Sweetly ; Jackson Pearce

Happy first of the month, readers! Hope you guys didn't get fooled too much today (;
Tonight I'll be reviewing Jackson Pearce's Sweetly. It's been out for a while, but I'm hoping more people will discover this book. So... Enjoy!
- Hemingway
                                                                                 


Sweetly
By: Jackson Pearce
Publish Date: 08/23/2011, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Order from B&N (Hardback) ; B&N (Paperback, Pre-order, 07/03/2012)

The forest invites you in . . . but will never let you go.

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic, and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival each year, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet, the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

The Pros:

• Jackson's ability to illustrate the setting so perfectly with her words. You literally hold the town of Live Oaks and Kelly's Chocolatier in your hands
• Gretchen's character -- she has a strong will, she wants change in her life and she takes the initiative to make it happen. Gretchen is a likable character
• The romance between Ansel and Sophia is one that you find yourself rooting for from the beginning 'till the end. You get attached to their relationship, and earnestly hope they (along with Gretchen and Samuel) can escape the chains of their past
• The premise of the werewolves is interesting. The werewolves are truly beasts, not teens looking for romance. It's a nice break from the usual haha
• The sweets. Oh, the sweets (;

The Cons:

• At times the romance between Samuel and Gretchen seems forced, like it was included in the story just for the sake of having a romance for the main character. But nonetheless, there are parts in the book where you can feel the chemistry between them
• When I finished the book, I couldn't help but feel like the story felt a little rushed. I have the impression that Pearce has the skill to make the book fuller, but maybe a publisher deadline hindered it from reaching its full potential. I don't know, there could be tons of reasons but the point is still the same

Sweetly is a great leisure read, an enjoyable way to kill a boring Sunday afternoon. It's a well detailed, modern day fairy tale set in every girl's dream candy shop. I can't think of any dislikable characters (except the townspeople who don't like Sophia. But they're the bad guys, you're not supposed to like them!)

Paper Frontiers gives Sweetly a 4.39 out of 5
Yes, we know this is an odd rating, but Fitzgerald and I wanted to give Sweetly a 4.5 but Bradbury said 4 (that's what happens when you have three reviewers haha). So we tried to meet each others' ratings halfway, and voila (: