Book Review: Because You Love to Hate Me

Title: Because You Love to Hate Me
Author: Various
Genre: Young Adult | Anthology
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: July 11, 2017 
Source: Library
Format: Physical

In this unique YA anthology, thirteen acclaimed, bestselling authors team up with thirteen influential BookTubers to reimagine fairy tales from the oft-misunderstood villains' points of view.
These fractured, unconventional spins on classics like "Medusa," Sherlock Holmes, and "Jack and the Beanstalk" provide a behind-the-curtain look at villains' acts of vengeance, defiance, and rage--and the pain, heartbreak, and sorrow that spurned them on. No fairy tale will ever seem quite the same again (goodreads)!


A few hits but mostly forgettable.
Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for this one, and I still walked away disappointed.  For those who don't know, Because You Love to Hate Me is an anthology edited by singer/booktuber Ameriie, and the fact that I just said that still weirds me out. Ameriie is a booktuber?! Anyway, she teamed up with other booktubers and popular YA authors to create an anthology that focuses on the villain perspective. My question is, why wasn't Leigh Bardugo invited to this party? 

The booktubers wrote a prompt for the authors (ex: a female God of War) while the author took creative liberty to pen a short story based on that prompt. Then the booktuber wrote a little something based on the story/prompt. It was these booktuber additions that took me out of the story and I started skipping them after the first story. It was a bit jarring to read a story about murder and evil and have it followed by a quiz or five-paragraph essay. It just didn't fit. The stories themselves were hit or misses. Unsurprisingly, Nicola Yoon, Victoria Schwab, and Marissa Meyer stole the show, but I was surprised by how "meh" I was toward the other stories. It's definitely worth a read, but it makes me want someone to take another stab at this idea of an anthology. 

The Blood of Imuriv by Renee Ahdieh
Jack by Ameriie

Gwen and Art and Lance by Soman Chainani

Shirley & Jim by Susan Dennard

The Blessing of Little Wants by Sarah Enni

The Sea Witch by Marissa Meyer

Beautiful Venom by Cindy Pon

Death Knell by Victoria Schwab

Marigold by Samantha Shannon

You, You, It's All About You by Adam Silvera

Julian Breaks Every Rule by Andrew Smith

Indigo and Shade by April Genevieve Tucholke

Sera by Nicola Yoon

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