Review and Interview: My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul

My Kind of Crazy

Author: Robin Reul

Published On: 4/5/2016

Page Count: 336

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Despite the best of intentions, seventeen-year old, wisecracking Hank Kirby can’t quite seem to catch a break. It’s not that he means to screw things up all the time, it just happens. A lot. Case in point: his attempt to ask out the girl he likes literally goes up in flames when he spells “Prom” in sparklers on her lawn…and nearly burns down her house. 
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Peyton Breedlove, a brooding loner and budding pyromaniac, witnesses the whole thing. Much to Hank’s dismay, Peyton takes an interest in him—and his “work.”

Overall Rating: 3/5

I love how this ended. No spoilers I promise. I just think it could have gone very badly one way and I'm so glad the author addressed it in the way she did. Suicide, Shooters and Abuse seem to be very present in the books I've been reading lately. I think it's time for a happy fantasy book.

Cover: 2/5

I like how the sparklers tie into the storyline. The plastic doll heads fit with the story however I just find them extremely creepy sitting there peeking out of the grass.

Characters: 2.5/5

Hank: I honestly really didn`t like Hank. I felt like he had a lot of issues that could have been solved by just opening up to his A**hole father.

Peyton: Wow this girl is seriously messed up but I like her story and growth the most. We learn very little at first and have to investigate and make assumptions just like Hank.

Plot: 3/5

The plot becomes fairly predictable near the middle but I feel like to understand the story you really just need to read it. I found somethings to be very unrealistic. Like what type of girl want to go out with a guy who lights her lawn on fire? Overall the plot is about handling poor family situations and how friends can be there to support you even when they don’t realize you really need it. 

Did you listen to a playlist while writing?

I always make a playlist for my books, but I actually prefer to write in silence. However, I listen to the playlist often while I’m driving or taking a walk, or sometimes even before bed with headphones on, because the music inspires me to get in the minds of my characters and scenes. If I am on deadline and am forced to write with others around, I generally listen to this amazing waterfall track that’s just pure white noise and blocks out everything else.

Want to share your playlist?

Sure! My book runs the gamut of emotions, so there are parts where it is funny and upbeat, parts where Hank, my MC, is in his head about all that is going on around him, and also dealing with some serious issues, so the types of music on it is quite eclectic. But here it is:

Let’s Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas)

Into The Great Wide Open (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie)

Breathe (Anna Nalick)

Counting Stars (One Republic)

Please Don’t Leave Me (Pink)

I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick)

Arms (Christina Perri)

Hurts Like Heaven (Coldplay)

In Between Days (The Cure)

Heroes (David Bowie)

Here With Me (Dido)

Don’t Stop Believing (Journey)

Hot N Cold (Katy Perry)

Believe (Lenny Kravitz)

Take What You Take (Lily Allen)

Amazing (One Eskimo)

Good Life (One Republic)

In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)

Brave (Sara Bareiles)

Crazy (Seal)

Mad World (Tears For Fears)

Drops of Jupiter (Train)

All I Want Is You (U2)

World Spins Madly On (The Weepies)

Only You (Yaz)

Elastic Heart (Sia)

Rise Above (Bono & The Edge/Reeve Carney)

Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

Outside your book, who would you *ship* your MC with?

I would have to say Violet from ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven. I think they would really get each other. They both understand grief and loss, and I think they would really connect on lots of levels. She has a huge heart, like Hank, and I think they would be a good team to help each other navigate through that tough time of life.

Describe your book using emoticons.

Sometimes emoticons don’t show up correctly when I email, so let me know if they don’t come through okay.

Why YA as your genre?

I have always been drawn to YA novels, both as a reader and a writer. There’s something really pure and raw about that time, before life really happens to you and dictates the ways you have to think and act as you shift to having adult responsibilities. Those early romantic relationships are especially powerful, because the emotions are so new and intense and they set the standard going forward of what you want and what you don’t. You never forget your first love or your first real heartbreak. Everything feels like the end of the world in those years. It’s like the world and all your emotions are under a giant magnifying glass. There is something freeing and emotionally fulfilling as a writer to be able to go back into that skin and rewrite your own ending, explore paths you were scared to take as a teen, or heal old wounds and try and help others going through the same pitfalls of teendom by writing from personal experience.

Hope you enjoyed the interview with the lovely Robin

TTFN,
Ashley