Review: Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Title: Tell Me a Secret

Author: Holly Cupala

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 20th September 2011

My Synopsis:

Miranda, (or Rand or Mandy) has been having trouble coping with her sister’s death. She had always looked up to her sister and even told her she wanted to be just like her. The problem was her sister had been the trouble maker while she had been the good sister. Her parents will not talk about Xanda and have taken away any pictures of her, this makes it hard for Mandy to really know who her sister was, so she tries to find out for herself, be more like her in the hope of getting some answers. So she ditches her best friend in favour of the new bad girl, gets a boyfriend and starts partying. Then she misses 2 periods.

Why I picked this book up:

I originally had it as a free audio book, but found I just can’t get along with audio, so got the book instead as it sounded really interesting.

Did it live up to my expectations?

I actually didn’t realise before I read it that this was a book about teen pregnancy as well as death, so that was a really good surprise. I guess it did live up to my expectations.

What I thought:

When I think back about this book, I remember it as more of a story about a girl dealing with grief over her sister, not so much about teenage pregnancy. This for me is a good thing, it means I wasn’t preached against the horrors of teen pregnancy, but at the same time we were shown how hard this was for Mandy. There were times when I wanted to yell at Mandy to grow up, for example, the first time she sees Kamram with Delaney she freaks out, at the time they were doing nothing wrong and had done nothing up to that point, so why was her reaction so strong? I also thought at times she was a bit of a spoilt brat, she thinks it was unfair that her parents wouldn’t support her and the baby and look after it while she goes to college, that’s her job not theirs. I loved the girls’ dad, he really loved his daughters and tried so hard for the family, but the mother I just wanted to shoot, she has some serious issues. Kamran was an ok character, there are times when you can see that he cares for Mandy and just got caught up in all the shock, but I would have thought he’d have been able to see through Delaney sooner. I thought Shelly was a great character and would love to hear more of her story.

The storyline is what really captured me with this book, there is so much to it, you have lies, secrets, teen pregnancy, death, family issues, friendship, the list just goes on and on, but it’s not in your face either.

Overall I liked this book and would read another by Holly Cupala

My favourite quote/s from the book:

“Keep your eyes on the future, because that's where the answers are. It's where the hope is.”

Read if:  

You liked “Twenty Boy Summer” by Sarah Ockler, both deal with grief and secrets.

Up next for review:

The Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

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

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Title: Saving June

Author: Hannah Harrington

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 1st May 2011

My Synopsis:

When Harper’s sister, June, commits suicide, no one can understand why, least of all Harper. When her divorced parents decide to split the ashes, Harper decides to take them to California, the one place June wanted to go after graduation. Before she can work out a way to get there she meets Jake. He won’t tell her how he knew June, but insists on coming along, Harper realises she won’t get anywhere without him and reluctantly lets him come.

Why I picked this book up:

I had read so many raving reviews I decided to give it a try.

Did it live up to my expectations?

Yes.

What I thought:

I really enjoyed this book, the characters felt so real, and although I have never been through what Harper had, I could sympathise and understood why she felt how she did.

The romance part was exactly the way I like it, a nice slow build, it really felt as though they got to know each other and feel in love naturally. I felt so many emotions during this book that it left me a little exhausted! The writing is brilliant, and all the dialogue felt so real. Everything about this book felt real.

Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to others.

My favourite quote/s from the book:

“He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that's what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you.”

Read if:

You like contemporary YA, you read and enjoyed Crash into Me by Albert Borris

Up next for review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Review: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Title: Scars

Author: Cheryl Rainfield

Series: n/a

Publication Date: 31st May 2011






My Synopsis 

Kendra has recently started having memories of being abused; the memories don’t allow her to see the abuser’s face though. To enable to cope with memories she starts cutting, this, her art and her therapist are the only things keeping her sane.

Why I picked this book up:

I haven’t read any books about cutting, and although I have never actually gone that far I can understand the attraction in it.

Did it live up to my expectations?

Yes.

What I thought:

The book opens with Kendra telling her therapist that someone is following her. She is already unsure if she is being paranoid or if “he” really is after her again. This was enough to pull me in straight away. The emotions in this book are so real and raw that you really feel you know what Kendra is going through. She other issues aside from the abuse, so it interesting to read about those too. I was a bit confused at first as I wasn’t sure if Kendra was a lesbian or not, and when I was sure she was, I wasn’t sure if her parents knew or anyone else for that matter. This is quite glossed over in the book, she admits her mum is homophobic and her parents do mention her being gay, but you are still unsure how many other people know. I also wasn’t as keen on the ending as the rest of the story, throughout the story we are focused on her feelings, but at the end it seemed a lot more action focused and would have liked to know more about how she was feeling then.

Overall a really good book and definitely worth the read. I loved this book.

Read if:

You liked “One Moment” by Kristina McBride; both books are full of raw emotions and about young girls struggling to remember horrific events.

You enjoy realistic YA fiction.

You need a good cry.

Up next for review:

Entangled by Cat Clarke