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Kate Grable #2
Bad Hair Day
Senior year is positively hair-raising...
Kate Grable is geeked out to shadow the county medical examiner as part of her school’s pre-med program. Except when he’s arrested for murder, she’s left with the bodies. And when Kate’s brother Jonah stumbles upon a dead gamer girl, she realizes that the zombie epidemic she cured last fall was only the beginning of the weirdness taking over her town. Someone’s murdering kids—something really hairy. And strong. Possibly with claws.
Is it werewolf awesomeness like Jonah and his dorktastic friends think? Kate’s supposed to be a butt-kicking zombie killing genius...but if she can’t figure out who’s behind the freakish attacks, the victims—or what’s left of them—are going to keep piling up.
It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.
Kate Grable is geeked out to shadow the county medical examiner as part of her school’s pre-med program. Except when he’s arrested for murder, she’s left with the bodies. And when Kate’s brother Jonah stumbles upon a dead gamer girl, she realizes that the zombie epidemic she cured last fall was only the beginning of the weirdness taking over her town. Someone’s murdering kids—something really hairy. And strong. Possibly with claws.
Is it werewolf awesomeness like Jonah and his dorktastic friends think? Kate’s supposed to be a butt-kicking zombie killing genius...but if she can’t figure out who’s behind the freakish attacks, the victims—or what’s left of them—are going to keep piling up.
It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
1427 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Harris
66 books346 followersCarrie Harris is a geek-of-all-trades and proud of it. Brains are her specialty; she used to work at a lab where they were delivered daily via FedEx. After that, it seemed only natural to write a zombie book. Now she lives in Utah with her ninja-doctor husband and three zombie-obsessed children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 1, 2016
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
I liked the first book in the series and I have a thing for werewolves
What I thought
Kate is trying to back to her normal life after the attack but she finds out soon enough that's not gonna happen anytime soon. This was another entertaining read from Carrie Harris. I like her writing style and I definitely will be checking out more from her in the future. Bad Hair Day was a fast paced read that only took me a couple of hours to finish. Even though it wasn't as good as the first. It still was an enjoyable and fun read.
Why this book?
I liked the first book in the series and I have a thing for werewolves
What I thought
Kate is trying to back to her normal life after the attack but she finds out soon enough that's not gonna happen anytime soon. This was another entertaining read from Carrie Harris. I like her writing style and I definitely will be checking out more from her in the future. Bad Hair Day was a fast paced read that only took me a couple of hours to finish. Even though it wasn't as good as the first. It still was an enjoyable and fun read.
February 14, 2012
I wrote this, so of course I like it. You might like it too! This is especially true if:
- You like movies like Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland or (insert movie in which people alternately chase monsters and make really ridiculous wisecracks).
- You liked BAD TASTE IN BOYS. (In which case, you make my heart happy.)
- You have a werewolf fetish. (Which probably means you HAVE bad taste in boys. And yes, I dated a boy who thought he was a werewolf, so I realize I'm not exactly one to throw stones here.)
- You like watching CSI with the volume turned off so you can make up your own dialogue, most of which has questionable scientific merit but is much funnier than the original. (And if this describes you, please call me. We need to hang out.)
- You don't mind reading about geeks in uncomfortably tight underwear. (I cannot think of a parenthetical here that isn't completely inappropriate.)
- You like movies like Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland or (insert movie in which people alternately chase monsters and make really ridiculous wisecracks).
- You liked BAD TASTE IN BOYS. (In which case, you make my heart happy.)
- You have a werewolf fetish. (Which probably means you HAVE bad taste in boys. And yes, I dated a boy who thought he was a werewolf, so I realize I'm not exactly one to throw stones here.)
- You like watching CSI with the volume turned off so you can make up your own dialogue, most of which has questionable scientific merit but is much funnier than the original. (And if this describes you, please call me. We need to hang out.)
- You don't mind reading about geeks in uncomfortably tight underwear. (I cannot think of a parenthetical here that isn't completely inappropriate.)
November 19, 2017
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
RANT REVIEW: https://t.co/RrZo00KsA5
After curing a zombie disease, Kate is back again... this time... killer werewolves are on the loose.
blaaaaaaaaaaargh. The more I think about this book the more annoyed I get by it...
This book was basically the exact same as the first book but instead of Zombies it was switched to werewolves. I found it boring and repetitive. I also felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny. The plot didn’t progress at all... the characters all annoyed the living hell out of me... Kate is what, 15/16, and she’s performing surgeries in back parking lots at restaurants? She’s in the middle of a crime scene and a cop asks for her autograph? I also hated how stereotypical all the characters were. Elle was the worst out of them all... the author just tried way to hard to make her the blonde bimbo.
I think I would have liked this more if I had read it when I was younger and I can definitely see the appeal for a younger audience, it just wasn't the book for me. ALSO, how many times does this girl need to mention that her boyfriends butt is cute... like okay.. thank you for mentioning it AGAIN.. for the 50th time this book, I really understand now thank you for the visual image.
RANT REVIEW: https://t.co/RrZo00KsA5
After curing a zombie disease, Kate is back again... this time... killer werewolves are on the loose.
blaaaaaaaaaaargh. The more I think about this book the more annoyed I get by it...
This book was basically the exact same as the first book but instead of Zombies it was switched to werewolves. I found it boring and repetitive. I also felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny. The plot didn’t progress at all... the characters all annoyed the living hell out of me... Kate is what, 15/16, and she’s performing surgeries in back parking lots at restaurants? She’s in the middle of a crime scene and a cop asks for her autograph? I also hated how stereotypical all the characters were. Elle was the worst out of them all... the author just tried way to hard to make her the blonde bimbo.
I think I would have liked this more if I had read it when I was younger and I can definitely see the appeal for a younger audience, it just wasn't the book for me. ALSO, how many times does this girl need to mention that her boyfriends butt is cute... like okay.. thank you for mentioning it AGAIN.. for the 50th time this book, I really understand now thank you for the visual image.
May 11, 2014
Rating: 4/5
Another Kate Grable book. I love this girl and the situations she finds herself in. It's refreshing to see a way too smart, geeky heroine for a change, who is not extremely beautiful and doesn't really care about it either. She is hilarious and entertaining in her own special way.
With that said, in the second book of the series the zombie virus is long gone and Kate is about to start a week long -kind of- intership in the hospital. Her mentor is the head of the morgue and the very first day is arrested for murder. Soon after another victim drops dead and it's up to Kate -as always- to figure out who is after those people and why his victims seem to have quite a few werewolve-ish abilities.
This was as hilarious and quirky as the first book. Loved the scientific side to the werewolf epidemic. Also the mystery was very intriguing, kept me guessing till the end. And I also really loved who Kate was handling her relationship. It was refreshing to see the way she acted, totally in contrast with how YA heroines usually act. She is such a bad-ass!
Unfortunately, I don't know if there is going to be another book in the series. I hope so, though...
Another Kate Grable book. I love this girl and the situations she finds herself in. It's refreshing to see a way too smart, geeky heroine for a change, who is not extremely beautiful and doesn't really care about it either. She is hilarious and entertaining in her own special way.
With that said, in the second book of the series the zombie virus is long gone and Kate is about to start a week long -kind of- intership in the hospital. Her mentor is the head of the morgue and the very first day is arrested for murder. Soon after another victim drops dead and it's up to Kate -as always- to figure out who is after those people and why his victims seem to have quite a few werewolve-ish abilities.
This was as hilarious and quirky as the first book. Loved the scientific side to the werewolf epidemic. Also the mystery was very intriguing, kept me guessing till the end. And I also really loved who Kate was handling her relationship. It was refreshing to see the way she acted, totally in contrast with how YA heroines usually act. She is such a bad-ass!
Unfortunately, I don't know if there is going to be another book in the series. I hope so, though...
October 2, 2012
Immediately after finish Bad Taste In Boys I flowed into the sequel not looking back. It is amazing :)
So the book started where the last book left off and Kate is pretty famous. She is even offered a internship with doctors who are just as fascinated with her. I really adored that Kate took everything in with ease. She is proud of what she discovered but not stuck up. Instead she wants to continue to explore the area of medicine and biology to continue to save those who need help. The zombie disease is in control and scientist a vastly studying it.
Kate once again, finds trouble once again at the start of her internship. Her doctor is mysteriously taken away by the authorities and her boyfriend is being attack by girls. Specifically one girl. I really liked the strained of the their relationship. Kate is clueless as what to do but focuses on bigger things. She doesn't let a guy bring her down. I like that. For once in a book, this girl is not sobbing or whining over a guy. She leaves it in his hands. Take it or leave it buddy! HA!
There are some new developments with other characters as well as a disease. I like that the focus of the book doesn't go too far away from what started it all. Kate is still the smart girl but with a little more umph. She has grown into a smart young lady and is quickly learning about life.
Bad Hair Day is a fantastic sequel! With a new amazing plot and awesome character, Ms. Harris never fails the reader. It's exciting, filled with never ending action. Bad Hair Day is powerful story that rocks!
So the book started where the last book left off and Kate is pretty famous. She is even offered a internship with doctors who are just as fascinated with her. I really adored that Kate took everything in with ease. She is proud of what she discovered but not stuck up. Instead she wants to continue to explore the area of medicine and biology to continue to save those who need help. The zombie disease is in control and scientist a vastly studying it.
Kate once again, finds trouble once again at the start of her internship. Her doctor is mysteriously taken away by the authorities and her boyfriend is being attack by girls. Specifically one girl. I really liked the strained of the their relationship. Kate is clueless as what to do but focuses on bigger things. She doesn't let a guy bring her down. I like that. For once in a book, this girl is not sobbing or whining over a guy. She leaves it in his hands. Take it or leave it buddy! HA!
There are some new developments with other characters as well as a disease. I like that the focus of the book doesn't go too far away from what started it all. Kate is still the smart girl but with a little more umph. She has grown into a smart young lady and is quickly learning about life.
Bad Hair Day is a fantastic sequel! With a new amazing plot and awesome character, Ms. Harris never fails the reader. It's exciting, filled with never ending action. Bad Hair Day is powerful story that rocks!
October 22, 2012
This was a funny, hilarious, tale of werewolves that only the geeky Kate Grable can pull off!
Kate Grable is just trying to get back to her normal nerdy, everyday life since finding a cure for the zombie epidemic that took over her town. I mean yeah, sure, there is your random zombie from time to time. And the once "under the radar" geek, Kate Grable, is now famous and being interviewed by CNN. She also has a boyfriend, which she has absolutely no idea how to deal with. But things where starting to get back to normal. That is until an unknown killer is shredding their victims in what looks like a animal attack. But Kate knows it's something more than that and she is determined to figure out what. Who would have thought it would be werewolves? So know Kate is trying to find the time to not only have a boyfriend, study, get into college, but find a cure for the werewolf inducing nanobots before she herself is lost to wolfdom.
This was by far the most hilarious werewolf read ever. I know it comes at no surprise that I love a good werewolf read. I do...I really, truly love them. This was the first one that had me laughing so hard I almost peed my pants on more than one occasion. Kate Grable may be a nerd but she has a second calling at stand up comedy if her life as a doctor doesn't pan out. I fell in love with her humor in Bad Taste In Boys and my love for her only grew in this second installment. I loved seeing her with Aaron and watching how she handled her relationship with him. You couldn't tell she just didn't know what to do with a boyfriend and it was too damn cute. Then you've got Aaron that completely adores her, and she doesn't even know it. I loved that no matter how Kate freaked out he just seemed to roll with it. Most guys would have run away.
Overall this is just an all around great read for anyone. I highly recommend you read this series. It's a refreshing break from the "so serious" that your used to in paranormal ya genre these days.
Kate Grable is just trying to get back to her normal nerdy, everyday life since finding a cure for the zombie epidemic that took over her town. I mean yeah, sure, there is your random zombie from time to time. And the once "under the radar" geek, Kate Grable, is now famous and being interviewed by CNN. She also has a boyfriend, which she has absolutely no idea how to deal with. But things where starting to get back to normal. That is until an unknown killer is shredding their victims in what looks like a animal attack. But Kate knows it's something more than that and she is determined to figure out what. Who would have thought it would be werewolves? So know Kate is trying to find the time to not only have a boyfriend, study, get into college, but find a cure for the werewolf inducing nanobots before she herself is lost to wolfdom.
This was by far the most hilarious werewolf read ever. I know it comes at no surprise that I love a good werewolf read. I do...I really, truly love them. This was the first one that had me laughing so hard I almost peed my pants on more than one occasion. Kate Grable may be a nerd but she has a second calling at stand up comedy if her life as a doctor doesn't pan out. I fell in love with her humor in Bad Taste In Boys and my love for her only grew in this second installment. I loved seeing her with Aaron and watching how she handled her relationship with him. You couldn't tell she just didn't know what to do with a boyfriend and it was too damn cute. Then you've got Aaron that completely adores her, and she doesn't even know it. I loved that no matter how Kate freaked out he just seemed to roll with it. Most guys would have run away.
Overall this is just an all around great read for anyone. I highly recommend you read this series. It's a refreshing break from the "so serious" that your used to in paranormal ya genre these days.
February 29, 2016
3.5
I borrowed this book from my library's e-book selection. Prior to starting Bad Hair Day, I'd read somewhere that to enjoy it, you have to be able to suspend your disbelief and also not take the story very seriously.
And I'll be honest - those two things are spot-on. I really enjoyed this book, but for me the enjoyment came from the silliness, the geekiness, and what I tend to call the "fluffiness" of the book. It feels like I've been reading a lot of "serious books" lately, and Bad Hair Day was a pleasant break from the norm. Granted, it's not a series that I'd really recommend by virtue of an ingenious plot arc or beyond-amazing writing, but it was fun, it made me smile/laugh, and it really served well as self-care for me.
The author, writing about this book, said that you'll probably enjoy this if you enjoy movies such as Shaun of the Dead. I watched that in one of my honors classes (I think it was an honors class...? or maybe it was Comp I) in undergrad, sophomore year, I think... and I didn't enjoy it. That being said, I can see why she would make that connection. The best way I'd phrase it is - you can't take it seriously. Because if you do, that will ruin any of the lighthearted enjoyment you could get from it. :)
I borrowed this book from my library's e-book selection. Prior to starting Bad Hair Day, I'd read somewhere that to enjoy it, you have to be able to suspend your disbelief and also not take the story very seriously.
And I'll be honest - those two things are spot-on. I really enjoyed this book, but for me the enjoyment came from the silliness, the geekiness, and what I tend to call the "fluffiness" of the book. It feels like I've been reading a lot of "serious books" lately, and Bad Hair Day was a pleasant break from the norm. Granted, it's not a series that I'd really recommend by virtue of an ingenious plot arc or beyond-amazing writing, but it was fun, it made me smile/laugh, and it really served well as self-care for me.
The author, writing about this book, said that you'll probably enjoy this if you enjoy movies such as Shaun of the Dead. I watched that in one of my honors classes (I think it was an honors class...? or maybe it was Comp I) in undergrad, sophomore year, I think... and I didn't enjoy it. That being said, I can see why she would make that connection. The best way I'd phrase it is - you can't take it seriously. Because if you do, that will ruin any of the lighthearted enjoyment you could get from it. :)
December 21, 2012
OMG! FUNNIEST. BOOK. EVER!
February 19, 2025
I would have much rather enjoyed this book in the 8th or 9th grade. This was aimed towards a much younger audience than I was anticipating. I also didn’t know this book was the last in a series of which I did not read the others in. Oops 🤷🏼♀️😅
March 23, 2017
I reviewed the first book in the series in 2012. Go here to read that review.
Since I liked the humor, I decided to try the sequel as well. The checklist of pros that I listed for the first book remained the same:
Humor done well
Beautiful and relevant cover
Interesting plot and its resolution
Quick read
Fast paced story
Science and paranormal elements balanced beautifully
One of the issues that I had with the first book was absent from this one. This time around, there was a little more participation from the adults in the MC's world.
What else this book had going on:
The MC is a girl who knows how geeky she is and does not let anyone make her feel ashamed of it. The way she deals with another girl trying to flirt with her boyfriend makes her a role model for teenagers. She knows her worth and tells the guy she'd dump him, if he won't realize how good he has it.
I liked this book enough to forgive the usual crimes a YA novel commits:
Drooling over one's romantic partner
Having trouble focusing on the ending of the world while said partner is around or worse, out of the picture
Also reviewed at:
BL
BS
WP
LI
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2012
Eh, more or less the same story development and progression as the first book - except it's werewolves instead of zombies. I find it a little hard to believe that the same person who TOO conveniently found the cure for zombies is going to be the one who solves the mystery about werewolves too. But hey, that's fiction for you.
So, since everything is going great in the romance department, why not stir is up by throwing a cute guy in there and a cute girl in there. And I'm sorry, but Elle is too stereotypical of a character for the rival. By the way, Aaron is doing pre-med too? Not to be stereotypical or anything, but Harris never gave us the impression in book 1 that this football jock was smart. I think it's great and everything, but I'm just a little surprised by this huge leap.
My biggest problem with this book? Again with the insertion of random silliness. Kate's a nerd, yet guys are always groping her. Naming a character Dr. Dickensheet and then proceeding to tell readers how ridiculous the name is. A coconut as a murder weapon? She's in the middle of a situation, and a cop asks for her autograph. Seriously? People ask for autographs from movie stars and celebrities - not teenagers who find cures for diseases unless you're at a Nobel Prize conference for something. Sad, but true.
Not my cup of tea, but at least I was more prepared for it this time around.
So, since everything is going great in the romance department, why not stir is up by throwing a cute guy in there and a cute girl in there. And I'm sorry, but Elle is too stereotypical of a character for the rival. By the way, Aaron is doing pre-med too? Not to be stereotypical or anything, but Harris never gave us the impression in book 1 that this football jock was smart. I think it's great and everything, but I'm just a little surprised by this huge leap.
My biggest problem with this book? Again with the insertion of random silliness. Kate's a nerd, yet guys are always groping her. Naming a character Dr. Dickensheet and then proceeding to tell readers how ridiculous the name is. A coconut as a murder weapon? She's in the middle of a situation, and a cop asks for her autograph. Seriously? People ask for autographs from movie stars and celebrities - not teenagers who find cures for diseases unless you're at a Nobel Prize conference for something. Sad, but true.
Not my cup of tea, but at least I was more prepared for it this time around.
February 4, 2015
I love Kate! She is so geeky, smart, a typical girl in a new relationship, and she makes me relate to her besides her being like super smart. I still feel her brother to be acting a wee younger than his age. I wanted to smack that Elle chick so much for being so blatantly hitting on someone who is in a relationship! Jeez! The book seems really quick into action and wrapping things up. Overall, characters made it a great read.
July 15, 2020
Lol, this was funny. I loved the first two books and this was great as well. There was even more science in this. Although I think there was less Jonah which made me sad - I love Jonah. I was also sad Mike didn't make any appearances.
I love Kate. She was much better at focusing on the science and less on the romance with this one. Although there was still the usual teen romance angst we always see in young adult books. I did appreciate her maturity (at one point at least) when it came to Elle and she told Aaron she didn't have any relationship experience and proceeded to just ask him what was up with Elle. It was nice seeing a logical mature response. Of course she let herself down heaps after that but it happened once. Aaron didn't annoy me as much in this book either - not that I really know why he did in the first - maybe because he just went from zero to a hundred in being interested in Kate.
I hated Trey. I felt him hitting on Kate was a bit unnecessary but it's kind of how it goes I guess. The plot was great. I really enjoyed it. I wish there were more books. 4.5 stars.
I love Kate. She was much better at focusing on the science and less on the romance with this one. Although there was still the usual teen romance angst we always see in young adult books. I did appreciate her maturity (at one point at least) when it came to Elle and she told Aaron she didn't have any relationship experience and proceeded to just ask him what was up with Elle. It was nice seeing a logical mature response. Of course she let herself down heaps after that but it happened once. Aaron didn't annoy me as much in this book either - not that I really know why he did in the first - maybe because he just went from zero to a hundred in being interested in Kate.
I hated Trey. I felt him hitting on Kate was a bit unnecessary but it's kind of how it goes I guess. The plot was great. I really enjoyed it. I wish there were more books. 4.5 stars.
January 16, 2022
Though I didn't read the first book in this series, I am not sure I was really missing anything by starting on the second one. I would say these are entertaining for the humor factor, but they are also pretty predictable. The first book was about Kate finding a cure for zombies, and this one is about werewolves. Basically same idea, cure the infection with a scientific method. I would go so far as to say this book was campy, with a lot of nice witty banter, but over the top on the drama.
It might be good for the high school crowd, and if I was that age I am sure it would appeal to me. I did enjoy reading it but this is not a book that will be flying off the shelves because it is SOOO good. It is one that might get reluctant readers going though, and it does keep the action moving throughout.
It might be good for the high school crowd, and if I was that age I am sure it would appeal to me. I did enjoy reading it but this is not a book that will be flying off the shelves because it is SOOO good. It is one that might get reluctant readers going though, and it does keep the action moving throughout.
December 18, 2023
so apparently this is the second book? i didn't read the first one so i obviously don't know what happened but i don't think anything that happened will explain why the police straight up suck or why she's the only one with barely any common sense idk
February 1, 2018
teen fiction (sci fi/fantasy adventure with humor - high school geek saves the day, again)
March 14, 2019
Great book.
September 21, 2022
I give it 3.7. Not amazing but definitely good.
Read
November 10, 2022I loved it
February 11, 2015
Warning: Bad Taste in Boys spoilers in the first paragraph. Read at your own peril if you haven't read the first book yet.
Kate Grable became a national hero after she discovered a cure for the zombie virus that was running rampant through her high school. Little did she know that would just be the beginning of her fame and notoriety.
When Kate's brother Jonah discovers a dead girl at one of his gamer meetings, something suspicious is clearly afoot - something suspicious AND hairy. And now that something is going around trying to kill people. Could it be... werewolves? That's what Kate has to find out, and if she doesn't soon, she could be the next victim on the list of bodies that seem to be piling up.
In Bad Hair Day Carrie Harris reminds us what we loved so much about Kate in Bad Taste in Boys. She is just as sassy, geeky, and quirky in this go-around as she was the first time. And in this book, we even have the added benefit of seeing a jealous Kate when another girl tries to steal her boyfriend out from under her. And if you're familiar with Kate at all, given that thought, hilarity is bound to ensue, right?
What endears me so much to Carrie's books is that she doesn't hide behind her writing voice. What you read is what you get with her. Not only is her writing hilarious, but she really is that funny in real life too. Anyone who writes sentences like this is surely a comic genius:
The stupid car alarm was still going off, but no one came to investigate. I thought someone ought to make a car alarm that shouted "Free beer!" I bet loads of people would come for that.
And just so you don't think I'm writing a biased review here because I know Carrie personally, I will give one minor criticism of the book and that is I wanted the villain to be in the story more than he/she/it <----- don't want to give it away -- was. It sort of felt like this person/thing just appeared out of nowhere and I wanted to better understand his/her/its motivations. Yet despite my own preference for the villain to be more in the foreground of the story, this is still a fully developed, hilarious novel. The humor is what I and so many readers love about Carrie's novels. In fact, I did a book talk on Bad Taste in Boys last week, and after I read a short passage, I closed the book and immediately heard the voices of many of my students say in unison, "Oh! I want to read that now!" The writing just speaks for itself. You can't ask for more fun and camp than what you get in a Carrie Harris novel. If I ever find myself in a bad mood and need a good laugh, I now know that she is my go-to read for a for some cheering up - unless I'm in a bad mood AND nauseated, in which case, I'll steer clear of Bad Taste in Boys with its frequency of vomiting zombies among its 200 pages. ;)
That is perhaps an added benefit of reading Bad Hair Day: those of you out there who are like me and have a low gross-out tolerance, the sequel will not gross you out nearly as much as the first one. For people (like some of my students for instance) who like to be grossed-out, they might be disappointed with this one - sorry, no black vomit this time. Oh wait, was that a spoiler?
Kate Grable became a national hero after she discovered a cure for the zombie virus that was running rampant through her high school. Little did she know that would just be the beginning of her fame and notoriety.
When Kate's brother Jonah discovers a dead girl at one of his gamer meetings, something suspicious is clearly afoot - something suspicious AND hairy. And now that something is going around trying to kill people. Could it be... werewolves? That's what Kate has to find out, and if she doesn't soon, she could be the next victim on the list of bodies that seem to be piling up.
In Bad Hair Day Carrie Harris reminds us what we loved so much about Kate in Bad Taste in Boys. She is just as sassy, geeky, and quirky in this go-around as she was the first time. And in this book, we even have the added benefit of seeing a jealous Kate when another girl tries to steal her boyfriend out from under her. And if you're familiar with Kate at all, given that thought, hilarity is bound to ensue, right?
What endears me so much to Carrie's books is that she doesn't hide behind her writing voice. What you read is what you get with her. Not only is her writing hilarious, but she really is that funny in real life too. Anyone who writes sentences like this is surely a comic genius:
The stupid car alarm was still going off, but no one came to investigate. I thought someone ought to make a car alarm that shouted "Free beer!" I bet loads of people would come for that.
And just so you don't think I'm writing a biased review here because I know Carrie personally, I will give one minor criticism of the book and that is I wanted the villain to be in the story more than he/she/it <----- don't want to give it away -- was. It sort of felt like this person/thing just appeared out of nowhere and I wanted to better understand his/her/its motivations. Yet despite my own preference for the villain to be more in the foreground of the story, this is still a fully developed, hilarious novel. The humor is what I and so many readers love about Carrie's novels. In fact, I did a book talk on Bad Taste in Boys last week, and after I read a short passage, I closed the book and immediately heard the voices of many of my students say in unison, "Oh! I want to read that now!" The writing just speaks for itself. You can't ask for more fun and camp than what you get in a Carrie Harris novel. If I ever find myself in a bad mood and need a good laugh, I now know that she is my go-to read for a for some cheering up - unless I'm in a bad mood AND nauseated, in which case, I'll steer clear of Bad Taste in Boys with its frequency of vomiting zombies among its 200 pages. ;)
That is perhaps an added benefit of reading Bad Hair Day: those of you out there who are like me and have a low gross-out tolerance, the sequel will not gross you out nearly as much as the first one. For people (like some of my students for instance) who like to be grossed-out, they might be disappointed with this one - sorry, no black vomit this time. Oh wait, was that a spoiler?
February 8, 2017
What I Liked: 1) Once again, I really liked Kate, and her geekiness. She's mostly comfortable with it even though she calls herself a "reformed geek." Kate seems to have decided that since she's dating the hot quarterback, that cancels out her geekiness. But I really like that no matter what's happening, you can count on Kate being there with her research and her scientific answers. And I especially loved her scientific insults. "Cephaloproctitis" bahahahahah! Kate is an MC that will endear herself to a lot of readers just because she's smart, curious, geeky, and not afraid to be who she is. 2) The ME. I don't mean the doctor, persay. We actually didn't get to know him very well. But it cracked me up that Kate was assigned to shadow the Medical Examiner as a part of her Future Doctors program. It kind of seemed like, with her new found fame after curing the Zombie Virus, she's get her pick. But she got really excited about it after the first initial idea. So it was really interesting spending time with Kate in the morgue and learning about the ME's office. 3) As a continuation from BTIB, Kate's name is very well-known after learning how to cure the Zombie Virus. And because of that, they named it after her! It's now called Grable's Disease. <----I laughed for like, 5 straight minutes about this. And how she feels about it. I think no matter how much scientific prowess I had or cured something dangerous, I really wouldn't want a disease named after me. Just putting that out there for any of you who were considering naming a disease after me. 4) The humor. It's inescapable, and something I'm coming to expect from Miz Harris's writing. It lightens the mood of the story in a really fabulous way, and fits perfectly with the maturity level of the characters. Despite Kate's fame and smarts, she is still a high school girl with reservations, insecurities, and a sarcastic tongue.
What I Didn't Like: This one is a little harder to follow than the first - the plot picks up the pace at the very end, then suddenly the book is over and you're like, wait, what just happened? I'll say part of this was just excitement on my part, reading so fast to find out what happened, but it does speed up and action and events start to run together so you aren't sure what exactly was happening. Like a really fast basketball game, or hockey game. Where is the dang ball?
Overall Thoughts: Werewolf stories have become increasingly popular (Hmmmm....Jacob Black!) but in most of them, you'll find a pattern to the werewolf lore. Bad Hair Day presents a refreshingly new idea when it comes to that old idea. In smarty-pants Kate's quest for a scientific explanation, she discovers the breech that led to the spread of the newest epidemic spreading through Bayview. While Kate's geekery leads to a lot of discussions of scientific protocol, it never bogs the reader down or bores you. Miz Harris's humor lightens the mood and makes Bad Hair Day a funny, smart, and interesting story that paranormal fans will all enjoy!
What I Didn't Like: This one is a little harder to follow than the first - the plot picks up the pace at the very end, then suddenly the book is over and you're like, wait, what just happened? I'll say part of this was just excitement on my part, reading so fast to find out what happened, but it does speed up and action and events start to run together so you aren't sure what exactly was happening. Like a really fast basketball game, or hockey game. Where is the dang ball?
Overall Thoughts: Werewolf stories have become increasingly popular (Hmmmm....Jacob Black!) but in most of them, you'll find a pattern to the werewolf lore. Bad Hair Day presents a refreshingly new idea when it comes to that old idea. In smarty-pants Kate's quest for a scientific explanation, she discovers the breech that led to the spread of the newest epidemic spreading through Bayview. While Kate's geekery leads to a lot of discussions of scientific protocol, it never bogs the reader down or bores you. Miz Harris's humor lightens the mood and makes Bad Hair Day a funny, smart, and interesting story that paranormal fans will all enjoy!
December 31, 2012
This is the second book in the Kate Grable series and I must say that I expected to enjoy it a little more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, there were aspects of this book that I greatly enjoyed, but I expected to love it all. Our story once again focuses around Kate Grable as she defeats the supernatural. In the first book, Kate develops the remedy to cure the zombie curse. Kate develops quite a name for herself in the first book and is returning for more in book number two. Only in this book, she is fighting a whole different evil. The question is, what is it?!
Let’s start with what I didn’t like about this book first. I like the idea of Kate having a boyfriend and I like Aaron’s character for the most part, but Kate became a little too obsessed for my liking. A new girl steps on the scene named Elle, who has her sights equally set on Aaron. By the end of the book Kate had stopped going on so much about Aaron and Elle, but at first I found it rather annoying. It’s just all too predictable to me and I think it could have been cut out, especially because Elle was such a clichéd character. I mean come on, give us something different here! I am here to read about zombies and werewolves, not a silly and rather immature teenage girl who is trying to move in on another girl’s guy.
Now I am going to sandwich in the good things about this novel. Carrie Harris’ writing is always fast, smooth and very easy to breeze through. This is always important to me because I like being able to get through a book at a steady pace. I can honestly say that with Carrie’s books I seldom get bored and she keeps me in the action, front and center at all times. Carrie’s witticism came out through Kate and many of Kate’s one liners had me dying laughing. This is one of those stories that most anyone would probably breeze through and should be a fairly quick read for anyone.
Kate wasn’t necessarily a character that I connected directly to, but I am by no means saying that this is a bad thing. I mean she does fight zombies and werewolves with a passion, so I am glad that I don’t personally connect to her. Kate is witty, smart, and sometimes cynical, but I love her character and she is easy to follow. I love the almost sarcastic voice that Carrie has written for Kate. I usually hate science and any talk of anything medical, but because Kate has such a passion for it I think I was able to actually enjoy those parts of the book. The werewolves were a nice twist on the typical werewolves, but I don’t want to spoil that aspect for readers!
This book was enjoyable, but not as much as the first book in the series. I wanted to really love this book and instead I only liked it. I would still recommend this book to readers who like to pick up incredibly fast and easy reads. Also if you enjoy any part of science then you may really enjoy this book!
***A big thank you to the publishers at Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
Let’s start with what I didn’t like about this book first. I like the idea of Kate having a boyfriend and I like Aaron’s character for the most part, but Kate became a little too obsessed for my liking. A new girl steps on the scene named Elle, who has her sights equally set on Aaron. By the end of the book Kate had stopped going on so much about Aaron and Elle, but at first I found it rather annoying. It’s just all too predictable to me and I think it could have been cut out, especially because Elle was such a clichéd character. I mean come on, give us something different here! I am here to read about zombies and werewolves, not a silly and rather immature teenage girl who is trying to move in on another girl’s guy.
Now I am going to sandwich in the good things about this novel. Carrie Harris’ writing is always fast, smooth and very easy to breeze through. This is always important to me because I like being able to get through a book at a steady pace. I can honestly say that with Carrie’s books I seldom get bored and she keeps me in the action, front and center at all times. Carrie’s witticism came out through Kate and many of Kate’s one liners had me dying laughing. This is one of those stories that most anyone would probably breeze through and should be a fairly quick read for anyone.
Kate wasn’t necessarily a character that I connected directly to, but I am by no means saying that this is a bad thing. I mean she does fight zombies and werewolves with a passion, so I am glad that I don’t personally connect to her. Kate is witty, smart, and sometimes cynical, but I love her character and she is easy to follow. I love the almost sarcastic voice that Carrie has written for Kate. I usually hate science and any talk of anything medical, but because Kate has such a passion for it I think I was able to actually enjoy those parts of the book. The werewolves were a nice twist on the typical werewolves, but I don’t want to spoil that aspect for readers!
This book was enjoyable, but not as much as the first book in the series. I wanted to really love this book and instead I only liked it. I would still recommend this book to readers who like to pick up incredibly fast and easy reads. Also if you enjoy any part of science then you may really enjoy this book!
***A big thank you to the publishers at Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
November 8, 2012
Bad Hair Day picks up not long after Bad Taste in Boys ends. As you may recall, super geeky, seizure prone, science nerd Kate found the cure for what was turning her classmates into zombies at the end of the last book. It was a close call, but she managed. Now, Kate is pretty much a celebrity. Not only that, but she's landed a spot on the county premed program. She can't wait to dive in and get her surgery on, but in Kate's world, everything doesn't always work out exactly the way she had planned. On her first day she finds herself assigned to work with the coroner. She's not exactly thrilled at the idea, but agrees to give it a chance at the persuasion of her mentor. No sooner have they made it to the morgue than the police show up to arrest said mentor. Turns out he may have some information on a murder that just happened. Determined to find out if the good doctor is, in fact, a murderer, Kate stays on and begins digging around in typical Kate fashion. As the bodies begin to pile up, and talk of hairy beasts roaming the town increase, it's once again up to Kate to figure out just what is going on.
The minute I first heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I thought Bad Taste in Boys was hysterical. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. I'd expected a typical zombie thriller, but what I got was a lot of zombie comedy.
I love Kate, and I love the voice Ms. Harris has given her. She's smart, quirky, a little neurotic and totally lovable. Most of the other characters are great as well, but they all take a back seat to Kate. The only one I really had a hard time with in this book was Elle. She was the stereotypical rival/bad girl. She just felt a little too cookie cutter for my taste. I'm also not a huge fan of Aaron (the jock boyfriend), but he serves his purpose. What I do like is that Kate isn't the typical "OMG, I can't live without him," type. She's too focused on her work to worry about whether or not a boy is going to call her or not.
The werewolves at the center of this story are not typical, just like the zombies in the first book weren't your typical zombies. Again, this is a science/medical mystery, but Ms. Harris makes the science part fun with her witty prose. As in the first book, I found myself laughing out loud several times. These books are meant to be fun and not taken too seriously, and if you read them with that in mind, you'll enjoy them a lot more.
If you're looking for a fun, short read for a lazy afternoon, I would definitely recommend this book.
The minute I first heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I thought Bad Taste in Boys was hysterical. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. I'd expected a typical zombie thriller, but what I got was a lot of zombie comedy.
I love Kate, and I love the voice Ms. Harris has given her. She's smart, quirky, a little neurotic and totally lovable. Most of the other characters are great as well, but they all take a back seat to Kate. The only one I really had a hard time with in this book was Elle. She was the stereotypical rival/bad girl. She just felt a little too cookie cutter for my taste. I'm also not a huge fan of Aaron (the jock boyfriend), but he serves his purpose. What I do like is that Kate isn't the typical "OMG, I can't live without him," type. She's too focused on her work to worry about whether or not a boy is going to call her or not.
The werewolves at the center of this story are not typical, just like the zombies in the first book weren't your typical zombies. Again, this is a science/medical mystery, but Ms. Harris makes the science part fun with her witty prose. As in the first book, I found myself laughing out loud several times. These books are meant to be fun and not taken too seriously, and if you read them with that in mind, you'll enjoy them a lot more.
If you're looking for a fun, short read for a lazy afternoon, I would definitely recommend this book.
April 16, 2012
My Thoughts: Oh man, how I loved Bad Hair Day. I really enjoyed Bad Taste In Boys but Bad Hair Day was even better. Instead of dealing with zombies, we are dealing with werewolves.
We are back with Kate Grable, our super smart heroine who is half brains and half funny. She's a bit of a nerd but she makes it look so cool. She's finally dating her crush Aaron and she has best friends named Kiki and Rocky.
Her family is still super cool, her mom is away a lot, her dads around, and her dorky brother Jonah has a drivers license and is her sidekick.
Kate is spending some time at the morgue for her school med program and while there on her first day, her mentor gets arrested for murder. Kate is determined to find out if he's guilty and what is really going on. Someone is murdering kids, but she really doesn't think he's the culprit.
When a few of her acquaintances start turning into werewolves, she starts to get involved and its in her best interest to find out what is causing it, how, and why so she doesn't become the next victim.
What can I say about this series? I love Kate. I love her character. I don't like Aaron very much but it's because he just lets other girls flirt with him and doesn't put them in their place, arrrrggg... Guys!
I love her friends, and her little dorky brother Jonah. I hope he starts playing more of a role in the next book. I just love how she uses science to figure things out. I love the plots of these books, and they are actually funny. I find myself laughing at the most random things.
Kate is snarky and smart, a perfect combination.
Bad Hair Day is another fantastic novel by Harris. I can see why some people might not like this series, as it has some bad reviews, but I really do. It doesn't focus solely on werewolves (or zombies as in the first book) but it is more about the science of it, the mystery because of it, and the girl who solves it all.
Overall: Loved it. I even loved it more than Bad Taste in Boys. I don't usually like zombies or werewolves but Harris pulled me into this series like no other. Good job! Write another one please!
Cover: It's perfect. Even the girls braid reminds me of Kate, especially when it was soaked in blood, totally fits. I can see this girl being Kate.
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Review Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
We are back with Kate Grable, our super smart heroine who is half brains and half funny. She's a bit of a nerd but she makes it look so cool. She's finally dating her crush Aaron and she has best friends named Kiki and Rocky.
Her family is still super cool, her mom is away a lot, her dads around, and her dorky brother Jonah has a drivers license and is her sidekick.
Kate is spending some time at the morgue for her school med program and while there on her first day, her mentor gets arrested for murder. Kate is determined to find out if he's guilty and what is really going on. Someone is murdering kids, but she really doesn't think he's the culprit.
When a few of her acquaintances start turning into werewolves, she starts to get involved and its in her best interest to find out what is causing it, how, and why so she doesn't become the next victim.
What can I say about this series? I love Kate. I love her character. I don't like Aaron very much but it's because he just lets other girls flirt with him and doesn't put them in their place, arrrrggg... Guys!
I love her friends, and her little dorky brother Jonah. I hope he starts playing more of a role in the next book. I just love how she uses science to figure things out. I love the plots of these books, and they are actually funny. I find myself laughing at the most random things.
Kate is snarky and smart, a perfect combination.
Bad Hair Day is another fantastic novel by Harris. I can see why some people might not like this series, as it has some bad reviews, but I really do. It doesn't focus solely on werewolves (or zombies as in the first book) but it is more about the science of it, the mystery because of it, and the girl who solves it all.
Overall: Loved it. I even loved it more than Bad Taste in Boys. I don't usually like zombies or werewolves but Harris pulled me into this series like no other. Good job! Write another one please!
Cover: It's perfect. Even the girls braid reminds me of Kate, especially when it was soaked in blood, totally fits. I can see this girl being Kate.
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Review Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
January 6, 2013
I didn't like this book as much as the first in the series, BAD TASTE IN BOYS. It just didn't have the same "must keep reading" pace the first one did. There weren't really any zombies, so that's a bummer. I do so love zombie shows. This time it was werewolf-ish things, which I wasn't fond of. Kate was, again, doing dumb things. The first time around her not telling others about the drama she found made sense somehow, there were enough explanations, but this time... it was just silly. Why wouldn't she tell people her mentor got arrested? Why did she have to do everything by herself when she had a cop on hand that would believe her instantly?
And Aaron, I really was never sold on him. He's too perfect. In the first book he wasn't given much time, and they weren't dating yet, so I didn't mind. This time around, he was again pretty much spot-on perfect and their relationship was just... meh. I didn't feel the passion and I didn't really invest myself in the relationship.
That girl (I forget her name, the one that was all over Aaron) was just annoying. That was too much unneeded drama added, which didn't do anything for the story. Plus in the end, how that girl did a complete 180 and became all really, really, really crazy then--in like a snap--she was all sane again and... interested in Kate's little brother? What? HUH? Why? Her character made no sense and wasn't needed.
The main villan was obvious from the start, and again his reason for being crazy made little sense. I just didn't feel it. Yet again, Kate solves the problem by accident. I won't say how, I don't want to ruin the surprise, but seriously...? She lucked into the solution for the zombie brother (her medicine) and then lucked into her solution a second time? If she's such a brainy girl, why can't she just figure it out herself? I didn't buy it. It was too convient. It's not like the story is very long, Harris could have added more--like, at least Kate figuring it out without pure happenstance--to make it more than just 200 pages.
I am by no means a Twilight fan. I couldn't care less for that series (or the movies) but Harris really hits on it a lot. It was mentioned at least three times (snark about sparkling vampires, being team Edward, etc) and it just seemed unneeded.
If there is another book in this series, I'm not sure I'd do it.
And Aaron, I really was never sold on him. He's too perfect. In the first book he wasn't given much time, and they weren't dating yet, so I didn't mind. This time around, he was again pretty much spot-on perfect and their relationship was just... meh. I didn't feel the passion and I didn't really invest myself in the relationship.
That girl (I forget her name, the one that was all over Aaron) was just annoying. That was too much unneeded drama added, which didn't do anything for the story. Plus in the end, how that girl did a complete 180 and became all really, really, really crazy then--in like a snap--she was all sane again and... interested in Kate's little brother? What? HUH? Why? Her character made no sense and wasn't needed.
The main villan was obvious from the start, and again his reason for being crazy made little sense. I just didn't feel it. Yet again, Kate solves the problem by accident. I won't say how, I don't want to ruin the surprise, but seriously...? She lucked into the solution for the zombie brother (her medicine) and then lucked into her solution a second time? If she's such a brainy girl, why can't she just figure it out herself? I didn't buy it. It was too convient. It's not like the story is very long, Harris could have added more--like, at least Kate figuring it out without pure happenstance--to make it more than just 200 pages.
I am by no means a Twilight fan. I couldn't care less for that series (or the movies) but Harris really hits on it a lot. It was mentioned at least three times (snark about sparkling vampires, being team Edward, etc) and it just seemed unneeded.
If there is another book in this series, I'm not sure I'd do it.
December 15, 2012
Life can't stay normal for long if your name is Kate Grable. After the "zombie" epidemic, Kate finds herself investigating a series of murders and figuring out what is causing the murder scenes to look like the attack was committed by a supernatural creature. Truth be told, I hadn't read Bad Taste in Boys (Kate Grables #1). I was able to read through this without having read the first book; however, it really would have added to the reading experience.
There are flaws in this book. If I look at it from a critical standpoint, I could point out how the humor is overdone--few lines pass without any--the love rival is a clichéd bimbo, and the story jumps from scene to scene without smooth transitions. I'm not a big fan of Aaron, and this book doesn't give me much time to puzzle over him, but he seems nice and he's not a bad boyfriend despite his indecisiveness at how to handle Elle (love rival). I could point out more if I took the time to do so, but I won't. All this aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. This is a short book and isn't meant to be taken seriously (though not because of the length). It should be read for the funnies.
Kate is a wonderful heroine. There aren't many books out there about science geeks, and I love Kate's voice. She is a nerd and geeks out over sciency things, but she's also breaking out of her shell. Her confusion over how to handle her first boyfriend is cute; at the same time, she doesn't let him off the hook with Elle. She's pragmatic and, though she acknowledges that she thinks about him a lot, she isn't the kind of girl who can't live without her guy.
Best of all, I love the scientific explanation for werewolves. Just like with the zombie epidemic, Kate finds herself searching for the cause behind humans taking on werewolf qualities, and she searches for the cure.
Again, this book isn't meant to be taken seriously. If you love humor mixed with the pseudo-paranormal, mystery, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this is the perfect book for you. As Christmas is approaching, this would be the perfect gift for a friend/relative looking to spend the dark days of winter curled up on the couch or in bed with a good book.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
There are flaws in this book. If I look at it from a critical standpoint, I could point out how the humor is overdone--few lines pass without any--the love rival is a clichéd bimbo, and the story jumps from scene to scene without smooth transitions. I'm not a big fan of Aaron, and this book doesn't give me much time to puzzle over him, but he seems nice and he's not a bad boyfriend despite his indecisiveness at how to handle Elle (love rival). I could point out more if I took the time to do so, but I won't. All this aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. This is a short book and isn't meant to be taken seriously (though not because of the length). It should be read for the funnies.
Kate is a wonderful heroine. There aren't many books out there about science geeks, and I love Kate's voice. She is a nerd and geeks out over sciency things, but she's also breaking out of her shell. Her confusion over how to handle her first boyfriend is cute; at the same time, she doesn't let him off the hook with Elle. She's pragmatic and, though she acknowledges that she thinks about him a lot, she isn't the kind of girl who can't live without her guy.
Best of all, I love the scientific explanation for werewolves. Just like with the zombie epidemic, Kate finds herself searching for the cause behind humans taking on werewolf qualities, and she searches for the cure.
Again, this book isn't meant to be taken seriously. If you love humor mixed with the pseudo-paranormal, mystery, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this is the perfect book for you. As Christmas is approaching, this would be the perfect gift for a friend/relative looking to spend the dark days of winter curled up on the couch or in bed with a good book.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
December 8, 2012
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. Bad Hair Day picks right up were Bad Taste in Boys finishes. Kate is now famous after saving everyone from a zombie outbreak. Being the book nerd she is she is super excited to get an internship with the county medical examiner. Things quickly go strange when the medical examiner is arrested for murder. Her brother stumbles across a dead body and Kate realizes there may be a new type of outbreak in the town. A hairy one with claws. On top of that she has to deal with some girl trying to steal her boyfriend at every turn.
Kate is ever book nerds dream girl lead. Why because she is one her self. She is smart and doesn't care to show it. Even if she is famous now she doesn't let that go to her head. Very down to earth and keeps focused on what she is after. Someone trying to steal her boyfriend she is upset about it but doesn't let it slow her down from her mission. Her brother Jonah I love! He is a game nerd but always tries to stay in the thick of things with Kate and whatever is going on. Aaron is Kate's boyfriend and a jock. He is has some smarts to go a long with his good looks as you see in this book. He is still clueless sometimes but I think in a way it makes him sweeter. Elle is a backstabbing boyfriend stealer that you can see right away. I love to hate this girl. You know rich and pretty so she thinks she can have what ever she wants.
This book is just as delightful as the first one. Centering around werewolves instead of zombies this time around. I love how they come to be in this book and how Kate works out who is the bad guy. This is a book that is what says a YA book. It is true to what it says and doesn't push lines. Were if you have a preteen and want to watch what they read this book and series would be a good pick. It has a paranormal theme with a great character you really can enjoy. The action is always going as you try to figure out along with Kate what is going on. A fantastic quick read.
Kate is ever book nerds dream girl lead. Why because she is one her self. She is smart and doesn't care to show it. Even if she is famous now she doesn't let that go to her head. Very down to earth and keeps focused on what she is after. Someone trying to steal her boyfriend she is upset about it but doesn't let it slow her down from her mission. Her brother Jonah I love! He is a game nerd but always tries to stay in the thick of things with Kate and whatever is going on. Aaron is Kate's boyfriend and a jock. He is has some smarts to go a long with his good looks as you see in this book. He is still clueless sometimes but I think in a way it makes him sweeter. Elle is a backstabbing boyfriend stealer that you can see right away. I love to hate this girl. You know rich and pretty so she thinks she can have what ever she wants.
This book is just as delightful as the first one. Centering around werewolves instead of zombies this time around. I love how they come to be in this book and how Kate works out who is the bad guy. This is a book that is what says a YA book. It is true to what it says and doesn't push lines. Were if you have a preteen and want to watch what they read this book and series would be a good pick. It has a paranormal theme with a great character you really can enjoy. The action is always going as you try to figure out along with Kate what is going on. A fantastic quick read.
December 5, 2012
Carrie Harris's sequel to Bad Taste in Boys is exactly what I expected from her. If you've ever visited her website you'll know what I mean. Bad Hair Day picks up soon after Bad Taste in Boys ends and Kate is still adjusting to all of the attention she's been getting ever since curing the "zombie" virus. In Bad Taste in Boys she got the boy she wanted and now she's struggling to deal with having a boyfriend who is really beyond her geeky social status while at the same time trying to save the world again.
I love that Kate's character doesn't change from one book to the other. Even though she's famous, she stays true to her science geek character and once the new mystery starts she is completely focused on solving it. There were some interesting scenes between Kate and her boyfriend Aaron. But he wasn't a big player in the story, mainly because Kate is too independent to fall into the whole "I love you too much to do anything without you" routine. In fact, Kate almost forgets about him while embroiled in her mystery.
I actually found the interactions between Kate and her brother, Jonah, to be the most entertaining. I don't have a brother, but can imagine how one would be so annoying, especially if he wore tights and played with a sword all day.
There is of course a certain amount of reality that needs to be checked before opening the book, even for a paranormal book. Kate's ability to perform some complex surgical procedures, the police department's willingness to divulge sensitive information to her, and the hospital's lack of knowledge that a high school senior is acting as medical examiner makes things convenient for the plot, but doesn't toe the line of reality.
For me this was a quick, fun read and really, once the line "You don't understand. I'm team Edward!" crossed the page, I was all in. This is a definite must read for anyone who's looking for something a quirky and fast paced.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
I love that Kate's character doesn't change from one book to the other. Even though she's famous, she stays true to her science geek character and once the new mystery starts she is completely focused on solving it. There were some interesting scenes between Kate and her boyfriend Aaron. But he wasn't a big player in the story, mainly because Kate is too independent to fall into the whole "I love you too much to do anything without you" routine. In fact, Kate almost forgets about him while embroiled in her mystery.
I actually found the interactions between Kate and her brother, Jonah, to be the most entertaining. I don't have a brother, but can imagine how one would be so annoying, especially if he wore tights and played with a sword all day.
There is of course a certain amount of reality that needs to be checked before opening the book, even for a paranormal book. Kate's ability to perform some complex surgical procedures, the police department's willingness to divulge sensitive information to her, and the hospital's lack of knowledge that a high school senior is acting as medical examiner makes things convenient for the plot, but doesn't toe the line of reality.
For me this was a quick, fun read and really, once the line "You don't understand. I'm team Edward!" crossed the page, I was all in. This is a definite must read for anyone who's looking for something a quirky and fast paced.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
April 24, 2012
I had the first book in the series, “Bad Taste in Boys” on my radar thanks to its gleefully kitsch 50s sci-fi B-movie synopsis yet never got around to reading it, mainly because I could never find it in UK and I’m too cheap to pay for shipping. I began reading the 2nd in the series with the typical hesitations of a reader coming into a series without the full story, but luckily it was easy enough to pick up in this short, if tiresome read. Once again, this is a paranormal YA that promises big and doesn’t deliver.
I really should have written this review straight after finishing the book, but university work got in the way, because it was entirely forgettable and I’m having trouble remembering simple elements such as character names. This isn’t a good sign. Unfortunately, “Bad Hair Day” is generic in every sense of the word. The heroine is the geek who doesn’t know she’s pretty, the handsome but bland love interest, the shoe-horned in romantic conflict, the quirky but mostly absent parents and sibling, the casual disparaging comments towards girls who present a threat – they’re all here. At times it feels like join-the-dots storytelling, especially since the pacing for this short book is completely erratic, veering between fumbled exposition and drawn out and entirely unnecessary romance subplot and shorts bursts of action that do nothing to liven up what should be a short, silly read. Despite the attempts at humour – and I did snigger once or twice – the book never fully decides whether it wants to be a camp take on kitschy horror and sci-fi or a conventional paranormal tale. I’m personally quite disappointed that it didn’t take the latter route since the genre desperately needs less po-faced seriousness.
The book reads younger than YA, with the immaturity of the supposed genius teenage heroine seeming more suited to a middle-grade character. There’s nothing in this book to outright hate, it’s just too bland and inoffensive for that.
2/5.
I really should have written this review straight after finishing the book, but university work got in the way, because it was entirely forgettable and I’m having trouble remembering simple elements such as character names. This isn’t a good sign. Unfortunately, “Bad Hair Day” is generic in every sense of the word. The heroine is the geek who doesn’t know she’s pretty, the handsome but bland love interest, the shoe-horned in romantic conflict, the quirky but mostly absent parents and sibling, the casual disparaging comments towards girls who present a threat – they’re all here. At times it feels like join-the-dots storytelling, especially since the pacing for this short book is completely erratic, veering between fumbled exposition and drawn out and entirely unnecessary romance subplot and shorts bursts of action that do nothing to liven up what should be a short, silly read. Despite the attempts at humour – and I did snigger once or twice – the book never fully decides whether it wants to be a camp take on kitschy horror and sci-fi or a conventional paranormal tale. I’m personally quite disappointed that it didn’t take the latter route since the genre desperately needs less po-faced seriousness.
The book reads younger than YA, with the immaturity of the supposed genius teenage heroine seeming more suited to a middle-grade character. There’s nothing in this book to outright hate, it’s just too bland and inoffensive for that.
2/5.
December 30, 2012
I haven't heard of this series by Carrie Harris, so I haven't read the first book Bad Taste In Boys. When this book showed up on my doorstep for review, I thought I'd give it a try! I like werewolves and murder mysteries, so I was excited to see what Kate Grable had in store for me.
Kate is definitely not your average teenager; she cured the zombie virus in the first book and has been accepted into the FDA (Future Doctors of America), where she has the chance to be a medical examiner's assistant. Most people would be freaked out about the last part, but Kate couldn't be more excited. But when he's arrested for murder and people keep on popping up dead, all with traces of stray pieces of hair and the strange ability to heal very quickly, Kate knows something is up and she's determined to get to the bottom of it.
While the story was likable enough, I had a hard time connecting with Kate. She was constantly complaining that she had no idea how to be in a relationship whenever she had to make a decision regarding her boyfriend Aaron, and everything medical related just seemed too easy for her. She had her own lab, carried around sample tubes and scalpels, and could successfully perform an operation in a dark alley. I don't know about you, but that just seems a bit too far fetched for a teenager to be able to do. Maybe I would have connected with her more if I had read the first book where she was introduced and the reader got to know her properly, but jumping into this book I didn't really find myself liking her.
There were some slow parts in the story and I think that the whole werewolf concept could have been better executed than it had. So overall, this book was just okay. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. If you have nothing else to read and your a paranormal fan, I'd say give this a shot. Otherwise, I'd pass for a more engaging, fast paced book.
Kate is definitely not your average teenager; she cured the zombie virus in the first book and has been accepted into the FDA (Future Doctors of America), where she has the chance to be a medical examiner's assistant. Most people would be freaked out about the last part, but Kate couldn't be more excited. But when he's arrested for murder and people keep on popping up dead, all with traces of stray pieces of hair and the strange ability to heal very quickly, Kate knows something is up and she's determined to get to the bottom of it.
While the story was likable enough, I had a hard time connecting with Kate. She was constantly complaining that she had no idea how to be in a relationship whenever she had to make a decision regarding her boyfriend Aaron, and everything medical related just seemed too easy for her. She had her own lab, carried around sample tubes and scalpels, and could successfully perform an operation in a dark alley. I don't know about you, but that just seems a bit too far fetched for a teenager to be able to do. Maybe I would have connected with her more if I had read the first book where she was introduced and the reader got to know her properly, but jumping into this book I didn't really find myself liking her.
There were some slow parts in the story and I think that the whole werewolf concept could have been better executed than it had. So overall, this book was just okay. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. If you have nothing else to read and your a paranormal fan, I'd say give this a shot. Otherwise, I'd pass for a more engaging, fast paced book.
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