How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days (The Tale of Bryant Adams #1)

Hi Munchworms!

A little while back I received the e-ARC for How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days by Megan O'Russell through NetGalley. So a big thank you to Megan O'Russell and Curiosity Quills Press for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
The cover hadn't even been revealed yet when I requested this book, but truth be told: that synopsis sounded way too good.

"Ever wanted to grow a five-story tall flower in central park? How about fight a deadly battle under the subway tunnels of Manhattan?

Don't worry. I never wanted to either. But if you're ever being chased by ladies made of mist and you have to save the girl with the sparkly eyes you've never had the guts to say actual words to, there's an app for that.

I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn't have, burned down the set shop for my high school's theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A drag queen seer who lives under a bridge is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I think the cops might be after me for destroying my dad's penthouse.

But it gets better! Now I'm stuck being the sidekick to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place. It'll be a miracle if I survive until Monday."

All of that happened during four days?! This book sounded like it was pact with lots of goodness so it upped my expectations immediately. Like, a lot. On the other hand, I started wondering if there would be "too much" going on.
I can already tell you the answer to that question: nope, nope, nope.
This book was near perfection on that part! And I hate the fact that I'll have to wait for the sequel, because... Surely there has to be one?! Please, give me more Bryant!

Megan O'Russell's writing style immediately drew me in. It's fast-paced - but not too fast -, fluent and as thus, easy to read. Even though there aren't any amazingly poetic descriptions present in the book, the descriptive style she uses is good enough to make you lose yourself in the story.
The concept of the story is amazing too. Like, can you imagine finding a magic cell phone? Surely your life would be turned upside down as well! I keep wondering what else that cellphone will be capable of - and how Bryant is going to get himself in trouble for using it, haha.

"But forward isn't always safer than back, even if back wasn't all that nice to begin with."

Character-wise there's only one negative and that's the lack of character development. It could've been me, but I was just missing some chances in Bryant's character as a whole. Yes, he's been through a lot in the book but it didn't feel like it actually changed him in any way. And surely, everything that happened has to leave a mark somehow?
As for his best friend, Devon, I can only say... That is the kind of best friend I'd wish everyone has. He does what has to be done and - even though a little arrogant - is a fun character as well!
Of course I can't not say anything about Elizabeth, because... Girl power! She's smart, uses her brains and isn't afraid to take on a challenge. Even when she has no clue about what she's getting herself into. She totally reminded me of Annabeth [Percy Jackson], honestly.

I'm definitely recommending this book for anyone who likes Harry Potter - because magic! -, Percy Jackson - because adventures! - or anything else that's adventure- and magic-related.

I'm giving How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days 4/5!

And, of course... For the munches... I'm going to throw a whole lot of Skittles in the mix! Want to know why? Guess you'll have to read the book, ha!

It's being published on August 15th - which is a week from now - so if you want to order it, you can do this on Amazon.com, BookDepository or any other site you feel comfortable using! You can, of course, also add it to your Goodreads-TBR.

Kathy

This book was provided to me through NetGalley. This is my honest review for which I'm not being compensated in any way. All opinions are entirely my own.

A cute and quick story with a premise that feels familiar (ordinary high school, student, the girl of his dreams, and a magical underbelly in New York City), but is enough to draw you into the comedic shenanigans that can happen when a magical cellphone is involved,

Witty, Imaginative and Action Packed

This book puts a number of clever and often very funny spins on the standard who-knew-I-was-magical-? teen action rom-com, and the result is fast-paced and entertaining.

Our hero, Bryant, is a bit mopey and is almost stupefied by his crush on manic-pixie-dream-girl Elizabeth. It doesn't help that Bryant's absolutely loyal best friend, Devon, is a dreamy lady-killer with a wicked deadpan sense of humor. The book opens slowly, giving us a chance to get to know these three characters and to set up their backstories and the larger New York City background for the adventure. But, once Bryant picks up a cell phone accidentally left behind in a cab by a creepy, pasty, vampirey guy, well, the tale takes off like a rocket.

Right off the bat we learn a good deal about these three characters, all of it good. Bryant isn't a mope. He's smart, insightful, resourceful, and while he's maybe a little angsty, he's also almost ready to get in touch with the hero within. He's the narrator and his running rueful first person commentary, (along the lines of I-can't-really-believe-this is happening to me, but what the heck), is endearing and refreshing. Elizabeth isn't just the pixie dream girl love interest. She's a bit salty, with take charge gumption and impatience with any shilly-shallying. Devon is a stand up guy with a no-nonsense attitude, no smarm, and the style of a wingman on steroids. Together these three make up a funny, smart, take no prisoners team that can handle quips and taglines in between fights with demon things and shadow whatevers.

And they need all of that because the guy who lost his phone wants it back in, like, the worst way. It's sort of an iPhone that has stored within it every evil spell app ever, and it is powerful beyond comprehension. And guess what? It responds to possibly-also-magical Bryant, even though Bryant doesn't know what any of those odd spell icons stand for. The gang has lots of fun almost destroying NYC while running away from cadres of evil guys and figuring out how the phone works and trying to reach an amicable resolution to the what-do-we-do-now question.

The book is well-written. After the first chapter or two it is fast paced, with occasional breathers and a few pauses for comic relief. None of it is plausible and none of it makes a lot of sense, but you can say that about all of the Greek Myths, and they're loads of fun. Actually, when you think about the most popular books that follow those myth arcs, (like, say, "Percy Jackson"), this is a more flippant, looser, brighter and more improvisational variation on that style. It also seems just a touch hipper, older and more ironic than those books, which also helps to distinguish it from the crowd.

So, this goes down in the list as a nice find. Smart, funny and high energy, it was a very entertaining treat. The ending, BTW, felt very sequel friendly, which is a nice thought.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

If you enjoyed Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon, you will probably enjoy How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days as they both feature a snarky, sort of whiny, self aware narrator who wants to be like Deadpool but isn’t quite as cool.

At the beginning, I was not a fan of this book, or Bryant, its narrator/main character. My first impression was that he was a racist dick because made a comment about “old black ladies” watching out for him. That opening chapter really made me think the book drew unnecessary attention to race, and made me want to punch Bryant in the face.

But Bryant grew on me. He made me laugh. I loved the idea of the magic cell phone, and the world was well built. That first chapter was really the only one that had a racist vibe. There were some lines that were a bit too corny, even for this character, but in the end, the plot and the world drew me in. Bryant did grow and change throughout book, and he learned something in the end, which is more than I can say for the leads in Valerian.

Speaking of the end, it wrapped up the main storyline, but left plenty room for a sequel, which I would probably read. However, I never read the second book in the Chronicles of Nick, so maybe I will be content to leave Bryant with one book. Books, like all arts, are subjective, and Bryant’s voice just wasn’t one I connected with. That doesn’t mean it was bad -- just not my cup of tea.

Bryant finds a lost phone and suddenly there are fires springing up all over town, a huge flower growing in central park, he finds out he's a magician and the girl of his dreams has finally noticed him. A fun read.

I enjoyed every second of this book! It's funny,it's charming,it's magical!

This book is funny, witty, and cute -- not to mention intense and involving lots of crazy magic and an angry vampire-dude named Eric.

The voice in this book is awesome, and I always love seeing women writing funny, witty male characters -- not because we don't have enough main characters, but because I think people assume women can't write funny, witty books. And that's just not true -- evidenced by this one that I've just read.

Ever have your phone fall out of your pocket? Ever find someone's cell phone? Ever try and check out what's on that phone? DON'T!

Cabs in New York are a luxury, so when a pale drunk guy stumbles out just as you are hailing one, you don't take the chance of someone snagging it while you return his cell phone to him. But, unlocking the phone and checking it out, not a good plan. And don't play with apps you don't understand either. Bryant learns this the hard way.

This was a cute romp through the Big Apple...lots of action...and a love story to boot. I really enjoyed this book. I am glad I took a chance on it!

Reviewed by Jenn of the GothicMoms Review Team

Received from NetGalley for my honest review
Completed 5/10/18
214 page ebook

This book was FUN! Just fun! It was unique too, there's a lot of ways to gain magical abilities but I think this is the first, and only, time that the abilities came from finding a cell phone. Definitely unique and grabbed me from the start.

The characters weren't completely fleshed out, but that was to be expected from a shorter book, but the story was so engaging that it didn't matter to much. It kept my attention and made me want to keep knowing what was going on. The magic was pretty neat and what all happened with it was entertaining. Would definitely read more, if another book comes along.

Recommended for a younger audience, or (like me) adults who like a captivating story, even if it is geared for middle grade.

Setting = A
Plot = A
Conflict = B
Characters = B
Theme = A