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Beth Frasier #1
The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even
The bestselling author of Carpe Demon takes a bite out of high school in this bloodsucking blast.
Elizabeth Frasier's ticked off. Her junior year of high school was going just fine. But thanks to a bunch of jerkwad vampire jocks, she ended up undead, and with a thirst that a thousand Diet Cokes couldn't quench. Now she's out for blood-and revenge. And she knows exactly what to do...Elizabeth's read Salem's Lot. Separate the good vamps from the bad and wipe out the crowd that did her in. On top of that, she's got to figure out how to be mortal again-unless universities start accepting dead girls.
Elizabeth Frasier's ticked off. Her junior year of high school was going just fine. But thanks to a bunch of jerkwad vampire jocks, she ended up undead, and with a thirst that a thousand Diet Cokes couldn't quench. Now she's out for blood-and revenge. And she knows exactly what to do...Elizabeth's read Salem's Lot. Separate the good vamps from the bad and wipe out the crowd that did her in. On top of that, she's got to figure out how to be mortal again-unless universities start accepting dead girls.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2007
5 people are currently reading
1,594 people want to read
About the author
Julie Kenner
179Ìýbooks1,235ÌýfollowersJ. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit� suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.
Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations� and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.� A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit� suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.
Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations� and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.� A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 16, 2008
As much as I like vampire stories, this is probably the most uninteresting, under-developed, and uninspiring one of the decade. Seriously.
Beth Fraiser’s life was all planned out and ready to go—awesome grades, early admission to college, and guaranteed valedictorian—until she discovers a shocking secret about famous football player Stephen Wills. He and the other star players are actually vampires. When he turns Beth into one of the “undead� she’s ready to do whatever it takes—i.e. kill him with her own hands and drink from donated hospital blood only—and with the help of vampire specialist Clayton and best friend Jenny, she might just get her life back. Unless Stephen decides to just kill her—for real this time.
Okay. So I really don’t understand how a best selling author can start out her novel with beginner writing language, and that’s: Hi! My name is Beth and I’m sixteen years old. (Not the exact words but close enough.) Where’s the originality, the creativity? There are a thousand and one ways to introduce your character, and if you can’t manage to do that, then the story isn’t going too well.
Which is exactly what happened. From page one, where the whole introduction started, I had doubts. Not many authors can pull the whole “my name is blah blah� thing on me and make me NOT vent in frustration. Anyway, from there, it just got worst. The first thing that really baffled me was how unrealistic and fast paced it was. And not in a good way, either. I get that it’s a vampire story, which basically means that ideas will be far-fetched and totally fake, but I know there’s a level between whacky and okay. And that part where Beth wakes up, burns her fingers, and BAM, suddenly realizes that she’s one of the undead just really doesn’t fit. I really can’t imagine anyone thinking, “Oh shit, I’m a vampire now.� Where’s the sense in that? I seriously don’t get it. I don’t even know how she came to that conclusion. I mean, I’ve read enough to know that they burn in sunlight and whatever, but what about people who know nothing about the myths? THEY wouldn’t get it. Not at all. Because it doesn’t flow.
One of the writing techniques the writer overused was the whole repetition thing. I get enough of the my-life-is-ruined-because-I’m-undead thing from the blurb, the prologue, and the first ten chapters already. I know it’s a point to be emphasized and as a humorous line, but it’s anything but that. It’s annoying and overly exaggerated. How many times can I read the line “Because I’m undead and I’m pretty sure colleges won’t accept dead people� (notice that I’m not actually quoting the author here, but just something LIKE the book) before I go crazy with irritation? Halfway through the book, the reader would have definitely gotten that message. If not, then the reader is clearly in la-la-land. And when the author makes the same statement just about every single chapter, it shows lack of originality again. Do you really need to repeat this stuff?
And, from a bestselling author, even if this is her first young adult novel (I think?) I seriously have doubts about her writing. It doesn’t even have a simple sense of flow. She went from one point to another within a snap and never mentioned point one again. Or, she just kept going with point two, on and on until you want to rip the book apart. That’d be me. It’s silly with basic language that looked like stuff I’d done back when I was in fifth grade and writing about witches cackling in my class journal.
All things apart, I can only applaud the interesting twist at the last chapter. And wondering whether Clayton will kill Beth. I think I’m saying this for the first time, but I honestly don’t like the main character and wouldn’t care if she lived or not. I’m definitely NOT reading the sequel. I still can’t fathom why anyone would.
Beth Fraiser’s life was all planned out and ready to go—awesome grades, early admission to college, and guaranteed valedictorian—until she discovers a shocking secret about famous football player Stephen Wills. He and the other star players are actually vampires. When he turns Beth into one of the “undead� she’s ready to do whatever it takes—i.e. kill him with her own hands and drink from donated hospital blood only—and with the help of vampire specialist Clayton and best friend Jenny, she might just get her life back. Unless Stephen decides to just kill her—for real this time.
Okay. So I really don’t understand how a best selling author can start out her novel with beginner writing language, and that’s: Hi! My name is Beth and I’m sixteen years old. (Not the exact words but close enough.) Where’s the originality, the creativity? There are a thousand and one ways to introduce your character, and if you can’t manage to do that, then the story isn’t going too well.
Which is exactly what happened. From page one, where the whole introduction started, I had doubts. Not many authors can pull the whole “my name is blah blah� thing on me and make me NOT vent in frustration. Anyway, from there, it just got worst. The first thing that really baffled me was how unrealistic and fast paced it was. And not in a good way, either. I get that it’s a vampire story, which basically means that ideas will be far-fetched and totally fake, but I know there’s a level between whacky and okay. And that part where Beth wakes up, burns her fingers, and BAM, suddenly realizes that she’s one of the undead just really doesn’t fit. I really can’t imagine anyone thinking, “Oh shit, I’m a vampire now.� Where’s the sense in that? I seriously don’t get it. I don’t even know how she came to that conclusion. I mean, I’ve read enough to know that they burn in sunlight and whatever, but what about people who know nothing about the myths? THEY wouldn’t get it. Not at all. Because it doesn’t flow.
One of the writing techniques the writer overused was the whole repetition thing. I get enough of the my-life-is-ruined-because-I’m-undead thing from the blurb, the prologue, and the first ten chapters already. I know it’s a point to be emphasized and as a humorous line, but it’s anything but that. It’s annoying and overly exaggerated. How many times can I read the line “Because I’m undead and I’m pretty sure colleges won’t accept dead people� (notice that I’m not actually quoting the author here, but just something LIKE the book) before I go crazy with irritation? Halfway through the book, the reader would have definitely gotten that message. If not, then the reader is clearly in la-la-land. And when the author makes the same statement just about every single chapter, it shows lack of originality again. Do you really need to repeat this stuff?
And, from a bestselling author, even if this is her first young adult novel (I think?) I seriously have doubts about her writing. It doesn’t even have a simple sense of flow. She went from one point to another within a snap and never mentioned point one again. Or, she just kept going with point two, on and on until you want to rip the book apart. That’d be me. It’s silly with basic language that looked like stuff I’d done back when I was in fifth grade and writing about witches cackling in my class journal.
All things apart, I can only applaud the interesting twist at the last chapter. And wondering whether Clayton will kill Beth. I think I’m saying this for the first time, but I honestly don’t like the main character and wouldn’t care if she lived or not. I’m definitely NOT reading the sequel. I still can’t fathom why anyone would.
April 5, 2011
First off, the title is mis-leading. Mention ghouls and I expect ghosts, not vampires. But vampires it is. Teenage vampires who somehow manage to attend school in Texas. Basically the characters seemed a bit too one-dimensional and stupid.
What I enjoyed:
* The friendship between Beth, Jenny and Clayton.
What could have been better:
* Really, you're over two hundred years old and you want to play high school football???
* And you expect this newly turned, teenage vampire to solve an ages old problem in just a few days/weeks?
* If you couldn't tell, the main vampire in the book was a bit lame.
* Oh yeah - Clayton that was a fairly lame attempt to stop Beth. You knew the seriousness and just did that?
* I was just turned into a vampire. Hmmm, what will my first thoughts be? My family - no, my friends - no. I know, it will be about revenge, because that will make everything better.
* Of course, I'm not surprised Beth wasn't thinking about her family. She has some pretty bad parents.
* The end. I mean really, she
What I enjoyed:
* The friendship between Beth, Jenny and Clayton.
What could have been better:
* Really, you're over two hundred years old and you want to play high school football???
* And you expect this newly turned, teenage vampire to solve an ages old problem in just a few days/weeks?
* If you couldn't tell, the main vampire in the book was a bit lame.
* Oh yeah - Clayton that was a fairly lame attempt to stop Beth. You knew the seriousness and just did that?
* I was just turned into a vampire. Hmmm, what will my first thoughts be? My family - no, my friends - no. I know, it will be about revenge, because that will make everything better.
* Of course, I'm not surprised Beth wasn't thinking about her family. She has some pretty bad parents.
* The end. I mean really, she
September 1, 2012
This was one of the funniest vampire stories I have ever read! Basically Beth gets mad and then she gets even with the help of her trusty sidekicks. She is so book smart but yet kind of dingy all at once but wow she is full of personality! A fun, quick, and light read.
November 17, 2017
Wow...I loved this book. And I'm so happy that I didn't fall for the 'not so nice reviews' of this book.
The heroine is awesome. At times it's little too kiddish but after having been read stupidest books than this it's fine. Can't wait to read the second book.
The heroine is awesome. At times it's little too kiddish but after having been read stupidest books than this it's fine. Can't wait to read the second book.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
Beth Fasier should have noticed all the signs that were around her. She should have trusted her gut that something was wrong, but instead she just ignored it.
Beginning her junior year, Beth had everything she had worked for. From the possibility of being valedictorian of her class to getting closer to being able to go to school at NYU. But if only Beth hadn't worked so hard, then maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be where she is today.
It all began when Beth decided to try out for the drill team, only to make her activities seem well-rounded. Unfortunately, Beth didn't make it since Tamara, a very popular cheerleader, told the coach to not let Beth on the team. Tamara had a different motive -- she wanted Beth to be on the cheerleader squad. Right then Beth should have known that something was wrong, but instead, when hearing that hottie Stephen Wills was going to be at one of the cheer practices, Beth knew she had to go. After all, it is Stephen Wills.
Turns out Stephen had asked Tamara to put Beth on the team, since he's had his eye on her for awhile. Of course, Beth was flattered, and when Stephen asked her out on a date Beth just couldn't say no. But when the most popular guy asks someone like Beth out on a date, she should have known that something was just not right.
It was too late for Beth, though, since on her date, Stephen bites Beth -- making her a fellow member of the undead.
Beth's life is over as she knows it, until her academic enemy, Clayton, tell hers that there is a possible chance for her to turn back into her usual self. But can Beth muster up the strength to actually do it?
Known for her books on the paranormal, Julie Kenner puts her own twist on what seems to be a hot topic in most teen novels, vampires. THE GOOD GHOULS' GUIDE TO GETTING EVEN may seem like another typical vampire story, but as the book gets going, readers will begin to notice that this novel is different from the rest of the pack. Fans of the undead will not be disappointed in Julie Kenner's new novel. Be sure to watch out for the sequel, GOOD GHOULS DO, which releases in October.
Beth Fasier should have noticed all the signs that were around her. She should have trusted her gut that something was wrong, but instead she just ignored it.
Beginning her junior year, Beth had everything she had worked for. From the possibility of being valedictorian of her class to getting closer to being able to go to school at NYU. But if only Beth hadn't worked so hard, then maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be where she is today.
It all began when Beth decided to try out for the drill team, only to make her activities seem well-rounded. Unfortunately, Beth didn't make it since Tamara, a very popular cheerleader, told the coach to not let Beth on the team. Tamara had a different motive -- she wanted Beth to be on the cheerleader squad. Right then Beth should have known that something was wrong, but instead, when hearing that hottie Stephen Wills was going to be at one of the cheer practices, Beth knew she had to go. After all, it is Stephen Wills.
Turns out Stephen had asked Tamara to put Beth on the team, since he's had his eye on her for awhile. Of course, Beth was flattered, and when Stephen asked her out on a date Beth just couldn't say no. But when the most popular guy asks someone like Beth out on a date, she should have known that something was just not right.
It was too late for Beth, though, since on her date, Stephen bites Beth -- making her a fellow member of the undead.
Beth's life is over as she knows it, until her academic enemy, Clayton, tell hers that there is a possible chance for her to turn back into her usual self. But can Beth muster up the strength to actually do it?
Known for her books on the paranormal, Julie Kenner puts her own twist on what seems to be a hot topic in most teen novels, vampires. THE GOOD GHOULS' GUIDE TO GETTING EVEN may seem like another typical vampire story, but as the book gets going, readers will begin to notice that this novel is different from the rest of the pack. Fans of the undead will not be disappointed in Julie Kenner's new novel. Be sure to watch out for the sequel, GOOD GHOULS DO, which releases in October.
March 31, 2011
This was a very fast read told from Beth’s point of view. The ending left me hanging which didn’t come as a surprise as I knew there is a second book. Unfortunately, I can’t help but think that this story could have been done in one entire book instead of being separated. At any rate, as I said before, this was a very fast read and entertaining for the most part. Beth doesn’t waste a lot of time in “setting the scene� of what happens to her. My first impression of Beth is that she is your typical overachiever teenager (do they even exist?) who is pretty obsessed about what college she wants to attend and has made up her mind that staying in Austin, Texas is not an option. One of the things I found strange for me was she didn’t seem to mourn the fact that being undead meant her life had ended. She needs blood to survive and there are vampire hunters out there with only one agenda, which is killing her. She didn’t seem to be affected by what her parents would say or do. Nope. She probably isn’t going to tell them. No, instead, she seems more put out and pissed off that her plans for college seem to have been derailed. Even, as a vampire, she remains more concerned about remaining Valedictorian. That having been said, it didn’t put me off of the story. I liked that Beth continued to want to live a normal life or as normal as she could without fully turning undead and becoming evil. I liked that her best friend stuck by her once she got over the initial freaking out moment. And I liked that Beth manages to find a little romance along the way.
I prefer this author’s demon-hunting soccer mom series, but if you are looking for a light vampire themed romance that isn’t bogged down in details and isn’t too heavy on angst and turmoil, give this one a try.
I prefer this author’s demon-hunting soccer mom series, but if you are looking for a light vampire themed romance that isn’t bogged down in details and isn’t too heavy on angst and turmoil, give this one a try.
March 28, 2011
Many problems I found with this book is mainly to do with plot, the lack of depth, the shortness, the predictability.
Beth is a valedictorian, the keeness can be seen. But this girls morals are so weak. Would she really want to become a cheerleader? Would she really think the hottest guy lusts after her? Well maybe, but she'd know they are dreams and not reality, she'd think a prank is just about to be pulled and avoid them entirely.
Kenner has a habit of the lead charachter whinging on and on about their life being hell etc etc. It drove me to hate her adult novels, the only reason I ended up reading more by this author is that they were given to me and I wanted to clear them off my TBR pile. Now this one can join the others at the charity shop.
I have read better YA novels.
Beth is a valedictorian, the keeness can be seen. But this girls morals are so weak. Would she really want to become a cheerleader? Would she really think the hottest guy lusts after her? Well maybe, but she'd know they are dreams and not reality, she'd think a prank is just about to be pulled and avoid them entirely.
Kenner has a habit of the lead charachter whinging on and on about their life being hell etc etc. It drove me to hate her adult novels, the only reason I ended up reading more by this author is that they were given to me and I wanted to clear them off my TBR pile. Now this one can join the others at the charity shop.
I have read better YA novels.
October 14, 2023
Since I am in charge of the Young Adult section of books for my local book sale, I try to read young adult books so I can be more helpful to the customers. I have read another series by Julie Kenner that I really enjoy so I thought I would give this book a try. Beth Frasier is the smartest girl in her school focused on getting into her top college. She gets invited to join the cheerleading squad and she says yes to help her application. Little does she know it was all a plot to turn her into a vampire so that she would help them figure out how to walk in the sun. The book ends with a really great cliffhanger that definitely makes me want to read the next one in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
A quick and light read. Unfortunately, there wasn't much substance to it.
July 9, 2019
3.5 stars
Nice, quick, fun, fluffy read.
Nice, quick, fun, fluffy read.
January 17, 2020
Hilarious and a fun read. I read through the whole series like I was sitting at a buffet.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 5, 2022I got to page 5 where a character was talking about being anti-sexism/pro-feminism while also fully engaging in diet culture and you know... I'm choosing self-love today.
May 25, 2008
Austin, Texas is a pretty hip, happening and interesting place (all my friends have told me so~and hey, MTV filmed a Real World there so how can you go wrong with that?!?~okay, so sarcasm doesn't play so well in print.) Did you know Austin has the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in the world? (i didn't until i read The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even by Julie Kenner and tho you can't always believe everything you read this is apparently true.) It is also home to Beth Frasier strait A student, current front-runner for class valedictorian and newly-made vampire (made by a brain-dead vampire jock~her words not mine)~and she is incredibly pissed about the whole undead thing (although there is apparently a way she can become un-undead again~who knew?).
This book is one of those new breed of fun, fearless (and more fun than fearful) vampire hunting vampires young adult novel (is there really such a new breed or did i just make that up?) that made great reading for this adult (or at least that's my age classification if not my appropriate behaviour!).
*and here's a little tip just in case you ever find yourself in the same position as Beth and find yourself wanting to function during the daytime (because of course you fall into the very deep sleep of the dead every day at sunrise and stay that way until sunset) wear an extra dark, extra large (but ever so fashionable) hoodie; crush up a bunch of vicodin to mix in with your blood packs (obtained from a blood bank or hospital because you have well-connected medical professional friends, but of course) and you'll be buzzing through the day. Beth was afraid she would be the first vampire in history to overdose on caffeine pills. I can relate to that, i remember being eighteen and driving back from Disneyland with my Mom, little sister, and best friend at the time. It was the middle of the night, we were driving through the Nevada desert which looked like a completely alien landscape i had taken loads of vicodin to stay awake so that BestFriend and i could trade off at the wheel and i could feel my life slipping away with the overpounding of my heart. I had my head leaning on the window, feeling the pounding of my heart, the grinding of the road, and somewhere in the very far, far away distance my mother who was in the backseat trying to sleep was asking me to turn down the music. "Mom, can't you see i'm concentrating on trying not to die here, the damn music is not my biggest priority right now..."
This book is one of those new breed of fun, fearless (and more fun than fearful) vampire hunting vampires young adult novel (is there really such a new breed or did i just make that up?) that made great reading for this adult (or at least that's my age classification if not my appropriate behaviour!).
*and here's a little tip just in case you ever find yourself in the same position as Beth and find yourself wanting to function during the daytime (because of course you fall into the very deep sleep of the dead every day at sunrise and stay that way until sunset) wear an extra dark, extra large (but ever so fashionable) hoodie; crush up a bunch of vicodin to mix in with your blood packs (obtained from a blood bank or hospital because you have well-connected medical professional friends, but of course) and you'll be buzzing through the day. Beth was afraid she would be the first vampire in history to overdose on caffeine pills. I can relate to that, i remember being eighteen and driving back from Disneyland with my Mom, little sister, and best friend at the time. It was the middle of the night, we were driving through the Nevada desert which looked like a completely alien landscape i had taken loads of vicodin to stay awake so that BestFriend and i could trade off at the wheel and i could feel my life slipping away with the overpounding of my heart. I had my head leaning on the window, feeling the pounding of my heart, the grinding of the road, and somewhere in the very far, far away distance my mother who was in the backseat trying to sleep was asking me to turn down the music. "Mom, can't you see i'm concentrating on trying not to die here, the damn music is not my biggest priority right now..."
May 13, 2010
Sixteen year old Beth Frasier is a junior in high school and has one goal in mind - to get into a great college and become a Hollywood director. She's already gotten early admission to one college, but her goal is the Tisch School at NYU. To get in she needs a perfect college application. She already has the grades, but she needs some more extra curricular activities. She aims for the drill team, but the cheerleading squad wants her to join. Not only that, but the star quarterback, Stephen Wills wants to meet her after school. She thinks he wants to ask her out on a date, but he has something else in mind and turns her into a vampire. He has his reasons and if she doesn't do what he wants, he threatens to make her undead forever. Beth wants revenge and she, along with her friends Jenny and Clayton, sets out to get that revenge.
"The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even" is a nicely done young adults novel. Beth narrates it and author Julie Kenner does a good job of capturing Beth's voice. Beth is a well written and believable character - extremely intelligent, high achieving, not part of the popular crowd, and determined to not only be class valedictorian, but to get into her dream college. While she is excelling in school, her home life is a mess - her parents are divorced and she is shuttling back and forth from living with her mother to living with her father, both of whom are too wrapped up in themselves to pay attention to her, a situation which makes her a more real and sympathetic character. Her friend Jenny is one of the best characters in the book, a good friend, unpopular, but in control over the kids in school in ways they don't even know. Beth's rival for class valedictorian, Clayton Greene, plays an integral part in the book and is another nice character. The popular students - Stephen Wills and his friends and the cheerleaders - all seem like cliches at first, but that changes when the vampire elements come into the book. The vampire parts are okay; Kenner has to explain how the vampires can attend high school during the day and it works but isn't quite believable. In fact, with everything going on at the high school, it's kind of hard to believe the teachers and other adults have no idea there is something going on. Still, the idea of vampires taking over a high school is a fun concept and good reading.
"The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even" is part of a new series and ends in a cliffhanger. The next book Good Ghouls Do is now available.
"The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even" is a nicely done young adults novel. Beth narrates it and author Julie Kenner does a good job of capturing Beth's voice. Beth is a well written and believable character - extremely intelligent, high achieving, not part of the popular crowd, and determined to not only be class valedictorian, but to get into her dream college. While she is excelling in school, her home life is a mess - her parents are divorced and she is shuttling back and forth from living with her mother to living with her father, both of whom are too wrapped up in themselves to pay attention to her, a situation which makes her a more real and sympathetic character. Her friend Jenny is one of the best characters in the book, a good friend, unpopular, but in control over the kids in school in ways they don't even know. Beth's rival for class valedictorian, Clayton Greene, plays an integral part in the book and is another nice character. The popular students - Stephen Wills and his friends and the cheerleaders - all seem like cliches at first, but that changes when the vampire elements come into the book. The vampire parts are okay; Kenner has to explain how the vampires can attend high school during the day and it works but isn't quite believable. In fact, with everything going on at the high school, it's kind of hard to believe the teachers and other adults have no idea there is something going on. Still, the idea of vampires taking over a high school is a fun concept and good reading.
"The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even" is part of a new series and ends in a cliffhanger. The next book Good Ghouls Do is now available.
October 1, 2012
I love reading about vampires, so I got this book used and very cheap. Its about a girlnamed Elizabeth Fraiser who's valedictorian who's very smart. She's a pure nerd through and through. Always helping out her friends with things if they should need it.
She was having a good year as a junior when all of a sudden, she gets turned into a vampire by a jock that is rather hot. A jock that she particularly likes. She tries out for the drill team to help pad her high school transcripts. She wanted to go to college and in doing so needs certain things on there to make it look well rounded. She gets turned down from the team because a cheerleader asked the teacher who's in charge of drill to tell her no.
Beth gets rather upset at this news, she thought it was because this particular teacher had a problem with her. The head cheerleader tells her that they want her on the cheer leading squad (this is where Beth should have known way better than she led on) that's why she rejected from the drill team.
Beth meets them after school for her first try outs & after Jenny (her best friend) as well as a geek who's second in line for valedictorian warns her not to go she goes anyways. I mean come on, she was told the the jock that she likes wants her there, why would she say no?
Of course, the jock uses her and ends up biting her after spiking her drink so that he can turn out. Which comes to find out that they wanted Beth because she's so smart to help them figure out how to walk around outside during the day (being a vampire you can't because you will toast).
Beth gets her friend Jenny as well as Clayton (her new boyfriend, former geek valedictorian runner up) to come up with a plan to trick the jock into thinking that she made the cure. She of course can't figure out a cure and here's the kicker, if she does figure out this cure she will indeed be making it so vampires will be a huge threat during the day. However, if she doesn't make the cure she will get killed by the jock. And she thought high school was bad enough huh?
The book ends with a cliffhanger, Beth and another jock who got turned wants to get back at the other jock for turning him.
She was having a good year as a junior when all of a sudden, she gets turned into a vampire by a jock that is rather hot. A jock that she particularly likes. She tries out for the drill team to help pad her high school transcripts. She wanted to go to college and in doing so needs certain things on there to make it look well rounded. She gets turned down from the team because a cheerleader asked the teacher who's in charge of drill to tell her no.
Beth gets rather upset at this news, she thought it was because this particular teacher had a problem with her. The head cheerleader tells her that they want her on the cheer leading squad (this is where Beth should have known way better than she led on) that's why she rejected from the drill team.
Beth meets them after school for her first try outs & after Jenny (her best friend) as well as a geek who's second in line for valedictorian warns her not to go she goes anyways. I mean come on, she was told the the jock that she likes wants her there, why would she say no?
Of course, the jock uses her and ends up biting her after spiking her drink so that he can turn out. Which comes to find out that they wanted Beth because she's so smart to help them figure out how to walk around outside during the day (being a vampire you can't because you will toast).
Beth gets her friend Jenny as well as Clayton (her new boyfriend, former geek valedictorian runner up) to come up with a plan to trick the jock into thinking that she made the cure. She of course can't figure out a cure and here's the kicker, if she does figure out this cure she will indeed be making it so vampires will be a huge threat during the day. However, if she doesn't make the cure she will get killed by the jock. And she thought high school was bad enough huh?
The book ends with a cliffhanger, Beth and another jock who got turned wants to get back at the other jock for turning him.
January 7, 2008
Beth Frasier is on the right track. She is editor of the school newspaper, has a great best friend, and is lined up to the be valedictorian of her senior class. Her life has been so focused on academics though that she doesn't feel like she has enough variety on her transcript to attract the great film schools that she wants to be accepted to. In order to remedy this she trys out for an empty spot on the drill team. She is devasted when she finds out she doesn't get the spot. She is totally shocked though when she is approached by the head cheerleader and told that she didn't make drill team because the cheer squad wanted her to join their squad instead. Reluctantly, she agrees. In part because she finds out that Stephen Wills, the hot, star quarterback, is going to be at her first practice. She wants to have the opportunity to hang out with him. She totally ends up regretting her decision.
It turns out that Stephen and most of the football team are vampires. He wants Beth to become one as well so she can work on the problem of vampires being in the sunlight. If she doesn't find a solution to the sunlight problem, Stephen says there is no reason to keep her around so she is working on a timeline with no idea how to even start.
Beth is very upset over the whole situation. The fact that she isn't able to walk around during the day like everyone else really has hampered her life plans. She fights her desires to feed from her mother by getting her hands on some blood bags from her father who is a doctor at the hospital. With the help of her best friend and an unlikely ally, Clayton who has been her arch rival at school, she comes up with a plan to get rid of Stephen and attempt to return her to her normal self.
If you like this story, check out the sequal, Good Ghouls Do which is already out.
It turns out that Stephen and most of the football team are vampires. He wants Beth to become one as well so she can work on the problem of vampires being in the sunlight. If she doesn't find a solution to the sunlight problem, Stephen says there is no reason to keep her around so she is working on a timeline with no idea how to even start.
Beth is very upset over the whole situation. The fact that she isn't able to walk around during the day like everyone else really has hampered her life plans. She fights her desires to feed from her mother by getting her hands on some blood bags from her father who is a doctor at the hospital. With the help of her best friend and an unlikely ally, Clayton who has been her arch rival at school, she comes up with a plan to get rid of Stephen and attempt to return her to her normal self.
If you like this story, check out the sequal, Good Ghouls Do which is already out.
January 23, 2015
Believable? Nope, not even as far as vampires go. Quirky? Yup. Funny? Yup. Entertaining? Yes,every bit of this quick and light read is wholly engrossing.
Yet, there isn't much to this YA book from Julie Kenner. It reads a lot like her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom books. The main character, Beth is a sixteen year old borderline geek who gets bitten by a studly vampire and made into a cheerleader type overnight. Beth doesn't take too kindly to this messing up her grades and possible college application. She and a cast of fun secondary characters embark on a plan to get revenge upon her football hero vampire master and thereby make herself human again. This book was definately worth the read and I expect to get the next installment soon. However, a word of warning...apparently 'Good Ghouls Do' leaves some cliffhangers also, and according to Julie Kenner's website, there are no plans to make a third installment. This scares me off a little, but I'm one book in, I figure I will read the next one too.
Yet, there isn't much to this YA book from Julie Kenner. It reads a lot like her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom books. The main character, Beth is a sixteen year old borderline geek who gets bitten by a studly vampire and made into a cheerleader type overnight. Beth doesn't take too kindly to this messing up her grades and possible college application. She and a cast of fun secondary characters embark on a plan to get revenge upon her football hero vampire master and thereby make herself human again. This book was definately worth the read and I expect to get the next installment soon. However, a word of warning...apparently 'Good Ghouls Do' leaves some cliffhangers also, and according to Julie Kenner's website, there are no plans to make a third installment. This scares me off a little, but I'm one book in, I figure I will read the next one too.
May 9, 2009
Cute for the teen set or those who enjoy really silly teen style writing. I read a lot of teen lit, but this was almost too much for me. On the other hand, it also had some stuff that made me (a pretty darn liberal lady in most ways) not too keen about recommending it to younger teens, with many casual references to teen drinking and sex. Yes, I know they almost all do it. But when it's in books written by adults for teens it feels like saying that it's OK to do it, go ahead, have fun! Of course, the fact that our heroine gets in the worse trouble of her life while fooling around with a boy and drinking could be considered a cautionary tale, but I'm not sure a 13 year old would see it that way. Overall, a cute fast read primarily for the teens only, most adults wouldn't like them nearly as much as Kenner's Demon hunting soccer mom books (and probably visa versa). If you just can't resist a perky but smart heroine, vampires and high school dramas, go for it, you'll get a few chuckles.
April 20, 2011
This is a cute little book and a very enjoyable story.
Beth, class valedictorian, is lured by the members of the popular social clique to a fateful cheerleading tryout. Unaware of what is going on and caught up in the moment, she is turned into a vampire. The story is about her attempt to get even for this, stop the vampires from preying on their less popular fellow students and, hopefully, get her life back.
Beth is clever and her voice tells the story, with fun and sarcastic comments. She is assisted by her best friend Jenny and her arch-nemesis in the Valedictorian competition, Clayton.
The story is fast-paced, the action clear and concise. I didn't realize it was part of a series until the final page which ends with a good ending but definitely not a complete one.
All in all, a fun, light read and I'll continue on with the series.
)
Beth, class valedictorian, is lured by the members of the popular social clique to a fateful cheerleading tryout. Unaware of what is going on and caught up in the moment, she is turned into a vampire. The story is about her attempt to get even for this, stop the vampires from preying on their less popular fellow students and, hopefully, get her life back.
Beth is clever and her voice tells the story, with fun and sarcastic comments. She is assisted by her best friend Jenny and her arch-nemesis in the Valedictorian competition, Clayton.
The story is fast-paced, the action clear and concise. I didn't realize it was part of a series until the final page which ends with a good ending but definitely not a complete one.
All in all, a fun, light read and I'll continue on with the series.
)
April 12, 2010
Beth's life is going pretty good, if you don't include the parental portion, she is set for the college of her choice. But just to be sure she needs that special extracurricular activity. That is probably why she really did not take the time to really analyze that invitation to become a cheerleader. And when the offer was sweetened by the presence of Steven Wills, her secret crush, well she just could not resist. But, when she wakes up dead the next day. Well, let's just say she is not pleased. She may be a vampire but that is not going to stop her from achieving her goals, one of which now is getting even with all the vamps and vamp wannabes who tricked her. She and her friends also have a more serious goal, getting Beth back to human. This book is funny and entertaining. Looking forward to the sequel.
February 9, 2016
Beth Frasier goes to Waterloo High School and wants to be the school's valedictorian. She's 16, and she's been turned into a vampire.
There's a reference to homophobia in the second chapter.
Some girls convince Beth to get on the cheerleader squad, and she agrees since she has a crush on a guy on the football team.
Beth is warned by another student not to go to cheer-leading practice.
She gets turned into a vampire and wakes up buried (not in a coffin), and realizes she has been turned into a vampire.
Later Clayton talks to Beth after the change, and tells her there may be a way to reverse it. It involves her killing the football jerk who changed her. That proves harder than she realized, though, and in the end her success is not the success she expected, and, as it is, it carries a terrible price.
It's a fairly decent book.
There's a reference to homophobia in the second chapter.
Some girls convince Beth to get on the cheerleader squad, and she agrees since she has a crush on a guy on the football team.
Beth is warned by another student not to go to cheer-leading practice.
She gets turned into a vampire and wakes up buried (not in a coffin), and realizes she has been turned into a vampire.
Later Clayton talks to Beth after the change, and tells her there may be a way to reverse it. It involves her killing the football jerk who changed her. That proves harder than she realized, though, and in the end her success is not the success she expected, and, as it is, it carries a terrible price.
It's a fairly decent book.
February 19, 2008
Beth Fraser is at the top of her class in Waterloo High in Austin when one of the jocks on the football team turns her to a vampire. Now she wants to make them all pay. Kinda fun. Annoyingly, there's no resolution, just a setup for more books in a series. Not worth pursuing.
He laughed. "Oh, yes, I've been a vampire for quite a long time."
"How long?" I asked, suspicious.
"Two hundred and thirty-three years," he said, as if I was talking about the weather.
"Oh. So why does a two-hundred-and-thirty-three-year-old vampire want to come to a Texas high school?"
"To play football, of course."
He laughed. "Oh, yes, I've been a vampire for quite a long time."
"How long?" I asked, suspicious.
"Two hundred and thirty-three years," he said, as if I was talking about the weather.
"Oh. So why does a two-hundred-and-thirty-three-year-old vampire want to come to a Texas high school?"
"To play football, of course."
December 4, 2008
In The Good Ghouls� Guide to Getting Even, Elizabeth Frasier is happy with her life. She isn’t one of the popular people, but she gets amazing grades and has even been granted early admission to college. She dreams about going to the Tisch School at NYU and becoming the next Steven Spielberg. All that she has to do is add a few more extracurricular activities to round out her application...
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal Review site on the web, for the review of in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal Review site on the web, for the review of in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
April 5, 2009
Kenner has written another fun title about the supernatural coexisting with the real world. Her "Demon" series features a soccer-mom who's been fighting demons since she was a teen. In this book, she explores what happens when a normal teen geek becomes a vampire.Once again, location is terrifically important to Kenner. The "Demon" series is in Southern California, set against a backdrop of sunny days and dangerous facades. In this book, the protagonist is a geek in Texas. The hot, sunny days and sports addictions that Texas is famous for are a huge part of this novel. I enjoyed this first entry in a new series.
May 30, 2009
I really liked this book. It was very funny and stuff, but I didn't like the constant 'woe is me I'm dead type' attitude going on. but I didn't expect the ending.
I really liked the sub plots as opposed to the main plot. I liked how nerd Richie was able to take a blow to the Vamps, and I liked the Chris sub-plot where he turns good. I didn't really like the main plot.
Another reason I liked it is because this is opposite of Twilight in tons of ways, so this isn't the average vampire read.
I am currently reading the second one, and I would suggest this to readers who want traditonal non-sparkly vampires.
I really liked the sub plots as opposed to the main plot. I liked how nerd Richie was able to take a blow to the Vamps, and I liked the Chris sub-plot where he turns good. I didn't really like the main plot.
Another reason I liked it is because this is opposite of Twilight in tons of ways, so this isn't the average vampire read.
I am currently reading the second one, and I would suggest this to readers who want traditonal non-sparkly vampires.
January 8, 2010
A fun look at what happens when the school good girl and future valedictorian gets turned into a vampire.
I loved Elizabeth as a character. Loved her humor and snarkiness as she tells the story of how she became a vampire and what happens next. It's an interesting story full of the usual high school characters, but I love all of the different personalities shown. From the jocks and cheerleaders to the brainy ones, all are shown as typical high school students. Throw in some are vampires and you get an interesting tale.
Full of humor, some romance and vampires and vampire hunters, this book is just a fun enjoyable young adult read.
I loved Elizabeth as a character. Loved her humor and snarkiness as she tells the story of how she became a vampire and what happens next. It's an interesting story full of the usual high school characters, but I love all of the different personalities shown. From the jocks and cheerleaders to the brainy ones, all are shown as typical high school students. Throw in some are vampires and you get an interesting tale.
Full of humor, some romance and vampires and vampire hunters, this book is just a fun enjoyable young adult read.
December 10, 2009
This is just great fun! I loved Beth's witty narrative and her banter with her best friend Jenny and Clayton. It was also a new take on vampires - which is always good:) - and is enjoyably fast paced.
I will admit there are a few plot holes and there are certain things that don't ring true (a hospital giving blood to a student for a project?) but it was easy to forgive this as the story is just fun and doesn't take itself too seriously.
It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so if you decide to give it a go and are enjoying it you might want to get the sequel 'Good Ghouls Do' beforehand!
3.5 Stars
I will admit there are a few plot holes and there are certain things that don't ring true (a hospital giving blood to a student for a project?) but it was easy to forgive this as the story is just fun and doesn't take itself too seriously.
It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so if you decide to give it a go and are enjoying it you might want to get the sequel 'Good Ghouls Do' beforehand!
3.5 Stars
October 31, 2011
Podem ler a minha opinião completa no .
A midly amusing book, perfect for teens (in its tone), but lacking depth and plot sense.
The story is full of black holes and the characters are insanely stupid. How are we suppose to believe both Elizabeth and Claytoon are supposed to be the smartest in the school?
Really, there were too many crazy things going on, and not in a way that made sense. (Now I'm the one not making sense)
All in all, it was an amusing read, but definetly not a book to be remembered.
A midly amusing book, perfect for teens (in its tone), but lacking depth and plot sense.
The story is full of black holes and the characters are insanely stupid. How are we suppose to believe both Elizabeth and Claytoon are supposed to be the smartest in the school?
Really, there were too many crazy things going on, and not in a way that made sense. (Now I'm the one not making sense)
All in all, it was an amusing read, but definetly not a book to be remembered.
August 1, 2012
The book was fun and witty, but ultimately just fluff. It lacked complex characterizations, original plot points, or anything else that would make it stand out from the legions of paranormal teen romance novels (who knew that would become a genre all its own?).
In addition, I didn't find the protagonist appealing. She spends a lot of time grade grubbing and complaining and snarking about grades. I was that kind of teenager and don't particularly feel like reliving that part of my past, so I wouldn't bother to read more in this series. The writing was good enough that I would try Carpe Demon or something else by Julie Kenner.
Final verdict: fun, but unimpressive
In addition, I didn't find the protagonist appealing. She spends a lot of time grade grubbing and complaining and snarking about grades. I was that kind of teenager and don't particularly feel like reliving that part of my past, so I wouldn't bother to read more in this series. The writing was good enough that I would try Carpe Demon or something else by Julie Kenner.
Final verdict: fun, but unimpressive
August 6, 2008
When Elizabeth Frasier is turned into a vampire against her will she decides to get even with her new master and try to win back her mortality.
This was just an okay book, very much true to genre and a major buffy-wannabe. The characters were two-dimensional with little thought or background. No big plot twists or surprises and just very, very predictable. It's a cookie cutter teen vampire novel in an already flooded market and doesn't stand out at all. The romance aspect felt forced and false, as did the eventual ending. I won't be reading anymore in this series.
This was just an okay book, very much true to genre and a major buffy-wannabe. The characters were two-dimensional with little thought or background. No big plot twists or surprises and just very, very predictable. It's a cookie cutter teen vampire novel in an already flooded market and doesn't stand out at all. The romance aspect felt forced and false, as did the eventual ending. I won't be reading anymore in this series.
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