Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Last word first: Just ok. I enjoyed it, but I had hoped for more from this book.

Would Joe like this book? Nope, too much teenaged girl chatter.

Description: Cammie Morgan attends a private school for exceptional young ladies. Her classmates are all very bright and talented. They study the basics: reading, writing, arithmetic, and covert operations. That's right, this is a prep school for future spies!

My thoughts: Whew, that title is quite a mouthful! Even if I break it down to initials only, it's: ITYILYBTIHTKY.

I had high hopes for this book. I think the concept has oodles of potential, and the characters are fun and likeable. Yet somehow this story fell just a little flat for me. I liked it, I would even read the next book in the series, but without significant improvement, The Gallagher Girls series won't be topping my recommendation list.

I've put some thought into interpreting my reaction to the book, and I think my issue is this: there isn't enough of a challenge for the characters in this book. Here they are, butt-kicking super-spy chicks, and the worst thing they have to face is a final exam? Or sneaking out to the movies? It was entertaining, but it just didn't GRAB me. This book felt a little like an extended exposition, getting the characters and situations set up, but not really getting into the main story. I'll be interested to see if the second of the series has more oomph to it.

About Ally Carter: She loved school so much she kept going...and going...and going...until finally she had to graduate. Now she has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University and a house and a job and other very grown-up things. Her life is either very ordinary or the best deep-cover legend ever. She'd tell you more, but...well...you know...

Does this book sounds like your cup of (truth serum laced) tea? Click to purchase from Amazon.

Second opinions: I Heart Monster - Fiction Does It Better -