Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Would you recommend this book to a friend?
Yes

On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being the worst book ever written and five being the best, what would you rate this book?
5

Book Summary and Comments:
Okay, those of you who know me know I love fairy tales - especially modern adaptations of fairy tales. And this one is based loosely on Beauty and the Beast, which is one of my top two fairy tales. With a little bit of Irish history and Grease thrown in as well.

Yes, I said Grease. Trust me, you'll like it.

Let's start with Aurora. She's beautiful, she's smart, she's put together in that way that completely transcends fashion that I know I will never be able to pull off. She's also starting a new school, because her mother just died and her dad decided that it would be easier for both of them if they got a fresh start. To be honest, Aurora agrees with him.

And then there's Lucius. Okay, now there's an unusual and slightly villainous name. And Lucius lives up to it - just like Aurora, his family had to move, so he's starting a new school - but in his case, they moved because he blew up their house. Okay, half the house, but still. So now he's got a reputation as a troublemaker, he's starting sophomore year at a new high school, and oh yeah. He's got two hooks instead of two hands.

I loved the fact that the author kept the plot twisting, so every time you thought you knew exactly where this was heading you'd turn the page and find out you were wrong. And the side characters are excellent too - Aurora's dad, who's the school librarian; Lucius's little sister, Misty; and Nick Greek, the 22-year-old football star-turned-security guard. But what really makes this book shine is how it alternates between Lucius' viewpoint and Aurora's, so that the difference between the outcast's life and the princess's life is in really sharp contrast.

Reviewed by: Miss Jennie