Jekel Loves Hyde

by Beth Fantaskey

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Retellings, Supernatural, Fiction

282 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2010

About the author

Hi! I'm Beth Fantaskey, author of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, Jessica Rules the Dark Side, Jekel Loves Hyde, Buzz Kill and my new middle grade novel, Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter. I live in rural Pennsylvania - the setting for most of my books - with my husband, three children, a slightly dysfunctional cat, a completely dysfunctional dog, an immortal goldfish and a hermit crab named Shelldon.

Beth's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/beth.fantaskey

Reviews

[Tatiana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to agree with my matey Heather's review of "Jekel Loves Hyde." If you expect this book to be akin to "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" in entertainment value, you are up for a huge disappointment. While "Jessica..." had some weak points plot-wise, they were overshadowed by Lucius' snarky personality, humor and some hot vampire biting. "Jekel Loves Hyde" is pretty much a depressing disaster and nothing like Fanteskey's amusing debut.

As you probably know, this book is inspired by Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Fantaskey liberally borrows from this work, which is not always a bad thing, there are many great retellings. Two main narrators - Jill Jekel and Tristen Hyde are descendants from Stevenson's fictional characters. The teens are brought together by Jill's father's death. Tristen suffers from the dual personality disorder, he has awful dreams of being a monster and killing young girls, and Jill is in possession of her chemist father's research papers that contain a formula that could possibly cure the boy. They agree to try to recreate the potion to kill two birds with one stone - to cure Tristan and to enter the formula into a chemistry contest to win a 30K college scholarship for Jill. The potion is created after some trouble and later used by both Tristan and Jill to flip their personalities from bad to good and vice versa. Tristen's bad side manifests in killing urges, and Jill's - in being a slut. How will the two deal with their dual personalities while falling in love with each other and fighting the villains who want to get hold of the potion?

Well, this premise is not that bad and the prologue is rather enticing. However the interest doesn't hold for long. "Jekel Loves Hyde" reads like someone's embarrassingly bad first writing effort. There is absolutely nothing to like about the book. There is no character development (being a shy virgin/painter/chemist or a brooding composer/runner/chemist doesn't constitute a personality!), interesting dialog, hot romance, or at least cohesive writing. The book is just like a first rough draft of a story. The writing doesn't flow, it is disjointed. The story is underdeveloped, absurd and often makes no sense (I still do not understand how come Tristen never faced any trouble for breaking another student's arm while being in school or how it is possible to enter a chemistry contest with a potion that changes personalities). The romance comes out of nowhere and suddenly turns into some sexual affair with no rhyme or reason.

Ok, I just realized I can go on for hours describing what is wrong with this book. I don't think it is worth so much time. I'll just wrap this review up by saying that "Jekel Loves Hyde" is one of the worst books I have ever read and I am not quite sure how it made it to print. I am removing Beth Fanteskey from the list of the authors whose work I will follow in future.

Reading challenge: #1 - J.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps I would have enjoyed this story more had I liked the work this book was based upon, “Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde". But alas, I thought it was boring, and as such, passed the same judgment upon this book. The characters of both Jill and Tristan are mind-numbingly lackluster. Jill dresses and acts as though she is a long lost cast member of “Little House on the Prairie” and Tristan attempts and fails terribly at being enticing. *Note to the author* Your leading men have to be one of three things: really hot and troubled, really hot and bad, but with a hidden heart of gold, or just made of so much awesome that you don’t notice he isn’t hot. If you are contemplating this book because you loved Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Darkside, as I did, spare yourself.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read some mixed reviews on Jekel Loves Hyde but I'd really enjoyed Beth Fantaskey's book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side so I decided I'd give this one a try.

Jekel Loves Hyde was very different from Jessica Rules. If you are looking for more of the snarky, arrogant, irresistible Lucius found in Jessica Rules you'll be disappointed. Tristen is a completely different type of guy. If you don't expect him to be like Lucius and give him a chance you'll probably end up pleased with him.

I think Beth is a great writer. Her stories keep my attention and are enjoyable to read. There were twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I flew through this book in a couple of sittings. It contains a good mix of romance, adventure and mystery.




Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book!

Content: Some language including a half dozen uses of the F word, talk of sex, some crude comments.

Source: Library

[Michelle Rebar · Rating 5 out of 5]

JEKEL LOVES HYDE is a stunning, dark, dangerous and sinfully romantic tale of good girl meets bad boy becomes bad girl to save bad boy. Intrigued? You should be. Those who are fans of Beth Fantaskey's writing (JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE) will simply devour her newest book.

Jill Jekel is a good girl, always has been. She follows the rules and works hard to be the best. Unfortunately, all the hard work in the world couldn't stop her life from falling apart. Tragedy struck her family when her father, a chemist, was brutally murdered. Not only is Jill dealing with her father's death, but now she must face his betrayal. He was not the man she thought he was. She found out that he stole her college fund and lead a secret life that neither she, nor her mother knew about. He was a criminal and whatever he was up to was dangerous enough to get himself killed and put Jill in danger herself. The police couldn't solve her fathers murder, in fact they were no help at all. Even they had no idea what kind of dark secrets he was hiding, but soon enough, Jill will find out.

Jill's life must go on, and she suddenly finds herself in a terrible position. She no longer has money for college, but luckily a chance comes for her to get a chemistry scholarship. Unfortunately, it involves asking the gorgeous and mysterious Tristen Hyde for help. Together, they are Jekel and Hyde, and Jill has an idea to recreate the experiments from the classic novel. Not only is it clever, but she's heard tales that connect her own family with the origins of the legend. Little does she know that there may be more truth to the story than fiction. Tristen also believes he is connected to the original story, but this relation terrifies rather than excites him. Tristen agrees to help, but he has ulterior motives. He knows that what Jill thinks is a simple experiment could be his last hope at recovering his own sanity. As these two chemistry partners turn up the heat in the lab, they also head into a dangerous downward spiral when Jill has an accidental taste of the potion they are working on. A moment on the lips lets loose her inner bad girl. The effects are temporary but addictive, and the problem for Jill is that it feels so good to be bad. Now they both know the true nature of being the beast, but can love tame it? They may have other things to worry about as they discover more about the murder of Jill's father and who may have done it. Time is running low as a menacing evil draws near and nothing is safe for Jill and Tristen. They must risk it all to stay alive and to stop the madness from consuming, well, everyone.

Your pulse will race, your heart will pound and your jaw will drop. Don't miss out on this fantastic book.

[AH · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I enjoyed Beth Fantaskey’s Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. I was expecting another character like Lucius and perhaps yet another "Ode to a Lentil." Alas, this was not the case.

Jekyl Loves Hide has a very cute premise. Jill Jekyl and Tristen Hyde are descendants of THE Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Jill’s father has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Jill and her mother are struggling for money when it is discovered that Jill’s father stole her college fund. An opportunity to win a $30,000 scholarship presents itself and Jill and Tristen partner up to recreate Dr. Jekyl’s experiments and to capitalize on their family legacy. This family legacy manifests itself in Tristen’s dreams. Tristen suffers from nightmares and he fears the monster within him. His motivations for recreating the experiments are personal and he is driven to find a “cure” for his curse. Along the way, our hero and heroine find love.

The writing style is a little choppy. There are constant shifts between Jill and Tristen’s points of view. Personally, I find that style of writing annoying. The chapters are short, making this a quick read. I found the character development a little lacking. Both Jill and Tristen felt flat and one dimensional to me.

The ending of the book was unexpected. I didn’t see that coming, but it was too late to save the book for me. The book had potential, it just didn’t work for me.

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good. The whole story was twisted and exciting and I really enjoyed my time with this book.

[Cyndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dang it! I really wanted to like this book. But the heroine went back and forth between love and hate so often she made me nuts. Her friends were all terrible and for a ‘smart girl trope’ she kept doing stupid stuff.

[~Tina~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jekel Loves Hyde was a cool twist to the classic novel Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. I liked the storyline and thought it was unique and interesting, however, while I adored Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, I think this one lost a little spark in comparison. It's not exactly flat, but I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't like how Jill and Tristen (more so Tristen) felt to formal for there role, at one point I almost thought I was hearing Lucius (Jessica's Guide) while reading. It was lacking that flare that would have made this really really great.
Still, I did enjoyed this book. The concept was neat, the writing good and it was smart, intriguing and entertaining.

[Mariah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lol no

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know if there's ever been a flatter character in YA lit than Jill Jekel. Fantaskey takes the good girl trope to its very limits, and keeps pushing. It would be one thing if she was set up as being absurdly good in order to really contrast with slipping into her "bad" side, but we only see her embrace her bad side twice, despite the emphasis the jacket copy puts on that particular story element.

Most of the characters felt just as flat as Jill. The two other girl characters, best friend Becca and scholastic rival Darcy, are cartoonish and demonstrate inexplicable behavior, especially on Becca's part. The only character with an ounce of depth is Tristen, but that's really not saying much, considering the competition.

The duel natures of Jill and Tristen were somewhat disconcerting to me as well - Tristen wants to kill and maim while Jill...shoplifts and feels horny? Tristen describes a vaguely sexual thrill attached to his violence, but he makes it pretty clear that death is the release he's searching for. There could have been textual support for these different responses (maybe the definition of "bad" is defined by the primary personality's morals? So goody-goody Jill is shocked by theft but hardscrabble Tristen has to go further?), but instead it comes off as mildly moralizing (only a *bad* girl would want to have sex in the science lab!).

The overall writing style was stilted and unwieldly, and no one ever sounded like an actual teenager. Jill actually refers to the possibility of having sex for the first time as "losing her virtue." I know the plot is taken from a Victorian novel, but that sort of attitude is way out of place in a contemporary story that isn't about promise rings. Also, everyone seemed way too credulous of the idea that these kids could be descended from a fictional character. Tristen has grown up with stories from his grandfather about being a descendent of Hyde, so that makes sense, but everyone else going along with it (including the science teacher) seems suspicious.

[kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I could give this one more stars, but it didn't take off like I hoped it would. I was confused when the book was over, felt like I'd missed something and that's never a good thing. Maybe it would have helped had I read the classic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde before this one since it is referenced quite a bit and not knowing that one could have affected my enjoyment of this story. I'll leave that as a possibility.
I liked Jill Jekel as a character, but her constant putting herself down, got to be irritating after awhile. I did not care at all for her hystrionics when Tristan finally was brave enough to tell her his secrets. She was too easily willing to toss him aside the moment things got difficult so that made their love story a bit tough to hold onto. She was willing to believe her 'friend' without even asking him if what she said was true. I did like that she did finally find her voice and her inner-strength, but I'd have liked to see that develop more, rather than just, ta-da, here it is. I didn't understand what made her take the formula after the first time when she was accidentally exposed to it. I don't get how this super-smart girl, knowing the effects, having actually seen them for herself, why she would then choose to take the chemicals, made so sense to me.
Tristan Hyde was a sympathetic character and his struggle was well-written. His anguish over his situation was easy to understand and I hoped he'd be able to find the solution. He was brave and caring of Jill and the scenes where he is battling his own inner monster was well done, clearly hearing the conversation/argument between himself and the monster insied him.
I was confused about why Jill didn't become a total monster while Tristan was born with and inherited that trait. This really didn't make sense to me. Why taking the formula 'cured' him while the formual made her a monster. This really needed to be made much more clear as I'd have to stop reading to think: Wait? What?
The best parts of the story were the second half, I'd have liked that part to be played out quite a bit more and the 'research' part which I didn't really understand needed to either be clarified or pared down so it wasn't so much the focus of the story.
The mean girl stuff with Darcy could have been left out, didn't add to the story. The stuff with Becca as well, provided added drama which detracted from the plot and was unneccessary, in my opinion.
Good ending, but left an awful lot of questions.
This was an okay story, but could have used a lot more clarity. I'll still read Fantaskey's next book, hopefully it will be an improvement over this one.

[Tabitha Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time writing this review, but not because I was conflicted in how I felt about it. I really enjoyed this story, but I had the hardest time trying to figure out why.

First off, I want to say that I haven’t read Fantaskey’s first book, Jessica’s Guide To Dating on the Dark Side. It seems like many who liked that book didn’t like this one. Perhaps the two are too different from each other, and there was a certain set of expectations that weren’t met. But I’m just guessing. :)

I read Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in high school and I remember enjoying it, but that’s about all I remember. So I was looking forward to this book, because it sounded like an interesting twist on the classic. And it was. There are so many books that use vampires and werewolves as a way of introducing the monstrous characters, but Fantaskey uses the monster within ourselves – man’s dual nature, and the lure of power that comes with it.

Many reviewers have complained that Jill didn’t stand out enough as a character, but I think that was done on purpose so that we could see the complete change after she drinks the formula. Her desire for power, or to at least to not be walked all over anymore, drives her to be more reckless than usual. The formula provides an easy and quick path to that power, which is extremely alluring and very believable.

The romance was probably the weakest part of the story. They yo-yo’d back and forth between love and hate too much for my taste.

Slight SPOILER below.

I love that Fantaskey explored the monster within (as the original classic did), but I loved even more that she implied embracing your inner monster will keep it from taking over. Moderation is the key.

Definitely recommended.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read this review and more on my blog:

I like the idea of a Jekel and Hyde retelling. I have never read the original story, but I am familiar enough with it, and I thought the plot was a fantastic idea. Tristan Hyde and Jill Jekel are distant descendants of the infamous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They both have an interest in chemistry like their ancestors, and Tristan has another dangerous similarity to Mr. Hyde. When he gets excited, he just might turn into a murderous monster.

Jill and Tristan start working together in an attempt to possibly win a college scholarship for her, and hopefully kill the monster who lurks within Tristan, and of course they fall in love along the way.

 

I like Tristan even though he wasn’t the most complex character. I think most of us have read about the brooding, dark, handsome hero who would be perfect if it wasn’t for some darn supernatural curse that turned him into a killing machine. However, his character is original in that his monster isn’t a werewolf or another easily recognized supernatural creature. His monster is more cerebral than physical. In the beginning of the book, you are aware of the deep desire that the monster has for murder and mayhem, but you don’t get to experience him doing anything until later. I found myself losing track of when it was Tristan’s own darkness that was driving his actions and when the monster had taken over.

 
The way this story was told, was really a love letter to those classic mystery and science fiction novels from a bygone era.

The overall classic feel of this book was something I liked and disliked. I have read a few classic mystery and science fiction novels, and this book reminding me of them, but for every moment that the language was beautifully descriptive and almost poetic, it also felt a little stale. As much as I liked him, Tristan just didn’t read like a 17-year-old kid. He was always intimidating some adult and taking charge of the situation. That works for the leading man in a book, but Tristan wasn’t a man! He was just a kid with a dark secret.

Jill wasn’t a badly written character, but she annoyed me. She could be really childish and selfish, and that didn’t match with her “good girl” persona. I think that she was supposed to be complex, but I just wanted to tell her to get a grip and grow up.

After a particularly frightening encounter with Tristan's alter ego, where he almost hurts her, she forgives him right away and starts kissing him. I don’t particularly care for it when the heroine is hurt by the hero and forgives him right away because “he wasn’t himself”. My complaint isn't actually about the fact that Jill forgave Tristan so quickly though; I got over that. What I never really got over, was what Jill did get angry about. She cared more about who he may or may not have slept with long before he knew who she was than she did about the fact that he might have killed someone.

 
I think Jill was more afraid to do the bad things that she really wanted to do instead of actually being a “good girl”. I’m not saying she was a bad person either, but she certainly wasn’t as good as everyone thought she was. I am sure that this duality in her character was written on purpose and the execution was well done, but I want to like my main characters, and I just didn’t like her.

 
I also disliked the inconsistencies in the story. I know I am being nitpicky, but they were there, and they kept bugging me.

Tristan makes a point of telling Jill that they aren’t distant relatives because Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were two different people. Jill is a descendant of the good Dr. Jekyll and Tristan has the misfortune of being descended from the monster, Hyde. However, Tristan and his monster share one body. Sure his appearance changes slightly when the monster is in control, but not enough for them to be two different people. Tristian is even aware of some of the things his body is doing when the monster is gaining control. Plus I never quite understood how the transformation worked.

 
The writing in this book was good, and I completely understand that the story is meant to shine a light on what being good and bad truly mean. Tristan and Jill are two ordinary people who have very deep desires that lead them to do some stupid things sometimes, but they just want to be happy and loved. They are lonely when the book begins, and it is nice that they were able to find each other.

 
I can’t say that this is a new favorite of mine, but it wasn’t a waste of my time to read it. I got enough enjoyment out of reading this to want to see what else the author is capable of.

Because of language violence and mild sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 14 and up.

[Lissa Smith Reads'~A Bookaholics Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Book Boyfriend: Tristen!!! I really really liked him. He is so hot!!! He did not want to hurt anyone not even Jill and the way Tristen fought for good when his granddad and dad were bad makes him perfect.

Most Like Me or who I want to be: Jill because the way she fought to find her dads murder when everyone gave up. And the way she fought for Tristen. She is strong in some way and weak in others. Just like me.

Want More? Yes! But I don’t think there will be more.
Recommend: Yes! Grades 5 and up. Enjoy!


Big Lass Reviews:

The cover is so soft. The picture almost seems delicate, hinting at the innocent nature of the two. Yet there is something behind the glasses of Jekel that make you question…. Just how innocent is she??

I was excited when my reading group opted to read Jekel Loves Hyde because I have read other works by Fantaskey and an excerpt of this book was at the end of “Jessica Rules the Dark Side” and I have been considering getting it.

I am enjoying the play with the classic “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde”. Not being able to recall the original story I am found it a little difficult to analyze. But it was not necessary to know as subtle reminders are hinted at throughout the story. The spin is intriguing and get more interesting as the story develops. I don’t think I have ever once asked myself; What if the famous fictitious character Dr. Jekyll was indeed a real man? What if the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde book was loosely based on real experiments? What happens to the ancestors down the bloodline after all is said and done? Does the experiment of the past having gone wrong effect the Jekyll’s bloodline in the here and now… or was it just a story?

Fantaskey opens up the debate “What if Jekyll was real?” What is even more interesting is the main characters. The story began with Jill Jekel in attendance at her murdered father funeral. This is the first mystery to stir the story mix. Predictable enters as does the mysterious Tristen Hyde to comfort her in her time of grieving before she folds into herself. I was curious to see how the author was going to work the classic two faces of one man into a story where the one man was not only two different people but possibly different sexes.

Jekel and Hyde find themselves on the same team of a scholarship contest searching a forbidden locked box for the mysteries it can solve. They agree to this for two very different reasons. Jekel because she has been told her whole life the fictitious Dr. Jekyll the book was based on is indeed a real man. Hyde partly because his grandfather told him he was in danger because the Hyde men are cursed and partly because his own father never took his grandfather serious and dismissed it as rambling of a delusional aging man. Or did his father find the tall tale all to be true? However, Hyde’s main reason; his own violent blacks out and vivid dreams of murder and to find a cure for the curse that will free him.

I am more interested to see how the Jill and Tristen characters play out. Hyde is defiantly my favorite character in the book. However, something scratched at the tip of my brain is making me wonder if that would change at some point, it never did. His action though not always honorable, always was done with the best intentions. He has so many good qualities you just have to over look him drugging Jekel’s mom it was a pivotal moment.

Jekel got under my skin a bit. I understand that she been run through the shit ring with her dads murder and Tristen. But damn, it is the flip flop back and forth. One minute she is all in making the solution the next she is running home in the rain. I mean shit; Hyde is the one suffering… grow back bone would you.

The relationship between Jekel and Hyde is filled with more internal dialogue than anything else. I would have to say it make the two of them finally ending up together more believable.

Fantaskey doesn’t leave much room for the story to continue however, if you are in the mood for a light love story that is filled with mystery and suspense I would suggest giving Jekel Love Hyde a read. Fantaskey did an excellent job weaving together a 21st century tale of the classic “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde”

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, lust and… Chemistry?

We start this book meeting Jill Jekel at her fathers funeral. Her father was a scientist and he was murdered one night. She’s standing at his grave, everyone saying something to her, when Tristen Hyde comes up to her and tells her its going to get easier. She doesn’t understand why he’s there but leaves it alone.

Jill starts senior year, and in science class Tristen shows up, commanding in nature, showing up late and not even caring. After class Jill, Tristen and a classmate Darcy are asked to stay a little late. They’ve been invited to a science competition, which Tristen automatically says no to. Darcy is all for it, though Jill doesn’t feel like doing it. They leave it like that, Tristen walking out of class.

Tristen lives with his father, a psychotherapist, and he believes what his grandfather told him. That they are descendants of Mr. Hyde. That they are full of murderous rage. His father tries to tell them that they are not, that his father was just delusional in his final days. Though Tristen knows better, he’s knows that theirs is something about him that doesn’t feel right.

Jill finds out that her father took her college fund for his research. She’s angry and comes up with an idea. Her father believed that they were descendants of Dr. Jekyll and wanted to recreate the formula. He kept his papers in a box in his office. Jill asks Tristen to help her with it, for the science competition. He agrees because he thinks that this could help him with his “beast”. This could just be the thing that brings them together.

This book was good and I’m not going to talk bad about it. It wasn’t great because it just wasn’t jaw-dropping. There were some really good parts (like the ending) but it wasn’t jaw dropping good. I give this book 3.5 because it’s really not four material. The relationship between the two was really brought out in the book, along with the other things that come out.

[Marochka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Последние 3 недели у меня был своеобразный кризис: что бы я ни начинал читать, мне все не нравилось. Я бросала книгу за книгой, прочтя 2-3 главы, и уже отчаялась найти что-то, что меня действительно зацепит. И вот вчера днем я купила Химию чувств. Вчера же ее и прочитала. Жаль, что не растянула, но я этого совсем не умею, да и, честно говоря, не хочу.
Я не буду говорить, что книга безумно интересная, я даже не знаю, что меня в ней зацепило. Она явно не породит у вас вскрик: «Да ладно, не может быть!» Все довольно предсказуемо и очевидно. Тем не менее, книга не оставит равнодушным никого. Красивая история двух подростков, рассказанная от лица обоих (очень люблю такой стиль повествования). Главы заканчиваются именно так, как я люблю (что-то вроде: «Тогда я думал именно так, но я еще не знал, чем это все для меня обернется»).
Минусы:
1. Зачем столько курсива? Я как человек, привыкший «театрально» читать произведения, замучилась про себя интонационно выделять «курсивные» слова, они в каждой строчке, перебор.
2. Периодически разочаровывала главная героиня. Как типично: самая умная девочка в школе, по жизни откровенно тупа и наивна.
3. Концовка мне не понравилась, если честно. Точнее не понравилась одна деталь, я бы даже сказала, разозлила. Без спойлеров, но вспомнились эти дурацкие Сумерки.
4. Суперобложка, это, конечно, здорово, закос под Америку, но, простите, 360 р. за черную обложку – это слишком.
Тем не менее, хочу сказать, что, несмотря на то, что книги у Рипола дорогие и издательство не сотрудничает с моим любимым Лабиринтом, чем вызывает у меня финансовые и временнЫе расходы, оно пока лидирует в выпуске хороших мистических книг в красивом (оригинальном) оформлении. Если не считать Баллады Стивототер, их книги (Зов смерти, Орудия смерти, Химия чувств) стали моими любимыми.
Короче, книга действительно крутая, всем читать!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A description:
Jill Jekel is painfully shy. Her whole life she has avoided the spot light, preferring her books and her art work to hanging out with others.
But when her father is murdered she is desperate to connect with someone. Desperate to feel loved, safe, protected... desperate to stop being plain ole perfect and boring Jill Jekel. She finds her salvation in Tristen Hyde. Yet, he's harboring a deadly secret. One that might destroy her instead...

My rambling thoughts:
I liked this book a lot. I loved the premise, however, I felt something was lacking... I wish we could have learned a little more about how the Hyde's and Jekel's first got involved. What caused this mutation in the Hyde's genes. Maybe some journal entries from Dr. Henry Jekell? I don't know... just something a little more. I also had a hard time connecting with Jill. She was too perfect for me (not to mention a tad judgmental, a little flighty, and dumb as a rock at times). Tristen's perspective hooked me from the get go and kept me from getting completely frustrated with the story. And for all the negative stuff I just said about Jill, she did grow on me becoming more likable as the book went on. Also, the plot twists were interesting and kept the book moving swiftly toward a satisfying ending (if not slightly sappy which I happen to LOVE). Overall, I thought it was a great idea for a novel I just think it fell a tad bit short. Just a tad.

[Jennifer Rinehart · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book.

I know, I know, how can a person write a review for a book they didn't finish?

I tried to finish it.

I got the book and sat down with a cup of coffee and a bowl of pretzels, and then nothing. No zing, no falling into the book and hours later realizing that you've been sitting in the same spot for hours, the sky outside is dark, the room's grown cold and you are squinting at the words on the page because the lights are off and you're just now waking up to reality.

For me each page was a bit of a drag. There were glimpses of cool story, romance that made my heart race with excitement, but then the author, as if embarrassed to show too much, cuts the scene and moves back to boringville...

Past the first chapter I was bored and sometimes a little confused. In the first chapter I felt bad for Jill, her father's funeral was tragic. But, by the time I got to the middle of the book I was annoyed with her.

There is just too much going on and sadly, I never really warmed up to Jill. Tristan was okay, but I kinda got the feeling that he was too sharp for Jill and worse, sometimes I had to flip back to the beginning of chapter to figure out who was talking, Tristan or Jill!

Anyway, I haven't completely given up on this book. I just finished some fab books lately and by comparison, this one didn't measure up. Maybe the ending redeems the rest of the book, I don't know and I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it.
Comment

[Diane ϟ [ Lestrange ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark. Dangerous. Suspense.

if there is a dark magic is there a dark chemistry? haha
So this book is inspired by Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." And Jill Jekel and Tristen Hyde are descendants from Stevenson's fictional characters.

I was kind of rethinking if I will give this 4 or 3.5, i don't know! it just kinda give me an headache. The thoughts of the character really is frustrating and they keep on drinking the formula and on and on, and kind of slow read but it had a very good sense of tension that there are times that i don't want to put it down and the climax really is good. So I will give 4 for this one. coz the ending is perfect. Super love the ending.
There's a lot of romance thing and it remind me of my horror comic books.
:)

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn't let me down. So well-written and fast-paced in the story, that I found myself not be able to put it down until i finish it. The Jekyl and Hyde plot were really interesting, and it kept my focus until the end. (hard to guess the outcome, which I love)
Tristen and Jill, two different people, but because of there connection with the famous Dr. Jekel who turns to his hidden side Mr. Hyde, who is a evil copy of Dr. Jekel (the so called split personality, with a paranormal tvist in it), their lives changed forever. Creepy at some point, romantic at another, so many mixed emotions and so real.
I like how things ended, but never would have guessed it.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, it was a good book. It kept me interested enough to finish it in one day. Or maybe I just needed to return it to the library. Nah. It was good. The ending kinda had me scratching my head, though. I wish there had been a little more explanation as to what exactly had happened. Don't get me wrong, the book doesn't leave you hanging, it just didn't clarify everything enough for me.

[Biggest Little Book Talker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This popped into my ahead and I was like ya, imma reread it.
I first read this in high school and loved it!
As an adult I can see why my teenage self loved it so much… A young brainy teenage girl, Jill, who’s father lead a double life that got himself murdered and left the poor mother to try to keep things together. Jill and two other students are entered into a scholarship program based on a science project by a teacher. The teacher is pushing Jill Jekel to partner with Tristan Hyde to make a famous “Jekel and Hyde” science project.
The dark and mysterious Tristan agrees, but he has a much deeper, darker reason to motive his joining the team.
Entertaining story, as an adult I now look for more.
If this was rewritten as an adult novel instead of a young adult….. the dark romance community would loose their minds.
No spice, but lots of teenage sexual tension.

[Stephanie (Reading is Better With Cupcakes) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently read Jessica's Guide, as in a few days ago, I was excited to read this new book from Fantaskey. Admittedly I'm never a fan of the original work (though I did enjoy the BBC adaptation 'Jekyl' with James Nesbitt from a few years ago), but the idea has always appealed to me. Unfortunately after finishing this book I felt...confused more than anything else.

What I liked was that despite the characters seeming like cliches (nerdy girl, violent loner, popular best friend and witchy arch-rival), none of them were just that. Jill was a nerdy girl, but she was a strong person inside--enduring her father's funeral and her mother's breakdown, growing up so quickly to make sure what was left of her family didn't get completely destroyed--these things all showed how strong she was. Tristan, as he surname would suggest, becomes a monster, but is a beautiful pianist. Becca...actually I have nothing good to say about her. And Darcy, the arch-rival, in her own condescending way she sought to keep Jill at least at a suitable level to compete with her.

Most of the characters were shades of grey, complicated and so wrapped up in trying to do something good that they can't see the bad that's inevitable. I'm not sure if its pride or merely just human fallacy, but most of the characters in the book think of the right path at the very last moment. And I love the book for the fact that nothing comes easily; not the emotions, not the answers and not even the truth.

Tristan freaked me out a little bit. Even when he was Tristan and not monster!Tristan, he was intense. So willful and driven, so hounded. I wanted to know if the 'Hyde curse' began when the men were children, or if it was at the onset of puberty honestly. How the Hyde men knew exactly was all very vague; a thought here, a voice there, terrifying dreams...There is of course more to those dreams then is let on, but I enjoyed watching as they unfolded and became more vivid to Tristan.

Jill and Tristan's relationship ran hot and cold with me. Like Jill I thought Tristan seemed like such a nice guy...and then he started talking crazy talk and I was like 'just humor the crazy boy and run away Jill' (even though I knew he wasn't lying). He came on so strongly, even when just being platonic with Jill, that I had severe doubts and reservations about her spending time with him alone. And then Jill began changing and I was worried more about Tristan then I was her...it seemed like I spent most of their relationship worried one or the other would seriously harm the other. On the other hand I was darkly amused by the implication that they could both be dark at the same time.

Jill also showed a disturbing lack of common sense in regards to Tristan. He admits to doing all sorts of violent, reprehensible things--all while he is monster!Tristan of course--and Jill will get justifiably worried, resolves to stay away from the dangerous boy...and then runs right back to him out of love. Its especially worrisome after he talks to her about his dreams. I honestly do not believe she had a shred of self-preservation.

The ending wasn't very satisfactory, I'll be honest. She pulls a similar trick she pulled in Jessica's Guide regarding Tristan at one point that had me frowning. Then also Jill seemed to be acting less like herself then usual that I had to pause and re-read the last chapter to make sure I didn't miss anything. Niggling questions ate at me--such as how a generations long 'curse' (started by a chemical reaction that morphed Jekyl's body into something completely new) could be solved by one dose of the same chemical. Was the chemical then part of their genetic make-up, thus allowing the transference from father to son, and the chemical just re-configured their genetics? Wouldn't the fact that strong emotions triggering the change kind of indicate that it had evolved? Jekyl turned into Hyde only when he ingested the chemical, and turned back the same route. Does this mean that the new 'Hyde' men released the formula into their blood during strong emotions and then it faded when they came back to their senses?

I realize it sounds like I'm overthinking things, but I shouldn't have to wonder about such an important part of the puzzle. It should have been explained, or at least shown, at some point in the narrative/novel. Its unfortunate I didn't enjoy Jekel Love Hyde as much as Jessica's Guide, but I will look forward to any further books Fantaskey puts out. At the very least she does entertain and does bring a different twist to established norms!

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

it should've ended 4 hours before it did

[Kathy Coleman · Rating 1 out of 5]

My Rating: <3
Disappointed

Free books. Gotta love 'em. They are a great chance to try something out that you might not have grabbed if you'd known you were paying full price. That's how I ended up with my copy of Jekel Loves Hyde.

I noticed the book when I was researching Jekyll and Hyde because I was trying to find a way to explain Kesyl's situation in Moon Dance. The idea behind this book immediately grabbed my attention. As such, when I had an opportunity to grab a freebie at Chapters last weekend and had already completed my list, I figured why not?

Plot: (summary from GoodReads)

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents rules; especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything, even Tristen's love just for the thrill of being . . . bad.

This story moved slow. It wasn't the issue I sometimes have where the balance of dialogue and description off. Nor was it that nothing was happening. Rather, my problem was that nothing that was happening ever fully grabbed and held my interest. I never found myself truly invested in what these characters were going through and trying to accomplish. Which is extremely disappointing, because the premise of the book -- modern desendents of Jekel and Hyde working together and falling in love -- seemed like it could be a really good story.

I think it is pretty neat that the reader gets both Jill and Tristen's side of what is happening. Unfortunately, I just didn't care what was happening for some reason. Oh, that might be because of the...

Characters:

Jill is good. Really good. Neurotically, unbelievably good. Then she drinks something and it makes her want to be bad. I found her passive and wishy-washy. I go into a book wanting to cheer for the characters and Jill really didn't do anything that made me want her to get what she wanted.

Tristen had a bit of depth, but for some reason I never clicked with him. At all. Despite the author describing a man I should have found appealing, who had problems that should have been interesting and who had interests that should have made him likable. I am not sure I have ever been more baffled over my disinterest in a hero. He just didn't grab me. Which is really too bad.

The rest of the characters simply did not feel like they were real at all (and that's saying something, considering I just complained that Jill and Tristen seemed flat to begin with.) Just so you know why I'm not listing them all here.

The Romance:

I like slow building romance. I do not like a book where romance is suppose to be relatively important where the two characters do not really start showing real interest toward each other until 200 pages in, when the book in question is under 300 page. By that point you've lost me. But that point, I really don't give a damn.

In General:

I was pretty kind to this book in my updates for GoodReads and Absolute Write. But that was when I thought it would pick up and get interesting. And that never happened. I still don't totally get why I feel that way, but something here was very off kilter for me. I think this may be the first book I've given only one heart too. Which is a shame, because this had the potential to be so much better then it was. I hate seeing a great idea wasted. (Lookin' at you, too, Abandoned.)

Read at your own risk. If you can find a way to get this for free and want to try it, go for it. But for me this book was a huge letdown, the kind of epic letdown where I feel like someone should have paid me for the time and energy I just wasted.

Extremely disappointed does not begin to express how I feel about Jekel Loves Hyde.

[Gabrielle Viszs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il s'agit d'un vieux livre qui traîne dans ma HAL depuis bien trop longtemps et comme je participe à un challenge vidons notre pal cette année (oui cela fait des années que je n'en ai pas fait), il fallait un livre qui avait juste la date la plus loin possible. Je pense que j'en ai d'autres, mais celui-là vient de 2010, alors je pense qu'il remporte haut-la-main la palme du thème "mathématiques" de ce challenge, mdr. Je me souviens avoir lu son autre livre à l'époque et apprécié et acheté celui-là à sa sortie. Bref, pourquoi est-il tombé dans les oubliettes ? Très bonne question. Toujours est-il qu'il est enfin sorti de son placard et il a été lu en septembre ! Une couverture simple, efficace avec une fiole qui dès que l'on découvre le résumé nous fait nous poser de sacrées questions. Un sujet qui vient facilement également : le docteur Jekyll et mister Hyde, deux entités dans un même corps, deux êtres avec deux consciences dans un corps qui n'arrive pas à tout gérer. Et si... Et s'il avait été possible que l'expérience fantastique dans le thème (je ne dis pas que c'est fantastique de devenir un meurtrier sous pulsion bien entendu) avait été aussi réelle que possible ? Et si tout ce que nous connaissons dans cette histoire avait pu vivre réellement et ainsi permettre ce qui va suivre dans le récit de Beth Fantaskey ?

Jill est à l'enterrement de son père, sauvagement assassiné dans sa propre voiture, dans un parking, et que l'enquête n'aboutit à rien. Un enterrement où les gens viennent pour pleurer ou se montrer au bon vouloir de celui qui vient. Entre une fausse amie, ,Darcy, qui semble se délecter de la souffrance de Jill et un Tristan qui semble vouloir la consoler sans qu'ils se connaissent est un moment plus que particulier pour la jeune fille qui ne sait pas comment faire pour surmonter cette première épreuve. La mort d'un père aimé, la mort d'un être qui avait de sombres secrets. Le résumé donne déjà pas mal d'indices, pas besoin d'en rajouter dessus. Jill va devoir composer avec ce décès brutal, une mère dépressive qui travaille pour oublier et s'abrutir, des examens à n'en plus finir... De déceptions en déceptions, la jeune fille doit pourtant se battre pour avoir une chance d'obtenir une bourse pour aller à l'université. Pas le choix et lorsqu'un concours de science se rappelle à son bon souvenir, la solution est forcément là. Oui, mais comment faire pour réussir ? Elle a les compétences pour, ce n'est pas le problème, ce qui l'est en revanche c'est le sujet qu'elle veut étudier : le mystère de la potion qui transformait le docteur Jekyll en Mister Hyde. Et quoi de mieux que d'avoir le nom de famille proche de l'un et de travailler avec un autre camarade de classe qui a le nom de famille de l'autre ?


La noirceur, si cela vous fait peur, passer votre chemin. Celle des âmes de ce récit est si noire qu'il faut bien se dire que l'Homme n'a pas fini de nous étonner, dans tous les sens du terme. Bon ou mauvais, nous nous retrouvons face à des personnages qui ne sont pas si nombreux que cela dans le texte et qui pourtant nous mettent la tête à l'envers. Chacun des personnages a un but bien précis et si celui de Jill est bien mis en évidence, celui de de Tristan aussi pour le lecteur, bien entendu, d'autres autour d'eux gravitent et nous sentons bien qu'il se passe quelque chose, mais quoi ? Bien entendu, rien de bon, uniquement du néfaste, car quiconque laisse la bête sombre, la noirceur s'imprégner et passer du côté obscur de la force, rien ne peut ressortir correctement. L'auteur utilise l'histoire de Jekyll et Hyde pour embarquer ses propres personnages dans une histoire qui de prime abord semble abracadabrante, jusqu'à ce que les explications interviennent et nous mettent le doute. Si les lycéens se sont amusés de leurs noms de famille, Jill et Tristan ne se sont jamais côtoyés, jusqu'à ce qu’un jour, leurs intérêts communs se mettent en action. L'envie de comprendre, de réussir, l'envie d'aller plus loin, de se venger aussi, de protéger, d'être quelqu'un d'autre et pas un monstre assoiffé de sang. C'est original de partir sur un tel fait et le transformer en quelque chose d'aussi bizarroïde, il faut bien le dire.


Les émotions de Jill sont souvent exacerbées, il faut dire que rien ne la laisse tranquille : pas le meurtre de son père, l'absence de sa mère, le fait de devoir trouver une solution pour continuer ses études, ses critiques constantes de jeune fille qui est trop coincée, de devoir travailler avec un garçon qui lui plait sans lui plaire (oui, elle est complexe). Comment imaginer que sa vie soit rose après toutes ses épreuves et bien d'autres encore ? Quant à Tristan, il a des rêves particuliers qui font de lui un jeune homme qui a besoin de voir un psy autre que son père. Car c'est bien connu, il ne faut pas travailler avec sa propre famille et encore moins laisser entrer dans son esprit torturé quelqu'un que l'on connait trop bien. Les personnages secondaires sont un peu trop caricaturés à mon gout, le loseur sportif qui ne pense qu'à tromper sa copine, la fameuse copine qui est belle intelligente et ne veut absolument pas travailler et l'amie d'enfance qui fuit tout... C'était assez particulier pour ceux-là après nous avons d'autres personnages complexe comme la mère et son désespoir et le gros travail qu'elle doit effectuer sur elle pour s'en sortir et le père de Tristan dont je tairai ici les points afin de ne pas trop en dévoiler. Des caractères à l'opposé l'un de l'autre, Jill et Tristan vont devoir s'apprivoiser, se faire confiance (et là c'est carrément à la pelleteuse qu'ils vont devoir y aller). Et puis ces histoires de famille qui leur pourrissent la vie et tout ce qui va en découler.


La relation entre les deux est complexe, car Tristan sait ce qu'il est et que Jill ne voit pas forcément le mal partout. Sombre et mystérieux, l'univers crée reste un pied dans la réalité et un autre dans le fantastique avec les expériences qu'ils vont devoir effectuer, autant sur eux-mêmes que sur leur sentiment. Nous sentons bien ce qui se produit entre eux, ce qui peut être possible ou non. La lecture reste dans le domaine du young adult et les scènes sanglantes sont très softs. Côtés bémols, la fin est rapide, trop rapide, avec une surprise de taille que je n'attendais absolument pas. Je m'attendais à tellement de chose que ce que nous propose l'auteur est trop simple à mon gout, désolée. Et puis je dois admettre qu'un poignet cassé ne se répare pas ainsi sans formation minimum en soin (mon côté infirmière ressort, mais quand je lis des choses de ce type cela me chiffonne un max). Par contre j'ai adoré e fait de tomber dans un côté bon/méchant de ce type, avec l'esprit qui se camoufle derrière une zone d'ombre pour mettre ou pas en avant le côté malsain ou non d'un personnage. Nul n'est parfait, nul ne peut être foncièrement mauvais sauf un... Nous ressentons essentiellement les pensées de Tristan qui sont plus complexes et plus mises en avant sur ce qu'il ressent durant ce qu'il croit faire.


En conclusion, un récit que j'ai apprécié, avec cette facilité de tomber dans le panneau et de se dire, mais et si cela avait été vrai ? Qui en aurait fait les frais au final ? Des points comme l'amour interdit, les secrets déchirants les familles, la douleur de la perte d'êtres chers revient de manière régulière et plonge le lecteur dans une noirceur de l'esprit malsain par moment. Les épreuves qui semblaient insurmontables ne le sont pas, tant qu'on a l'aide qu'il faut. Une vraie main tendue capable de vous montrer un chemin, même cassé. Il en ressort des personnages plus forts, mais également plus torturés, appréciant ce qu'ils récoltent à la fin. Je ne regrette pas de l'avoir acheté il y a longtemps, à savoir également qu'il existe en poche et toujours en vente !

http://chroniqueslivresques.eklablog....

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey was, dare I say… amazing?
I’ve been a fan of Beth Fantaskey since I read Jessica’s Guild to Dating on the Dark Side sometime last year. It was such a fun, fast read, but with a very dark undertone, much the same as this one. I’m starting to learn that to be her writing style, and I love it!

Jekel Loves Hyde was dark without being gory, mysterious without being secretive and all together alluring.

We first meet our heroine, Jill Jekel, after the death of her father. While at his funeral, a classmate of Jill’s—Tristan Hyde (our hero)—shows up and comforts her as a shoulder to cry on, right there in the graveyard. This might be normal, other than the fact that Jill and Tristan are complete strangers outside of school, each one not knowing much about the other. Soon, Jill and Tristan come together to enter a science competition, the prize being $30,000 that is crucial for Jill if she is to go to her dream school, and the experiment they are working on in question, crucial for Tristan, if he wants to remain true to himself… whoever that may be.

I loved this book so much—words cannot express it enough! Jill felt real to me, and I felt her pain and heartache through most of the novel, even though she tried to keep strong and take care of her mother who was still grief-stricken by her husband’s death.
Though at times Jill was very stiff and boring, I never got that annoyed with her. She was your typical nerdy girl and I liked her for who she was. Fantaskey didn’t try to make her more than that, and for that, I am glad.

Tristan… oh Tristan Hyde! He was definitely swoon-worthy! Tristan is a “bad boy” who is on the cross-country team, and he has a temper that will get him into some real trouble if he doesn’t watch out.

This book was amazing. I couldn’t get enough. I think I would have read it in less than a day if I didn’t have to leave the house, go to the bathroom, eat, etc, etc…

It has just the right mix of creepy and sexy, and I love the way this story played in with The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
While most people (people who actually think with their mind while reading) will find it hard to believe that what takes place in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde had actually happened, I find Jekel Loves Hyde to be as close as something like that happening could get.
Fantaskey did a lovely job of putting it all together, and I loved all of the right characters and disliked all of the evil ones. Oh yes, there were evil ones!

So if you’re looking for a light read with dark lighting, I would pick up Jekel Loves Hyde in a heartbeat! You will not be sorry.

Also, for all of us Jessica’s Guild lovers out there, the sequel, Jessica Rules the Dark Side, will be coming out January 10th, 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I was given this book for free on a read-to-review basis.)
17-year-old Jill Jekel is a quiet girl who wants nothing more than to get on with her school work, and go off to college. However, her father wasrecently murdered and now it turns out that he also spent her college fund.

Tristen Hyde is a boy with a secret. A beast dwells inside him that makes him dream of murdering an innocent girl, and he worries that soon the beast will become too strong for him to control, and he really will kill.

When Jill and Tristen’s chemistry teacher enters them into a competition in which they can will $30,000 they at first decline, but then later change their minds. In Jill’s dead father’s study there is a locked box which Jill’s father claimed to contain the original documentation of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’s experiments from the fictional book.

Deciding that she really needs the money if she wants to go to college, Jill tells Tristen about the box, and he insists that they should repeat the experiments in an effort to save him from the beast that lives inside him. Of course things don’t go smoothly though, and Jill and Tristen find themselves in real trouble when other people what it is that they have done.

This book was alright. I enjoyed it up to a point, but found the last 20% actually pretty boring (sorry!). Jill was a quiet girl who generally didn’t like to make waves, whilst Tristen was just a boy with a bit of an attitude. To be honest I found Tristen really one-dimensional. As much as I wanted to like him I just didn’t feel like I really knew him at all. The book was split in two – part from Jill’s perspective, and part from Tristen’s perspective, and Tristen’s part was just not good. I really got nothing from him, and couldn’t relate at all, which was strange because Jill was really easy to like.

There were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming, but if I had read the original story I think these twists would have probably been fairly obvious. There were also a couple of annoying moments – crushing a sedating antihistamine into someone’s glass of water would not cause them to immediately lose consciousness. It would probably take at least 10-20 minutes. If I was being picky I would also say that the cover of this book really doesn’t suit it at all.

As I said before I got bored at the end of this book which is a bit weird because usual the end is the most exciting part. I was also a little confused about the end outcome, does Jill now have the beast inside her or not? I really couldn’t decide if that was what the author was hinting at when she said that ‘Jill would never truly be alone again’.
Overall; an okay read, but the end disappointed me.
7 out of 10.
(Book length: 3680 kindle locations)

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very different story from the others I have read. It was dark, very dark and twisted that it took some time for me to appreciate the story. It was about the story of two people, so different from each other but was drawn by a story that connected their life together, inseparably. Jill, the shy, timid girl was mourning her father’s death when the most popular and notorious boy, Tristen, went to her side to comfort her and since that faithful day, everything has changed in their lives. Jill found out that her trust fund was gone and her father took it before he was murdered, then her mother seems so lost that she barely hold on to her sanity. Meanwhile, Tristen was getting more and more anxious by the story that haunts him all his life. That he was a descendant of Dr. Hyde, the criminal, murderer that was brought in the world by some crazy experiment by a Jekel, the Jekels where Jill descended from.

Jill begin to see Tristen on a different light when her teacher in Chemistry asked both of them to enter a competition on making their own invention and she begin to see the different side of Trsiten that most people on their school wasn’t given the privilege to see. Tristen agreed to go along with Jill in joining the competition because it will be his only chance to gain a cure before he become a fully murderer, and he will be able to help Jill to gain money for her lost trust fund. That was their deal, until they begin to fall for each other.

It become more twisted when Tristen’s father was so out of control that he even hurt Tristen and threaten to kill him if he would not drink the potion that would make him a monster like all the Hydes he came from were, so twisted that even Jill was drawn to drink it.

As my other reviews went by, I wouldn’t tell how it ended but I will tell that I did enjoy reading this book, even if it was so different from Fantaskey’s previous book that I read and which I loved so much, Jessica’s guide to dating the dark side. For comparison, I think Beth Fantaskey is very good at making a twisted, very complex plot and make a very good story out of it. A story that is not only memorable but is also unique and very hard to level with.