Summary (from Goodreads):
Camille wants to find the perfect boy, with an athlete’s body and a poet’s brain.
But when she’s mocked at a college party, she kows there isn’t a boy alive who’ll ever measure up.
Enter Zoe, her brilliant but strange best friend, who takes biology homework to a whole new level. She can create Camille’s dream boy, Frankenstein-stylee.
But can she make him love her?
Beforehand I was really interested in the concept of this novel. It promised me the chance to finally be able to read a C.J. Skuse novel and I wasn’t disappointed.
In this novel, Skuse has created a funny, modern retelling of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. After meeting a girl in a graveyard, Camille suddenly becomes fascinated by her. So when the girl, Zoe, brings a group of once dead hamsters back to life, she then tells Camille that she could create the perfect boy for her. But will it all go smoothly? After all, there’s no such thing as a happily ever after…
As the main character, Camille was interesting and funny. Some of the things she did made me laugh so much that people started looking at me a little weirdly. Maybe I shouldn’t have been reading it in my English reading lesson… She was a typical teenage girl; one of those people who are desperate for someone to fall in love with them. Strangely, I didn’t find her annoying. I thought that because of her desperation it might get on my nerves but it didn’t. Camille was simply herself and I managed to brush away all preconceptions I had at the start of the novel.
Zoe was our Doctor Frankenstein and I thought she was a very compelling character. I actually felt very sympathetic towards her because the events leading up to the novel were sad and heartfelt. I couldn’t help but wonder what she would have been like if she had led a normal life. But we wouldn’t have a novel if that were the case!
One of my favourite characters was actually Pee Wee! I mean, who can resist a cute puppy?!
Damian was a character that I wanted to slap. Yes, he got better in the end but if he were real then I think I would have to move to another continent. This isn’t a bad thing though as I believe this is what the author intended.
Zoe was our Doctor Frankenstein and I thought she was a very compelling character. I actually felt very sympathetic towards her because the events leading up to the novel were sad and heartfelt. I couldn’t help but wonder what she would have been like if she had led a normal life. But we wouldn’t have a novel if that were the case!
One of my favourite characters was actually Pee Wee! I mean, who can resist a cute puppy?!
Damian was a character that I wanted to slap. Yes, he got better in the end but if he were real then I think I would have to move to another continent. This isn’t a bad thing though as I believe this is what the author intended.
I really loved the idea of creating a perfect boy! It’s something that people dream of and to bring that idea to life in the form of a novel is something that I think people will enjoy reading about.
Dead Romantic is a book about love, heartache and monstrous ideas. It’s something that I would recommend to anybody.
RATING: 4.5/5
6 Comments
Jessica@Booked Up!
30 January, 2013 at 7:35 amI’ve been planning to read this for a while now, and even have an A4 poster of it in my room from the publishers. It looks so good!
Brilliant review, Lucy. I’m really glad you enjoyed Dead Romantic. I really want to meet Camille and Zoe, as they sound like very solid, compelling characters.
Sigh…why can’t we really make the perfect boyfriend? I wish life was like that ;P Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lucy! :)x
Maya @ What Should I Read Next?
30 January, 2013 at 10:18 amI was sent a copy of this by the publisher a while ago and still haven’t got round to reading it. Great review!
Rebecca-Books
30 January, 2013 at 4:16 pmAh, I studying Frankenstein in English Lit at the moment (the blurb sounds a LOT different) so I’ll have a look out for this one 🙂
Emma
30 January, 2013 at 6:06 pmI’m doing Frankenstein as well at collage, and I loved the concept of it, but I hated Victor with a Passion. Then I read the lost Girl which is somewhat the same concept but in a YA book and loved it. So I think I will really like this book! Lovely review Lucy. 🙂
Nina @ Death Books and Tea
2 February, 2013 at 7:36 amAww, Pee Wee. I certainly can’t resist a cute puppy! Glad you enjoyed this.
Zoe Crook
2 February, 2013 at 3:57 pmThe main character is called Zoe, whooo! 😀 I always find it weird reading a book with my name in, whenever it comes up I just sit there looking startled, hehe. I remember you recommending this on Twitter so I will look out for it. Great review! 🙂