Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters, a Review

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a ghost story, a thriller, and a little bit of a romance just to keep it lively.  I loved this book, it was such a great idea, very unique.  Break My Heart 1,000 Times is about a society in which a terrible event has occurred that killed millions almost instantly.  We never learn exactly what that event was but it started the phenomena of ghosts showing up all over the town where Veronica, the main character lives.  She’s a typical 16 year old girl who is bright and boy crazy.  Every morning she goes downstairs to watch her father, who died in the event, sit at the table in their little house drinking coffee and reading the newspaper for about 3 minutes before he vanishes.  Her mother is always there and it takes its toll on her, weakening her throughout the book.  Veronica has a best friend who’s terrified of ghosts and Veronica doesn’t understand why.  Veronica is a Leap Day baby, and the novel takes place in the month and weeks before her birthday, February 29^th.  The reader learns that Leap Day is also important to another member of the community but for a different reason.  This particular member is a serial killer who believes that if he kills a 16 year old girl on that day it will bring back his long dead daughter.   This year he sets his sights on Veronica.  

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is well written, the characters are very thought out and unique but also realistic.  Some of the ghost stories were so sad, others just bizarre but all had their meanings within the book.  The ending is not rushed and has good closure.  I would recommend this to any library that has a following for bizarre ghost stories, or anyone who enjoys a good thriller.  4 out of 5 stars!