Book Review: Bloodthirsty (Flynn Meaney)

Some vampires are good. Some are evil. Some are faking it to get girls. Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole blood sucking part. With his brooding nature and weirdly pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be paranormal. But, when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected. This hilarious debut novel is for anyone who believes that sometimes even nice guys-without sharp teeth or sparkly skin--can get the girl.

I haven't read a book as hilarious as Bloodthirsty in a very long time, and this book reminded me exactly why I needed to read more of said books. It is a wonderfully engaging book of laughter, brotherhood, teenage hormones and self-discovery. It's so hilarious even the cover itself makes me laugh. Imagining the model as Finbar is just ... hahaha!

Bloodthirsty is narrated by a male vampire wanna-be named Finbar. A very insane, very hormonal teenage male - he gives readers a glimpse of what lies in that elusive male mind girls often fail at deciphering. Finbar covers the where, when, why and how he decides to pretend he is a vampire. Along the way we discover that his family is dysfunctional, that vampire literature is confusing and that librarians can be hot!

There are endearing relationships in this book, the one I most especially enjoyed being Finbar's relationship with his twin brother Luke - although he wishes he was more like the jock his brother is, there is no resentment between the two and their bond is as strong as can be. I'm glad this book focuses on the bond of brotherhood - as opposed to other books, where there is an unhealthy relationship between siblings. Speaking of relationships - there is romance in Bloodthirsty too of course! Behind the giddyness of it all, there are key realisations that make this book even more of a joy - I'll leave it to you to find out.

Finbar is a typical teenage boy: he has short attention span, he is embarrassed by his parents, and he loves girls. His narration is flawless, conversational and very open, and it really cements the feeling of being able to fully read a teenage boy's mind. Finbar takes readers on a perilous journey with girls and fame as potential prizes and while the endeavour itself is worth a medal, the guts to even begin to do it is beyond that! It takes a while for Finbar to realise that how smart, funny and loveable he is, disastrous happening occur to threaten his vampiric reputation. There is so much to delight in in this book!

There is however, one thing I disliked - which is what I felt like a lack of culmination for the plot. Although there is an ending, it doesn't seem to deliver and feels like it needs some more following through. It's not a cliffhanger either, so it feels incomplete. There was also several subplots not given a resolution, so that could definitely be an improvement.

One of the most notable characteristic of Bloodthirsty, I think, is the fact that boys and girls would equally find a part of themselves in Bloodthirsty. Boys would undoubtedly cheer Finbar and relate to his thoughts, and girls would be girls of course - they'd love Finbar! Bloodthirsty is hilarious, fun and adorable all around. Book best I've read yet to take a pun on the obsession of girls on everything paranormal!

Four Stars.


*ARC copy courtesy of  International Book Tours. Thanks!