Reviews

Everybody Knows by Kyra Lennon

jenacidebybibliophile's review

Go to review page

4.0

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, Kyra Lennon, for an honest review.

This is book 2 in the Razes Hell series by Kyra Lennon, and it is GREAT! After reading book 1, Nobody Knows, I wasn’t sure if I was going to really enjoy reading book 2. After book 1 centering around Ellie Hayes (the best friend of the lead singer and drummer of the band Razes Hell) and her blooming relationship with her best friend Drew, I wasn’t quite sure if Everybody Knows was going to center around Ellie again. Let me just say, I am very excited that the author decided to take a different direction for this book and have it center on Ellie’s little sister, Lucy.

In book 1, Nobody Knows, readers followed Ellie Hayes as she traveled with the band Razes Hell and was swept up in the drama that comes with being in the public eye. Due to Ellie living next door to two of the brothers from the band, they all became very close and involved in each others families and lives. Soon Ellie starts to develop feelings for the older brother and drummer Drew, even though she had had a small past with the lead singer Jason when she was younger. Nobody Knows eventually wrapped up with Ellie and Drew fighting through several hardships to be together, including Jason’s addiction to cocaine. Now, about a year later, Lucy Hayes has been given the opportunity to follow in her older sisters footsteps and go on tour with Razes Hell. Though Lucy’s parents and her sister are worried that her “secret” feelings for Jason might cause problems during the month that they travel, they agree that it is an amazing opportunity for her. But soon her feelings for Jason start to become more than a secret crush, and Jason finds himself having to fight harder to overcome his addiction.

This was a definite improvement compared to book 1, Nobody Knows. I had found Ellie and Drew’s relationship to be rather dramatic and annoying. It was very hard for me to stay with a lead male character that seemed to be winning and needing attention the entire book. So obviously, I was a little weary about reading book 2, Everybody Knows. Well thank goodness I put my weariness aside and went for it, because I really enjoyed it! I loved the characters of Lucy and Jason and that I was able to get to know them more. Though Jason and Lucy are the younger siblings of Drew and Ellie, it is QUITE hilarious that they are much more mature and level headed. The character of Jason has come a long way since the selfish addict he was in Nobody Knows, and I found it refreshing to know that he could prove so many people wrong.

The relationship between Jason and Lucy plays both on being a fondness for each other that stems from childhood, as well as an attraction and connection that they share. Lucy is one of the few people in Jason’s life that actually believes he can overcome his addiction and change, and I think his character really latches on to that support. I found Lucy to be endearing, sweet, and very mature for a woman of nineteen. The fact that she is more accepting and forgiving than her older sister is kind of surprising, but that made me love her charter that much more. I think the story wrapped up perfectly and I am so glad there wasn’t a completely similar conflict like there was in book 1.Though the age difference tween Jason and Lucy becomes a conflict in the story, I didn’t mind it what so ever and thought that it worked for them.

The pace in this story is perfect, nothing is rushed and nothing feels left unsaid or forgotten about. I think readers will find it very easy to become attached to Lucy and Jason, and will be sad when the story comes to an end…just like I was! Please to be aware that there is one adult scene in the book, but it isn’t highly graphic and shouldn’t make you uncomfortable if you don’t like that in a story. Compared to book 1, this was an absolute improvement and I think the author is really coming into her own with her writing style. i am interested to see what else she comes out with!
More...