Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Review: Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

Book: Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: A
For: Fun
From: ARC borrowed from the library staff (to be released Oct. 12)

Julie Berry is coming to speak out our library soon, and as part of the preparation for that, her people sent the staff a bunch of ARCs for this book. I got wind of that and happily took the chance to read one.

I read her first book The Amaranth Enchantment during the readathon last October and quite enjoyed it. But I hadn't heard a thing about this book, so I went into it expecting absolutely nothing.

What a quaint fun book this is! I totally loved it! It's about a girl who gets this unexpected chance to leave her little village and go to university to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor. On the way, many mishaps happen that thwart her from that goal. (Mishaps here meaning life threatening occurrences!) And she ends up.... well, I won't tell you where she ends up, but it's crazy how she gets there. And then she learns something about herself totally unexpected which causes her to see life in a whole new way and wonder if her past and family life before was at all what it seemed.

As I said in my little Goodreads comment on this one, I saw this book like a movie in my head, and for some reason, that movie had a very Princess Bride feel to it. The time period, the look, the location. Also, there were a couple of silly (and scary) comedy/circus actors, a prince and princess, the boy next door who's suddenly quite attractive, an old widow lady, a loving grandfather, a couple of special creatures and a gypsy selling charms. Mix that all up and you've got this fun tale.

Bottom line: I loved it!

For more from author Julie Berry check out her website.

Other reviews:

Books Complete Me
Two and a Half Book Lovers
My Pile of Books

2 comments:

  1. I read Amaranth Enchantment I enjoyed the read. If I remember correctly I think I thought is was a sweet read...or something like that.

    This one sounds does sound like a fun tale. I am going to put it on my tbr list.

    You lucky dog, you were able to borrow this before the release date. I sure do hope my library obtains a copy ASAP. ;)

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  2. With so much going on in this you have triggered my interest. I will definitely have to check this one out. Thanks.

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