The WordSmithe
I love a good book! Young Adult, New Adult, Adult and nearly any genre. If it’s well-written, I’ll read it. And, I love to talk about what I’ve written.
I have a WIP–a new adult dystopian novel. I’m also exploring short fiction.
Find my reviews here, on Wordpress, on Tumblr, on Facebook (The Word Smithe), Goodreads.com, and Amazon.
If you’re an author and you’d like me to review your book, just drop me a line. I’ll be happy to read an ARC. I always give an honest review. And, even if I didn’t particularly go crazy for your story, I will stay positive. I believe something redeeming can be found in nearly every book.
Trouble in Paradise: A Review of CJ Duggan’s “Paradise City”
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
WARNING: Sexual content, Mature Readers (17+)
CJ Duggan’s “Paradise City” was a fun read! It made me think back to high school and ask the question, “Were we really that silly?” Of course, the answer is an emphatic “yes”.
What teenage girl doesn’t think about what her fellow classmates think about her? What teenage girl doesn’t think about making a major splash impression as a newcomer? And, what teenage girl doesn’t imagine dating the hot guy in school? That’s the whole premise of “Paradise City”. But, Duggan delivers it with a bit of Australian humor. Parts of the book had me dying laughing. Other parts had me seeking out Google to find out what a Holden Ute and a HJ Sandman looked like. I also needed to look up Dolly and Cleo (magazines similar to our Seventeen and Teen mags), biro (a refillable pen) and chemist (it’s a drugstore).
I enjoyed the character of Lexie–the country bumpkin dying for big city thrills. My least favorite was her cousin, Amanda. But, I pegged her problem from the first introduction. What teenager wants to share her room, let alone her life, with a country cousin she hasn’t seen in years? My favorite character had to be Laura. She had to be the smartest teen out of the bunch. I just liked the way her brain worked.
It wasn’t obvious that “Paradise City” was a New Adult book. I was half way through the story before I got to content that screamed New Adult. But, Duggan handled it in a tasteful manner that shouldn’t turn off anyone not looking for a little ‘thrill’ in their read.
This was the first time I read anything my Duggan, and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the next book in this tale. I’ve already pre-ordered “Paradise Road”.
