The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

For Review: Simon & Schuster
Published: 1 March 2012

From Simon & Schuster: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger. She wakes from a coma in hospital with no memory of how she got there or of the bizarre accident that caused the deaths of her best friends and her boyfriend, yet left her mysteriously unharmed. The doctors suggest that starting over in a new city, a new school, would be good for her and just to let the memories gradually come back on their own. But Mara's new start is anything but comforting. She sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere, and when she suddenly begins to see other people's deaths right before they happen, Mara wonders whether she's going crazy! And if dealing with all this wasn't enough, Noah Shaw, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen can't seem to leave her alone… but as her life unravels around her, Mara can't help but wonder if Noah has another agenda altogether…

I'd been looking forward to reading this one for ages - I'd heard so many good things about it (and a few bad things too) so I couldn't wait to read it and see what I thought. I LOVED it! It's very different from a lot of things I've read and that made it really refreshing.

The story is told from Mara's point of view. Having been involved in an accident that killed her friends she has no memory of it at all. On doctors orders she moves to somewhere new - a way to let herself heal slowly so hopefully she can piece together what happened that night - but the new start is not going to plan. Instead she sees things that can't possibly be real - her dead friends faces are everywhere and she starts to see deaths just before they happen. And then there's Noah - a boy she meets at school who just wont leave her alone...

Having the story told from Mara's point of view in first person is a stroke of genius! It's the ultimate unreliable narrator - we have no idea what to believe because she doesn't know what to believe herself. I thought that aspect sold the whole novel - I loved being in her head, trying to work out what was happening. It made me completely invested in the story and in Mara - and it gave an interesting insight into someone who is struggling with reality.

I also really loved Noah. His relationship with Mara comes across initially as one of those 'instant' connection couples but Noah's interest in Mara is explained and the connection between the two really grows into something tangible - I really felt the chemistry between the two!

As for what happened and what is happening? Well honestly, I don't know - the whole story is dark and eerie and completely addictive. I'm surprised the pages didn't spontaneously combust I was flipping them so fast! I loved every minute - and while I'm not sure I could tell you exactly what happened that is why I seriously loved the book. It's all a bit of a mystery that I am still trying to unravel.

Seriously good! You need to read this!

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In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren



Review:

Unrest by Michelle Harrison (Squee!)
Silver by Andrew Motion
Toxic Treacle by Echo Freer
Torn by Amanda Hocking
When You Were Mine by Rebecca Searle
Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby (I've read this and loved it!  Review coming soon.)
Infamous by Sherilyn Kenyon
Poison Heart by S B Hayes

BZRK by Michael Grant
Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt (This is a second copy so I'll have a giveaway for this one soon)
The Magnificent Moon Hare by Sue Monroe
Where is Fred by Ali Pye
The Big Adventure of the Snails by Helen Stephens
(a lovely surprise from Egmont - thank you!)

A massive thank you to everyone who sent books for review:D

I also went to a couple of events.  First up was a visit to Simon & Schuster where we got to meet Philippa Gregory and ask her questions about her upcoming YA book called Changeling.  It was a fab event - massive thanks Philippa Gregory and to Simon & Schuster for organising it.  For more details check out Sarah's event report over at Feeling Fictional. 

We also got sent some of her adult titles - they look awesome!



White Queen by Philipa Gregory
Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

And this week I went to the Bloomsbury Offices where we met Celia Rees.  She spoke about her writing and answered questions for us.  Big thanks to Celia and Bloomsbury for the event - it was brilliant!  Plus we got given this awesome goodie bag:



This is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees
Burn Mark by Laura Powell
Dead Time by Anne Cassidy



Bought:

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Perception by Kim Harrington (starting reading this the moment it arrived!  And loved it!  Review to follow shortly)
Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez
My Big Fat Teen Crisis by Jenny Smith
The Repossession by Sam Hawksmoor
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen
The Look by Sophia Bennett
Forgiven by Jana Oliver
Sticky Fingers by Nick Burnham
All Fall Down by Sally Nicolls

Gifted
The First Days by Rhiannon Frater (Thanks Sarah!)

Hope you all have a great week:D

I want to read that...

Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

From Goodreads: A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.

I just finished reading The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols and it is seriously good! It has made me even more excited to read this one! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

It's published in hardback (Yay!) in July 2012.

Lauren Oliver's Special Message For Her UK Fans

Also, to mark publication, the publishers have also created an interactive quiz based on the question ARE YOU RULED BY YOUR HEART OR YOUR HEAD?

Have a go for yourself (and you could win a finished copy of Pandemonium and Delirium): https://www.facebook.com/lovedelirium?sk=app_331560993546849

Stones For My Father by Trilby Kent

For Review: Alma Books
Published: 19 Januray 2012

From Goodreads: Corlie Roux’s farm life in South Africa is not easy: the Transvaal is beautiful, but it is also a harsh place where the heat can be so intense that the very raindrops sizzle. When her beloved father dies, she is left with a mother who is as devoted to her sons as she is cruel to her daughter. Despite this, Corlie finds solace in her friend, Sipho, and in Africa itself and in the stories she conjures for her brothers.

But Corlie’s world is about to vanish: the British are invading and driving Boer families like hers from their farms. Some escape into the bush to fight the enemy. The unlucky ones are rounded up and sent to internment camps.

Will Corlie’s resilience and devotion to her country sustain her through the suffering and squalor she finds in the camp at Kroonstad? That may depend on a soldier from faraway Canada and on inner resources Corlie never dreamed she had….

This is a great example of how history can really be brought to life through fiction. I knew nothing about the Boer War before reading this but now feel as if I have a good idea of what it would have been like to have lived through it.

I adored Colie. She has a resilience and strength to her that I envy. Her mother is absolutely awful to her but she doesn't let it affect how much she loves her family. I did think there might be an explanation for why her mother behaved in the way she did - and although one was given it wasn't what I thought it was going to be and - in my eyes at least - did not redeem her mother's actions.  But at the same time I could see where Corlie got her strength - her mother was a formidable women who knew how to get on and survive even the hardest of circumstances.

I also adore Gert and loved his relationship with Corlie. The two obviously loved each other greatly and that was wonderful to read. I also fell head over heels in love with Api! Honestly, how adorable!  Corporal Malachi Byrne was an interesting character too - someone who questions what he's doing and I liked the connection that develops between him and Corlie.  That something good could come out of all the hatred surrounding her.

There is violence and devastation too. Unsurprisingly, much of the hatred and violence did not only come from the enemy but from their own too which is disturbing to read. I admired Trilby Kent for not shying away from this and creating a story that feels real. Devastating, but honest and real.

Although this is only around 180 pages it didn't feel like a quick read - I found myself really immersed in the story and would love to read more by this author.