REVIEW: HUSH, HUSH

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

(From Amazon.ca Product Description)
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.


The day I recieved this ARC in the mail was one of the best days I've had in my book blogging life.  I was super excited, and had heard so many great things about this book that I instantly sat down and started reading. 

When I am very excited to read a book I purposefully avoid any reviews with summaries in it and I read as little as I can about it so I can go in fresh.   But I did get the feeling that many people loved this book A LOT, so imagine my surprise when I wasn't one of them. 

Becca Fitzpatrick is a very talented writer, I have no doubt, and her debut novel is a good effort, and the premise is EXTREMELY cool, and the cover is just georgous, but what others seemed to get so excited about I just did not see the connection.  And I will reiterate that this is only my opinion, and I completely respect everyone else's opinion in regards to this novel, and any others that I review.  I say that because I am well aware that there are many many folks out there who REALLY love this book, and I think that's great because any book that gets people (especially teens) reading is a winner in my books. 

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!  DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK!


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But I digress.  About halfway through I was trying to put my finger on what was missing for me, and the simple truth is I did not feel that the Patch character was well developed.  I didn't really understand his character at all, he seemed very slimy to me with all of his innuendos and creepiness.  In fact he seemed more creepy than sexy to me.  So, Nora's attraction to him was hard for me to believe.  And Nora spent a lot of time "struggling to ignore" her feelings of, what should be, terror for this killer.  The scene in the hotel room was particularily difficult to swallow.  And I have to admit having two young girls, I would be hard pressed to want either of them to read this when they are of age.  The scene I am referring to is when Patch admitted he was trying to kill her and she still wanted to make out with him.  Her reaction to finding out about his wings, his killer tendencies, the story of how he fell from grace, was very subdued.  I would have liked to see a bigger more realistic reaction from her.  And the Vee character, although lighthearted and I thought very well developed, halfway through became very strange.  She was very blasé about Nora getting roughed up by Elliot, and even excusing the incident by saying "Well, he was drunk right?"..... "Well, he has a lot going on.  I mean, he was wrongly accused of being messed up in some girl's suicide, and he was forced to switch schools.  If he hurt you -- and I'm not justifying what he did, by the way -- maybe he just needs... counseling you know?"  To which Nora replies, " If he hurt me?"  And Vee says, "He was wasted.  Maybe -- maybe he didn't know what he was doing.  Tomorrow he's going to feel horrible."  If this was supposed to be my bestfriend, I think I'd rather be her enemy.  That was extremely disturbing to me.  And after reading the final pages my feelings about Hush,Hush were that I wished I believed the relationship between Patch and Nora, I wish I felt the chemistry they had that others felt.  And that would be the one thing I wish I felt.  But I didn't. 

The point of this review is not to rip Hush,Hush to shreds.  I had such high hopes when I read it, and like I said, there are actually some people out here who agree with me, but many more who don't and will probably want to tell me to put a sock in it.  I am definately going to read the sequel "Crescendo" because I would love to see how the author develops this story further. 
To read more about Hush,Hush and see a great trailer for the book click here.

RATING:  2/5
ARC courtesy of Simon and Schuster Canada