ARC Review: BELIEVE IT OR NOT

The Book: BELIEVE IT OR NOT
The Author: Tawna Fenske
The Publisher: SourceBooks Casablanca
Anticipated Release (hehe. I said RELEASE) Date: March 1, 2012

This is where I'd normally give you a summary of the book, but really, you can get that here or here or here and also pre-order it while you're there, because BELIEVE IT, this book is that freaking AWESOME.  Do it. Do it NOW.  I'll wait right here while you go do that. 

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Done?  Okay, good.  Now, for my real review.  And, since this is a Friday, I'm going to give you the goods in true Friday Five Fashion (say that five times fast).  And so, I give you:

Five Reasons To Fall For BELIEVE IT OR NOT

1. The Characters.  Of course you have your MC, Violet McGinn, and her LI (love interest) Drew Watson (*sigh, swoon* Drew. *sighs again* I love him and kind of wish he was real...and working next door to me. I'm just saying.)  But, in some cases, it was the side characters who stole the show for me, even those who only showed up for a scene or two.  Moonbeam (Violet's hippie dippie psychic mom) was a hoot and a half.  Jamie, sweet kind of dumb and drop-dead gorgeous Jamie, inspired his fair share of "Aw"s and more than once, I just wanted to pat him on the head.  And, then there was Dreadlock Dude.  I freaking loved him!
2. The Music.  Butt Rock.  Glam Rock.  Eighties Hair bands.  Whatever you want to call it, although I think I kind of like calling it Butt Rock now.  It plays a central role in the plot, and has you snickering a bit, especially when Violet has to give a psychic reading for a cop and Drew is blaring Aerosmith in the background. 
3. The Dialogue.  This is perhaps my favorite part of Tawna's writing.  She comes up with such snicker/snort inducing conversations for her characters to have, and still finds a way to make them completely believable as real bantering.  Nothing feels forced, and you just get to sit back and enjoy the sarcastic/silly ride.  The only other author I can think of who can do this so seamlessly (and keep it going throughout the entire book without feeling contrived) is Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
4. The Curse.  That's all I'm going to say.  As soon as the object of the Curse showed his mug on the page and I realized what was actually on his--Oops! almost gave it away there for a second.  Bad Karla!.  Anywho, you'll just have to wait and see for yourself.
5. The Documentary Scene.  Remember the Cheez Doodle scene in MAKING WAVES?  Well, this one is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much funnier, and that's really saying something.  At one point, I laughed so loud, I kind of startled myself. 

Really, I could go on and on and on, folks.  This book was that good.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go pre-order your copy of BELIEVE IT OR NOT, right now.  As for me, I'll just have to wait for Tawna's next one to come out.  When is that again?  Oh, man, such a long wait.