Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

Publishing House: Point Books
Release Date: February 1, 2010
Pages: 332
Rating: A-

WARNING: May contain few spoilers if you have not read Suite Scarlett as this is the sequel.

Summary: Faced with her family's financial woes, Scarlett has taken on the job of assistant/indentured servant to a newly minted theatrical agent, professional eccentric Mrs. Amy Amberson. Scarlett ends up at the beck and call of a Broadway star (her own age!), dealing with territorial doorman, and walking a small dog with her insecurity issues -- all while starting her sophomore year at one of New York's most rigorous high schools.
It doesn't help that Scarlett's brain is clouded with thoughts of Eric, her former sort-of boyfriend. She has thousands of things to say to him, if only he would call. And then there's her new lab partner, the impossible Max, who's on a quest to destroy what little mind she has left.
Meanwhile, her older brother, Spencer, has become New York City's most controversial villain; her ever-reliable older sister, Lola, is sliding off the rails; and her younger sister, Marlene, most worryingly, has suddenly become...nice.
But somehow Scarlett will prevail...right?

Review: I actually finished this book on Tuesday and I kept putting off doing my review because I have been sick all week (first I got the flu and now I have a cold...) and I just remembered that I hadn't done this yet. So, here we go!
Scarlett Fever picks up right after Suite Scarlett leaves off; Scarlett is working as Mrs. Amberson's assistant and she is still moping over Eric. Marlene is still doing a lot of stuff with the Powerkids, Spencer is still auditioning for countless roles that he isn't getting, and Lola is working at a spa where she is still getting tortured by Chip's rich friends even though she is no longer dating Chip.
I really enjoyed this book, but then again, I have yet to find a Maureen Johnson book that I haven't liked. I definitely liked Scarlett Fever a lot better than the prequel. (Sidenote: I really shouldn't have done this review while being sickly...sorry for the suckitude of it) I overall love Maureen's writing, even though I usually don't read books that aren't fantasy, she has made me love them. Well, her and John Green of course!
Anyway, find Maureen in these places:
http://www.twitter.com/MaureenJohnson
http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com
http://www.youtube.com/maureenbooks

Also, if you enjoy the Scarlett books a few character's from the novels have joined twitter! Find them here:
http://www.twitter.com/MaureenJohnson/the-martins

Oh, and update on the contest: I will be going to a Carrie Ryan signing in just over 2 weeks and she just got a bunch of stickers that she will be handing out at the signing, so I will be getting a few of those and probably a signed copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, possibly two copies. If that happens then I will be doing a contest before 100 followers.

Next to Review: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Publishing House: Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 5, 2010
Pages: 412
Rating: A+

Summary: Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of and overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants, or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

At the nightmares escalate and the messages becomes relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to meet.

Review: I know I said that my next book review would be Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater but ever since Chasing Brooklyn arrived I have been itching to read it. I am definitely very happy that I finally did give in; Chasing Brooklyn was seriously a new favourite of mine. I can easily say its in the top running (along with Let it Snow, Shiver, and Looking for Alaska) for my favourite book of all time!

This book is set up, instead of prose, in poems; it's not usually the type of book I read because it's this way so, if I wouldn't have won it, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Chasing Brooklyn has definitely made me realize that I had judged these types of books way too soon, and as soon as I can, I will be buying Lisa's first two books, Far From You and I Heart You, You Haunt Me. I also don't usually go for ghost stories; but again, this book has made me realize that you can't be quick to judge.

I finished this book in about 4 hours (not consecutively but all together) and last night it was very hard for me to go to bed because I only had about 60 pages left and I was dying to know what was going to happen with the two main characters, Nico and Brooklyn. It was very rare to find myself not smiling at something that was going on.

All in all, Chasing Brooklyn was a really good book; if you like books that aren't all about love and happiness (even if you like all that), I think you would really enjoy this book. Lisa puts in just enough sorrow, happy, suspense, and love to make this one fantastic novel!

Next to Read: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (for real this time)