thought-provoking and well, a little dark. Burn for Burn certainly managed to ensnare me with its addictive plot – and I’m certain most readers will feel the same.
I won this book in a giveaway last year from SimonTeen and it's taken me a while to get around to it. I have to say, I enjoyed it more than I originally thought I would! I didn't know too much about the book, other than high schoolers wanting revenge, and that was definitely the main point of the story.
To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of revenge-type stories. I don't know what it is about them, but they're usually not what I go for. In this case, I didn't really agree with why two of the girls wanted revenge on their classmates. Mary's story made me mad and I felt really bad for her, but I don't think the other girls needed revenge. Maybe it's because I feel like you're stooping down to the other person's level? I feel like people need to be the bigger person a lot of times.
That being said, I do think revenge stories can be very well done and this was no exception. And as much as I might not agree with why Kat and Lillia wanted revenge, I enjoyed the book! It was fun getting to know each of these characters and brought me back to my high school days (wow, that feels like a lifetime ago!). This story really kept my interest and I did want to find out what happened to each of the characters. Mary was definitely my favorite character out of the three main girls. I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series. I'm interested in finding out what happens, but it might be more of a library read for me, not necessarily a purchase.
Pagesofcomfort.blogspot.com
To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of revenge-type stories. I don't know what it is about them, but they're usually not what I go for. In this case, I didn't really agree with why two of the girls wanted revenge on their classmates. Mary's story made me mad and I felt really bad for her, but I don't think the other girls needed revenge. Maybe it's because I feel like you're stooping down to the other person's level? I feel like people need to be the bigger person a lot of times.
That being said, I do think revenge stories can be very well done and this was no exception. And as much as I might not agree with why Kat and Lillia wanted revenge, I enjoyed the book! It was fun getting to know each of these characters and brought me back to my high school days (wow, that feels like a lifetime ago!). This story really kept my interest and I did want to find out what happened to each of the characters. Mary was definitely my favorite character out of the three main girls. I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series. I'm interested in finding out what happens, but it might be more of a library read for me, not necessarily a purchase.
Pagesofcomfort.blogspot.com
I found myself in the mood for a YA mystery/thriller and this was a fun, quick read. Lot’s of cliches and really odd and unexpected ending but I’m still intrigued about the resolution of the girls’ revenge.
The way that Mary, Kat and Lillia connected was crazy. I felt like this book was very emotional especially when Mary told her story of what happened to her. I was very interested in finding out what was going on between Alex and Nadia, they were so secretive, it was intriguing. I was definitely surprised by the ending, I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy, just sad that I don't have time to go pick it up yet. Overall, I felt like this book was a worthwhile read and the characters are amazing.
First reviewed on my blog, Lose Time Reading
Burn for Burn’s storyline is exactly what the synopsis says: three girls out for revenge. Only two of the girls know each other, Lillia and Kat: they used to be BFF’s. Mary lived on the island when she was younger but she went to school on the mainland.
Let’s start with the characters. Lillia was very much a passive person. She could not stick up for herself at all. Anytime someone pushed her around, or even when she started to feel dislike towards someone in her crowd, her opinion was soon changed. Kat was a bad ass and she didn’t care what anyone thought of her. And Mary… she was so strange. She is made out to be a wallflower, someone who just wants to blend in and honestly there isn’t really much to say about Mary because she wasn’t focused on enough in this book. The only one of the girls who I felt even a slight liking for was Kat – I loved her no-nonsense attitude and the fact that she should stick up for herself. The trouble with books that change between different points of view is that it often doesn’t allow for certain or all of the main characters to grow on you and that is what I found happened here.
The entire focus on the novel is revenge. I’m not sure why but I found it extremely hard to understand why the girls were doing a lot of the things to everyone. Maybe because this book is intended for younger audiences? I found the revenge parts of the book to be really… vindictive? Some of the things they do to these people are absolutely horrible – putting ectasty is someones drink? Retin-A in their sunscreen? This wasn’t the same type of “revenge” that took place when I was in high school that’s for sure. I actually felt bad for a lot of the victims, lol.
Another point which I found very strange was this sudden paranormal element? I felt it came out of nowhere or at least I wasn’t expecting it! Also… this is so reminiscent of Carrie. So much in fact that I felt it to be not that original upon finishing. The ending does have a cliffhanger but you can almost see where the story is going. I think Mary is going to be a large focus of the next book as she wasn’t focused on very much during this one. That in it self irritated me… I felt like once you found out there was something a bit different about that’s what you continued to read for and then….nothing.
Burn for Burn is an extremely easy to read novel, I finished it in a couple of hours. It is also my first time reading anything by either author. I will continue to read this series as it was a simple read and I did enjoy it. I just hope the next book is better!
Burn for Burn’s storyline is exactly what the synopsis says: three girls out for revenge. Only two of the girls know each other, Lillia and Kat: they used to be BFF’s. Mary lived on the island when she was younger but she went to school on the mainland.
Let’s start with the characters. Lillia was very much a passive person. She could not stick up for herself at all. Anytime someone pushed her around, or even when she started to feel dislike towards someone in her crowd, her opinion was soon changed. Kat was a bad ass and she didn’t care what anyone thought of her. And Mary… she was so strange. She is made out to be a wallflower, someone who just wants to blend in and honestly there isn’t really much to say about Mary because she wasn’t focused on enough in this book. The only one of the girls who I felt even a slight liking for was Kat – I loved her no-nonsense attitude and the fact that she should stick up for herself. The trouble with books that change between different points of view is that it often doesn’t allow for certain or all of the main characters to grow on you and that is what I found happened here.
The entire focus on the novel is revenge. I’m not sure why but I found it extremely hard to understand why the girls were doing a lot of the things to everyone. Maybe because this book is intended for younger audiences? I found the revenge parts of the book to be really… vindictive? Some of the things they do to these people are absolutely horrible – putting ectasty is someones drink? Retin-A in their sunscreen? This wasn’t the same type of “revenge” that took place when I was in high school that’s for sure. I actually felt bad for a lot of the victims, lol.
Another point which I found very strange was this sudden paranormal element? I felt it came out of nowhere or at least I wasn’t expecting it! Also… this is so reminiscent of Carrie. So much in fact that I felt it to be not that original upon finishing. The ending does have a cliffhanger but you can almost see where the story is going. I think Mary is going to be a large focus of the next book as she wasn’t focused on very much during this one. That in it self irritated me… I felt like once you found out there was something a bit different about that’s what you continued to read for and then….nothing.
Burn for Burn is an extremely easy to read novel, I finished it in a couple of hours. It is also my first time reading anything by either author. I will continue to read this series as it was a simple read and I did enjoy it. I just hope the next book is better!