The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkinpublisher: Simon & Schuster
release date: September 27, 2011
hardcover, 452 pages
intended audience: Young adult
series: Mara Dyer, book 1
rating:
source: won an ARC
reviewer: Amy
description:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.
Review: Compelling!! Its the one word that came to mind the whole time I was reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!
Michelle Hodkin throws you right into the story head first as she reels you into an illusion of the past and of the present, leaving you compelled to find out if Mara Dyer is really as psychotic as she and everyone else thinks. Can it be an illusion? Or is there a real reason that can explain why she is the way she is?
The book reads almost like a constant cliffhanger as you watch Mara's life unravel before you. Throughout this book, you find yourself hopelessly rooting for Mara, hoping for an answer inside every chapter. Before you know it, you find yourself falling for the preppy, no-good, egotistical, good-looking rich guy, Noah, even though you try to convince yourself he is really up to no good.
Mara's hallucinations and visions draw you in even more, driving that desire to know the truth and solve the mystery of that tragic day. I loved this book for so many reasons. First, it caught and kept my attention throughout the whole book. There wasn't one slow part where you felt you could set the book down for just a few minutes. I practically had to force myself to close it so I could get ready for the day. Second, even though it definitely was left open for a sequel, you're not jipped with the storyline or ending. Its a real, complete story. And third, these are not your normal everyday characters. Mara is dealing with a tragic accident that resulted in the death of her three friends. And the only way she can piece together what happened is from the nightmares and hallucinations that haunt her. The characters are beautifully developed and real, with no paranormal issues, unless you count the mysterious deaths.
If you want a change from vampires, werewolves, and ghosts (not that I am saying any of these are bad), this book will appeal to you. My only advice is...as much as you want to fly through to the end and exercise your powers of speed reading, DON'T! Take your time to process the many details of this face-paced story. They are needed to help all the pieces fit together, and I am sure they help lay the foundation for the next book, which I am anxiously waiting for!
Purchase Mara Dyer at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound
Trailer:
I loved this book as well but I wasn't pulled in from the start. The beginning was just ok-good range for me and I kept hoping that the story would get better. Obviously, it didn't take long after the beginning of the book for me to start to fall in love.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the next book, thanks for the great review. :)
So excited to read this book. It's been getting some amazing reviews! And the cover is so pretty
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this one - it's releasing over here in March. So excited!!
ReplyDeleteI thought the beginning was the best bit - I loved the opening; it hooked me right away. I ended up falling for Noah, against my better judgement. I should have gotten past that whole bad boy thing at my age, but alas.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready to read this book. I hope it lives up to its wonderful standards.
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