Not Enough Bookshelves: Book Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

Thursday, 5 August 2010

Book Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.

Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood. (from Goodreads)

If you loved Robin Benway’s fresh, funny and utterly wonderful Audrey Wait and you miss the magic
and sisterly squabbles of Charmed (before it went all crazy) then The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June is the book for you.

April, May and June are three sisters with distinctly different personalities, complex sisterly ties and
emerging magical powers. The book is told in alternating chapters by each of the sisters.

As I would come to the end of each chapter I’d find myself thinking nooo I want more of April or May or June. Only to be completely hooked by the voice of the next sister two sentences into her chapter.

I loved all three sisters and their interactions with each other felt spot on. May ended up being my favourite mainly for the sarcastic remarks but also because she is the most unsettled of the sisters by her power, wondering if the ability to become invisible stems from feeling invisible. I also loved her scenes with tutor Henry.

I did adore June’s utter glee at being able to read minds and April’s surprise and horrow when she had flahes of her own romantic furture.

Things wrap up nicely by the end, the mystry of April’s visions being solved satisfactorily but there are many unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see what Robin has in store of the sisters next.

FTC: ARC received from the publisher

7 comments:

Nomes6 August 2010 00:45

I love this review. I really liked Audrey, Wait! so I'll be picking this one up for sure.

Also, loving the cover. not sure why, but it's speaking to me.

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Alexa6 August 2010 00:57

Thanks. I love the cover too, I like how they did the outlined font.

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Meredith6 August 2010 14:23

Haha, I loved Charmed before it got all crazy! This book sounds awesome–thanks for the review!

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建邱勳6 August 2010 14:42

友誼能增進快樂,減少痛苦............................................................

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Clare8 August 2010 11:37

I was a big fan of Charmed and this sounds kinda similar. I might be adding it to my wishlist.

I agree with Nomes about the cover 🙂

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BookChic8 August 2010 17:47

This has nothing to do with the book, lol, but I didn't know you liked Charmed!! I have all 8 seasons and love them all.

So excited to read this book though!

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Alexa9 August 2010 02:16

Meredith – you're welcome hope you pick it up 🙂

Clare – hope you enjoy it. It seems like it's goingbto be a great series.

BookChic – I adored Charmed until the avatar (?) people turned up then it all got a bit strange. Piper was my favorite sister, loved her.

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