I read this book in one sitting. Well, I was technically lying down but you get the gist. It was really that good – I was apprehensive at first because it is of a more sci-fi nature, not a genre I read much at all but I was hooked from page one. We are introduced right away to Camille, the A-level student protagonist, and Zoe, the grave-digging weirdo.

Dead Romantic is a modern-day retelling of Frankenstein, which I am currently studying at school, so I was intrigued to see what the author, CJ Skuse, would do with the tale that hasn't been done a million times before and I was pleasantly surprised. As the blurb tells us, the book is about Camille and Zoe's quest to build Camille a boyfriend – Camille is newly friendless and Zoe wants to follow in her father's scientific footsteps, creating life from death in a move reminiscent of Victor Frankenstein's determined creation of his monster.

What seemed to me like a simple plot – I expected that similar events to that of Frankenstein would conspire throughout the novel but once again I was pleased to be proved wrong. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns, a real little rollercoaster but not as clichéd of course! CJ Skuse has created a fascinating character in Zoe, the mysterious girl who tampers with life, and a story you can't wait to read, to see how it all unravels. The ends were all tied leaving me satisfied yet the book ended in a way that suggested a promising sequel – here's hoping the author will live up to my expectations! Even if you don't usually read books like this, indulging in sciency-sounding words, don't be fooled. This is a fantastic read and one I won't hesitate to recommend.

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