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Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
The undead can really screw up your senior year . . . — Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth?and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed wit...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780152063849
ISBN-10: 0152063846
Publication Date: 2/1/2009
Pages: 368
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 70

4.2 stars, based on 70 ratings
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

myhotstylist avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on
Helpful Score: 3
Its very hard to review a book this good without a bunch of spoilers, but here goes:

It is rare one comes across a gem in a used bookstore in like new condition. Origionally purchased for a swap, I took a peek at the first chapter to see if it was worth reading.

What I got when I opened the book was a tender love story, laced with humor and danger, and got sucked into a storey that was un-put-down-able. Fans of Twilight are sure to eat this story up in a heartbeat. The only thing wrong with this book was that it ended.

Jessica is just your average teen, living her average life... a mathlete, riding horses, and has her eye on a nice average boy named Jake. Her world is turned upside down with the arrival of Lucious Vladescu, a tall dark handsome boy from Romania who claimes to be a vampire prince. If THAT wasnt wierd enough, Lucious tries to court Jessica, explaining that she is his rival clans' decendant princess, and they are destined to marry in order to bring peace to the 2 clans. Jessica is extremely reluctant to this idea, and after a series of crazy events, she realises her love for him... only its too late. Lucious has a new girlfriend and he decides to dishonor the pact. Jessica finally decides to fight for what she wants in order to save Lucious, herself, and her clan.

What a wonderful story. The characters felt so real and the words flowed off the pages effortlessly. Im xcited to read about the wedding on the authors website, and look forward to the next installment when Jessica Rules the Darkside.....
fyonafay avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book personally it was one of my "can't put it downs". I even bought the book after reading it at the library and I have re-read at least 3 times since then.
JBMW112009 avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 24 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I wasnt sure at first if I was going to like this one. Man, I really liked it :-) I even debated keeping it for my collection - but, I decided to share with the next person. Enjoy


There is a follow-up mini story on the authors website. I wont give any spoilers, but read it! You wont be disappointed.
skywriter319 avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 784 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Debut author Beth Fantaskey explodes onto the heavily populated YA vampire lit world with her amazing book, JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE, which is sure to convert Twilight fans into having a new favorite vampire and vampire-novel heroine. Or if it doesn't do that, then at least it will leave you smiling, biting your nails, and reading far into the night.

In rural Pennsylvania, math nerd Jessica Packwood is about to enter her senior year of high school, determined to have a good time, potentially date Jake Zinn, a nice and handsome boy in her grade, and win some more math competitions. But her carefully imagined plan goes down the drain with the arrival of Lucius Vladescu, a hot but arrogant student from Romania who is under the unfortunate delusion that he is a vampire prince destined to marry Jessica, who is apparently a vampire princess from a rival vampire family. Their marriage would end a centuries-long war between the two families and ensure peace for all their vampire relatives.

Jessica, who loves scientific facts, is understandably confused, scared of her reluctant attraction to Lucius and unable to believe the "parlor tricks" that he performs: a flash of fangs here, a miraculous recovery from a serious injury there. But just as she begins to finally believe--in Lucius, in herself--Lucius suddenly begins to court Faith Crosse, the evil-souled reigning cheerleader-slash-prom-queen of Woodrow Wilson High, and Jessica finds herself struggling to win him back, and not just for the sake of her own heart. For if she doesn't, both vampire families, not to mention Lucius, could end up being destroyed.

Wow! It is almost unfortunate that this book has such an unwieldy and frothy, though eye-catching, title, because I did not realize the extent of what I was in for when I started reading. Jessica and Lucius are two of the best main characters that I have read about in a long time: they are fully three-dimensional and undergo incredible growth through the 350-some pages. Lucius' intensity and arrogance makes me simultaneously laugh and be attracted to him at the same time, and some of my favorite chapters were those that consisted of Lucius' letters to his uncle back in Romania. The relationship that develops between Jessica and Lucius seems totally natural, the growing love not forced. The plot goes beyond a typical Twilight spinoff (which all current YA vampire novels are inevitably being compared to), and reaches its awe-inspiring conclusion wonderfully.

Action, love, mortal danger, family, humor--JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE has everything. I am wholeheartedly a fan, and you will be too.
Read All 16 Book Reviews of "Jessicas Guide to Dating on the Dark Side"

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jazzysmom avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 907 more book reviews
Entertaining for a quick summer weekend read.
al7221 avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 8 more book reviews
I loved this book! When reading YA, I tend to find myself hoping that it would be more adult (i.e. a bit steamier). Some YA books are steamier than others. I found that the romance and the love between the two characters made it strong enough alone, that there didnt need to be a bunch of make-out scenes for me. I thought it was perfect.

Needless to say, I am anticipating the sequel Jessica Rules the Dark Side. Although it will not be released until early 2012, fans of Jessica and Lucius can get their fix by reading The Wedding of Anastasia Jessica Packwood and Lucius Valeriu Vladescu on Beth Fantaskeys page (http://www.bethfantaskey.com/wedding/wedding-chapt1.html)

I certainly recommend YA lovers (especially those who love vampires) to read this book. It was a very cute, couldnt-put-down teen novel! :)
glassbutterfly avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 101 more book reviews
Do you ever see a book and get the feeling that your going to love it, well I don't get that feeling very often but I did with this book. I was afraid that I had set my hopes a little to high so I put off reading it for a little while just in case I got let down. I needn't have worried though because I loved this book!
Jessica Packwood never wanted to hear much about her natural parents, to her they were crazy people in a cult. She was embarrassed by her past so imagine her anger when someone shows up shoving it in her face everyday. Not only does he want her to accept her past but he wants her to embrace it.
Lucius Vladescu is the name of Jessica's tormentor. He's tall, dark, and handsome. But he is also delusional as far as Jessica is concerned. He speaks of vampires, royalty, and a pact that will end a war. He talks different, dresses different, and everything he does is done with such ease and grace it seems unnatural.
All Jessica wanted was to lose five pounds, and follow her "get a life" plan, but all of this is thrown out the window when Luscius shows up.
This is a really good story! Beth Fantaskey did a wonderful job building the characters up and keeping them true to their form! If you love paranormal romance then you will love this book!
reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 46 more book reviews
I picked up this book thinking it was going to be a fluffy, entertaining teen oriented book, good for a quick read. About halfway through it, I got so wrapped up and invested in it, I was shocked. By the end of the book, I couldn't believe how good it had become, and was depressed that I had finished it, and didn't have the sequel available to start yet. I will definitely be getting the sequel ASAP!
amy872 avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 14 more book reviews
Absolutely loved this book!! I couldn't put it down!!! Immediately ordered the next in the series!! Can't wait to get my hands on that one!
solarawynn avatar reviewed Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side on + 724 more book reviews
The story felt lopsided, we knew nearly everything about Jess and nothing about Luc. Was ok ,


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