Monday 17 September 2012

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You review

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You
Ally Carter
April 25th 2006
Orchard Books

Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? 

Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.



I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You (hereafter referred to as The Book (I like long titles, but there is a limit)) was exactly what I needed to read. I've been reading The Road for English Lit, and it is the bleakest book I have ever read in my life, and This Book was the antidote for it. It's been weeks since I last read a proper, fun, YA book (Harry Potter doesn't count), and I just really, really enjoyed it. It's not an amazing book, but it was a really fun start to the series, and who can say no to a bit of Teen Spy Action?

What I don't really get, though, is the comparisons to Harry Potter. Yeah, it's set in a boarding school which the normal folk aren't allowed to know about. That's about the only similarity I can think of. What it really brought to mind, for me, was St Trinians, and I don't even think that that's because I watched it while I was reading The Book. It's an all girls academy, it's a bit unorthodox (well, maybe not THAT unorthodox, but you see the point I'm making) and it's awesome in that relentlessly fun kind of way. (I don't know if you can tell, but I WANT TO GO TO GALLAGHER ACADEMY AND BECOME A SPY WHY ARE ALL THE GOOD PLACES FICTIONAL *WAILS*)

I wasn't entirely sure how I'd feel about this book, mostly because I'd started it once a while ago (which reminds me, I have a spare copy of it now! Giveaway?) and I didn't get that far into it before putting it down, but I was either in the wrong frame of mind for it or judged it prematurely, because I liked it a lot more this time around. I also wasn't that sure about it because of the whole SuperSpy Girl Cares More About Boy Then Being A SuperSpy, but it really wasn't. Though I'm still glad it ended the way it did because (spoiler) Josh was SO BORING  seriously. I'm so excited about the new love interest though! (yes I am on the second book. Why do you ask? (spoiler over).

Cammie was a really great character, because I could relate to her Chameleon-ness. I also liked that even though her friends were pretty, or really clever, she didn't always lament the fact that she wasn't as pretty as them. I understand that sometimes that's the case, but seriously, if all a character does in spend their time being insecure with people they love and trust, and who find themselves being jealous of them all the time, then that's a character that I don't want to know. I thought that her, Bex and Liz (and even Macey) was probably the more important part of the book, because even though Josh was nice, he was just so bland and I really didn't care that much for him. Also, I just really like seeing close friendships in books. But you know that already. Oh, and I loved the fact that Macey was actually okay! I was fully prepared for her to be some horrible person to Cammie and the gang, but she was really great, and I think we're going to see a lot more from their friendship too. 

Even though this book had it's serious moments, it was mostly just super cool (pretty unrealistic) spy/romance fluff. And it was exactly what I needed. I think I'm really going to like the Gallagher Girls books.

2 comments:

  1. I really like the Gallagher Girls series! And I am totally feeling you on that wail about the sad fact that all the good places belong in books!!!

    In my opinion this series justs gets better and better as it goes along so hopefully you enjoy the rest of them! :) x

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  2. Ahhhh Cicely! I love it when a book is exactly what you needed and youre like *happy sigh* SO glad you loved this one, I know EXACTLY what you mean about this one it was so cute and lighthearted and fluffy and awesome. The series gets SO MUCH BETTER as well, it gets all intense and twisty and cool. I never thought I'd loved the GG books but I DO. Can't wait to see what you think of the rest of them!

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