Review: Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson

Vampire Crush, by A.M. Robinson
Published: December 28, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780061989711
Genre: Paranormal YA
Pages: 416
Source: Paperback copy provided by author for an honest review.
Series: n/a.

I swear, my life was always totally normal.

Normal house, normal family, normal school. My looks are average, I don't have any superpowers, no one's showing up to tell me I'm a princess—you get the picture. But when my junior year started, something not normal happened. There were new kids at school . . . new kids with a wardrobe straight out of a 19th-century romance novel, and an inexplicable desire to stay at school until sundown.

And on top of that, James Hallowell showed up. James, who stole my sandwiches in fourth grade and teased me mercilessly through middle school. James, who now seems to have the power to make my heart race any time he comes near.

But something weird is going on. Because James rarely goes out during the day. And he seems stronger than your typical guy. And he knows the new kids, all of whom seem to be harboring some kind of deep secret. . . .

I think you would have to be delusional to not see the similarities between the blurb and a certain popular teen vamp story that shall remain unnamed. But ignore those possible similarities, because they hardly exist at all once you start reading Vampire Crush. 

Starting with the cover--I love it. It has a simple beauty, but I will admit that I have no idea how it plays into the story, other than the old fashioned bat&vampire connection. 

I'm beyond over the vampire craze, but since I'll be one of the stops on the Vampire Crush blog tour (keep an eye out for her stop here, on March 16th) I wanted to have an opportunity to read it beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised with Vampire Crush, and so glad it didn't resemble that other vampire series that shall still remain unnamed. 

I believe the majority of the characters were well developed. I liked the heroine, although she irked me from time to time with her editor-in-chief determination when there were far more important things going in her life. James was adorable, and I particularly loved Violet. 

Vampire Crush had an edge to it that was fun and witty. I found myself smiling on numerous occasions, and even laughing out loud a few times. It never once lost my attention, and I devoured it from front to back without feeling the slightest sense of boredom. The only negative thing I would have to say about it is the ending. I wish it had packed a bigger punch, but I'm still pleased with the book as a whole. 

Overall, it was a lot of fun to read, and I'll definitely be looking out for anything else A. M. Robinson writes!

4/5 Stars