Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I've had this on my to-read list for a long time so I was happy to finally have the chance (see: motivation) to read it. I'm glad I did. The book starts out as a typical ghost story and got me pretty worked up until you find out that it's more a time-travel epic and there aren't really ghosts at all. It gets a bit over-the-top in some areas but as it's mostly about time and magic, that's to be expected. One of the best parts is that it's inspired by the included vintage photographs the author has collected over the years so the visual really helps cement the story in the reader's mind. I've always enjoyed looking at found photographs, especially bizarre or creepy photos from the past as most of the included photographs are. I can't wait to finish the sequel.

This book got rave reviews, and I must say I really enjoy the structure, with all the photographs and letters - it's made even cooler by knowing that all of the photographs are real. I've got to say, though, that it didn't quite live up to its hype. It was intriguing and I read it straight through, but it was also surprisingly predictable and there wasn't nearly as much depth as I thought there would be. Overall, enjoyable, but not a must-read. (Plus points for having a romance in a YA novel that wasn't mind-numbing, though!)