The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Reveiw

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Mara Dyer wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. To her horror she learns that she has been involved in a terrible accident that took the lives of her best friend Rachel, her boyfriend Jude, and Jude's sister Claire. In a hope to move on with her life and have a fresh start Mara and her family move to Florida, however Mara continues to have hallucinations of her dead friends. Mara believes she is going insane as people around her continue to die and she has startling premonitions of their deaths.  When she begins spending time with the school playboy Noah she learns that she holds a terrible power, one that undoubtedly ties her to Noah and his secrets.

My Review:

Let me start of by saying that I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one day, staying up until 2 am to finish it, unable to put it down. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is unlike any other book I've ever read, the story line was brilliant, the characters were beautifully developed , and the romance was perfect. Hodkin is one of those rare writers who's stories aren't just words on a page, they pull you in and make you feel like you're living the novel.

One of my favorite aspects of Mara is that while she believes she is going insane she isn't whiny or pity seeking, instead she manages to be humorous yet somewhat apathetic. Her snarky comments to Noah are hilarious, yet she's serious when she needs to be. Noah was also a wonderful character, originally the school playboy from Britain he soon becomes devoted to Mara, yet his character has more depth than just a romantic interest. I don't want to give anything away but Noah has a few secrets of his own that make him vital to Mara and the story.

The best part of the novel was the romance between Noah and Mara. Unlike many young adult books I've read they don't kiss once and are suddenly "in love". Their relationship slowly builds up to love and when they say they love each other it can be taken seriously. Noah is sweet and sexy, unpredictable yet predictable, the perfect mach for Mara.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is chilling yet wonderful. Hodkin keeps the reader guessing when it comes of Mara's sanity, one moment  seeming that she is definately insane, yet the next moment making it hard to believe there is anything wrong with her. This book will keep you turning pages late into the night and thinking about it long after you're done.

5/5