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Cover Inspection:
Pretty, pretty book cover!
But what is that thing?
I really don't get the connection with the story.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
“Let’s start this place on nonexistent fire.”
“Promise.” She sucked in an excited breath.
We closed our eyes and I placed my feverish mouth to hers. Immediately, violent, zealous flashes of shimmering flames climbed to the furthest point, trailed like rain down the pitched ceiling and spilled down the walls, gathering at their feet, pools of fervent, bubbling, silvery liquid electricity, before evaporating into nothing.
Elliott Gray is incomplete, scrambling through the dark on his hands and knees, blindly feeling for the switch it would take to bring the peace he's forever been searching for.
Julia Jacobs is unhappy, missing a noticeable piece of her soul, a naked canvas with vivid paints at her disposal but no brush to assemble the vision.
At a young age, courtesy of an unknowing Elliott Gray, Julia tastes the burn of heartache and since then, has silently vowed to her heart that it would never be susceptible to such pain again but when Julia and Elliott discover they share a supernatural connection that's never been revealed before, Elliott makes it his life's goal to convince her they are fated. He knows, if she only gave him but one chance to prove himself, she would not be afraid but when Elliott's best friend Jesse Thomas turns out to be much more than meets the eye, it's all Elliott can do to hold on to his new love, while attempting to survive an enormous threat on their future.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.5
Writing	3.0
Characters	3.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

Modern day setting. The story is set in Bramwell, a small town in West Virginia.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
The main characters are Elliott Gray and Julia Jacobs. Elliott is tall and handsome. Not a typical jock - he's the quarterback and a science geek. He's the boyfriend any father would almost wish for his daughter. Julia is tall and slender. Long, black hair with large curls. Beautiful without even trying. And Jules is not the Bella type. (Thank heavens for that!) Jules is independent, protective, and definitely not a damsel in distress.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

Elliott and Jules used to be friends when they were still kids. However, the two grew apart. Elliott became Mr. Popular. Jules became the school outcast. Until one day, both of them felt this urge to be with each other. This is the story of how they tried to avoid each other at first, and how they eventually and inevitably fall in love with each other. When they touch, they feel this electricity. They have an unusual connection. They know, just by touching, what the other feeling and thinking. This is the only supernatural thing in this book, by the way. Anyway, two-thirds of the book is mushy love stuff. Then Elliott's insane/stalker/criminal-minded best friend Jesse decides that he wants Jules for himself. Jesse abducted Jules and took her to a secluded cave to do really creepy things to her. Really, really creepy things. Now Elliott, claiming that it is his calling to protect Jules, must save the love of his life even if it means risking his own. The ending is satisfying, but the last sentence points out an obvious sequel.

LOVE:
*Sigh* There are just so many things I loved about this book. First of all is the love story. The relationship between Jules and Elliott is the epitome of first love. This early chapters of the book reminded me of how great it is to fall in love with someone. I think the way they avoided each other at first is just so cute! It brought back to me the fear of being rejected, the feeling of being adored, and the beauty of that uncontrollable feeling of falling for someone. Second is the ability of the characters to easily switch from acting as silly kids to being romantic lovers. I adore those kinds of stories where the couple are best friends first and foremost. They are not afraid of being silly around each other. Third, I love the way Fisher Amelie wrote the story. You know those TV shows where the main character is narrating? (Concrete example: The Wonder Years) Reading The Understorey felt like watching that show. (Don't ask me how old I am. Just don't.) Elliott narrated the events, and at the same time he shared what he felt about those events, thus making me feel as if I am in the story with him. Next, I loved the insanely corny lines in this book! Every Jules-Elliott scene is just so romantic. Theirs is the old-fashioned type of romance. Think Allie and Noah from The Notebook. And finally, I loved the insanity that is Jesse. Sick, sick, sick. I thought at first that this book would be disgustingly wholesome from beginning to end... but I was wrong. Blood and violence and all those creepy skin slicing scenes gave this book a character of boldness.

NO LOVE:
Hmmm... Let me think... Okay. One teeny tiny thing - the way Elliott and Jules call each other "dear" and "love." What's up with that?

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Elliott. *sigh* Elliott is the perfect boyfriend - doing and saying the perfect things at the perfect time. One order of Elliott Gray please. To go.

FAVORITE LINE:

It's not possible to try too hard Elliott. Truth is, every girl deserves someone who tries hard.

MUSINGS:
This book is a celebration of love. I recommend this book to those who want to fall in love, those in love, and those who have fallen out of love. Oh! And it's not just about romantic love. This book tackled the "love your neighbor" kind of love too! Good deeds baby! This book sends a good message to its readers. It's basically a feel good book - one that I would read again, and again, and again...

DOODLES: