The story of Lacey Anne Byers, a small town girl who is excited to star in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, until a childhood ...
read full description
reviews
Sep 08, 2011
Haleema
rated it: 
Okay.
Why I didn't read past chapter seven:
- Main character is a Mary Sue
- Main character's boyfriend is also a Mary Sue
- They can't stop thinking about each other even though they don't know each other
- He stalks her
- She creeps up on him
- They go out the second day they meet each other
- This is just plain stupid
- I hate my life
Gosh, I am so sick and tired of the main characters meeting each other, and just rapidly fal More...
Why I didn't read past chapter seven:
- Main character is a Mary Sue
- Main character's boyfriend is also a Mary Sue
- They can't stop thinking about each other even though they don't know each other
- He stalks her
- She creeps up on him
- They go out the second day they meet each other
- This is just plain stupid
- I hate my life
Gosh, I am so sick and tired of the main characters meeting each other, and just rapidly fal More...
8 comments
like
(10 people liked it)
Jul 11, 2011
❀Faye(RTeenBKworm)❀
rated it: 
Wow that was my life…well minus Hell House week, but pretty much. It is one of my favorite contemps of the year!
Walker creates re-latable characters that pretty much hit home for me. Growing up in a Christian family and having the same thoughts as Lacey. I saw myself in every character. I think at one point in everyone’s life they question things and that just makes a better person. Stepping outside of the box, Breaking the mold.
The strength and independence the character More...
Walker creates re-latable characters that pretty much hit home for me. Growing up in a Christian family and having the same thoughts as Lacey. I saw myself in every character. I think at one point in everyone’s life they question things and that just makes a better person. Stepping outside of the box, Breaking the mold.
The strength and independence the character More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Nov 11, 2011
Heather
rated it: 
This was a very different book, but one that I really enjoyed. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it, but once I got into it I realized that the situations in this book are probably much more prevalent in the world than most of us realize. I loved how Lacey tried to figure out what was best for her while still trying to balance all of the beliefs she had been brought up on. I think your teenage years are difficult in general because of the pressures you face both intern
More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 02, 2012
Reading
rated it:
After reading only a few pages of Small Town Sinners, I began to have an uneasy feeling. I quickly learn that Lacey Anne Byer is the only child of the Children's Pastor of The House of Enlightenment Church and his wife. They live in a small town somewhere in the midwest and the church is a major influence in their town. The fact that I am a Christian myself causes me to be sensitive to how God, Jesus, the Bible and the church are portrayed. As I read, I was concerned about the tone that the auth
More...
Jan 04, 2012
Britney
rated it:
I loved SMALL TOWN SINNERS so much because I could really relate to Lacey. No, I didn't grow up in a devoutly religious home, or a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, or even around Hell Houses. But I did grow up trying to please everyone but myself, and I still feel like I don't really know who "I" am. The "who am I" question is a question that everyone deals with at some point in their life, and I just adore the way Lacey begins to find herself. (The l
More...
Dec 31, 2011
Pedmy
rated it: 
Lacey Anne is a difficult character. So are her parents. The book is really, really religious.You really shoud be open minded before you start this book. Also don't plan to read it in one sitting unless you're prepared to throw this book all over the place.
I was muttering ridiculousness at so many of the "facts" this book gives. Lacey Ann has next to know confidence in her own thoughts, even when she does begin to grow some it dashes away and comes back up out of no where. More...
I was muttering ridiculousness at so many of the "facts" this book gives. Lacey Ann has next to know confidence in her own thoughts, even when she does begin to grow some it dashes away and comes back up out of no where. More...
Sep 08, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Lacey's always known what her path in life is supposed to be, and she follows it like the good Christian girl she is. Right now she's hoping for a lead in the church's annual Hell House,so she can be on the front lines saving souls. Then Ty comes to town, and Lacey begins to question her beliefs for the first time. Just because you know something's right, does it mean it's right for everybody? What if faith's not something you're given, but something you have to earn for yourself?
More...
More...
Aug 20, 2011
Angel
rated it:
Discovery: I’ve actually been looking for YA books that discuss religion, so when I heard about Small Town Sinners, I decided to avoid any reviews and read it for myself.
+ Focus on human struggles. I loved that the church itself wasn’t the focus of this novel. I find that it’s become very easy to accuse any religion of being wrong simply on the basis of human action and it was refreshing to see that Melissa Walker was fair in her portrayal of evangelical Christianity. In the hours More...
+ Focus on human struggles. I loved that the church itself wasn’t the focus of this novel. I find that it’s become very easy to accuse any religion of being wrong simply on the basis of human action and it was refreshing to see that Melissa Walker was fair in her portrayal of evangelical Christianity. In the hours More...
Aug 20, 2011
Bibliojunkies
rated it:
***
Synopsis taken from the author’s website:
Does falling in love mean falling out of faith?
“Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something be More...
Synopsis taken from the author’s website:
Does falling in love mean falling out of faith?
“Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something be More...
Aug 20, 2011
Annie
rated it: 
Small Town Sinners is the tale of Lacey Anne Byer who lives in the small town of West River. Lacey’s Christian upbringing and pastor father have cemented her as the good girl in town. Then she meets the new guy, Ty Davis. Ty is perfect boyfriend material in Lacey’s mind. The only thing standing in the way is Ty’s persistence of making Lacey think with her own words. Ty, and other events, are making Lacey question her faith. Suddenly Lacey has changed from seeing the world in black and whit
More...
Aug 05, 2011
Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen
rated it:
About the Book: Lacey Anne Byers has always been a good girl. She's grown up in the church, followed the rules, and she's never questioned anything. Lacey is excited to try out for a lead role in her church's Hell House production. When Ty Davis moves to town, Lacey befriends him. He's smart, funny, and Lacey likes him-a lot. Lacey can talk to Ty about her faith, something her friends have never discussed much. Ty asks questions that Lacey has never asked and she begins to doubt if everything is
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 01, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
As someone fascinated by Hell Houses and Evangelical Christian (I watch/read everything I can get my hands on in regards to these topics), I was excited when I heard about the concept of this book. And once I found out it was released, I snapped it up on my Nook. Thank GOODNESS for instant gratification.
I liked that the question of one of the character's sexuality is never really answered because, in the eyes of the characters closest to this one, it doesn't matter. The cast of charact More...
I liked that the question of one of the character's sexuality is never really answered because, in the eyes of the characters closest to this one, it doesn't matter. The cast of charact More...
Jul 22, 2011
Rachael
rated it:
Lacey Anne Byer has always been the good girl. She obeys her nine o’clock curfew, attends church regularly, and never argues with her parents. She’s never minded not being the center of attention, but this year, Lacey is definitely ready for a movie moment or at least something more than ordinary. This year, she’s determined to land a good role in Hell House, her church’s way of teaching about sin and drawing new people to their faith. She’s sure that’ll be her chance to shine. But then Ty Davis
More...
Jul 20, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Small Town Sinners follows Lacy a sixteen year old Evangelical Christian who has always seen the world as black and white. Now that she is a Junior Lacy is eligible to audition for a part in her churches hell house (a horror house that leads viewers through various sins) and Lacy wants to be the abortion girl. Through a series of events including an old friend returning to town and her sisters best friend's pregnancy Lacy starts to wonder if the world is as black and white as she has always beli
More...
Jul 15, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
Lacey Ann Byer is the kind of kid every parent would want. She's sweet, smart, respectful and active in church. (But it's genuine; she's not like Katherine in Cruel Intentions.) She's so committed to the Lord that she wants a lead role in her church's Hell House. But not just any role---she wants to be Abortion Girl, one of the most powerful scenes in the house. (Hell Houses are designed to get people saved by scaring the crap out of them.) And then things change. She meets this guy and t
More...
Jul 10, 2011
Chelsea
rated it:
Lacey Byer has always been a good girl and perfect Christian. She also just turned sixteen, which not only means she gets her driver's license, but also makes her old enough to try out for a lead role in this year's Hell House. Lacey's father is the Children's Pastor at the local community church in her small town, so the Hell House production has always been a "movie moment" goal for her. And this year's show promises to be the best ever. But then things begin to happen in the lives o
More...
Sep 03, 2011
Mollie
rated it:
This book was Sarah Dessen meets Christian Fiction (and I don't mean that in a good way). The overall concept of the book had some real potential. Lacy Anne is a preacher's kid brought up in a "stereotypical" christian home. She has always adopted her parent's beliefs as her own without question. Now enters hot new love interest. Before long, he has Lacy Anne asking herself what does she believe; she's finally forced to think for herself. For the first time ever, her eyes are opened to
More...
Feb 13, 2012
Katelyn
rated it:
In a balance of form and craft over content, it's easy to tell what tipped the scale here. The concept is an interesting one: our main character, Lacey, is a preacher's kid and active in her church's youth group. The plot revolves around her involvement with a new boy in town with a questionable background and how their relationship conflicts with her zeal for her youth group's Hell House production, a radical outreach event in which Lacey plays a girl condemned to hell for getting an abortion.
More...
Jul 25, 2011
Jen Bigheart
rated it:
4.5 Stars
What a refreshing book! I honestly don't think I've read anything like this story. I know of a few recent YAs that have religious undertones, but this is the first (for me) where the overall theme is faith and sin. This story reminds me a lot of my own childhood. I grew up in a strict Christian home and I found myself wanting to rebel the second I turned 14. I was just like Lacey, I wanted to find my own way and start to make decisions based on what I believed, and not necess More...
What a refreshing book! I honestly don't think I've read anything like this story. I know of a few recent YAs that have religious undertones, but this is the first (for me) where the overall theme is faith and sin. This story reminds me a lot of my own childhood. I grew up in a strict Christian home and I found myself wanting to rebel the second I turned 14. I was just like Lacey, I wanted to find my own way and start to make decisions based on what I believed, and not necess More...
Nov 28, 2011
Dolores
rated it:
This is a little difficult for me to review. On one level, I found it so difficult to relate to the characters in this book they might have well as been from outer space. When Lacey suggested that it was okay that the bully who was picking on one of her friends was getting off with no consequences because his performance in Hell House would save souls, it sort of blew my mind. Especially since the kid he was tormenting was okay with that too. But on the other hand, these kids seemed relatively n
More...
Sep 12, 2011
Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer is a feel-good favourite book of mine and I was curious to see how small town, good girl, Preacher's daughter Lacey Ann Byer would compare to Quinn, who I adored. Not necessarily fair of me but I was just curious. I loved and believed in Quinn's snarky cynicism and I knew Lacey was going to be pretty much the opposite of that, obviously, so I wondered if I would love her character and believe in her too. Did I? Short answer: yes!
Small Town Sinne More...
Small Town Sinne More...
Apr 28, 2011
Joëlle
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 17, 2012
Sherri
rated it:
Overall I thought this book was very well crafted and it is obvious that the author did a great deal of research. I appreciated that the characters examined double standards that sometimes exist in churches and that they explored their feelings about the religion they had grown up with. I got the sense that it needed to become "authentic" for them. My only complaint with the book is that the author labels the church and its attendees in the book Evangelicals (I think the book would hav
More...
Sep 06, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
Melissa Walker writes some of the best contemporary fiction out there and Small Town Sinners, her newest release, is no different of course. Because quite simply Small Town Sinners manages to have it all: relatable and charming main characters, real-life situations that can apply to basically any reader's life, some funny parts, and smooth writing that keeps the reader constantly entranced in the book at hand.
Small Town Sinners tells the tale of Lacey Bryer. Lacey's always been the More...
Small Town Sinners tells the tale of Lacey Bryer. Lacey's always been the More...
5 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Oct 02, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
So, I told someone on Twitter that Melissa Walker's Small Town Sinners is "nuanced, brave, and wonderful," which is true. It is all of those things. I hope it gets into the hands of teens who need it most, teens who have never considered or are just beginning to consider the questions Lacey grapples with, questions about the people whose experiences are excluded from one-faith-fits-all evangelical Christianity. And I really appreciated Walker's commitment to Lacey's faith, and the way
More...
Aug 15, 2011
Magan
rated it:
Lacey Anne Byer lives in a small, Christian town known for their yearly production of Hell House her evangelical church puts on. Hell House is a play in which several scenes are acted out. It's harsh. Brutal. Very conservative. Each year the production leads several people to begin a relationship with Jesus. For Lacey, life is very black and white. Until she re-meets Ty, a boy she knew growing up.
Several serious things happen through the course of the book (an actual pregnancy, the qu More...
Several serious things happen through the course of the book (an actual pregnancy, the qu More...
Sep 13, 2011
Kyle
rated it:
I randomly picked this book up because the cover looked interesting and didn't know what I was getting myself into. Partway through the book, I started wondering what kind of book I was reading - was it a religious book? An anti-religion book? A romance? Or even a suspense/fantasy type of book?
While fantasy may seem a bit out there, for some parts, you have to wonder just what Ty is. There are moments when people mention that they don't see him at all, plus for awhile he had this Aunt More...
While fantasy may seem a bit out there, for some parts, you have to wonder just what Ty is. There are moments when people mention that they don't see him at all, plus for awhile he had this Aunt More...
May 23, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I assumed it was paranomral from the cover (I guess that's the Twilight girl in me, what with the apple and all), so I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't.
Small Town Sinners is a story of a girl trying to find herself and her faith at the same time. This novel really hit home for me because I was raised in an environment similar to Lacey Anne. We had Hell Houses back home (though ours were called Heaven's Gate, Hell's F More...
Small Town Sinners is a story of a girl trying to find herself and her faith at the same time. This novel really hit home for me because I was raised in an environment similar to Lacey Anne. We had Hell Houses back home (though ours were called Heaven's Gate, Hell's F More...
Feb 12, 2012
Leah
rated it:
This book was the total opposite of my personality do OF COURSE I am gonna give it a 1!!!! I thought the book was going to be about a girl starting to commit sins (as in what her parents wouldn't want her to do/taught her not to do). She didnt do that the book was like reading a CONSTANT theology class! Which is why it took me 4 days to read. None of the characters were special, especially the boy whom the author makes a big deal about in the book description. The huge 'boy mystery' turned out t
More...
Aug 25, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
