Sucks to be Me

Sucks to be Me
by Kimberly Pauley
pub: Aug 2009/Mirrorstone
304 pages

Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself.

But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take.
How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?

This was a surprising treat. I don't know why I didn't expect much from Sucks To Be Me, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Mina is a feisty character, full of humor and intelligence. I loved the sassy voice she maintained throughout. She's a loyal friend and has a good relationship with her parents. Yeah, she gets mad at their lack on info on the vampire thing but they work it out.

Her uncle comes off as a silly nitwit but then even he ends up working with Mina's best interests at heart. Serena is a solid BFF (you know I hate those boy-crazy twits).

I like the way the romance sets up. Sure the dark, mysterious guy is attractive, but lets not ignore the quiet nice fellow that is there when you need him. It all stays very sweet and innocent which I liked. These kids are young and based on their personalities and upbringing, a hot steamy romance would seem out of character.

The vampire training classes are entertaining as is this whole book. Each chapter begins with Vampire Myth that Mina shoots down. The first one is Myth: Vampires Don't Exist. Truth: Dead Wrong. And on it goes.

Sucks To Be Me is a light enjoyable read, and quick. I finished it in a day. But the fast pace helped with that too. I liked the theme of family and friends sticking by each other through good and bad. There's a good little twist/surprise at the end and overall Sucks to be Me is simply fun.

Still Sucks To Be Me comes out May 2010 so if you like this one, the sequel is available too. I recommend checking them both out. It's probably better for younger teens but older teens who aren't looking for a dark, angst filled story will enjoy it too.

The Cover: Don't like it. Probably one of the reasons I didn't expect much from the book. But glad I got past it - the content will keep you smiling.

First Lines: My parents are trying to ruin my life. Oh yeah, I know that every teenager says that, but I really mean it. They want me dead. Or, actually, undead.

Good. Very cute and I love the voice.