Audrey, Wait!: Review

Title: Audrey, Wait!
Author: Robin Benway
Release Date: April 2008
Published By: Razorbill
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.87 stars

Review: When Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, he writes, “Audrey, Wait!” - a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous! Now rabid fans are invading her school, the lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse, and the Internet is documenting her every move. Audrey can't hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi. But soon she has to confront her ex on MTV - and show the world who she really is.

AUDREY, WAIT! is exactly what it sounds: an awesome, fun read that doesn't stop the momentum from start to finish. Although there were plenty of emotions to go along with the ride, the story was peppered with hilarious incidents and moments of laughter, and all this was helped considerably by the fact that the narrator had the perfect voice for a novel like this. Audrey is smart and funny, with just the right amount of dryness in her narration to keep the pace going.

However, this book wasn't all laughs and games, as there was some good old-fashioned drama to shake things up. It wasn't just pointless, for-the-entertainment drama, though; Audrey underwent real struggles in coming to terms with her relationship with Evan and what it meant. I found this aspect of the book to be sweet and emotional without straying too far from the lines of reality. Nothing here made me cringe, which is, of course, always a plus.

While I enjoyed the book overall and didn't have too many quibbles with it, one part that bugged me throughout the entire novel was that of the realism behind the plot concept. I just couldn't believe that merely being the subject of a pop sing hit would make her so overwhelmingly famous. I would expect that from the writer of the song, not the girl whose name is in it. 

All in all, AUDREY, WAIT! was just what you would want in a pick-me-up book. It's light but has a lot of heart, and is sure to bring a smile to your face no matter what kind of day you've had. There is one particular aspect that does not feel very realistic, but apart from that, the characters and romance are all believable, not to mention the very authentic and funny voice behind the story. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a light and fun read.
 

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June: Review

Title: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June
Author: Robin Benway
Release Date: July 29th, 2010
Published By: Razorbill
Goodreads Rating: 3.73 stars
Amazon Rating: 4.50 stars

Synopsis: Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents' divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood--powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds--everyone's but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they'll always have each other.

Because there's one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Review: This was a fun read that was definitely serious, too. I wasn't actually sure how much I would enjoy it, because the main reason I picked this up was the interesting cover and title, and the synopsis didn't sound that great to me. However, I'm really glad I decided to read it after all, because I had a hard time putting it down!

One big aspect that I really loved was the humor. There were all these one-liners that provided the perfect comic relief, be it May's sarcasm or just the funny situations that arise. It worked perfectly, without making the book seem any less serious while still providing a break from the tension.

Something I was worried about when I started the book was that the sisters would all be these walking, talking stereotypes. After all, April was described as the worrying big sister, May the sarcastic delinquent, and June the shallow social climber. But really, they each had their own developed personality, and there was a lot more to them than initially described. Each sister was flawed and imperfect, and each grew throughout the book.

I wouldn't say this is something I would remember much of several months from now, but I did like reading it and I would definitely recommend it. I wish the superpower aspect was developed a little more - all the explanation we got was that they had the powers when they were little and they suddenly came back, which isn't an explanation at all - but then again, this book isn't really about powers. It's about sisterhood and friendship and family, and made me badly want a sister.

Grade: B