Title: Wesley James Ruined My Life
Author: Jennifer Honeybourn
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Date published: July 18, 2017
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 256
Source: Book distributor

A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the book distributor, in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick’s having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad’s gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, former childhood friend—until he ruined her life, that is.

So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn’s going to do is forgive and forget. She’s determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once—by getting him fired.

But getting rid of Wesley isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it.

– Author Q&A –

I think it’s really awesome that this blog tour allowed participants to send in one unique question for the author and have it answered! And because I’m really curious about what sparks certain things in a story (settings, characters, etc.), and also where these sparks come from, as well as what comes first (the chicken or the egg…haha), here is my question for Jennifer Honeybourn, as well as her answer:

Q: Did you know that the restaurant that Quinn and Wesley work in was medieval-themed before you started writing this book, or did that sort of just happen along the way?

A: I did know that the story was going to be set at a medieval themed restaurant before I even started writing WESLEY JAMES RUINED MY LIFE. I was at a Renaissance Faire in 2013 and it sparked the idea for Tudor Tymes. Alan Rickles, the actor who plays King Henry VIII and never breaks character, actually came to me before any of the others, even Quinn and Wesley.

Please be sure to visit the other blog tour stops in order to read other reviews, as well as other questions and answers about Wesley James Ruined My Life!

– MY REVIEW –

If you’re looking for a quick and light Summer read, this is the book for you. Due to how short this book is, as well as the content, I was able to devour it in two sittings! And it would have been one sitting if I hadn’t had to do adult things, haha. Honeybourn’s writing is clear and easy to follow, and she also did a good job at projecting the voice of a teenager through the narrative.

Wesley James Ruined My Life is narrated by Quinn, the main characters, and we therefore only get her perspective on the story. There is therefore, a lot of mystery surrounding certain things, until everything is wrapped up, which was definitely a factor in why I kept reading. I was going nuts trying to guess, or just find out what it was that Quinn’s loathed enemy, Wesley James, said or did to ruin her life. As I’ve mentioned Honeybourn did really well at making it sound as if Quinn is telling us this story, and I did find myself getting annoyed with Quinn’s immaturity at times. But then I would take a breath and remind myself that she is a teenager dealing with a lot of things, and that she is simply thinking, speaking, and acting as many other teenagers do. In Quinn’s defense, she was also dealing with a lot of things that many other teens never have to.

This book was quite short, and as a lover of details, I would have liked a little more info on just about, well…everything. I wanted to know more about the supporting characters (all of who I kind of remember, although I forgot their names just days after finishing Wesley James Ruined My Life). I don’t recall whether any of the characters were diverse in any way, because we really did not get a lot of info about them. I also would have liked to read some chapters from Wesley James’ perspective! Although that might have given certain things away, and taken from the mystery of everything. The romance (of course, since most of you know me to be a hopeless romantic) could have been more detailed as well, but I did find that I was satisfied with what we were given! I will say though, that if all of those things had been added, this book would have ended up being longer, and then would no longer be the short and mostly-fluffy read that turned out being.

I recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a light story which occasionally touches on more serious subjects, but otherwise doesn’t require you to think too much, or philosophize!

– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –

Jennifer Honeybourn works in corporate communications in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. If she could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, she’d have high tea with Walt Disney, JK Rowling, and her nana. She lives with her husband, daughter and cat in a house filled with books. WESLEY JAMES RUINED MY LIFE is her first novel.

– PURCHASE LINKS –

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!