Even though horror is not my typical read, I’ve already started telling my adolescent siblings about Boyfriend from Hell. This book has something for both genders. It has romance, mixed in with the ups and downs of high school friendships and mother-daughter relationships. It has horror and mystery, mixed in with sports talk. Thrown in for good measure are chapters about a math club and competition, along with lots and lots and lots of humor. I enjoyed practically all of Boyfriend from Hell, which means not only am I recommending it but I will also be watching for the sequel.
Fifteen-year-old Megan Barnett is a fairly typical teenage girl. She is smart enough to be a straight “A” student and on the math team. At the same time, she’s attracted to the cool, cute new boy at her high school. She has two best friends, whom she’s known almost all her life. She is equally close to her single mom. The special bonds she shares with all of them change when her mother starts to date. Yes, so far, Boyfriend from Hell sounds like a fairly typical teen romance. In a sense it is, with a whole lot of heart and humor combined.
Cover of Rosemary's Baby
If you think about the title, you’ll realize that there’s more to Boyfriend from Hell than meets the eye. E. Van Lowe isn’t writing about the dates where your date puts his foot in his mouth or spills food on your clothes or even about a late or no-show date. He also isn’t writing about the boyfriends who value their cars and ESPN ahead of their girlfriends or even those who put them down and push them around. No, at first sight, the mysterious man who enters her mom’s life acts like the perfect gentlemen. Okay, I know that’s how most bad guys start out. Yet Armando is the worst boyfriend imaginable; He is Satan, literally, and he’s seeking a bride who will also bear him a child. Think “Rosemary’s Baby” and you’ll feel the right amount of creepiness about Boyfriend from Hell.
At the start I noted that horror is not my typical read. The nice thing about Boyfriend from Hell is that the horror is subtle and amounts to a whole lot of foreshadowing, as in this example: “She is also one of my best friends. Well…. She was before our lives went to hell in a hand basket. Guess I shouldn’t use that word too freely around here. Hell, I mean.” For awhile, pretty much every chapter has a line like this, to the point that I did start to wonder if the foreshadowing was being overdone . Soon though , Megan discovers Armando’s true identity. Then the foreshadowing clues disappear and instead we’re left with a blood-curdling read as Megan tries to unmask him, confront him, and stop Satan from his evil plan.
Another nice thing about Boyfriend from Hell is that E. Van Lowe takes his time to develop the story, the characters, and even the settings. At first, the story is simply about Megan’s angst over her mother’s decision to start dating again. Megan’s closeness to her single mom resembles the one I share with my dad and so their intimacy often made me smile. Megan has known the boy next door since age five when he showed up with his mom to welcome Megan and her mom to the neighborhood. When his mom handed over a dish of her famous apple cheesecake burritos, Matt peeked out and said, “They’re good.” From then on, they were joined at the hip. She has known Erin since age nine when their teacher sat them next to one another. A week later, their teacher separated them but by then they were thick as thieves. These details add depth to Boyfriend from Hell. As does the friendship that Megan ultimately develops with Mariana. The friendship is interesting, because Megan at first only turns to Mariana after Erin and her have a fight. The fight occurs, after Megan accuses her mom’s boyfriend of being bad but initially doesn’t have any specific reasons except that a creepy old lady watches him. The descriptions also sucked me in, starting with this one on the very first page: “I knew we’d be slipping into our snuggies. That’s how Januaries are in the desert….” I love how cozy that image makes me feel.
My favorite thing about Boyfriend from Hell is the humor, which is mostly in the situations. For example, as open as Megan’s relationship is with her mother, she has limits. Does she want her mom to confide with her about being French kissed? When Megan thinks about how she can stop her mom from dating, she takes an idea from her friend. Her mom tried to keep her from riding in cars with boys by telling her horror stories. Megan decides to turn the tables by telling her a graphic horror story about some parent at her school who went on a date. Other times the humor is in the dialog. When Megan is having a little chat with Satan, he toys with her: “That was a delightful party. Holy water, crucifixes, prayers. You’re a regular Martha Stewart, aren’t you?” I couldn’t help it. Even though this is perhaps one of the creepiest chapters in the book, I laughed at their banter.
As for what I didn’t like, there isn’t much. The battle scenes with Satan bordered on being too violent. Like in typical horror movies, the bruised and bleeding heroines seem to recharge ridiculously quick. Remember, we’re reading about humans; not machines. Otherwise, there were two twists that left me feeling betrayed. As I noted earlier, foreshadowing was strong in Boyfriend from Hell and so prepared me for the revelation that Armando was Satan. Unfortunately, the two twists felt like bombs. I’m not even sure they’re good surprises.
Sample chapters of Boyfriend from Hell are already available online. Check them out and then look for Boyfriend from Hell at your local library. Boyfriend from Hell was released a week ago and so should already be on shelves near you. Be prepared to laugh and smile, but also to feel chilled. Be sure to keep your loved one nearby as you flip pages.
My rating? Read it: Borrow from your library or a friend. It’s worth your time.
How would you rate this book?
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Recent Comments