Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 267 Pages
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Publisher: Ink Monster
Narration: First Person: Tessa
Genre: Paranormal/Werewolves
Challenge: None
Source: Bought

The Alpha Girl Series
Book One: Becoming Alpha
Book Two: Avoiding Alpha
Book Three: Unknown

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Tessa McCaide has a unique talent for getting into trouble. Then again, it isn’t easy for a girl with visions to ignore what she sees. Luckily Tessa and her family are leaving California and moving halfway across the country, giving her the perfect opportunity to leave her reputation as “Freaky Tessa” behind. 

But Tessa doesn’t realize that kissing the wrong guy in her new Texas town could land her in far more trouble than she ever imagined. Like being forced to attend St. Ailbe’s Academy, a secret boarding school for werewolves. 

Even if the wrong guy did accidentally turn her into one of “them” and doom her to attending the weirdest high school ever, Tessa can’t help her growing attraction to the mysterious Dastien Laurent.

When vampires attack St. Alibe’s and her visions pinpoint an enemy in their midst, Tessa realizes that boy drama and her newfound canine tendencies might just be the least of her problems.

My Review:

Your typical werewolf story, but entertaining nonetheless. 

In the beginning, I enjoyed reading about the main character and connected with her instantly, but as the novel progressed, I grew more and more irritated by her irrational behavior. She was still strong and brave, someone who fought back even when the odds were against her....but there was a point when it just became too much. It seemed like every single time there was a chance to beat someone, she just had to take it. Always, constantly having to one-up someone to show them who the boss was, even if they were far wiser than her. Once or twice, I have no problem with. In fact, I even cheered for her the first two times. But it happened countless times after, which annoyed me ceaselessly. Plus, she became a bitch after she turned into a werewolf. Some of her snappiness can be brushed off as heightened emotions, but not all of it. 

Another thing that bothered me was the lack of plausibility of the story. It seemed like everyone and their mother knew about the existence of werewolves in this certain community, but the rest of the world didn't. What's to keep the "norms," as the werewolves call them, from going to the press and exposing their kind to the rest of the world? Wouldn't it be a little suspicious to have a town infested with huge wolves? Don't you think the aforementioned problem, and the mysterious happenings around that town, would be enough to draw government attention to it? Plus, another thing I had a hard time believing was that Tessa was the first human to ever be unintentionally turned. 60 years in the same location and no other werewolf has ever accidentally lost control?

If you look at this novel from a distance, everything seems fine and dandy. It's only when you actually delve into the story, examining certain things, when you discover that everything isn't as perfect as it seems. Other than those two issues, I quite enjoyed this read. The supporting characters were awesome, especially Axel, and the writing was up to par. Will I be reading the sequel? Possibly.

Heroine- 3/5

Romance- 2.5/5

Action- 4/5

Writing- 4/5

Overall- 3.5/5