Death and the Girl Next DoorAuthor: Darynda Jones
Series: Darklight #1
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages: 274
Source: Publisher
Sophomore Year Was Never Supposed to be This Complicated
Ten years ago, Lorelei McAlister's parents disappeared without a trace, and she is finally beginning to accept the fact that they're never coming back. Life must go on. She's got her grandparents and the support of her best friends, and high school is not quite as painful as she thought it would be.
But This is What Happens When You Fall for the Angel of Death.
Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, tough, sexy Jared Kovach - comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other, and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity.
Life as She Knows it is About to Change Forever.
What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Death and the Girl Next Door proves Darynda Jones is a force to be reckoned with.
Let me start off my saying that I’ve read the first book in Darynda’s Charley Davidson series and loved it, so I was excited to read her new young adult book. If you are at all familiar with Darynda’s writing, then you know her books are full of witty, fun characters. Death and the Girl Next Door is no different. I enjoyed this book a lot!
The characters in Death and the Girl Next Door are absolutely great, and they are what really makes this book. Lorelei, a sophomore in high school, lives with her grandparents after her parents disappeared when she was ten. She’s short, smart, and funny! She loves her two best friends, Brooke and Glitch. Seriously, these three are a riot. What I also love about the friendship, is that they are all in on what’s going on together. Lorelei doesn’t try to hide what is happening from them; they all face it head on, even if it means ditching school. Then there are the two mysterious, hot boys. Cameron and Jared. Don’t worry, a love-triangle is not included.
The premise of DatGN is really interesting, but I don’t want to give too many specifics. Lorelei may not have long to live, because Death is coming for her. She suddenly has two bad boys showing interest in her; one completely mesmerizing, and one is being totally creepy. When unexplainable weird things start happening, she knows there is more to them than she could ever imagine. Death may have met his match.
As much as I loved this book, though, there were a few things that bothered me. They are somewhat minor, like a small inconsistency. However, the overall genuinely good feeling of the book far outweighs any complaints I have. Death and the Girl Next Door is definitely a book worth reading, and is a great start to a new series. I can’t wait to read the second book, Death, Doom, and Detention.
Glad to hear that you liked the mc and that there is no love triangle. Can’t wait to read this, great review! =)
Yeah, it’s a good book, and I think the series will get even better.
Yay! I am so glad you liked this one as much as I did. I LOVED their friendship, it was, by far, the best part of this book, well that and the hotness factor wasn’t bad either. 😉
Great review!!
Haha yeah, the dynamic of those three was hilarious. But ugh… it grossed me out when they shared a soda. lol
Yeah that was one thing I never did in high school!! It still grosses me out. I don’t even like to share with my kids. 😛
Bwahaha… I don’t either!
Hotness works. 🙂 I love Darynda’s other series so I’m so glad to hear this worked and that there’s NO love triangle, the horrible beast. I like the humor she uses too and am glad it’s part of this one – doesn’t she have great titles?!
I know! I was laughing when I checked the titles for the next two books.
This sounds so good, and I’ve been wanting to read this author’s work for a while! Awesome review, love!
You’ll love her! Darynda is hilarious.
I know I had a few niggling problems with this one and it just didn’t live up to Charley for me….good but I prefer Charley. Still I will be reading the next book of course since I love Darynda!
I think I prefer Charley too, but I think this series will get better. I have faith in Darynda! 😀
I have been meaning to read this book! I kept seeing it in GR and the cover called to me… the synopsis sounded fun… But I really wanted to see a review I trusted before jumping in (obscenely towering TBR piles and all). If you liked it, then I’m going to put it down on my “to read when you want something light and funny” list!
Boy, I never thought I’d say this but I have too many books to read *laugh* and every time we talk I add new titles! I just got Patient Zero on your recommendation, and I’m still keeping an eye out for The Hallowed Ones.
It is a good, funny book. To be honest, if you haven’t read any of Darynda’s books, then I have a feeling you’d like her Charley Davidson series more.
Oh yeah, you have to get The Hallowed Ones. No doubt about it! Patient Zero is totally different than the Benny Imura series, but it’s still really good. Just different. But it’s so much more fun going into Flesh & Bone having some of that back story.
I had a few mixed thoughts about this but I enjoyed it overall. I just hope the author doesn’t try so hard to make it typically YA in the next book. It felt a bit rigid and formulaic at times to me. 🙂
Yeah, I hoping the series will only get better.
I was really excited to read this because I loved the first Charley book that I read (I still need to read the others) but then I have seen quite a few pretty negative reviews which had me doubting whether I should bother. But if you enjoyed it then I think I may head over and reserve this one at the library. Thanks for the great review!
Oh I think you’ll like it, but getting it from the library might be a good move. Just in case! 🙂
I will be reading this next for a blog tour review in November…i am curious about your concerns and look forward to Jones witty humor. GREAT REVEW?
This one sounds pretty good, and I’m glad there isn’t a love triangle, I’m kind of burnt out on those right now 😛
Great review!
I’m not familiar with this author, but this sounds like a good book.
I’m really looking forward to reading this–it sounds like so much fun! I like the author’s adult series a lot. 🙂 Thanks for the review.