Customer Reviews

Devilish

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jane Jarvis has always looked after her best friend, Ally. So Jane is determined to help Ally through Big-Little day at Saint Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls. Big-Little day is a day when seniors each choose a freshman to take under their wing and mentor as their "little." Ally, unpopular and totally lacking in self-confidence, is sure that no freshman will want her for a "big." And sure enough, Big-Little day ends disastrously for Ally when she humiliates herself in front of the whole school.

But the next day, something strange starts happening. Ally shows up at school with a new haircut and new clothes. Not only is her appearance changed, but Ally also seems to have developed a new-found confidence. Jane begins to suspect that something is wrong, and eventually she discovers that Ally has sold her soul to a demon. Jane is determined to save Ally at all costs, but more than that, Jane soon finds herself caught up in cosmic battle against the forces of evil.

I'm not a big fan of high school stories; high school wasn't all that great when I was actually there, and I certainly have no desire to relive it in books. But devilish caught my attention from the first page and held it to the end. Jane is a fascinating character, a brilliant student but a rebel, and it's a lot of fun to watch her try to outwit the demon. devilish is a funny, fast-paced story with many interesting twists, but mostly it's just a really good read.

Jane's best friend, Ally, has always been there, and always been pretty much the same. She's never been a social butterfly or anything, but she and Jane have been through a lot at their all-girls Catholic high school, and now they've reached their senior year. One big part of being a senior at St. Teresa's is having a "little." This means picking a freshman or new student and showing them around. On Big-Little Day, there is a 45-minute period when bigs and littles pair up, and having a good little is definitely a status symbol for seniors.

As Jane fears, Ally does not do so well. She throws up all over the one freshman coming in her direction, and runs to the bathroom where Jane comforts her, sacrificing her own chance for a little. Surprisingly, Ally does get a little--a new sophomore girl named Lanalee.

Ally gets more than a little. Soon after pairing up with Lanalee, she shows up at school with new hair, new clothes, a new cell phone--and a new personality. She's way more confident than before, but she's also blowing off Jane, her best friend. The new Ally is not necessarily improved.

There's more going on here than meets the eye, though. Who knew that selling your soul was actually possible? Well, now Jane and Ally do...But how do you stop the devil?

DEVILISH is a funny, fascinating, and unique take on selling your soul. It's wonderfully written, with interesting and lifelike characters that readers are sure to love and love to hate. The supernatural element in this story is nicely done, and keeps unraveling to the end, showing more and more of what's going on, even when you think you've got it all figured out. This novel kept my attention all the way through, and is sure to be a favorite of anyone who reads it!

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

Jane Jarvis and her best friend Allison Concord have attended Saint Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls for years, muddling through each year at the prestigious academy on the bottom of the social totem pole. But this year - their senior year - the two girls decide to make a change. This will, without a doubt, be the best year of their lives, regardless of the fact that they must contend with an all-female population, and nun's who watch, and dictate, their every move. Jane and Allison are used to standing out from the crowd, given their quirky personalities, and different looks, it's not surprising that they don't mesh well with the conformist styles of their classmates. But one day, after Allison falls victim to one of the most embarrassing moments in history, she appears in school looking like a new person. Not only are her tresses chopped in a short bob and dyed red, but she's also sporting new - expensive - clothes, and accessories; and just so happens to have Jane's ex-boyfriend, Elton, hanging off her arm. Now, with the help of an extremely strange, and old-fashion freshman named Owen, Jane has discovered the unbelievable truth about her...ex-best friend...Allison has sold her soul to the devil, and the devil just so happens to be close by - as in many of their classes. Jane does her best to play along with the whole charade, but when she realizes that it's no joke, she risks her own soul in an attempt to rescue Allison. Little does she know that the tables are about to turn, and Jane will have to save Allison before the all-exclusive Poodle Prom, or risk burning in hell...forever.

There was something about Maureen Johnson's DEVILISH that reeled me in based on looking at the cover photograph. Perhaps it was the cupcake basking in it's frosting-covered chocolaty goodness, or the evil gleam in the model's eyes, but it caught my attention, and dragged me into this sugar-coated, impossible-to-put-down novel. DEVILISH is like an all-girls, teenage version of the Elizabeth Hurley Brendan Fraser film BEDAZZLED. Each character is quirky and interesting, and has the power to hold the story on their own two shoulders, while the twists and turns that occur on just about every page leave you on the edge of your seat. Jane is imperceptibly interesting with a witty personality, brains, and quite a bit of brawn for such a petite character; Allison is your typical, run-of-the-mill, geek turned popular character, who works much too hard to fit in and be accepted by the crowd, yet has little to show for it; but the character who takes the cake (no pun intended) would most definitely have to be the new girl, Lanalee, a rich, connected, gorgeous, lanky sophomore with a co-dependency problem on sweets and starting a ruckus. Lanalee is the girl everyone loves to hate, and hates to love, yet she instantly wins your heart, and captures your attention with her many outrageous antics. The secondary characters sprinkled throughout this sordid tale are also quite intriguing to read about, and possess spin-off potential. Maureen Johnson has truly outdone herself with this latest teen romp, that is sure to leave you feeling a bit DEVILISH yourself.

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer

I actually didn't start this book with extremely high hopes, I thought it would be sort of 'high school drama meets Artemis Fowl'. Luckily, I was completely wrong.

Devilish is the first book I've read by Maureen Johnson, but I'll certainly be reading more. The plot is truley unique, very well crafted, and you are still guessing even when you get to the last page. I laughed out loud at many of the main character's (Jane's) comments. I read the whole thing in one sitting. The characters were well developed, and to top it all off, there is a touch of romance too.

The plot summary Amazon gives is actually fairly accurate, but it's also so much more than that. (Don't be turned off by the "Poodle Prom" part. It's a lot more inconsequential than the summary might lead you to believe.) Along with the fact that it's funny, unique, and well written, you'll also keep thnking about it long afterward. It will certainly make you wonder just what might be going on with Heaven and Hell, and exactly what that intense connection might be.

I'd definitely recommend this book, even to someone who might no long consider themselves a "young adult". My only complaint was that the end came too quickly, I really would have liked to know what happens after Jane recovers... What happens with her and Allison, Owen, and everyone else for that matter? And her schooling?

Hopefully, there will be a sequel.

Seniors Jane Jarvis and Allison Concord have never been stars in the social sky at St. Theresa's. Sure, Jane is the best student in school, but her smart-mouthed antics and Ally's general hyper nervousness have kept them, if not on the outside, then certainly out of the center. That's been okay until now, but after Ally humiliates herself at the first important school function of the year, Jane worries that her best friend will become more shy and withdrawn.

As it turns out, that's not what happens at all. Just one day after the unfortunate incident, Ally turns up at school looking like she's had a celebrity makeover and suddenly she's chic, confident and dating Jane's ex.

Jane is struggling to figure out what is going on until Owen, a weirdly stalkerish but likable freshman from the nearby boys' school, spells it out for her. Ally has signed a contract with a demon - literally sold her soul to the devil. Now it's up to Jane to get Ally out of this horrible mess before it's too late for anyone to save her.

Clever and fast-paced, Devilish is full of wry humor and sports an ingenious plot. If you've never read a Maureen Johnson novel before, you're in for a real treat.

Maureen Johnson is a fantastic writer. This book was excellent. It was suspenseful and interesting and throughout the whole book there was never a point where I didn't want to know what would happen next. Cleverly written and interesting, this is definitely one of the most interesting and unique YA novels that I've read.

3 - 3 1/2 stars - In Devilish, Jane's best friend, Ally, is having a pretty rough time. She got stood up for the junior prom and now, on Big-Little Day (when freshmen choose seniors to be Big to their Little), Ally got a less than glowing review from the Junior Judges, an unknown group of juniors who judge the seniors. Things start to look up for Ally but quickly go downhill when something disastrous happens during the selection process. Surprisingly, the next day Ally shows up and is transformed; new hair, clothes and attitude. She's also avoiding Jane, when the two used to be inseparable.

Jane, despite not being a train wreck herself, has had issues with authority at her Catholic school (passing out condoms on Valentine's Day, for one), in part because of a break-up with Elton after going out for over seven months, that left her doing things that racked up demerits at school. Fortunately, a new girl at school named Lanalee, who also helped Ally save some face, seems willing to help Jane. Unfortunately, Ally has gotten herself into more trouble than Jane could ever imagine, Lanalee might not be as helpful as she thought and and, to top it off, she's got to deal with Owen a freshmen who may be stalking her.

I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was good, Jane was likeable, pretty tough, smart and snarky, all characteristics I like in my protagonists. However, I didn't think there was enough character development with some of the secondary characters and some of the situations seemed a little haphazardly thrown in. I never understood why Jane liked Elton or was so hung up over him, other than her saying she was, because we never really found out anything about him and ***minor spoiler*** the reason he gave Jane for breaking up with her would be the same reason he shouldn't have gone out with Ally, unless it was part of her deal, which we never found out. He was just really blah. *** I don't want to give away too much, but, for example, the resolution was a little weird (actually, there were a couple of things that were a little out in left field) and it seemed like the whole thing could've been avoided if another character hadn't gotten involved.

The ending was wrapped up, but at the same time, it seemed like there could've been a sequel or at least another chapter (or, I should say, five chapters; another weird thing was the really short chapter length(like five pages)). Devilish isn't unforgettable, but it is a cute, quick read.

I have to say I'm a bit surprised at all of the wonderful reviews for Devilish. I found the narrator, Jane, to be unlikeable and her friend, Ally to be somewhat of a flat character. Lanalee was the most interesting character but readers don't gain much insight into her world. I almost wish Devilish had been told from her perspective. The premise and the fact that I enjoyed Maureen Johnson's other novels attracted me to Devilish, but I was left disappointed. The plot holds a lot of promise but unfortunately, I as a reader, didn't gain any satisfaction from the ending. I thought the concept of Hell and it's workers could have been explained a little better, along with why Jane, a high school student, was being recruited, besides for just her intelligence.

Johnson is talented writer. I appreciate her usually likable narrators and humorous situations. I'd recommend The Keys to the Golden Firebird anyday but Devilish? Unfortunately, I'd have to advise other readers to pass.

Jane Jarvis and her best friend Allison are true blue friends 'till the end who always have each other's backs and who can confide anything in each other. Attending Saint Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls, the two are used to sticking out in a crowd, but now in the most positive way, being quirky in both their attitudes, as well as in their looks, so when the school holds their annual Big-Little celebration where Bigs (upper classmen) pair up with Littles (lower classmen) with the means to be more or less mentors to these younger girls, super confident Jane is immediately fearful for her less-confident friend, who she knows gets very nervous in any situation, not to mention an entire school event that, in essence, is based on your popularity.

During the Big-Little celebration, Allison seems to have it all together after showing Jane that she had received a cupcake in her locker with a note asking her to be a Big to an unnamed freshman. But Jane's initial fears for her friend are reassured after Allison, waiting for her Little to come up and introduce herself fails to show, she throws up all over one of the freshman girls coming in her direction after nearly every other senior girl had obtained a Little. After Allison runs to the bathroom, Jane runs after to be there for her best friend, giving up any chance of getting a Little of her own. While trying to console Allison, who has barricaded herself inside a stall, a new sophomore student named Lanalee asks about Allison and after Jane tells her that Allison did not get a Little, Lanalee offers herself up, saying that she wasn't able to get a Big anyway.

Lanalee seems to have appeared on the scene at Saint Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls just in time. She is cool, calm and collected and even the most popular of girls in the school are fascinated with her, after she tells them a story of coming from another school primarily made up of rich socialites. She instantly becomes a great friend to Allison and to Jane alike, but Allison is spending less and less time with Jane and Allison starts to worry about this girl who she thought she had known so well; especially after Allison comes to school with her usual unruly hair cut into a short, dyed-red bob and is rocking an entirely new, obviously expensive wardrobe with matching, equally expensive accessories. Allison's entire situation becomes even hairier to Jane when she follows Allison out of a small cafe, to see her go directly to Jane's ex-boyfriend's Elton's house, who is now Allison's new boyfriend.

As a series of weird and random events take place, Jane is left wondering what has happened to her friend to have made her become this completely new person she hardly recognizes (or sees) anymore. As her curiosity grows, she meets a very strange and at first, even somewhat stalker-like freshman named Owen and after ignoring him for a while, she realizes quickly that she needs Owen-because he happens to know exactly what has happened to Allison and is one of very few links Jane has to piece everything together. It is with Owen's help that Jane comes to find out that Allison has made a deal with the devil-literally and it all started with that single cupcake in Allison's locker on Big-Little Day. Now, it's up to Jane to save the best friend she knows is still hidden inside of this new, but not-so-improved Allison, even if it means sacrificing herself.

I had Devilish sitting on my bookshelf for a little while before picking it up to read. I thought it was yet another young adult beach read; something that I would read through in a few sittings and be done with, it not really leaving such a lasting impression. Needless to say, I was wrong. The cover of the book is superb, especially since it does hold a great deal of meaning for the story itself, but you don't know that when you first pick it, giving it that intriguing feel before you read it and a much more complex, full-circle feeling after.

It is an intelligent, fast-paced, thrilling read that will keep you turning the page again and again. This is the first book I have read by Maureen Johnson, but I am beyond intrigued and very excited to pick up another one of her books. She truly has a gift for playing with suspense and keeps you thinking and laughing throughout the entire book. Johnson's characters, even her evil, do-no-gooders, are fun and will keep you switching sides on who to root for because you really like these diverse and very well-rounded characters.

Devilish was very much aptly-timed for me, just finishing it right after Valentine's Day and not knowing exactly why I was craving cupcakes so much; it took my partner asking me what I expected from reading a book every day with a delicious cupcake pictured on the cover. While Devilish did initially present itself to be a not-so-remarkable read that I've read a thousand times before, it was anything but. I surprised even myself with how much I truly enjoyed this book.

I first read about the author online but still didn't have a clue what her books would be like even though she certainly

writes good blog.

She had a great way to introduce her first characters and everything else clicked for me including the prologue which

caught my eye and kept me reading.

My title says it all, loved it, and I hope to read her other books soon too.

A very funny book that I didn't want to put down...really.

Thanks, Maureen!