I think someone copied off of Stephenie Meyer’s paper! Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Stolarz should’ve been called Twilight: The Lame Edition. Wanna know why? The storyline is almost exactly the same as Meyer’s Twilight except Stolarz created the most boring and ludicrous characters to star in her book. Come along with me as we journey to Déjà vu town…
To begin, the main character, 16-year old Camelia almost gets hit by a car. And where does she almost get hit by a car? In the parking lot at her school! Some random hottie on a motorcycle comes to Camelia’s rescue by pushing her out of the way. So, after “Evel Knievel” saves Camelia from getting hit by yet another horrible teen driver, he speeds away on his bike without even telling her his name. All she remembers is a scar on his arm that is cool to the touch. Ooh… yawn.
So, who was the mysterious hero? He’s the new boy in town named Ben and he’s supposedly gorgeous. I could see that if you like uninteresting characters with freakish scars. He also has a secretive past that everyone at the school questions. The students hear rumors that suggest he killed his girlfriend and had to move to get away from all the drama surrounding her death. Even so, when Camelia recognizes him at school, she is eager to thank him for saving her life. But he claims that he wasn’t her hero. Really?? That’s unusual. Maybe he fell off his motorcycle and hit his head the day before and forgot! Oh, but it gets better…. Ben and Camelia are lab partners in CHEMISTRY! Ha-Ha! Are you reading this Stephenie?? Surely there are other classes in high school where students pair up and work together, right?!
Anyway, as time goes on, Camelia learns that she has a secret admirer of sorts. This character plays an active role in the book because there are chapters specifically devoted to his side of the story. This is a unique aspect for Stolarz’s book – and it at least breaks up the dull interactions between Camelia and her annoying friends, Kimmie and Wes. So, not only does Camelia have a very strange and seemingly dangerous boy toy to contend with, but she has a stalker who is frustrated by all of the attention she’s giving to Ben. However, Ben is hiding an even bigger secret from Camelia. Readers will likely consider this revelation unoriginal and quite similar to something Edward explains to Bella in Twilight.
Deadly Little Secret is a young adult book full of another author’s ideas. It has an unexciting storyline with underdeveloped and childish characters. Moreover, seasoned readers will immediately recognize who Camelia’s stalker is. This book gets 1 1/2 pumps from me. I’m taking away 1 pump for each of the three Twilight déjà vu moments mentioned above, and another half away for Ben only being somewhat attractive. Trust me Vixens, this book is not worthy of your precious time.
I loved this book way more than Twilight. And I didn’t even notice the similarities, because Twilight was unoriginal in everything else. Twilight was even more predictable than this book, and did not have a stupid Bella heroine who’s in love with a guy who glows.
If you read the book, you’ll know that Camelia is not obsessed with Ben.
Gosh, you guys love Twilight so much it’s sickening.
— Nikki · Apr 24, 03:14 PM · #
I agree deadly little secret was better and twilight sucks
— Jess · Apr 24, 07:03 PM · #
Hey ladies! I’m glad you enjoyed this book; everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. My review reflects my personal perspective, which is not gospel, just another opinion. Hopefully your comments will encourage others to read Deadly Little Secret! Thanks
— Sophie · Apr 24, 07:22 PM · #
I’m sorry, but Twilight sucked. I thought it rocked until I read some REAL literature. And the books have similarities but they aren’t the same.
— Britt · May 7, 07:41 PM · #
Deadly Little Secret is nothing like Twilight. Um, big deal they both have lab class. In DLS it’s chemistry, NOT bio, and it’s a major part of the book. In Twilight, it’s one measly snippet. Ever seen similar lab scenes in books or on TV??? Yes, it’s been done before. Stephenie is not the creator of these scenes. In DLS there’s a bad boy meets nice girl. Um, hello, that’s like half the books out there. Ever heard of Romeo and Juliet???? No? Get reading. And, as for the car thing? That’s also been done. And it was an entire chapter of DLS, not in Twilight, whose scene was totally impossible and unbelievable. Get reading and watching TV. It’s all be done before, hate to break it to you.
— Dyn · Jun 2, 07:06 AM · #
Hi Dyn, thanks for your comments. However, I must say that I am a little taken back by your last few sentences. I read quite frequently and watch my fair share of television, so please don’t make any assumptions otherwise. And while I agree that the similarities have been done in other written forms and media, they were quite apparent in this book when compared to Twilight (the basis of our website). Again, I am so glad that Deadly Little Secret is getting this kind of attention on our site because it will encourage others to read the book! I am also thankful for everyone who comes to our site and participates in these discussions. Your perspectives are always welcome here! However, my opinions and rating on Deadly Little Secret still stand based upon everything I mentioned in my review. Thanks again!
— Sophie · Jun 2, 09:56 AM · #
This book my seem like it was a reiteration of Twilight, but it was more of a copy of the Blue Is For Nightmares Series which is by the same author. I read the Blue Is For Nightmares Series before this book came out and without even realizing the auothor was the same, I found the book a bit familiar. Once I figured out the Blue Is For Nightmares series and Deadly Little Secret were written by the same person I was able to predict every event of the book. Any similarities between Daedly Little Secrets and Twilight and merely coinsidetal; Laurie Faria Stolarz was just copying herself.
— Melissa · Jul 20, 01:26 PM · #
I am sorry but to me, it sounds like you are calling Twilight a good book. Twilight SUCKS. At least this book was well written. I would have rather seen the movie deadly little secret than yet another teen vampire romance sap story!
— Olivia · Aug 13, 11:02 AM · #
well i enjoyed deadly little secrets, almost all of the populaur teen book seem to all relate to twilight. but i also must say that it seems like twilight is copying another vampire book series, who knows.
— Ashley · Aug 13, 03:28 PM · #
Honestly Twilight was not well known until about 2009. This book came out in 2008 but the manuscript was out since 2005. I like both but keep in mind stephanie Meyer did not start the “vampire/ Werewolf fever”: books like the vampire diaries by L.J. Smith ( Very excellent series I highly recommend it, As well as the TV show), as well as Blue bloods series By Melissa Dela Cruz Is also another vampire book that was out before twilight craze caught on. I love Blue Bloods it was refreshing and it wasn’t just another teen romance fantasy novel. The only bad thing I have to say about twilight and Deadly little secret is that both of the leading male characters mention every other page the words “ I don’t want to hurt you.” That to me was rather redundant and unnecessary. CLEARLY she does not care if she gets hurt i.e. Bella getting thrown against a wall and having to get stitches. or the emotional wounds from being left by her lover for 6 months and then she takes him back. I honestly like both the books but i have read better.
— Special K · Aug 22, 12:08 AM · #