ARC Review: Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  September 18th, 2012

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

**Thank you to Southern ARC Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!!**

Every since I saw this book, many months ago, in the Simon & Schuster Fall 2012 catalog, I knew I wanted to read it.  Contemporary Fiction has never really been my thing, but lately I've read some really fantastic books within the genre, so I'm giving more of it a go.  Also, I've read Jenny Han's books before (The Summer I Turned Pretty, etc.), and I liked them.  I was interested in reading something outside of her debut series, and am always intrigued when two popular authors pair up as Jenny did with Siobhan Vivian (The List).  Burn For Burn was not a letdown.  I was cheering for the three main characters, Lillia, Kat, and Mary.  I wanted to them to get their revenge for wrongs done to them by some pretty awful people, and it was clear from the beginning that they would.  What I didn't expect was some of the twists and emotions that came on the heels of their revenge, and some of those very things are what made this book for me.  This book is extremely entertaining- a real page-turner- but it has a message too, and it may not be what you expect it to be.  Honestly, I can't tell you much more without spoilers, but know this, if you a fan of YA Contemporary, you will enjoy this book.  It was well paced and plausible.  The characters were great, and almost all of them had flaws and redeeming qualities that made things not so black-and-white; I was not always sure who the heroes and villains were.  My only gripe about this book was that the entire time I was reading it, I expected a solid conclusion, and that just didn't happen.  Now I know that this is the first book in a series, but I'm still a little pissed because you really are left hanging in a bad way... No closure whatsoever.  Until the end, I would have given this book 4.5, maybe even 5 stars, but because of it, I can't.  Still, I highly recommend this, just know, if you're an impatient person like me, wait until closer to the release date of book #2, Fire with Fire.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book has a lot of sexual content, drug use, drinking, and some pretty adult scenarios.  I would place this firmly in the HS and up range.  Grades 9 and up (ages 14+).