YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Evernight (Evernight #1) by Claudia Gray will be our 5th GBR for November 2021.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

I've read books similar and can't wait to dive into this one!

I've read some of Claudia Gray's Star Wars books and loved them! Honestly not sure if it was because she's a great writer or because I love Star Wars or both. :) Giving this one a whirl.

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ I have no idea why but I absolutely hate everything about this school and Bianca's parents for keeping secrets from her. I haven't read any spoilers, but this has a heavy vampire vibe to it. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ What just happened? She's all about Balthazar and then Lucas shows up and she suddenly can't get enough of him despite not speaking to him for weeks after half of a date in town? This came out of nowhere.

Also, called it on the vampires. (Self-congratulatory much) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[ So Lucas is a vampire hunter. Now I'm sad that his occupation was chosen for him when he was just a child. I wonder if he is actually 17 like Bianca or if he's older. I'm a big Buffy/Angel fan myself, but I still don't see this working out neatly. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Well, I guess I was hoping for more. This felt very Twilight-esque to me. (Granted, I only read the last book of Twilight.) I don't think I'll be continuing the series. I liked Lucas well enough and wouldn't have minded the story from his perspective. I just can't like Bianca or her parents, despite them not forcing vampire hunters to burn to death inside a church. I think I read too many vampire books in my teens to be impressed by this. The story-telling didn't flow for me. (hide spoiler)]

I read this a while ago (got it in a book box club I joined) and I liked it. I have book #2 to read as well if anyone does want to continue the series and read that one.