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The Mediator #5
Haunted
Haunted is the fifth book in the thrilling, romantic Mediator series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot.
Suze is used to trouble, but this time she's in Ghostly Jesse has her heart, but Paul Slater, a real flesh-and-blood guy, is warm for her form. And mediator Paul knows how to send Jesse to the Great Beyond. For good.
Paul claims he won't do anything to Jesse as long as Suze will go out with him. Fearing she'll lose Jesse forever, Suze agrees. But even if Suze can get Jesse to admit his true feelings for her, what kind of future can she have with a guy who's already dead?
Don't miss the delightfully funny supernatural Mediator series, from New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot.
Suze is used to trouble, but this time she's in Ghostly Jesse has her heart, but Paul Slater, a real flesh-and-blood guy, is warm for her form. And mediator Paul knows how to send Jesse to the Great Beyond. For good.
Paul claims he won't do anything to Jesse as long as Suze will go out with him. Fearing she'll lose Jesse forever, Suze agrees. But even if Suze can get Jesse to admit his true feelings for her, what kind of future can she have with a guy who's already dead?
Don't miss the delightfully funny supernatural Mediator series, from New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2003
298 people are currently reading
7161 people want to read
About the author
Meg Cabot
240 books35.4k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 993 reviews
August 4, 2016
Hehe. Now I remember why this was my favorite so long ago....that jelly boy fight, though XD
RTC.
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February 13, 2018
What can I say? I'm obsessed with rereading this series. I had to physically read this one because only an abridged version of the audiobook exists (seriously, who does that?). I was a little sad that Suze dropped the nicknames for her stepbrothers. I really liked hearing them referred to as Dopey, Sleepy, and Doc. This is the shortest book in the series, but I still feel like important things happened in it. I'm getting a little tired of the "Suze meets boy who is being haunted by a malevolent spirit" plotline - don't girls ever get haunted? I also wish Suze's friend CeeCee played a bigger role in the series; I feel like she could be a cool sidekick. I vaguely remember thinking Paul was kind of dangerous-hot in high school but now I'm like, ew, fuck off you abusive twat.
June 1, 2017
Sa-WOOOOOON
May 8, 2018
These books are wonderful! Our adorable moderator has met a male counterpart, except that he is evil. He lies, cheats, and kills. But worst of all, he wants our moderator. (Him being a good kisser is beside the point)
Our Evil Moderator blackmails our Adorable Moderator into spending time with him by agreeing not to dispense with her ghost boyfriend.
There is also a ghost haunting his brother that Suze is supposed to help to move on. But she spends so much time worrying about her tortured romances that she almost misses the ghost trying to kill his brother.
Good story! 😊
Our Evil Moderator blackmails our Adorable Moderator into spending time with him by agreeing not to dispense with her ghost boyfriend.
There is also a ghost haunting his brother that Suze is supposed to help to move on. But she spends so much time worrying about her tortured romances that she almost misses the ghost trying to kill his brother.
Good story! 😊
January 25, 2016
Not as much happened in this one, but I can't wait to see what happens in book 6!
April 21, 2015
ชอบความสัมพันธ์ของตัวละครเรื่องนี้ที่เข้มข้นซับซ้อนขึ้นเรื่อยๆจากเล่มที่แล้ว แม้ว่าเราจะไม่ค่อยชอบในช่วงแรกๆของหนังสือเท่าไร เพราะตัวของซูซเองนี่แหละที่ทำให้เราอยากจะเดินเข้าไปตบหัวแล้วจับตัวเขย่าๆ ถามว่านี่เธอเป็นอะไรมากมั้ย ? แต่พอผ่านครึ่งเล่มไปแล้ว เนื้อเรื่องก็ถูกดึงให้กลับมาพีคอีกครั้ง ความรู้สึกของเจสซี่ที่มีต่อซูซานน่าห์ก็เริ่มชัดเจนขึ้นมา ไหนจะเรื่องของพอลอีกหละ ที่ตอนแรกเราคิดว่าเขานี่แหละที่เป็นตัวปัญหามากสุด แต่เล่มนี้เขาก็กลับมีบทบาทสำคัญขึ้นมา และทำให้ปมความสัมพันธ์ของตัวละครมันชัดมากยิ่งขึ้น ()
ชอบนะ...ชอบ Continuity ช่วงท้ายๆของหนังสือที่ทำออกมาได้ดีพอๆกับเล่มที่แล้วเลย ด้วยทางด้านความรู้สึกของตัวละครที่มันชัดมากๆ ทำให้เราชอบตรงส่วนนี้มากกว่าเล่มที่แล้วแบบเฉือนชนะไปหน่อยนึง แต่ก็ขอหักคะแนนตอนต้นๆเรื่องที่ทำให้เราหวั่นใจกลัวว่าจะกลับไปเหมือนเล่ม 2-3 ซะแล้ว สรุปเลยให้คะแนนเท่าเล่มก่อนหน้าไปละกัน...
ชอบนะ...ชอบ Continuity ช่วงท้ายๆของหนังสือที่ทำออกมาได้ดีพอๆกับเล่มที่แล้วเลย ด้วยทางด้านความรู้สึกของตัวละครที่มันชัดมากๆ ทำให้เราชอบตรงส่วนนี้มากกว่าเล่มที่แล้วแบบเฉือนชนะไปหน่อยนึง แต่ก็ขอหักคะแนนตอนต้นๆเรื่องที่ทำให้เราหวั่นใจกลัวว่าจะกลับไปเหมือนเล่ม 2-3 ซะแล้ว สรุปเลยให้คะแนนเท่าเล่มก่อนหน้าไปละกัน...
February 21, 2016
This is another solid installment in the Mediator Series! This time there wasn't much of ghosts trying to kill Suze, as much as the love-triangle really flourishing. But I had no problem with this because I spent the whole book trying to figure why I loved Paul Slater so much? I came to the conclusion that it's the same reason I love Malfoy, Peter, and Sebastian. They are rotten and not particularly charming (Paul on the other hand tends to be pretty darn charming). But I think I have this hope that they will redeem themselves along the way, and I'm rooting for them. What can I say? I have a thing for the under dogs!
THANK GOODNESS someone (not going to spoil with who) finally got clued in on the whole mediator deal. Suze needs someone other than Father Dom and Jesse to confide in about this major part of her life. If you couldn't tell, I was more than excited about this improvement.
There is also a lot of progress in the story telling going on. I can't wait to read Twilight and see the different dimensions to Size's Mediating skills. As much as I love the first few books, I forgot how much I enjoyed these later books because it's not just a stubborn ghost that refuses to move on. There is so many more storylines intertwined. This is the point where I wish Goodreads had half (or even quarter stars) to give. Because this book is definitely much closer to a five than the other books but not quite there. We'll see if Twilight makes that jump for me. I remember the big stuff but not the little things in between!
THANK GOODNESS someone (not going to spoil with who) finally got clued in on the whole mediator deal. Suze needs someone other than Father Dom and Jesse to confide in about this major part of her life. If you couldn't tell, I was more than excited about this improvement.
There is also a lot of progress in the story telling going on. I can't wait to read Twilight and see the different dimensions to Size's Mediating skills. As much as I love the first few books, I forgot how much I enjoyed these later books because it's not just a stubborn ghost that refuses to move on. There is so many more storylines intertwined. This is the point where I wish Goodreads had half (or even quarter stars) to give. Because this book is definitely much closer to a five than the other books but not quite there. We'll see if Twilight makes that jump for me. I remember the big stuff but not the little things in between!
July 6, 2008
Mediator 5, Grave Doubts starts with Suze's dream about Paul Slater in purgatory. In chapter one we find out that Paul has joined Suze's school. She tries to persuade Father Dominic that Paul should be kicked out, but he isn't convinced. Meanwhile Dopey (Suze’s stepbrother Brad) is planning a hot tub party and Sleepy (Suze’s other stepbrother Jake) brings home a haunted guest called Neil. Suze's life is going mad as she tries to stop Neil's dead brother killing him, keep Paul away from her and get Jesse, the gorgeous ghost that lives in her bedroom, to go out with her.
My favourite part is the hot tub party near the end. Paul arrives uninvited and provokes Jesse. Paul tumbles down the stairs pushed by Jesse. Jesse holds Paul’s head in the hot tub. All the partygoers think Paul has gone either gone mad, got really drunk or he is high. Because Suze and Paul are mediators only they can see the invisble force holding Paul underwater.
At the end, Jesse finally admits that he loves Suze and they are officially dating, if you can call it dating since Jesse is already dead. But at the end of the book, Suze is the happiest girl in Carmel.
My favourite part is the hot tub party near the end. Paul arrives uninvited and provokes Jesse. Paul tumbles down the stairs pushed by Jesse. Jesse holds Paul’s head in the hot tub. All the partygoers think Paul has gone either gone mad, got really drunk or he is high. Because Suze and Paul are mediators only they can see the invisble force holding Paul underwater.
At the end, Jesse finally admits that he loves Suze and they are officially dating, if you can call it dating since Jesse is already dead. But at the end of the book, Suze is the happiest girl in Carmel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2008
The best book in the series as far as relasionships go, and I am torn between Paul and Jesse. I mean, Jesse rocks, but Paul has this part of him that I just want to kiss him myself, you feel so sorry for him. Overall, very good book, though I hate how Jesse moves out for Suzes' "own good".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2018
The characters were kinda annoying in this one. Suze needed to get it togetherrrrr. And Jesse. And her friend was being oddly pushy about the campaign. And Father Dom was being rather unsympathetic. Hhmmm...
So it's my least favorite Mediator book so far. Hope it gets back on track from here.
3 stars
So it's my least favorite Mediator book so far. Hope it gets back on track from here.
3 stars
April 16, 2016
This is the book when Paul Slater just managed to push himself onto Suze (even if its's unrequited) and inserts himself between her and Jesse. Talk about a psychopath. Not a whole lot happened, plot-wise. Just Suze moaning about her love life really and finding out things about her spiritual powers.
August 10, 2018
I really, really, really don't like Paul.
February 25, 2011
I wanted to like this book more than the prequels, because I liked the series less and less with each book. Sadly the process continued with Haunted.
Paul turns out to be even crazier than I thought and we get more of the whole Jesse-drama-llama. Haunted was thinly disguised as a paranormal story when all it was is a love story between Susannah and Jesse.
Suze is more dense and stupid than I ever thought possible. I laughed out loud when she said she isn't stupid. Didn't all that happened before prove to her that she is very, very stupid?
I've become so frustrated with her, I don't even know what to say anymore.
She's become even lamer in this book than she already was. All she's concerned about is Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. Oh and fashion, wheee! All her rambling about clothes annoyed me. I simply didn't care about it. It seemed like bought advertisement for Jimmy Choo shoes.
The only one who was able to coax something else out of Suze and make her think of something else was Paul. But OF COURSE Paul had to turn out even crazier than he was portrayed as before.
And am I the only one who thought Jesse completely overreacted when he went at Paul with the goal of killing him? That turned me off Jesse so fast you wouldn't believe it. Beating someone up/trying to kill that person, just because they're being an a-hole? How about no.
I laughed out loud maybe four times during it and only two times was because of something that was supposed to be funny. The other two times was more of sad laugh or a laugh of how ridiculous it turned out to be.
I just can't with this series anymore. I'm glad when I'm finally done with it.
Paul turns out to be even crazier than I thought and we get more of the whole Jesse-drama-llama. Haunted was thinly disguised as a paranormal story when all it was is a love story between Susannah and Jesse.
Suze is more dense and stupid than I ever thought possible. I laughed out loud when she said she isn't stupid. Didn't all that happened before prove to her that she is very, very stupid?
I've become so frustrated with her, I don't even know what to say anymore.
She's become even lamer in this book than she already was. All she's concerned about is Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. Oh and fashion, wheee! All her rambling about clothes annoyed me. I simply didn't care about it. It seemed like bought advertisement for Jimmy Choo shoes.
The only one who was able to coax something else out of Suze and make her think of something else was Paul. But OF COURSE Paul had to turn out even crazier than he was portrayed as before.
And am I the only one who thought Jesse completely overreacted when he went at Paul with the goal of killing him? That turned me off Jesse so fast you wouldn't believe it. Beating someone up/trying to kill that person, just because they're being an a-hole? How about no.
I laughed out loud maybe four times during it and only two times was because of something that was supposed to be funny. The other two times was more of sad laugh or a laugh of how ridiculous it turned out to be.
I just can't with this series anymore. I'm glad when I'm finally done with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2011
I have really enjoyed this series and I have every intention of finishing the last book, however, this book just didn't do it for me. I know a lot was revealed about 'what' Suze is and what all she can do that she was unaware of, that part was great. I just got sick of hearing about Jesse. Good gracious me, that was ALL she thought, talked, whined, moped and pondered over. Jesse, Jesse, Jesse, ect. Why doesn't he like me? What did I do? How could I kiss someone else and like it when I love Jesse? And on and on and on ....... SHUT UP!!!! I did scream this at the book and then went into a tirade of WHY he shouldn't like her, annoying was at the top of the list. I calmed down, did some Yoga breathing and finished the book. It may not sound like it, but I actually do like Suze. She just annoyed the holy hell out of me in this book with her nonstop obsession over a flipping ghost and she is only 17! And they have nothing in common! Ugh.
What saved the book for me, at least a little, were the new things that we learned about Suze thanks to Mr. Hot & Slightly Psychotic, Paul. This intrigues me to hurry on to the next book and finish up the series because it sounds like he will be in the next one and possibly showing her more stuff she is capable off. If he can get her off of Jesse, that is.
What saved the book for me, at least a little, were the new things that we learned about Suze thanks to Mr. Hot & Slightly Psychotic, Paul. This intrigues me to hurry on to the next book and finish up the series because it sounds like he will be in the next one and possibly showing her more stuff she is capable off. If he can get her off of Jesse, that is.
September 29, 2017
What is this fuckery, Meg Cabot? Everything that mildly irked me over the last few books blossomed into a full-blown catastrophe in this installment, which spins its wheels and presents absolutely toxic messages.
Suze, our oh-so-intrepid mediator, is nigh on insufferable.
She immediately assumes that Jesse doesn’t care about her when LITERALLY ALL SIGNS SAY HE DOES. He kisses her. Looks out for her. Calls her romantic Spanish nicknames. Is violently jealous of other guys. And yet she is firmly convinced he doesn’t love her, and acts out accordingly. This kinda made sense with Mia Thermopolis, who was younger with lots of self-esteem issues. Suze is presented as a confident badass, regularly comments that she looks good and knows it… there is zero reason for her to be this dense.
In the last four books, Suze has repelled the advances of perfectly suitable attractive young men because she was pining for her ghostly boyfriend. Now, she can’t keep it in her pants regarding Paul Slater even after Paul (1) sorta kinda leaves her for dead; (2) is stalkery and doesn’t take no for an answer; (3) SEXUALLY ASSAULTS HER. He lures her to his bedroom, kisses her, and then physically restrains her from pulling away… and then has a bodyguard try to stop her from leaving. This is not romantic. This is not acceptable. This is not forgivable just because the intended victim sorta kinda maybe enjoyed the kiss.
I understand these books were written in a less sensitive time. But dear god, how was it ever okay to have Paul as a potential love interest after all that? And how are we supposed to believe that Suze is all torn up about whether to hook up with Paul or not after he tries to sexually harass her? I don’t care how warm she is for his form, it just made me lose so much respect for Meg Cabot as a writer, because this is so wildly out of character and so completely unacceptable.
While that was the hill I’m going to die on regarding this book, there was just so much miserably wrong with it. First of all, remember CeeCee and Adam, the intrepid Willow and Xander to Suze’s Buffy? Yeah, well, they’re pretty much props in this book. CeeCee is completely ignored and brushed off by Suze, then decides Suze is gonna run for class VP again and manages the whole campaign (which Cabot completely cribbed later for her Princess Diaries books, but with the foresight to actually develop Lilly’s character). As for Adam, I’m unsure whether he speaks at all in this book, he just exists on the periphery. Suze’s family is also wholly underdeveloped, as is pretty much everything except for the Jesse-Suze-Paul love triangle.
Also, this book was wholly unnecessary for the series – it leaves us in the EXACT SAME PLACE as the last one did. Jesse just finally showed Suze he loves her (which will doubtless be forgotten the next day)? Check. Paul is kinda violent and very mysterious, possibly the main antagonist, and made Suze aware of there being more to her mediator powers? Check. All other characters wholly ignored? Check. There wasn’t even a memorable “monster of the week” – the ghost and his living brother are more of an inconvenience than a subplot.
I just… don’t understand how Meg Cabot could have fucked this up so spectacularly. Sure, the Princess Diaries had their ups and downs. But dear god, there was never a book this bad. I’ll keep going with the series because I’ve made it this far, and they’re fast reads, but I am shocked and appalled by this installment.
Suze, our oh-so-intrepid mediator, is nigh on insufferable.
She immediately assumes that Jesse doesn’t care about her when LITERALLY ALL SIGNS SAY HE DOES. He kisses her. Looks out for her. Calls her romantic Spanish nicknames. Is violently jealous of other guys. And yet she is firmly convinced he doesn’t love her, and acts out accordingly. This kinda made sense with Mia Thermopolis, who was younger with lots of self-esteem issues. Suze is presented as a confident badass, regularly comments that she looks good and knows it… there is zero reason for her to be this dense.
In the last four books, Suze has repelled the advances of perfectly suitable attractive young men because she was pining for her ghostly boyfriend. Now, she can’t keep it in her pants regarding Paul Slater even after Paul (1) sorta kinda leaves her for dead; (2) is stalkery and doesn’t take no for an answer; (3) SEXUALLY ASSAULTS HER. He lures her to his bedroom, kisses her, and then physically restrains her from pulling away… and then has a bodyguard try to stop her from leaving. This is not romantic. This is not acceptable. This is not forgivable just because the intended victim sorta kinda maybe enjoyed the kiss.
I understand these books were written in a less sensitive time. But dear god, how was it ever okay to have Paul as a potential love interest after all that? And how are we supposed to believe that Suze is all torn up about whether to hook up with Paul or not after he tries to sexually harass her? I don’t care how warm she is for his form, it just made me lose so much respect for Meg Cabot as a writer, because this is so wildly out of character and so completely unacceptable.
While that was the hill I’m going to die on regarding this book, there was just so much miserably wrong with it. First of all, remember CeeCee and Adam, the intrepid Willow and Xander to Suze’s Buffy? Yeah, well, they’re pretty much props in this book. CeeCee is completely ignored and brushed off by Suze, then decides Suze is gonna run for class VP again and manages the whole campaign (which Cabot completely cribbed later for her Princess Diaries books, but with the foresight to actually develop Lilly’s character). As for Adam, I’m unsure whether he speaks at all in this book, he just exists on the periphery. Suze’s family is also wholly underdeveloped, as is pretty much everything except for the Jesse-Suze-Paul love triangle.
Also, this book was wholly unnecessary for the series – it leaves us in the EXACT SAME PLACE as the last one did. Jesse just finally showed Suze he loves her (which will doubtless be forgotten the next day)? Check. Paul is kinda violent and very mysterious, possibly the main antagonist, and made Suze aware of there being more to her mediator powers? Check. All other characters wholly ignored? Check. There wasn’t even a memorable “monster of the week” – the ghost and his living brother are more of an inconvenience than a subplot.
I just… don’t understand how Meg Cabot could have fucked this up so spectacularly. Sure, the Princess Diaries had their ups and downs. But dear god, there was never a book this bad. I’ll keep going with the series because I’ve made it this far, and they’re fast reads, but I am shocked and appalled by this installment.
March 11, 2025
Rating: *crying my eyes out in bitter disappointment* / 5
So...remember that heroine, the badass one who fought ghosts, killed it in designer clothes, felt herself to be totally unpopular but also didn't give a shit because she's got a higher calling to help out dead people and all that?
Yeah, I don't either--because lemme tell ya, she is NOT present in this book.
I'm not even disappointed. Oh, no, this goes beyond that. I. Am.
PISSED.
I seriously don't know what happened, but it's like a poltergeist took over Meg Cabot's brain when she wrote this and decided to go the soap opera direction instead, just to see how many people they could piss off. That's literally the only explanation for how we could make the switch from Suze as:
+ badass
+ sassy
+ witty
+ impulsive, but also smart
+ focused on her job as a mediator
+ just doing her own thang
TO
- boy-crazy
- obsessed over Jesse
- "scared" for no realistic reason of Paul Slater
- indesisive
- letting her ovaries do her deciding for her
- ignorant
- OVERLY secretive to the point of being stupid
- and, oh yeah, STUPID, RETARDED, IIRTATING, ANNOYING, A TOTAL SKANK, AND STUUUUUUPIDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________
Also, as if that weren't bad enough, here are some other major mistakes that take place:
- Suze ignoring her friends (CeeCee and Adam)
- little to no mention of Suze's brothers (especially little David, who was one of the major highlights of these books for me)
- little to no involvement with Father Dom (just...UGH!)
- repetitions
- a FORCED love triangle
- wayyyyy too many New Moon / Eclipse vibes in which the heroine just wants someone to love her and so she'll spread her legs (metaphorically, of course, in Suze's case it's just kissing) for anyone
Just.
W.
T.
F?!?!?!?!
******************************************************
So...yeah, I'm just super pissed about this and at this point the author needs a MAJOR CHANGE to take place in book 6 in order for me to forgive this.
At this point, I'm just continuing the series because if I leave it here, I'll hate it forever; and the first four books were pretty good, so I really CAN'T have that, as it isn't fair.
Still though.
For any re-reads of this series, I 100000% will be skipping this.
*trash pile, cheery flames consuming junk, lalalalala~*
So...remember that heroine, the badass one who fought ghosts, killed it in designer clothes, felt herself to be totally unpopular but also didn't give a shit because she's got a higher calling to help out dead people and all that?
Yeah, I don't either--because lemme tell ya, she is NOT present in this book.
I'm not even disappointed. Oh, no, this goes beyond that. I. Am.
PISSED.
I seriously don't know what happened, but it's like a poltergeist took over Meg Cabot's brain when she wrote this and decided to go the soap opera direction instead, just to see how many people they could piss off. That's literally the only explanation for how we could make the switch from Suze as:
+ badass
+ sassy
+ witty
+ impulsive, but also smart
+ focused on her job as a mediator
+ just doing her own thang
TO
- boy-crazy
- obsessed over Jesse
- "scared" for no realistic reason of Paul Slater
- indesisive
- letting her ovaries do her deciding for her
- ignorant
- OVERLY secretive to the point of being stupid
- and, oh yeah, STUPID, RETARDED, IIRTATING, ANNOYING, A TOTAL SKANK, AND STUUUUUUPIDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________
Also, as if that weren't bad enough, here are some other major mistakes that take place:
- Suze ignoring her friends (CeeCee and Adam)
- little to no mention of Suze's brothers (especially little David, who was one of the major highlights of these books for me)
- little to no involvement with Father Dom (just...UGH!)
- repetitions
- a FORCED love triangle
- wayyyyy too many New Moon / Eclipse vibes in which the heroine just wants someone to love her and so she'll spread her legs (metaphorically, of course, in Suze's case it's just kissing) for anyone
Just.
W.
T.
F?!?!?!?!
******************************************************
So...yeah, I'm just super pissed about this and at this point the author needs a MAJOR CHANGE to take place in book 6 in order for me to forgive this.
At this point, I'm just continuing the series because if I leave it here, I'll hate it forever; and the first four books were pretty good, so I really CAN'T have that, as it isn't fair.
Still though.
For any re-reads of this series, I 100000% will be skipping this.
*trash pile, cheery flames consuming junk, lalalalala~*
December 6, 2007
I loved this one!! I was heartbroken when Jesse went to the rectory, but oh did my heart flutter at the end - woooo!!! Nice twist too with "Grandpa Slater".
I agree, the fight chapter was hillarious!!! I love that CeeCee realized finally who Jesse is. And I love how she is willing to let Suze explain it all in time. What a great friend!!
I agree, the fight chapter was hillarious!!! I love that CeeCee realized finally who Jesse is. And I love how she is willing to let Suze explain it all in time. What a great friend!!
February 23, 2019
2.75
Not as good as the previous one (book 4), nor as the first two books in the series, but had better plot than book three. The main characters was sometimes annoying here. Well, ok we all know SUze can be annoying always, that's just how she is, but here more so than normal. And even Jesse and Father Dom were kind of... having a bad day in book five, I guess.
Not as good as the previous one (book 4), nor as the first two books in the series, but had better plot than book three. The main characters was sometimes annoying here. Well, ok we all know SUze can be annoying always, that's just how she is, but here more so than normal. And even Jesse and Father Dom were kind of... having a bad day in book five, I guess.
January 29, 2020
So now I know where Stephenie Meyer got her inspiration for New Moon from.
Man, this was pretty bad. It was going to be a 2 star read until that awful macho fight scene at the end of the book. I really don't know whats happened to this series, I really enjoyed the first 3 books but since then it has declined in quality rapidly.
Another aspect that has declined in quality is the MC, Suze. SHE IS THE WORST (prepare for a long anti suze rant ahead....)
I literally can't stand her. She is one of the most vapid, self absorbed and bitchy characters that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.
She spends ZERO time in this book doing a job of being a mediator, and instead spends the whole book pining over the love of her life, Jesse (hence the comparisons to New Moon). It was extremely pathetic and I rolled my eyes numerous times while reading the book.
There actually was a ghost in this one that needed help going over to the other side, but instead of reading about Suze actually helping him I was given the pleasure of reading contradictory lines like this....
"I don't know why the world has to be populated by so many unpleasant people. I really don't. It really takes an effort to be rude, too. The amount of energy people expend on being a jerk astounds me sometimes." This is Suze's inner monologue because for some reason she is deluded into thinking she is a saint, where in fact the is describing how she is exactly.
But wait! A few pages later...
"It is generally considered rude to pry into the personal tragedies of others - particularly when the victims of said tragedy were not the ones who introduced the subject - but for a mediator, being rude is all part of the job." NOW SHE IS GIVING HERSELF EXCUSES OF BEING A BITCH. No, it has nothing to do with being a mediator Suze (by which you are a terrible one at that), you are just a bitch.
HOW ARE THERE TWO PEOPLE FIGHTING OVER THIS CHICK? I actually used to adore Jesse, but he is a macho asshole in this one too.
.
There really is no point mentioning the ghost of the book, as really he barely made a dint.
Clearly I have a lot of feelings about a young adult book that came out 14 years ago lol but man I'm so disappointed! Hopefully the next book is better.
Man, this was pretty bad. It was going to be a 2 star read until that awful macho fight scene at the end of the book. I really don't know whats happened to this series, I really enjoyed the first 3 books but since then it has declined in quality rapidly.
Another aspect that has declined in quality is the MC, Suze. SHE IS THE WORST (prepare for a long anti suze rant ahead....)
I literally can't stand her. She is one of the most vapid, self absorbed and bitchy characters that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about.
She spends ZERO time in this book doing a job of being a mediator, and instead spends the whole book pining over the love of her life, Jesse (hence the comparisons to New Moon). It was extremely pathetic and I rolled my eyes numerous times while reading the book.
There actually was a ghost in this one that needed help going over to the other side, but instead of reading about Suze actually helping him I was given the pleasure of reading contradictory lines like this....
"I don't know why the world has to be populated by so many unpleasant people. I really don't. It really takes an effort to be rude, too. The amount of energy people expend on being a jerk astounds me sometimes." This is Suze's inner monologue because for some reason she is deluded into thinking she is a saint, where in fact the is describing how she is exactly.
But wait! A few pages later...
"It is generally considered rude to pry into the personal tragedies of others - particularly when the victims of said tragedy were not the ones who introduced the subject - but for a mediator, being rude is all part of the job." NOW SHE IS GIVING HERSELF EXCUSES OF BEING A BITCH. No, it has nothing to do with being a mediator Suze (by which you are a terrible one at that), you are just a bitch.
HOW ARE THERE TWO PEOPLE FIGHTING OVER THIS CHICK? I actually used to adore Jesse, but he is a macho asshole in this one too.
.
There really is no point mentioning the ghost of the book, as really he barely made a dint.
Clearly I have a lot of feelings about a young adult book that came out 14 years ago lol but man I'm so disappointed! Hopefully the next book is better.
December 28, 2010
I'm a BIG fan of The Mediator series, no that there's this fifth book to the collection, I really needed to read this.
The realtionship between Suze and Jesse is one of a kind, mainly because he's a ghost. But, she thinks he doesn't feel the same way. He rarely speaks to her, nobody can see him except her and paul.
Paul's a mediator too (someone who can see and communicate with ghosts). He's one of the bad guys and yeah he likes Suze too! When he kisses her, she actually kisses him back! I was thinking... What about Jesse?!
There's a whole lotta events and madness and this really keeps the story going. Especially the party-like scene where Jesse and Paul are at each other's necks in Suze's bedroom, fighting away. Totally histerical and entertaining. I was literally shouting 'Go Jesse,Go!'(as you can see I quite dislike Paul. Too cocky, urghh.)So, it really consumes you making you carry on reading one page after another until you come yo the end...
... which is a very good end I must say.
Jesse and Suze. Suze and Jesse :D
The realtionship between Suze and Jesse is one of a kind, mainly because he's a ghost. But, she thinks he doesn't feel the same way. He rarely speaks to her, nobody can see him except her and paul.
Paul's a mediator too (someone who can see and communicate with ghosts). He's one of the bad guys and yeah he likes Suze too! When he kisses her, she actually kisses him back! I was thinking... What about Jesse?!
There's a whole lotta events and madness and this really keeps the story going. Especially the party-like scene where Jesse and Paul are at each other's necks in Suze's bedroom, fighting away. Totally histerical and entertaining. I was literally shouting 'Go Jesse,Go!'(as you can see I quite dislike Paul. Too cocky, urghh.)So, it really consumes you making you carry on reading one page after another until you come yo the end...
... which is a very good end I must say.
Jesse and Suze. Suze and Jesse :D
September 9, 2013
Since when did Sleepy, Dopey and Doc become permanently Jake, Brad and David? I liked how each book solved a different mystery/dealt with a different ghost, so I was disappointed when this book was basically all just about Paul being a creep/evil and Suze crying about Jesse. Paul is aggressive and annoying and there is no development whatsoever, so this was probably my least favourite book of the series so far.
November 25, 2021
@netflix pls make this into an animated show, thanks
Read
September 14, 2025While I reread this entire series, I'm not going to bother to rate or review the rest of them. These were such formative books for me when I was a tween. Revisiting them and realizing how utterly blah they are now doesn't really make this series any less special to me overall in my memories.
That being said, this book is still an EXCELLENT exception. This is easily my favorite and most formative love triangle. Both love interest candidates make excellent points and the "good guy" still won out? 12 year old me was obsessed. Rereading as an adult, with deep knowledge of the Hades/Persephone trope and redeemed villains, Jesse makes even less sense to me than ever as the long term love interest compared to Paul. If Paul were just 10% less sexually pushy with Suze right away, it wouldn't even be a fair contest.
That being said, this book is still an EXCELLENT exception. This is easily my favorite and most formative love triangle. Both love interest candidates make excellent points and the "good guy" still won out? 12 year old me was obsessed. Rereading as an adult, with deep knowledge of the Hades/Persephone trope and redeemed villains, Jesse makes even less sense to me than ever as the long term love interest compared to Paul. If Paul were just 10% less sexually pushy with Suze right away, it wouldn't even be a fair contest.
May 14, 2019
Suze's story continues, and this time ghosts are not the ones causing her problems, but Paul, the arrogant, manipulative mediator she met in the previous book.
Paul is back in town and is now enrolled in Suze's school, and seems to have an agenda that involves her. Suze, who still hasn't forgiven him for his part in their previous encounter, wants nothing to do with him, but the lure of knowledge he offers her is irresistible.
Her relationship with Jesse is also on the rocks, and Paul's interference isn't helping on that front, and eventually the two end up .
I didn't love this one, especially since Suze started getting on my nerves with her avoidance tactics. I am curious to see how things develop, however, so on to Twilight we go.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Darkest Hour (The Mediator, #4)
✦ Every Girl's Dream (The Mediator, #3.5)
✦ Reunion (The Mediator, #3)
Paul is back in town and is now enrolled in Suze's school, and seems to have an agenda that involves her. Suze, who still hasn't forgiven him for his part in their previous encounter, wants nothing to do with him, but the lure of knowledge he offers her is irresistible.
Her relationship with Jesse is also on the rocks, and Paul's interference isn't helping on that front, and eventually the two end up .
I didn't love this one, especially since Suze started getting on my nerves with her avoidance tactics. I am curious to see how things develop, however, so on to Twilight we go.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Darkest Hour (The Mediator, #4)
✦ Every Girl's Dream (The Mediator, #3.5)
✦ Reunion (The Mediator, #3)
March 15, 2023
Bro… Paul is the worst. And Suze’s reactions to his antics were painful to read. Also nobody respecting her boundaries or letting her get a sentence out.
I liked the plot of this one minus all that.
I liked the plot of this one minus all that.
November 16, 2017
Well...this is gonna be on my list for one of the worst books of 2017. I'll probably do a series review after the next book (which is the last book of the series) which will explain everything.
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May 31, 2023
Po tylu latach wciąż to się czyta tak fenomenalnie. Kochałam tę serię i kocham dalej!
May 15, 2021
A última página valeu pelo livro inteiro.
August 1, 2018
This book is pointless.
Least favourite from the series
Least favourite from the series
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