Good Morning Bookish Friends :)
Some of you may remember me sharing my review of So Not Happening by Jenny B Jones last week.
I can honestly say that Jenny's young adult novels are becoming one of my favorite guilty pleasures. They are downright hilarious, but still full of important messages for the many issues teen girls are faced with in this day and age.
After finishing So Not Happening, I couldn't wait to dive into the next book in The Charmed Life series, and it definitely did not disappoint. Bella was up to all of her usual antics, and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts and opinions about it with you all.
I'm So Sure by Jenny B Jones:
Source: Library
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 2nd, 2009
Genre: Young Adult/Christian Fiction
Series: The Charmed Life
Synopsis:
Think you're having a rough week? Bella's stepdad, a semi-pro wrestler, just signed the entire family up for a reality TV show. Bella's first thought: Kill. Me. Now.
Living in Truman, Oklahoma wasn't 100% miserable for Bella. Sure, she misses Manhattan, couture clothes, and her dad. But she was making new friends at Truman High and almost enjoying her work at the school newspaper. Then the whole stepdad-wrestler-reality-show issue hit and her life is now being splashed across weekly tabloids and broadcast news.
As if having a camera crew following her around isn't bad enough, Bella soon discovers a conspiracy against the Truman High prom queen candidates. And the closer she gets to the answer, the more danger she's in.
As her relationship with Luke teeters between friendship and romance, Bella's ex-boyfriend Hunter reappears and vies for Bella's attention. Denying allegations of a love triangle, working to solve the prom queen mystery, and trying to keep her cool on national television finally motivate Bella to start talking--and listening--to God more.
But what comes next has Bella once again screaming: I'M. SO. SURE.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
I had many expectations going into this one, as I'd loved the first book so much. I'm happy to say that I'm So Sure is packed full of all the amazing antics that made Bella Kirkwood so lovable in the first book, and it had me wrapped right up into the story pretty much from the opening chapters.
While I have to admit that I love the laugh out loud moments that follow Bella throughout these books, I also love how they're balanced with a mystery element, the many swoon worthy moments that exist between her and her newspaper editor, Luke, and the continued struggles about adapting to life with blended families. As Bella begins a new assignment about the struggles teens face with trying to balance a job in the real world, a new story falls into her lap when devastation keep plaguing the upcoming junior prom. What starts as curious inquiries into the missing prom funds, turns into something more sinister than Luke or Bella ever could have seen coming. As Bella struggles to find a job, keep herself out of harm's way, adapt to her stepdad's new success on a reality show that continues to paint her in the worst light, and come to terms with her dad's new girlfriend and her psycho sister, she has to ask herself just how much is one girl supposed to handle? Oh and that doesn't even include the fact that her ex Hunter has been popping up lately, and he seems to have really changed.
I'm So Sure was a fantastic follow up to the first book, and I actually think I enjoyed the mystery element even more in this one as the reveal completely blew me away. I didn't even remotely see it coming. Luke and Bella's friendship also develops further in this one, and I enjoyed seeing how his protective side comes out where she's concerned, but she's not content to sit on the sidelines and let someone else keep her safe. I also have to say that I loved how much stronger Bella's relationship is with her stepfamily in this one, and I look forward to reading about more of their journey in the final book.
The only thing that really kept me from giving this one a five star rating was that I thought some of Bella's job antics were a little over the top, and didn't seem truly believable. It's still a fantastic follow up though, and I can't wait to read the third and final book.
Final Rating: 4/5
Quotables:
"Maybe I should listen to a bunch of Christian music or watch some Hannah Montana with Budge. I know, I'll view Veggie Tales until the evil is purged out of me, and all that comes out of my mouth is goodness, light and songs about cucumbers."
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
Some of you may remember me sharing my review of So Not Happening by Jenny B Jones last week.
I can honestly say that Jenny's young adult novels are becoming one of my favorite guilty pleasures. They are downright hilarious, but still full of important messages for the many issues teen girls are faced with in this day and age.
After finishing So Not Happening, I couldn't wait to dive into the next book in The Charmed Life series, and it definitely did not disappoint. Bella was up to all of her usual antics, and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts and opinions about it with you all.
I'm So Sure by Jenny B Jones:
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 2nd, 2009
Genre: Young Adult/Christian Fiction
Series: The Charmed Life
Synopsis:
Think you're having a rough week? Bella's stepdad, a semi-pro wrestler, just signed the entire family up for a reality TV show. Bella's first thought: Kill. Me. Now.
Living in Truman, Oklahoma wasn't 100% miserable for Bella. Sure, she misses Manhattan, couture clothes, and her dad. But she was making new friends at Truman High and almost enjoying her work at the school newspaper. Then the whole stepdad-wrestler-reality-show issue hit and her life is now being splashed across weekly tabloids and broadcast news.
As if having a camera crew following her around isn't bad enough, Bella soon discovers a conspiracy against the Truman High prom queen candidates. And the closer she gets to the answer, the more danger she's in.
As her relationship with Luke teeters between friendship and romance, Bella's ex-boyfriend Hunter reappears and vies for Bella's attention. Denying allegations of a love triangle, working to solve the prom queen mystery, and trying to keep her cool on national television finally motivate Bella to start talking--and listening--to God more.
But what comes next has Bella once again screaming: I'M. SO. SURE.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
I had many expectations going into this one, as I'd loved the first book so much. I'm happy to say that I'm So Sure is packed full of all the amazing antics that made Bella Kirkwood so lovable in the first book, and it had me wrapped right up into the story pretty much from the opening chapters.
While I have to admit that I love the laugh out loud moments that follow Bella throughout these books, I also love how they're balanced with a mystery element, the many swoon worthy moments that exist between her and her newspaper editor, Luke, and the continued struggles about adapting to life with blended families. As Bella begins a new assignment about the struggles teens face with trying to balance a job in the real world, a new story falls into her lap when devastation keep plaguing the upcoming junior prom. What starts as curious inquiries into the missing prom funds, turns into something more sinister than Luke or Bella ever could have seen coming. As Bella struggles to find a job, keep herself out of harm's way, adapt to her stepdad's new success on a reality show that continues to paint her in the worst light, and come to terms with her dad's new girlfriend and her psycho sister, she has to ask herself just how much is one girl supposed to handle? Oh and that doesn't even include the fact that her ex Hunter has been popping up lately, and he seems to have really changed.
I'm So Sure was a fantastic follow up to the first book, and I actually think I enjoyed the mystery element even more in this one as the reveal completely blew me away. I didn't even remotely see it coming. Luke and Bella's friendship also develops further in this one, and I enjoyed seeing how his protective side comes out where she's concerned, but she's not content to sit on the sidelines and let someone else keep her safe. I also have to say that I loved how much stronger Bella's relationship is with her stepfamily in this one, and I look forward to reading about more of their journey in the final book.
The only thing that really kept me from giving this one a five star rating was that I thought some of Bella's job antics were a little over the top, and didn't seem truly believable. It's still a fantastic follow up though, and I can't wait to read the third and final book.
Final Rating: 4/5
Quotables:
"Maybe I should listen to a bunch of Christian music or watch some Hannah Montana with Budge. I know, I'll view Veggie Tales until the evil is purged out of me, and all that comes out of my mouth is goodness, light and songs about cucumbers."
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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