I lost interest in this book unfortunately. Planning on picking it up someday, but right now it is not a priority. Thank you for a copy!

This is a hilarious look at exorcisms, in a tongue in cheek manor. I definitely wouldn't censor this, or ANY book, but I would highlight the humor in it when booktalking/providing reader's advisory.

When Life Gives You Demons is another fun romantic comedy from Swoon Reads. With a unique premise, a wonderfully snarky main character, and a pretty adorable romantic interest, When Life Gives You Demons has a little something for everyone.

The premise of When Life Gives You Demons is what really hooked me. A YA novel about an exorcist-in-training? It was definitely a unique idea for a story. While the story had a ton of potential, it fell a little flat in the execution. From Shelby’s inner ramblings, it’s clear that she’s been training and learning all she can about demons and exorcisms for quite some time now. However, none of that information is shared in the story. There was almost no backstory or buildup to Shelby’s fledgling career as a teen exorcist. It also sometimes felt like the whole exorcism thing was just a side story to Shelby’s love life. With a title like When Life Gives You Demons, I expected a lot more demons than were featured in this story.

Obviously, with it being a Swoon Reads title, you can expect some romance. I genuinely enjoyed Shelby’s romantic escapades. Things never quite worked out the way she wanted them to when it came to her time with Spencer. Whether it be exorcism training or a rogue demon, things always got in the way of their time together. As for Spencer, he took most of it remarkably well. He was a little nerdy (the best kind of guy, in my opinion) and clearly very interested in Shelby. He was willing to put up with a lot in order to get to know her better. There were times when he seemed a little too perfect but I was willing to look past that.

As for Shelby, she was definitely one of the redeeming factors of When Life Gives You Demons. Her snarky personality came across the page remarkably well and I found myself laughing at quite a few of her antics. She didn’t always think things through, but it made for a much more entertaining story. In her case, when life gives you demons, try your best to exorcise them but if that doesn’t work, just call your uncle. He’ll fix it. Her attempts at single handedly exorcising demons were nothing if not humorous.

Overall, When Life Gives You Demons may not be the most well thought out book but it’s full of laughs and some super cute moments. Jennifer Honeybourn has some serious potential and I look forward to checking out more books from her.

This was a funny book about a teenage exorcist who ends up involved hunting demons with her crush. It has elements of a YA romance as well as a bit of a thriller with the demons involved. It was a quick and fun read and it made me laugh.

Teenagers and exorcism, what could possibly go wrong? As if young Shelby doesn't have enough going on in her senior year of high school she is also learning to be an exorcist from her uncle who is a priest. Learning Latin for fun sounds awesome /sarcasm.

As with most first jobs, Shelby is struggling with the responsibilities placed before her, especially when it requires her to miss her study sessions with her crush Spencer. Soon enough they will find out they have a lot more in common than they think, and Shelby will uncover a secret that makes her take her exorcism training much more seriously.

While the story starts out light and full of teenage sarcasm, it quickly becomes an interesting exploration of demons and the power of exorcism/faith. Family ties and loyalty are an underlying theme woven into several relationships in the story. Shelby's quest to find her mother and her lackadaisical attitude towards her uncle are important throughout her journey into demon hunting.

I enjoyed every aspect of this gem of a story and would recommend this to readers who enjoy quirky young adult books.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a nice, funny YA, and When Life Gives You Demons proved to be just that.

Right from the start I noticed that the author is good at taking the scene out of the book and placing it into the reader’s head. At any given moment, I was aware of what the surroundings and the characters looked like.

As the title and cover suggest, there’s a good deal of humor, the casual, teenage kind. And I think the portrayal of the teens was done almost as it should. There was some stereotyping though, and one scene that was too unbelievable.

Basically, Shelby just found out that her mother is in a great deal of trouble, so naturally, the girl is worried. And then, in the middle of her “I must do something to help” thoughts, she gets a text from her crush and starts smiling, and suddenly it’s all about the boy.

I know she’s a teenager, but… Her priorities are seriously messed up.

I mean, even a hormonal teenager wouldn’t go from “My mom, who I love dearly, is in mortal danger” to “OMG! My crush just texted me! What should I text back?!” in less time than it would take you to blink.

However, the rest of the girl’s portrayal is okay, and there are even some really nice, small touches that add to Shelby’s personality, like having a personalized spray bottle for her holly water.

Who would I recommend this book to? I’d recommend When Life Gives You Demons to teens and people who are older and want a casual, clean read.

I was really excited when I was picked out for a blog tour and could review this book. I have been eyeing this book for months! But sadly, after 3 weeks of trying, not wanting to try, and eventually giving up at 23%. It just wasn't what I wanted. The characters were bland, boring. There was some romance... but it just didn't feel much like romance. It felt really one sided, and I didn't even see them as a possible couple. Then there are the demons, or well, what demons? What exorcisms? I had expected way more excited, way more demons, instead it is just our MC complaining about things, studying until she can't do anything else in her life, her uncle being a dick and stealing all the credit (man, go away), and the humour was far from there. Such a shame.

I started reading this one on a whim. I wasn't really convinced that this would be one that I liked, but that was only because of the cover. And after reading this, that just goes to show you that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Shelby has a very different job than what others might expect her to have. She is an exorcist. She's being trained by her Uncle Roy, who's been making sure she's busy. However, that's hardly the last secret that she's keeping from everyone. Her mother is gone and she has been having trouble believing the excuse that she's been given. She's going to find her mom, no matter what the cost.
I have to say I'm a bit embarrassed. I almost didn't give this one the time of day, but only because of the cover. And being honest, I have no idea what made me end up reading it anyways. I think I was approved for it and I just decided to give it a go. And after reading the first page, I knew I was going to like it. I kind of related to it. I'm Catholic and could recognize all the things they mentioned. As a character driven reader, when I can relate to them, it helps me like the story a bit more. However, there were a couple of other things about Shelby that I didn't care for. She was too stubborn. At some points it was just like, really, you haven't done this this entire time, but NOW it's different? It was crazy and a bit annoying.
As for the plot, it was super simple and contained a lot of twists that I did see coming. However, there were also some that I just knew was right, and it turned out to be something completely different. So even though its something simple, it doesn't quite follow the troupes of all the other paranormal romances.
The writing style was the only thing that I didn't really care for. This book was about exorcising, and yet it wasn't truly terrifying. But there is nothing scary at all about this. In fact, the scenes that ARE about to get scary are over right before they start. The fight scenes were really short and Honeybourn made them funny in some ways. Alot different than what I was expecting. But judging by the cover, I should have known that it would be more funny than scary.
This book surprised me. I wasn't a fan of the title or the cover originally, but I somehow started reading the first page so I could get an idea of what it might be about. And low and behold.... It was something I liked. Definitely made me realize that I might have to go back and give other ugly covers a try lol

This was a quick, breezy, fluffy read about a teenager who is in training to be an exorcist. Since it's about a teenager, there is some teen angst (mainly of the "why did my mom abandon me?" variety) and possible romance thrown in.

Shelby is sarcastic and a bit snarky in a good way, as Buffy taught us is the best approach by teenagers tasked with saving the world. She is being trained by Uncle Roy (a priest) to be an exorcist, but she doesn't have the skills 100% down yet. I enjoyed their relationship - especially her attempts to take care of him by constantly giving him healthy food whether he wants it or not - and would have liked more of it. Also enjoyable but lacking development: 1) Shelby's friendship with Vanessa and 2) more background on a group of people Shelby meets who are key to exorcising this book's Big Bad.

Would have been a 4* if there was just... more.

Thank you to NetGalley and SwoonReads for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is really exactly what it sounds like. A humorous story about exorcisms. LOL. No, really. In a good way! It reminded me quite a bit of one of my all time favorite TV shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really think this would be kind of a fun series if that was ever a possibility. I would enjoy getting to follow Shelby as she works on her exorcism skills. And then there is her crush Spencer, and what his family does, they would be interesting to get to know more about as well. I feel like there is even a lot more history of Shelby's mother and Uncle Roy that would be fun to throw in to another story.

Besides the fact that I could see it as a series, I will tell you it was a very quick and easy read. I was just turning pages to get to see what was going to happen. Where was Shelby's mom? What was Spencer up to, because there was obviously something going on with him and his family? Then, when we got about 80% in, the story really took off, and it just dove right into the heart of the action and trying to save the town and those they loved. There were definitely your normal exorcism details: heads turning around, crawling on the ceiling, and super-human strength. But then there were some funny bits to go along with them, including a possessed dog, and a teenage boy who really was just being a teenage boy even if his mom thought he was possessed.

A quick, fun, read, check it out!

This was so different than I expected. What would happen when a young woman decides she wants to rid the word of evil and help people by becoming an exorcist? This book had some creepy and very entertaining parts in it that will a tad disturbing. This was a fast fun unique read that I enjoyed a lot . Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and write about this book.

“Hi. Um, is Spencer here?”

A smile crawls across the man’s face. Friendly or creepy, I’m not exactly sure, but I’m going to take it as a good sign that he’s opened the door to let us inside. Either Spencer is here, or this guy is inviting us in so he can kill us.

Hopefully Spencer is here."


Shelby spends her time going to school, crushing on her study partner, hanging out with her best friend- oh and hunting demons. As an apprentice to her uncle Roy who just so happens to be a Priest, Shelby has spent the last 5 months leaning the art of exorcisms. On top of that, her mom abruptly left home to go to Rome for a demon training class and Shelby hasn't heard from her in months. It is hard pretending to be a normal teen when your spare time is secretly spent fighting the minions of hell...

This was such a quirky mix of horror, drama and humor and I ate it up! When you can go off on metal tangents about body movements and exasperating her mentor while in the middle of an exorcism, I knew that this was the book for me. I sat down just to read a chapter or two before bed (because what is better as a bedtime treat then demons?) and found myself half way through the book in just a little over an hour. This was such a fast and engaging reading, easily something you can enjoy in it's entirety in a day (a single sitting if you are motivated enough) and it is a standalone that wrapped up ever so nicely.

"As soon as he starts the incantation, Ms. C’s body contorts in a way that reminds me of those crazy talented acrobats in Cirque du Solei. She practically does a cartwheel off the wall, and I can’t help but be impressed by how limber she is. I mean, she has to be at least thirty years old, but from the way she’s moving, she could probably medal in the Olympics."

The horror elements were spot on, creepy and demonic, just like what you would expect from a scary movie. I also really enjoyed how there were different cultures and religions used in the exorcisms, showing as long as you have faith in something, the power works the same. My favorite part of the book though was the relationship dynamic between Shelby and her uncle Roy. She forces terrible healthy food on him to help him live longer since he is "old and likely to die" while at the same time eating whatever awful foods she can find. He at times acts like her parent, other times like her teacher and also like her conscience, all creating such an interesting relationship between the two that made me really engaged in the book. There was also a nice dash of romance and friendship, but Shelby and Roy interactions hands down the best.

Just when you think you are about to read a typical girl-get-demon-training-from- Priest-while-experiencing- typical-high-school-stuff BAM! And you are wrong. Jennifer took the plot in a surprising direction I sincerely never saw coming, it was a crazy twist that just lured me in even more (if that is even possible with how into the book I already was!). This story is hands down 100% unique and such a good read. This is my first encounter with Jennifer but I loved her people, the dialog, the plot and the subtle humor that she was able to insert into the darkest of moments. If I can chuckle while reading about a demon exorcism, then you know this is the right book for me. I look forward to picking up more books from her in the future- her other books are now on my to-read list.

I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy of this title.
Visit me at Smada's Book Smack

When Life Gives You Demons is Jennifer Honeybourn’s second novel with Swoon Reads. I read and enjoyed her debut novel, Wesley James Ruined My Life, last year so I was excited to read her next book. What I wasn’t expecting was it to be a paranormal novel about exorcising demons, which may sound scary but Jennifer pulls it off in such a fun way!

Shelby Black isn’t like other high school students—she’s in training to become an exorcist like her great uncle and mother. Speaking of mother, Shelby hasn’t seen her in months after they had a major fight and she took off to a secret exorcist school in Italy. However, after Shelby unearths a hidden file in Uncle Roy’s cabinets, she realizes that her mother’s disappearance is not what she thinks it is. Now she’s on a mission to save her. That and of course trying to pass geometry with the help of the cute new boy, Spencer.

When Life Gives You Demons is such a wild ride. I absolutely loved how fun the story was and Shelby’s lively point of view. Seems strange that the topic of demons and exorcisms would be described as fun, but honestly, it’s approached in such a way that the story remains light and even hilarious at certain moments.

One neat relationship in the book is between Shelby and her great-uncle. It’s not often that I read a YA heroine having close relationships with members in her extended family, let alone a great-uncle! I loved this different relationship and how she tried to take care of him by making him eat healthy foods (and how he trained her in the proper ways in exorcising demons). The novel is on the short side, and it would have been nice if it was a little longer so we could have more about Spencer (the love interest) and Vanessa (her best friend).

Overall, When Life Gives You Demons is a quick and fun read—perfect for the summer! I’m excited to see what Jennifer Honeybourn has planned for her next novel!

So this book was cute and I really loved the book cover too. If this was not a YA book, I think some of the scenes during the exorcism could have been damn right frightening, but because this was a YA the content had been reduced down to not cause too much of a scare. 

I liked Shelby, she is very endearing, and she is a trainee exorcist whose mother has gone away to a secret training camp in Italy....so we are told. Shelby has to struggle with the day to day high school life of pop quizzes and dramas, whilst training with her Uncle Roy in a boot camp, which she hates.

She is tutored by Spencer as she is falling behind on her classwork, and he has his own secrets and an attraction between the two is formed.

Going to a Catholic school, she can not say anything to anyone about her double life, including her best friend Vanessa for the fear of being a pariah. I found that interesting because she is trying to stop the evil spirits not help them, but then this is high school and anything that is a little bit different is picked upon. 

I did enjoy the book, however, I thought that some parts of the book had been rushed, and when it came to the big bad it was all over in a couple of sentences. There was not much of a build-up and it was over too quickly for my liking. I wanted more backstory about the big bad and questions to be answered.

I feel like this could be made into a book series so we could learn more about the family and the demons that they are hunting and build on the foundations set in this book. Fingers crossed....

When Life Gives You Demons is a story about a teenage girl named Shelby. Shelby is a student at St. Joseph’s catholic school, she has a best friend named Vanessa and she has a crush on Spencer. So far, she sounds like a typical teenage girl. But Shelby’s life is far more mysterious than the life of most teenage girls.

Shelby’s mother left under mysterious circumstances and she is missing ever since. Shelby is living with Uncle Roy, a priest, and he is training her to become an exorcist. Shelby wants to keep her training a secret. What would her friends think if they know about her being an exorcist? Also she wants to find her mother.

When Life Gives You Demons is a fast-paced and easy to read story. Although it is about exorcism, it doesn’t have a scary horror vibe to it. Actually, the paranormal elements are written in a fun and light manner. I liked that the book didn’t get too much into the history of exorcism, but it did explain just enough for the story to work.

Shelby is a wonderful character and her internal dialogues are sometimes relatable and often hilarious. Her crush on Spencer is adorable. I liked reading about her exorcism training with Uncle Roy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Exorcist in this amazing paranormal young adult novel. I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a fun and light read.

4 out of 5 stars.

This was...fine. It felt to me like it was relying a lot on the general premise of "teen exorcist" to be compelling without doing much legwork. Similarly the romance wasn't particularly developed either? It feels like an outline of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfiction.

The cover art is really cute though.

Who knew a book about a teenaged exorcist could be so charming and delightful?

• Pro: You will see this in a million reviews for this book, but it's only because it's so true. This book definitely scratched a Buffy-type itch for me. Shelby shared a lot of similarities with Buffy. She was a little snarky with a great sense of humor, and also struggled finding the balance between fighting demons and being an average teenager. This plus the raging guilt she suffered from with respect to her mother's disappearance endeared Shelby to me.

• Pro: So. Much. Fun. This book may have dealt with some dark themes, but it was kept on the light and fluffy side. I laughed and grinned and smiled and simply enjoyed it so much.

• Pro: The relationship between Shelby and Uncle Roy was very sweet. They each cared a lot about the other, and showed it in many different, not so obvious ways.

• Pro: There's just not enough YA books featuring teen exorcists. I love that authors are incorporating new and different topics into their books, and I found Honeybourn's approach to this topic interesting. The main focus was from the traditional Catholic viewpoint, but eventually, other schools of thought regarding exorcism/demon hunter were incorporating, which was all quite fascinating.

• Pro: Honeybourne did a fantastic job guiding us through the exorcisms. There was lots of detail when we were in the midst of the actual exorcism and also, written reports.

• Con: The resolution was a bit rushed. It wasn't terrible, but I was surprised at how quickly we reached that point.

• Pro: The romance was so sweet. The does-he, doesn't-he and all the excitement Shelby felt with every accidental brush or longing gaze made me smile. I do wish there had been a little more of this adorable romance though.

Overall: A fun and fast-paced look at what it takes to be a teen exorcist. It was a delight tagging along with Shelby as juggled her family obligations, her schoolwork, and the matters of her heart.

I tried my hardest with this book but sadly it wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the main character or the plot.

Posting July 15 at 12pm EST.


Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: Omg guys if you love supernatural then this book is for you!!

Do I Recommend this book? Yes

Notes and Opinions: This one brings us into the world of demon hunters and exorcist. And man does it do a great job!! But this one does it on the flip side! For our main charter is a girl! Her name is Shelby Black and she’s in training!

I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get when I started this one. You guys know I don’t generally read the book descriptions unless I have to. And for this one I didn’t. So I went into it blind as a bat and well this time around it worked out well!! Omg so well!!!

This one centers around Shelby who is training with her Uncle to be an exorcist and she isn’t really good at it. This one kind of made me feel like this is what the boys would have went through on the tv show Supernatural when they were growing up. Learning the ropes and such.

The story with this one was extremely fast paced and I only had one issue with the story itself. In one part of this when she’s found out. She never questions why this guy says what she is and she doesn’t have to explain anything to him. For me that felt out of place because this world doesn’t know about demon hunters or exorcists. So it’s just like our world. So I would think that Shelby would have been wondering how this guy knew what she was. I mean I understand he just watched her try and get rid of a demon but still who would connect those dots? Other than that little issue this book was so spot on for a quick fun read.

The characters are very light but full. And very spot on with how they act. I was really hoping this was going to be a series. But as far as I know at the time of writing this review it’s a stand alone.

The romance in this was very light but still there and I really loved the dynamic between Shelby and her uncle and BFF. This one might be about Demons but it was also a very true young adult novel. With Shelby finding her way.

So if your looking for something light, fun, and we’ll full of demons with some light romance, coming of age feels, and family issues then check out this one!!

So question if the normal quote is ‘when Life Gives You lemons.....you make lemonade?’ What do you ‘when Life Gives You Demons?’

Go Into This One Knowing: VERY FAST PACED, Teen Romance, Determination, Family issues, light coming of age

This book has what I enjoy about good YA fiction: a dash of romance, snark, fluid plot advancement, heart and an atypical family dynamic. I highly enjoyed the exorcist angle, and that the main character kicked demon ass and took (demon) names, all while stumbling upon others like her and rescuing her mother from succumbing to a demonic fate. This was entertaining, witty and a great YA escape read.