This gets worse as she begins to think and act like a teenage Stepford wife. At one point she even asks herself when she turned into 'The kind of person I claimed to hate' but doesn't appear to change her behavior. She mistrusts her friends and is reluctant to make any gestures of compassion and friendship towards her sister (she just got out of a mental hospital - invite her to some parties and don't make her eat lunch by herself - it is not that hard!). The novel starts off slowly, as each girl takes small steps towards 'self-improvement' but features some truly chilling moments once the girls begin to depend on supernatural influences and to forget how they survived without them (the scene with Emily in the bathroom - HOOO BOY, that freaked me out a little).Īlexis is still a fairly unlikeable character. First the evil doll-obsessed little girl and now a spirit that feeds on the teenage obsession to be pretty and popular. Review: Alender really knows how to write her ghosts. The girls quickly learn that you never get beauty, poise and a launch up the social ladder without sacrifice. Worried that Kasey may be in over her head again, Alexis and her friend, Megan, join the Sunshine Club in order to protect her. That is, until her sister Kasey is released from the mental hospital and promptly finds a group of friends who are a little too perfect.

The Gist: Alexis has spent the last few months in blissful normality.

The scroll work on these covers always adds a delicate detail that adds interest. While her expression is dark and menacing, her outfit is sweet and child-like, presenting a wonderful contrast. The girl has a seriously intense and chilling stare and begs the reader to ask whether she is emerging from the door or protecting what is within. This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between ClassesĬover Impressions: This cover fits really well with the first in the series.

From bad to cursed by katie alender