Author: Anita Oh
Publisher: N/A
Release Date: Not Listed
Pages: Not Listed
Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis: As soon as I stepped onto the grounds of Amaris High, I knew I'd made a big mistake. I could never fit in at such a snobbish school – I was more IT girl than "it girl". But then I saw him.
Sam Spencer. My childhood best friend. But it couldn't be. Sam Spencer had died three years ago, on the night that changed everything. I need to know what happened, why he's suddenly not dead and is hanging out with a bunch of rich kids.
When the school is hit by a truth spell, it seems like the perfect chance to find out what Sam and his creepy new friends are hiding, but the weirder things get, the less I'm sure I want to know. Even for Sam, even for the free food, Amaris High might be more trouble than it's worth.
My Thoughts: I will start off my saying I liked this book, it was good. It is a fun, fast-paced and modern YA read. Our protagonist is suddenly reunited with her childhood best friend who, get this, died three years earlier...WHAT? This is definitely where I got hooked into the story, because what the heck is even happening?
The truth spell is a really fun aspect to the story because it sort of switches the point of view around, suddenly all these other characters whose minds are off limits to us, will be revealed because they have to spill their secrets. Fun, and definitely a unique twist.
There were however, things that bothered me, things that didn't necessarily take away from the story but that I had to address anyway!
First off the beginning felt really fast. I was a good chunk into the book already and literally knew nothing about the main character which felt weird.
Also, everyone was stereotypically themselves. I get trying to portray a mean spoiled rich kid vibe, but really, not ALL the rich kids can be that awful. I went to a prep school myself and sure there were a group of 'mean girls' (because really what school doesn't have them) but the rest of the people, rich or not, were just... people.
I don't know. I just don't know, I just felt like the importance of the super ‘important’ students was a little over emphasized.
Another concern I had was with some of the references in the story and how well they can withstand time. There was a reference earlier on in the book about the man with the ‘hipster beard’. I can picture it of course because currently, the hipster beard, as it were, is everywhere.
5-10 years from now, when undoubtedly this style will pass (as most styles so often do) will a new generation read this and go ‘ah yes, the Hipster beard’? I’m not so sure.
This is why I always say that description is always a writer’s friend. If the beard is important enough to be mentioned, I like to be able to visualize it beyond a reference than may become irrelevant. There are literally hundreds of styles of beard that could fall under the classification of ‘hipster’ Is it well trimmed? Scraggly? Long? Braided? Is the mustache waxed out like a super villain? You get my point?
Why am I harping on something as bizarre and strange as a beard in a YA novel? Because weird things stick with me okay, deal with it.
All these random weird personal issues aside, I did enjoy the story of Amaris high. It was an easy read and overall fun. I would certainly read the second book in the series.
Recommendation: If you like fun, paranormal reads with a boarding school twist you will like this story!