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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I. have no idea how I feel about this book.
I am pulled in two directions:
mostly I really like Mara, mostly I really like her powers, I love her incandescent with rage. there is present diversity! the vulgarity is charming. the treatment of mental health is ..goodish? good? (I am not sure I am qualified to speak on this point). I like some of what Noah is.
I also hate with a furious passion some of Noah's tropes. which I went into already. it's a real struggle to hate and be charmed by the love interest at the same time. (he's like an unapologetic gansey & it's bad)
so much of the plot stuff has not been wrapped up in book 1! it was an emotional arc and a personal journey but like. we didn't even seek Best Token Friend's justice, or figure out why Noah was fucking all these girls, etc etc.
I think I'll read the second one and see where it takes me.
I am pulled in two directions:
mostly I really like Mara, mostly I really like her powers, I love her incandescent with rage. there is present diversity! the vulgarity is charming. the treatment of mental health is ..goodish? good? (I am not sure I am qualified to speak on this point). I like some of what Noah is.
I also hate with a furious passion some of Noah's tropes. which I went into already. it's a real struggle to hate and be charmed by the love interest at the same time. (he's like an unapologetic gansey & it's bad)
so much of the plot stuff has not been wrapped up in book 1! it was an emotional arc and a personal journey but like. we didn't even seek Best Token Friend's justice, or figure out why Noah was fucking all these girls, etc etc.
I think I'll read the second one and see where it takes me.
LOLLLL this is my review from when i was a baby pls:
I AM SO IN LOVE. With the book, the author, stupid Noah Shaw, and pretty much every single character.
I had this book on my to-read list for about 3 years, but never actually bought it until last November, and I didn't even feel like reading at first, but since I was coming to my family's lake house and it's pretty fat book, I decided to bring it with me. I thank myself for making that decision.
I was obsessed with it from the beggining, even thought it was pretty confusing, due to the fact that Mara didn't remember anything, it was just incredibly intriguing and original. I don't think I've ever read anything like it.
Mara and Noah's relationship is just awesome since the beggining, and it's the most adorable thing ever towards the end. Her brothers are so lovely too, and everyone at Croyden just made the story even better.
I'm just in love with this book, and I fucking hate myself for not buying the second one.
I AM SO IN LOVE. With the book, the author, stupid Noah Shaw, and pretty much every single character.
I had this book on my to-read list for about 3 years, but never actually bought it until last November, and I didn't even feel like reading at first, but since I was coming to my family's lake house and it's pretty fat book, I decided to bring it with me. I thank myself for making that decision.
I was obsessed with it from the beggining, even thought it was pretty confusing, due to the fact that Mara didn't remember anything, it was just incredibly intriguing and original. I don't think I've ever read anything like it.
Mara and Noah's relationship is just awesome since the beggining, and it's the most adorable thing ever towards the end. Her brothers are so lovely too, and everyone at Croyden just made the story even better.
I'm just in love with this book, and I fucking hate myself for not buying the second one.
i really enjoyed this book! it was exciting, thrilling, and it went by so quickly ! i totally fell in love with it ! i cant wait to read the second one!
I honestly have a love-hate relationship with this series, which is largely contributed due to the final book in the trilogy. However, I do feel like I have a partial bias towards it because I did really like it when I was younger. I still believe that this first book is enjoyable, and I would still rate it as a solid 4 star read!
La romantización de la enfermedad mental y al mismo tiempo hacerla ver como una monstruosidad está cabrón, de verdad que pésimo how it’s portrayed. Tampoco entendí el punto?? Tipo compro el contexto por favor; maybe en los siguientes libros se entiende mejor todo el pedo (que sí, aunque me cagó este los voy a leer porque mi cerebro no me permite dejarla sin terminar, menos teniéndolos en físico), o maybe la pendeja soy yo pero verdaderamente no le vi el chiste al libro. También son demasiado clichés y cringe-y Noah y Mara. Odiéeeee el “you’re not like other girls” trope. Please que esos dos weyes se compren una personalidad
This is one of the best books I've read in recent memory. I had no idea what to expect. It's a perfect mix of romance and supernatural thriller/mystery. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, the last third of the book completely changed everything. Then, he last page changed everything. Definitely definitely definitely read this book!
Mara Dyer wakes up in the hospital one morning, not remembering why or how she got there.
A tragedy has happened, one where Mara survived but her two friends and boyfriend did not. They are dead. She is alive, but plagued by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that has her emotionally raw and seeing creepy hallucinations of her dead friends.
Meanwhile, her family has moved, her lawyer dad has a big case, and her overprotective brother is shepherding her around a new, preppy private school where she literally falls on her face the first day.
Needless to say, the only friend she makes is a another outsider, a biracial (just like Mara herself, which was, truthfully, a huge reason I liked this book. The biracial things wasn't just a throw away, the way it worked out in how Mara views herself, her brothers, and her own family history has meaning) boy also suspected of not having all his marbles.
The first thing her new friend, Jamie, warns her about, is the school ladykiller, Noah Shaw.
Strangely enough, Noah Shaw notices Mara right away, and instantly turns on the charm. Mara appreciates his beauty, but is too smart and preoccupied with trying to keep things together and appear normal enough that her mother won't institutionalize her.
Here's another thing I like about Mara, she's snarky and brash enough to say uncomfortable things out loud to the people harassing her.
Noah is only encouraged by her rebuffs.
As Mara's hallucinations get stronger, her harrassers get even bolder, Noah and Mara are going to need each other to figure out Mara's past, and how her own family is involved in the murder of a local teen.
Talk about unreliable narrators, Mara is the most intriguing,the most frustrating narrator I've met since Micah in Justine Larbalestier's "Liar." You're reading along, fine, and all of a sudden Mara pulls the rug out from under you with what she perceives as reality. I found myself going back to reread passages because I couldn't tell what was hallucination and what was reality...and not because the writing wasn't solid, but because the reader gets to follow along with Mara's disintegrating reality in a compelling way.
While some common tropes were telegraphed very strongly (including chapter endings that said things like "I was wrong" or "I didn't see him until Friday" or what have you) the main issue: what is happening to Mara, is so finely handled I didn't mind.
And Noah. I'm of two minds about him. On one level, the slow reveal of his character as not-quite-the-playboy everyone thought him to be, and full of complicated layers of his own, was enjoyable. On the other hand, near the end, his sudden opposal of Mara's determination to protect her family (in a way I can't say without spoilerage) felt contrived. Watching Mara slowly let herself trust him, despite conflicting truths, was really compelling. Their decision not to go further than what amounts to hand holding also felt contrived, and not true to her or his character.
Mara's brothers and mother more than make up for this problem. Her East Indian, perfect psychologist mother is believably overprotective and overbearing, without making it impossible for Mara and Noah to get into scrapes. Her brother Daniel is her best friend and a perfect reality check foil. YA paranormals often deal with the impossibility of a young teen doing outrageous things by getting rid of parents, this book keeps them around and is richer for it.
I stayed up late to finish this one.
This Books Food Designation Rating: A fusion pizza with chicken curry on naan crust where the complex spiced creaminess in each bite, while reassuringly familiar, compells you to keep eating until the very end.
A tragedy has happened, one where Mara survived but her two friends and boyfriend did not. They are dead. She is alive, but plagued by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that has her emotionally raw and seeing creepy hallucinations of her dead friends.
Meanwhile, her family has moved, her lawyer dad has a big case, and her overprotective brother is shepherding her around a new, preppy private school where she literally falls on her face the first day.
Needless to say, the only friend she makes is a another outsider, a biracial (just like Mara herself, which was, truthfully, a huge reason I liked this book. The biracial things wasn't just a throw away, the way it worked out in how Mara views herself, her brothers, and her own family history has meaning) boy also suspected of not having all his marbles.
The first thing her new friend, Jamie, warns her about, is the school ladykiller, Noah Shaw.
Strangely enough, Noah Shaw notices Mara right away, and instantly turns on the charm. Mara appreciates his beauty, but is too smart and preoccupied with trying to keep things together and appear normal enough that her mother won't institutionalize her.
Here's another thing I like about Mara, she's snarky and brash enough to say uncomfortable things out loud to the people harassing her.
Noah is only encouraged by her rebuffs.
As Mara's hallucinations get stronger, her harrassers get even bolder, Noah and Mara are going to need each other to figure out Mara's past, and how her own family is involved in the murder of a local teen.
Talk about unreliable narrators, Mara is the most intriguing,the most frustrating narrator I've met since Micah in Justine Larbalestier's "Liar." You're reading along, fine, and all of a sudden Mara pulls the rug out from under you with what she perceives as reality. I found myself going back to reread passages because I couldn't tell what was hallucination and what was reality...and not because the writing wasn't solid, but because the reader gets to follow along with Mara's disintegrating reality in a compelling way.
While some common tropes were telegraphed very strongly (including chapter endings that said things like "I was wrong" or "I didn't see him until Friday" or what have you) the main issue: what is happening to Mara, is so finely handled I didn't mind.
And Noah. I'm of two minds about him. On one level, the slow reveal of his character as not-quite-the-playboy everyone thought him to be, and full of complicated layers of his own, was enjoyable. On the other hand, near the end, his sudden opposal of Mara's determination to protect her family (in a way I can't say without spoilerage) felt contrived. Watching Mara slowly let herself trust him, despite conflicting truths, was really compelling. Their decision not to go further than what amounts to hand holding also felt contrived, and not true to her or his character.
Mara's brothers and mother more than make up for this problem. Her East Indian, perfect psychologist mother is believably overprotective and overbearing, without making it impossible for Mara and Noah to get into scrapes. Her brother Daniel is her best friend and a perfect reality check foil. YA paranormals often deal with the impossibility of a young teen doing outrageous things by getting rid of parents, this book keeps them around and is richer for it.
I stayed up late to finish this one.
This Books Food Designation Rating: A fusion pizza with chicken curry on naan crust where the complex spiced creaminess in each bite, while reassuringly familiar, compells you to keep eating until the very end.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not a big fan of writing book reviews because I feel as though my words fail to describe the emotions that I feel. But today I'll make an exception.
At first, when I saw the cover of this book I thought "Oh, just another erotica." But after I read the description on the jacket I became intrigued. So naturally, I bought a copy. Well, by the end of chapter one I was enraptured.
[b:The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer|8591107|The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)|Michelle Hodkin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885944s/8591107.jpg|13460686] is a beautifully written tale about a young lady who finds herself alive after experiencing a fatal accident with her friends. She moves to Florida with her family in the hopes of beginning a new life. But fate would not allow her to forget so easily. Mara begins to see images of her dead friends and suffers from frequent nightmares about the night of the accident.
She struggles to keep her sanity and catches the eye of the resident bad boy Noah Shaw *sigh*. Their relationship blossoms into something more when Noah unlocks the secrets of his own past to help Mara understand her inner turmoil.
Oh my. This book has sent me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I experienced...
I've never been so enamored and annoyed at a novel before. But all the suspense, mystery and romance has left me wanting more. I can hardly contain my excitement for the sequel.
At first, when I saw the cover of this book I thought "Oh, just another erotica." But after I read the description on the jacket I became intrigued. So naturally, I bought a copy. Well, by the end of chapter one I was enraptured.
[b:The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer|8591107|The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)|Michelle Hodkin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885944s/8591107.jpg|13460686] is a beautifully written tale about a young lady who finds herself alive after experiencing a fatal accident with her friends. She moves to Florida with her family in the hopes of beginning a new life. But fate would not allow her to forget so easily. Mara begins to see images of her dead friends and suffers from frequent nightmares about the night of the accident.
She struggles to keep her sanity and catches the eye of the resident bad boy Noah Shaw *sigh*. Their relationship blossoms into something more when Noah unlocks the secrets of his own past to help Mara understand her inner turmoil.
Oh my. This book has sent me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I experienced...
Moments of intense intrigue that had me on the edge of my seat...
Moments of light-headed giddiness at Noah's frustrating sexiness...
Restless agitation when the story seemed to hit a dull spot...
And utter shock when I read the cliffhanger at the end...
I've never been so enamored and annoyed at a novel before. But all the suspense, mystery and romance has left me wanting more. I can hardly contain my excitement for the sequel.