Ruined by Paula Morris

Synopsis:
Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her aunt. And at the snooty prep school, the filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city. There's just one catch: Lisette is a ghost. A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle. As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she slowly learns to trust Anton Grey-she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?

My Review:
This story is set in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina but not immediately after the tragedy. Part of me felt like it was lacking something to make me love it and I think that has to do with the characters. While I liked the characters I did not feel any connection to them and so it really did not matter to me what happened to them. Perhaps the author only wanted to tell a ghost story but it would have been an even better story if she had made the characters relatable and developed. Whenever I read a book I like to learn something new and so I found it fascinating when Aurelia was telling Rebecca all about the class system in New Orleans which was linked to the ancient Roman class system. I also did not know about all the traditions that went into all the celebrations surrounding Mardi Gras. The ending was somewhat predictable and I could not understand some of the choices the characters made. But overall I liked the book because it was a quick read, had good pacing and entertaining.