Down With the Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn

Down With the Shine
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Publisher: HarperTeen

There's a reason they say "be careful what you wish for." Just ask the girl who wished to be thinner and ended up smaller than Thumbelina, or the boy who asked for "balls of steel" and got them-literally. And never wish for your party to go on forever. Not unless you want your guests to be struck down by debilitating pain if they try to leave.


These are things Lennie only learns when it's too late-after she brings some of her uncles' moonshine to a party and toasts to dozens of wishes, including a big wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was abducted and murdered six months ago.

Lennie didn't mean to cause so much chaos. She always thought her uncles' moonshine toast was just a tradition. And when they talked about carrying on their "important family legacy," she thought they meant good old-fashioned bootlegging.

As it turns out, they meant granting wishes. And Lennie has just granted more in one night than her uncles would grant in a year.

Now she has to find a way to undo the damage. But once granted, a wish can't be unmade...~Goodreads

Down With the Shine is a unique twist on the concept of “be careful what you wish for.” It is hilarious, dangerous, disastrous and over all glorious—I enjoyed every page!

I adored Lenny—she was witty and clever, loyal and caring. Her family history is seriously insane, it’s a wonder she turned out as awesome as she did. Her dad is basically a psychopathic murderer and her uncles grant wishes through moonshine. Yes, moonshine. So, with Lenny being in the dark about her heritage and wanting to have a night of reckless fun, she brings moonshine to a fellow classmate’s party. Let the chaos begin!

The wishes the partygoers ask for? To lose weight, stay friends through it all, or live to be old and wise—let’s just say that the phrasing of theses wishes was KEY. If Lenny didn’t word a wish just right, those girls who wanted to stay friends? Well, lets just say they became inseparable…literally. 

You guys! This book was just a rollercoaster of crazy. I was frantically flipping pages, biting my nails to nubs, and my heart was practically beating out of my chest at times. I LOVED EVERY SECOND. 

I would totally be up for reading a sequel about what Lenny is up to. Also, more of her and *wiggles eyebrows* Smith. Yes, did I not mention there is a swoony guy and an adorably cute romance? Because, there so is. Smith can hold my hand anytime *wink*

The only thing that didn’t wow me was the ending. I felt as though it  was a tad bit of a cop out. BUT overall, I thought the story was incredible! A definite must read! 

(Also how awesome is that cover?!)