Book Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

SUMMARY: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.


OPINION: 4 STARS

I loved Clarity, from the mystery to the characters to the writing. Perception was great, but I admit, for me, it focused too much on the guys and who Clare would ultimately choose and not as much on the mystery this time around. There was definitely still a great mystery involved, and Harrington once again built up to it fabulously, I just felt like the story dropped off at parts to simply be a head game in love for Clare.

That being said, I still love Clare. She is feisty, spunky and insightful, yet she also has a certain vulnerability about her. Used to being a bit of an outcast because of her family, made a bit worse by the fact that her brother was accused of murder, she has a few pieces of baggage she carries close to her heart. Watching her work past these, and break through some of them, added a great element to not only her characterization but the book as well. Her overall growth and change has a smooth flow to it, and she is definitely someone readers will side with.

Despite my gripe about the potential love triangle being played up too much, individually, Harrington has done a great job with both Gabriel and Justin's characterizations. They are great guys, in different ways (other than the whole Justin cheating thing that broke them up before Clarity even opened...), and each have their own strengths about them. I liked Gabe more in this book than I did the first, and Harrington has done a great job with the hurt and remorse that hangs over Justin for what's happened. Though he gets a little too clingy in this one, he is still a sweet guy at his core.

The mystery aspect of this one had a great pacing to it when taken out of everything else. The romance stuff admittedly slowed it down too much, and I felt like Clare didn't realize some things that should have been kind of obvious to her just because she was so caught up in her boy issues, but Harrington still throws in some great twists and unexpected turns. Giving some clues to figure out who is behind everything, but still making it a challenge to pinpoint motive, Harrington certainly knows how to build her mysteries and wow readers with them. With the same sprightly writing and vivid setting, Perception is a good follow up overall.

Details:

Source: ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Reading level: Ages 14 and up 

Hardcover: 288 pages 

Publisher: Point

Publication Date: March 1, 2012