The Madness Underneath (Book #2) by Maureen Johnson → Start Date: March 10, 2013

[Mandiann]

Join Trisha and I as we read book two in the Shades of London Series.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see where it goes after book 1!!

[Mandiann]

Yay! I have my book so I am ready in that sense.

Honestly though I probably won't start until tomorrow.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

lol me either! I'm so behind!!! I'm going to try to get caught up tonight :) I'll start it tomorrow

[Mandiann]

I won't be starting this one until I finish Mind Games and She Loves You, She Loves You Not.... Probably Wednesday or Thursday.

I start holidays on the 14th for 17 days so I really hope to be able to catch up quickly once they start.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

no worries :)
I'll mark any spoilers but I'll try to hold off reading too much :)

yay for Holidays!!

[Jess]

I'm interested to see what you all think of this one. I read it a few weeks ago before I saw this thread.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

oh no, Jessica!!! 2 stars?!?!?! Yikes!!

YES! I hope you are able to jump in and chat with us!

[Jess]

Don't let my rating deter you. My ratings tend to be lower for books that are the second in a series. I'll definitely chime in on the chat. I can't wait to hear what you all think of the story.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

10 chapters in

I'm really liking it so far!!

Jerome (view spoiler)[ gah. really?! why? why is she trying this AGAIN?? (hide spoiler)]

Stephen (view spoiler)[ hmmm....I'm not sure how I feel about him tricking her. I mean, I kind of understand - he needed to keep his department going...but still...to trick her like that :( (hide spoiler)]

pub (view spoiler)[ Yikes!! Who could THIS be? and why the crack? who could be creating this kind of power surge?
and what was with the star in the first place?? (hide spoiler)]

I can't wait to read more tomorrow!

[Jess]

@Trisha, about Jerome (view spoiler)[Ugh, I know right. I just read it as Rory trying to be normal again (hide spoiler)]
And Stephen (view spoiler)[I see so much potential in him as a friend for Rory, or even a potential love interest. But he's just so emotionally distant. And tricking her like that was pretty messed up. He really annoys me because I like him so much, then he goes and acts like a dummy. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I had to jump in after chapter 19 because I want to just
(view spoiler)[ shake Rory right now.

REALLY!?!? You're buying this whole "run away" bit??
and they TOOK HER PHONE?!?!?!!!! UGH! Is this a rogue group or something?

I have a feeling these people are shady! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

wow, I'm done

and I can't believe it

(view spoiler)[ NOOO!!! Stephen!!!
I can't beleive he's gone. and for something so stupid!
I'm so mad right now :(
their first kiss and now he's gone AND if he's a ghost, they won't be able to touch because - won't she send him back??? Ugh, or is his special condition make it so he won't go back (hide spoiler)]

WOW Mandiann, I can't WAIT To see what you think!!! lol

[Jess]

@Trisha
(view spoiler)[ I know, poor Stephen! I can't believe he's gone, just like that. I hadn't even thought about how now that he's a ghost they can't touch. Agh! I fully expected Stephen to fulfill the role of the brooding love interest. So in a way I kind of admire Johnson for refusing to fall into tropes and have Stephen and Rory and Jerome become a typical YA love triangle. But I really didn't want Stephen to DIE. Although I still hold out hope for book 3.

Did you ever read The Mediator series by Meg Cabot? It kind of reminds me of this series, and it taught me that just because a character is a ghost doesn't mean he's out of the plot, or romance.

This book felt so fast paced, and I wished Johnson had put more information about the over-arching mysteries about Rory's powers and how they work. I'm worried Johnson is kind of loosing interest in this series. Hopefully she regroups for the 3rd. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Oh! Jessica, you are absolutely right?! (view spoiler)[ I didn't even think of that! They didn't really explore her powers did they? She just kind of....used it twice by accident and then once or twice on purpose....
Good point, I hope that there is more exploration in the new one... (hide spoiler)]

Mediator (view spoiler)[ you know, I picked that book up but never got to it. Is it pretty good?? (hide spoiler)]

Ugh (view spoiler)[ I know....I'm so sad about Stephen :(
I was so glad she broke up with Jerome and that they waited to do anything. Ugh, but they just finally shared a first kiss.

lol I'm so bummed. (hide spoiler)]

[Mandiann]

Trisha wrote: "I had to jump in after chapter 19 because I want to just
shake Rory right now.

Ugh....agreed. And I agree with your earlier spoiler about Jerome. (view spoiler)[ why? I wonder how many really stupid decisions Rory can make before the book ends. Only 6 chapter left, better hurry Rory. (hide spoiler)]

I miss (view spoiler)[ Jazza. Why has her character almost been cut out of the book. And Boo...... (hide spoiler)]

[Jess]

@Trisha
The Mediator series is a fun read. I remember being obsessed with it for a few weeks in high school. I re-read it a few years ago and it was still fun. It's a lot like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with ghosts.