A Study in Charlotte, by Brittany Cavallaro (And Why Reading Slumps Are The Monsters Under My Bed)

       Wow, it feels like forever since I’ve sat down and written a review. I probably feel like this because the school year has started, and I’m forced to do gross things like homework instead of reading. But do not fear, for I have (hopefully) figured out a system for consuming more stories, which, in turn, means more reviews for all of you!

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A Study in Charlotte, by Brittany Cavallaro

       The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.
       From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more 

destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other. 

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My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

       Before I start this review, I just want to give you a heads up and tell you that I felt like my reading experience with this book affected my overall thoughts a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that if I sat down and read this book in one sitting that I would’ve given it 5/5 stars. I just think that since life got in the way of having a little bit more love for this story.

       SOOOOO with that being said, let’s continue on our bookish review journey!
       While I haven’t read the original Sherlock Holmes stories (#shame. But they are on my TBR.), I am a HUGE fan of the BBC adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch. When I heard that a YA novel adaptation was out in the world, I was so excited to read it. Usually, I’m not much of a mystery/thriller kind of person, but towards the end of the summer, I decided I needed to mix up my reading a little. August 16th seemed like the perfect time to start. The first couple chapters were okay. Nothing special, but they had my interest.
       Then I looked up, and I’d gone almost two weeks without reading (#moreshame). I remembered enough to keep reading, but this was where my reading experience probably detracted from my enjoyment. But what do I know? I didn’t get to read it under normal terms to compare.

Even though I didn’t love this book, there was still quite a bit that I enjoyed:

• Cavallaro took witty banter to a whole new level. Charlotte and Jamie had me laughing out loud.
• The book wasn’t based on a specific story but incorporated a few different cases into the retelling. It allowed the book to become its own story.
• Jamie’s narration is fantastic. He reminds me a little bit of Martin Freeman’s character in Sherlock.

Unfortunately, the few things that I enjoyed in this story did not outweigh what I didn’t like:

• The retelling started out with a great idea, but the more I read, the less original it felt. I think the author was so intent on making it like Sherlock and other adaptations, it became too much of a copy.
• It never felt like Charlotte and Jamie got to create their own identity in their world. Even though they are the descendants of Holmes and Watson, I think their characters could’ve differed from the source material and from the TV show.
• Overall, the story and it’s references to the original felt forced. It just didn’t feel natural. 

       I wish I got to experience this book differently, but maybe it just wasn’t for me. I can say that I won’t be continuing on with this series in the future, though.

BONUS: Tips for Dealing With Reading Slumps

       Since my most recent slump was one of the worst I’ve ever experienced, here are three quick tips for dealing with slumps of your own.

1. If you aren’t enjoying the book, PUT. IT. DOWN. I know this one is tough, but it’s usually the best solution.
2. Find a book you’ve been wanting to read and set aside time in your schedule to read it without excuses.
3. Even better, get that book as an audiobook and listen to it everywhere. There are so many times during your day when you could be listening, and this way, you don’t have to put in any extra effort to read.

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       Have you read A Study in Charlotte or any other Sherlock Holmes retelling? Let me know so we can discuss in the comments!

Your slump wrestler,
Ashton

The two of us, we're the best kind of disaster. Apples and oranges. Well, more like apples and machetes.

― Brittany Cavallaro, A Study in Charlotte