Life After Theft – Aprilynne Pike

Life After Theft – Aprilynne PikeTitle: Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike
Publishing Info: April 30, 2013 by HarperCollins
Source: Edelweiss
Genres: Ghosts, Paranormal, Young Adult
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: May 4, 2013

    Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.
No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.
Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

bookreview1

So, LIFE AFTER THEFT is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, which I was kind of surprised to hear! Then again, I don’t really know much of anything about The Scarlet Pimpernel so I’m not really sure why I was so surprised… I guess just because it seems like an uncommon choice.

My first reaction after finishing was 1) that I really liked seeing a male POV and 2) it was a quick read and an interesting story. Did it wow me? Did it knock me off my feet? Meh… No. But LIFE AFTER THEFT was still enjoyable the whole way through and it was a quick and easy read.

One thing I love about male POVs in YA (especially when it’s a female author writing a male POV, in my opinion) is that they always seem to be so snarky and witty — maybe it’s so they have that edge that a female MC might not? Personally, I love that snark and that was kind of how LIFE AFTER THEFT started off. Throughout the whole book, though, I think I was just hoping for more. Our main character Jeff was actually a nice guy (that was kind of the purpose of the whole book) so what started off as snarky and sarcastic didn’t really carry through the whole book like I wanted it to!

I enjoyed the characters but didn’t end up falling in love with any of them. Jeff is a good guy in a tough situation (I do NOT envy his ability to see a ghost), Kimberlee is stuck between two worlds, Sera has a past, and Khail does as well… They were all perfectly good characters but no one really stuck out for me to say, “YES, I really liked Character X.”

There are a lot of really nice “life lesson” situations in this book and we see a lot of coming-of-age experiences and life-changing situations (divorce, moving, death, love, drugs, alcohol, sex). Besides the life lessons at the end of the book (of course we know they’re going to learn something from all of this!), the life-changings situations didn’t take over the whole book, which I was happy for. There were plenty of serious topics being addressed and floating around this whole ghost situation, but I still felt like the book had an overall happy & light feel. The only thing that bothered me really was 1) an instance of…. I wouldn’t call it insta-love because it wasn’t. More like “We’ve-known-each-other-for-a-month-love” which is still too insta-lovey for me!

  

      (Actually, I could totally see Jeff being a Ted Mosby-type character…)

character_breakdown1

Jeff: Jeff is a good guy. No, really. He’s a truly good person! His decision to help out Kimberlee’s ghost really is the entire book, so go, Jeff for being so nice! I was actually hoping for a tiny bit more sarcasm & snark and less “good guy” from him (just since that was the immediate feeling I got from the first few pages), but turns out he’s kind of a Ted Mosby. Not a bad thing, but just not what I was expecting/hoping for! He was extremely noble and that was really admirable to see! Kimberlee: Kimberlee (NOT Kim) is a totally different story. She…. had some issues when she was alive. Mainly legit kleptomania and not just stealing for kicks. She was NOT a nice person when she was alive and she spends a lot of her… haunting time trying to figure out how to redeem herself so she can move on. Sera: Sera was okay for me. I know we were really supposed to like her in the end but I was just always kind of lukewarm towards her. Maybe I should blame Kimberlee for that! Khail: For some reason he just felt forced into the book for me, which really doesn’t make sense because he actually becomes a big part of the plot. I just never fell into step with his character and he never felt natural for me.

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Borrow it

LIFE AFTER THEFT was really cute and very entertaining but it wasn’t something I might go out of my way for again. I wouldn’t say pass it up but didn’t quite bump it up on my TBR either.

book_recommendations1BOOKS LIKE LIFE AFTER THEFT

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Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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14 thoughts on “Life After Theft – Aprilynne Pike

  1. Karielle @ Books à la Mode

    HAHA I love how you illustrate the insta-love with Ted Mosby—definitely a good way to imagine it.

    I love how this book is a contemporary retelling, but it sounds like it has its own unique plot and characters! Thanks for a brilliant review 🙂

    1. Brittany Post author

      Haha, thank you!! He did another thing and I was like, “That’s a classic Ted move!” I made myself laugh with that connection haha.
      It was a fun book to read! If you pick it up, hope you enjoy it 🙂

  2. Alexa Y.

    This sounds pretty cute! I had no idea it was a retelling either, but now I do, thanks to your review. While I’m not sure I’d go out and buy this one right away, I do think I’d love the chance to read it!

  3. Amy @ bookgoonie

    Interesting. All I know is that I’m supposed to love The Scarlet Pimpernel, if I get around to reading or watching. I think female writers write their men like they like’m. I love me some witty-snarky dude. *raises eyebrow-quirks lips in a crooked smile*

  4. Kay @ It's a Book Life

    After reading your review I have decided that is for sure going to be a library read. I have it on my TBR pile but I couldn’t decide if I wanted to purchase it. I think I will wait to borrow it. I loved your review. I too am a pretty big fan of male POV. Plus, I love me some snark.

  5. Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook

    Wait, wait, wait! I only read the first line of your review. This is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel!? Oh my gosh, I need to read this immediately. I’m going to request this book immediately! Okay, back to your review, now.

  6. Vyki @ On The Shelf

    I don’t think I will be picking this one up any time in the immediate future, and I find it interesting also that the book was off the Scarlet Pimpernel, definitely not one you hear abut much. Love the HIMYM gif, the writers for that show are genuises! Great review 🙂

  7. Vivian

    Yay for being review twins! LOL

    Haha, I def don’t know anything about The Scarlet Pimpernel either so that’s cool to know. I’m sad it didn’t wow you as much as it did me. I loved every minute of it. Thought it was pretty hilarious. And yes, I love male POVs. There def needs to be more of it. I have to agree w/you though, I didn’t really care for Sera. I loved Jeff & Kimberlee’s interactions though bc they were so fun. Great review!

  8. Candice

    I’ve got the egalley of this… haven’t gotten to reading it though. I thought it sounded really pretty good, but maybe there’s been a reason I haven’t even looked at it since I was approved! haha

    I do like the idea of a Ted Mosby type! 🙂

  9. Danielle

    Great review, I got this last week, I liked the cover and I’ve never read any of Pike’s stuff so I wanted to try it out. Sounds like a good weekday evening read when you don’t want to invest too much. I adore that HIMYM gif. Such an hilarious episode 🙂

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