09/14/10

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Posted In: Book Review


Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: September 14, 2010
Publisher: Tor Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 364
Source: Author
Interest: Debut Author
Challenge: 2010 Debut Author Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon|Barnes & Noble

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She’s spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same…until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him. What she doesn’t know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

When I first heard about Personal Demons with the tagline “if you had to choose between heaven and hell….” I mean it would be obvious, right. I almost scoffed at the idea…. how could this be a competition… there’s only one right answer, right? Wrong!

Oh Lisa… what a tangled web you weave.

Personal Demons is told in two perspectives…. Luc’s and Frannie’s. (Gabe gets the shaft in this book…. but a little fairy might have told me that he gets his dues in the next novel.) The duel perspective really made me appreciate Luc and Frannie’s characters. Had I simply saw Luc through the eyes of Frannie, I wouldn’t have had the same perception of him, the same goes with seeing Frannie through Luc’s eyes. Honestly, they both probably would have annoyed me, but somehow getting into their heads made them a tolerable. Although I do admit that Frannie grated on me at times.

Especially her friendship with Taylor…. talk about a toxic friend! All Taylor did was make Frannie feel bad about herself, I didn’t understand why they remained friends, sure they’ve been friends ‘forever’ but time shouldn’t define who you are friends with. Come on Frannie…. slap the girl or something!

I’m always a fan of the love triangle and Personal Demons has two undeniably gorgeous options! You can never go wrong with gorgeous boys! I just wish we were able to understand more about Frannie and what her feelings ultimately mean for both Luc and Gabe, but perhaps we’ll get to figure that out in book two!

There was never a dull moment…. I was constantly flipping the pages, needing more! Action, romance, deception & sexiness! This book had a little bit of everything. I can’t wait to see more from this trio!

If I had to define the one thing that made this a four star read rather than a five star would be Luc & Frannie’s relationship. I did love it, but I just felt that it happened way to fast. I’m getting tired of a level-headed girl suddenly dumbfounded and drooling the moment a hot guy looks her way. Sure she can be flattered and perhaps a little awestruck, but she can still be coherent!

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33
comments

33 Comments

  1. Renae
    9/14/2010

    Can't wait to get through the work day so I can run out and buy this!

  2. Renae
    9/14/2010

    Can't wait to get through the work day so I can run out and buy this!

  3. yabooknerd
    9/14/2010

    Sounds great!

  4. Melissa
    9/14/2010

    Great review, Kristi! I haven't been sure about this one, but I think I'll give it a go. It definitely sounds intriguing :)

  5. Karen
    9/14/2010

    I start Personal Demons today so I hope I like it. I'm getting tired of the hormone = stupid girl plot too.

  6. yabooknerd
    9/14/2010

    Sounds great!

  7. Melissa
    9/14/2010

    Great review, Kristi! I haven't been sure about this one, but I think I'll give it a go. It definitely sounds intriguing :)

  8. Karen
    9/14/2010

    I start Personal Demons today so I hope I like it. I'm getting tired of the hormone = stupid girl plot too.

  9. Lost In Lit
    9/14/2010

    Waiting for this one to arrive, and I've been so excited to read it. Trying not to set my expectations too high because I don't want to set myself up for disappointment…but I really think I'm going to love it.

  10. Lost In Lit
    9/14/2010

    Waiting for this one to arrive, and I've been so excited to read it. Trying not to set my expectations too high because I don't want to set myself up for disappointment…but I really think I'm going to love it.

  11. Audra
    9/14/2010

    Great review — I do appreciate your sentiment about smart girls turning dumb for boys, so I'll keep that in mind when I dip into this one!

  12. Audra
    9/14/2010

    Great review — I do appreciate your sentiment about smart girls turning dumb for boys, so I'll keep that in mind when I dip into this one!

  13. Savannah Smith
    9/14/2010

    I've seen this book EVERYWHERE lately! lol maybe it's the next big thing. I think I kinda want to read it now :)

  14. Casey (The Bookish Type)
    9/14/2010

    I think this a great review. I'm a little tired of the love-at-first-sight business too, and the toxic best friend! Honestly, a heroine can have a good girl friend. I promise, it works that way in real life! I can't wait to read this book!

  15. Savannah Smith
    9/14/2010

    I've seen this book EVERYWHERE lately! lol maybe it's the next big thing. I think I kinda want to read it now :)

  16. Casey (The Bookish Type)
    9/14/2010

    I think this a great review. I'm a little tired of the love-at-first-sight business too, and the toxic best friend! Honestly, a heroine can have a good girl friend. I promise, it works that way in real life! I can't wait to read this book!

  17. Nicole
    9/14/2010

    I'm so excited to read this. I've been reading great reviews on it so far!

  18. Nicole
    9/14/2010

    I'm so excited to read this. I've been reading great reviews on it so far!

  19. Tara (The Bodacious Pen)
    9/14/2010

    I can't wait to read this one! I agree with you, I'm growing tired of girls losing their common sense when a hot guy rolls on the scene!

  20. Natalie Aguirre
    9/14/2010

    Thanks for the review. I've heard lots of good things about this book so am looking forward to reading it. Though I agree with your last comment about getting tired of girls losing it over guys. Not a very good example for teen girls.

  21. Tina (Book Couture)
    9/14/2010

    This book looks great…but the characters on the cover look a little too old to be teens?

  22. Tara (The Bodacious Pen)
    9/15/2010

    I can't wait to read this one! I agree with you, I'm growing tired of girls losing their common sense when a hot guy rolls on the scene!

  23. Natalie Aguirre
    9/15/2010

    Thanks for the review. I've heard lots of good things about this book so am looking forward to reading it. Though I agree with your last comment about getting tired of girls losing it over guys. Not a very good example for teen girls.

  24. Tina (Book Couture)
    9/15/2010

    This book looks great…but the characters on the cover look a little too old to be teens?

  25. Heather H.
    9/15/2010

    Great review! I keep seeing this book pop up in the blogosphere lately, and it sounds like something I'd enjoy.

    And I'm in total agreement about girls becoming dumbfounded around hot guys. Retain some coherency, please!

  26. Heather H.
    9/15/2010

    Great review! I keep seeing this book pop up in the blogosphere lately, and it sounds like something I'd enjoy.

    And I'm in total agreement about girls becoming dumbfounded around hot guys. Retain some coherency, please!

  27. thebookfairyhaven
    9/15/2010

    Have to admit that I'm also quite fed up with girls in books that become paralysed with stupidity whenever they're around the hot boy and I've definitely seen that in a lot of novels. Great review Kristi – am definitely curious about this book, even though I have seen some mixed reviews for this one!

  28. thebookfairyhaven
    9/15/2010

    Have to admit that I'm also quite fed up with girls in books that become paralysed with stupidity whenever they're around the hot boy and I've definitely seen that in a lot of novels. Great review Kristi – am definitely curious about this book, even though I have seen some mixed reviews for this one!

  29. Jenny
    9/15/2010

    Amen to that last bit! Brilliant review. So going on my TBR list.

  30. Jenny
    9/15/2010

    Amen to that last bit! Brilliant review. So going on my TBR list.

  31. Christina/Book Addict
    9/15/2010

    Great review, Kristi! I just read PD this week as well. It was super steamy!!! But you are right—I feel like a lot of YA books have relationships that move at lightning speed….it's one of my pet peeves as well.

  32. Christina/Book Addict
    9/15/2010

    Great review, Kristi! I just read PD this week as well. It was super steamy!!! But you are right—I feel like a lot of YA books have relationships that move at lightning speed….it's one of my pet peeves as well.

  33. Goodbye 2010! - The Story Siren
    1/7/2012

    [...] Days by Rebecca MaizelTweet Heart by Elizabeth RudnickPrincess for Hire by Lindsey LeavittPersonal Demons by Lisa DesrochersThe Duff by Kody KeplingerA Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily [...]

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