Review: The Notorious Pagan Jones by Nina Berry
SYNOPSIS:
Pagan Jones went from America’s sweetheart to fallen angel in one fateful night in 1960: the night a car accident killed her whole family. Pagan was behind the wheel and driving drunk. Nine months later, she’s stuck in the Lighthouse Reformatory for Wayward Girls and tortured by her guilt—not to mention the sadistic Miss Edwards, who takes special delight in humiliating the once-great Pagan Jones.
But all of that is about to change. Pagan’s old agent shows up with a mysterious studio executive, Devin Black, and an offer. Pagan will be released from juvenile detention if she accepts a juicy role in a comedy directed by award-winning director Bennie Wexler. The shoot starts in West Berlin in just three days. If Pagan’s going to do it, she has to decide fast—and she has to agree to a court-appointed “guardian,” the handsome yet infuriating Devin, who’s too young, too smooth, too sophisticated to be some studio flack.
The offer’s too good to be true, Berlin’s in turmoil and Devin Black knows way too much about her—there’s definitely something fishy going on. But if anyone can take on a divided city, a scheming guardian and the criticism of a world that once adored her, it’s the notorious Pagan Jones. What could go wrong?
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
Alright, so this is a resounding case of don’t just a book by its cover. I know this book isn’t my typical read, actually this would be a first for me in terms of Historical Young Adult and I have to say, I kinda liked it. The book was extremely interesting, the characters were fascinating, and plot kept pulling me forward, leaving me wanting more.
I originally went back and forth with this book before deciding to take a chance on it. Nina paints an exquisite scene of Berlin in the 1960s, a country torn and divided by war, attempting to re-build. The initial start of the book leave you with more questions than answers, who is Pagan Jones, why is she suddenly free, who is Devin Black, why did Nicky never visit her? The story continuously leave you wanting to hear more, learn more, and attempt to put the pieces together.
Then that ending, it was crazy, action packed, as all the mysteries are finally solved and some leaving you puzzled and questioning, wanting more. Pagan learns about her family history, but there are more questions then answer. The mysterious Devin Black and Pagan part ways but with the foreshadowing that they will see each other again. This book is Nancy Drew meets James Bonds, with a dash of Mad Men and Gossip Girl, definitely unique and completely different for the Young Adult market!
BUY THE BOOK:
