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Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Blurb On The Back:
Falling for the fallen ...
For Nora Grey, romance was never part of the plan. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgement.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora isn’t sure if she can trust him. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and to know more about her than her closest friends. And when she tries to seek answers, she discovers she is right in the middle of a centuries-old battle between the immortal and the fallen ... and it’s time to take sides ...
Nora Grey is a normal teenage girl. Neither popular nor unpopular, she hangs out with boy-obsessed best friend Vee and lives at home with Dorothea, a German housekeeper who keeps an eye on her while her mum is away working for an auction company. The only unusual thing about her is that she’s been seeing the school psychologist since her father was murdered in an apparent street robbery a few months earlier.
All this changes when she’s partnered with Patch, the new transfer student with whom she’s partnered for a biology project. Dark, sexy and mysterious, Patch’s arrogance and high-handed manner initially repulse Nora but as they work on their project, she finds herself drawn to him, not least because he seems to be everywhere she goes. But soon that attraction turns to suspicion. A series of terrifying near death experiences lead her to wonder if Patch is responsible - especially when he indicates that he knows what is happening. As she chases answers she finds herself involved in an ancient battle between angels, one that sees her very life at stake and one where she doesn’t trust which side Patch is on.
If you’re into YA paranormal romances, then this book has all the elements that you love: normal, everyday girl meets super-hot paranormal boy whose arrogance makes him utterly irresistible. Throw in some danger and some plot twists and you’ve got everything you need for a bestseller.
Unfortunately, this book encapsulates everything that drives me nuts about paranormal romance. For starters, while Patch is supposed to be sexy, I found his arrogance, rudeness and controlling behaviour creepy and one of the plot twists surrounding him was sinister rather than romantic. Nora in contrast is bland - so much so that it’s difficult to see what Patch sees in her apart from her gullibility and wilful stupidity. Vee is a stereotypical best friend sidekick, little more than a cipher with her boy-crazy ways.
The plot twists were obvious early on, so much so that I guessed the identity of the ‘baddie’ the moment they first appeared. Pacing was also a big issue - the story is painfully slow to unravel, with the reader often two or three steps ahead of Nora and in places the plot really sags.
All in all, if you’re into paranormal romance, check it out. If you’re not, then there’s little for you in here.
The Verdict:
If you’re already into YA paranormal romance then this is the type of book you’ll probably enjoy. However I found the plot formulaic, the twists too obvious and the romantic male lead, far from being attractive, comes across as someone who needs a punch in the nadges. It’s already a bestseller and its fans will be slavering for its sequel, Crescendo, but I will most definitely not be reading on.
Cross-posted to bookish, cool_teen_reads, fantasywithbite, urbanfantasyfan and yalitlovers.
Falling for the fallen ...
For Nora Grey, romance was never part of the plan. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgement.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora isn’t sure if she can trust him. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and to know more about her than her closest friends. And when she tries to seek answers, she discovers she is right in the middle of a centuries-old battle between the immortal and the fallen ... and it’s time to take sides ...
Nora Grey is a normal teenage girl. Neither popular nor unpopular, she hangs out with boy-obsessed best friend Vee and lives at home with Dorothea, a German housekeeper who keeps an eye on her while her mum is away working for an auction company. The only unusual thing about her is that she’s been seeing the school psychologist since her father was murdered in an apparent street robbery a few months earlier.
All this changes when she’s partnered with Patch, the new transfer student with whom she’s partnered for a biology project. Dark, sexy and mysterious, Patch’s arrogance and high-handed manner initially repulse Nora but as they work on their project, she finds herself drawn to him, not least because he seems to be everywhere she goes. But soon that attraction turns to suspicion. A series of terrifying near death experiences lead her to wonder if Patch is responsible - especially when he indicates that he knows what is happening. As she chases answers she finds herself involved in an ancient battle between angels, one that sees her very life at stake and one where she doesn’t trust which side Patch is on.
If you’re into YA paranormal romances, then this book has all the elements that you love: normal, everyday girl meets super-hot paranormal boy whose arrogance makes him utterly irresistible. Throw in some danger and some plot twists and you’ve got everything you need for a bestseller.
Unfortunately, this book encapsulates everything that drives me nuts about paranormal romance. For starters, while Patch is supposed to be sexy, I found his arrogance, rudeness and controlling behaviour creepy and one of the plot twists surrounding him was sinister rather than romantic. Nora in contrast is bland - so much so that it’s difficult to see what Patch sees in her apart from her gullibility and wilful stupidity. Vee is a stereotypical best friend sidekick, little more than a cipher with her boy-crazy ways.
The plot twists were obvious early on, so much so that I guessed the identity of the ‘baddie’ the moment they first appeared. Pacing was also a big issue - the story is painfully slow to unravel, with the reader often two or three steps ahead of Nora and in places the plot really sags.
All in all, if you’re into paranormal romance, check it out. If you’re not, then there’s little for you in here.
The Verdict:
If you’re already into YA paranormal romance then this is the type of book you’ll probably enjoy. However I found the plot formulaic, the twists too obvious and the romantic male lead, far from being attractive, comes across as someone who needs a punch in the nadges. It’s already a bestseller and its fans will be slavering for its sequel, Crescendo, but I will most definitely not be reading on.
Cross-posted to bookish, cool_teen_reads, fantasywithbite, urbanfantasyfan and yalitlovers.