When I picked up Kiss Me Kill Me, I was a little skeptical about it. The description on the back cover was intriguing, but I was worried that it would be ridiculously far-fetched. Well, it wasn't hard to believe, but it still left me indifferent because the story was so rushed.

First, Dan obviously dies right away, because the story is about what happens to Scarlett after Dan dies while kissing her, but he still is a big part of the story, and mystery. That is why I was surprised the author really doesn't give us much on Dan. We know he's popular, and cute, but that's it.

The story seemed somewhat disjointed, and I think it was because the story was so hurried. Scarlett kisses Dan, he dies, then she's off to Wakefield Hall, it really feels like pieces are missing. The ending is so abrupt, its disappointing. It ends right when you start to actually care about the story.

Kiss Me Kill Me is a quick read, that does draw you in, but at the end. It wasn't a waste of time, but IMO it could have been done better. Luckily, there is a sequel, Kisses and Lies out, and the reviews for it are great. Most say the sequel is better than the first, so I'm going to give the sequel a try. ( )

Kiss Me Kill Me – Lauren Henderson 15-19
This is a murder mystery set in one of my favorite places – an English boarding school. I wasn’t so sure how I felt about an actual murder of teenagers by another teenager, but it works quite well. Scarlett is a gymnast at a school which is controlled by the popular crowd when she is suddenly invited to a party. At that party she is making out with one of the popular guys when he keels over dead, causing her to be known as the Kiss of Death. It is clearly an accident, but Scarlett still has a lot of guilt over not knowing why he died – he was allergic to something and trying to find his epi-pen, but what was it? Everyone blames her of course, and she leaves the school in disgrace. While adjusting to the new school, she is sent an anonymous letter telling her that his death was not her fault. Coincidentally one of the new students at her school wants to be a private investigator, and helps her try to find out what has happened, but there isn’t a resolution in this book. Ordinarily I do not like that sort of ending, but this time I kept reading to the end, and found the new book right away. You get so caught up in the rich and cool v. not cool that I will definitely keep reading that series. ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Scarlett Wakefield has two wishes at the beginning of the year: 1) a larger bust size (okay, so that's really TWO wishes right there...) and 2) to have Dan McAndrew notice her. But Scarlett is so far removed from the cool crowd that she'll never run into Dan. At least her first wish has happened. But Scarlett needs to learn to be careful what you wish for. Scarlett does gymnastics, and a large chest isn't conducive to flipping and flying through the air without everything bouncing around. If one of her wishes came true (and okay, the one wish counts as two, doesn't it?), then maybe her other one will happen as well.

One day after gymnastic practice, waiting in front of St. Tabby's, the all-girl school she attends, Nadia, one of the "It" girls, crosses the street and invites Scarlett to join her and the other popular girls hanging out at the fountain. Nadia was sent across the street by the leader, Plum. Without thinking of the consequences or her friends' feelings, Scarlett crosses the street. Had she stopped and thought about the outcome, maybe she would've turned back around and stayed on the bench with Luce and Allison.

But once Dan joins the gang at the fountain and comes straight over to Scarlett, all regrets are gone. She is beside herself with the attentions from Dan. Scarlett is even more shocked when Nadia, upon Plum's subtle nod, invites Scarlett to one of her infamous weekend parties. Nadia's parents are seldom home and she lives in a lush penthouse apartment.

Scarlett goes to the party, and that night, her entire world changes. Dan shows interest in her, but little does Scarlett know that Dan belongs to Plum. Dan escorts Scarlett onto the gardened terrace and the two immediate click. After some conversation, Scarlett finds herself receiving her first real, perfect kiss. Only to have Dan stop, clutch his throat, and frantically try to pull something from his pant pocket. Scarlett searches, but there's nothing there, and Dan suffocates right in front of Scarlett.

Of course, Scarlett can't return to St. Tabby's. So instead, it's off to Wakefield, the school her grandmother founded out in the middle of nowhere. At least she's far removed from everyone that knows what happened to Dan. Scarlett believes she can start over at Wakefield. But then an anonymous note appears in her desk telling her they know it wasn't her fault. With the help of her new friend, Taylor, they set out to solve the mystery of why and how Dan really died.

What a fascinating story! Ms. Henderson writes a wonderful story of a girl caught up in the desire to be part of the in crowd and having it going terribly wrong. The reader will keep wondering how Dan died and what Scarlett will do about it in the end. The mystery will keep you guessing until the final chapter. And the way Ms. Henderson crafts the story leaves it wide open for a sequel for Scarlett. ( )

The good: quick, quick pacing; page turner; a mystery (which normally isn't a "good" for me, but this one is funThe bad: I've never read a book more packed with body-conscious crap - seriously, at least every other page there's a comment about something being too fat, not eating chips, not being as skinny as so-and-so, or not having a toned enough stomach. The main character is a gymnast so maybe that's part of it, but it really turned me off and I don't know that I'd be cool with recommending it to teen girls due to this ( )

Being a person that is very strong minded and now an adult, I found this book to be incredibly frustrating. I could not see following Blume little worship rally with such desire to be accepted. Lauren Henderson did a wonderful job writing this story, although after a build up to the discovery of the use of Dan's allergy againist him I expected more. I was shoked to turn the page and be at the end of the book so soon. While I am not writing off the author, I was not totally impressed with this book. ( )