Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Title: Burn For Burn
Author: Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Series: Burn for Burn #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: September 18th 2012
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is the kind of place where nobody locks their doors at night, where parents can sleep easy, knowing their daughters are tucked away safe and sound in their beds.

But bad things can happen, even to good girls . . . and sometimes, the only way to make things right is to do something wrong.

Lillia used to trust boys, but not anymore. Not after what happened this summer. And she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her little sister from the same fate.

Kat is over the rumors, the insults, the cruel jokes made at her expense. It all goes back to one person--her ex-best friend. Someone needs to teach her a lesson, and, with Lillia and Mary behind her, Kat feels up to the task.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. Now that she’s got friends who have her back, he's going to be in big trouble.

Three very different girls who come together to make things right. Will they go too far?

I bought Burn for Burn ages ago when it was on sale for kindle. I do that a lot, buy books and just let them sit. Jess asked me if I wanted to buddy read it, so I jumped on the opportunity to scratch it off my list.

It was good. Was it great? Nah, not really. It lacked that magic I usually feel when reading something by Jenny Han. It just didn’t stack up to her other works. I suppose that is to be expected because this was co-written with Siobhan Vivian. Burn for Burn is the first book I’ve read with her name on it.

I did like the story though. I liked that it was told from 3 point of views, that was different and it kept me on my toes. I wasn’t all that connected to the girls though. Their schemes for revenge were amusing for sure, but on a personal level, we just didn’t click.

They all had their issues, but the incident with Lillia made my stomach curl. It was kind of swept under the rug, and it just didn't sit well with me. Perhaps there will be more to that in future books, we shall see.

There is a bit of a paranormal twist to this book, which is was expecting. Back when Burn for Burn came out, I read a review mentioning this twist but I wasn’t sure what it was. Now that I know I’m kind of curious to learn more about it. .

While this book will not go down as a favorite, I was still entertained and plan to read more. I’m just not chomping at the bit to get to them.

About the author:

Jenny Han (Han like Han Solo, not Han like hand) was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) and she went on to graduate school at the New School in New York City, where she received her MFA in Writing for Children. She lives in Brooklyn.

Find Jenny:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

About the author:

Siobhan Vivian is the author of THE LIST, NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, SAME
DIFFERENCE, and A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE. She also co-wrote BURN FOR BURN, the first novel in a planned trilogy, with her best friend JENNY HAN. She currently lives in Pittsburgh.

Find Siobhan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads