Scarlett Fever

Scarlett Martin's life is never dull, despite the fact that summer vacation is winding down and her brother's production of Hamlet has finally closed, which means she no longer gets to see her crush, Eric, on a daily basis. But now that she's started school, her employer Mrs. Amberson, an agent, has acquired a new client, a rising Broadway star names Chelsea Biggs, and her aloof brother is Scarlett's new lab partner, and bent on making Scarlett's life miserable. To top it all off, each one of the Martin siblings are undergoing major changes themselves--Spencer's landed a job that has unexpectedly thrust him into the spotlight, Marlene is being disconcertingly nice, and Lola is making rash decisions--quite unlike her. With all the drama surrounding the Hopewell Hotel, Scarlett can barely keep it together. Maureen Johnson's laugh out-loud hilarious sequel doesn't disappoint with its lightening-fast action, witty repartee, and off the wall jokes that captured readers in Suite Scarlett. Readers will get to know Scarlett a bit more as she returns to school and hangs out more with friends, and attempts to deal with Spencer's crazy antics surrounding his newest job. In addition, there is plenty of action as she is once again put through the wringer by Mrs. Amberson and her crazy requests, and attempts to sort out her feelings and insecurities when it comes to Eric, while fending off the attention of another very different boy. Lola's antics add the final touch of craziness to Scarlett's life, but also force her to confront issues she had been previously ignoring, lending Scarlett Fever an appropriate amount of depth. Though it did feel like Scarlett Fever was less plot-driven than Suite Scarlett, the never-ending laughs and crazy hijinks more than make up for the less distinctive plot line. Johnson is downright hilarious, and her books will keep you entertained and hanging in suspense!

Scarlett Fever is a fantastic follow-up to the first book in the series, Suite Scarlett. Life is never dull for anyone in the Martin family, especially Scarlett, whose job as Mrs. Amberson's personal assistant is becoming even more hectic and insane now that her boss has started an agency and is looking for talented actors to represent. She's also dealing with Eric--or rather, the lack of Eric--and thinking about him constantly, trying to move on from the disastrous not-quite-relationship they had in the first book. As a final touch to Scarlett's already overwhelming sophomore year, her new lab partner, Max, also happens to be the younger brother of Mrs. Amberson's newest client, a fifteen-year-old Broadway star--and Max seems intent on antagonizing Scarlett at every possible opportunity. Just like the first book, the characters in Scarlett Fever are what make this novel so compelling. Scarlett is dealing with a lot of familiar problems that readers will relate to--antagonistic classmates, difficult adults/bosses, and heartbreak--and she does so in ways that are amusing, gratifying, painful, and completely real. Her relationships with the other characters in the book, like her brother Spencer, her best friend Dakota, Mrs. Amberson, and (of course) Eric, are all deliciously complicated and entertaining. Every supporting characters is also fantastically rich with personality, adding a depth to this story that is difficult to achieve. The plot moves quickly, though not too quickly, as the story unfolds and tension builds, bringing everything to a climax that is both satisfying and leaves the reader eagerly awaiting the third book.

This book was fantastic, as was the first. Had the perfect mix of mystery and humor and romance. Bravo, Maureen Johnson, bravo!

Life just can't get any more interesting. Or can it? Between the breakup with Eric, working --- no, "slaving" is the right word --- for the tyrant Mrs. Amberson, trying to help out at the hotel and just keeping her 15-year-old life together, Scarlett Martin has no time for brooding. Of course, she does manage to brood because you can't be a teenager and not brood. What would that be like? Scarlett's mom and dad run an ancient hotel in New York, the Hopewell, where you risk everything just taking a shower. She and her three siblings do what they can to assist their parents. Unfortunately, all of them lead very busy, dramatic lives. Her little sister Marlene is recovering from cancer and belongs to a kid survivor group. Older sister Lola is sort of between high school and college, so she is actually helping a lot around the hotel. Big brother Spencer, on the other hand, is constantly auditioning and working the theater scene. Scarlett just wants to go to school, get through the day and figure out how she can get Eric back. The subject of money is also on her mind. Where would it come from, and why do all of her friends have it and she doesn't? Things do pick up when Spenser lands a great role in a soap opera. But unexpected complications pop up when his character kills off one of the main characters and he becomes the most hated guy in the world. There are even people stalking him. Lola begins acting a little strange, too. She has this thing for the wealthy but nerdy Chip Sutcliff. Chip is just so not like any of them, but there is definitely something going on. Lola is Marlene's main buddy; she has supported her and done the real big sister thing through the whole cancer experience. Now Marlene is growing up and getting a little demanding, and Lola seems totally distracted. Is it just Chip? Mrs. Amberson has now asked Scarlett to sort of "baby-sit" one of her client's brothers. His name is Max and he's in Scarlett's biology class. She can't stand the guy the minute she lays eyes on him and definitely has other things she'd rather do. Even walking Murray, the fear-filled dog of Mrs. Amberson's friend, is better than dealing with Max. Scarlett does have a best friend named Dakota. Although Dakota is totally rolling in money, they have good times together. While she thinks about the Eric situation, Dakota encourages her to move on, to just get over him. Reality is what she needs but definitely not what she wants. One day while Scarlett is working at the hotel desk, Eric --- the long-lost, most handsome guy in the world --- walks in. Not only has he come to see her, he actually asks her for advice. At last, something cool is happening. Could this possibly mean what she wants it to mean? As characters and stories unfold, things get crazier and crazier. Lola disappears, Spencer is attacked on the streets, Marlene goes into a slump, Max is hunkering around, Murray the dog continues to be terrified, and Mrs. Amberson waves her arms as she rules Scar