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Sweet Dead Life #1
The Sweet Dead Life
I found out two things today. One, I think I’m dying. And two, my brother is a perv.
So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her 16-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what’s left of the family by working two after-school jobs— difficult, as he’s stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.
Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn’t survive the accident at all. He’s an “A-word.” (She can’t bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn’t just dying: she’s being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother’s mysterious depression and father’s disappearance.
So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her 16-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what’s left of the family by working two after-school jobs— difficult, as he’s stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.
Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn’t survive the accident at all. He’s an “A-word.” (She can’t bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn’t just dying: she’s being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother’s mysterious depression and father’s disappearance.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2013
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1357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 3, 2012
Yes, I love it because it's mine! And also because it's funny and bittersweet and set in Texas. And I hope everyone enjoys it.
August 18, 2013
I'm getting too old for this.
I could not connect with this book. It tries to be sweet and cute and entertaining, but by the end of it, I just found it annoying. The main issue I had is that this book doesn't know what it wants to be: middle grade or young adult. Jenna is fourteen and a straight-A student in the eighth grade, something that the author really should have thought about a little more; I spent much of the first half of the book wondering why she'd been held back a year. I eventually decided that her grade level was to try to shoehorn this book into the middle grade category. And it's a weird choice, considering the language Jenna uses (she alternates between swearing and using phrases like "apropos of nothing"... seriously, what 14-year-old says "apropos of nothing"?), the fact that the boys in her middle school are potheads, and her best friend dresses like a hooker. Have things really changed that much since I was in the eighth grade? Are 14-year-olds really that grown-up? Or did the author just get it very wrong? (I thought about the characters in another middle grade book as I was reading this. The narrator of Ingrid Law's Savvy is thirteen, just a year younger than Jenna... but Mibs reads more like a child, relatively innocent and homespun, all excited about her yellow birthday dress with the purple sash. There is a huge difference in the apparent ages of Jenna and Mibs... and I'm not sure that there should be, considering it's only one year separating them.)
I also wasn't impressed by the story. It was a little far fetched, but that wasn't what bothered me. What drove me nuts was the fact that the villain was so obvious that I figured it out very early... and then had to slog through the rest of the book, waiting for these knuckleheads to catch up. I also wasn't impressed with the whole angel angle. Jenna's brother died trying to save her, and it was really of little consequence because he was still around. Sure, he can make poop noises and have wings sprout from dark nubs on his shoulder blades (this was probably the most disgusting angel-wing description I've ever read), and he's supposedly now swoon-worthy (for the readers' benefit, obviously), but I thought a pretty heavy situation was glossed over and made light of. Casey is dead.
The writing was also sub-par. There were lots of typos, and the author couldn't figure out how to pluralize or make possessive a family's last name (there were two mistakes relating to this). There were also too many irrelevant descriptions of what people were wearing; I was reminded of the author's other book, Dreaming Anastasia, where the main character had to mention the love interest's blue eyes more than 30 times (sadly, I'm not exaggerating). I don't know if that kind of repetitiveness would bother most middle-grade readers, but it bothered me. I just wanted Jenna to stop waxing poetic about her boots and get on with the story.
All in all, The Sweet Dead Life is not a great angel book. Nor it is a good mystery. The tone made me think that it was trying to be something like Wendy Mass's Heaven Looks A Lot Like the Mall, a book which successfully managed to blend humour and the afterlife with a lot more heart. The Sweet Dead Life tried too hard, and came up short in almost every way.
I'm afraid I can't really recommend this one.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
I could not connect with this book. It tries to be sweet and cute and entertaining, but by the end of it, I just found it annoying. The main issue I had is that this book doesn't know what it wants to be: middle grade or young adult. Jenna is fourteen and a straight-A student in the eighth grade, something that the author really should have thought about a little more; I spent much of the first half of the book wondering why she'd been held back a year. I eventually decided that her grade level was to try to shoehorn this book into the middle grade category. And it's a weird choice, considering the language Jenna uses (she alternates between swearing and using phrases like "apropos of nothing"... seriously, what 14-year-old says "apropos of nothing"?), the fact that the boys in her middle school are potheads, and her best friend dresses like a hooker. Have things really changed that much since I was in the eighth grade? Are 14-year-olds really that grown-up? Or did the author just get it very wrong? (I thought about the characters in another middle grade book as I was reading this. The narrator of Ingrid Law's Savvy is thirteen, just a year younger than Jenna... but Mibs reads more like a child, relatively innocent and homespun, all excited about her yellow birthday dress with the purple sash. There is a huge difference in the apparent ages of Jenna and Mibs... and I'm not sure that there should be, considering it's only one year separating them.)
I also wasn't impressed by the story. It was a little far fetched, but that wasn't what bothered me. What drove me nuts was the fact that the villain was so obvious that I figured it out very early... and then had to slog through the rest of the book, waiting for these knuckleheads to catch up. I also wasn't impressed with the whole angel angle. Jenna's brother died trying to save her, and it was really of little consequence because he was still around. Sure, he can make poop noises and have wings sprout from dark nubs on his shoulder blades (this was probably the most disgusting angel-wing description I've ever read), and he's supposedly now swoon-worthy (for the readers' benefit, obviously), but I thought a pretty heavy situation was glossed over and made light of. Casey is dead.
The writing was also sub-par. There were lots of typos, and the author couldn't figure out how to pluralize or make possessive a family's last name (there were two mistakes relating to this). There were also too many irrelevant descriptions of what people were wearing; I was reminded of the author's other book, Dreaming Anastasia, where the main character had to mention the love interest's blue eyes more than 30 times (sadly, I'm not exaggerating). I don't know if that kind of repetitiveness would bother most middle-grade readers, but it bothered me. I just wanted Jenna to stop waxing poetic about her boots and get on with the story.
All in all, The Sweet Dead Life is not a great angel book. Nor it is a good mystery. The tone made me think that it was trying to be something like Wendy Mass's Heaven Looks A Lot Like the Mall, a book which successfully managed to blend humour and the afterlife with a lot more heart. The Sweet Dead Life tried too hard, and came up short in almost every way.
I'm afraid I can't really recommend this one.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
January 18, 2013
This book was really adorable. It wasn't even on my radar until Joy met my mom while waiting on line for the Justin Cronin signing of The Twelve. When I went to join my mom on line, she made me promise to stop by her signing of this book even though I had never heard of her before. (Not I own the first in her Anastasia series.) I'm so glad that I didn't skip out on it, and I instead chose to go and get this book.
It was really cute. I ordinarily wouldn't go for something about a 14 year old because usually reading MG books, while adorable, seem too young for me the way the narrator talks. In this case, while she seemed young, she was incredibly funny and witty. I found myself wanting to hug Jenna as she faced the though of being poisoned with such a cavalier attitude. It was this horrible thing that her family was going through. Not only was she sick, but her mom was also sick, and her father was missing and then all the sudden her brother is an angel.
I loved how she puzzled out his angel behavior. The way that he would touch her and then all the sudden she would feel calm, and how he went from this stoner to this attractive young man. I loved the interaction between Mags and Casey as she suddenly recognized him in his new and improved state. I felt bad for Casey as she had to abandon everything that mattered to him so that he could take care of his little sister and his mom by getting another job.
Jenna was adorable. Her commentary on what was happening around her was funny. Between her judging Dr. Renfroe's chest hair to not trusting Amber and to her thoughts on Nurse Ed and his Crocs. She had me laughing out loud as I read thorough this book. The writing style carried me though the story with ease. Even though this book took me a while to get through (I blame my boyfriend being home for Christmas break) it was so easy to read and enjoy.
I think that this book would for sure fall more into the Young Adult category over the Middle Grade categorization because some of the content is a little stronger. There is a scene where Jenna decides her brother is a perv and she uses some strong language as she discovers that her brother is an angel. I can't wait for the next book to find out what Preble has planned for Jenna and Casey and Amber. I loved how Casey cared so much for Jenna and how he wanted so badly to take care of her and make her life better. This is definitely one to check out.
It was really cute. I ordinarily wouldn't go for something about a 14 year old because usually reading MG books, while adorable, seem too young for me the way the narrator talks. In this case, while she seemed young, she was incredibly funny and witty. I found myself wanting to hug Jenna as she faced the though of being poisoned with such a cavalier attitude. It was this horrible thing that her family was going through. Not only was she sick, but her mom was also sick, and her father was missing and then all the sudden her brother is an angel.
I loved how she puzzled out his angel behavior. The way that he would touch her and then all the sudden she would feel calm, and how he went from this stoner to this attractive young man. I loved the interaction between Mags and Casey as she suddenly recognized him in his new and improved state. I felt bad for Casey as she had to abandon everything that mattered to him so that he could take care of his little sister and his mom by getting another job.
Jenna was adorable. Her commentary on what was happening around her was funny. Between her judging Dr. Renfroe's chest hair to not trusting Amber and to her thoughts on Nurse Ed and his Crocs. She had me laughing out loud as I read thorough this book. The writing style carried me though the story with ease. Even though this book took me a while to get through (I blame my boyfriend being home for Christmas break) it was so easy to read and enjoy.
I think that this book would for sure fall more into the Young Adult category over the Middle Grade categorization because some of the content is a little stronger. There is a scene where Jenna decides her brother is a perv and she uses some strong language as she discovers that her brother is an angel. I can't wait for the next book to find out what Preble has planned for Jenna and Casey and Amber. I loved how Casey cared so much for Jenna and how he wanted so badly to take care of her and make her life better. This is definitely one to check out.
August 12, 2025
Jenna is a 14 year old girl who lives with her mother and her brother. Dad disappeared 6 years earlier and since then her mom has been in a non functioning funk. Her brother, Casey is working 2 jobs trying to support the family. Jenna starts to get sick. She gets sicker and sicker until one night her brother races to get her to the ER. On the way they have an accident. Before passing out she glances at her brother and knows that for a fact that he did not make it and she passes out. When Jenna wakes at the hospital, Casey is there looking better than he has ever looked in his life. Weird huh? Jenna seems to think so since she was sure he had perished in the accident. After going home Jenna and Casey seem to wind up with several mysteries on their hands. Casey did die in the accident and now he is an angel. How did that happen and why? After several blood tests are done it is found that Jenna is being poisoned, but why? Their mom they find out is also being poisoned, but why? And the biggest mystery of all, Where is their dad?
It was a cute premise, very much geared for the teen crowd. Casey was a bit of a goofball, but when your 16 holding down 2 jobs to support your mom and sister while still trying to go to school kinda deserves being a bit of a goofball. Jenna was a a bit dramatic and childish. I wanted to slap the girl with her friggen boots that I kept reading about. It was annoying to say the least. The ending was a bit crazy (good crazy), but I question the last act of their father. I don't to go into details, but I can't understand why he
It was a pretty good read and I will be following up with the next book.
It was a cute premise, very much geared for the teen crowd. Casey was a bit of a goofball, but when your 16 holding down 2 jobs to support your mom and sister while still trying to go to school kinda deserves being a bit of a goofball. Jenna was a a bit dramatic and childish. I wanted to slap the girl with her friggen boots that I kept reading about. It was annoying to say the least. The ending was a bit crazy (good crazy), but I question the last act of their father. I don't to go into details, but I can't understand why he
It was a pretty good read and I will be following up with the next book.
March 18, 2013
What an unexpected page-turner. Clever engaging mystery that strung me along to the end - I HAD to finish it in one sitting, I HAD to know what was going on. I enjoyed the turn of events as Preble revealed the story. Funny, sad, heartbreaking, warm, happy moments with the characters who snagged me into the story right from the beginning.
July 11, 2021
I'm a little bit torn on this one. While I think the concept of angels having problems too is interesting, there is something distinctly odd about angels swearing, lying, using pot, and hooking up with exes from their time alive. Not sure how I feel about all that still.
May 8, 2013
I'll admit, angel books are not normally my "thing." I'm wary of them because they tend to be a bit too self-righteous for me. THE SWEET DEAD LIFE is a refreshing relief from the typical angel book, in that you won't find characters with a superiority complex or overly-preachy moral messages that make you want to chuck the book at the wall in disgust. No, instead, you'll find angels (and non-angels) that smoke pot, cuss like sailors, masturbate, and generally behave like, well, humans. This is where the book exceeded my expectations, and at the same time, fell short of what I thought it could have been.
Allow me to elaborate by focusing on what I felt was good in this book: First, the characters. Jenna Samuels was so refreshing! She has a sarcastic, witty voice that kept me in splits for a good chunk of the book. This girl says what she thinks and is not quick to censor herself, which is typical of most 14-year-olds. Similarly, the other characters, from Jenna's older brother, Casey, to her best friend, Mags, and even ol' Nurse Ed with the purple Crocs, all had depth and personality that just jumped off the page. The humor sprinkled throughout the pages, both within the scenes and the dialogue, made THE SWEET DEAD LIFE an easy, entertaining read, and is a big part of what kept me going until the end. If Joy Preble's night-job isn't as a stand-up comedian, it should be! I also enjoyed the overall mystery of the plot, and though I did recognize who the villian would be early on, the way everything unfolded was very satisfying. Finally, I give Joy high marks for including so much of the Houston/Texas I know and love within the pages of THE SWEET DEAD LIFE. It's so neat reading about places and street names with which you are familiar. "Hey, I was just there!"
Now, on to the things that didn't quite work for me. I mentioned earlier how I liked that THE SWEET DEAD LIFE doesn't beat you over the head with a moral message. While this is true, I also thought that the almost-constant mention of pot and porn, as well as the excessive cussing, were just too much. I know (some) teenagers do and say these things, and I think I understand what Joy was going for - that is, no one is perfect - but it seemed that the inclusion of these -ahem- activities was more for shock value or in an obvious attempt to avoid the "heavenly being" cliches. The main character is 14, yet I would not feel comfortable giving this book to any middle grader, so while it is a bit of a cross-over between Middle Grade and Young Adult, I'd say this book is more for older Young Adults. The pacing of the story was decent-to-good, but I did have an image in my head of wheels spinning but getting no traction for several portions of the book. Finally, the ending fell flat for me. It's not a happily-ever-after, and it really can't be, since there's going to be a sequel, but it was an ending that didn't exactly inspire me to read the next book in the series.
Coming up with a final rating for THE SWEET DEAD LIFE was really hard. I've been trying not to split hairs with half-stars, but in the end, this one demanded that I do. It wasn't quite 4-star material for me, and honestly, I hate that because I love Joy and I especially love supporting local authors. However, the good outshone the bad and this is why I gave the rating I did. Overall, THE SWEET DEAD LIFE was a well-written and fun read, and many of my good friends did enjoy it. You may, too! I recommend that you give it a try and see for yourself!
*An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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This review was originally published on BlookGirl.com.
Allow me to elaborate by focusing on what I felt was good in this book: First, the characters. Jenna Samuels was so refreshing! She has a sarcastic, witty voice that kept me in splits for a good chunk of the book. This girl says what she thinks and is not quick to censor herself, which is typical of most 14-year-olds. Similarly, the other characters, from Jenna's older brother, Casey, to her best friend, Mags, and even ol' Nurse Ed with the purple Crocs, all had depth and personality that just jumped off the page. The humor sprinkled throughout the pages, both within the scenes and the dialogue, made THE SWEET DEAD LIFE an easy, entertaining read, and is a big part of what kept me going until the end. If Joy Preble's night-job isn't as a stand-up comedian, it should be! I also enjoyed the overall mystery of the plot, and though I did recognize who the villian would be early on, the way everything unfolded was very satisfying. Finally, I give Joy high marks for including so much of the Houston/Texas I know and love within the pages of THE SWEET DEAD LIFE. It's so neat reading about places and street names with which you are familiar. "Hey, I was just there!"
Now, on to the things that didn't quite work for me. I mentioned earlier how I liked that THE SWEET DEAD LIFE doesn't beat you over the head with a moral message. While this is true, I also thought that the almost-constant mention of pot and porn, as well as the excessive cussing, were just too much. I know (some) teenagers do and say these things, and I think I understand what Joy was going for - that is, no one is perfect - but it seemed that the inclusion of these -ahem- activities was more for shock value or in an obvious attempt to avoid the "heavenly being" cliches. The main character is 14, yet I would not feel comfortable giving this book to any middle grader, so while it is a bit of a cross-over between Middle Grade and Young Adult, I'd say this book is more for older Young Adults. The pacing of the story was decent-to-good, but I did have an image in my head of wheels spinning but getting no traction for several portions of the book. Finally, the ending fell flat for me. It's not a happily-ever-after, and it really can't be, since there's going to be a sequel, but it was an ending that didn't exactly inspire me to read the next book in the series.
Coming up with a final rating for THE SWEET DEAD LIFE was really hard. I've been trying not to split hairs with half-stars, but in the end, this one demanded that I do. It wasn't quite 4-star material for me, and honestly, I hate that because I love Joy and I especially love supporting local authors. However, the good outshone the bad and this is why I gave the rating I did. Overall, THE SWEET DEAD LIFE was a well-written and fun read, and many of my good friends did enjoy it. You may, too! I recommend that you give it a try and see for yourself!
*An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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This review was originally published on BlookGirl.com.
June 5, 2014
The Sweet Dead Life is a mix between YA and Middle Grade. Forteen year old, sweet and funny (sometimes downright hilarious) Jenna Samuels believes she is dying, and with good reason. Jenna is very very sick. She thinks the worse that she may be dying and without being able to pay to see a real doctor she knows death is inevitable. Her pot-smoking brother is doing everything he can to make money for treatment. While her Mother is lost in her own world is misery, heartbreak, and despair because of the disappearance of her husband. Jenna is slowly getting worse. When she passes out abruptly, her brother rushes her to the hospital only to end up getting into a bad car accident. When Jenna wakes up things begin to change. Casey, her brother looks very different, his acne is gone, he smells good, and has an almost "glow" about him. A very pretty paramedic, Amber is weirdly hanging around and Jenna is not sure why. Soon, Jenna finds out she is in fact NOT dying but being poisoned. How, why and by who? Jenna, Casey and Amber need to find out these answers before it's too late. If that wasn't enough, Jenna keeps on wondering why her brother is acting and looks so different. The truth, will blow you away. As this mystery unravels, Jenna may end up getting a lot more than what she bargains for....
Right from the start The Sweet Dead Life had me laughing. Jenna is one of most funniest characters I've read about in a while. She is quirky, sarcastic, and her breezy attitude is everything I love about this book. Even throughout her hardships, she was always making me smile. The mystery side of the book was what I loved most. The author always had me guessing. Now, the paranormal side (angels) I ended up not liking as much. It's not that this aspect was bad or poorly written but more so I wanted more of it in book one. You don't even find out the truth about Cassie until middle-end of the book. Also, once you end up figuring out who's been poisoning Jenna and why the story begins to dry up a bit. I just was not as impressed by the ending.
All in all The Sweet Dead Life was a fun, quirky read with a thrilling mystery entwined with paranormal mix. A great read more so for the middle grade crowd but still quite fun for adults.
3.5 STARS
Right from the start The Sweet Dead Life had me laughing. Jenna is one of most funniest characters I've read about in a while. She is quirky, sarcastic, and her breezy attitude is everything I love about this book. Even throughout her hardships, she was always making me smile. The mystery side of the book was what I loved most. The author always had me guessing. Now, the paranormal side (angels) I ended up not liking as much. It's not that this aspect was bad or poorly written but more so I wanted more of it in book one. You don't even find out the truth about Cassie until middle-end of the book. Also, once you end up figuring out who's been poisoning Jenna and why the story begins to dry up a bit. I just was not as impressed by the ending.
All in all The Sweet Dead Life was a fun, quirky read with a thrilling mystery entwined with paranormal mix. A great read more so for the middle grade crowd but still quite fun for adults.
3.5 STARS
May 13, 2013
The synopsis for this book is pretty convincing and I was sold as soon as I read it. We don’t read as much about brothers and sisters as we should or perhaps I should, possibly because I have two older brothers and I’ve lived the experience in real life and do not seek to repeat it in fictional life. Big brothers are often gross, coarse and mean. They are also unexpectedly sweet and caring, protective and warm. They scare away prospective boyfriends with a glower and have the weirdest tastes in music and movies. I have some questionable music tastes thanks to my brothers.
What makes The Sweet Dead Life so sweet is the relationship between Jenna and Casey. They are in a terrible situation where the adults of their lives have checked out leaving them to fend for themselves. Their father possibly pulled a runner and their mother seems to be sinking further and further into depression. Oh and Jenna is on her way to dying. She’s almost there when Casey crashes the car on their way to the hospital and the game changes dramatically.
Despite the presence of a feathered human being (not a werebird), there is very little holiness present in the novel. It is funny, poignant and disarmingly real. Jenna’s familial situation is narrated without romanticizing anything. From the mold growing in her mother’s bathroom to her brother’s uh…recreational activities under his blanket, Jenna narrates everything in an authentic fourteen year old voice. When her life takes a turn for the weird, she manages to convey disbelief without going overboard and her gradual acceptance of the A-word is believable.
The weakest part of the novel is the so called mystery and the resolution of it. While it is not terribly done, it could have been stronger. I wish the mystery portions of the novel had been better woven into the rest of the narrative. However, I appreciated that the resolution is not neat and tidy. There is a sense of time having past and that some irretrievable losses have occurred. I liked that the ending is ambiguous in certain details and that though there is an emotional payoff, it is not in your face and explicit.
I really liked this one, you guys. I recommend it.
What makes The Sweet Dead Life so sweet is the relationship between Jenna and Casey. They are in a terrible situation where the adults of their lives have checked out leaving them to fend for themselves. Their father possibly pulled a runner and their mother seems to be sinking further and further into depression. Oh and Jenna is on her way to dying. She’s almost there when Casey crashes the car on their way to the hospital and the game changes dramatically.
Despite the presence of a feathered human being (not a werebird), there is very little holiness present in the novel. It is funny, poignant and disarmingly real. Jenna’s familial situation is narrated without romanticizing anything. From the mold growing in her mother’s bathroom to her brother’s uh…recreational activities under his blanket, Jenna narrates everything in an authentic fourteen year old voice. When her life takes a turn for the weird, she manages to convey disbelief without going overboard and her gradual acceptance of the A-word is believable.
The weakest part of the novel is the so called mystery and the resolution of it. While it is not terribly done, it could have been stronger. I wish the mystery portions of the novel had been better woven into the rest of the narrative. However, I appreciated that the resolution is not neat and tidy. There is a sense of time having past and that some irretrievable losses have occurred. I liked that the ending is ambiguous in certain details and that though there is an emotional payoff, it is not in your face and explicit.
I really liked this one, you guys. I recommend it.
July 13, 2012
How can I articulate how amazing this book is? It's the book I never realized I was missing in my life. First off, the protagonist. Not only does Jenna possess a wickedly hilarious voice, but she is also thirteen. That's right. She breaks the typical YA mold by being on the younger spectrum, and she works it super well. (Maybe her age changes to fourteen though? I'm a little thrown by how the description here has her older.) Jenna is pretty much all you could ask for in a protagonist. I loved being in her head and spent a majority of my time grinning. The writing itself is fun and spunky.
At its heart, this is a book about family. Siblings. Parents. The Samuels family hasn't had the best luck, but they're still managing to hold the threads together. Casey and Jenna's relationship is compelling and realistic. Oh, and their mom... Seriously, you'll just want to make them all come over for a group hug. Possibly some cookies. I adored how Preble handles family, especially when it comes to tackling the usual parental issues/devices that show up in YA.
All of the characters are fairly entertaining and believable. From the teachers to coworkers to ohmygoodness Casey. I'll attempt to keep the adoration to a minimum, but Casey Samuels is a fantastic big brother. He is flawed. Immensely. (Oh, teenage boys, they simply cannot help themselves.) But he cares about Jenna, and when it comes down to it, that is what matters.
There were a couple minor issues along the way. Very minor. Sometimes, the reader can put the clues together faster and is stuck doing the impatient figure-it-out-guys! dance. But things click together soon enough, and overall, this is a book that earns its stars.
At its heart, this is a book about family. Siblings. Parents. The Samuels family hasn't had the best luck, but they're still managing to hold the threads together. Casey and Jenna's relationship is compelling and realistic. Oh, and their mom... Seriously, you'll just want to make them all come over for a group hug. Possibly some cookies. I adored how Preble handles family, especially when it comes to tackling the usual parental issues/devices that show up in YA.
All of the characters are fairly entertaining and believable. From the teachers to coworkers to ohmygoodness Casey. I'll attempt to keep the adoration to a minimum, but Casey Samuels is a fantastic big brother. He is flawed. Immensely. (Oh, teenage boys, they simply cannot help themselves.) But he cares about Jenna, and when it comes down to it, that is what matters.
There were a couple minor issues along the way. Very minor. Sometimes, the reader can put the clues together faster and is stuck doing the impatient figure-it-out-guys! dance. But things click together soon enough, and overall, this is a book that earns its stars.
February 19, 2021
It's really a 3.5, and it may change over time. Jenna is a smart eighth grader with the mouth of a sailor, courtesy of her long-missing father. She was once a good athlete, daughter and sister, but her mother has spent the last 8 months in bed, her brother Casey quit the football team to carry the financially and emotionally depleted household with two minimum wage parts-time jobs, surviving through grit and pot, and Jenna, well, Jenna thinks she's dying. She can barely walkout of her house, and her pee has turned green! Sometimes things just happen, your luck turns good or bad, but right now Jenna needs help, and catching her brother on his bed, laptop on lap, hand hidden away, well it's enough to make a little sister puke- but Jenna faints instead. Next thing you know, Casey is racing her to the ER, but doesn't quite make it, crashing along the way. Bright lights assault her, her brother doesn't respond to her pleas, and the next thing she knows she's in a hospital bed, and her brother- alive!- is...huh. Clean, not bloody, coiffed, not a tangled mess, muscular, glowing...what? And the sexy EMT who pulled Jenna out of the wreck, why does she keep hanging around? Casey is older, but not as old as this assertive EMT, who insists Jenna gets a blood test, and another, and another- and Los and behold, something is amiss, and Jenna isn't sick, she's ...
And so a mystery or two begins, and all wrapped in a sweet satire on a popular teen genre. A very fun read, especially because we see our narrator, Jenna, figure things out a step or two behind or in front of us, always doubting herself, but knowing when she has to make a leap of faith.
And so a mystery or two begins, and all wrapped in a sweet satire on a popular teen genre. A very fun read, especially because we see our narrator, Jenna, figure things out a step or two behind or in front of us, always doubting herself, but knowing when she has to make a leap of faith.
May 13, 2013
Joy Preble is an author that I am always confident in. Her Dreaming Anastasia series wowed me with it's mythology and legends and now this wonderful book is doing the same. The Sweet Dead Life is a totally different read and I love it! The funny and quirky voice of Jenna Samuels, the main character, is just perfect. She is a kid with problems, just like most of us. Except she has some doozies! Her mom is kind of missing in action, her dad has literally disappeared, her brother is dead and still hanging around and someone is trying to poison her. Life can be really weird sometimes, especially when you are peeing lime green and feeling like you are going to pass out most of the time.
This book grabbed me right away with the semi dark twisty plot, unusual scenario and I find myself wondering what in the world could make someone pee lime green. Just saying. lol. Joy has done an outstanding job on this book! Jenna is a character I could identify with totally and especially how annoyed she got with her brother. There are some really funny scenes that are full of snark and sheer hilarity. I am still in the throws of reading it, so if you will excuse me, I have a few pages left to go and I am dying to find out what happens! Awesome read! This is one you are going to want on your summer read list for sure!
5/5 For quirky awesomeness!!!
This book grabbed me right away with the semi dark twisty plot, unusual scenario and I find myself wondering what in the world could make someone pee lime green. Just saying. lol. Joy has done an outstanding job on this book! Jenna is a character I could identify with totally and especially how annoyed she got with her brother. There are some really funny scenes that are full of snark and sheer hilarity. I am still in the throws of reading it, so if you will excuse me, I have a few pages left to go and I am dying to find out what happens! Awesome read! This is one you are going to want on your summer read list for sure!
5/5 For quirky awesomeness!!!
June 22, 2013
Jenna is sick all the time. Her mom is no help. She just sleeps all the time. Jenna’s father has disappeared and her brother is a pot head. Things get even odder when Jenna collapses and her brother drives her to the hospital. On the way they get into a car accident. Jenna awakes to find her brother is an “Angel” and he has been sent back to protect Jenna. Someone is poisoning her.
This is a really quick read. This book did have some comedic humor to it. This was nice. I am always in the mood for a good laugh or two. The idea of Jenna’s brother being an angel and his boss (lady angel) walking into his bedroom staring at his two large bongs is funny.
I would have to say however that the way that the author wrote this book in regards to the whole angel thing felt more modern for these present times. Everyone could still see Jenna’s brother. The mystery aspect surrounding Jenna’s sickness was good. I did not expect the reason behind it. The Sweet Dead Life is a crazy, good time.
This is a really quick read. This book did have some comedic humor to it. This was nice. I am always in the mood for a good laugh or two. The idea of Jenna’s brother being an angel and his boss (lady angel) walking into his bedroom staring at his two large bongs is funny.
I would have to say however that the way that the author wrote this book in regards to the whole angel thing felt more modern for these present times. Everyone could still see Jenna’s brother. The mystery aspect surrounding Jenna’s sickness was good. I did not expect the reason behind it. The Sweet Dead Life is a crazy, good time.
November 22, 2019
I could not connect with this book. It tries to be sweet and cute and entertaining, but by the end of it, I just found it annoying. The main issue I had is that this book doesn't know what it wants to be: middle grade or young adult. Jenna is fourteen and a straight-A student in the eighth grade, something that the author really should have thought about a little more; I spent much of the first half of the book wondering why she'd been held back a year. I eventually decided that her grade level was to try to shoehorn this book into the middle grade category. And it's a weird choice, considering the language Jenna uses. the book does not really have any exciting parts to it that get you excited to read more. i personally did not like this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I did not read the synopsis so I wasn't quite sure what to think of Amber or what became of Casey but it doesn't take too long to find out. That's part of why I liked this book so much. It was written in the form of a journal and its fast pace kept the story going. So, let me get to what this book is about.
It's the story of Jenna, an 8th grade Texas girl from Houston and her family. Her dad mysteriously disappears, her mom has fallen ill, her brother Casey is a perv (Jenna's words) and she thinks she's dying. Jenna's quick wit adds comedy to the story and all the chicanery in the world will not keep me from reading book 2, The A Word .
It's the story of Jenna, an 8th grade Texas girl from Houston and her family. Her dad mysteriously disappears, her mom has fallen ill, her brother Casey is a perv (Jenna's words) and she thinks she's dying. Jenna's quick wit adds comedy to the story and all the chicanery in the world will not keep me from reading book 2, The A Word .
July 16, 2019
I didn't read the blurb at all so had no expectations of the story..no hint of what was to come. I was really enjoying the story, and then, the car crashes and the story goes from engaging and cute to something else....Whoa....Casey is an "a-word". Maybe I should have expected it from the title of the book, but I thought it was going to be more of a coming of age story. I was wrong. From there, I felt it went downhill and became pretty implausible. The "bad guy" was pretty easy to figure out, and I felt the ending was a big let down. SPOILER*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Seriously, how could a drug ruin her dad's memory for that long when her mother seems to be recovering after just a few days off the drug. And why on earth would he abandon his family once he started to retrieve memories? That seemed way too out there for my liking. He's helping his wife, loses his memory and when he gets it back, doesn't go home...*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
I really liked the story until Casey's transformation and then I felt that the story just went somewhere because it had to be wrapped up. I didn't feel like a complete story to me. That's too bad, because I liked Jenna's "voice".
Seriously, how could a drug ruin her dad's memory for that long when her mother seems to be recovering after just a few days off the drug. And why on earth would he abandon his family once he started to retrieve memories? That seemed way too out there for my liking. He's helping his wife, loses his memory and when he gets it back, doesn't go home...*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
I really liked the story until Casey's transformation and then I felt that the story just went somewhere because it had to be wrapped up. I didn't feel like a complete story to me. That's too bad, because I liked Jenna's "voice".
May 29, 2020
Jenna Samuels is just a teenager trying to get through 8th grade and keep her family together. Her dad up and left them years ago, and their mother has started to become more and more detached and brainless lately. Even Jenna has started to become sicker and one night had a seizure that makes her older brother rush them off to the hospital. Along the way they get in an accident and her brother doesn’t make it, and Jenna starts finding out she might be poisoned.
It’s a wild mystery that’s kinda hard to follow at times, but it’s still got some appeal. The story is set in a Houston suburb, so it’s interesting to me since it references places I know and love.
The main plot is finding who is poisoning the family but it gets thrown off a lot with Amber, an angel who is posing as an EMT, and there is Casey, the older brother who supposedly didn’t make it through the accident but is back as an angel as well. It kinda confuses you after a while, and the true mystery gets diluted.
Still it’s a fast read and if your younger, the mystery might be enough to keep your attention.
It’s a wild mystery that’s kinda hard to follow at times, but it’s still got some appeal. The story is set in a Houston suburb, so it’s interesting to me since it references places I know and love.
The main plot is finding who is poisoning the family but it gets thrown off a lot with Amber, an angel who is posing as an EMT, and there is Casey, the older brother who supposedly didn’t make it through the accident but is back as an angel as well. It kinda confuses you after a while, and the true mystery gets diluted.
Still it’s a fast read and if your younger, the mystery might be enough to keep your attention.
September 19, 2018
Good supernatural YA
I enjoyed this book. It was really more of a YA-lite read, more froth than depth, but I enjoy the light read on occasion. The heroine was a likable teen girl. I wanted to bop her pot-head brother upside the head a lot. I thought Amber was a cool character. There wasn’t a lot of time spent on the peripheral characters, like Mom, Dad, BFF, etc, so I thought they all came out slightly card-board cut-outish. I liked the concept. I don’t know that I will continue the series, but I would totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA.
I enjoyed this book. It was really more of a YA-lite read, more froth than depth, but I enjoy the light read on occasion. The heroine was a likable teen girl. I wanted to bop her pot-head brother upside the head a lot. I thought Amber was a cool character. There wasn’t a lot of time spent on the peripheral characters, like Mom, Dad, BFF, etc, so I thought they all came out slightly card-board cut-outish. I liked the concept. I don’t know that I will continue the series, but I would totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA.
July 22, 2023
i found this through my local library leaning program ...it was a fun read. love this cover ...it is the one i did have ...fun times. i will read more from Joy soon. glad to have found a new author to me. fun times. laters. gotta read.
September 11, 2018
Good story, good twist. Could have cut back on the same 2 vocab words being used over and over and over.
April 8, 2019
Strange
A world of lost memory, angels, drug experiments, missing people and during characters. Can't get much more unusual than this. It works.
A world of lost memory, angels, drug experiments, missing people and during characters. Can't get much more unusual than this. It works.
November 3, 2021
This book, if you're contemplating it and searching for a 2nd opinion this is the one, get it. Don't hesitate babe I promise you that you'll love it.
May 10, 2013
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble is a very quick and quirky read that features a witty, and slightly neurotic 14 year-old protagonist. The storyline is considerably original, while the mystery promises to intrigue the reader until the conclusion. Preble's novel is a great light read for a hot summer day.
Jenna, the protagonist, tells us the story of how her brother became her guardian (in a paranormal sense) through diary entries. I haven't always been a fan of epistolary novels, since I find it hard to believe that a character would write down every detail that s/he notices. It always feels false to me, especially since I am an occasional journal writer (especially when I was a kid).
Okay, rant over.
But all of those annoyances aside, Preble does a pretty good job--though her character is only 14. Jenna is a very fun character to watch develop because she isn't your typical teenager. Not only is she dying when we meet her, but her family is far from conventional. She is not only grieving the potential loss of her brother, but she is grieving the loss of her father, and who her mother used to be. For a young teenager, she has her plate full.
Though the tone is occasionally light, there are darker themes within the novel. Addiction, death, sabotage, and abandonment are a few of the issues brought to light. And while Jenna distracts us with her wit and banter, her neurotic tendencies tend to seep into her dialogue when she is detailing her deteriorating health. Though the reader may find Jenna's character amusing, there is no doubt that she hasn't lived an easy life. Perhaps it is her attempt at distracting the readers from her familial struggles that endears her to us.
Preble's angels are your typical very attractive people, but their rules and abilities are slightly different from what we're used to when we read other angel inspired novels. Casey, Jenna's brother, is so well described and created, that even I was pulled in by his new allure. Preble is that good. Paranormal fiction in young adult novels is a very normal occurrence nowadays, but every once in a while an author comes along and adds a new twist to popular creatures. Preble is one of those authors.
The mystery is great! I kept trying to guess who was out to get Jenna's family, but every time I tried guessing, something would push me in a different direction. I'm the kind of reader that can usually guess what's going to happen from the get-go, but Preble managed to throw in a few red herrings that threw me off the scent. It was refreshing finding a mystery book that had me guessing throughout the whole story.
My greatest concern, and trust me this usually wouldn't bug me but since this features such a young protagonist, is the use of language. Jenna is in the 8th grade and in my past experience with middle grade novels, this would still be considered middle grade because Jenna is not in high school just yet. But Jenna is 14, which was perplexing since it was December (wouldn't she be 13? Or wouldn't there be an explanation as to why she is one year behind?) and spoke like a 17+ year-old. I know her circumstances aren't the best, but wow. Jenna goes from calling her teacher an "asshat", to spewing out more cuss words throughout the novel. I also know that her attitude is spunky, but this is perhaps too much.
Let's just say I was surprised--I think this novel would have been better off if Jenna were a little older.
Despite what I've mentioned above, the dialogue is kind of awesome. Funny, realistic, and fast-paced, the characters' conversations almost came to life with how well they were written.
The conclusion suggests that there may be more books written in the series (though Goodreads doesn't have any sequels listed), and I think The Sweet Dead Life would really benefit from this, since there are characters that I would like to know more about (like Jenna's best friend), and mysteries that I would like to see solved (like, what's going to happen to Casey in the long-run?)
If you're a fan of quirky characters, understated angels, interesting mysteries, fun dialogue, and novels that portray the unconditional love between family members, then you should check out The Sweet Dead Life.
Keep in mind, however, that though the protagonist is young, the themes explored are not for a middle grade audience.
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble is a very quick and quirky read that features a witty, and slightly neurotic 14 year-old protagonist. The storyline is considerably original, while the mystery promises to intrigue the reader until the conclusion. Preble's novel is a great light read for a hot summer day.
Jenna, the protagonist, tells us the story of how her brother became her guardian (in a paranormal sense) through diary entries. I haven't always been a fan of epistolary novels, since I find it hard to believe that a character would write down every detail that s/he notices. It always feels false to me, especially since I am an occasional journal writer (especially when I was a kid).
Okay, rant over.
But all of those annoyances aside, Preble does a pretty good job--though her character is only 14. Jenna is a very fun character to watch develop because she isn't your typical teenager. Not only is she dying when we meet her, but her family is far from conventional. She is not only grieving the potential loss of her brother, but she is grieving the loss of her father, and who her mother used to be. For a young teenager, she has her plate full.
Though the tone is occasionally light, there are darker themes within the novel. Addiction, death, sabotage, and abandonment are a few of the issues brought to light. And while Jenna distracts us with her wit and banter, her neurotic tendencies tend to seep into her dialogue when she is detailing her deteriorating health. Though the reader may find Jenna's character amusing, there is no doubt that she hasn't lived an easy life. Perhaps it is her attempt at distracting the readers from her familial struggles that endears her to us.
Preble's angels are your typical very attractive people, but their rules and abilities are slightly different from what we're used to when we read other angel inspired novels. Casey, Jenna's brother, is so well described and created, that even I was pulled in by his new allure. Preble is that good. Paranormal fiction in young adult novels is a very normal occurrence nowadays, but every once in a while an author comes along and adds a new twist to popular creatures. Preble is one of those authors.
The mystery is great! I kept trying to guess who was out to get Jenna's family, but every time I tried guessing, something would push me in a different direction. I'm the kind of reader that can usually guess what's going to happen from the get-go, but Preble managed to throw in a few red herrings that threw me off the scent. It was refreshing finding a mystery book that had me guessing throughout the whole story.
My greatest concern, and trust me this usually wouldn't bug me but since this features such a young protagonist, is the use of language. Jenna is in the 8th grade and in my past experience with middle grade novels, this would still be considered middle grade because Jenna is not in high school just yet. But Jenna is 14, which was perplexing since it was December (wouldn't she be 13? Or wouldn't there be an explanation as to why she is one year behind?) and spoke like a 17+ year-old. I know her circumstances aren't the best, but wow. Jenna goes from calling her teacher an "asshat", to spewing out more cuss words throughout the novel. I also know that her attitude is spunky, but this is perhaps too much.
Let's just say I was surprised--I think this novel would have been better off if Jenna were a little older.
Despite what I've mentioned above, the dialogue is kind of awesome. Funny, realistic, and fast-paced, the characters' conversations almost came to life with how well they were written.
The conclusion suggests that there may be more books written in the series (though Goodreads doesn't have any sequels listed), and I think The Sweet Dead Life would really benefit from this, since there are characters that I would like to know more about (like Jenna's best friend), and mysteries that I would like to see solved (like, what's going to happen to Casey in the long-run?)
If you're a fan of quirky characters, understated angels, interesting mysteries, fun dialogue, and novels that portray the unconditional love between family members, then you should check out The Sweet Dead Life.
Keep in mind, however, that though the protagonist is young, the themes explored are not for a middle grade audience.
May 15, 2013
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/05/...
Jenna Samuels is surely dying. After all, she has a rash on the bottoms of her feet, she can hardly walk ten feet without getting out of breath, her blood cell count is wonky, she’s always cold and thirsty, and her pee is green. Doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong and being fourteen is hard enough as it is without an unexplained illness as an added complication. Her brother, Casey, is a stoner, but he did quick sports to work a second job because frankly, their mom is a mess. She hasn’t been the same since their father left, and now hardly leaves the house, putting Casey and Jenna in the position of having to fend for themselves. One day, after Jenna collapses, Casey puts her in their Prius to drive to the hospital, only to flip the car, ending up in a ditch. After Jenna sees the state that Casey is in, after the crash, she can’t help but think it’s too late for him, but when she wakes up in the hospital, he walks in her room looking better than ever. No more zits, stoner flab, or miasma of defeat. Casey is now the very picture of teenage health. He’s also acting very mysteriously, and Amber, the EMT that claimed to have been at the scene of the accident, has been following them around and nosing into their business. The sorry state of Jenna’s mom is certainly none of Amber’s business, nor is the sorry state of their family in general, with a father that left over 5 years ago, leaving only a short note and a coupon for a local Tex Mex restaurant.
Turns out there’s a pretty good reason for Casey’s transformation, and it has quite a bit to do with the strange little nubs growing out of his back. And feathers. Yep, Casey is an A-word (angels..shhhh) and Amber, as it turns out, is his mentor. Casey was sent back to help Jenna and his family, and maybe even find their father, but it won’t be easy.
I’m notoriously hard on YA, possibly because at my advanced age of 36, it’s hard for me to go back to those seemingly carefree days of my teens. However, I had no problem whatsoever falling under the spell of Jenna Samuels. She has a refreshingly pragmatic voice for such a young girl and her wry observations of people and places had me laughing out loud. The kid’s got a lot on her plate: a mom that can’t function as a person, much less a mother, a brother that, until now, has been a bit of a drain on the family, and she really, really misses her dad, but her fierce spirit shines through, and when she finds out her brother is an angel, she handles it with characteristic aplomb.
There’s a mystery here, and it’s actually a rather smart one, and if it seems as if a few pieces may be missing, keep in mind, this is from the somewhat limited (if whipsmart) viewpoint of an eighth-grader, who is certainly not omniscient, but is very able to make connections when the evidence is presented to her, and she adds more than her share to the investigation into why she’s been so sick and also her mother’s declining health. While the mystery is definitely a high point of the book, it’s really Jenna’s delightful and insightful observations, her struggle with abandonment by her father, and having to take on much more than an eighth-grader should that fuels this charming novel. In fact, Jenna reminds me, fondly,of the astute Ingrid Levin-Hill who is featured in the superb Echo Falls series by Peter Abrahams. A word on the villian: while certainly not without his considerable flaws,he isn’t an over-the-top evil character, and there are plenty of shades of grey to the mystery. Another delightful surprise: other than Casey’s designs on his ex-girlfriend, a cheerleader, there’s no romance in sight in The Sweet Dead Life, at least not for Jenna. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with a little romance, but I think it would have detracted from the story considerably, and I was happy to focus on the awesome Jenna and the mystery at hand (in Texas no less!! Come on, I’m a Texas girl, can’t help it.) Now, the book isn’t wrapped up in a pretty bow at the end, but it’s a realistic ending, with a considerable amount of hope for the future in the mix, and plenty of directions for the author to take the story. Consider me a big fan of Jenna and Casey Daniels (and Amber-she’ll grow on you just like she grows on Jenna) and I very much hope a sequel is in the works for this funny, intelligent novel! Joy Preble doesn’t talk down to her young readers, and there’s plenty in The Sweet Dead Life to entertain young and old alike.
Jenna Samuels is surely dying. After all, she has a rash on the bottoms of her feet, she can hardly walk ten feet without getting out of breath, her blood cell count is wonky, she’s always cold and thirsty, and her pee is green. Doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong and being fourteen is hard enough as it is without an unexplained illness as an added complication. Her brother, Casey, is a stoner, but he did quick sports to work a second job because frankly, their mom is a mess. She hasn’t been the same since their father left, and now hardly leaves the house, putting Casey and Jenna in the position of having to fend for themselves. One day, after Jenna collapses, Casey puts her in their Prius to drive to the hospital, only to flip the car, ending up in a ditch. After Jenna sees the state that Casey is in, after the crash, she can’t help but think it’s too late for him, but when she wakes up in the hospital, he walks in her room looking better than ever. No more zits, stoner flab, or miasma of defeat. Casey is now the very picture of teenage health. He’s also acting very mysteriously, and Amber, the EMT that claimed to have been at the scene of the accident, has been following them around and nosing into their business. The sorry state of Jenna’s mom is certainly none of Amber’s business, nor is the sorry state of their family in general, with a father that left over 5 years ago, leaving only a short note and a coupon for a local Tex Mex restaurant.
Turns out there’s a pretty good reason for Casey’s transformation, and it has quite a bit to do with the strange little nubs growing out of his back. And feathers. Yep, Casey is an A-word (angels..shhhh) and Amber, as it turns out, is his mentor. Casey was sent back to help Jenna and his family, and maybe even find their father, but it won’t be easy.
I’m notoriously hard on YA, possibly because at my advanced age of 36, it’s hard for me to go back to those seemingly carefree days of my teens. However, I had no problem whatsoever falling under the spell of Jenna Samuels. She has a refreshingly pragmatic voice for such a young girl and her wry observations of people and places had me laughing out loud. The kid’s got a lot on her plate: a mom that can’t function as a person, much less a mother, a brother that, until now, has been a bit of a drain on the family, and she really, really misses her dad, but her fierce spirit shines through, and when she finds out her brother is an angel, she handles it with characteristic aplomb.
There’s a mystery here, and it’s actually a rather smart one, and if it seems as if a few pieces may be missing, keep in mind, this is from the somewhat limited (if whipsmart) viewpoint of an eighth-grader, who is certainly not omniscient, but is very able to make connections when the evidence is presented to her, and she adds more than her share to the investigation into why she’s been so sick and also her mother’s declining health. While the mystery is definitely a high point of the book, it’s really Jenna’s delightful and insightful observations, her struggle with abandonment by her father, and having to take on much more than an eighth-grader should that fuels this charming novel. In fact, Jenna reminds me, fondly,of the astute Ingrid Levin-Hill who is featured in the superb Echo Falls series by Peter Abrahams. A word on the villian: while certainly not without his considerable flaws,he isn’t an over-the-top evil character, and there are plenty of shades of grey to the mystery. Another delightful surprise: other than Casey’s designs on his ex-girlfriend, a cheerleader, there’s no romance in sight in The Sweet Dead Life, at least not for Jenna. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with a little romance, but I think it would have detracted from the story considerably, and I was happy to focus on the awesome Jenna and the mystery at hand (in Texas no less!! Come on, I’m a Texas girl, can’t help it.) Now, the book isn’t wrapped up in a pretty bow at the end, but it’s a realistic ending, with a considerable amount of hope for the future in the mix, and plenty of directions for the author to take the story. Consider me a big fan of Jenna and Casey Daniels (and Amber-she’ll grow on you just like she grows on Jenna) and I very much hope a sequel is in the works for this funny, intelligent novel! Joy Preble doesn’t talk down to her young readers, and there’s plenty in The Sweet Dead Life to entertain young and old alike.
March 14, 2017
Amazing book! I recommend it
May 21, 2013
The review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Jenna Samuels’ eighth grade year isn’t going exactly how she planned. She’s dying and the doctor’s cannot figure out what’s wrong with her. Then she has a seizure and on the way to the hospital, gets into a car wreck where she is sure she sees her brother die. But when she wakes up in the hospital, Casey is just fine, better in fact. He’s hair and skin have visibly improved and he’s belly has magically transformed into six pack abs. What the fuck, right. Apparently Casey is an A-word (Jenna cannot bring herself to say “angel” just yet) and he was sent back from heaven to find out who is poisoning her and why.
I’ve been avoiding writing this review just a little. It was partly because I was already caught up in another amazing book and wanted to continue with it and partly because I’m not exactly sure what to say. This book was very good and entertaining, but I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly why, even in my disconnected thoughts so having to put it into words is a bit difficult. I liked most of the characters. Jenna’s smartass attitude and slight potty mouth (she does cuss some, but never says anything truly foul, in my opinion) had me relating to her within the first few pages. She is a bit repetitive, but let’s face it, what 14 year old girl isn’t? Casey was a very interesting character and I loved that becoming an angel didn’t just magically solve all his problems. He still has to work and go to school and try to kick his pot addiction, but with the added bonus of being much more attractive. I loved the obvious affection between the two of them. In the beginning, Jenna complains about him quite a bit, but it’s clear that she loves him a great deal.
I think the reason that this is so hard for me is because it was intensely interesting and then quite a bit boring and then interesting again. In the beginning, when they were trying to figure out what was wrong with Jenna, I was addicted. Call me a House MD addict, but I loved that. Once you find out that she is being poisoned, which is pretty early on, I was bored. Who was poisoning her? Sure, I was curious, but it wasn’t a driving need. She whole plot sort of slowed and the self-deprecating death humor disappeared because Casey was in fact dead now. Then, you start to unravel the mystery of why her dad left and what’s wrong with mommy dearest and things got very interesting again, if a little predictable. . The ending was good, with all the mysteries solved, but I was so highly disappointed with their dad and even more disappointed that Jenna wasn’t angrier with him.
Really, this was an interest story with great characters and pretty amusing writing. If you want a pretty good mystery, this is for you!
****Thank you to Soho Teen, An imprint of Soho Press Inc for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
Jenna Samuels’ eighth grade year isn’t going exactly how she planned. She’s dying and the doctor’s cannot figure out what’s wrong with her. Then she has a seizure and on the way to the hospital, gets into a car wreck where she is sure she sees her brother die. But when she wakes up in the hospital, Casey is just fine, better in fact. He’s hair and skin have visibly improved and he’s belly has magically transformed into six pack abs. What the fuck, right. Apparently Casey is an A-word (Jenna cannot bring herself to say “angel” just yet) and he was sent back from heaven to find out who is poisoning her and why.
I’ve been avoiding writing this review just a little. It was partly because I was already caught up in another amazing book and wanted to continue with it and partly because I’m not exactly sure what to say. This book was very good and entertaining, but I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly why, even in my disconnected thoughts so having to put it into words is a bit difficult. I liked most of the characters. Jenna’s smartass attitude and slight potty mouth (she does cuss some, but never says anything truly foul, in my opinion) had me relating to her within the first few pages. She is a bit repetitive, but let’s face it, what 14 year old girl isn’t? Casey was a very interesting character and I loved that becoming an angel didn’t just magically solve all his problems. He still has to work and go to school and try to kick his pot addiction, but with the added bonus of being much more attractive. I loved the obvious affection between the two of them. In the beginning, Jenna complains about him quite a bit, but it’s clear that she loves him a great deal.
I think the reason that this is so hard for me is because it was intensely interesting and then quite a bit boring and then interesting again. In the beginning, when they were trying to figure out what was wrong with Jenna, I was addicted. Call me a House MD addict, but I loved that. Once you find out that she is being poisoned, which is pretty early on, I was bored. Who was poisoning her? Sure, I was curious, but it wasn’t a driving need. She whole plot sort of slowed and the self-deprecating death humor disappeared because Casey was in fact dead now. Then, you start to unravel the mystery of why her dad left and what’s wrong with mommy dearest and things got very interesting again, if a little predictable. . The ending was good, with all the mysteries solved, but I was so highly disappointed with their dad and even more disappointed that Jenna wasn’t angrier with him.
Really, this was an interest story with great characters and pretty amusing writing. If you want a pretty good mystery, this is for you!
****Thank you to Soho Teen, An imprint of Soho Press Inc for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
June 8, 2013
Summary:
Five years ago, Jenna Samuel’s father disappeared without a trace, and for the past five years she, her brother, and her mother have just barely been getting by. Her mother won’t get out of bed and her brother becomes dependent on marijuana to get through the day. Jenna has a hard time holding it together. Not to mention the fact, she believes she is dying. When a car accident changes her life drastically, and her brother becomes her guardian angel, they begin to unravel the mystery surrounding their family. Who is poisoning Jenna, what really happened to her dad, and is her brother Casey really her guardian “A-word?”
Review:
Joy Preble’s story has a lot going for it. You have an intriguing mystery, a teen being poisoned, goofy characters, angels, and a hairy doctor. It will definitely appeal to her fans and to readers who are looking for more unique angel fare. Still, as a reader I had some qualms about the story.
To me, it seemed like the author was attempting to juggle too many elements at times, making it hard to mesh it all together. I could have let that go, but I think my tipping point was the main character’s narration in her journal. She seemed older than an 8th grader, more mature than her years. Perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that she has raised herself since she was 8 years old and her father disappeared. Still between the character’s age and the mish mash of elements, I found the novel a bit frenetic. Jenna also seemed too willing to believe everything around her and too eager to dismiss it at the same time. Sometimes she was too contradictory.
It seemed like this novel was written with older readers in mind given some of the topics it touched upon, but the main character was too young. Was this written for a teen audience looking for more angel fare, or was this a middle grade novel? If it was intending to be middle grade, it could have toned down the drugs and language a bit more. I would have been happier, however, if Jenna was a few years older and Casey in college. It would have fit together better.
I was also disappointed by how predictable the story was. I had the mystery figured out within the first few chapters. Granted I didn’t have a motive, but I had a good idea of what was going on, and found the characters to be frustratingly dense.
I do have to compliment the author for including humor in her novel. I love to see mysteries with the right dash of humor. It keeps the story light hearted.
Audiobook Review:
The audio book of The Sweet Dead Life was produced by AudioGo and read by Madeline Lambert. It is 6 hours 6 minutes in length and unabridged. Lambert does a wonderful job with the narration, but still sounds a little bit older than what I image Jenna to sound. Still her narration is great and Casey always sounds just a little bit stoned. The audiobook is clear of flaws and well done. I would definitely recommend this as a good way to experience this novel.
Overall:
Overall, this is a cute but flawed story and an interesting take angel genre. I think this novel will find readers who will adore it flaws and all. I will recommend this to younger teens looking for a paranormal mystery with a dash of humor.
Cautions for Sensitive Readers:
Sex: Nothing explicit, but masturbation and nudity are mentioned.
Language: There is some language that might make this a hard sell to a younger audience. The word “Asshat” is repeated multiple times.
Drugs: Casey, Jenna’s brother does drugs as does another character in the novel.
Violence: Poisoning and some other violence are present in the novel.
Five years ago, Jenna Samuel’s father disappeared without a trace, and for the past five years she, her brother, and her mother have just barely been getting by. Her mother won’t get out of bed and her brother becomes dependent on marijuana to get through the day. Jenna has a hard time holding it together. Not to mention the fact, she believes she is dying. When a car accident changes her life drastically, and her brother becomes her guardian angel, they begin to unravel the mystery surrounding their family. Who is poisoning Jenna, what really happened to her dad, and is her brother Casey really her guardian “A-word?”
Review:
Joy Preble’s story has a lot going for it. You have an intriguing mystery, a teen being poisoned, goofy characters, angels, and a hairy doctor. It will definitely appeal to her fans and to readers who are looking for more unique angel fare. Still, as a reader I had some qualms about the story.
To me, it seemed like the author was attempting to juggle too many elements at times, making it hard to mesh it all together. I could have let that go, but I think my tipping point was the main character’s narration in her journal. She seemed older than an 8th grader, more mature than her years. Perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that she has raised herself since she was 8 years old and her father disappeared. Still between the character’s age and the mish mash of elements, I found the novel a bit frenetic. Jenna also seemed too willing to believe everything around her and too eager to dismiss it at the same time. Sometimes she was too contradictory.
It seemed like this novel was written with older readers in mind given some of the topics it touched upon, but the main character was too young. Was this written for a teen audience looking for more angel fare, or was this a middle grade novel? If it was intending to be middle grade, it could have toned down the drugs and language a bit more. I would have been happier, however, if Jenna was a few years older and Casey in college. It would have fit together better.
I was also disappointed by how predictable the story was. I had the mystery figured out within the first few chapters. Granted I didn’t have a motive, but I had a good idea of what was going on, and found the characters to be frustratingly dense.
I do have to compliment the author for including humor in her novel. I love to see mysteries with the right dash of humor. It keeps the story light hearted.
Audiobook Review:
The audio book of The Sweet Dead Life was produced by AudioGo and read by Madeline Lambert. It is 6 hours 6 minutes in length and unabridged. Lambert does a wonderful job with the narration, but still sounds a little bit older than what I image Jenna to sound. Still her narration is great and Casey always sounds just a little bit stoned. The audiobook is clear of flaws and well done. I would definitely recommend this as a good way to experience this novel.
Overall:
Overall, this is a cute but flawed story and an interesting take angel genre. I think this novel will find readers who will adore it flaws and all. I will recommend this to younger teens looking for a paranormal mystery with a dash of humor.
Cautions for Sensitive Readers:
Sex: Nothing explicit, but masturbation and nudity are mentioned.
Language: There is some language that might make this a hard sell to a younger audience. The word “Asshat” is repeated multiple times.
Drugs: Casey, Jenna’s brother does drugs as does another character in the novel.
Violence: Poisoning and some other violence are present in the novel.
March 24, 2013
About the Book:
"I found out two things today: One, I think I'm dying. And two, my brother is a perv."
So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her sixteen-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what's left of the family by working two after-school jobs-difficult, as he's stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.
Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn't survive the accident at all. He's an "A-word." (She can't bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn't just dying; she's being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother's mysterious depression and father's disappearance.
Story Locale: Houston, Texas
My Review:
Jenna, the main female character has a really crummy life. Her mom is sick, she thinks she is dying, and her dad just disappeared on the family. Jenna is spunky, witty, and has a foul mouth, which she refers to as "colorful language". Her 16 year old brother, Casey, works 2 jobs to keep the family going (very admirable), but deals with life by living out his days stoned on weed. Soon with the help of an angel, Amber, they discover that Jenna is being poisoned along with their mother. The story continues to try and find the culprit behind it all and why someone would want her family dead. The characters are well rounded, and full of life. You can relate to them and the story flows easily without jumping around.
This is the first juvenile mystery book by Joy Preble that I have read. The author does a good job with hitting on teenage issues and dysfunctional family life, but I still was disappointed in this book overall and cannot recommend it for teens.For starters, Casey becomes an angel that masturbates, uses drugs and cusses, not my description of a heavenly being.Also the language, sex and drug references I feel are over the top for a book that is aimed at teenagers.
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Ages: 14 And Up, Grades 9 And Up
Crude/Vulgar Language: Medium: uses of words like "Bat S**t crazy", a**hat, pissed, pissant, Sh**ty and other foul language
Sex: masturbation, pornography
Drugs: mentions teenage usage of marijuana and bongs multiple times
About the Author:
Joy Preble is the author of the popular and highly acclaimed Dreaming Anastasia series. A former English teacher, Joy grew up in Chicago and is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is now a full time writer and lives with her family in Texas, where she has learned to say "y'all" without any hint of irony. A tireless advocate for literacy and great books, she is at the center of the all-important Texas YA scene.
Disclaimer: I received this book curtsey of Edelweiss by Soho Press, in exchange for my honest review and opinion.The opinions expressed here are my own. **
"I found out two things today: One, I think I'm dying. And two, my brother is a perv."
So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her sixteen-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what's left of the family by working two after-school jobs-difficult, as he's stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.
Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn't survive the accident at all. He's an "A-word." (She can't bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn't just dying; she's being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother's mysterious depression and father's disappearance.
Story Locale: Houston, Texas
My Review:
Jenna, the main female character has a really crummy life. Her mom is sick, she thinks she is dying, and her dad just disappeared on the family. Jenna is spunky, witty, and has a foul mouth, which she refers to as "colorful language". Her 16 year old brother, Casey, works 2 jobs to keep the family going (very admirable), but deals with life by living out his days stoned on weed. Soon with the help of an angel, Amber, they discover that Jenna is being poisoned along with their mother. The story continues to try and find the culprit behind it all and why someone would want her family dead. The characters are well rounded, and full of life. You can relate to them and the story flows easily without jumping around.
This is the first juvenile mystery book by Joy Preble that I have read. The author does a good job with hitting on teenage issues and dysfunctional family life, but I still was disappointed in this book overall and cannot recommend it for teens.For starters, Casey becomes an angel that masturbates, uses drugs and cusses, not my description of a heavenly being.Also the language, sex and drug references I feel are over the top for a book that is aimed at teenagers.
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Ages: 14 And Up, Grades 9 And Up
Crude/Vulgar Language: Medium: uses of words like "Bat S**t crazy", a**hat, pissed, pissant, Sh**ty and other foul language
Sex: masturbation, pornography
Drugs: mentions teenage usage of marijuana and bongs multiple times
About the Author:
Joy Preble is the author of the popular and highly acclaimed Dreaming Anastasia series. A former English teacher, Joy grew up in Chicago and is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is now a full time writer and lives with her family in Texas, where she has learned to say "y'all" without any hint of irony. A tireless advocate for literacy and great books, she is at the center of the all-important Texas YA scene.
Disclaimer: I received this book curtsey of Edelweiss by Soho Press, in exchange for my honest review and opinion.The opinions expressed here are my own. **
August 4, 2013
~3-3.5/5
This was a rather pleasant read, and it surprised me by how much.
Jenna believes she’s dying, although she has no idea why, has been to the doctor several times with no results, and is sure of several things that it’s not. Her brother is an angel, literally, because he died when they were in a car crash (on the way to the hospital, actually). Her mother is depressed and is practically not around, hiding in her room all the time. Her father disappeared several years ago, with no trace of him left behind, no idea where he went.
Firstly, this is a rather funny book. Jenna is always going off about things in her head, overthinking things, and just having odd, comedic little thoughts; and this is told in her journal entries, so that helps. This helped me like Jenna, and helped make this book a rather quick read, which is was.
I liked her relationship with her brother. And I liked her brother. He’s a stoner, and he’s a bit of a dumb guy at times, but he’s also sweet and loyal and trying hard to take care of his sister, so I liked him.
I liked the plot of the book. The angel reveal was slow, and it bothered me how slow it was at first, but overall I didn’t mind, and later the wait was made understandable. The reveal of what is happening to Jenna is also a bit slow, but that added to the suspense, the curiosity, of it, and I liked that. Why what is happening to her is happening to her was the big mystery, and that was done pretty well. The reasoning is kind of similar to what would happen in a lifetime movie (a B-movie? is that what I mean?), or something, but that doesn’t really bother me much.
(Also, just to make sure you know this, there is no romance in this book. I think a big reason for this is that, one, a lot of it focuses on Jenna’s brother, and, two, because Jenna isn’t very old. I think she’s early high school or late middle school, I can’t remember; not that that’s too young for romance, but still. And I think it was just fine without a romance—Jenna’s focus is her brother and her dying, and she doesn’t need to add romance to the mix. Although she does think about this one guy at her school, like, twice. An opening for something, but nothing develops from it, and that’s fine.)
The very end left me a little confused, making me wonder if that’s supposed to be an opening to more books, or maybe if I just read it wrong, or what. I don’t really think there needs to be another book, as this one was just fine, although I see how there could be more books, and it could expand on the angel plot. But I do think that it’s just fine as a stand-alone.
I don’t really have a whole lot else to say about this, I suppose. This book wasn’t amazing to me, but it was definitely enjoyable, and funny, and I liked it.
Thank you so much to Soho Teen and I Heart Daily for sending me a copy!
[This review is also available on my blog, with extras.]
This was a rather pleasant read, and it surprised me by how much.
Jenna believes she’s dying, although she has no idea why, has been to the doctor several times with no results, and is sure of several things that it’s not. Her brother is an angel, literally, because he died when they were in a car crash (on the way to the hospital, actually). Her mother is depressed and is practically not around, hiding in her room all the time. Her father disappeared several years ago, with no trace of him left behind, no idea where he went.
Firstly, this is a rather funny book. Jenna is always going off about things in her head, overthinking things, and just having odd, comedic little thoughts; and this is told in her journal entries, so that helps. This helped me like Jenna, and helped make this book a rather quick read, which is was.
I liked her relationship with her brother. And I liked her brother. He’s a stoner, and he’s a bit of a dumb guy at times, but he’s also sweet and loyal and trying hard to take care of his sister, so I liked him.
I liked the plot of the book. The angel reveal was slow, and it bothered me how slow it was at first, but overall I didn’t mind, and later the wait was made understandable. The reveal of what is happening to Jenna is also a bit slow, but that added to the suspense, the curiosity, of it, and I liked that. Why what is happening to her is happening to her was the big mystery, and that was done pretty well. The reasoning is kind of similar to what would happen in a lifetime movie (a B-movie? is that what I mean?), or something, but that doesn’t really bother me much.
(Also, just to make sure you know this, there is no romance in this book. I think a big reason for this is that, one, a lot of it focuses on Jenna’s brother, and, two, because Jenna isn’t very old. I think she’s early high school or late middle school, I can’t remember; not that that’s too young for romance, but still. And I think it was just fine without a romance—Jenna’s focus is her brother and her dying, and she doesn’t need to add romance to the mix. Although she does think about this one guy at her school, like, twice. An opening for something, but nothing develops from it, and that’s fine.)
The very end left me a little confused, making me wonder if that’s supposed to be an opening to more books, or maybe if I just read it wrong, or what. I don’t really think there needs to be another book, as this one was just fine, although I see how there could be more books, and it could expand on the angel plot. But I do think that it’s just fine as a stand-alone.
I don’t really have a whole lot else to say about this, I suppose. This book wasn’t amazing to me, but it was definitely enjoyable, and funny, and I liked it.
Thank you so much to Soho Teen and I Heart Daily for sending me a copy!
[This review is also available on my blog, with extras.]
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