3 Rules About Reading Books Made Into Movies

I have three rules about books made into movies…

Rule #1:  Always read the book first!
Rule #2: Wait at least one month after reading to see the movie.
Rule #3:  Books and movies will never be the same, so don’t judge one against the other; judge them on their own.

I just finished Nerve by Jeanne Ryan which was published in 2012.  It didn’t cross my radar until the movie trailer came out.  The movie looked entertaining, so I had to read the book (Rule #1). ​​

Quick summary:

​Vee, the main character, is literally and figuratively behind the curtain.  A tech in the school play production, her life is all about making others stand out in the spotlight.  When her crush starts crushing on her best friend, Vee lets her impulses take over and signs up for an online gameshow called, “Nerve,” that forces her to complete dares in front of a live video feed in exchange for money and prizes.  For once, the spotlight is aimed directly at Vee.  As the dares get harder, and the prizes get better, things really get dangerous, and Vee is trapped with all the world wide web watching and no one to save her.

My Two Cents:

This book was a quick read that rode the line between predictable and unique.  The story was engaging, the characters fairly flat, and the writing standard. For a book aimed at teens, I would give it a solid four of five stars, but the adult in me might lean more toward three.
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The movie came out July 27, 2016, but I haven’t seen it yet.  As per Rule #2, I still have like a week to wait to see the movie; that way I won’t remember as much of the book which will make me less likely to break Rule #3.