I'm a little bummed out, I must say. I'm usually SUPER into Marissa Meyer's books (like literally all of the other ones) but this just wasn't doing it for me. I think it was because I wasn't really the right demographic here. Perhaps if I was an actual teenager, I would've been more intrigued. I wanted more from the romance!

I just, didn't like Prudence. She started off very narrow-minded, harsh and judgmental. That's cool, I'm all about waiting for that character development! But I found myself waiting. And waiting. And waiting. She got a liiiiiiittle bit better at the very end, but. Sigh.

Like I said, I'm a huge fan of Meyer's fantasy series so maybe that's why contemporary fiction didn't do it for me. I just felt like not much was happening. If you're a fan of Meyer, I'd still say give this book a shot simply for all of the interesting information about sea animals and wildlife preservation.

Wow. I have always loved Meyer's writing, but this story wowed me. I knew very little about ecotourism prior to reading this book. The main character, braniac overachiever Prudence, is a whiz in business, marketing, and all around academics. She just happens to have a horrible science partner, or so she thinks. Due to a deal with Quint to improve her grade on their project, she spends time learning about the Sea Rescue center Quint and his mother run. I absolutely loved this book! Pru's feelings on sea animals mimicked mine when I was her age, and didn't know any better, so that portion of the book really resonated with me. Parents: there was no sexual content in this book! It's perfect for high schoolers.

Cosmic Justice! Enemies to lovers, and little bit paitence.

Take a ride with Prudence where all fun and games involve lists and being on time. Productive is her middle name and no-nonsense is her game. Or maybe take a seat next to Quint, relax, and learn how to float through life without a care in the world. His excuses are golden and everyone loves him.

Working together is a nightmare. And Prudence needs Quints help just one more time over the summer. And in order to get it, Prudence has to get her hands dirty and suck up to him like the rest of the world. But there's more to slacker Quint when she spends a day in his shoes.

Full review on goodreads. I enjoy this author and couldn’t pass this one up. It was very different from her other works but still a cute read.

Pru is a hard-working diligent student who has suffered all year with an irresponsibile, slacker lab partner, Quint. Of course, things aren't always what they seem. and when Pru volunteers at Quint's mother's marine animal resuce, she learns a lot more about him. The story line was pretty good but I don't enjoy actively disliking the main character. Recommended for fans of summer rom-coms and meet cutes.

Although at times I felt this book couldn't make up it's mind as to what it wanted to be, it was a fun read. The characters are likeable, the overall storyline enjoyable, and overall, I would recommend the book.

I had such high hopes for this book. I love Marissa Meyer but Prudence has not redeeming qualities at beginning of the book and is very hard to like. She’s so short-sighted and judgmental that I just couldn’t get past it. This was a DNF for me.

I absolutely love Marissa Mayer’s writing! I will continue to support her because she has the most amazing work! I enjoyed Instant Karma. It was the a great summer read and of course who wouldn’t want the power to hold the ability to perform instant karma on others! Quint was adorable I enjoyed his character a lot. Sadly, I can’t say that for Pruedence. I thought she was annoying, childish and arrogant. But besides that minor dislike I still enjoyed this amazing story and the overall message.

OMG, this was truly the perfect summer read. I have to admit, it started out a little slow--and initially, I found the protagonist, Prudence, super annoying...which is kind of the point. She's a perfectionistic control freak, and the kind of person who takes over a group project not because no one else is doing anything, but because she doesn't trust them to do *anything*. Which is exactly what happens with her biology lab partner, Quint. Prudence sees him as a brainless slacker, and basically does their final collaborative project on her own--which results in a grade of C.

Prudence is horrified: she's never gotten a C before! She insists that Quint work with her over the summer to revise their project. In exchange, he insists that she volunteer at the marine wildlife rescue center his mom runs.

This is where the plot picks up. It probably goes without saying that these two polar opposites will attract, but their relationship is a slow burn and they really come to understand one another in a satisfyingly complex way. It's believable and utterly charming. I read about the last third of it in one shot on my porch on a summer evening, and channeled some of the best memories of summer childhoods, devouring a book in one gulp.

The slowly developing friendship was a joy to read. A mix of the predictable and unpredictable twists with hidden depths. Sometimes I thought the book was trying to do too much and failing with the various family subplots.

With a clench of her fist, Prudence doles out punishment and occasionally rewards. I'm a huge fan of Marissa Meyer and she didn't disappoint; I was immediately drawn into the story of Prudence and Quint. Instant Karma is definitely a YA read, full of teenage angst, awkwardness, ups, downs, first loves, and finding yourself. I thought Prudence's quirks were perhaps a bit heavy-handed but also very authentic. I appreciated the full circle feel of events and that evolution of lesson learning.

Perfectly fine YA romcom with the "karma" twist (which doesn't quite feel like karma - does someone you dislike/are jealous of deserve a broken leg?). I didn't see why that needed to be added to Pru and Quint getting to know each other. Her obsession with grades could have led to them bonding any way.

And maybe it's me being a cranky person, but can we get over the Beatles? Don't get me wrong, they were a wonderful band and I love their music, and I know "kids today" still listen to them, but having an entire family named after their songs? Sigh.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

Disclaimer: I DNF'ed this book 57% the way through.
Since everyone seems to love Marissa Meyer's books, I saw an opportunity to review this one and hopped right on board.
Pru is extremly flippent about hurting people and the 'karma' seems to be thrown into the book as an afterthought. Pru is going along and doing her thing when the plot suddenly jumps to karma. For example, someone gets stung by a bee due to Pru's karma and this is the reaction, "Gosh, I hope she's not allergic." Seriously?
At times, the book also seemed really pushy about right and wrong. I'm begging, please give people a chance before getting all judgy. There is only so much I can take from MCs before I want to DNF the book, and Instant Karma surpassed my limit.
I was kinda disappointed when it started using language. Marissa Meyer has been known for mostly clean young adult fiction and it seems that she is using more and more language.
Rating: 1/5
Language: a**, b****
Romance: did not read this far
Spiritual: referances cosmic thanking people, karma
Violence: n/a
*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Review will be published to the blog on October 3, 2020.

I was hesitant starting this book. I'm used to fantasy by Marissa Meyer. But still I have loved everything else by her so I drove in.

Maybe minor spoilers.

The characters were wonderfully developed. Though Pru did get on my nerves a few times, her actions made perfect sense for a 16 control freak. The rest of the cast was very well thought out.
The plot was freaking amazing. Though I would have loved more romance, that's just me. And the whole supernatural krama powers didnt play a huge role. Just enough to drive the plot forward a bit. However,this book was not lacking at all. Everything was interesting and relevant to the main plot.
Meyer is a wonderful storyteller. I was amazed at how well she captured anxiety, especially for a teenage girl.

This book was cute and fun. And it feels like its one that will stay will me.

I received a complimentary copy of Instant Karma from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

What a great book! With the perfect balance of humor, conflict, animal rescue, and romance, this was a fantastic read. Prudence and her nemisis lab partner Quint are well fleshed-out and easily believable. I loved this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

INSTANT KARMA was such a fun contemporary novel! Prudence is a very organized and determined main character, and in turn doesn't get along well with her scattered and fun-loving lab partner, Quint. Over the course of the summer, they strike up a deal to work together at a marine rescue center, which brings them closer together. I absolutely loved both Quint and Pru; they were written so well and were some of the most realistic teenagers I've read in a while. Their relationship developed perfectly and their dialogue was A+. I also loved the marine center setting. Seeing all the sea lions and otters and other marine animals being nursed back to health was so much fun and an element I was not expecting. The karmic justice aspect of this book wasn't as center-stage as I expected, but its constant presence added a very unique twist to the story and also allowed for Pru to ask questions about herself that sparked a lot of development. I adored this cute romcom and think it is the perfect quick and heartwarming story!

I enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles and thought I would like Instant Karma. I was not disappointed. And if you are a Sarah Dessen fan you will enjoy this book. The “instant karma” that main character Prudence (Pru for short) receives after a knock on the head did not add anything to the story to me. The developing relationship between Pru and Quint was the real story and it was fun to watch uptight overachiever Pru become a likable character due to Quint’s quiet nonjudgmental demeanor. A great middle school read.

I absolutely love all of Marissa Meyer’s work, and I am so excited to see her cross over into contemporary fiction with a fantastical twist! I was very eager to read this and it was everything I had hoped for. Absolutely wonderful debut in this genre that I know my clients and students will love. Pru is such a relatable character; even as you can see her making mistakes you totally understand why she’s making them. Quint was the star for me, though, with his kind heart, seemingly infinite patience, and easygoing attitude, I loved getting to meet the animals at the marine rescue and thought the book did a great and realistic job depicting the organization. I used to work at a wildlife rehab and many of the concepts rang true for me, especially the difficulty of not getting emotionally attached to your “patients”—they’re wild animals, not pets. I also appreciated Pru’s large family and their dynamics. Most of all, I loved the concept of instant karma. For a bibliotherapist, it’s the perfect opportunity to have kids think about how we treat each other and what comes from our actions. Pru’s intentions versus Pru’s actions are also a very rich topic for discussion.

Marissa Meyer has been an auto buy author of mine for a few years now. I cannot tell you how often I have pushed the Lunar Chronicles onto others.

When I saw she was writing a YA rom com I knew I needed it. It did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this one. Prudence was such a fun character. Her large family and weird tendencies make her such a likable character.

Quint was the perfect guy for her. Watching their story play out was such fun. I love how Meyer threw in her signature supernatural bits, but that it wasnt over the top. The marine biology aspects were also quite fascinating.

I did wish the pace went a bit faster, bit overall this was a win in my book.

Job well done! Thank you to Fiewel and Friends, MacMillan, and Netgelley for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

While not has fabulous as Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles or Renegades series, her latest novel is a delightful treat. An opposites attract tale with a little bit of magical realism combine well.