Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica Packwood is a completely normal teenager about to start her senior year of high school, and is very excited about turning 18, her developing crush on Jake, and Math League. The one thing freaking her out is the new foreign guy who she swears called her "Antanasia." Jessica knows that she was adopted and that her birth name is Antanasia, but NO ONE else (besides her adoptive parents) knows that, not even her best friend Melinda. What freaks her out even more is when Lucius Vladescu moves onto her parents' property as a foreign exchange student. He tells Jessica that he is a vampire . . . and so is she! She is descended from Romanian vampire royalty and they are destined to be married because of some pact that was signed when they were infants, before their parents were killed, to ensure peace between their families! What?! He's crazy, right?

This book is yet another title on the growing list of books highlighting the current popularity of vampires. If you can keep in mind that Jessica is NOT Bella, and Lucius is NOT Edward (althoug he's certainly strong and handsome and sensual), and that the setting is rural Pennsylvania, and not Forks, Washington . . . well, if you can do that, then you will be able to appreciate this story's sense of humor and interesting cast of characters, even if it isn't originial or particulary well flushed-out. There's just something about a vampire love story that's hard not to get sucked into (no pun intended)!

Recommended to teen girls.
Call number: YA FANTASKEY (Teen Room)

Reviewed by kate the librarian