Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: YA Contemporary/Thriller
Format: ARC
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Source: ARC received from publisher
Rating: 5 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This
has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my
open and honest opinion.***
Synopsis
from Goodreads:
Samantha is a stranger
in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie,
everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
My
Review:
Holy mind blown. I’m
still reeling from this book. My second Jennifer L. Armentrout. If the first
one (White Hot Kiss) didn’t sell me,
this one most definitely did. I had heard that this book was creepy and full of
dark mystery. I’m not usually a thriller person, but it was JLA. Can we just
stop for a second and give Ms. Armentrout a round of applause?
This book sucked me in
right from the beginning. It starts out with a girl being found by the police
covered in blood and bruises. A girl who has no idea who she is or what
happened to her. Well that’s obviously intriguing. And then the story begins to
spiral into a thick plot full of interesting characters that you can never
quite figure out.
The main character
quickly begins to learn that she wasn’t exactly the nicest person before she
lost all her memories (think Regina in Mean
Girls). And now she doesn’t want to be that person. She doesn’t know who
that person is. The great thing about this was that we were able to see how
flawed Samantha is and how much she develops throughout the book. I loved her
inner monologue. I loved watching her start to unravel the mystery behind her
disappearance. And I LOVED watching her interact with the swoon-worthy, Carson.
Oh yes, I have found my
second contemporary book boyfriend. Carson freaking Ortiz. *fans self* Yes, I
have to fan myself just thinking about him. He is sexy, kind, athletic,
understanding. Basically everything you could want in a guy. The sexual tension
between him and Samantha was intense. Oh, JLA, how I love the way you write
romance.
What I loved most about
this book was the constant guessing game. I tried the whole book to figure out
what had happened, but I seriously couldn’t. And then when the answers are
revealed? Holy shit. Wtf just happened? I literally started screaming.
SCREAMING. Yes, I was that shocked. I couldn’t form coherent sentences. I just
stared at my husband wide-eyed going WHAT??? THAT WAS JUST… I DON’T EVEN… HOW…
I NEVER… WHAT???? While he stared back thinking that I was a crazy person and
telling me to be quiet before the neighbors called the cops on us for a noise
disturbance.
So should you read this
book? Why are you even asking that question? Of course you should read this
book! I haven’t read many JLA books, but if her other ones are even close to
the caliber of this one, I am in for a real treat. Because seriously this book
is one of my new favorites. I’m going to buy like 12 copies of it for no reason
besides the fact that I just love it that much. I want to start rereading right
now. Seriously. I’m going to go do that. Man am I going to have a terrible book
hangover after this one. Right. Anyway, go preorder this book now. Read it the
second it comes out. And most importantly, tweet me about it because I need to
talk about all the crazy feels I’m having right now! Happy reading all!
Have you read this one? Did your jaw go through the floor at the end? Are you in love with Carson too? Somebody talk to me about this book!!
This sounds like such an amazing book! I requested it on Netgalley but got denied, so I'm going to have to buy it, lol. Based on your review, I'm sure it'll be worth it. I love the sound of Carson ;)
ReplyDeleteYes!! It was so amazing. Carson is the best!! Super sexy. Super sweet. Just perfect. :)
DeleteOH, YES! I loved it too, I was on the edge of my seat! I figured it out a little too soon, but it was still a great read! I was SO cheering for Samantha and Carson! What a tangle of hotness they were! And speaking of hotness, whatever is going on with the hot AND fabulous YA guys right now is OK by me! I mean - Carson ( sighing and fanning self), "Four" ( swoon - 'nuf said), Finn (The Amaz Knife of Memory - Snarky AND hot- hands clasped at my heart right now, Noah (Mara Dyer - WOW WOW WOW) , Wolf (Scarlet - heavy sigh) - it's a fictional boyfriend orgy out there! LOL
ReplyDeletehahahaha this comment is amazing. Seriously so many swoony YA boys. I have more book boyfriends than I can count. My husband loves it..... Lol. I can't believe you figured this one out! I totally did not at all. I can see the clues now looking back, but still. I think it was so subtle. I loved that it could surprise me.
DeleteOh my goodness! I feel like everyone has read it but me! Probably because I wasn't able to snag an ARC copy, but it's okay. I'm patiently waiting for my preorder copy to come in. I'm just really upset because BN.com currently still says that it won't ship until April 15. WHAT? Usually my preorders arrive on the date it's released. They're not shipped on the day it's released. So I'm just a bit frustrated... I feel like I've been wanting for this book for so long ever since I saw the cover reveal. >_< BN needs to ship my book!
ReplyDeleteWell that just means that you will enjoy it that much more when it comes. All that waiting. :) BN definitely needs to ship your book! That happened one time to me with Amazon and I was furious.
DeleteYay, so glad to hear you loved this book! I can't wait to read it, JLA is such an auto-buy author for me. I love books where the MC doesn't know who she is or what's happened. And add a hot romance with tons of sexual tension...sold! There are so many great books coming out on April 15th but this may have to be the first one I read that day (I'm definitely doing nothing other than reading that day). Great review!! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteYes, you should definitely read this one first so we can talk about it!!! I need some serious email correspondence with over this one. I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
DeleteI've wanted to read this one since I first seen it, and I requested it on netgalley but sadly didn't get it... AND NOW THE TIME IS HERE! On Tuesday i will be picking this up asap and I even want to read it MORE now after you exciting review :) I LOVE thrillers so I just CANT WAIT! Awesome review Rebecca <3
ReplyDeleteYou will love it!! Tweet me all your thoughts!!! I want a full play-by-play.
DeleteI can't wait! I am hearing so many good things about this book!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
Well it is JLA... :) Enjoy!
DeleteOk...I have a confession. I have yet to read a Jennifer Arementrout book...I KNOW! But you totally have me sold on this one. It sounds like something right up my alley AND a swoony book boyfriend...um, OKAY! Love this review! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am a new JLA fan too so no judging over here. I've only read this one and WHK. (Both amazing) I own her Lux series and her Covenant series though so hopefully I will get to them both soon!!
DeleteThere are only so many books my husband will tolerate me buying and since I've never read JLA before, this one was one of those I decided to check out from my library. Of course there was a wait list, but alas, I picked it up on Saturday, just finished it up today. I liked the book, it sucked me in right away. Totally Loved Carson! BUT, I really did not like the "I'm richer, prettier, more popular and much better in everyway than you" angle. I get it, post-accident, Sam's life was a redo and she had to go from one extreme to another, but I felt the mean girls thing was a little over-done and not that necessary. Also, I had the ending pretty much figured out by mid book. Not all the details, like was it an accident or not, but I was pretty sure about the Sam/Cassie relationship, the visions, even her dad. I did not have an a-ha moment, but I did find the book interesting, fun to read and hard to put down. I will definitely try another JLA book. Any suggestions? -Dana
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you figured it out. That was the best part for me, being totally shocked at the ending. Carson was so freaking swoony! I actually haven't read that much JLA, but I really liked White Hot Kiss. I also have heard AMAZING things about both her Lux series and her Covenant series. I own both series, just have yet to read them. I hope you give her paranormal books a try. Those are the ones that EVERYBODY seems to love!
Delete