REVIEW: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

I remember enjoying Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz as I was reading it ... but once I'd finished it and had started a new book to read I found myself remembering the events of Spellbound less and less.  In order to jog my memory a fair bit, I've had to go onto Goodreads and read some other people's reviews in order to remain character's names and also the plot of the book.  I'm guessing that's a pretty good indication of how I felt about Spellbound.

While not outstanding, Spellbound is a perfectly okay way to spend a few hours.  I quite liked the main character, Emma.  While she did experience some horrific things in her short life, she isn't the sort of person who is held back by these things.  They are what they are and she is determined to move forward with her life and to be happy.  Which is how Emma finds herself living with her wealthy aunt and attending a private school in New York City. 

So as the new girl in a private school, Emma does face the usual - the mean girls who pick on her and her huge crush on a very popular boy.  Luckily, Emma has a bit of life to her and does stick up for herself.  And as for the love interest, I didn't have particularly strong feelings either way about Brendan.  I don't much care for boys who are all a bit hot and cold, but, I felt like Brendan's unreliable emotions and behavious was at least explained.  I'm not the biggest fan of reincarnated souls, but I read this book straight through without any issues or cringiness. 

I thought Emma's relationship with her cousin to be quite cute and I was suitably mystified as to the supernatural goings-on that occurred.  There's nothing like a bit of lights exploding and some hauntings to get quite creeped out.  I thought Spellbound was fun and entertaining and a good, light escapist read!