Review Detail

While her sister and mom are ready to give up on their father, Victoria is not. Ever since he was diagnosed with cancer, her world has been turned upside down. Knowing it isn't going to get better, her family is ready to let him go. But not Victoria. Growing up, she and her dad shared a fascination with vampires since the first one came out of hiding. After receiving too much heat, the vampires went back into hiding.

So, as a last resort, Victoria travels with her childhood friend Henry to the heart of New Orleans in hopes of finding a vampire. If she's turned into one, then she can save her dad. In New Orleans, she meets Nicholas who makes her go through a series of tasks to prove she has what it takes to live the life of a vampire. While most of them seem ridiculous to Victoria, she has no choice but to do as he asks. Nicholas is her only hope of saving her dad and she will do anything to make it happen. Anything. But the question is, will Nicholas hold up his end of the deal?

VAMPIRES, HEARTS, & OTHER DEAD THINGS is a YA contemporary with a twist of paranormal that takes the reader through heart-wrenching grief. While fighting for her father, Victoria has forgotten how to live for herself. She hides behind her mask and pretends like everything is okay when the truth is her heart is shattered. Experiencing her emotions elicits ones of my own, especially since I recently lost my Gran. Then, there's Henry who is just the sweetest. No matter how hard Victoria bites or pushes, he comes right back and is there to pick up her pieces. This is a book that will leave you in tears and remind you how important it is to love life.


Final Verdict: VAMPIRES, HEARTS, & OTHER DEAD THINGS is thought-provoking and makes me want to take a step back and appreciate what I have. While I love the vampire twist to things, the focus of this story is Victoria and her stages of grief. It's perfect for readers who are still reeling from a recent lost and for those looking for a unique read.