Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
by Michelle Hodkin
Published September 27th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

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. 

-goodreads.com 





 

Rating: 5/5
Review:
THAT is me after reading this book. My Mind. Was blown. Holy cheese on rye, was this book amazing! This book had everything I could ever ask for in a YA mystery (supernatural?) romance! I literally did a double take after finishing the last page in a wait--what?--excuse me?! kind of way.

 I actually can't think of a single bad thing I have to say about this novel. I really liked the storyline, I adored Mara and her angst and snarkiness(or maybe because of her angst and snarkiness--totally relateable and likeable) and I fell utterly in love with Noah, who was mysterious and complicated, and reckless, and just incredibly swoon-worthy. And... heck I fell in love with all the characters.... except Anna who is the epitome of the high-school she-devil. All the characters in this book were so well crafted and just plain likeable! I was incredibly envious of Mara and wished I could've had brothers like Daniel and Joseph! One of the best sibling dynamics I've seen in a long time.   

Michelle Hodkin has crafted a mystery that I am dying to know the secret of! The whole book, you are full of questions Just what the heck happened? What, exactly, is Mara?  (which for me the mystery of her powers was incredibly refreshing--my mind kept thinking: What is she?! Witch? Werewolf? Vampire?! Please don't tell me she's a vampire....) But the minute you get slightly close to having one answer, Hodkin thickens the plot and you are left baffled! Again! It is frustrating. Thrilling. Creepy. Addictive. Amazing. Give me the sequel already goshdarnit! 


(and for more reasons to fall in love with this book, check out my book boyfriend on Noah Shaw)

My Book Boyfriend: Noah Shaw

My Book Boyfriend is a addictably fun meme hosted by Missie over at The Unread Reader--read her introduction post here.

This week, I am totally swooning for Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.



 <---  This is me. Yup, he is THAT amazing.

Oh Noah, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

• we-ll you are pretty darn attractive-- constantly messy  brown "bed hair", grey eyes, usually sporting a 5 o'clock shadow
• he defends a girl's honor
• perceived as a playboy at first who utilizes a lot of sexual innuendo
• BUT he is really super sweet as you get to know him more--plus he has a soft spot for animals!
• likes to help people
• and (oh geez, I know this sounds cheesy but....) he has layers! Like and onion! But in a totally good, lovable way of course.
• he is also quite mysterious for much of the book
• OH, and did I mention that he has a british accent?!

“You want me as much as I want you. And all I want is you."

My tongue warred with my mind. "Today," I whispered.
Noah stood slowly, his body skimming mine as he rose. "Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever.”

Mara: “Did I just see you litter?"
Noah: "I'm driving a hybrid. It cancels out.” 

“You're the girl who called me an asshole the first time we spoke. The girl who tried to pay for lunch even after you learned I have more money than God. You're the girl who risked her ass to save a dying dog, who makes my chest ache whether you're wearing green silk or ripped jeans. You're the girl that I--" Noah stopped, then took a step closer to me. "You are my girl.”
 

“You're supposed to say, 'All I want is your happiness. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means being without you.'"
"Sorry," Noah said. "I'm just not that big of a person.”

In my rush, I hadn't tied my shoelaces. Noah was now tying them for me.
He looked up at me through his dark fringe of lashes and smiled. The expression on his face melted me completely. I knew I had the goofiest grin plastered on my lips, and didn't care.
"There," he said as he finished tying the laces on my left shoe. "Now you won't fall."
Too late.

Want Now--no, scratch that--CRAVE NOW!!!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
by Michelle Hodkin


"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."


Thoughts:
The blurb is kind of vague, but after reading the great reviews on goodreads (and the quotes too), I can't wait to get my hands on this book! You just can't go wrong with a book that's suspenseful and super humorous....and you know, the whole romantic chemistry certainly doesn't hurt...

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi
 

"Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. "


Thoughts:
Okay, another dystopian.... but seriously? This book sounds really good. I've also read some quotes of the book posted on goodreads and the writing in this book is absolutely beautiful! Argh, how I wish I could read this RIGHT NOW.