Book Review: #Prettyboy Must Die by Kimberly Reid

Tor Teen
TBP: Feb. 13, 2018
228 Pages

When Peter Smith’s classmate snaps a picture of him during a late night run at the track, Peter thinks he might be in trouble. When she posts that photo–along with the caption, “See the Pretty Boy Run,”–Peter knows he’s in trouble. But when hostiles drop through the ceiling of his 6th period Chem Class, Peter’s pretty sure his trouble just became a national emergency.

Because he’s not really Peter Smith. He’s Jake Morrow, former foster-kid turned CIA operative. After a massive screw-up on his first mission, he’s on a pity assignment, a dozen hit lists and now, social media, apparently. As #Prettboy, of all freaking things.

His cover’s blown, his school’s under siege, and if he screws up now, #Prettyboy will become #Deadboy faster than you can say, ‘fifteen minutes of fame.’ Trapped in a high school with rabid killers and rabid fans, he’ll need all his training and then some to save his job, his school and, oh yeah, his life. -Goodreads

Before anything, I would like say that this book was inspired by #alexfromtarget If you do not know anything about that story, you can take a look here to see whats its about.

I was excited for this read. Black teenager, who works for the CIA undercover. Sounds fantastic. However, I was disappointed in this book not initially but as the story progressed.

• It took place in a day.

I really enjoyed the fact that the story was not drawn out and the author was able to build a world and story that last literally less than 24 hours. For me, it showed skill and creativity. And overall, it added some intensity and that help drive the story. But the downside to this was I felt some things were missing.

• The story was far from narrow.

The author complicated the story as much as she can without it being distasteful. I liked that about this book. What you think you do or what you can guess isn’t exactly how it is going. There are some instances where what you see is what you get but not for everything.

• #prettyboy didn’t cut it for me

Not only was there not enough description of Peter, the book pretty much only mentions the hashtag twice. Considering that it throws the anti-social Peter in the spotlight, I wanted there to be more about it. His class for the most part do not really react to his new found fame. They really don’t care and his fan base is only on twitter and not even close to real life. Yes, I understand why the author did this because it really does tie the story together but considering it is part of the title and it changes Peter’s day, I wanted more attention on it.

#prettyboy Peter was a unlike-able character

Didn’t like him. He had no real personality. He doesn’t know anything about fitting in, which is where considering that he is in the CIA and this isn’t his first run. He is more bite than bark. He needs way more training.

Although the short time frame of the story provided intensity, it didn’t last and at a certain point, I was just ready for the bad guy to be caught. However, the author was able to suck me in at the end and want a book two.

Overall,

2 Pickles

NetGalley Review: Romantic Road by Blair McDowell *Spoiler*

Wild Rose Press
To Be Published Jan. 28, 2015
290 Pages

Lacy Telchev has just buried her much older husband but once he is buried all his secrets are being placed on displayed.

Now Lacy, determined to discover the truth about her husband and his past, goes across Europe being chased by mysterious men, meeting with three women from her husband’s past. 

But the more she finds out about her husband, Lacy has to ask herself did she really know who he was?

Cliche that was the first thing I thought of when I began this and it was the last thing I thought of finished this book.  The book was cute but it was cliche.

Lacy is a woman that married her Russian husband after six months and at the age of 27 she had to bury him. She knows almost nothing about her husband throughout the entire book I was surprised she knew more than when they first met.  Lacy is a bit of a brat as well. When she was showing concern for her clothes, her designer purse and designer shoes, I had to laugh. You have men chasing you and you’re worried about what you look like.  Nope. Nope. Nope.

The husband himself was a cliche as well. He was this man who was so amazing with women and no one can be mad at him for what he did and didn’t do. Bull crap. He had a life not a single one of them knew about and every woman had the right to be upset but no they praised him for his amazing eyes and sex skills.

*Spoiler* 

He was a spy. . . . . OH WOW.  A Russian spy who is amazing in bed -.- Another cliche.

But here what was good about this book. Although full of every cliche you can think of, the story was written well. The author has talent; that cannot be denied in any form. This talent made me finish the book because the story was written well although too simple and way too cliche.

Overall, this book could have been so much better but it wasn’t a horrible read.

2.5 Pickles.