In this sequel to BITE ME! about AJ Ashe's life as a
vampire teenager in a diverse household of vampires,
wizards and one soon-to-be-born hybrid, Melissa
Francis dishes out action, surprises, and complicated
tension that demonstrate just how much more complicated
teen angst can get when combined with a side of paranormal
abilities. At the start of the book, AJ's former boyfriend
is now her step-brother, her two best friends can't stand
each other, she's got to hide that she's a vampire, and -oh
yeah- she's half Serpentine, the clan that tried to destroy
the wizarding clan to which her step-father and step-
brothers (including her former boyfriend) belong. Between
trying to avert the nightmares caused by the Serpentines
trying to claim her as their own, tamping down suspicions
within the family and herself regarding her ultimate
loyalties, training physically and mentally to resist
kidnapping and mind-plundering, and -even worse- helping
plan a prom that still doesn't have a theme, AJ's life is
in an uproar. She is lucky she can find time to sleep, much
less do homework or try to examine her feelings for her now-
step-brother, Ryan, or her sexy British trainer, Lex.
LOVE SUCKS! provides great entertainment, fresh storylines,
and realistic emotions. Best of all, in no way -positive or
negative- would one compare this to the current crop of YA
books that appear nothing more than repackaged tales of
sparkly vampires (although one aspect's unintentional
similarity to the recent spoof movie Vampires Suck! will
only make those in the know chuckle). This work stands on
its own in a field saturated with sub-par storytelling.
Love Sucks! is a whirlwind that is truly satisfying.
AJ Ashe may have gotten rid of her vampire stalker and her
evil ex-teacher, but things are hardly back to normal. For
one thing, she still has to maintain a strict
look-but-don't-touch policy with Ryan, her hot
ex-boyfriend-turned-stepbrother. For another, she has to
learn to control her vampire superpowers—which means more
than a few dates with Lex, mind-reading professional vampire
trainer and too-sexy-for-his-own-good bad boy. And as if
that's not enough, she happens to be the key to her father's
plans to take over the world . . . and he'll stop at nothing
to get what he wants.
All this and she's still got to plan the prom. Being a
teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out
sucks!