Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) (Sucks to Be Me #1)

Reader reviewed by EshInoBi

Sorry, but this book did not reach my expectations. Maybe a bit too much on the girl's side, but that's just me. When I thought of 'vampire novel', I thought that this book would have Mina Hamilton being a vampire for a while, but throughout the whole book was just her simply deciding to be a vampire or not. Basically, just random events helpfully or not helpfully narrowing down her decision whether or not to be a vampire. I thought it was really cute though. I don't usually judge a book by its cover, but this cover was really nice. So was the praise at the back and the sticky note about the author. And every chapter there's a sticker saying a myth about vampires and the truth about vampires, which I found really interesting. Nevertheless, this book still had a teen tint and was a good read.

Reader reviewed by Angie

With an irresistible mix of hilarity and originality, Kimberly Pauley throws all the vampire cliches out the window and provides readers (like me) a fresh, energizing novel. Instead of the shadowy, rogue sort of vampires we usually get in literature (which there is nothing wrong with of course - I love me some hot vampires), Sucks to Be Me introduces an unfamiliar type: accountants. Not to mention the fact that there are rules and regulations and a Ministry of Magic sort of government for the blood drinking species.

Pauley's fun, entertaining novel doesn't try to compete with other types of vampire books - her's is on a different level. And the level is full of laughs! Mina is a teenager with a great sarcastic wit (but never mean spirited) who finds out that her parents weren't exactly supposed to have let her in on their immortal secret (she's known since forever), and she's suddenly faced with a decision: would she like to join their blood drinking ways or forget she's ever known?

My favorite thing about the book is that it continually throws you curveballs. Pauley has a clear idea of vampirism and it isn't what we expect, which is what makes it so exciting and refreshing. It's an unique idea. Plus, it has three hot guys in it. Yep. That helps.

Mina and the cast of supporting players are all likeable and interesting. Her friendships are believable and happily angst free (on the most part, at least). The prose keeps you turning the pages swiftly (I finished in less than a day and a half) - and if I didn't know that Kimberly Pauley has a sequel planned, I would be sad indeed. I'll be buying the next one the minute it's out, especially with the way this one ended (and no, I won't tell you!)!!!

Reader reviewed by Jessica

Mina( yes, she IS named after the Dracula character) is a normal teenage girl- albite her vampire parents and the fact that she now must choose whether or not she wants to join them in undead-ville. In this book you follow Mina as she has some ups and downs-some vamp related-some not.I liked this book. It was a nice, quick easy read. The characters where funny. The storyline was interesting. The pop-culture references where awesome( I am a sucker for pop-culture references) The book's main theme is Mina is unsure whether or not to become a vampire. She deals with not being able to tell her best friend, ect.

The most interesting parts of the book-are actually the human parts. Like Mina likes this guy Nathan, but Nathan likes her best friend, Serena and Serena likes Nathan. Mina also tries to set up a fellow potential vampire,George, with Serena-but he likes Mina-not Serena

All in all, a good read. Think Vampire Kisses meets House of Night and you get Sucks to be Me. I believe Ms. Pauley will be writing a sequel-which I think will get interesting-I won't give much away but the ending does leave room for other stories w/ Mina in them.

Reader reviewed by Deirdre

Written from the point of view of a might-be vampire, this book follows Mina Hamilton's adventure through pre-vampirehood.
Will she decide to live forever even if it requires her to drink blood? Or will she risk getting her mind wiped by a harsh vampire government? Will Mina pass English?
These are some very important questions that are answered in this amusing and well-written book.

The thing I liked about this book was the hilarious character of George. His jokes lighten the whole will she/won't she vampire drama.