Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

Suspicion

Author: Alexandra Monir
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: ebook
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Source: egalley received from publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 2.5 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:

“There’s something hidden in the maze.”

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.

For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.

Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.

My Review:

I was so excited for this book because a). the cover is stunning, b). the whole English countryside manor thing. And I did enjoy that aspect of it. I loved watching Imogen return to Rockford Manor and I loved learning all the little ins and outs of English nobility. Sometimes I wish we could do that here. Only I would have to be one of the duchesses or something. Obviously.

Anyway, this aspect gave the story a very fairytale-esque feel to it. But what didn’t work for me was the paranormal aspect that was thrown in. It never jived with me, never felt like it fit. It felt like it was put there just for the sake of having a paranormal element. I think if the author had tweaked a few things, it could have been left out altogether and this could have just been a fun and thrilling contemporary. For me, there wasn’t enough background to the paranormal element, so I didn’t quite believe in it. It also seemed to come very easily to Imogen and I just can’t stand when things are easy for the main character.

Imogen herself was an okay MC. She never really stole my heart, but she also didn’t drive me crazy either. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for her to return to the manor after everything that had happened there. It took a lot of courage and strength for her to do that and I admired her for it.

The romance was bleh. I get that they were childhood friends, but it just didn’t feel very well developed to me. And then there was the tiny love triangle (not really a triangle, basically one person liked another, but that person didn’t like them back) which I wasn’t a huge fan of.

Overall, this book was just kind of blah for me. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t particularly like it which is quite disappointing with a great synopsis and beautiful cover. There was a pretty decent mystery with a few surprising twists, but I just felt indifferent when getting to those sections. I hope this one works better for some other people, because it just did not work for me.

Have you read this one yet? What are your thoughts on the paranormal element? How did you feel about the romance?