Jekel Loves Hyde

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde
Author: Fantaskey, Beth
Length: 282 pages
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher / Year: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / 2010

This books is told alternatively by Jill and Tristen, the two main characters. It starts off with Jill at her father’s burial, and then quickly jumps to a year later. Jill is a straight-A artistic student who excels at chemistry. She is struggling to cope with her father’s death and her mother’s mental illness. Tristen is a macho tough guy on the running team, who also seems to excel at chemistry. He is also living alone with his father, and dealing with what seem to be psychotic breaks where he blanks out and goes violent.

The two of them are drawn together by a number of different things, some chemistry is thrown in (both kinds). Family legacies are dealt with and discussed. Old literature is brought up as relevant. What more could you ask for in a book?

For more, go check out my full review on Amy Reads!

Jekel Loves Hyde...but Trisha Doesn't

Title:  Jekel Loves Hyde
Author:  Beth Fantaskey
Publisher:  Harcourt
Release Date: 3 May 2010
Date Finished: 2 July 2010

The Short and Sweet of It
Jill Jekel and Tristen Hyde are thrown together in a chemistry experiment that could benefit them both. But while Jill's reward is money for college, Tristan's is something more personal and more dangerous. For Dr. Jekyll left a legacy beyond a great work of literature, a legacy which has the power to destroy those involved.

A Bit of a Ramble
First off, I can not get used to typing Jekel. Jekel. Not Jekyll. Seriously, my fingers have to be forced to type it J-E-K-E-L. While my left middle finger is trying for the 'e', my right pointer finger is simultaneously touching the 'y'.  Okay, now on to what you actually care about.

I sped through Jekel Loves Hyde, finishing it in one sitting. Throughout, I was entertained; but the similarity in the narratives and the perpetuation of ridiculous stereotypes annoyed me quite a bit.  I just don't understand the ease with which YA paranormal romance lead females fall in love with boys who admittedly want to rape or kill them.

For a full review, head over to eclectic/eccentric!