alisoninbookland
Written on May 2, 2018
Payback is paradise in this start to a trilogy from New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (soon to be a major motion picture!), Jenny Han, and New York Times bestselling author of The List, Siobhan Vivian.
Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.
KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.
LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.
MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.
None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.
With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.
- ISBN10 1442347503
- ISBN13 9781442347502
- Publish Date 18 September 2012
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Audio
- Edition Unabridged
- Format Audiobook
- Duration 7 hours and 2 minutes
- Language English
Reviews
readingwithwrin
Written on Aug 19, 2017
Kat, Lillia, and Mary are three young women you wouldn't expect to work together on something. But they all have grudges against certain people and are fed up with waiting for Karma to handle it.
With the people they have a problem with being the most popular ones and school and shown favoritism by the teachers, making them get caught/suffer won't be easy.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Is what the girls doing wrong? Yes. Is it something that real people should be doing, no. But it was entertaining to listen to. Let's face it at some point in our lives everyone has thought about getting back at the person who has made their lives hellish in one way or another. These girls actually follow through with it and are fairly creative with the plans they make. But because these are teenagers we're talking about things end up having major consequences by the end and all of them could be in trouble if they are found out.
The friendships they all made were shaky, I can see them really growing from here on out, as things get more intense because of what happened in the last few chapters. I mean that type of thing is either going to bring you closer together or tear you apart.
“You can chalk up things to coincide so many times before you have to face the truth.”
The cliffhanger at the end ugh... now I need to read/listen to the next one right away so I can know what happens next.
P.S. I was so not expecting paranormal to be mixed in with this story as well. I'm excited to see what it will lead to in the following books.
layawaydragon
Written on Apr 2, 2016
I was given an signed ARC copy as a gift from Mickey of I'm a Book Shark.
WOW. That ending. OMFG, it had to be a trilogy. >.
I've read Han's Boys I've Loved Before duology and loved it. I've never read anything by Vivian before. I think it's just adorable how they're best friends and writing together about these girls! :D
I'm honestly surprised how wrapped up I was in Burn for Burn. I was worried how the gossip-y high schoolers would get to be and seem childish. Nope, I haven’t read (or watched) other things like Pretty Little Liars or whatever. That just sounds exhausting while Burn for Burn didn’t. I loved Han’s work before and thought it was worth a shot since it has a paranormal twist.
Looks like I've still got a spark going after all this time. Kat and Mary are the most relatable for me. Lillia and I have only one thing in common and I'm surprised at her post-trauma self. It’s not surprising being in denial and hiding it, but I’d be a hell of a lot more pissed at Ren. Where’s your back bone girl?!? Stick up for yourself!
The tale is weaved between their three perspectives and flip between past and present. It’s done so well and I love the little details woven throughout.
We start off with the week before school starts: Kat’s developing “thing” with a Jock, Lillia’s crew hanging out at the beach and Mary’s coming home. Then we skip to when it all starts going downhill on the first day of senior year.
It’s a slow build with tension and suspense surrounding their lives and pasts. The revenge pack starts building around 120 page. But the whole book flew by and was a quick, engaging read. Their revenge tactics are the level of high school drama but I wasn’t expecting anything else.
At least, that’s how it starts…
The paranormal is barely there. At the end, one finally admits something is going on (to herself) while everyone else is in the dark (literally). It is shaping up to be Carrie with a twist, I think. Loved that book. Or maybe a cross between that and The Craft. Man, I fucking loved that movie too. And now I feel so old, lol. .
I will absolutely be picked up the next book!
Stephanie
Written on May 17, 2015
I've been wanting to read To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han for forever. I'm trying to watch my book buying budget a little more closely and read from my massive TBR more. Instead of purchasing a new book, I grabbed Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian and decided to give it a whirl.
I have to say that I waffled quite a bit on my feelings for this book. It is about a lot of negative stuff. It made me uncomfortable and not in the makes you think type good way. Three girls ban together to see vengeance for their perceived injustices. This kind of vigilante justice always make me quesy. A lot of times it is meted out without all the facts. Often those facts make a big difference.
I really enjoyed Kat, Mary, and Lilia. It was only during their planning sessions that I wanted to distance myself. Each of them certainly has a lot on their plates. Part of what makes the plot believable is the amount of emotion these three are trying to process. The story is told in rotation perspectives. The good news is that each voice is distinctive. No flipping back to see who's narrating the section.
The saving grace for me is that Han & Vivian reined it in towards the end. Up to that point Burn for Burn seemed to almost advocate seeking your own justice. The most dangerous part of that is even if you are bone deep certain of past events, what if you're wrong? What if there's information you don't know? Thankfully it was addressed.
A lot of what held this book up for me was guilt. I let guilt hang over me. I know I shouldn't or that it isn't healthy but it is a part of me. Trying to stop it would be as easy as trying to change my eye color. I was uncomfortable but still enjoyed the book overall. I'll read the next book for sure. I just wont' be pouncing on it.
whisperingchapters
Written on Oct 20, 2014
This book started out slow, but then it began to build up the pace until you are left thinking "What the hell?" (I do mean this in a good way)
These three girls are seeking for revenge. But does revenge ever lead to a happy ending? Not in this book, at least.
I don't know what else to say. I am still thinking of what just happened and I cannot wait to start with Fire With Fire.
Jo
Written on Sep 27, 2014
Being the huge fan of Jenny Han that I am, and having recently finished To All the Boys I've Loved Before, I decided I needed to catch up and read Burn for Burn, which she co-wrote with Siobhan Vivian. I should have read it sooner - what a great read it is!
Lillia is worried about the relationship between her 14-year-old sister and her friend. After discovering boys are not to be trusted, she's determined to protect her sister from going through the same thing. Kat was ditched by her former best friend, Rennie, years ago, and has been on the receiving end of her vicious taunts ever since. Mary was badly bullied by Reeve before she left Jar Island. But she's not the same person she once was, and has come back to face him. Together, Lillia, Kat and Mary make a pact to bring down the people who have hurt them, and make them suffer.
Because of what the book is about, I was vaguely reminded of Fury by Elizabeth Miles, an urban fantasy where supernatural creatures make people pay for the bad things they've done. It's only a small similarity, the plots are completely different, but it had me excited just the same when I started. At first, Burn for Burn seemed kind of slow and tame in comparison, so I quickly threw the idea of Fury out my head, and decided to just enjoy the story for what it was.
Once I'd done that, the story became a little disturbing, morally. I don't want to spoil the story, so I'm not going to get too specific, but... My conscience was arguing with me. The things Lillia, Kat and Mary believed Alex, Rennie and Reeve had done were absolutely awful - they made me so mad! I really was sickened by some of their behaviour. Of course they can't get away with that! I was rooting for the girls with their plots and schemes to get payback, because these people deserved it! And yet... I started to feel uneasy when their plans were put into motion. Some of the plans didn't seem so bad in the great scheme of things, but other things, I felt really uncomfortable with. Even some of the tamer events that take place. I couldn't help but think about how the "bad person" was feeling, being on the receiving end of the girls' plans. Seeing them unfold, and how some of these people were affected, it wasn't great. But then I would remind myself of what they had done. It was like a constant battle in my head.
Until the last third of the book, where things go too far. Even before things were moving, I was completely dumbfounded, thinking, "Oh my god, you cannot be serious?!" And then seeing it all play out, just knowing how things are going to go, because how could they not?! And what's scary is that these girls are normal. Kat is a tough chick, but can have her feelings hurt like anyone else, and has a sensitive center. She's not a bad person despite having a bit of an attitude. Lillia is popular and friendly, liked by everyone, quintessentially nice. Mary is quiet and shy, very pretty, yet someone who would go under the radar and not put herself out there. Yet these three normal, nice girls become darker people when they put their minds to what revenge. It's really gripping, whether you agree with what they're doing or not.
And the ending of this book! Oh my god! Some things I saw coming, others I didn't, but wow! So many questions! And I'm really excited to see how things will play out for these three girls and the other characters affected! So looking forward to reading Fire with Fire, the second book in the trilogy. I really must get my hands on it soon! A fantastic read!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Books for the review copy.
Amber
Written on Feb 20, 2013
Full review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2013/02/burn-for-burn-by-jenny-han-and-siobhan_23.html
Suz @ Bookish Revelations
Written on Jun 28, 2012
Kat is this fiesty girl from the wrong side of town who doesn't exactly care what people think of her. Mary is the one who's been hurt probably the most out of the three of them, and Lillia is just amazing any way you look at it. All of the girls were extremely fun to get to know and discover new things about. I was very happy to see the history fleshed out between Lillia and Kat and the return of their friendship re-instated by a little bout of sweet revenge. The three sort of became the most unlikely besties that were so much fun to read about. I definitely got a kick out of all of their schemes and motives behind why they wanted their revenge and who it would be exacted upon.
The writing style was very laid back and easy going, the book was just so much fun, and the character's were definitely interesting. It turned out to be a great read, that ended on such a cliff-hanger that I'm totally left craving more. I cannot wait until the next book in the series come out, because I'll definitely have a copy in my hands. There was some amazing mystery wafting around the atmostphere that lent itself well to the character growth, background, and integrated itself well into the story keeping me hooked and excited to read what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys contemporary young adult fiction for sure. It would definitely make a worth read!