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A review by k_wazlib
Adventures in Funeral Crashing: Funeral Crashing Series / A Kait Lenox Mystery by Milda Harris
3.0
I was excited to read this book. From the description, I believed that the story would be cute and interesting. While it was indeed both of these things, there were other small problems that I had with this book. I feel like I've grown into such a harsh book rater. My overall rating of this book kind of fluctuates between a three and a four, so don't be surprised if I up the rating or drop it back down.
Since her mother's passing, Kait Lenox has begun to cope in a different way than most. Funeral crashing has become her new pastime and she's managed to keep it hidden from most until she crashes the funeral of the most popular guy in school's sister's funeral. After he recognizes and questions her, they both somehow find themselves engaged in a murder mystery that could possibly end sour for the both of them.
As I've said, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. Pacing-wise I don't see many problems. The writing kind of peeved me there in the beginning, as it seemed more like I was reading a boppy teenage girl's diary rather then an actual story. However, once you get used to this fact then it appears to be smooth sailing until the end.
The characters in this book just weren't for me. Sure, Kait read like an average teenage girl who has average teenage thoughts, but I couldn't help but feel like she contradicted herself throughout the story. In the beginning she talked about being the outcast weirdo that nobody talked to, and the fact that she couldn't really even talk to anyone, much less the next lowest on the totem pole; her lab partner. However, many pages later she's questioning everybody, including having seemingly friend-esque conversations with said lab partner about asking a certain person to Homecoming. I don't know, maybe she grew more confident after hanging out with Ethan?
Then, I love pop culture references as much as the next reference nerd, but this story is so full to the brim of them that I felt like my head was going to explode. I get that you want your character to appear well-read and watched, but that doesn't mean that we need to see Jane Austen novels (or even Twilight ones) splattered all throughout the story. I personally just don't see the need, but that's only my opinion.
Also, Kait always talks about her ex-best friend who ditched her for the popular crowd, and we never really uncover much about this. Sure, it wasn't the central focus of the plot, but I'd at least like to know why we hate Ariel so much besides how weird and awkwardly she talks to everybody.
Ethan was an alright character. I didn't see any extraordinary in him, but I had no problems with him either. As far as the other characters, most of them didn't have very much depth or background stories for me to really care much about them.
The main thing that confused me with this book was the near automatic acceptance that Ethan's sister was murdered. Also, that they were both going to play detective and actually find the murderer. I had a hard time believing that it was actually happening. It didn't feel very developed and I was continually flabbergasted when they kept uncovering new things. I don't know, I suppose that I should give credit to Kait and her fantastic deductive skills, but I was too busy spending the entire book trying to convince myself that it was legitimately happening.
I mean, I read the description and knew that that was what it was going to amount to, but I just didn't feel like it was developed enough in my mind. Or, maybe I just went into this book with an open mind and just froze up when my internal realism told me differently.
Also, while the book appeared to be mainly about funeral crashing, we don't really see much of it besides two times.
Finally, the ending.
Is it sad that I almost laughed throughout the entire thing? It was so rushed and crazy and strange that I didn't even know what was happening. I kept accidentally skipping lines and having to go back because I wasn't taking it seriously.
I guess that it could possibly happen, because hey, psychopaths are psychotic, but still.
Overall, Adventures in Funeral Crashing was an okay book. Getting to the end of this review finally solidified my choice of three stars for its rating. Even though it was interesting and a tad bit cute, the characters and ending were its downfall in my mind. As far as the next book, I may or may not pick it up.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you want an interesting quick read.
If the thought of funeral crashing or YA murder cases interest you.
Since her mother's passing, Kait Lenox has begun to cope in a different way than most. Funeral crashing has become her new pastime and she's managed to keep it hidden from most until she crashes the funeral of the most popular guy in school's sister's funeral. After he recognizes and questions her, they both somehow find themselves engaged in a murder mystery that could possibly end sour for the both of them.
As I've said, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. Pacing-wise I don't see many problems. The writing kind of peeved me there in the beginning, as it seemed more like I was reading a boppy teenage girl's diary rather then an actual story. However, once you get used to this fact then it appears to be smooth sailing until the end.
The characters in this book just weren't for me. Sure, Kait read like an average teenage girl who has average teenage thoughts, but I couldn't help but feel like she contradicted herself throughout the story. In the beginning she talked about being the outcast weirdo that nobody talked to, and the fact that she couldn't really even talk to anyone, much less the next lowest on the totem pole; her lab partner. However, many pages later she's questioning everybody, including having seemingly friend-esque conversations with said lab partner about asking a certain person to Homecoming. I don't know, maybe she grew more confident after hanging out with Ethan?
Then, I love pop culture references as much as the next reference nerd, but this story is so full to the brim of them that I felt like my head was going to explode. I get that you want your character to appear well-read and watched, but that doesn't mean that we need to see Jane Austen novels (or even Twilight ones) splattered all throughout the story. I personally just don't see the need, but that's only my opinion.
Also, Kait always talks about her ex-best friend who ditched her for the popular crowd, and we never really uncover much about this. Sure, it wasn't the central focus of the plot, but I'd at least like to know why we hate Ariel so much besides how weird and awkwardly she talks to everybody.
Ethan was an alright character. I didn't see any extraordinary in him, but I had no problems with him either. As far as the other characters, most of them didn't have very much depth or background stories for me to really care much about them.
The main thing that confused me with this book was the near automatic acceptance that Ethan's sister was murdered. Also, that they were both going to play detective and actually find the murderer. I had a hard time believing that it was actually happening. It didn't feel very developed and I was continually flabbergasted when they kept uncovering new things. I don't know, I suppose that I should give credit to Kait and her fantastic deductive skills, but I was too busy spending the entire book trying to convince myself that it was legitimately happening.
I mean, I read the description and knew that that was what it was going to amount to, but I just didn't feel like it was developed enough in my mind. Or, maybe I just went into this book with an open mind and just froze up when my internal realism told me differently.
Also, while the book appeared to be mainly about funeral crashing, we don't really see much of it besides two times.
Finally, the ending.
Is it sad that I almost laughed throughout the entire thing? It was so rushed and crazy and strange that I didn't even know what was happening. I kept accidentally skipping lines and having to go back because I wasn't taking it seriously.
I guess that it could possibly happen, because hey, psychopaths are psychotic, but still.
Overall, Adventures in Funeral Crashing was an okay book. Getting to the end of this review finally solidified my choice of three stars for its rating. Even though it was interesting and a tad bit cute, the characters and ending were its downfall in my mind. As far as the next book, I may or may not pick it up.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you want an interesting quick read.
If the thought of funeral crashing or YA murder cases interest you.