Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Series: #1, Mara Dyer

Publication Date: 27th September 2011

My Synopsis:

Mara Dyer wakes up to find out a building has collapsed on her and 3 others. She is the only survivor. She doesn’t remember much about what happened in the building, but constantly suffers from hallucinations and is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. Her family decide to move to Florida to help her recover; on her first day there she meets Noah, the local bad boy. She has hears of his reputation, but cannot stay away, and the hallucinations start to get worse, can she stop her parents from putting her in a mental asylum?

Why I picked this book up:

I originally fell in love with the cover, it looked mysterious and intriguing, and the synopsis just made it even more so.

Did it live up to my expectations?

It blew my expectations away.

What I thought:

This book had me hooked from the very start with the letter from “Mara”; I NEEDED to keep reading to find out who Mara was, what really happened to her friends, and why she would need a lawyer.

In my opinion Mara was a great character, despite everything that happened to her, she had a certain strength that kept her going and she was constantly worrying what affect her illness had on her family. I loved her sarcasm, and the fact she actually sounds like a teenager when she talks, without all the teenage clichés.

Noah I also loved, he is mysterious and sexy, what more could you want? The interaction between the two of them was spot on, and I really believed in the romance part.

Michelle Hodkin wrote this in such a way that you were really pulled into Mara’s world, the imagery and atmosphere was so real, that at times I was laughing, others I was completely creeped out. Although I wouldn’t say this book was out and out scary, there are definitely parts that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Overall I loved this book, the writing was brilliant, characters were real and believable, the romance delicious and the plot mysterious.

My favourite quote/s from the book:

‘In my rush, I hadn't tied my shoelaces. Noah was now tying them for me.

He looked up at me through his dark fringe of lashes and smiled. The expression on his face melted me completely. I knew I had the goofiest grin plastered on my lips, and didn't care.

“There,” he said as he finished tying the laces on my left shoe. “Now you won't fall.”

Too late.’

How it stood as part of a series:

Well, being the first in the series it was a really good start, definitely had me wanting to read the next one, I was really gutted to find out I’d have to wait. It certainly left off with plenty more to go; it ended on quite a cliff hanger too.

Read if:

You liked “Hourglass” by Myra McEntire, or “Forgotten” by Cat Patrick.

Up next for review:

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala