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Busted
Marisa never planned to be a snoop for hire. It wasn't like she wanted to catch her best friend's boyfriend making out with another girl. But as her reputation for sniffing out cheaters spreads all over school, Marisa finds herself the reluctant queen of busting two-timing boys. And her next case? It's for ex-frenemy Kendall. She's convinced that her boyfriend, TJ, has feelings for someone else and persuades Marissa to start spying on him. But the more Marisa gets to know sincere and artistic TJ, the more she starts to fall for him. Worse yet, the feelings seem to be mutual. Marisa knows she needs to give up her investigation--and the spoken-for guy who may just be the love of her life. Then she uncovers new secrets about Kendall and TJ, secrets that take cheater to a whole new level . . .
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2018
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March 23, 2018
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner!
Beware spoilers ahead!
I've had Busted in my TBR for awhile. The original pitch really spoke to me. I liked the idea of the main character going after cheating boyfriends. I was generally excited for it! I did not enjoy Busted.
You can assume that based on the synopsis that Marisa has been busting boys for awhile. That is actually not what happens. The book begins with Marisa stalking her best friend's (Charlie) boyfriend. Perched on the back of his house, Marisa takes a picture of the guy and the other girl. Of course she goes to Charlie and shows her the picture.
From here on out Marisa has gained a reputation for catching cheating boyfriends. The plot furthers when she meets her old friend Kendall. Kendall goes to the same school as Charlie and overheard the situation with said cheating boyfriend. Kendall then enlists Marisa's help with her 'cheating' boyfriend TJ.
Let me start off with saying what I liked. TJ's character was nice to read about. Yay for nice guys! I adored Marisa's family and her relationship with them. I was actually liked that Charlie starts to date Marisa's brother. Charlie and Marisa's friendship was supportive and well written! We seriously need more positive female friendships in all genres. And that would be it.
Pretty much all of my dislikes are going to have a lot of spoilers. Like the whole plot. I was honestly surprised that Marisa starts her reputation in the beginning of the book. The synopsis seemed to imply the opposite. Then I heard someone say that the initial pitch compared Busted to Veronica Mars. Marisa was no sleuth, she was just really lucky with a dose of stupid.
Marisa and TJ were in the (I think) newspaper together. So that definitely made it easier to get close to him. In the paperback synopsis it is implied that there is more than one specific type of cheating. I don't know why this isn't mentioned in the GR synopsis. This definitely would've saved a lot of readers. Including myself.
TJ was in fact not cheating on Kendall. He had broken up with her months prior to the book. Despite this he still cared for her and stayed friends. Kendall seemed to be in some sort of denial about the whole situation. Kendall and a few other classmates were actually running an underground cheating ring (tests). Fearing that TJ would find out Kendall asked for Marisa's help.
I do not like a ton of drama in my contemporaries. I like them comedic, relatable, and important. Busted was none of that. As someone whose been through high school I can tell you it is not this dramatic. I was actually reminded of Gossip Girl while reading this. I personally felt that there was a lot of unnecessary drama between the characters.
Onto some other issues that bothered me. Seriously I don't understand why Marisa and TJ repeatedly forgave Kendall (in the beginning). Kendall obviously had some pride issues, held grudges for a very long time, and man does she like getting back at people. A lot of the things she did were horrible and while there were signs in the beginning, TJ and Marisa still held on.
Also unless you were Kendall and her posey you got away with everything and didn't have any consequences. Charlie knew the girls that were bullying Kendall. And rather than do anything about it she remained silent. I know that a lot of people do this due to fear and whatnot. But Charlie had a way to stop this without anyone knowing. Her mother is a teacher at the school. All she had to do was tell her and a lot of the plot could've been avoided.
For the most part Charlie does get away with this as both girls decide to shift full blame on Kendall. Despite Marisa's ex cheating on her, she certainly didn't have many qualms of participating in cheating. Keep in mind that for a majority of Marisa and TJ's interactions, she thinks that he's dating Kendall. They do kiss early on as well.
Then came the website drama. Kendall set-up a website for Marisa's services. And of course when things got bad she ruined (Kendall had the password) Marisa on said website. Thus began the prank phone calls and the trolls. Marisa's ex was actually plot important and man was it annoying! Like was any of that drama necessary?! It took up so much of the plot. Wasted page time.
The ending is a typical dance. With apologies and everything seemingly back on track with the main characters. Marisa forgive's her ex and starts a real relationship with TJ. Charlie is dating Marisa's brother. Kendall and co have been exposed and are awaiting punishment. All's well that ends well.
Overall I didn't enjoy this book. I do not recommend.
Beware spoilers ahead!
I've had Busted in my TBR for awhile. The original pitch really spoke to me. I liked the idea of the main character going after cheating boyfriends. I was generally excited for it! I did not enjoy Busted.
You can assume that based on the synopsis that Marisa has been busting boys for awhile. That is actually not what happens. The book begins with Marisa stalking her best friend's (Charlie) boyfriend. Perched on the back of his house, Marisa takes a picture of the guy and the other girl. Of course she goes to Charlie and shows her the picture.
From here on out Marisa has gained a reputation for catching cheating boyfriends. The plot furthers when she meets her old friend Kendall. Kendall goes to the same school as Charlie and overheard the situation with said cheating boyfriend. Kendall then enlists Marisa's help with her 'cheating' boyfriend TJ.
Let me start off with saying what I liked. TJ's character was nice to read about. Yay for nice guys! I adored Marisa's family and her relationship with them. I was actually liked that Charlie starts to date Marisa's brother. Charlie and Marisa's friendship was supportive and well written! We seriously need more positive female friendships in all genres. And that would be it.
Pretty much all of my dislikes are going to have a lot of spoilers. Like the whole plot. I was honestly surprised that Marisa starts her reputation in the beginning of the book. The synopsis seemed to imply the opposite. Then I heard someone say that the initial pitch compared Busted to Veronica Mars. Marisa was no sleuth, she was just really lucky with a dose of stupid.
Marisa and TJ were in the (I think) newspaper together. So that definitely made it easier to get close to him. In the paperback synopsis it is implied that there is more than one specific type of cheating. I don't know why this isn't mentioned in the GR synopsis. This definitely would've saved a lot of readers. Including myself.
TJ was in fact not cheating on Kendall. He had broken up with her months prior to the book. Despite this he still cared for her and stayed friends. Kendall seemed to be in some sort of denial about the whole situation. Kendall and a few other classmates were actually running an underground cheating ring (tests). Fearing that TJ would find out Kendall asked for Marisa's help.
I do not like a ton of drama in my contemporaries. I like them comedic, relatable, and important. Busted was none of that. As someone whose been through high school I can tell you it is not this dramatic. I was actually reminded of Gossip Girl while reading this. I personally felt that there was a lot of unnecessary drama between the characters.
Onto some other issues that bothered me. Seriously I don't understand why Marisa and TJ repeatedly forgave Kendall (in the beginning). Kendall obviously had some pride issues, held grudges for a very long time, and man does she like getting back at people. A lot of the things she did were horrible and while there were signs in the beginning, TJ and Marisa still held on.
Also unless you were Kendall and her posey you got away with everything and didn't have any consequences. Charlie knew the girls that were bullying Kendall. And rather than do anything about it she remained silent. I know that a lot of people do this due to fear and whatnot. But Charlie had a way to stop this without anyone knowing. Her mother is a teacher at the school. All she had to do was tell her and a lot of the plot could've been avoided.
For the most part Charlie does get away with this as both girls decide to shift full blame on Kendall. Despite Marisa's ex cheating on her, she certainly didn't have many qualms of participating in cheating. Keep in mind that for a majority of Marisa and TJ's interactions, she thinks that he's dating Kendall. They do kiss early on as well.
Then came the website drama. Kendall set-up a website for Marisa's services. And of course when things got bad she ruined (Kendall had the password) Marisa on said website. Thus began the prank phone calls and the trolls. Marisa's ex was actually plot important and man was it annoying! Like was any of that drama necessary?! It took up so much of the plot. Wasted page time.
The ending is a typical dance. With apologies and everything seemingly back on track with the main characters. Marisa forgive's her ex and starts a real relationship with TJ. Charlie is dating Marisa's brother. Kendall and co have been exposed and are awaiting punishment. All's well that ends well.
Overall I didn't enjoy this book. I do not recommend.
December 1, 2017
*Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!*
In “Busted”, Gina Ciocca’s newest novel, the main character Marisa coincidentally catches her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl. Actually, she didn’t plan on ever catching a cheater again but when her ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, Marisa just can’t say no. But what happens when she realizes that she’s slowly but surely falling for the guy she’s spying on and that he’s falling for her as well?
When I first read the synopsis of ‘Busted’, I was immediately intrigued by it and knew that I definitely had to read this book. It’s a beautiful young adult romance book and if you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable read, you should definitely give this one a try.
The novel has a very entertaining plot and there were no unnecessary, protracted parts that could’ve bored me. I also really liked the characters and Gina Ciocca’s writing style. This was the first one of her books I’ve read, but I’m sure it wasn’t the last one.
The only “negative” think I can say about “Busted” is that it definitely reminded me of some other young adult books I’ve read and so it’s probably not a book that will absolutely blow your mind. But like I said, I still really enjoyed reading “Busted” and I decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars.
In “Busted”, Gina Ciocca’s newest novel, the main character Marisa coincidentally catches her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl. Actually, she didn’t plan on ever catching a cheater again but when her ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, Marisa just can’t say no. But what happens when she realizes that she’s slowly but surely falling for the guy she’s spying on and that he’s falling for her as well?
When I first read the synopsis of ‘Busted’, I was immediately intrigued by it and knew that I definitely had to read this book. It’s a beautiful young adult romance book and if you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable read, you should definitely give this one a try.
The novel has a very entertaining plot and there were no unnecessary, protracted parts that could’ve bored me. I also really liked the characters and Gina Ciocca’s writing style. This was the first one of her books I’ve read, but I’m sure it wasn’t the last one.
The only “negative” think I can say about “Busted” is that it definitely reminded me of some other young adult books I’ve read and so it’s probably not a book that will absolutely blow your mind. But like I said, I still really enjoyed reading “Busted” and I decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars.
March 27, 2019
I really loved this book! I wasn't sure how it was going to go the first 50 pages, but it just kept getting better and better the further into it I got. An adorable YA novel with likeable characters, surprises, and of course a happy ending :)
July 10, 2018
RATING: 4/5
Marisa wasn’t planing to be a snoop for hire- until she accidentally caught her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl.Now her reputation for sniffing out cheaters has spread all over school. When ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, TJ, Marisa quickly discovers the girl TJ might be falling for is Marisa herself.And worse yet? The feelings are quickly becoming mutual.
I was kind of surprised by how much was going on in this book. I guess I’m used to contemporaries being mostly two-dimensional and this one wasn’t. Like it had more than one storyline and plot going on, and at some point it turned into a detective novel, which I didn’t mind at all. I really liked it :)
Marisa wasn’t planing to be a snoop for hire- until she accidentally caught her best friend’s boyfriend making out with another girl.Now her reputation for sniffing out cheaters has spread all over school. When ex-frenemy Kendall asks her to spy on her boyfriend, TJ, Marisa quickly discovers the girl TJ might be falling for is Marisa herself.And worse yet? The feelings are quickly becoming mutual.
I was kind of surprised by how much was going on in this book. I guess I’m used to contemporaries being mostly two-dimensional and this one wasn’t. Like it had more than one storyline and plot going on, and at some point it turned into a detective novel, which I didn’t mind at all. I really liked it :)
December 18, 2017
Busted has everything you want from a young adult book; plenty of drama, a bit of swoon-worthy romance, a heaping pile of cuteness and friendship. Gina Ciocca has given readers a unique storyline with Busted, perfectly combining teens over-use of internet and social media with all the angst that comes from dating in high school. Main character and narrator, Marisa, is your quintessential high school student. She's trying to fit in, make good grades, participate in extra activities that will look good on her transcripts, spend time with friends, and, of course, navigate the tough world of dating. She's sweet, a bit naive, occasionally petty, and an overachiever at everything. Helping protect one friend from relationship disaster has turned into helping every girl from the same fate, but an old friend seeking to insert herself back into Maria's life may be using her for more than she realizes. She didn't plan on becoming her town's very own PI, but she embraces the role and finds herself becoming the center of her very own investigation.
"I heard you caught her boyfriend cheating."
Busted felt so much like my high school experience. At times, Marisa seemed to lack direction and focus, something that could have taken away from the book, but really felt accurate to how teenagers truly are. She placed a very high value on what others think of her, something that leads to her downfall later on and becomes a huge lesson for her. I really enjoyed the sneaking around and loved how much weight relationships had on the characters. We saw old friendships, best-friendships, the wrong kind of friendships, friends becoming something more, exes, boyfriends, siblings, parents, and everything in between. It is obvious Gina Ciocca went to great lengths to give readers a complex, character-driven novel, something I find a lot of YA novels lack.
"I only knew that it felt more like a promise than a parting of ways."
Busted might require you to write a map to get through it, but otherwise it was one of the best YA novels I have read in a while. It had just the right amount of drama, it didn't blur the lines between YA and NA, and it delivered a couple positive messages that I think youths should hear and we all can appreciate. If you're a fan of fast-paced, contemporary young adult, Busted needs to be on your TBR list.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
"I heard you caught her boyfriend cheating."
Busted felt so much like my high school experience. At times, Marisa seemed to lack direction and focus, something that could have taken away from the book, but really felt accurate to how teenagers truly are. She placed a very high value on what others think of her, something that leads to her downfall later on and becomes a huge lesson for her. I really enjoyed the sneaking around and loved how much weight relationships had on the characters. We saw old friendships, best-friendships, the wrong kind of friendships, friends becoming something more, exes, boyfriends, siblings, parents, and everything in between. It is obvious Gina Ciocca went to great lengths to give readers a complex, character-driven novel, something I find a lot of YA novels lack.
"I only knew that it felt more like a promise than a parting of ways."
Busted might require you to write a map to get through it, but otherwise it was one of the best YA novels I have read in a while. It had just the right amount of drama, it didn't blur the lines between YA and NA, and it delivered a couple positive messages that I think youths should hear and we all can appreciate. If you're a fan of fast-paced, contemporary young adult, Busted needs to be on your TBR list.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
March 27, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
3.5 Stars
Busted is a super cute novel with a hint of mystery. It is all about a girl who spies on her clients’ boyfriends to catch them cheating. I enjoyed the main characters, but there was not enough action, and the book falls a bit flat.
This book has a very intriguing concept. It tells the story of a girl who works to catch cheating boyfriends in the act. However, Marisa and one of the accused cheaters start to fall for each other, creating a world of drama. I enjoyed the big theme of friendship and girls supporting girls in this one. It is a pretty light read with some super cute moments, and I would definitely recommend it to those looking for a more subtle mystery.
Marisa is a pretty likeable character. What she does is good and helps her friends out, even if it is borderline stalking. She is very compassionate, and I loved how she gives each person she helps a heart pin. The fact that she is willing to help out complete strangers is so caring, even if she had no say in starting up the business. I also enjoyed TJ’s character, since he is also so thoughtful. He makes accessories out of leather, which I’ve never read in a book before. The two make a great pair, and their interactions are so natural.
My main issue with Busted is the pacing. To me, it is very slow paced, and I was expecting more action from a book with a “spy” concept. The book also strays from the original concept, and Marisa trying to find out who is helping others cheat on tests just isn’t as interesting as her busting cheating boyfriends. I feel like all the extra drama is unnecessary, and the story should have stuck to one kind of cheater.
Busted is the story of a girl who helps other girls catch their boyfriends cheating. I enjoyed the slight mystery and the kind main characters. However, the story was too slow paced for me, and I would have appreciated more excitement.
3.5 Stars
Busted is a super cute novel with a hint of mystery. It is all about a girl who spies on her clients’ boyfriends to catch them cheating. I enjoyed the main characters, but there was not enough action, and the book falls a bit flat.
This book has a very intriguing concept. It tells the story of a girl who works to catch cheating boyfriends in the act. However, Marisa and one of the accused cheaters start to fall for each other, creating a world of drama. I enjoyed the big theme of friendship and girls supporting girls in this one. It is a pretty light read with some super cute moments, and I would definitely recommend it to those looking for a more subtle mystery.
Marisa is a pretty likeable character. What she does is good and helps her friends out, even if it is borderline stalking. She is very compassionate, and I loved how she gives each person she helps a heart pin. The fact that she is willing to help out complete strangers is so caring, even if she had no say in starting up the business. I also enjoyed TJ’s character, since he is also so thoughtful. He makes accessories out of leather, which I’ve never read in a book before. The two make a great pair, and their interactions are so natural.
My main issue with Busted is the pacing. To me, it is very slow paced, and I was expecting more action from a book with a “spy” concept. The book also strays from the original concept, and Marisa trying to find out who is helping others cheat on tests just isn’t as interesting as her busting cheating boyfriends. I feel like all the extra drama is unnecessary, and the story should have stuck to one kind of cheater.
Busted is the story of a girl who helps other girls catch their boyfriends cheating. I enjoyed the slight mystery and the kind main characters. However, the story was too slow paced for me, and I would have appreciated more excitement.
Read
February 9, 2017Soooo much fun! You guys have to put this one on your TBR!
October 1, 2017
3.5
It has been a long, loooooong time since I last finished reading a book in one day, and Busted was the one that finally cracked me after a while, even with responsibilities the whole afternoon. Busted was written in such a way that it was addicting and hard to put down, and I couldn't stop even when my brain nagged at me to do homework. I'm not a fan of mysteries, but the hint of a little mystery in this book was just perfect to make the book addicting.
Busted is a short and quick read, and I loved how invested I was in the story. My absolute favorite things about this book are the friendship and family dynamics. For the friendship, I loved how Marisa and Charlie could talk to each other honestly, to the point that Marisa called out Charlie for being judgemental, and Charlie apologizing instead of getting mad like most people would be. I just loved how they could talk everything out with respect, and not with the tone of blame. For the family, I loved how Charlie could freely talk to her mother about things, and how her brother is actually an accomplice instead of the enemy.
On the other hand, I felt like sometimes the story seemed to lack direction and objective because it was just snaking its way through everything without a clear path. Sometimes it felt like reading in circles. It also dragged on a little bit for some of the parts. I don't know why I felt this way towards the book, and I really can't explain it in words, but that was what was on my mind while reading it.
The major issue I have with this book is the lack of connection with any of the characters. This is the reason why, although I enjoyed the book, I couldn't give it a rating higher than 3.5 stars. I just didn't feel anything for the characters, and I absolutely dislike the love interest. For me, TJ is sketchy af, and I just didn't really feel that he liked Charlie honestly. Maybe in the start but then towards the end it seemed like he didn't care about Charlie, and even supported her flirting with another guy. Shouldn't he be at least a teeny tiny bit jealous or protective? I don't know, I just didn't like him overall.
To wrap things up, I really enjoyed this quick and addicting read, although I couldn't give it a higher rating because I didn't really connect with any of the characters.
It has been a long, loooooong time since I last finished reading a book in one day, and Busted was the one that finally cracked me after a while, even with responsibilities the whole afternoon. Busted was written in such a way that it was addicting and hard to put down, and I couldn't stop even when my brain nagged at me to do homework. I'm not a fan of mysteries, but the hint of a little mystery in this book was just perfect to make the book addicting.
Busted is a short and quick read, and I loved how invested I was in the story. My absolute favorite things about this book are the friendship and family dynamics. For the friendship, I loved how Marisa and Charlie could talk to each other honestly, to the point that Marisa called out Charlie for being judgemental, and Charlie apologizing instead of getting mad like most people would be. I just loved how they could talk everything out with respect, and not with the tone of blame. For the family, I loved how Charlie could freely talk to her mother about things, and how her brother is actually an accomplice instead of the enemy.
On the other hand, I felt like sometimes the story seemed to lack direction and objective because it was just snaking its way through everything without a clear path. Sometimes it felt like reading in circles. It also dragged on a little bit for some of the parts. I don't know why I felt this way towards the book, and I really can't explain it in words, but that was what was on my mind while reading it.
The major issue I have with this book is the lack of connection with any of the characters. This is the reason why, although I enjoyed the book, I couldn't give it a rating higher than 3.5 stars. I just didn't feel anything for the characters, and I absolutely dislike the love interest. For me, TJ is sketchy af, and I just didn't really feel that he liked Charlie honestly. Maybe in the start but then towards the end it seemed like he didn't care about Charlie, and even supported her flirting with another guy. Shouldn't he be at least a teeny tiny bit jealous or protective? I don't know, I just didn't like him overall.
To wrap things up, I really enjoyed this quick and addicting read, although I couldn't give it a higher rating because I didn't really connect with any of the characters.
December 12, 2017
Busted was a fun read. It was cutesy, dramatic, and so easy to read. I was initially drawn into the story because of the PI situation the protagonist, Marisa, finds herself in. And I ended up liking all the spying, scheming, and the tangled web of secrets that starts to come unraveled in a natural way through the story. I really liked Marisa’s jewelry making hobby - it’s something I’ve dabbled in myself and a unique hobby we don’t normally see in YA. But there was also a lot of pettiness and immaturity that kept me from really loving the book. Characters were called on their actions, and others apologized for theirs - and I really liked that a lot, but the blatant immaturity and selfishness was a little much. Overall, this was a fun read and was the perfect inbetween book for me to read between 2 SFF stories.
I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks Fire via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks Fire via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2018
I am the author of this book, and this story has a very special place in my heart. Of my three published novels (I also wrote LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE and A KISS IN THE DARK), this one makes me laugh the hardest. You'd never know (at least I think) that I wrote most of BUSTED while crawling toward light at the end of a very dark tunnel of postpartum depression. I think this book was my therapy, and I am so happy that Marisa's story found a home at Sourcebooks. If you'd like to read more about The Story Behind the Story, you can do so here: http://writersblog-gina.blogspot.com/...
If you loved this book and took the time to review it here, thank you so much! If you wouldn't mind cross-posting your review to Amazon, I would be ever so grateful. Happy reading!
If you loved this book and took the time to review it here, thank you so much! If you wouldn't mind cross-posting your review to Amazon, I would be ever so grateful. Happy reading!
February 9, 2018
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley.
I really liked this book, it was light, fun and cute, which means a super enjoyable contemporary.
We follow the story of Marisa a girl whose life change after caughting his best friend’s boyfriend cheating on here.
That’s when her old friend Kendall comes into place asking for the same kind of help with her boyfriend TJ, but things will get complicated once sparks start flying between these two.
The romance was super adorable, I love how they were bonding over jewelry and crafts, and the whole midterm thing was a good plus, and honestly I didn’t even see it coming.
Fast paced and charming, I will totally recommend it.
I really liked this book, it was light, fun and cute, which means a super enjoyable contemporary.
We follow the story of Marisa a girl whose life change after caughting his best friend’s boyfriend cheating on here.
That’s when her old friend Kendall comes into place asking for the same kind of help with her boyfriend TJ, but things will get complicated once sparks start flying between these two.
The romance was super adorable, I love how they were bonding over jewelry and crafts, and the whole midterm thing was a good plus, and honestly I didn’t even see it coming.
Fast paced and charming, I will totally recommend it.
December 31, 2017
3.5 / 5 Fangs
Busted was a fun, quirky, and unique novel! One of my favorite things about this book was how accurate it felt to a typical high school experience. There was a lot of drama involving what people thought of each other, and if that's not true of every high school, then I don't know what is!
Marisa, the main character, was a very realistic high school girl. Marisa was a sweet, caring, and spunky character. I admired her dedication to her friends and other girls with trying to find out the truth for them. Her dedication to sleuthing was very cute. There were times when she was a bit naive, but I found that to be crucial to her character development throughout the book. She also really cared about what others thought about her, which guided a lot of her decisions. Thankfully, she did learn that getting the approval of others is not the most important thing in life.
There were some slower parts of this book and times where it felt like the book lost direction, but the book was fast-paced overall! The parts of this book that were fast-paced usually involved Marisa sleuthing. I really enjoyed the sleuthing elements of this book! I actually would have liked more of detective Marisa moments in the book, because those were my favorite parts! Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the focus on so many different types of relationships. We got to see friendships, romantic relationship, and familial relationships. It was interesting to see so many types of relationships and different types of drama involved in each relationship.
Overall, Busted, was an enjoyable YA contemporary book! If you are looking for a YA book with plenty of high school drama, mystery, and romance, then I definitely would recommend checking this book out!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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Busted was a fun, quirky, and unique novel! One of my favorite things about this book was how accurate it felt to a typical high school experience. There was a lot of drama involving what people thought of each other, and if that's not true of every high school, then I don't know what is!
Marisa, the main character, was a very realistic high school girl. Marisa was a sweet, caring, and spunky character. I admired her dedication to her friends and other girls with trying to find out the truth for them. Her dedication to sleuthing was very cute. There were times when she was a bit naive, but I found that to be crucial to her character development throughout the book. She also really cared about what others thought about her, which guided a lot of her decisions. Thankfully, she did learn that getting the approval of others is not the most important thing in life.
There were some slower parts of this book and times where it felt like the book lost direction, but the book was fast-paced overall! The parts of this book that were fast-paced usually involved Marisa sleuthing. I really enjoyed the sleuthing elements of this book! I actually would have liked more of detective Marisa moments in the book, because those were my favorite parts! Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the focus on so many different types of relationships. We got to see friendships, romantic relationship, and familial relationships. It was interesting to see so many types of relationships and different types of drama involved in each relationship.
Overall, Busted, was an enjoyable YA contemporary book! If you are looking for a YA book with plenty of high school drama, mystery, and romance, then I definitely would recommend checking this book out!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
January 25, 2018
I liked Ciocca’s debut novel, especially because of her writing, so there wasn’t any doubts about me picking this book up. Busted was a fun read for me. I thought it had a good balance between a hint of a mystery, some romance and friendship dynamics, that I found to be enjoyable.
It’s not the most perfect book or anything, but it has some really great elements, particularly the friendship between the protagonist Marissa and Charlie, her bff. It was a healthy and positive female friendship, and I liked how these two were so comfortable and open with each other – they weren’t afraid to call each other out if the other person was acting all shady and bitchy. Marissa also has great relationships with her family, which I found to be refreshing. I loved how close her and her brother were, and I loved that he was as much as part of the story as Marissa’s best friend. Marissa’s relationship with her mom was also great. I love good positive parent-daughter relationship in books, so I completely appreciated it here too.
Marissa, herself, was a decent character. To be honest, I didn’t feel much towards her. I liked how far she was willing to go for her friends, and like I said, she’s a very loyal girl. The mystery itself wasn’t all that, but it was enough to keep me entertained as Marissa navigated it all as a newbie spy (not an actual spy, mind you) at her school, and the circumstances she came across. The one thing I wasn’t so head over heels over was the romance and that mostly has to do with my feelings towards the love interest, TJ. I think he needed to be a bit more fleshed about. He was too secretive and I could never get a strong idea of his intentions. I could have done without a romance here.
Anyways, overall, Busted was fun and I had a good time reading it. As always, Ciocca’s writing is super addicting, and she does a good job with writing relationships.
It’s not the most perfect book or anything, but it has some really great elements, particularly the friendship between the protagonist Marissa and Charlie, her bff. It was a healthy and positive female friendship, and I liked how these two were so comfortable and open with each other – they weren’t afraid to call each other out if the other person was acting all shady and bitchy. Marissa also has great relationships with her family, which I found to be refreshing. I loved how close her and her brother were, and I loved that he was as much as part of the story as Marissa’s best friend. Marissa’s relationship with her mom was also great. I love good positive parent-daughter relationship in books, so I completely appreciated it here too.
Marissa, herself, was a decent character. To be honest, I didn’t feel much towards her. I liked how far she was willing to go for her friends, and like I said, she’s a very loyal girl. The mystery itself wasn’t all that, but it was enough to keep me entertained as Marissa navigated it all as a newbie spy (not an actual spy, mind you) at her school, and the circumstances she came across. The one thing I wasn’t so head over heels over was the romance and that mostly has to do with my feelings towards the love interest, TJ. I think he needed to be a bit more fleshed about. He was too secretive and I could never get a strong idea of his intentions. I could have done without a romance here.
Anyways, overall, Busted was fun and I had a good time reading it. As always, Ciocca’s writing is super addicting, and she does a good job with writing relationships.
January 5, 2018
My expectations was busted
Expectations VS Reality
This entire book started off well with Marisa catching her friend's bf cheating. Then, the book moved on to this long lost childhood friend of Marisa seeking her "PI" services because of cheating suspicion. The whole fiasco following this was TRULY a whirlwind and felt too much to the point of being dramatic.
If i were to sum up this book, it was a petty conflict among teenagers involving friendship and romance.
Expectations VS Reality
This entire book started off well with Marisa catching her friend's bf cheating. Then, the book moved on to this long lost childhood friend of Marisa seeking her "PI" services because of cheating suspicion. The whole fiasco following this was TRULY a whirlwind and felt too much to the point of being dramatic.
If i were to sum up this book, it was a petty conflict among teenagers involving friendship and romance.
January 4, 2018
The blurb was a bit misleading, I thought she was the queen of spies, but it was not like that. She catches a cheater and her next case is when her old frenemy Kendall shows up and wants to know if her boyfriend TJ is cheating. So not spyqueen.
Marissa loves journalism. She likes hanging out with her friends, yup, you know a normal teenager, she says so herself. Why on earth she even thinks of befriending Kendall again I do not know, sorry Kendall but you are a bitch. Marissa is being way too kind.
Which brings us to the story. Spying on TJ. Who is cute, who likes the same things she does and who has a girlfriend (even a bitchy one like Kendall). Of course she starts to fall for him and well trust me, it will all work out in a very good way. No spoiler saying that.
There are also some sidestories while she investigates, her BFF Charlotte getting over her Ex, a scandal at Charlotte's school. Marissa getting over her own ex. All of the stories tying together neatly.
I liked Marissa. I was not sure about TJ, I mean yes I liked him, but ugh Kendall. I am glad it all worked out in the end even if I thought it ended too well for some, cough cough.
A nice mystery and romance.
Narrator
She was good. I liked her voices and nuances. She works well for a YA book.
Marissa loves journalism. She likes hanging out with her friends, yup, you know a normal teenager, she says so herself. Why on earth she even thinks of befriending Kendall again I do not know, sorry Kendall but you are a bitch. Marissa is being way too kind.
Which brings us to the story. Spying on TJ. Who is cute, who likes the same things she does and who has a girlfriend (even a bitchy one like Kendall). Of course she starts to fall for him and well trust me, it will all work out in a very good way. No spoiler saying that.
There are also some sidestories while she investigates, her BFF Charlotte getting over her Ex, a scandal at Charlotte's school. Marissa getting over her own ex. All of the stories tying together neatly.
I liked Marissa. I was not sure about TJ, I mean yes I liked him, but ugh Kendall. I am glad it all worked out in the end even if I thought it ended too well for some, cough cough.
A nice mystery and romance.
Narrator
She was good. I liked her voices and nuances. She works well for a YA book.
January 2, 2018
I loved this book. I really needed a good YA that was going to make me love reading and would make me want to write again. Busted was definitely it! Be sure to add it to your list. I've gained a book boyfriend, and a book I'd happily read again!
October 22, 2018
That was a lot of fun! It had a vibe of Veronica Mars to it and I loved that. Lots of twists and turns and nothing was what you thought. Gina is quickly becoming a fav author.
April 25, 2018
Such a great premise! I absolutely loved the complexity of the characters and the plot, and how everything tied up at the end. Even the "villain" was fantastically written!
February 19, 2018
3.75
You can find this and many more reviews on my blog Marianna's Corner
I immensely enjoyed Busted. It’s a YA contemporary with some mystery elements thrown in that makes it extra fun and suspensful! I won’t pretend like I hadn’t figured the plot twist out, but still it came as a surprise, so that counts for something.
Busted is a typical girl meets boy contemporary story, but also not. I won’t get into detail about the romance aspect; I want to discuss some other elements that made this book for me.
Firstly, I loved, loved, loved the female friendship. It’s so hard to find good female friendships in YA, and yes, it is as sad as it sounds. I mean most YA heroines do have a female friend but she is sidetracked and doesn’t play an important role. In Busted though, Marisa and Charlie had an awesome friendship and it felt real. When Marisa had a problem Charlie would help and vice versa. They spend time together, like actual best friends and discuss everything; from important drama that happens to them to trivial everyday stuff. I especially liked when in one scene, Charlie’s behaviour was problematic and instantly Marisa talked to her about it and guess what? They did not fight at all, but actually discussed it and Charlie accepted the criticism and improved.
The other thing I liked is Marisa’s relationship with her brother Nick. What can I say, I’m a sucker for healthy sibling relationships. They helped each other out and it was so obvious they loved one another. They fought like all siblings can verify, and oh my God their fights were so realistic and funny!
The last thing is connected to the above in the sense that the characters feel like real teenagers. They actually use their phones all the time *gasp*, social media is their holy grail and they communicate, realistically.
I have used the words “real” and “realistically” a little too much in this review, and this is exactly why I didn’t give this book the full 4 stars. It was doing so good in terms of realism and had my expectations so high, aaaand the ending was a little bit too over the top??? I don’t know, it felt like too much for me to believe.
General Thoughts: Busted is a perfect YA contemporary novel, with just the right amount of mystery and the most cute romance that will have you rooting for the couple to KISS ALREADY. Recommend it to anyone in search of a fun, fast-paced book with strong female friendships and sibling relationship.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
You can find this and many more reviews on my blog Marianna's Corner
I immensely enjoyed Busted. It’s a YA contemporary with some mystery elements thrown in that makes it extra fun and suspensful! I won’t pretend like I hadn’t figured the plot twist out, but still it came as a surprise, so that counts for something.
Busted is a typical girl meets boy contemporary story, but also not. I won’t get into detail about the romance aspect; I want to discuss some other elements that made this book for me.
Firstly, I loved, loved, loved the female friendship. It’s so hard to find good female friendships in YA, and yes, it is as sad as it sounds. I mean most YA heroines do have a female friend but she is sidetracked and doesn’t play an important role. In Busted though, Marisa and Charlie had an awesome friendship and it felt real. When Marisa had a problem Charlie would help and vice versa. They spend time together, like actual best friends and discuss everything; from important drama that happens to them to trivial everyday stuff. I especially liked when in one scene, Charlie’s behaviour was problematic and instantly Marisa talked to her about it and guess what? They did not fight at all, but actually discussed it and Charlie accepted the criticism and improved.
The other thing I liked is Marisa’s relationship with her brother Nick. What can I say, I’m a sucker for healthy sibling relationships. They helped each other out and it was so obvious they loved one another. They fought like all siblings can verify, and oh my God their fights were so realistic and funny!
The last thing is connected to the above in the sense that the characters feel like real teenagers. They actually use their phones all the time *gasp*, social media is their holy grail and they communicate, realistically.
I have used the words “real” and “realistically” a little too much in this review, and this is exactly why I didn’t give this book the full 4 stars. It was doing so good in terms of realism and had my expectations so high, aaaand the ending was a little bit too over the top??? I don’t know, it felt like too much for me to believe.
General Thoughts: Busted is a perfect YA contemporary novel, with just the right amount of mystery and the most cute romance that will have you rooting for the couple to KISS ALREADY. Recommend it to anyone in search of a fun, fast-paced book with strong female friendships and sibling relationship.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 2, 2018
Okay, so, basically I snatched this up only because it said “For fans of Veronica Mars”. I’ve been missing my favorite PI and her bad boy love interest fiercely, and I totally fell for it. Busted was not like Veronica Mars. At all.
Yes, Marissa did stalk cheaters, but it was almost against her will. Not in the cute snarky way Veronica grumbled either. There was seriously something almost oxymoronish about Busted because Marissa is ‘anti-cheater’ yet some may say she’s a borderline cheater herself. Not to mention all of Marissa’s friends are jerks! All of them. I’m not just talking about the few who were supposed to be assholes, because even the ‘nice’ ones were jerks. I’ll award one point strictly on the merit that Marissa did call her friends out on it, but still. They were all vapid. Marissa less than the others, but there was a decent amount of talk about lip gloss, wavy hair, and primping. I wouldn’t say it’s excessive, but it was enough to drive me nuts.
There were a couple things I thought were decently done, like how well the mystery was thought out. I’ll admit to an embarrassing amount of skimming in the middle of the story, but I felt like I’d been surprised in the end. I also enjoyed how Marissa noticed TJ’s artistic ability and personality before she noticed he was attractive. For all the flaws in the story, that made me believe the both of them fell for something more than a pretty face, which is my favorite part of romance. Lastly, I thought the crush Marissa’s brother had on her best friend was super cute. I almost would have preferred reading them as the main story. (Only for the brother, the best friend was annoying.)
Overall, I think Busted is better suited for an actual Young Adult audience, because I’m sure the things that drove me insane are real traits of real teens. This is just one case where my adult perspective pulled me out of the story. I guess I can’t love all YA.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
For other similar reviews, please visit Birdie Bookworm.
Yes, Marissa did stalk cheaters, but it was almost against her will. Not in the cute snarky way Veronica grumbled either. There was seriously something almost oxymoronish about Busted because Marissa is ‘anti-cheater’ yet some may say she’s a borderline cheater herself. Not to mention all of Marissa’s friends are jerks! All of them. I’m not just talking about the few who were supposed to be assholes, because even the ‘nice’ ones were jerks. I’ll award one point strictly on the merit that Marissa did call her friends out on it, but still. They were all vapid. Marissa less than the others, but there was a decent amount of talk about lip gloss, wavy hair, and primping. I wouldn’t say it’s excessive, but it was enough to drive me nuts.
There were a couple things I thought were decently done, like how well the mystery was thought out. I’ll admit to an embarrassing amount of skimming in the middle of the story, but I felt like I’d been surprised in the end. I also enjoyed how Marissa noticed TJ’s artistic ability and personality before she noticed he was attractive. For all the flaws in the story, that made me believe the both of them fell for something more than a pretty face, which is my favorite part of romance. Lastly, I thought the crush Marissa’s brother had on her best friend was super cute. I almost would have preferred reading them as the main story. (Only for the brother, the best friend was annoying.)
Overall, I think Busted is better suited for an actual Young Adult audience, because I’m sure the things that drove me insane are real traits of real teens. This is just one case where my adult perspective pulled me out of the story. I guess I can’t love all YA.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
For other similar reviews, please visit Birdie Bookworm.
January 27, 2018
*ARC Kindly provided by Sourcebooks Fire for review*
I love YA, I love mystery and I love spy stories. Add up these three and that book will be up on my TBR. The beginning of Busted really excites me; I’m really looking forward to the sleuthing that will happen on the book and it didn’t fail me because a few chapters in and I already have a sample of said sleuthing. Up until the first chapter ends and the story begins to be a bit dragging.
Spying, scheming and tangled web of secrets and mystery – that’s what I was expecting when I dived into reading Busted but I guess I expected too much because I feel like I only get bits and pieces of it. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the story plotline, but I guess my expectation went a bit high. Nevertheless, I still liked the story.
The characters introduced here are a mix of people that are fun to read about. We have the very likeable, fun, driven and a very good friend Marissa. Seriously, where can I find a friend just like her who climbs over a framework just to catch the boyfriend of a friend who’s supposedly cheating? A friend who gives second chances to an old (bitch) friend? I really like Marissa. Her voice is fun and interesting to read. Charlie is the best partner/side-kick for Marissa. They are total opposites but really complements each other. Plus, I really love her side-story with Marissa’s brother. 😉
TJ is such a sweet character but somewhere in the middle of the story I doubted him. He made me skeptical about him with all the “shady” actions that he did.
The romance between TJ and Marissa started in a very unlikely situation and I didn’t really like it at first because I think I know how those kind of romances ends but but but their chemistry was so on point that at some point I find myself squealing for them to just kiss! They are both such sweet characters and their crafty sides and inner geekiness really makes them more compatible with one another.
And of course, I won’t forget to mention the returning friend, Kendall. Kendall who is really a bitch witch. I knew that from the first moment she was introduced that she will not bring anything but a challenge to the story and to the characters. But of course, a delightful book wouldn’t be complete without a very convincing villain and Kendall really is the best villain character for this story. I guess, she is the trigger in the story where all at snooping and tangled web of secrets and mystery really started.
As mentioned, I liked the story but didn’t entirely loved it. Busted has a pretty unique and promising premise but I somehow wish for more spying and scheming to happen. Nevertheless, everything tied up neatly; giving everyone a good ending.
*For more reviews, please feel free to visit Reads and Thoughts*
I love YA, I love mystery and I love spy stories. Add up these three and that book will be up on my TBR. The beginning of Busted really excites me; I’m really looking forward to the sleuthing that will happen on the book and it didn’t fail me because a few chapters in and I already have a sample of said sleuthing. Up until the first chapter ends and the story begins to be a bit dragging.
Spying, scheming and tangled web of secrets and mystery – that’s what I was expecting when I dived into reading Busted but I guess I expected too much because I feel like I only get bits and pieces of it. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the story plotline, but I guess my expectation went a bit high. Nevertheless, I still liked the story.
“Outing a scumbag felt more badass than anything.”
The characters introduced here are a mix of people that are fun to read about. We have the very likeable, fun, driven and a very good friend Marissa. Seriously, where can I find a friend just like her who climbs over a framework just to catch the boyfriend of a friend who’s supposedly cheating? A friend who gives second chances to an old (bitch) friend? I really like Marissa. Her voice is fun and interesting to read. Charlie is the best partner/side-kick for Marissa. They are total opposites but really complements each other. Plus, I really love her side-story with Marissa’s brother. 😉
TJ is such a sweet character but somewhere in the middle of the story I doubted him. He made me skeptical about him with all the “shady” actions that he did.
The romance between TJ and Marissa started in a very unlikely situation and I didn’t really like it at first because I think I know how those kind of romances ends but but but their chemistry was so on point that at some point I find myself squealing for them to just kiss! They are both such sweet characters and their crafty sides and inner geekiness really makes them more compatible with one another.
And of course, I won’t forget to mention the returning friend, Kendall. Kendall who is really a bitch witch. I knew that from the first moment she was introduced that she will not bring anything but a challenge to the story and to the characters. But of course, a delightful book wouldn’t be complete without a very convincing villain and Kendall really is the best villain character for this story. I guess, she is the trigger in the story where all at snooping and tangled web of secrets and mystery really started.
As mentioned, I liked the story but didn’t entirely loved it. Busted has a pretty unique and promising premise but I somehow wish for more spying and scheming to happen. Nevertheless, everything tied up neatly; giving everyone a good ending.
*For more reviews, please feel free to visit Reads and Thoughts*
December 24, 2017
I flew through this book after being hooked from the start. I love Veronica Mars and the idea for this book so much, and it didn't disappoint. Marisa was relatable, TJ was an excellent love interest, and the supporting characters were all wonderful.
I just didn't love the whole mean girl was being everything aspect. It made me feel a little sad. But the writing and the characters made up for the cliche in a big way.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just didn't love the whole mean girl was being everything aspect. It made me feel a little sad. But the writing and the characters made up for the cliche in a big way.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
this was very anti climactic to me. I liked the idea but the execution was just meh. when the plot twist came i had already had an idea of who it might be. I Just wanted it to be more than what it actually was. There was just something missing and towards the end it just didn't feel resolved for me. I guess i wanted more consequences/ punishment for the person/people behind everything.
December 31, 2017
I've been dying to read Gina Ciocca's Busted ever since I first saw the Veronica Mars comparison. Veronica Mars is one of my favorite TV shows so any book that could potentially life up to that level of awesomeness is a book I need in my possession. Plus sleuthing in general is just a instant-sell for me. I'll never be a detective, or even a pseudo-detictive like Marisa, so I have to live vicariously.
The Result? I liked Busted, but I didn't love it. Maybe I had too high of expectations, but I was left wanting more.
I liked Marisa. She was driven, sweet, and a good friend. Seriously, most friends would never go as far as to to climb the lattice of a house to catch a potentially cheating boyfriend in the act. She's someone you'd want on your side for sure! Additionally, I appreciated that she was always willing to give people a second chance. There's no way I would've taken someone like Kendall under my wing again, but Marisa always tried to see the good in everyone, no matter how hard it may have been.
I also liked Charlie, Marisa's best friend, and TJ, Kendall's boyfriend and Marisa's potential love interest.
I feel as if Charlie was always the one to bring Marisa back to Earth. She's the kind of friend who tells you that you need to calm down and/or take a break. However, I wasn't always fond of the way Marisa called Charlie out for saying inappropriate things. Don't get me wrong I'm all for people speaking up when something isn't right - Charlie did say some things that pushed the limit to the extreme - but I felt like it was done in an incredibly awkward manner. It gave an after-school special feel rather than a casual one.
TJ was super sweet. I especially loved when Marisa brought out his nerdy side. Marisa and him also had decent chemistry. I wasn't always fond of the way they came about - Marisa investigating him for Kendall - but I did like them together.
For the most part I enjoyed the plot. Busted contains two large mysteries - what TJ's up too as well as a cheating scandal involving Charlie. I'm all for the dramatics, but sometimes I felt that the TJ mystery was just a tad bit too much for me. Kendall often made a mountain out of a molehill when it came to him, growing suspicious about almost everything he did, and honestly, I feel as if you have that little of trust in your boyfriend, you shouldn't be with him. I will admit, however, that it was important for the overall picture so I could see why Gina made it the way it was. I really liked the cheating scandal mystery though. It provided some interesting twists and turns, and while I figured out a solid chunk of it before the big reveal, there were still some surprising details thrown in.
My big wish? I wanted more sleuthing. Given the Veronica Mars comparison and the excitement of the opening scene, I expected a decent amount of cases and spying. Other than the two main mysteries, there was one other case that Marisa worked on, and it was mostly underwhelming.
Despite my issues, I still recommended Busted to readers who like mystery, romance, and some pretty large twists. I also look forward to reading more by Gina.
The Result? I liked Busted, but I didn't love it. Maybe I had too high of expectations, but I was left wanting more.
I liked Marisa. She was driven, sweet, and a good friend. Seriously, most friends would never go as far as to to climb the lattice of a house to catch a potentially cheating boyfriend in the act. She's someone you'd want on your side for sure! Additionally, I appreciated that she was always willing to give people a second chance. There's no way I would've taken someone like Kendall under my wing again, but Marisa always tried to see the good in everyone, no matter how hard it may have been.
I also liked Charlie, Marisa's best friend, and TJ, Kendall's boyfriend and Marisa's potential love interest.
I feel as if Charlie was always the one to bring Marisa back to Earth. She's the kind of friend who tells you that you need to calm down and/or take a break. However, I wasn't always fond of the way Marisa called Charlie out for saying inappropriate things. Don't get me wrong I'm all for people speaking up when something isn't right - Charlie did say some things that pushed the limit to the extreme - but I felt like it was done in an incredibly awkward manner. It gave an after-school special feel rather than a casual one.
TJ was super sweet. I especially loved when Marisa brought out his nerdy side. Marisa and him also had decent chemistry. I wasn't always fond of the way they came about - Marisa investigating him for Kendall - but I did like them together.
For the most part I enjoyed the plot. Busted contains two large mysteries - what TJ's up too as well as a cheating scandal involving Charlie. I'm all for the dramatics, but sometimes I felt that the TJ mystery was just a tad bit too much for me. Kendall often made a mountain out of a molehill when it came to him, growing suspicious about almost everything he did, and honestly, I feel as if you have that little of trust in your boyfriend, you shouldn't be with him. I will admit, however, that it was important for the overall picture so I could see why Gina made it the way it was. I really liked the cheating scandal mystery though. It provided some interesting twists and turns, and while I figured out a solid chunk of it before the big reveal, there were still some surprising details thrown in.
My big wish? I wanted more sleuthing. Given the Veronica Mars comparison and the excitement of the opening scene, I expected a decent amount of cases and spying. Other than the two main mysteries, there was one other case that Marisa worked on, and it was mostly underwhelming.
Despite my issues, I still recommended Busted to readers who like mystery, romance, and some pretty large twists. I also look forward to reading more by Gina.
March 30, 2018
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I loved TJ and the romance was really sweet.
I think this book tried to do too much. I enjoyed the first half (girl tries to catch her friend’s bf cheating only to realize she kind of likes the guy herself) more than the second half (which had a more straight up crime solving vibe).
I liked Marisa and her friendship with Charlie. TJ was great. He was so sweet and cute and they had great chemistry together.
I found the whole mystery aspect a little hard to follow. I also found the resolution of the crime somewhat unbelievable.
Overall, I wish the book had kept the theme of the first section, but I really enjoyed it.
I think this book tried to do too much. I enjoyed the first half (girl tries to catch her friend’s bf cheating only to realize she kind of likes the guy herself) more than the second half (which had a more straight up crime solving vibe).
I liked Marisa and her friendship with Charlie. TJ was great. He was so sweet and cute and they had great chemistry together.
I found the whole mystery aspect a little hard to follow. I also found the resolution of the crime somewhat unbelievable.
Overall, I wish the book had kept the theme of the first section, but I really enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2021
3.5 Rating
December 14, 2018
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Damn this book was different. A perfect blend of Nancy Drew spying and detective antics with the forever romance feels which make Young Adult THE BEST BOOK GENRE EVER.
LOL. Okay coming back to the book. It revolves around a girl who one day goes snooping behind her best friends ex whom she catches cheating with another girl . Then zap , suddenly a frenemy which existed in her life a few years back is back in town and wants our main girl to act as a snoop for her own "BOYFRIEND" . So this boyfriend is the main guy , the one and the only guy for our protagonist . So this is just the beginning into the book as it consists of a problem and finding the root cause of it. Which the protagonist does with the help of her best friend , younger brother , the one and only guy for her , and a few more additional characters.
So there were a few things which I really liked about the book :
1. There is a romantic arc between the protagonist's best friend and her younger brother. So this was actually refreshing. The guy being younger than the girl ( not the other way around). And their first kiss is one of the best kisses I have ever read.
2. The detective work felt authentic for a teenager. Something you can imagine teenagers doing. Because I guess many a times teenage detective books ends up showing teenagers behaving as adults. Which is Ughhh
3. There a numerous cute moments between the main couple in the book , literally they never stop.
4. So there is a point where the main girl has to kind of seduce a guy to get some info , and the best part is the main guy TJ doesn't get jealous or protective because he knows that has to be done.
5. It has talked about breakup , accepting it , and trying to move on. How as a human being we can understand if someone else is in a toxic relationship but are not able to see the same for our own selves.
So I would say give this book a try if you are a fan of young adult , a of snooping and detective work , and believe friends are the best thing that can ever happen to anyone and everyone.
Damn this book was different. A perfect blend of Nancy Drew spying and detective antics with the forever romance feels which make Young Adult THE BEST BOOK GENRE EVER.
LOL. Okay coming back to the book. It revolves around a girl who one day goes snooping behind her best friends ex whom she catches cheating with another girl . Then zap , suddenly a frenemy which existed in her life a few years back is back in town and wants our main girl to act as a snoop for her own "BOYFRIEND" . So this boyfriend is the main guy , the one and the only guy for our protagonist . So this is just the beginning into the book as it consists of a problem and finding the root cause of it. Which the protagonist does with the help of her best friend , younger brother , the one and only guy for her , and a few more additional characters.
So there were a few things which I really liked about the book :
1. There is a romantic arc between the protagonist's best friend and her younger brother. So this was actually refreshing. The guy being younger than the girl ( not the other way around). And their first kiss is one of the best kisses I have ever read.
2. The detective work felt authentic for a teenager. Something you can imagine teenagers doing. Because I guess many a times teenage detective books ends up showing teenagers behaving as adults. Which is Ughhh
3. There a numerous cute moments between the main couple in the book , literally they never stop.
4. So there is a point where the main girl has to kind of seduce a guy to get some info , and the best part is the main guy TJ doesn't get jealous or protective because he knows that has to be done.
5. It has talked about breakup , accepting it , and trying to move on. How as a human being we can understand if someone else is in a toxic relationship but are not able to see the same for our own selves.
So I would say give this book a try if you are a fan of young adult , a of snooping and detective work , and believe friends are the best thing that can ever happen to anyone and everyone.
January 5, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Busted was an entertaining read, filled with plenty of drama, humor, and plot twists.
•Pro: This story was a lot of fun. The overall feeling of the book was on the lighter side, and it was quite humorous.
•Pro: I had heard a lot of people referencing Veronica Mars when discussing this book, and I have to say, I saw shades of my favorite teen PI as well. There were some interesting and amusing situations Marisa got herself into, and she had that signature VMars wit as well.
•Pro: TJ was pretty fabulous. The more I got to know him, the more I loved him.
•Pro: Marisa's was awesome and I loved her narration. I also thought she had some really special character traits, and I couldn't get enough of her.
•Con: Kendall was the worst. I abhorred her, but I guess that was the intention.
•Pro: The romance had some really swoony moments, and I was shipping TJ and Marisa even before they were a thing. They had good chemistry, and their interactions were a delight to observe.
•Con: There was this secondary plot, which wasn't bad, it held my interest, but I thought it took away from the original focus of the story.
•Pro: Marisa's squad was great. I really enjoyed when they were all together working on the "case".
•Pro: Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, another twist was thrown in. There were quite a few surprises, which kept me on my toes.
•Pro: Siblings!!! Marisa and Nick were great together. Their banter was hilarious, and I could definitely feel the love between those two as well.
Overall: A fun and fast-paced story with lots of twists and turns, that is bound to hold your interest.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.
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Busted was an entertaining read, filled with plenty of drama, humor, and plot twists.
•Pro: This story was a lot of fun. The overall feeling of the book was on the lighter side, and it was quite humorous.
•Pro: I had heard a lot of people referencing Veronica Mars when discussing this book, and I have to say, I saw shades of my favorite teen PI as well. There were some interesting and amusing situations Marisa got herself into, and she had that signature VMars wit as well.
•Pro: TJ was pretty fabulous. The more I got to know him, the more I loved him.
•Pro: Marisa's was awesome and I loved her narration. I also thought she had some really special character traits, and I couldn't get enough of her.
•Con: Kendall was the worst. I abhorred her, but I guess that was the intention.
•Pro: The romance had some really swoony moments, and I was shipping TJ and Marisa even before they were a thing. They had good chemistry, and their interactions were a delight to observe.
•Con: There was this secondary plot, which wasn't bad, it held my interest, but I thought it took away from the original focus of the story.
•Pro: Marisa's squad was great. I really enjoyed when they were all together working on the "case".
•Pro: Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, another twist was thrown in. There were quite a few surprises, which kept me on my toes.
•Pro: Siblings!!! Marisa and Nick were great together. Their banter was hilarious, and I could definitely feel the love between those two as well.
Overall: A fun and fast-paced story with lots of twists and turns, that is bound to hold your interest.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 31, 2018
The reason I didn't enjoy this book is 50% my fault because I just read the first part of the blurb and ran with it. All I saw was a kickass girl with a camera running around catching two-timing boyfriends and the cover. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
Busted by Gina Goicca is a novel about a girl who falls in love with her "friend's boyfriend" while investigating whether he's cheating or not.
the good
The cover is cute. I was completely taken by it really. It's gorgeous.
the bad
The main character, Marisa, discovers her best-friend Charlie's boyfriend with another girl, takes a quick picture while hanging off a terrace. Queue the return of her frenemy (our regular overachieving blonde) who enlists Marisa to spy on her boyfriend TJ, a guy Marisa didn't know existed until that moment. So, of course, she helplessly falls in love with him as is the case with these ridiculous high school dramas. ...he touched my hand again. It was only once, for the briefest moment - so brief I didn't know if he'd done it by accident or on purpose. I only knew that it felt more like a promise than a parting of ways. what the actual **** what's going on? why is everything so dramatic. why is the "briefest touch" so dramatic?
Marisa and TJ get "busted" and a whole lot of unnecessary drama happens after that including exam cheats (okayyy) and they lived happily ever after.
Also, I didn't like the portrayal of one of the characters as being a slut and the first physical character we're made aware of is her "ample chest". Does having an "ample chest" automatically make one a slut?
Overall, I did not enjoy this book and I finished reading it out of pure aggressiveness (yes, I have turned into that person).
Busted by Gina Goicca is a novel about a girl who falls in love with her "friend's boyfriend" while investigating whether he's cheating or not.
the good
The cover is cute. I was completely taken by it really. It's gorgeous.
the bad
The main character, Marisa, discovers her best-friend Charlie's boyfriend with another girl, takes a quick picture while hanging off a terrace. Queue the return of her frenemy (our regular overachieving blonde) who enlists Marisa to spy on her boyfriend TJ, a guy Marisa didn't know existed until that moment. So, of course, she helplessly falls in love with him as is the case with these ridiculous high school dramas. ...he touched my hand again. It was only once, for the briefest moment - so brief I didn't know if he'd done it by accident or on purpose. I only knew that it felt more like a promise than a parting of ways. what the actual **** what's going on? why is everything so dramatic. why is the "briefest touch" so dramatic?
Marisa and TJ get "busted" and a whole lot of unnecessary drama happens after that including exam cheats (okayyy) and they lived happily ever after.
Also, I didn't like the portrayal of one of the characters as being a slut and the first physical character we're made aware of is her "ample chest". Does having an "ample chest" automatically make one a slut?
Overall, I did not enjoy this book and I finished reading it out of pure aggressiveness (yes, I have turned into that person).
May 12, 2017
**3.5 stars** Entertaining and faced paced, this book was really fun to read.
Marisa is lovable and relatable. She's smart and quirky and just slightly geeky, but also very girly - everything she owns is covered in rhinestones. She's creative and she cares about her education, she looks forward to college with true enthusiasm. She has meaningful relationships with her best friend, parents and brother. She's compassionate to people she barely knows, but has no qualms about calling her friend out for being bitchy. I loved her.
It's YA so of course there's going to be inevitable romances. Since the plot is heavily dependent on some of the characters' relationships, it didn't bother me in this story at all - in fact there are some steamy make-out scenes that are purely delicious. The love interests for both Marisa and her best friend Charlie are well written characters that behave like actual teenage boys would.
The plot is solid and told FP-POV by Marisa. She's intelligent and level-headed so it reads smoothly. She realizes at regular intervals that her next move could land her in trouble and weighs her decisions accordingly. I found the entire book satisfying and charming.
Shout-out to the publishers, who sent some ARC's to my workplace for us to read!
Marisa is lovable and relatable. She's smart and quirky and just slightly geeky, but also very girly - everything she owns is covered in rhinestones. She's creative and she cares about her education, she looks forward to college with true enthusiasm. She has meaningful relationships with her best friend, parents and brother. She's compassionate to people she barely knows, but has no qualms about calling her friend out for being bitchy. I loved her.
It's YA so of course there's going to be inevitable romances. Since the plot is heavily dependent on some of the characters' relationships, it didn't bother me in this story at all - in fact there are some steamy make-out scenes that are purely delicious. The love interests for both Marisa and her best friend Charlie are well written characters that behave like actual teenage boys would.
The plot is solid and told FP-POV by Marisa. She's intelligent and level-headed so it reads smoothly. She realizes at regular intervals that her next move could land her in trouble and weighs her decisions accordingly. I found the entire book satisfying and charming.
Shout-out to the publishers, who sent some ARC's to my workplace for us to read!
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