REVIEW! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.  

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong. 

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm just as confused as Mara. Or at least I was.

For the first half of the book, I sat there thinking, This is Fight Club. This is totally Fight Club. (For the record, I love Fight Club. And if you've read it - or seen the movie - you know what I'm talking about.) But Mara surprised me. More than once. In fact, there are surprises in nearly every chapter. It's true; Hodkin keeps you on your toes.

Mara is a strange character, both fierce and goofy. It works. I like that she's not pegged into one personality type. And her family is involved. They're not conveniently away on an all-expenses-paid family cruise. They're not severe workaholics that leave the kids to fend for themselves. They're present - both her parents and brothers. And they have significant roles! They help propel the story forward, rather than intrude and waste time.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Noah, the stereotypical bad boy who reads like a cliche. Plus, I don't fall for possessiveness. It's just creepy. As such, he falls majorly flat as the romantic interest. I just don't buy it. There's this lack of trust that causes me to guess if his intentions are true.

But then there's Jamie. Why, why, WHY couldn't there have been more Jamie?! I love that kid. I want him back. He's beyond quirky and steals every scene he's in.

Bottom line is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is fast-paced and keeps you alert. It's also a bit outrageous at times, and ends abruptly after such a long buildup, so be prepared for a major cliffhanger. Otherwise, enjoy the thrill!