Mischief and Malice

Secret Lives has been one of my favorite books since I was a child, I reread it often. I am honestly having a hard time believing this book was written by the same author. Maybe a ghostwriter was involved. The style is very different,and Addie seems like a different person altogether. Somehow she went from a creative and romantic introvert to some kind of boy-crazy, often annoying girl who is falling all over herself to impress every boy she meets, in particular the 40-something man next door (Tom's father). The whole story is very implausible, especially the storyline involving Louis and his family. I'm a little over halfway through and I'm not sure I can even finish it. Very disappointed.

After reading Secret Lives I knew I had to read more Amoss. While not the brilliance of Secret Lives, Addie's voice is as strong and true as ever, and the plot as twisty and grown ups as complicated.