This is such a hard book to review, because there were parts of it that I really liked and parts that I really wish had been more developed. So... let's just give it a shot. Definitely doing a good versus not so-good for this one because it was really split for me.
The Good:
- It is a book about jumping into other books. That is fabulous! Who wouldn't want to pop into their favorite stories?! Yes, please, sign me up! I loved reading about Amy's adventures through her favorite stories, meeting characters in "the Margin", it was so fun and clever!
- I loved the characters from the books. Even those I wasn't familiar with were so fun to read about. We got to see them out of the context of their original stories at times too, and it was entertaining.
- I liked the romance. Even if it was a little too quick for my taste (don't worry, we'll get to that), it was so adorable. I liked Amy and Will, actually, I think I liked Will more than I liked Amy, so I was rooting for them for sure.
- The three generations of women was great! It was almost Gilmore Girls-esque, with the snobby grandmother, the sometimes flighty teen mom mother, and Amy, the quiet one who enjoys reading. Anyway, I liked their dynamic, and their interactions with each other.
- The atmosphere of Stormsay was perfect for the story. It was quaint, and old, and even a bit drab, but it worked in the context. I would have liked to know more of its history, but what we did see worked quite well.
The Not-So-Good:
- This is a wee bit spoilery, so... beware. The ending was wholly unfulfilling. This is absolutely my major qualm with the book. Now this next part will be definitely spoilery so again..caution, friends. I won't fully spoil the ending, but there are characters who are completely unaccounted for, TONS of ends not tied up or even hinted at conclusions for. It was almost like there should be another book but I don't think one is planned? I would re-think my rating and revise my review if there WILL be a second book, but for now, the ending wasn't just displeasing, it was like "wait, why did I even bother, I have NO IDEA what happened to anyone or anything".
- The romance was so insta-love. Like, I guess since they are the only teens on this island not related to each other it makes sense but... they have one kiss and she's declaring her love. Really? I know she is young but... calm down, sister.
- The world-building was lacking. I needed more answers to my questions. How did any of the book-jumping things work? What about the outside world, why were they so cut off? And I had lots more questions, but they're all quite full of spoilers so I will just say that I wanted to know stuff and I didn't. I needed rules, and I had none. Obviously this is magical and such, but there still should be a rule system within that, yes? Also, I would have liked a bit more background on Amy in general to connect to her better.
Bottom Line: It's imaginative and often charming. I enjoyed reading it, but I was also left frustrated by some major things. All in all, I liked it, but I do wish some things had been explained and fleshed out more. And maybe a sequel.
*Copy provided for review