The Coldest Girl in Cold Town by Holly Black is a refreshing take on the supernatural romance genre.

The novel centers on a world in which vampires are cordoned off into cities. These cities hold a sort of mystic appeal to the general public, and after a night of partying, the main character Tana finds herself trapped in one. This provides for a gripping opening scene that establishes the characters, including Tana’s ex-boyfriend Aidan and the mysterious vampire Gavriel.

The presence of  Aidan allows for awkwardly entertaining dialogue between the two former lovers, along with a bit of a love-triangle dynamic once the vampire is thrown into the mix.

The relationship between Gavriel and Tana is developed beautifully and is indicative of other novels that use the hate to love trope. At first unsure about Gavriel because of his dangerous looking exterior, she slowly learns the reasons for his harsh personality. Their interactions are both endearing and romantic.

Another pleasant surprise is that the female heroine Tana is relatable without being vapid. The author gives her a dynamic personality, and she isn’t solely defined by her romantic relationships. Her dialogue is believably adolescent, unlike other YA novels like those of John Green in which colloquial language is mixed in with disjointed profound statements.

The rules in terms of vampirism are like those in Vampire Diaries, and this book is quite reminiscent of that show along with supernatural novels like City of Bones and other works by Cassandra Claire.