Crush Control Blog Tour
Crush Control
by Jennifer Jabaley
Paperback, 318 pages
Published June 9th 2011
by Razorbill
ISBN 1595144242
book source: publisher
4 stars
Willow has spent most of her life as her mother’s sidekick in a popular Las Vegas hypnotism show. So when she and her mom move back to their sleepy southern hometown to start over, she thinks she’s in for a life of quiet normalcy. Except that her new life turns out to be anything but, when she kinda sorta hypnotizes Quinton, the hottest guy on the football team, to fall madly, deeply, head over heels in love with her. But what started out as an innocent way to make her best friend, Max, jealous soon gets way out of hand, and Willow begins to wonder if the mind – and more importantly, the heart – is something you can really control
Willow and Max have been best friends since birth, but that about to change when Willow’s mother announces they are moving away to Las Vegas where she will take on a show as the hip hypnotist. But Willow has a plan to keep Max her BFF whether he likes it or not. In her nine year old way (and the only way she knows) Willow hypnotizes him to always be her friend forever. Fast forward 8 years, Max and Willow are still in touch and her mom decided to leave he strip to return to her quiet roots in Georgia. The good news is that Max and Willow will be together again and he has grown up to be crush worthy, the bad news it that he doesn’t seem to see Willow as more than just a friend. No worries, because she has lots of new tricks up her sleeve from watching mom’s shows and things are about to get a little out of control.
Jennifer Jabaley can entertain! Between a lovesick football player and pop culture junkie sidekick there are lots of laughs to be had. Crush Control is a fast paced fun, light summer read with well developed characters. Willow has a lot to learn about trying to control other people’s choices and asking for help when things spin out of hand. She sees quickly that her mistakes have a domino effect in the lives of others, but getting the help she needs means asking her mom. There are lessons about perfectionism and keeping up appearances in families that are applicable to all readers. Most of all I liked Max because he was so down to earth and genuine. He had the notable quote in the book “The heart wants what the heart wants” -pg. 316 I felt some of the plot with Max got lost a little with Willow trying to undo her other messes with Quinton and cheerleader Mia. I wish Max would have been given more page time and a longer role in the conclusion. Overall, I ended Crush Control with a smile on my face and I enjoyed the unique topic of hypnotism in YA.
Content: sexual references to condoms, several other innuendos including mention of acting out sex on stage, no violence. Recommend for readers 16 and older.
Learn more about author Jennifer Jabaley on her website and thanks so much to Razorbill for giving us a sneak peek!
Fire and Ice is happy to be a stop on the Crush Control blog tour. We are giving away our advanced reading copy to our blog readers courtesy of Razorbill. To enter to win fill out this form. Must be 16 or older to enter. Ends July 29, 2011.