No Judgements

No Judgements

by Meg Cabot

After a bad year where her father died, her mother turns out not to be her mother, and her boyfriend's best friend tried to assault her, Bree Beckham has decided to take a break from her life. She stops going to law school and moves from New York to Little Bridge, Florida. And she actually seems to be doing pretty well for herself until the hurricane comes.

Now Bree has to first survive the hurricane with her newly adopted shelter cat and also try to keep the other animals on the island alive, as well.

She is helped by Drew, the annoyingly handsome and charming nephew of her employer and his family. But when her past comes to Little Bridge, can she find a way to stay in her present?

Final thoughts: I've been a Cabot fan for years, but this one just didn't do it for me. This felt like the set up for a new TV show or a disaster/romance movie. Bree's character was a little off the entire time. Staying for the hurricane? Actually going out during the early storm for her scooter? Spending half the book looking for animals? It just didn't read realistic and she was inconsistent throughout. Additionally, the storm itself is made out to be a huge part of the book, when it really isn't. It's actually treated as more of a convenience or even an afterthought. Just not a fan of this one.

NOTE: This is a New Adult book, NOT a Young Adult book. Not appropriate for most teens.

Rating: 2/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Babysitters Coven

The Babysitters Coven

by Kate Williams

Esme and her friend, Janis, are the last members of their local babysitters club. They work each weekend, taking care of the local children and making a little money on the side. It's better than getting a "real" job. 

But, except for her best friend and her babysitting, Esme just doesn't have much else. Her mom was committed to an asylum when Esme was young and Esme doesn't get along well with others. She's dealing with her life, though, such as it is.

Then Cassandra and Dion come into her life. 

Cassandra is nothing like Esme, but she seems to be determined to join the babysitters club for some strange reason.

It turns out Cassandra has her own home life issues and Esme may be the key to solving the mysteries that have surrounded Cassandra and her brother since their parents died.

When strange things start happening around Esme, she and Cassandra must work together to understand what's going on.

Final thoughts: Messy book. This is a bad combination of The Baby-Sitters Club and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's awkward and poorly written with very little to recommend. There is no build-up of anything, including tension. Things just happen without warning and then go away just as fast. Not good and not worth reading the next book.

Rating: 1/5

ARC courtesy of NetGalley