Book Review Tuesday - Just Like a Pill - #BRT

Am I too old to read a Young Adult novel? Nah, not when it means I support a fellow Rhode Island author. Look, if you've been following these Tuesday book reviews, you'll know that I've been reading way out of my comfort zone (horror, paranormal, children's...!), so what the heck.

In this debut novel (2016) from Angelina Singer, the protagonist is Scarlett, a young woman in high school with all the teenage angst that goes with it. Remember? Of course you do. Scarlett, with dyed red hair to match her name, pines for hunky rocker Maxx, who is in a relationship with mean girl Ashley. Her best friend is health nut Izzy and there is nerdy Greg to round out the group.

As Homecoming approaches, Scarlett dreads the thought of attending the dance without a partner, but a sinus infection and the resulting 'prescription' she's given by a questionable 'pharmacist' result in a mixed-up set of circumstances that will shake up everything in Scarlett's world.

Unrequited love and yearning is a tried and true theme, especially for YA books, but Singer brings Scarlett to life with her spot-on characterization and inner turmoil. Add in some funky 'antibiotics' that are anything but and you've got a fun, easy read.

I would recommend this author rework the manuscript to clean up errors, which abound but don't take away from the story. (As an editor, I can't not see typos and grammatical slip-ups, but many readers can glide by them - so it's just my opinion).

You can pick up a copy of Just Like a Pill (Who Knew the Boy of her Dreams Would Fall Under Her Spell?) (yeah, it's a long title) online at Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/4rdejk88) or locally from Stillwater Books in Pawtucket (https://www.stillwaterbooksri.com/just-pill). Please patronize your local bookstore! If they don't carry a title you want, ask them to order it for you.