For die-hard fans of Bella and Edward only—pun very much intended
An orphaned adrenaline junkie falls for a dead girl, and the doomed, love-struck couple learns they can only truly “be together” (cough) in the realm between the living and the dead.
Ghosts—known as Walkers—at St. Osanna’s boarding school have been said to traverse the grounds. Colin, a handsome, popular student famous for daredevil stunts on his bike, has heard these musings, though he thinks them fiction—until he meets Lucy. From the moment that Lucy and Colin meet, their love is cemented, hard and fast. Although one is very much alive with a corporeal body and one isn’t, teenage hormones still palpably buzz, and an almost tragic accident on a frozen lake becomes an opportunity for the pair to physically unite. After, Colin decides to willingly engage in near-death experiences to be with Lucy, but how far will he go to be with the girl—er, spirit?—that he loves? While Colin is handsome and Lucy may have been smart prior to her unfortunate demise, the two of them are completely one-dimensional in their love for each other; it’s the only driving force for them. Readers have to be more than willing to suspend their disbelief and let themselves be pulled along by the unrelenting tide of swooning infatuation. However, the cringe-worthy ending will leave even the most uncompromising romantic grumbling.
For die-hard fans of Bella and Edward only—pun very much intended . (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4814-1368-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2014
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
