Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

The undead can really screw up your senior year ...
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

I had read so many positive reviews about this book and just had to pick it up. I'm so glad I did because I fell in love with these characters. Jessica's Guide is definitely not your average vampire story where the girl falls immediately, head over heals in love with the mysterious vampire. Oh no, Jessica does pretty much everything in her power to push away Lucius.

I loved how the book had both aspects of pushing Lucius away then having Jessica become jealous of his new interest. It definitely kept things interesting by having them change roles half way through. At first I completely hated Lucius. He was cocky, chauvinistic and old fashioned in all the wrong ways. My feelings changed for him as the book went on due to the author's amazing character development. Lucius grew so much from beginning to end, along with Jessica.

This is told from Jessica's point of view who was a funny and smart teenage girl who had been thrown into this crazy situation. We also got a chance to get into Lucius' head when we see the letters he writes to his Uncle.

The aspect of Jessica being a long lost vampire princess threw me off at first. I thought it was going to be handled in a fairy tale way where they both would sit on thrones and live happily ever after in a castle. I was really wrong. Everything going on in their home country is insane and on edge of a revolution. It was really interesting to have both a love story mixed in with vampire history over the possibility of war.

Usually the endings of books don't sit well with me, but Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side ended perfectly. I adored the events leading up to the final ending that literally kept you guessing until the very end. What I thought was going to happen was so wrong and that made me love this book even more!

Characters: 5/5

Creativity: 5/5

Voice: 5/5

Impact: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Cover: 5/5

LOVE this cover and the title, so unique and relates to the story.

There is a sequel on Beth Fantaskey's website that you can only read online and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is romantic, funny and action packed. If you haven't already read this amazing book, go pick yourself up a copy!