Ruined by Paula Morris

A gripping YA supernatural novel set in New Orleans: TWILIGHT with a ghostly twist.

Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her Aunt Claudia, who reads Tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city

First off the synopsis states "A gripping YA supernatural novel set in New Orleans: TWILIGHT with a ghostly twist" This is a lie. There was nothing gripping about this book, in fact aside from Lissette (not the MC a ghost) I was pretty bored while reading this. I had figured out a good portion of the plot twist fairly soon in and couldn't care less about the characters, most were grey boring and not flushed out. The synopsis also talks about the mysterious Anton who is actually just a douche bag boy the MC goes on ONE date with. So nice touch there is almost no romance in this at all, basic high school girl crush, but no insta-love. The MC also spends a lot of time whining.

Now I enjoy a novel that does it's research and tries for accuracy but this novel was probably 70% blabbing on and on about the history of New Orleans Mardi Gras and the Garden District and the parties the rich families throw before hand with things like info dumping about the Krewes they belong to and the symbolism. Which honestly didn't move the plot forward and was just boring. Totally could have been cut down to the basics. Just like when Aurelia talks on and on about how the school is divided up into Debs, Plebs and other things based on Roman culture.... What?

Now I know that at some point the heroine needs to find out what is going on, she gets tidbits here and there on her own, but the majority comes from a heart to heart with her and her "Aunt Claudia" where we get the nitty gritty of the Bowman Family Curse and how the MC plays into all of it, by this time I had figured out a good chunk, which is what the author intended. However then there is this paragraph which literally made me roll my eyes, smirk and stop reading. I can't go into details without spoiling but I can say it includes several name changes and the MC's father having a friend at the CIA that changes around some documents. It was just so OVER THE TOP and convenient. I almost stopped reading the book right then.

This is getting two angels instead of one simply because there were parts that were interesting and Lissette and Aurelia (MC kind of cousin) were the most flushed out characters. I did appreciate the author doing her research even if not ALL of it needed to be in this book. I have read much better books recently that took place in New Orleans or Louisiana. Instead of this novel try:

Walk of the Spirits (Walk #1)by Richie Tankersley Cusick

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Sweet Unrestby Lisa Maxwell