Review: Jekel Loves Hyde

[Kymberly Mosley]

 

 

Summary: In the wake of her scientist father’s tragic murder, shy Jill Jekel struggles to maintain her stellar grades and secure a spot in a top college. Her mother has a much more difficult time coping with the grief and the steadily growing pile of bills. Jill’s college dreams are shattered, though, when she finds out that every penny of her college fund was spent by her father on mysterious expenses. Just when it seems as though she will be stuck with no post-high school plans, her chemistry teacher presents her with an opportunity that may be her ticket to college: a science contest with a monetary prize. Also nominated for entry in the competition is Tristen Hyde, the school’s brooding, British hottie. In favor of the old “Jekyll and Hyde” collaboration, their chemistry teacher encourages the two to collaborate on a chemistry project and enter the contest. Jill sees this as her ultimate opportunity, while Tristen has an ulterior motive. He believes that the men in his family are all victims of the “Hyde curse”, because they are all descendants of the original Dr. Jekyll’s horrible creation. The men slowly turn into violent monsters, killing their loved ones, and eventually completely losing their sense of humanity. Tristen comes to see this monster in his own father and feels this same darkness growing inside of him. He learns that the reason for his sudden move to America was due to his father’s attempt to rid himself of this curse, with the help of Dr. Jekel, Jill’s father. (FYI, the Jekels are distant relatives of  Dr. Jekyll) Hoping to succeed where his father failed, Tristen and Jill use her father’s research to find a cure for Tristen’s curse before he is completely consumed by the monster inside of him.

 The book’s narration switches between Tristen and Jill, so that we get both of their perspectives and feelings about the obstacles that arise for them. Exhibiting reluctance and uncertainty at collaborating with Tristen, Jill is torn between leaving her safe world and falling into a risky venture with a boy she barely knows. Tristen is also given a difficult choice: risk his life to destroy his inner monster with an experimental chemical formula or join his father and become an inhumane, yet powerful, monster. This novel presents both protagonists as youths who are forced to choose between the seemingly “easy” path and the path they truly want to follow to pursue their own desires.

 

Want a sneak preview of the book's prologue? Check out out right here. Well Thank you, Beth Fantaskey!