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apopenhagen's review against another edition
4.0
This cover is gorgeous (let's just get that out of the way :D ) and the title is funny, so I thought I'd give it a go. At first, I didn't think that I would like this book due to it's vampire-ness, but I actually thought it was pretty decent.
Jessica herself is a fun character. I love love love that it took her so long to actually believe that Lucius was a vampire and wasn't psychotic (well, he was a little psychotic...). I thought that was so original (in a weird way, because it seems like the most obvious thing) since most vampire books either have the girl figuring it out (please. Like I'm just going to walk up to some guy and say, "hey, dude. I totes know that you're a vamp. We should make out now while you tell me it's too dangerous") or her believing it right away. Granted, Jess wasn't given direct evidence like some other characters are, but I still admired that she didn't blindly believe him, even when her parents told her it was true.
Lucius was your typical bad boy. I did like him, although he wasn't unique as far as characters go. I didn't like how he was with Faith, how it seemed like he really did like her. If I were Jess, I'd have flipped him off and forgotten about him. If that's how much he valued her (Jess) when they were engaged, then what about later when they're married? Once a cheater, always a cheater, type of thing. Plus, he always seemed to responsible to me.
Their romance was pretty cute. I liked how Jess didn't even realize that she liked him until she saw Faith with him, lol, I thought that was pretty good. And the sappy part of me liked the ending, although the rational part of me says that Jessica was totally stupid in doing that and she shouldn't have trusted the psychopath. But whatever.
Overall, very good for a vampire book! Although the premise of the second one doesn't sound all that interesting to me, I'll probably still read it.
Anna
Jessica herself is a fun character. I love love love that it took her so long to actually believe that Lucius was a vampire and wasn't psychotic (well, he was a little psychotic...). I thought that was so original (in a weird way, because it seems like the most obvious thing) since most vampire books either have the girl figuring it out (please. Like I'm just going to walk up to some guy and say, "hey, dude. I totes know that you're a vamp. We should make out now while you tell me it's too dangerous") or her believing it right away. Granted, Jess wasn't given direct evidence like some other characters are, but I still admired that she didn't blindly believe him, even when her parents told her it was true.
Lucius was your typical bad boy. I did like him, although he wasn't unique as far as characters go. I didn't like how he was with Faith, how it seemed like he really did like her. If I were Jess, I'd have flipped him off and forgotten about him. If that's how much he valued her (Jess) when they were engaged, then what about later when they're married? Once a cheater, always a cheater, type of thing. Plus, he always seemed to responsible to me.
Their romance was pretty cute. I liked how Jess didn't even realize that she liked him until she saw Faith with him, lol, I thought that was pretty good. And the sappy part of me liked the ending, although the rational part of me says that Jessica was totally stupid in doing that and she shouldn't have trusted the psychopath. But whatever.
Overall, very good for a vampire book! Although the premise of the second one doesn't sound all that interesting to me, I'll probably still read it.
Anna
cjyu's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
You know those books that are irrational for you to like? Like it so badly flawed in so many places YET you enjoyed/loved it to pieces?
Yeah, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is one of them.
There are a million things I could pick out about this book that was flawed, annoying, shallow, ridiculous, etc. I could say Lucius completely changed character to a point so ridiculous that it was annoying. I could say Jessica was so irrational and shallow at one or more points of this story. I could even pick at the romantic bits at the end and call it downright cliche and cheesy, and the vampire lore in this book is downright stupid. I could say it was boring, the action unnecessary.
But I don't want to pick apart these details- they are what made the book what so unbelievably good. It's the flawedness (I'm probably making up a word again.) in the book that entertained me, that made me appreciate and love these characters.
Yes, the vampire thing, and the cheesy romance was incredibly cliche- But it was all so enjoyable. The alternating POV from Lucius's stiff and posh attitude while watching him changing into a more normal teen (not that we're calling vampires normal here.) and Jessica's transition from nerd to vampire royalty? SUCKED ME IN WITHOUT ANOTHER THOUGHT. (Excuse the really bad pun.)
There was this addictive quality to this book, that I really enjoyed, that just kind of made up for all those flaws. Sure I didn't go all "OMG I MUST READ AND FINISH THIS BOOK OMG." but it wasn't exactly terrible for me to read it either. I liked it, the pacing and writing worked for me, the little humourous bits here and there, even some of that cheesy clicheness, I enjoyed it all. The characters NORMALLY might have pissed me off, but I just.. went through it without a care. I LIKED Jessica and Lucius as couple. They entertained me, made me sigh for them, and laughed along while watching them. (The part where Jessica tries to cook him a hare? Hilarious and a little heartbreaking at the same time.)
To finish it off, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a hilarious somewhat heartwarming book with a weird funky twist on vampires that may not be for everyone, but it sure got through to me.
* I could just be completely crazy and babbling though.
You know those books that are irrational for you to like? Like it so badly flawed in so many places YET you enjoyed/loved it to pieces?
Yeah, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is one of them.
There are a million things I could pick out about this book that was flawed, annoying, shallow, ridiculous, etc. I could say Lucius completely changed character to a point so ridiculous that it was annoying. I could say Jessica was so irrational and shallow at one or more points of this story. I could even pick at the romantic bits at the end and call it downright cliche and cheesy, and the vampire lore in this book is downright stupid. I could say it was boring, the action unnecessary.
But I don't want to pick apart these details- they are what made the book what so unbelievably good. It's the flawedness (I'm probably making up a word again.) in the book that entertained me, that made me appreciate and love these characters.
Yes, the vampire thing, and the cheesy romance was incredibly cliche- But it was all so enjoyable. The alternating POV from Lucius's stiff and posh attitude while watching him changing into a more normal teen (not that we're calling vampires normal here.) and Jessica's transition from nerd to vampire royalty? SUCKED ME IN WITHOUT ANOTHER THOUGHT. (Excuse the really bad pun.)
There was this addictive quality to this book, that I really enjoyed, that just kind of made up for all those flaws. Sure I didn't go all "OMG I MUST READ AND FINISH THIS BOOK OMG." but it wasn't exactly terrible for me to read it either. I liked it, the pacing and writing worked for me, the little humourous bits here and there, even some of that cheesy clicheness, I enjoyed it all. The characters NORMALLY might have pissed me off, but I just.. went through it without a care. I LIKED Jessica and Lucius as couple. They entertained me, made me sigh for them, and laughed along while watching them. (The part where Jessica tries to cook him a hare? Hilarious and a little heartbreaking at the same time.)
To finish it off, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is a hilarious somewhat heartwarming book with a weird funky twist on vampires that may not be for everyone, but it sure got through to me.
* I could just be completely crazy and babbling though.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
5.0
"Welcome to the world of the mysterious, Jessica," A shadow crossed her face. "Please be careful there. It's very, very tricky territory. Completely untamed. The mysterious can be beautiful - and dangerous"
Yes, that's right. 5 stars!!! I see you raise your eyebrows! Please, lower those judge-y eyebrows,soften those eyes and hear me out.
Jessica. I loved that girl. Fierce, loving and so very very...stubborn. Ugh! No no, I get it. "you're a vampire princess" - who would believe any of them?? And she doesn't!!
and Lucius. Hot sexy vampire served up raw. He's nothing but sweet sweet sweet until he realizes it's futile - she's comfy in her nice little life. She won't even be nice to HIM!.
It's just Jake!!! Jake!!!! Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!
and his kiss sounded gross. I'm just sayin'.
And, c'mon, think about it! Could you have said no to Lucius? He was a little stuck up, a little pompous, but - he's a sex god asking her out on dates and she's snubbing him. He buys her a beautiful dress, stands up to the bully AND respects her space and limited experience with him and his world. And he takes all of this in stride.
She is stubborn and fierce, I'm telling you. But he is stubborn too....
The story is compelling. Once I got 10 chapters in, there was NO putting the book down. And both of them change about 2/3 of the way in, becoming who they should always be because of each other.
I'm definitely reading all the books in this series.
And if I NEVER have to hear about FAITH *shudders* again, it will be none too soon.
Yes, that's right. 5 stars!!! I see you raise your eyebrows! Please, lower those judge-y eyebrows,soften those eyes and hear me out.
Jessica. I loved that girl. Fierce, loving and so very very...stubborn. Ugh! No no, I get it. "you're a vampire princess" - who would believe any of them?? And she doesn't!!
and Lucius. Hot sexy vampire served up raw. He's nothing but sweet sweet sweet until he realizes it's futile - she's comfy in her nice little life. She won't even be nice to HIM!.
It's just Jake!!! Jake!!!! Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!
and his kiss sounded gross. I'm just sayin'.
And, c'mon, think about it! Could you have said no to Lucius? He was a little stuck up, a little pompous, but - he's a sex god asking her out on dates and she's snubbing him. He buys her a beautiful dress, stands up to the bully AND respects her space and limited experience with him and his world. And he takes all of this in stride.
She is stubborn and fierce, I'm telling you. But he is stubborn too....
The story is compelling. Once I got 10 chapters in, there was NO putting the book down. And both of them change about 2/3 of the way in, becoming who they should always be because of each other.
I'm definitely reading all the books in this series.
And if I NEVER have to hear about FAITH *shudders* again, it will be none too soon.
ashbrarian's review against another edition
2.0
At first i really loved this book but then towards the middle it got kind of cheesy when the whole "human gang" found out that Lucius was a vampire and then he left and all this other stuff happened it all got mixed up and i was left very confused but for the most part it was an ok book. Wouldn't read it again but it was ok. And the whole Faith/Lucius thing was very awkward and weird. But maybe i don't like this book as much because when i saw the description i was so amazed because it had seemed to have everything in a book i had been looking for... but maybe i had to high of expectations and then when it wasn't how i liked i didn't end up liking it.
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
This story is such a fab one to listen to! It's funny, spooky, romantic, it's what I had hoped TWILIGHT would have been and wasn't.
Poor Jessica has enough issues with being odd chickie out what with being a 'mathlete', has vegans for parents and is an adopted child with a foggy foreign past.
I enjoyed watching the progression of the cautious and irritated Jessica dealing with the arrogant and pushy Lucius as he 'courted' Jessica. And then the tables started turning as Jessica realized what she was becoming and how she felt about Lucius and Lucius started courting other girls and enjoying his Americanized life.
The dry humor in the beginning segueing to life as it can be with the issues that plague normal let alone vampire teens was entrancing to watch.
I can't wait for her next book, JEKEL LOVES HYDE and I'll be listening to that one, too.
Four chocolate vampire yumminess.....
Poor Jessica has enough issues with being odd chickie out what with being a 'mathlete', has vegans for parents and is an adopted child with a foggy foreign past.
I enjoyed watching the progression of the cautious and irritated Jessica dealing with the arrogant and pushy Lucius as he 'courted' Jessica. And then the tables started turning as Jessica realized what she was becoming and how she felt about Lucius and Lucius started courting other girls and enjoying his Americanized life.
The dry humor in the beginning segueing to life as it can be with the issues that plague normal let alone vampire teens was entrancing to watch.
I can't wait for her next book, JEKEL LOVES HYDE and I'll be listening to that one, too.
Four chocolate vampire yumminess.....
amandaexe's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good either. I wanted this to be funnier than it actually was, and as it always seems to be the case with post-Twilight vampire books, the vampire thing wears off too fast and what we're left with is the actual story the author wanted to tell. That is, until the last few chapters and all of a sudden there's a random trip to an European country even though those aren't cheap and it's never established if our teenaged main character even has a passport.
In this case, the plot was weak and cliched and I didn't really care about anything that was going on. Also, I wasn't a big fan of how vampires were portrayed.
However, if this story had been only about a young vampire from Romania discovering his passion for basketball and trying to make it to the NBA, it would have been a much better book. Sadly, it wasn't that.
Edit: So apparently this book was published before Twilight so ooops lol. I guess it's the opposite then, this is why Twilight is the way it is.
In this case, the plot was weak and cliched and I didn't really care about anything that was going on. Also, I wasn't a big fan of how vampires were portrayed.
However, if this story had been only about a young vampire from Romania discovering his passion for basketball and trying to make it to the NBA, it would have been a much better book. Sadly, it wasn't that.
Edit: So apparently this book was published before Twilight so ooops lol. I guess it's the opposite then, this is why Twilight is the way it is.
sarastg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Writing: 6/10
Plot: 8/10
Tension: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Tension: 10/10
gracedwithbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Loved sinking my teeth into this vampire novel (Cheesy but I had to)
Full review here:
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/12/07/jessicas-guide/
Interview with Beth here:
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/11/09/interview-with-beth-fantaskey/
Full review here:
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/12/07/jessicas-guide/
Interview with Beth here:
http://gracedwithbooks.com/2016/11/09/interview-with-beth-fantaskey/
lazylys's review against another edition
2.0
Come direbbe Lucius...
... carino, ma nulla più.
Lettura piacevole e veloce che scivola via senza intoppi né interruzioni, ma che altrettanto rapidamente cancella ogni traccia dietro di sé.
EDIT dei tre giorni dopo. Ripensandoci a mente fredda, tolgo una stellina. Colpa della struttura scelta, di quei capitoli super-flash la cui lunghezza andrebbe forse bene per mio cugino di otto anni, per quelle pause imposte che non fanno altro che artificialmente spezzettare e allungare il brodo.
E colpa del mix romance/humor/angst che se di per sé è buona cosa, all'atto pratico l'autrice ha gestito in maniera troppo superficiale e rozza.
Rimane comunque una lettura ultra-rapida e che non lascia eccessivi rimpianti dietro di sé, ma per come interpreto io il 3/5 (ovvero in chiave sufficienza più che abbondante) è troppo.
... carino, ma nulla più.
Lettura piacevole e veloce che scivola via senza intoppi né interruzioni, ma che altrettanto rapidamente cancella ogni traccia dietro di sé.
EDIT dei tre giorni dopo. Ripensandoci a mente fredda, tolgo una stellina. Colpa della struttura scelta, di quei capitoli super-flash la cui lunghezza andrebbe forse bene per mio cugino di otto anni, per quelle pause imposte che non fanno altro che artificialmente spezzettare e allungare il brodo.
E colpa del mix romance/humor/angst che se di per sé è buona cosa, all'atto pratico l'autrice ha gestito in maniera troppo superficiale e rozza.
Rimane comunque una lettura ultra-rapida e che non lascia eccessivi rimpianti dietro di sé, ma per come interpreto io il 3/5 (ovvero in chiave sufficienza più che abbondante) è troppo.