Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 5 of 5 genies
Published: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 454
Source: Purchased 
Format: Paperback
Purchase At: The BookDepository.com or Amazon.com

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Thoughts

This book blew my mind, a definite favorite, I cannot imagine ever not reading this! I encourage everyone appropriate - there is sensuality, be mindful of that - to pick Ms. Higgins stunning debut up! Rest assured that Sweet Evil is not a debut to be missed!! This is a good book. Actually, correction, this is a great book. This is the book that blows minds all over the place. My congratulations to Ms. Higgins, your debut is officially hot shiz.

Moving On...

What can I say of this experience? Well, I literally sat there on my bed moments after finishing Sweet Evil thinking, "Smokes! What do I do now?" Because I kept flipping the book looking for more story and pages, and there was none! My reading heart begged for more; the ending, and that it happened at all, quite frankly upset me. It never should have come, really, a "Never Ending Story" would have been the way to go. WHABAM!




The plot was engaging and the concept so original that to date, I often catch myself thinking back to the book on particular occasions. For example: these children of the fallen basically have to be bad influences to guarantee their worth, and thus they encourage others to be naughty too. So, say this is me during the day and I want a second ice-cream sandwich after finishing the first, all I have to do to discourage myself is think back to what happened when that girl overindulged in Sweet Evil and my appetite disappears! Weird, I know, but this is the way my mind works, apparently. I am losing weight because of you, Higgins!



And speaking of weight loss, you know who didn't need to lose weight? Kaidan, because the boy was F.I.N.E. all on his own, Anna was pretty great too. I adored all of the side-characters. They all had this round quality to them that made each and every one endearingly real somehow. Like when they would actually work - these kids take their jobs of screwing over everyone else super seriously - you don't end up blaming them, due to their unfortunate parenting, it really is a misfortune. Granted, some actually do enjoy their evil deeds but in regards to Blake, Mara, Ginger and Kapano, you understand largely that they are compelled to do bad things and think of themselves as less than even human. Life stinks, or at least for these poor kids it does.

I felt Kaidan's pain especially and understood predominantly from him how hard of a struggle they all must face every day. The thing that cannot be faulted about his and Anna's relationship is that he did care for her, he loved the girl so much that he couldn't be around her without asking basically for some kind of Underworld death sentence. It's still in the early stages, but these two, Anna and Kaidan, are rockstars together. However, the romance did not overshadow the story - thankfully - and Higgins does convey a convincing plot as well as setting.

My heart was one big mess, and I couldn't help feeling compassionate towards people and their circumstance, mainly because Anna Whitt is so sweet and kind; imagine reading a story told through her perspective - the kind of person who reads emotions and feelings/intent - and then try truly hating anyone...Not possible. She just has this heart and character that makes me all warm on the inside. I love you, Anna. Her eventual relationship with her dad was adorable too, the way they find a way of meeting just warms me to the core, and seeing both of them in the next book ranks top on my list of 'most-anticipated.'

Closing Words

I pre-ordered my copy and am very pleased with the decision. You know when you have expectations for something and you pray that they are at least partially met? Well, mine were exceeded, nothing disappointed me. The only sad thing? The wait time until the next book. Hit me baby!

**Disclosure: Book summaries were taken from Goodreads, thanks!**