June 05, 2013

Review: Burning by Elana K. Arnold


Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: June 11th 2013
by Delacorte Press

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Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447.

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her. . . and for him.



Burning is such a cute story! From the blurb I thought it would be a bit paranormal, but it's definitely contemporary.

Burning is about two teens who are trying to discover themselves. They have no clue what’s next for them, and what's out in the real world aside from what they've learned growing up. One meeting and they both realize they want more out of life. They also have this chemistry and pull to one another that take them both by surprise.

Lala and her family camp out right outside of Ben's town for the festival that is taking place called, The Burning Man. It's a popular festival and a great way for Lala and her family to make some money telling fortunes.

You can tell from the first couple of pages inside of Lala's mind that she feels like a bird in a cage. She wants more from life, but has learned to accept the way things are. She loves her family and they are all she's ever known. Their way of living isn't normal to others, but to Lala it is. The first time she meets Ben she begins to see things differently. She doesn't understand why he is all she thinks about, or why she craves another meeting with him. These feelings are so foreign to her. Eventually she gives in and her curiosity gets the best of her.

I loved how the author describes the world of the Gypsies. I don't know much about Gypsies except from what I've seen on television, so I am not sure how much of it was true, but Elana K. Arnold did a great job creating Lala's world and going into details about their way of living. I was very intrigued and found myself looking up Gypsies on google. (Yes, I am a dork like that. LOL!)

The romance between Ben and Lala is an instant one, but when you learn Lala's story you sort of understand it. Ben was a sweetheart and every girls dream. He's gentle, emotional, and manly at the same time.

My only issue was the ending. I am not sure if this is a series or not, but the ending is definitely not a HEA. It wasn't a horrible ending, but not one I saw coming at all. I would have liked it to end differently. It leaves room for a second book, though, so we’ll have to wait and see. It seems everything is a series these days.

This is my first book by Elana K. Arnold and it won't be my last.

A Good Choice for Reading!






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8 comments:

  1. I had a TON of issues with this book, but I also share the same issue you had, which was that horrible ending. I didn't like how instant the romance is... and the lack of an actual plot. but I did like learning about gypsies because I didn't know much about them.

    - Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

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  2. I dont think I've ever read a YA book about gypsies before. I had to google what HEA meant, "happily ever after," but knowing an ending isn't perfect won't keep me from reading a book. HEAs don't always happen in real life, so why should they in books? Anyway, Burning sounds interesting so I'm adding it to my wishlist! Thanks for the review!

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  3. This book sounds very interesting. I have never read a book about gypsies life style before. I defiantly would love to read it. I'm putting it on my tbr pile.

    I love your review. It was great.

    Thank you!

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  4. Thanks so much for reviewing BURNING. I'm glad you want to read my other books, even though you weren't a fan of BURNING's ending. :)

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  5. I really want to read this one. I have some gypsy ancestory to me

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  6. Good to know there's no HEA

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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