Title: Mad Love
Author: Suzanne Selfors
First published November 18, 2010
326 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780802784506 (ISBN10: 080278450X)
Rating: 3.66
Overview
Being the daughter of the world’s most famous mystery writer should be thrilling, but for 17-year-old Ava Black, it’s a nightmare. Her mother’s sudden disappearance has left Ava with more questions than answers.
She’s determined to find out what happened to her mother, but the trail runs cold. Desperate for a lead, Ava stumbles upon a mysterious book with a cryptic message.
According to the book, the key to finding her mother lies in the heart of the Amazon jungle, where Ava must uncover the truth about a lost civilization and the secrets they’ve kept hidden for centuries. As Ava embarks on her perilous journey, she meets a charming stranger named Leo who seems to know more than he lets on.
With every step closer to the truth, Ava realizes that she’s not the only one searching for her mother and that some secrets are better left buried.
About the Author
Suzanne Selfors resides on a rainy island close to Seattle. Her writing often features lush, verdant settings covered in moss, which is no surprise given her surroundings.
In addition to being a full-time writer, she is also a married mother of two. Roald Dahl holds a special place in her heart, but she also admires the works of Charles Dickens and Kurt Vonnegut.
If you are interested in her books, feel free to visit her website for more information.
Editoral Review
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors is a young adult novel that was first published on November 18, 2010. Selfors has also authored several other young adult novels, including Fortune’s Magic Farm and To Catch a Mermaid.
Mad Love is a romantic comedy that is perfect for young adult readers who enjoy light-hearted, funny stories with a touch of magic thrown in. The story is set in the small town of Fayfield, Washington, where Alice Amorous is struggling with a big problem: she’s in love with her best friend, Jasper.
But Jasper is dating the school’s most popular girl, and Alice doesn’t know how to tell him how she feels. Alice’s world is turned upside down when she discovers a book in the library called Mad Love, which has the power to make people fall in love with the first person they see after reading it.
When Alice accidentally reads the book, chaos ensues as everyone around her falls madly in love with the wrong people. Alice must find a way to fix the loveless, broken town before it’s too late.
Selfors has done an excellent job of creating believable, relatable characters that leap off the page. Alice Amorous is a quirky and lovable protagonist who readers will root for from start to finish.
Jasper is the perfect balance to Alice’s quirky personality, and the romantic tension between the two feels genuine and heartfelt. The plot is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of laughs and plot twists to keep young adult readers on the edge of their seats.
The small town setting adds to the charm of the story, and Selfors does an excellent job of capturing the essence of small-town life. One of the strengths of Mad Love is its exploration of the power of love, and how it can affect people in unexpected ways.
The themes of friendship, loyalty, and love are expertly woven into the story, and readers will come away with a deeper understanding of the importance of these relationships in their own lives. One of the only criticisms of the book is that some of the plot points feel a bit contrived, and some readers may find the resolution a bit too neat and tidy.
However, these small flaws are more than made up for by the overall quality of the book. Overall, Mad Love is a charming, funny, and heartwarming young adult novel that is perfect for its target audience.
It has excellent character development, a fast-paced plot, and a strong message about the power of love. Young adult readers who enjoy romantic comedies with a twist of magic will love this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
