The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Review Time! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was a 2011 YA Debut. However it was only published in Australia in February this year. The cover of this book is just gorgeous and I'm not going to lie - I wanted to read the book just because of the cover although the blurb sounded pretty good too! Purchase your copy at The Book Depository - US Edition/ AUS Edition. Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy!

(Goodreads) 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.

The Short Story? - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of those books that really does your head in. It completely twists everything and blurs the line between reality and fantasy. I think YA psychological thriller is a more accurate description for the book. Edgy, dark and chilling, Hodkin's debut is really something original. Beautiful characterisation, mind-blowing plot and a narrative voice that completely consumes the reader!

The Long Story ? - This is really one of those novels that you either love or hate. Luckily I tend to love psychological thrillers and those supernatural reality books. I can honestly say that I really did enjoy The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. It's not exactly a comfortable read for someone to read because you can't just tune out and let the words take you away. YOU HAVE TO CONCENTRATE or else you get lost. Hodkin really twists your head, I had to get someone to clarify the last 100 pages for me because I was not sure I read it right. The plot is edgy and chilling - complex and completely mind-blowing. It's quite a slow pace but in this case it worked because if the story moved any faster I would have gotten lost. Filled with mystery and suspense, Hodkin strings readers along for the grand finale and WASN'T IT GRAND! What a cliff hanger ending! If you loved Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma or Shift by Em Bailey - this one is for you!

The highlight of this book for me was the characterisation. Mara was one disturbed ( and cray cray - maybe?) girl but the illusion of normal she creates is just WOW! With such a traumatising past and such a deadly secret, Mara is one of the most intriguing characters I have come across in YA fiction. I really like how Hodkin has portrayed her, the smartish, normalish girl with the dangerous gift. I want to see where Hodkin takes Mara next. AND THEN we have Jace Wayland reincarnation in YA contemporary. Noah Shaw - can we get a SWOON? He's just amazing! Extremely beautiful, extremely witty, extremely vain and extremely funny! BUT this guy's got a sweet side too and that just makes THIS much more irresistible! Seriously one of my favourite couples of the year ( so far!) Great characterisation!

What else can I say? You're either going to love or hate The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer because this is one book too extreme for middle ground. Edgy and engrossing, it's addictive and completely twisted. The psychological thriller debut is something original and unique - filled with mystery, suspense and a touch of supernatural - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is mind-shatteringly amazing. You will finish the book and think - WHAT DID I JUST READ? But nevertheless a novel I recommend to everyone!

What's it Worth? - Hand Over the Paycheck


Badass Bookie xx