Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
272 Pages (Hardcover)
Razorbill
June 9, 2011
Source: ARC Tour
Format: ARC

Willow has spent most of her life as her mother's sidekick in a popular Las Vegas hypnotism show. So when she and her mom move back to their sleepy southern hometown to start over, she thinks she's in for a life of quiet normalcy. Except that her new life turns out to be anything but, when she kinda sorta hypnotizes Quinton, the hottest guy on the football team, to fall madly, deeply, head over heels in love with her. But what started out as an innocent way to make her best friend, Max, jealous soon gets way out of hand, and Willow begins to wonder if the mind - and more importantly, the heart - is something you can really control.

    I loved this book. I loved the story, I loved the characters and I loved the experience of reading it.

    After living in Vegas for most of her life, helping her mother with her Hip Hypnotist shows, Willow is uprooted and brought back the small Georgia town were she was born. Willow takes the move as a chance to redefine herself, to start over fresh. Somehow, "starting over fresh" turns into Willow pretending that she was the Hip Hypnotist back in Vegas, which, as you can imagine, does not turn out to well. Willow wants to make friends, she wants to make others happy, she wants her best friend  since as long as she can remember, Max, to see her as more than a friend.... one decision leads her into a complicated web of hypnotisms. She starts to see the effects hypnotism can have on someone's life, but by then she is already knee deep in trouble.

    This story was really fun, and something different, for me at least. I don't know about you, but I've never read a YA book dealing with hypnotism, so it was a new concept to explore. The plot was really well structured, it moved along well and had me eagerly reading.

    A good plot is great, but the characters were amazing. I loved each and every one of them, as well as their relationships with each other. Of course I loved Willow and Max, but my favorite character was one of the new friends she makes. She is absolutely hilarious, once you read the book, you will know who I'm talking about. I love how she always made media references. The references would be so up to date that it made it seem like the story was happening this minute (which, I guess it will lose in a few more months).

   From Willow's venture into hypnotism, to complicated relationships, and Oompa, the Cher loving, hump-anything-that-moves terrier, this book is a fabulous, hilarious read. I would definitely recommend it - it is a great read for summer!