I received my copy as an ARC from the publisher.
By: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Mel, Cathy and Anna live in New Whitby, a town where vampires have their own suburb – The Shade. They have seen plenty of them around but they don’t actually know any. This suits Mel just fine, she can live with vamps as long as they stick to their own kind. Everything is good until Francis arrives at school in a strange sun-proof suit. Cathy is fascinated by him and is soon totally swept away. Mel is horrified. She sets herself the task of convincing Cathy that dating a vamp is a very bad thing. The along the way Mel meets Kit, a boy who really makes her laugh but he has a very strange family history and it’s one Mel isn’t sure she can cope with.
They aren’t the only things going on with Mel, on one side her anti-vamp stance is in danger of jeopardising her closest friendship and on the other, her friend Anna is going through a really rough patch and Mel has said she will help. Anna’s father has left and her mother is acting really strange. Mel has promised to find out what is really going on but the closer she gets to the truth, the more she isn’t sure she wants to know.
This is a paranormal romance with a wonderfully humorous twist, that makes it a very rare kind of beast and a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you are like me and totally over the whole vampire YA romance thing then please don’t be afraid to pick this book up. Told from the perspective of vampire disliker Mel, it gives the genre a new lease on life.
Mel is a funny and opinionated character who is very loyal to her friends in her own way. Cathy and Anna offer different outlets to assist with her character development. Anna is the tormented yet coping friend who needs help and answers and Cathy is the smart, thoughtful one who listens to her friend but makes her own choices knowing the consequences.
Kit is a fun boy interest, the difference in his upbringing makes a nice counter to Mel’s life and he has the ability, predominantly through laughter and a willingness to learn, to affect and complement Mel.
I thought this sounded like a good read and I wasn’t disappointed. A fun story and a great laugh. One for both the lovers or paranormal romance and haters.
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children
Published: 02 July 2012
Format: Paperback 372 pages
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
ISBN 13: 9781742378398
Purchase: using Booktopia link on the side of the page
TheKylieVerse 
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