Mini Reviews: Don't Breathe a Word and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Yep, it's that time again: Mini Reviews. Pretty much, I won't be posting my full review of these two books for awhile but want you guys to at least know some of my thoughts (read: these are amazing and I have to talk about them).

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala: For those of you who read Holly's debut, Tell Me a Secret, you already know how emotional her writing is, and this one does not disappoint. There is such a potency to her writing that is never far from the reader's mind, even in the moments that make you smile or laugh. This one has some great lines in it, breaking the tension at the right moments but still keeping things tight against the overall story. And man is it an amazing, brilliantly crafted story. These characters are so multidimensional, so fleshed out. From wanting to smack some to wanting to hug and protect others, Holly once again has elicited some of the strongest emotions from me towards characters ever. The street life is written in so perfectly, giving a full view of it in a way that makes it so clear Holly did her research. It's just amazing, across the board, start to finish, and an absolute must read that you can't put down. I read it straight through, in one sitting, engaged the entire time. Books like this are why contemporary is my favorite genre. It will make you think, twist your emotions, turn your stomach, pull you through Joy's journey, and leave you glad for it in the end.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Okay, truth time. No review, mini or long, can do this book it's full justice. Seriously, it's phenomenal and amazing and brilliant and just... astounding. And don't think this is one you'll just read a little on. Nope, Michelle grabs you from page one and doesn't let you go. And even when you're "done" 454 pages later, you won't really be done with this book because it is ALL you'll be thinking of. And a huge part of the brilliance in this one? It's impossible to really talk about it without giving spoilers, because it is THAT intricate, THAT well crafted, with reveals at all the perfect times to let pieces fall into place while still keeping this air of mystery that is palpable and addicting. Then there's the characters. Mara is one of the most fascinatingly done characters, in part for reasons I can't say without spoiling things, but dang. Everything she goes through, her reactions and emotions and everything else... are so realistic, so beautifully done, and is a true testament to the natural, amazing writing ability Michelle has. And Noah. Oh, Noah. I know this is a lofty statement, but I'll say it. He is the hottest boy in YA. That's right, he even beats out my love of Adrian from Vampire Academy because he is the cocky jerkwad with the giant heart, which is a HARD thing to pull off and yet, Michelle does it, so smoothly it's like she didn't even try. This boy will make you grin, swoon, melt, and some other things that I'll refrain from saying for the sake of my younger readers. And I could keep going, and want to keep going, because that's how amazing this book is, with the amazing banter (I also say this: it's the best banter around, not dependent only on insults, and is smooth and flowing and so natural), and stellar writing and unique descriptions and brilliant story. Basically, whether you like contemporary or supernatural, read this one. It straddles that line perfectly, and it is basically flawless. I adore it. End of story.