Sara Bennett Wealer

This is one of those cases where I'm rating it on a different scale. What I mean is-- for what this was (fun, dramatic, entertainment), it totally did it's job. If I had to rate this against serious books that I've rated 4 stars, it wouldn't stand up. It's a book about sorority rush and the catty nature of it. It was a guilty pleasure book--- an extremely addicting guilty pleasure book, but not one that will change your life.

Confession time: I was in a sorority in college!!?!?! Yeah, it's true.

I'm telling you this because it was probably one of the reasons I could relate to this book. My sorority was WAY laid back compared to this one-- we didn't have some big mansion-house that we lived in, we didn't follow all those strict rules, and we didn't take ourselves so seriously-- but a lot of the rushing process was the same. It kind of affirmed all the reasons I didn't LOVE being in it (and all the reasons I ultimately went inactive).… (plus d'informations)

Elaine is the 'yes' person in her family that runs a funeral home. The demands her parents make on her are making serious inroads in her personal life and happiness, but she can't find her backbone. When she finds herself attracted to a new boy who has an obsession supernatural phenomena, she lets that attraction seriously cramp her friendships. There are some funny, but more frequent emotionally painful moments as she muddles her way to seeing the light. In the process, she finally realizes who she cares for, how to have a relationship with her sister, and get her parents to understand what's important to her. A satisfying and entertaining read.… (plus d'informations)

Teenage love is tough enough, but throw in life at a mortuary, a demanding family, and a ghost with an attitude, and nothing is simple.

Elaine loves her family...she thinks. Actually, she does, but sometimes, being counted on to help out with everything is almost more than she can take. But she understands the problems and reasons. If only she had a bit more breathing space. When a new guy comes to town and has an interest in paranormal investigations, she's sure he's only bugging her due to her family's mortuary. He is cute, though, and soon she finds herself drawn to him, despite the rumors that he's a trouble maker. When a seance gets a bit out of control, a ghost decides to give Elaine a hard time, and that's the last thing she needs.

Teen romance meets a tiny hint of paranormal, and that in the most perfect setting, a morgue. The set-up is very well done as Elaine tries her best to help the family and business, which puts her at odds with her social life...or the one she'd like to have. She's easy to connect with, especially since she does have a giving heart. Even when she makes mistakes, it's understandable and her attitude isn't over the top. In other words, she a wonderful character to follow to the very end.

While there are paranormal aspects in the plot, this read more toward the high school romance side. There is quite a bit of drama, which has absolutely nothing to do with ghosts and spooks in the night. When the ghost does haunt, it's more like a side-dish and adds a nice flair, but the other problems always hold the main focus. On this end, the author keeps up a steady pace, and something is always happening thanks to the array of characters, weaving side plots. There were some moments which dragged a tiny bit, but then, I do tend to be an action fan and lose interest on drama aspects quickly.

Romance is key in these pages, and that includes a love triangle with a dose of insta-attraction. Elaine can't chose between her love interests, which will thrill some readers and bother others. But it's laid out nicely with tension and confusion, and all of those other things which make high school romance so much fun.

Readers, who enjoy romance and high school drama, will enjoy this one, especially when they like a tad bit of ghostly chills with it. I received a DRC and enjoyed the world building and characters quite a bit.… (plus d'informations)

There's Brooke the popular, "It" girl of her high school. Almost anyone does her bidding. And she hates it. All she really wants to do is use her singing voice to get herself back to New York--where her family lived before her father left her family for a male movie star.

Then there's Kathryn who's been a social outcast ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. Kathryn the overachiever--who's family has very little money--is also counting on her singing to get her out of their tiny Minnesota town, to college.

Brooke and Kathryn might rivals now but they used to be friends . . .

Tiny Lake Champion, Minnesota might not have much to offer two aspiring opera singers, but it does have the prestigious Blackmore competition. With entrants from all over the country and a prize that would bring them both the needed money and prestige to get where they want, Brooke and Kathryn are both looking to the Blackmore to save them.

These two former friends who are not bitter rivals will have to compete against each other on the biggest stage of their lives. And they just might find, again, that friendship they lost so suddenly the year before.


Rival doesn't rely on romance to propel it through to the end. It's not about horribly mean girls (while it does have some pretty mean ones) nor is it about crazy drunken or drug doing teens.


Rival is awesome because it is about two girls who used to be friends until something drove them apart. That something isn't revealed right away, but while the story alternates between Junior and Senior years we see Brooke and Kathryn as they are now and as they were as friends. While Rival does show how cruel girls can be, it's not the sole focus of the story--and it is realistic.

I love how much of the book is about the girls' singing and their ambitions. Anyone who did anything with theatre or chorus, etc in school--or just likes watching Glee!--should love Rival for this aspect alone. I think having the music/singing be so much the focus brings a unique aspect to Rival. Not only does it give the book something very unique, but it gives Brooke and Kathryn something in common and keeps them together throughout the story.

Friendship (or lack thereof) really drives Rival and it was really refreshing to read a book that wasn't about girls going gaga over a boy or debating the best way to get a date. It's not that Rival is innocent . . . it just focuses on a part of life that exists and is important but seems to get overlooked in books.

(There is still some romance in Rival, however, and I absolutely, absolutely love it! Love the main male character, as well.)

9/10

… (plus d'informations)