I really enjoyed this light-hearted look at the whole vampire scene. Kimberly Pauley did a terrific job in creating her main character, Mina. She has terrific voice - one that most teenage girls will relate to, and she put a whole new twist on the vampire sagas of late! Fun read! ( )

Added per Sarah's 4-star review.

I won't waste my space on a summary of the plot since you can find that in the other reivews here.

That being said, I absolutely loved this book. I've actually known the author for several years and it always makes me a little nervous to read books written by people I know. What if I don't like it?

Sucks to be me certainly does not disappoint. It was so refreshing to read a book that was different from the literal flood of vampire books currently on the market. The humor was a nice change in tone without being overbearing or totally eclipsing the story and characters. Overall, it probably tends more towards the side of fluff, but I'll be eagarly anticipating the sequel anyway.

4 stars ( )

Myth: Vampires don't exist
Truth: DEAD WRONG!

Mina isn't sure whether she want to become a vampire, but she has to make a decision soon. And now Uncle Mortie is pressuring her. Her parents have signed her up for an informational class on becoming a vampire(like them) held by the Northwest Regional Vampire Council. ( )

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

Mina Hamilton has a major life (or death) decision to make, and only a few weeks in which to decide. Should she, or should she not, become a vampire? It seems like a no-brainer. I mean, Buffy would know in, like, a split second. But, having vampire parents sort of complicates matters.

This highly humorous novel puts a new spin on the teen vampire tale. Mina is a typical high school student whose extra-curricular activities are no more exciting than hanging at the mall or pizza place, until her undead parents break the news that she has to start attending vampire information classes twice a week. Apparently, they never told the Regional Vampire Council that they had a child, and the situation has caused major drama. Now, Mina must make a decision about her future (and exactly how long that future will last) pronto!

This light read is worth five stars just because it literally made me snort lemonade through my nose. Pauley dares to go there again and again, with topical references and jabs at modern-day vampire lore. Her main character is a self-described closet girly-girl who has kick-butt tendencies and an attitude that readers will love.

Totally entertaining, with a top-of-the-line teen voice! ( )

Who would have known that a vampire story doesn't have to be scary? Yes, Sucks to Be Me is a vampire story, but nothing like you've ever read before... so throw all your old notions and pre-conceived ideas about vampires out the window because that's not what you'll find in Kim's new book. What you will find is a barrel of fun... vampire style. Kim started with a list of the myths and legends about vampires, tossed away the obvious ones, and had some fun with the rest. For instance, What if you could choose to be a vampire or not? Do Vampires have a code of ethics?

Mina Hamilton is a typical teen with a best friend and all the usual worries about hot boys, prom night, and keeping secrets. Humans aren't supposed to know about vampires, but Mina has known about her parents for many years, and now she needs to make the choice. The only thing is, she can't tell her best friend about any of the strange things happening... and those things get stranger by the minute.

Mirrorstone has done an awesome job in producing this novel. The cute litte vampire bat on the back cover, the pages of Mina's notes and lists that she writes while she's trying to make her life-changing decision, those Myth versus Truth snippets at the head of each chapter, all add to the appeal of this book, while Mina's sweet voice and personality captivate the reader and make you want to know how it all turns out in the end. Well, you'll just have to read the book.

Recommended for readers age 12 and up who are in search of adventure and a little something different for their reading enjoyment.

This review was previously published on Dragonviews ( )

A book that came out last year and isn't nearly as well-known as it deserves to be: Sucks To Be Me by Kimberly Pauley, in which Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. Well, undead. Maybe. They're vampires, and now Mina has to decide if she wants to be one too.

There are boys and dates in it for you Twilight fans, but I'd never say it's a Twilight read-alike or even "like Twilight." It's funny, and touching, and realistic, and there's no wangst. And did I mention how funny it is?

The book starts off sort of boring and pop-y, but hang in there for two or three chapters. There are a lot of pop culture references but they're relevant, the ones I was actually thinking of rather than trying to hard to work them into the narrative in an attempt to be hip. The vampire references are updated and modern: Be honest, when someone says "vampire" you probably think of Twilight and Buffy now, not ghastly specters clawing their way up from the ground. Pauley layers both ideas, and you can tell she really likes the genre she's writing in and she's conversant with it.

There are a lot of great, quirky, realistically deep characters, and the plot is straightforward but detailed. I loved Mina and I think I'd love her just as much if she was a real person, along with all of her friends and family. I'd love to hang out with her and she's an amazingly loyal person to the people she loves.

Let me say one more time that this book is HILARIOUS. It was just under 300 pages, but I wouldn't've minded if it was 3000. Luckily there's a sequel in the works for next year. (Humor isn't something that can be explained easily, so check the book out for yourself. :) ) ( )

This was a fast, fun read about a teenage girl who must make the life changing decision of whether to become a vampire or not. Mina is a very likable girl with a good sense of humor who doesn't make this decision lightly.

I liked Mina's lists and journal entries scattered throughout the book, as well as the little 'myths vs truth' snippets at the start of each chapter. Didn't really care for the oh-so-hip name dropping here and there as it seemed a little forced and unnatural, but that was my only quibble with the story.

Her best friend Serena plays a large part in the story, as well as forever-crush Nathan. Then there are the other vampire candidates she meets in Vampire 101. Okay, it's not really called that, but bet you didn't know they had classes you needed to take before you turned! All in all, this was a lighthearted, funny teen romance that just happens to include vampires. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because it was a cute, well-done story that I think would make a great beach read. (Plus, I really, really liked the title!) ( )

Sucks to Be Me is a funny take on the vampire novel fad. Mina (named after the character in Dracula) is a lively, humorous character who is forced to decide between turning into a vampire (like her parents) or remaining human. The text is interspersed with her lists of why it sucks to be her, and her pro and con lists between turning or not and the different boys in her life. Recommended for boys and girls, grads 7-12. ( )

I give this the extra 1/2 star because I know that students will like it. It fun and flippant, but not great literature. ( )

As if high school isn’t hard enough, now Mina also has to decide whether she wants to become a vampire. Both of her parents happen to be vampires and they’ve kept Mina a secret from the Vampire Council, until recently. Now that the council knows Mina is in on their secret she has to decide whether she wants to join her parents in immortality. That means leaving behind her best friend Serena and the crush of her life Nathan.What a great debut novel that is sure to stand out amongst the sea of other vampire books! You might think the main premises for this book is vampires, but I found that the story is more about a teenager finding herself than anything else. Even non-vampire fans will like this book. It is a funny and fresh look into the typical vampire myth. Pauley’s vampires aren’t glamorous or irresistible, Mina’s dad is an accountant, you can’t get much more unglamourous! They are just regular “people” and I think that is what gives this book it’s edge. It is also delightfully funny and well written. Mina is a great female protagonist; funny, smart, sarcastic, and insecure. This is a Story Siren recommended book! ( )

This book was absolutely charming. It was a funny and easy read with a definite spin on vampires all its' own. Mina grew up as just the average teenager, except for the little fact that her parents are vampires. Ok, they aren't throat attacking, bat shapeshifting vampires, but they do have a taste for the red stuff. Mina always knew she had to keep it a secret, but she never realized that she herself was kept a secret. Her parents never told the Vampire Council about her and know they've been found out. Now Mina has to go to vampire classes and decide whether she wants to be a vampire and if she doesn't, then she will have to have her memory erased. Add in more than a love interest or two, and a best friend that has no idea about her families bloodthirst and Mina has more on her plate than she can handle. What will Mina decide? Will she spill the beans to her best friend? Will she possibly decide between all her crushes? This book was a fast read. The first few chapters were slow and I was afraid I would be bored...but when things sped up the pages flew along until the book was finished. I was a little let down by the character of Aubrey. I thought that he was going to be some kind of conflict with him but he just sort of fades into the background. The author did an excellent job of keeping Mina's decision whether or not to turn undisclosed until the final pages. This is a book good for anyone 13 or so and up. There are a couple of laugh outloud moments also, which is always a nice suprise. Sex is mentioned in vague references, but there is no kind of detail at all. A few almost curse words are used, but again nothing too bad. Worthy for parents and teens alike. ( )

Seventeen-year-old Mina Hamilton has a seemingly normal life with one small exception--her parents are vampires. Mina's known for years, but when the vampire ruling council discovers this, Mina is enrolled in a crash course about everything it means to be a vampire and given a deadline to make one of the biggest decisions of her life--whether or not to join the ranks of the undead.

With the current crazy of teenager vampire books flooding the market, "Sucks To Be Me" stands out from the crowd for several reasons. One of them is the central narrator and our hero, Mina Hamilton. Told from Mina's point of view, the story allows us to see into Mina's thought process which is, at times hilarious, at times self-pitying and always authentic.

Another stand-out point is the novel's creation of its own vampire mythology. While it's not groundbreaking, the novel does feature several points in which Mina debunks or backs up vampire lore. The fact that Mina's English class is reading "Dracula" as the book unfolds only helps things. First-time author Kimberly Pauley has created a fresh, interesting new potential vampire lore in her book and while this story is complete in and of itself, more entries in this universe and involving Mina would be welcome.

Thirdly, the book is populated by an engaging group of characters. The biggest of these is Mina, but there are a wide array of supporting characters to get to know and love over the course of the story. And these characters behavior make for some genuinely laugh out loud funny moments such as Mina's mom explaining vampire sex to her potential date over the family dinner table.

In a perfect world, a novel as fun, refreshing and as fun as "Sucks To Be Me" would do equal or better numbers as the Twilight saga. With teenage vampire romance novels being the current rage in the bookstore, "Sucks To Be Me" stands out from the field with its good sense of humor, engaging characters and well-crafted romantic tension. ( )

Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley (Paperback - Aug 11, 2009

Should Mina Hamilton, or shouldn’t she? No the question isn’t should she dye her hair purple or buy that new pair of shoes. It’s a bit more complicated than what the usual teen has to face. And she only has a few weeks to make a decision that will last a life time; or rather…well, an immortals life time! Oh dear, what‘s a girl to do?

Mina has to make a decision about whether or not to become a vampire just like her parents and her crazy, wacky Uncle Mortie. All this and deal with a crush on that great guy Nathan, get through the rest of senior year, senior exams and find a date to the prom for her best friend Serena. Yikes!

This was a great book that teaches us in the most harmless and irreverent way to be true to ourselves and when you need to make a huge decision, do it for the right reasons. Something even most adults still fail to understand.

If I have one complaint it’s why this is the second vampire novel or series I’ve read lately that make vampires not sleep...ever? I mean yes we suspend disbelief enough to get the whole Vamp thing, but no sleep?

This book has only received on two star review at Amazon and I was amazed at why. But I have to really give the author credit---she faced her critic and did it stylishly! It's so rare to see an author enter into a converstion about her books. ( )

Mina's parents are vampires and the Vampire Council has discovered her and send her to vampire classes to decide if she wants to become a vampire or not. Through the book Mina has to deal with not only the life changing decision to become a vampire or not but also all the drama that comes with being a high schooler, like best friends and hot guys. The story takes place in a nameless northwest place that seems to be the perfect little town. The characters are well developed and Mina and her best friends Serena and George are all people you find yourself attracted to. The major conflicts all deal with decisions Mina has to make and are all resolved, although maybe a bit too easily, in the end. Overall this humorous novel will be one that teens who are into Vampires will enjoy. ( )

I just finished reading this book and really enjoyed it. This book is another twist on vampires. In case you didn't know, I have read the Twilight series and I really enjoyed that. I also really like vampire movies and stories in general. I liked how this story did not completely stick to standard vampire myths. It had it's own version of what they would be if they were real and I found it refreshing in that way. Different than Stephanie Meyer's vamps and Anne Rice. Maybe a little something in between. =)

This book was the first from this author and I hope she decides to write more about this character. If you like a fun read and you like vampire stories you will probably enjoy this book. ( )

Despite the fact that there wasn't much of a real climax or anything in the story, I liked it overall. I love Kimberly Pauley's idea of vampire- drinking a vampire's blood, the information sessions, and the jobs that go along with it. I thought that the little journal entries that Mina wrote were cute and a good portrayal of a teenage girl trying to make a decision to make a big decision in her life. I can understand that need to write things downt o make sense of things. The little Myth/Truth blob at the beginning of each chapter was also well-done. They were each so funny and cute that it made me looking forward to each new beginning chapter. I just felt that some of the characters were not that well-developed or finished their story right. Though I understand that Mina thinks of Serena as her sister, and would love her. I found it unrealistic that she would let go of her feelings for Nathan in a second and even go an extra step to make things happen between Nathan and Serena. Also, I would have liked a better ending to Aubrey and Raven, both who just disappear without much explanation. Perhaps Pauley wishes to write a sequel? Anyways, the book was good. But some of the characters just felt a little under-developed. But I love the train of thought and story. ( )

Mina's parents are vampires - they were turned shortly around her birth. Now the vampire council has found out about Mina, and she has to enroll in these vampire courses to help her decide if she wants to turn! She's 17 years old and she has ONE MONTH to figure out the most important decision of her life - while still trying to keep it all from her best friend and of course, find a boyfriend. ( )

Being a high school student is stressful all by itself. Crushes, friendships, homework, the list goes on and on, but for Mina Hamilton life just got a little more complicated. You see, Mina’s parents are vampires. Her dad was accidently turned by her Uncle Mortie and since her mother was pregnant with her at the time, she waited to become a vampire until after Mina was born. The problem?? Mina’s parents never told The Council about having a baby and humans are NEVER supposed to find out about vampires and since Mina is human, she isn’t supposed to know. Once The Council finds out, Mina is told she must make the biggest decision of her life. To become a vampire or not.ProsShe’d be able to continue seeing her mom and dad.ConsShe’d lose her best friend SerenaShe wouldn’t sleep anymore (and she LOVES a good nap)She’d never be able to have childrenShe’d always look sixteenShe’d have to move around every 10 years or soMina is forced to take vampire classes for a month prior to making her decision. There she meets other kids her age contemplating the same decision and some information about vampires she never learned from her parents. In the beginning, she doesn’t see much good to becoming a vampire.Follow Mina’s thought process through her witty narrative and frequent lists she includes in the story. Lists like, “Why It Sucks To Be Me,” and “Why It Really Sucks To Be Me.” Mina is a strong female character that you can’t help but like. She stands up to the resident “mean girl” at school, she is nice to most everyone, and she is struggling in the romance department like most teenage girls. What more could you ask for in a young adult book?The author, Kimberly Pauley, is the creator of YA Books Central. ( )

A pretty light read overall. Mina's parents are vampires, and when the book begins, they've announced that she has to decide whether or not to become a vampire herself. Worse than being forced to decide almost immediately, is the fact that she has to attend vampire information classes. When she gets there, the class actually has some interesting people in it; Aubrey, a totally hot young male, Raven, a mean spirited girl who wants Aubrey all to herself, George, a boy who has recently moved to this town, and the instructor, Grandma Wolfington. Mina has a difficult job ahead of her, making up her mind, and some of the things she learns about vampires make her decision even harder.
This was a light, fluffy book which I think was only published in an attempt to cash in on the current vampire obsession due to the Twilight series. If I hadn't already bought it, I'd definitely wait for the paperback! ( )

This is a title hot on the heels of the recent vampire/supernatural craze pulsing through bookstores across the country. This is a young adult novel with a different sort of "coming of age" conflict. Mina has to decide whether or not she wants to become a vampire like the rest of her family.

Overall, it's a moderately interesting hook and the presentation is done well. The book is written in a close first person and told almost as a journal entry. There are moments where "notebook pages" or other "handwritten" notes are added with quips and thoughts from Mina. This adds a different level of depth to the storytelling and provides interesting distractions.

And yet, these devices serve only as momentary distractions from what is otherwise a fairly bland book. It felt to me that the author was trying much to hard to present her characters as teenagers, and as a result, they feel a bit distanced and unreal compared to the teenagers I do know and interact with. The conversations felt fairly natural for the most part but the behaviors felt a little "off" to me.

To digress a bit, I'll pick out two points that struck me as especially odd.
The use of cell phones is very common among teenagers, true. The author shows a couple of times that Mina does have a cell phone. And yet, when a new friend from her vamp lessons gives Mina her number, Mina loses it. With teens I've seen, passing of numbers involves immediately pulling out the cell and punching it into memory...gone are the days of scribbling down numbers on scraps of paper unless it's the only alternative.
Bigger than the number storage, was the lack of cell phone texting. Mina has a cell phone. And yet, all of her "messaging" is done at the computer in her bedroom. My 16 year old sister has friends on Yahoo messenger...but I've even seen her texting via her phone while at the computer rather than chatting on messenger. Texting is a HUGE part of teen life these days. The author instead gives Mina a computer IM account in her bedroom, which struck me as odd

Back to the book itself, I had a hard time really finding any emotional, psychological or mental attachment to the characters. Mina's dilemma was an interesting one, but the tension wasn't strong enough to pull me into the struggle. Mina kept telling me just how troubled and torn she was over the decision, but it was difficult for me to believe her based on her actions and her behaviors. For the first half+ of the book, I was bored and annoyed by her paralysis to act realistically.

Only towards the very end of the book was I "shocked" into feeling any real anguish with her dilemma. There was finally a struggle introduced that provided a truly difficult variable with more than simply superficial connotations.

A lot of the plot (especially the plot "outside" of the purely vampirical) felt fairly predictable and like something out of a stock fluff teen/high-school novel or sitcom.
Girl A likes Boy AGirl A gets assigned to work with Boy A on school projectGirl A goes out with Boy AGirl A tries to setup Boy B with Girl B (best friend of Girl A)Boy A falls for Girl BBoy B falls for Girl AGirl A is confused, torn, angry, betrayed, etc....Some sort of reconciliation happensEverybody goes to prom
The plot has gone around again and again enough that as soon as each character was introduced and some brief context was given, I was already aware of the ending.

I would have much rather seen more tension around the tough choice Mina had to make. I would have loved to have seen some surprising twists or turns with the peripheral characters...there was a lot of interesting potential with the other characters in her vamp class, but their treatment was glossy at best and non-existant at worst.

Overall, the book was a bit of fluff but it was a painfully slow read due to the lack of any real plot driving tension to keep me hooked. I'm going to pass it to my 16- and 15-year old siblings to see if they see it any differently, but with the amount of teen lit I've read lately and the amount of interactions I've had lately, it feels to me that this book doesn't quite nail the teen mindset and it also fails to engage the reader with a substantial plot.

1.5 stars
* ( )

Mina has a big decision to make. Will she join her family and become a vampire or will she remain human? It is a very big decision because it is almost time for her family to change identities so they will not raise suspicions among other humans. Mina loves her family but she also loves her best friend and her life in high school. So, she is less than enthusiastic about the "pre-vampire" classes she has to take before making the choice. Boys are also an issue, since Mina has been crushing on one guy at school like forever and now she meets a really cute vamp-to-be. Decisions, decisions...

I really enjoyed this book. It is funny and touching. I like Mina and her friend, Serena, who are both pretty well grounded for teenage girls. But they aren't so grounded they they are not a lot of fun and pretty silly at times. I think this book is appropriate for all teens. I am hoping for a sequel. ( )

Mina Hamilton leads a relatively normal life, even with two vampires for parents. But now she has to make a choice: become a vampire, or stay human? Not only does she have to decide, but the decision involves paperwork and classes.

Class is pretty dull, but at least she meets some interesting new soon-to-be-vampires: super-hot Aubrey, Lorelai the cheerleader, Raven goth-girl extraordinaire and generally likable George. But Mina's still unsure if she wants to be undead. And what about her ultra-human BFF Serena? And what's with all these guys suddenly hanging around? Being 16 is hard enough without adding in life or death decisions.

I really enjoyed this book, but I had a few issues with it. Mina had a slightly snobby tone sometimes, though she seemed to be characterized as 'average.' The character Bethany was mentioned way before I had any clue who she was, and the fact that Serena had a 'perfect' little sister wasn't brought up until halfway through the book, though it seemed rather important to her characterization. The ending felt rushed- like suddenly the page count was way too high, so all the time and detail that should have been given to rather important events wasn't there.

Like I said, I did have some issues with it, but some parts were laugh-out-loud funny, and I love how the family was portrayed. Overall, I'd recommend this book to lovers of the teen vampire genre and snarky teen narrators. It would be great to see another book from Mina's point-of-view, though I doubt after the Mirrorstone restructuring that we'll get to see another (unless she's able to move publishers). There's a lot of room for series development here. ( )

When sixteen-year-old Mina is forced to take a class to help her decide whether or not to become a vampire like her parents, she also faces a choice between her life-long best friend and the boy she has a crush on versus new friends and possible boyfriends in her mandatory "vampire lessons." ( )