Title: When Life Gives You Demons
Authors: Jennifer Honeybourn
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Date published: July 17, 2018
A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Raincoast Books, in exchange for an honest review.
Sixteen-year-old Shelby Black has spent the past year training to be an exorcist. Her great-uncle Roy—a Catholic priest and Shelby’s guardian—believes she has a gift for expelling demons, and he’s put her through exorcist boot camp hell, but he still doesn’t trust her to do an exorcism on her own.
High school is hard enough without having to explain that you fight demons for a living, so Shelby keeps her extracurricular activity quiet, especially from Spencer, her cute math tutor. Secrets run in Shelby’s family, though: her mother has been missing ever since an exorcism went horribly wrong, and Uncle Roy is tight-lipped about it. But Shelby’s hell-bent on finding her mom, no matter what—even if what it ends up costing her her soul AND a date with Spencer.
– My Review –
This book like Jennifer Honeybourn’s other book, Wesley James Ruined My Life, was a very quick read for me! If I had had the time, I would have read it all in one sitting. Rather than focusing on too much detail, Honeybourn’s books tend to be very plot driven, which is why they are a little shorter than the average YA book. When Life Gives You Demons definitely gave me some Buffy the Vampire Slayer + My Best Friend’s Exorcism + Supernatural vibes (which is definitely a good thing), and it was quite fluffy despite its darker content (i.e. demons, demonic possessions, and exorcisms).
I am the kind of reader who definitely enjoys detail (I mean, I’m a mega fan of Tolkien’s work!), so I would have been happy if this book had been thicker because of more in-depth information. But at the same time, I was happy to read a book that moved very quickly story-wise, and that didn’t make me think too hard. The writing is very easy to follow (and has improved since Honeybourn wrote her first book), and the author wrote a very convincing narrative for the protagonist, Shelby Black (meaning that Shelby’s motivations, way of thinking, decision-making, etc. were very fitting for a teenager). Overall this was a very quick, light, and fun summer read!
– 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!
Love the cover!
Hehe right?! It’s cute AND funny
I agree that I like books that have a lot of details. I’m reading Crooked Kingdom right now and I love that all the details come together later on in the story. Like you said though, it is nice to have quick, easy reads sometimes. I’m glad you enjoyed this book! Great review ❤
Ahhh I’m glad I’m not alone and that you understand what I meant 😀 <3 Also thanks so much for the kind words, and for reading my review! <3
I totally understand 🙂 Anytime, love! ❤
YAY! This one sounds amazing, can’t wait to read it, loved your review
Thank you so much! And I hope that you’ll really enjoy the book! 😀
One of the things I loved most about this book was that Honeybourn was able to keep it light, while covering a rather dark topic. It was fun and even heartwarming. Though I felt the ending was a little rushed, I enjoyed it overall.
Yeah! That can’t be easy to do, right? And the ending felt a little rushed to me too 🙁
Great review! This book sound interesting! I may have to look into it especially since it gave you Buffy and Supernatural vibes! 🙂
Thanks so much! And Buffy and Supernatural are definitely more detailed and complex, but yeah haha. I hope that you enjoy it if you do end up picking it up 🙂
I really need some light read so I guess I might pick this up!! Great review by the way!!
Awe yay! It’s definitely light! Just beware the horror components haha. Not sure if I recommend reading this one late at night bahaha
Well I thought this book is not highlighting the exorcism part!!! Thank you for the reminder!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve been eyeing it since you featured it in your arcstravaganza, it sounds soo fun!
Thank you! And it was definitely fun 😀
It does sound like Buffy fans would like this book!
For sure! Buffy was more detailed, but yeah 🙂
[…] Flavia the Bibliophile […]
[…] Flavia the Bibliophile’s review: “The writing is very easy to follow (and has improved since Honeybourn wrote her first book), and the author wrote a very convincing narrative for the protagonist, Shelby Black (meaning that Shelby’s motivations, way of thinking, decision-making, etc. were very fitting for a teenager).” […]