4/5 stars
Merit Press, 2012
186 pages
YA Contemporary Thriller
Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm starting by admitting that I was sad to see that the cover had changed as the pink cover on the ARC had been what initially caught my attention when browsing titles on Netgalley. However I do think the pink suggets a more lighthearted story than is actually contained within this book as this is a very high-stakes, no-holds barred suspense story.
It starts deceptively calm with Sera dreading going to her best friend Ariel's birthday party. Why? Well, the two are actually estranged after Sera shared something and Ariel marshaled her wealth and popularity to ostracize Sera for that "betrayal." However Sera's father makes her go, with at least the plus side being that Sera gets to see heartthrob Hudson Winters perform.
The party is disrupted though when masked men burst in and kill Ariel's father and friend who they mistook for Ariel. In all the chaos, Ariel sneaks out to hide in the walls of her ginormous mansion while Sera struggles to remain calm. The two girls will have to work through their differences in order to get out alive.
I did think the story was a bit of a slow starter as I kept waiting for someone to disappear in the walls. Then it started and I kept closing my nook after each chapter feeling so tense and needing to decompress from what I had just read, only to pick it up again immediately because I had to know what was coming next. In addition to the girls rebuilding their friendship, there is also a mini-romance for each (just mini because surviving is more of a priority) and the suspense behind the attack. Obviously Ariel was a target but why and who? You'll need to read to find out!
Cover: I preferred the pink cover for the ARC but this one is okay-it's not my favorite or anything. It actually makes me think of a molestation story with the girl's eyes looking particularly vulnerable.
This does sounds like it will pretty good. Great review. I'll have to keep my eyes open for it at my library. :)
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
I've never heard of this book until now and it sounds like a great read. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the great review and happy reading :)
ReplyDelete-Leslie
I saw this on Netgalley but didn't request it. I love the synopsis and I'd like to see how they rebuild their friendship. Good to hear there is a little romance! But it's a shame you knew what was going to happen next.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I didn't know what this was about before, but from the two covers - this storyline wasn't what I was expecting. (As you said, more of a molestation, kidnapping kinda vibe from the cover.) Still sounds like a tense read that would have me turning pages!
ReplyDelete- Jessica @ Book Sake
I've never heard of this one, it sounds it sounds intense! I'm sorry it was slow in the beginning, but I love that you had to stop after every chapter to gather your thoughts and then start reading again! I definitely need to try this book out. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your continued support on my blog! I love reading your comments. I've been debating whether or not to get this ARC from netgalley, I think maybe I'll give it a try because of your review! I have an issue with slow starters though... it's good to know that in advance.
ReplyDelete