My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush

by Laura Toffler-Corrie

While coping with middle school drama and costuming a teen production of Fiddler on the Roof, fourteen-year-old Jenna falls for Luke, an angel, and joins him in battle against demonic foe Adam, who wants Jenna's ancient pendant.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Young Adult, Fantasy, Friendship, Humor

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2013

Reviews

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is such a funny read. I have never laughed so hard oh lord my ribs were hurting so much. I mean this is the first book I have read from Laura and it will not be the last. First I love the supernatural events of the book but I also love how the play Fiddler On The Roof was used in this book. I have to say I am a fan of fiddler on the roof and when I started reading this book I laughed and laughed.

Jenna is just your average middle school student just trying to get through the drama of school and the drama of the play. She is sitting down eating dinner with her parents one moment and the next she is meeting this gorgeous boy. The gorgeous boy ends up being an angel and Jenna is instantly curious about him. Luke is so adorable because he likes Jenna but he is an angel and he has a job to do and just when he feels comfortable around Jenna in swoops Adam. Adam is the bad boy and he wants Jenna to so Luke has his work cut out for him because let's face it everyone goes for the bad boy.

Amoungst all this craziness the play is going on and Jenna and her friends will soon see that life is more than school drama but boy drama and play drama. What is a girl supposed to do? You will need a box of tissues reading this book because you will laugh so hard!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I initially started this I was expecting a cute read and while it was cute, I wasn't expecting how funny this would be. I loved all the backwards Twilight references (the Michael Jackson songs) and just Jenna's sense of humor. Some of the funniest moments in this book are when Jenna is babysitting David. David is hilarious and the things Jenna thinks about him and then spouts off to him in anger, even better.

I really loved David. He was such a funny character and really added a lot to the storyline. Seriously, I would babysit this kid in a heartbeat.

Jared was pretty funny too. I don't even know how to describe his quirky slightly delusional lovesick personality. He made me laugh almost as much as David did but I also felt sorry for him too since it was so obvious Jenna was just not into him.

And then of course you have the whole paranormal aspect of this whole thing.

This is definitely a cutesy read and while it is in the YA genre I would even say it is suitable for a younger audience. It isn't too immature (although it did have its moments but in a humorous way), just a really clean (there are a couple of curse words but nothing terrible), fun read.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a teenage perspective, this book has everything I look for in a good story. It has an intriguing plot, interesting characters, humor, and romance. Its satirical mockery of the supernatural romance genre is funny and refreshing, yet the book stands on its own as a unique story. The protagonist is very relatable, and her witty observations make the book fun to read. There were many moments that made me laugh out loud, as well as moments of vulnerability where I really emphasized with the characters. All in all, it is a very sweet story that stays true to the age group its representing, and the sophisticated reader will understand and appreciate the self-deprecating humor that makes it so endearing.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twilight Meets Mel Brooks! I just finished reading the ARC of this wonderful book which is romantic and hysterical and true. I loved it from beginning to its very satisfying end. The characters are quirky and fully developed and the plot is filled with twists and turns and is always surprising. Perfect for teens and adults, I give this book my highest rating.

[Emily Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the moment I read My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush's summary, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and get a good giggle. I definitely did. This is a fun, light-hearted book that is easy to read, and even easier to enjoy. It's not a novel that you need a lot of thought to get through, and doesn't broach hard subjects. This book is definitely a great read for those who need a early young adult/middle grade novel.

My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is a parody of the fads going around in paranormal romance. It's very obvious from the first page that this book will poke fun at some of the more popular books that we've all come to know. Whether we loved them or not, it's not difficult to see why some of these themes and plot points are ridiculous when they are put together in this story. The plot felt very scattered, but I think that instability was part of the point the author wanted to make. It's a good novel, but a little immature in certain parts to truly meet my tastes. I went a bit out of my comfort zone for this one.

I liked the characters, and found them awfully amusing, but there was no deep connection between us. In fact, there were several points where Jenna (the main character) made me scratch my head. Her over-the-top antics were a bit annoying. Hers is very much an exaggeration of the pre-teen mind. She reminded me a lot of my step-sister, which is probably why I wanted to kick her sometimes. I didn't really see why Luke was all that great. There was a great big "Why?" hanging over my head for most of the novel. The banter between the characters in this story is pretty funny, though. David had to be my favorite character. He's a total brat, and I love bratty kids, who care more than they say. His ditzy mother made me giggle as well.

This book is really meant to make readers laugh. It's a feel good novel that accomplishes what it set out to do. It's not a book that really get to the deeper meaning of things, which was a relief from some of other books that I've read lately. The characters suffer from exaggerated teen angst--we all know that feeling. It makes for a good laugh, but the aim is those in middle school/early high school!

My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush an extremely amusing story, but if I'm being honest, it didn't tickle me as much as I had hoped. There's something that I can't exactly place my finger on that this book lacked. This has an undeniably obvious target audience of preteens are younger teenagers. The behavior and thoughts of the main character make it impossible to deny who this is really for. It's a book that anyone can read and laugh with, but forming a connection with it was more difficult because I couldn't find anything with which to really relate. This is a novel that was nice to read as I was reading it, but in the long run isn't very memorable.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

This review can also be seen here on my blog.

[Anna Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenna Bloom is having the worst fourteenth birthday ever. Instead of having the beautiful, sophisticated dinner she wanted, Jenna is stuck at the steak-house (her least favorite restaurant) with her parents and brother for her birthday - as well as the annoying neighbor boy who won't leave her alone! So when a hot guy named Luke turns out to be their server things are looking up. But when Jenna's Mom gives her a truly ugly heirloom necklace as a present, Luke starts acting really weird around her. Then his archrival Adam shows up and Jenna learns that there really are such things as angels and demons - and they both have different agendas involving Jenna's futures. When the boys crash the local production of Fiddler on the Roof that Jenna is part of, hilarity and shenanigans ensue. Throw in the holy terror that Jenna babysits, David, and you have the makings of a supernatural battle to the death. But who will win, Adam or Luke? Also, which boy has stolen Jenna's heart?
This book is obviously a parody of all the supernatural, young-adult romances and this is made clear from the very beginning. Jenna is cute, but reads very young. I did appreciate the non-wavering attitude towards romance on her part. Even with this book being a parody, there is nothing more annoying than an unnecessary love triangle. The whole thing with her necklace being the magical key to Adam (the demon) being able to stay on Earth permanently and wreak havoc was such a stock supernatural plot that it made me laugh. My favorite character through was David, the bratty kid that Jenna babysits for so that she'll have money for clothes that weren't bought in bulk by her Mom. He was always finding a way to make Jenna's life difficult, but they had a relationship more brother/sister-like than she did with her actual brother. In particular the part involving him near the end, during the performance of Fiddler on the Roof had me dying laughing! Obviously there wasn't much character development and the plot wasn't super in depth either. I found myself wondering what the point was a few times, as the plot wandered aimlessly in circles for a good chunk of time in the middle of the book. The conclusion was trite and overdone. I found it slightly funny (for the fact that in ways it reminded me of the stupidity of Twilight) but saw it coming a mile away. It was like reading a book form of Scary Movie, only a helluva lot more clean and tween friendly. Overall, a cute read and if you can deal with obvious parody, and serious plot holes (that was probably intentional) you might enjoy this one for what it is: pure fluff!

VERDICT: 2.75/5 Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. It became available for purchase on August 20th, 2013.*

[Mary Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny girl gets hot (deserving) guy in this sweet Bridget Jones meets Woody Allen young adult novel that affectionately riffs on angsty, paranormal teen romances.

Luke is believable and swoon-worthy as a beautiful young angel torn apart over mistakes he made in his short life as a human 200 years before the story opens. His equally hot nemesis, Adam is both malevolent and empathetic as a teen demon who clashed with Luke in their human lives.

Wry, observant, Jenna is the very real girl caught between them, who handles her totally awkward supernatural crush with real girl grace and real girl stumbles.

Laura Toffler-Corrie weaves the supernatural and the ridiculous with the poignant and the ordinary using the same deft touch she showed in her lovely, funny, thought-provoking debut novel, THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF AMY FINAWITZ.

Fiddler on the Roof, Michael Jackson, ancient talismans, the American Revolution, hazel-eyed angels and dark-eyed demons all come together for Jenna Bloom in the totally awesome, totally hilarious, MY TOTALLY AWKWARD SUPERNATURAL CRUSH.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book via a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was not offered any monetary amount by the author or publishing company in exchange for my review.

First, I am a high school teacher, which means that I spend all day with 12-18 year olds and I think this book is certainly attractive for a young adult audience. As an adult reader, I could certainly imagine some of my students reacting like Jenna and her friends and felt that the author really captured the "voice" of a 14 year old girl. I am not ashamed to say that once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. I even snorted with laughter especially at the antics of Jenna's neighbor, Jared, and David, the young boy Jenna babysits.

There is also a lot of teenage angst between Jenna, her family, her friends, and her ex-friends aka the mean girls at school. Jenna is fought over by two boys, Luke and Adam, one good and one a little bit on the evil side. Both boys are of the supernatural persuasion and make things very interesting for Jenna.

All in all, it was a nice, light, funny book and I would certainly recommend it.

[Ellie Winthrop · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting it to be a spoof of the supernatural teen romance genre, but it really isn't that. The novel sets itself up as a parody, but then it never follows through on it. It pokes fun at the tropes here and there, but it buys into them more than it riffs on them. Everything it tries to be it falls short of. If it's supposed to be a parody, it never goes far enough to reach that level. If it's supposed to be taken seriously, then it's not doing a very good job of that either.

The characters feel like caricatures with stock personalities (kindhearted but conflicted hero, awkward teen girl protagonist, boy-crazy friend, mysterious but attractive villain). If this delivered on being a spoof, these copy-and-paste characters would be a great fit. Being as it is, though, it all just comes across like someone who's never met a teenager was trying to write teen characters. It doesn't have a clear sense of what it's supposed to be, which leaves the whole story feeling like a hollow attempt to cash in on the YA supernatural romance fad while pretending to be too cool for the rest of the genre.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a fun read filled with all sorts of humor. Jenna Bloom is a geeky middle schooler. She is certain she is a genetic throwback to a long-lost princess. Unfortunately she has to deal with a father who always has his iPod cranked and consequently has checked out of the family except to read lips once in a while, a mom who shops at the Bulk Emporium instead of Maud's Chic Fashion Boutique, and a brother who is always eating or emitting "airy bodily emissions." Jenna also has to deal with the neighborhood boy named Jared Needleman who has a major crush on Jenna but who is also an oblivious know-it-all and David Lipski, the out-of-control child that she babysits for.

Jenna's birthday celebration marks a turning point for her. On the down side, her parents give her an ugly family heirloom pendant instead of her desired gift certificate. But on the upside, her waiter is Luke who is absolutely adorable. Jenna immediately falls in love. When she meets him again at school she learns that he is an angel who was sent to protect her at this time of equinox when something evil is coming for her. Then Adam shows up. It quickly becomes clear that he is the evil that Luke was talking about. He kidnaps David and turns into a wolf or a crow. He demands that Jenna give him the ugly necklace.

Along with this rivalry and the danger is the community theater's production of Fiddler on the Roof with teenage actors. Jenna winds up doing costumes despite the fact that she has no experience or skills. Adam and Luke both wind up with main roles. Jenna's former friend who dumped her for the popular crowd is cast as the lead and immediately makes a play for both boys. One running joke through the book is that the director can't remember anyone's name and constantly calls everyone by some similar name.

Another running joke is that Jared is constantly talking about the documentaries he and father make for the local cable access channel. They have titles like Fowl Friends: Birds Who Give a Hoot. They give Jared a chance to be a know-it-all.

I liked the characters in this story especially Jenna. She was kind-hearted and loyal. She accepted her family's and friends foibles as though they were normal. I liked that she was klutzy and constantly having injuries in Phy Ed. which she treated as normal. I liked her self-deprecating humor.

This was an enjoyable story that middle graders and young adults should like.

[Brad Sells · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is a light-hearted, fun paranormal read that is filled with beautiful love scenes - but with those love scenes comes, unfortunately, insta-love.

I was intrigued by this novel just from the premise - we have an angel and his evil foe, clashing together because of our main protagonist, Jenna. It just sounds really cool! But while it does sound cool, I had a few issues with this book. I couldn't tell if Jenna and Adam had anything going on, and I felt like Jenna flip-flopped with her feelings. Aside from all that, it's impossible to deny that My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is a fun read! Definitely impossible to put down, and I found myself sucked into the story very easily!

I feel like this book would be a great transition book from tween-readers to teen-readers. It definitely has the light-hearted and easy to read vibe, and it's incredibly easy to get invested into the story. Jenna was such a great protagonist. She was strong, loyal, and determined - everything that makes a great heroine. And honestly, I felt like she handled situations like a leader and very carefully. If you fall for an angel, you're not just going to rush into their world, no? Luckily, she didn't - she took a moment, paused, and asked herself if she really wanted to become apart of this. And I really appreciated that from Laura Toffler-Corrie!

The ending was my favorite part about My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush - talk about fast-paced! Action was flying off the page, and I couldn't get enough of this book. Plus, who can resist a nice paranormal read now and then? Such a great book!

Overall, My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush is an energetic, stunning read that captivated me and never let me go! So good!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review can also be found here

I knew going in that this was supposed to be an over the top parody. Still knowing this it did not make reading this book any more enjoyable. I found myself rolling my eyes more than I found myself laughing. The Twilight references got old after a while and I could not read more than a few pages at a time without having to set it down and pick something else up.

I could not connect with the characters. Sure Jenna has flaws, which I generally like in characters but they were extreme. She didn't find herself attractive at all, she was shallow and kind of self centered and she cared way too much what other people thought about her. I know, she's supposed to be in middle school and all but I felt that it was even too much for that age range. And Luke, he was supposed to be perfect, but I found him really awkward and I did not get the super awesome hero vibe he was supposed to portray.

All in all there really isn't much to say about this one. It simply wasn't for me but if you do decide to give this one a chance do not go into it with high expectations. It's supposed to be a parody and nothing else but the humor was lost on me.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When fourteen-year-old Jenna Bloom receives an odd-looking family heirloom, a large pendant, for her birthday, she has no idea what that pendant will bring into her life. Suddenly, Jenna is caught up in an ancient conflict between Luke, and angel, and Adam, who seems to represent all the evil in the world. The battle for the pendant rages amid more mundane high school drama such as Jenna's involvement in the high school musical version of Fiddler on the Roof, her budding romance with the divinely hot Luke, and her avoidance of her former best friend Sarah who has her eyes set on Luke. As if that isn't enough, she has to deal with her annoying younger brother Michael, babysit a precocious neighbor, and figure out a way to make a fashion statement. Although there are holes aplenty in the plot--Why is David's mother so clueless? How is Luke able to fall in love with Jenna?--many teen readers will enjoy reading a story in which the plain girl triumphs in many respects. Many of the passages made me smile as Jenna deals with her frugal and well-meaning mother who purchases everything in bulk.

[Elise Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well constructed, fast paced, engaging and very familiar read about a girl with as-yet untapped powers, who finds herself head-over-heels for a magical boy. It fell into my hands as part of a contest judging, and while I wouldn't normally read a book with a title like this, I found it very well written. Unlike a lot of supernatural romances, this one is very sweet. I believe my eleven-year-old nieces would think it awesome, for all the right reasons--lots of adventure, a resourceful heroine, a totally cute angel boy and some well done humor (little brothers, fart jokes, etc). I also think their conservative mom would find the book acceptable reading for them, as it contains a few chaste kisses and lots of rapid heartbeats and that's about it. Perfect for a Disney Channel movie, most fourteen year olds I know (the age of the book's protagonist) would find the story a little too neat and clean, with none of the emotional complexity this age group craves, but for the tween set, this book could be a lovely little gem.

[Alma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Jenna is the world’s most awkward middle schooler and babysitter. She spends half the book bemoaning the ugly clothes her “communist” mothers buys in bulk, while stumbling and mumbling her way awkwardly through every situation (including babysitting) in the other half.

Read the rest of the review on my blog, and be sure to follow me on it for full reviews in your inbox: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can not give this book 4 stars. Something in me wants to, but I can honestly do it. I was a greats story. I liked the premise of the plot and I really could not put it down, or I should say did want to put it down, but a thing call work got in the way of reading it in one sitting. However it was a little to I guess you would say fan fictiony and I fell the end had too many holes in the story. However I enjoyed the whole story and the book and David had to be my favorite character.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

14-year-old Jenna has dreamed about Luke, but now that she meets him, he might really be an angel! Brought down from heaven during a special equinox, and only able to stay for a short time, can Luke battle the evil dark angel Adam and will good triumph? Besides, Adam wants Jenna’s birthday present, an antique pendant with powers of its own. This knock-off version of Twilight (ordinary girl, handsome other worldly boy) has its funny moments, but overall it’s silly and light.

[Ashley Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to stop midway through because I just couldn't find a plot!!!

[Dayla]

DNF

I had high hopes, but I'm sorry, I couldn't do it.

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was kind of a funny take on the ubiquitous "Chosen One" narratives but also a little dopey. I did finish it.

[Ally Swinington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. It had a lot if comedy, action and some romance.

[Bodea]

Lol's finally finished this. 2.5? 3? We'll see. Review to come.

[Jazmine Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

supernaturally cute!! funny and animated feels that what this book make me feel when i'm reading it!!

Who wouldn't enjoy this story of an angel, demon, gate keeper and a middle school superhero?