The Epic Crush of Genie Lo

by F. C. Yee

To be published on August 8, 2017 by Amulet

Source: ARC from BookExpo 2017

Synopsis adapted from Goodreads: The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie Lo’s every waking thought. But when her sleepy Bay Area town comes under siege from hell-spawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are suddenly and forcefully rearranged.

 Her only guide to the demonic chaos breaking out around her is Quentin Sun, a beguiling, maddening new transfer student from overseas. Quentin assures Genie she is strong enough to fight these monsters, for she unknowingly harbors an inner power that can level the very gates of Heaven.

My Review of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo:

My favorite thing about The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is how hilariously funny it was. Genie’s a smart, snarky Bay Area high school sophomore suddenly faced with a dangerous alternate reality of that she’s not sure she wants to – or has time to – be part of. (Of course, she doesn’t have any choice!)

Her commentary on everything, from school to her parents to her new reality as a demon slayer, had me laughing the whole way through.

I’m not at all familiar with Chinese folklore but loved learning more about it and was happy to have a change from the usual Western mythology/cosmology. And I loved that The Epic Crush of Genie Lo reminded me a lot of early Buffy the Vampire Slayer – the snark, the high school setting, the demons.

There was not really any romance in this, and I think some of the personal relationships could have been developed a little more. The ending suggests that there could be more books to come, so hopefully there will be time for all that.

Definitely recommend if you love funny, action-packed stories!