My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga  

Publisher:  Balzer & Bray      

Publication date: February 10th 2015
My rating: 5 stars

A stunning novel about the transformative power of love, perfect for fans of Jay Asher and Laurie Halse Anderson.
Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.
There's only one problem: she's not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel's convinced she's found her solution--Roman, a teenage boy who's haunted by a family tragedy, is looking for a partner. Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other's broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. 

Behold! The diversity in young-adult fiction! 

My Heart and Other Black Holes is perfect with its depressed, lonely characters. Aysel, a girl who's father killed the town's next big thing, wants to die. Everyone stays away from her in school, she doesn't have any friends and her family doesn't think of her as their member. She finds an add on the website for suicidal people, where another teenager(Roman)  is looking for a suicide partner.  Together the form a pact by killing themselves. 

Aysel was such a likable main character. Dealing with the destruction of her father's actions, she distanced herself from everyone. She finds comfort in her room, doing her physics homework. She's fascinated about Einstein's theory of relativity and connects it with everything happening in her life. Things start to change once she meets Roman. 

Roman's still dealing with the death of his kid sister. He blames himself and doesn't think there's anything worth living for. He's an excellent basketball player with a scholarship on the way. Most of the time, he's trying not to find Aysel not amusing which I thought was really cute. 

Both, Aysel and Roman are a perfect pair. They connected and understood each other right from the start and I loved seeing their strange relationship develop. Roman brought Aysel's long forgotten, fun side and she made him see the beauty in life. I really enjoyed their interaction. Their dialog was fresh and entertaining. It felt real which was the most important thing. 

I have no objections about the writing or the pacing. Everything felt just right, without rushing. Only there was this small thing. I kind of wished we got to see Aysel's father towards the end. I was a little bit disappointed he didn't made an appearance. 

I'm glad the cover was changed. This one is so much better. 

If you're looking for a touching story about two lost souls, you've found it! Contemporary buffs should not miss My Heart and Other Black Holes. 

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Publisher:  Knopf     

Publication date: January 6th 2015
My rating: 5 stars

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

I made a promise to myself about reading more books I find interesting because, you see, I'm an impulsive reader and tend to change my mind in a second. Usually, those 'interesting' books end up destroying me completely which might be the reason why I avoid them in the first place. 

When I first started reading All the Bright Places I was expecting to have my heart broken but at the same time I kept thinking things surely wouldn't go there. I won't reveal the ending because that would just be mean. Read it and find our for yourself. Will it make you cry or smile? 

As someone who's been dealing with depression and bipolar disorder as well as ADHD I could see so much of myself in Finch. He's the side of me I try to hide from my family and friends. In fact, no one in my life doesn't know any of this about me, only the friends I met here, on Goodreads. Finch is impulsive, a true fighter, sensitive, fun and a bit strange. His energy is simply contagious and it made me want to be his friend.  

Violet on the other hand is his total opposite. She after losing her sister in a car accident she retreats into herself, breaks up with her boyfriend and stops hanging around her friends. In a way I thought Violet and Finch were a perfect pair. Like fire and ice. 

Elle Fanning was cast as Violet and you don't even know how much sense that makes. It's like Violet is Elle. Can't wait to see who's going to play Finch. 

I loved the fact this book addresses so many problems teens these days deal with-suicidal thoughts, bullying, abuse, eating disorders... I could list so many reasons why you should read but I feel like the most important one would be- read it because of yourself. Read it because you need to be aware of the hidden world around you. 

This book is more than a book. It sends a message to everyone and to quote the author, her it is 

If you think something is wrong, speak up.

You are not alone.

It is not your fault.

Help is out there.

The Program by Suzanne Young

The Program by Suzanne Young

Publisher:  Simon Pulse      

Publication date: April 30th 2013
My rating: 4 stars

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Last night I was browsing Goodreads, looking for something interesting to read and The Program caught my eye. Sure, I've heard of it before but I wasn't so sure if it would be something I usually enjoy. Since I'm a risk taker I decided to read it the next morning. I didn't expected to be so engrossed in Sloane's world. 

Sloane's surrounded by fear every day of her life since her older brother killed himself. Every third teen is suicidal so the government developed The Program which helps teens 'forget' about their problems. One of Sloane's friends, Lacey, is one of those rehabilitated teens. Lacey's boyfriend, devastated when Lacey doesn't recognize his kills himself, leaving Sloane and her boyfriend James to fend for themselves. They can't trust their parents because they fear they would  end up brainwashed like Lacey so they only trust each other. After not being able to endure the pain any longer, James starts cutting himself which only results in him being sent to The Program. When he gets back, he doesn't remember Sloane and her depression only grows stronger. Her parents send her to the rehabilitation and we get to witness how the process actually works. 

A lot of other reviewers mentioned Sloan not being a strong character but I disagree. She was doing her best. Take note she didn't had the chance to grieve over the death of her brother, she also lost all of her friends and her boyfriend. She had no idea who is trustworthy inside the facility. She did fight to keep her memories from being erased and that was all she could've done. 

James was charming and fun despite living in such a dreary world. He was there for Sloane, even after the treatment, when they didn't know each other. 

Realm was also interesting in his own way. He develops connection with Sloan while she's being brainwashed. He's the only person who didn't mind having a fresh start so that even made me want to want to more about his past. Hopefully, more will be revealed about him in the sequel. 

That epilogue shocked me. Didn't see the twist coming. The repetition of the scene was well done. I still can't believe it happened. 

Despite the lack of action which I usually crave, I couldn't put this book down. It's not hard to picture something like this happening in the not so distant future, which made it even scarier. Even now, so many people medicate themselves to dull the physical and mental ache. It was smart of the author to tackle this issue. 

 

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick  

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster      

Publication date: October 7th 2014
My rating: 3.5 stars

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 
Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 
In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 
But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 
BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Well, color me surprised! I did not see that coming! I did see the twist coming from a mile away but I didn't think I'd enjoy this book so much. Good job, Becca Fitzpatrick! 

Britt and her friend, errr, I forgot her name decided to backpack the Teton Range during their spring brake. What the didn't count on is the storm which leaves them half frozen and stranded. They find a cabin with two guys already there. They're criminals but Britt and her annoying, bratty friend don't know about this until it's too late. They end up kidnapped and Britt is forced to take them off the mountain while they leave the annoying, bratty friend to die in the cabin. Hah! I don't even feel bad about the possibility of this girl starving and freezing to death because she was such a little princess.  She was 'poking the bear' and I was waiting for the moment one of the criminals would snap. While they were with these criminals, the brother of the annoying bratty friend who's also Britt's ex, was trying to find them. He happens to be an expert at backpacking and other outdoorsy stuff. 

Britt's nothing like Fitzpatick's previous main character, Nora. Britt is resourceful, smart and brave. Sure, she has some problems with confidence because she grew up surrounded by men her whole life and they did most of the heavy lifting. But she's not afraid to help her friends even if it meant putting her life in danger. 

 I wasn't the biggest fan of the annoying, bratty friend and her brother. Britt's ex was a horrible boyfriend. Sure, his father only cared about the annoying, bratty princess and punished his son but that didn't give him the excuse to treat Britt badly. 

Romance was a bit cheesy but all in all, it wasn't so bad. The love interest was the dark , silent type with a lot of secrets and such an improvement from Patch. 

After the first couple of rocky chapters I couldn't put the book down. It was a constant roller-coaster ride. A true thriller. There aren't a lot of YA thrillers and most prefer romance, paranormal or dystopian stories. 

I'm glad I decided to give this book a try. I was pleasantly surprised, mostly about the main character and her growth throughout the novel. Hope Becca continues to write thrillers because this one checked all the boxes, at least in my case. 

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater  

Publisher:  Scholastic Press      

Publication date: October 21st 2014
My rating: 5 stars

The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.
There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.
The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.
Friends can betray.Mothers can disappear.Visions can mislead.Certainties can unravel.

She did it again. I never thought anything compare to The Dream Thieves or Sinner which are her best work yet, in my opinion. But she did it. 

The story picks up where it left off. Boys are starting school again and Blue's mother is still missing. They're still trying to find Glendower, the long lost king. Gray Man's employed is in Henrietta looking for a payback. Now, I don't want to reveal anything else about the plot cause even the blurb is rather vague. 

What I want to talk about are the characters. It seems Adam is the main one this time. Others all had their chapters but I feel as if he was in all of them a lot more. He's my favorite Raven Boy, like I mentioned a hundred times already. He's still hardworking as ever. Honorable, honest and proud. He's also spending more time with Ronan, if you know what I mean. *wink, wink* 

Then there's Ronan. *sigh* This guy! I mean, he's like a feral cat you want to bring home but are scared it's going to ruin your sofa. You never know what to expect from him. He's unpredictable, wild, but at the same time extremely loyal to his family and friends. There is still so much we don't know about him. 

Gansey is still a mystery to me. At times I think he has no personality and he's just there in every chapter. I know he's suppose to be the King of the gang but I don't see it. :/ Everybody likes him-boys in school, new people he meets and even Adam let go of his jealousy. He's helpful in a way a human can help a paranormal creature-basically not. I guess I'm the only one who doesn't care about his character. 

Blue's trying to find her missing mother and is dealing with her feelings towards Gansey at the same time. She was focused and determined throughout the whole book. She might even discover some hidden power deep inside her. 

If you're expecting kisses in this book, like me,  you'll just going to have to wait for the 4th installment. Even though the book was focused towards the character development, romance was pushed even further out back. There were some progress and Pynch shippers will be happy to hear it. I can't wait for the next book because I feel that's when Pynch is going to happen. 

The pacing was perfect and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger which made me scream. The book was unputdownable. And the writing is poetic. At times I had to go back and re-read parts because I thought there was something between the lines. How Maggie does this every time, I don't know. She'll always be on my auto-buy list. 

Cover is beautiful. I love the colors but I'm not sure who's on it. Blue? It could be her. 

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard  

Publisher: Harper Teen      

Publication date: February 10th 2015
My rating: 5 stars

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?
Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.
To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

Wow! I did not expect much from this book when I first got it, even though I've been excited to read it. Does that even make sense? I've been burned before with over-hyped books so I tried to stay calm while I was reading Red Queen. I ended up freaking out either way. 

Mare lives in a world divided between red and silver bloods. Those with red blood, Mare included, live in terrible condition with little to no electricity while the silver bloods have special powers and  live in luxury . One night while out stealing she meets a strange young man. The next day her life changes completely because she gets a job in the royal palace. She discovers she has a power of her own by accident. To keep her red blood a secret, royals present her as the long lost daughter of a war her who died a long time ago and. Not only her skin is painted white every morning but she's also engaged to a prince. 

The main character, Mare is a tough chick. She's a street rat. She knows how to survive and adapt well to anything. Her powers are still new to her and she's trying to decide who to trust while she's living among people who want nothing to do with her kind. Still, with the help of old and some new friends, she's ready to make a difference and start a rebellion. 

I really liked the secondary characters. They all had their own personalities and were equally important as Mare. I especially liked someone who'll remain unnamed because of spoilers. The twist regarding this person was unexpected. I didn't see it coming. Wish the change in character wasn't so drastic because it didn't seem realistic to me. The character did a 180 so I wasn't so happy about it. 

The romance was so-so. Sure, I saw the connection these characters shared but it wasn't the reason I was enjoying the book so much. 

The pacing was a bit slow at times but only because it was used to describe the whole world of reds & silvers. Like I said, sometimes, it was slow but I liked reading about different settlements, the royal houses and especially, powers. 

Red Queen is a strange mix of The Legend of Korra, The Grisha Trilogy, Spartacus, The Selection and Throne of Glass. If you like any of those things, I'm sure you'll find Red Queen interesting as well.  

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater  

Publisher: Scholastic Press      

Publication date: July 1st 2014
My rating: 5 stars

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

It's no secret I love Cole ever since I first read about him in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I did feel like Cole's story wasn't finished and guess what? I was right! The fact Maggie decided to write Sinner means the world to me. 

The story starts with Cole being his charming self and he's gone to Los Angeles to find Isabel and along the way, to make a new record. When he does, he sees Isabel is not quick to forgive him for being a hot mess (I'm putting it mildly). He's been using drugs to induce his change in warm weather. He's doing it to escape from his thoughts and past that are still haunting him. 

It's hard to explain why I love Cole and Isabel together. They are both messed up people. Cole, a showman and Isobel, an ice queen. But  when they're together, sparks fly. The beginning of the book was playful and I was smirking at their bickering. Later, I was consumed with a severe case of feels. Their scenes weren't swoony. They were raw and real. Don't think Maggie wrote anything like this before. I feel as if this book was her most distinctive story so far. I mentioned this in one of my status updated- Sinner was everything I hoped The Piper's Son would be. I had high expectations for TPS because it's Melina freaking Marchetta we're talking about here but I ended up being disappointed because I didn't feel the connection with the book. That wasn't the case with Sinner. 

Maggie Stiefvater isn't known for writing contemporary books but I have to say, this book was one of those strange paranormal novels which doesn't talk much about paranormal stuff. The essence of this book is based on personal growth and not on fangs and paws. If you, like me, prefer contemporary novels over paranormals, then you'll be smitten with it because our dear author brought out all the guns. And if you're not a fan of contemps then you'll still enjoy it because of Cole and Isabel. Mrs. Stiefvater made me love this book more than I love The Dream Thieves and Linger. 

I don't really know what to say about this book. It was phenomenal! It made me think outside my box. It was the kind of book you would put on a special place in your shelf because it deserves it so I encourage you, go and order it! 

If you're interested, check out the mix I made for this book.

sinner from autumn.book.girl on 8tracks Radio.

17 First Kisses by Rachel Allen

17 First Kisses by Rachel Allen

Publisher: Harper Teen      

Publication date: June 17th 2013
My rating: 2 stars

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can’t seem to find a decent boyfriend. Someone who wouldn’t rather date her gorgeous best friend, Megan. Someone who won’t freak out when he learns about the tragedy her family still hasn’t recovered from. Someone whose kisses can carry her away from her backwoods town for one fleeting moment.
Until Claire meets Luke.
But Megan is falling for Luke, too, and if there’s one thing Claire knows for sure, it’s that Megan’s pretty much irresistible.
With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.
In her moving debut, Rachael Allen brilliantly captures the complexities of friendship, the struggles of self-discovery, and the difficulties of trying to find love in high school. Fans of Sarah Ockler, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins will fall head over heels for this addictive, heartfelt, and often hilarious modern love story.

What a mess this book turned out to be. I was exhausted with the amount of drama these teenagers were going through daily. It was like I was mentally sprinting with them, trying to keep up with who's with who and who's mad at who. 

Someone said 17 First Kisses is what's like to be in high school. But let me tell you this- I would never want to be a part of that school. I want to stay as far away from it as possible because these kids made so many mistakes and their parents don't even care about what they're doing or were never in the book to begin with. How the hell do you kiss 16 different guys before your 18th birthday?! It doesn't make sense! But that's not even the worse thing! Apparently, some random ass statistic shows a girl has to kiss 79 guys before she finds her future husband. Which means she's bound to get herpes sooner or later and that is not a great look on anyone. Claire is defending her action with stating she is still a virgin and definitely not a ho-bag as some other girls called her. Since she lives in a small town I would say she probably kissed almost all her male peers. Jesus! During my time in high school I only liked about 4 guys and I only kissed the last one because I really liked him. I didn't want to mix my saliva with someone I barely knew. Maybe I'm just a judgmental prude. But I'm not. I just have standards. 

I'm not going to discuss the book thoroughly because that would take forever. I just want to say something because it bothered me so much I wanted to fling my Kindle across the room so many times. I'm well aware of the fact characters need to make mistakes till they learn their lesson but I'm not okay with this type of books-where you steal boyfriends from your best friend not only once, but twice; getting with your teacher and all sort of stupid things. I'm sure there are other ways an author could teach us important life lessons without reminding us we could be kissing 3 different guys in one night, getting wasted at a party where some creep tries to rape us. Some people don't get these things are wrong! They will think it's the coolest thing ever and they'll try to do the same. Doesn't anyone see how messed up this is?! Not everyone has the brains to stop ad think before acting with their new hormonal outbursts. 

I apologize to those who are still reading this review. It turned out to be a rant. 

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

Publisher: Harlequin Teen      

Publication date: May 13th 2014
My rating: 3 stars

Some secrets are too good to keep. 
Tabitha might be the only girl in the history of the world who actually gets less popular when she gets hot. But her so-called friends say she’s changed, and they’ve dropped her flat. 
Now Tab has no one to tell about the best and worst thing that has ever happened to her: Joe, who spills his most intimate secrets to her in their nightly online chats. Joe, whose touch is so electric, it makes Tab wonder if she could survive an actual kiss. Joe, who has Tabitha brimming with the restless energy of falling in love. Joe, who is someone else’s boyfriend.
Just when Tab is afraid she’ll burst from keeping the secret of Joe inside, she finds Life by Committee. The rules of LBC are simple: tell a secret, receive an assignment. Complete the assignment to keep your secret safe.
Tab likes it that the assignments push her to her limits, empowering her to live boldly and go further than she’d ever go on her own.
But in the name of truth and bravery, how far is too far to go?

Hmmm. I expected more from this book because so many people've been saying how much they loved Corey's debut novel so I had higher expectations. 

Contemporary is my favorite genre. Everyone knows this and I've had luck with a lot Harper Teen titles so I don't even hesitate when I see a new one. While I did found this book interesting I still felt there was something strange about it and that's the main reason I didn't give a higher rating. 

Tabitha founds herself falling for a taken guy. Her friends abandoned her because she grew boobs, started wearing eye liner and tighter clothes. She was too pretty for her friends and the thought of someone saying that makes me cringe. Her father can't seem to give up pot while her mother's pregnant. Tabitha calls her parents by their first name which I also didn't like. While reading notes from an used book she finds a link to a web site. There she's suppose to share a secret and the committee is going to give her an assignment. She only complicates her life even more. 

My friend asked me what I thought of this book and I told her that I felt like Luna Lovegood wrote a book about every day adventures of a muggle teenager. It was so weird. 

The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publisher: Balzer + Bray      

Publication date: May 13th 2014
My rating: 3 stars

With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor.
Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.
But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.
So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.
As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

Lily, a local goth girl lives with her mother, grandmother and aunt in a old spooky house which is also their place of work-they're morticians. Lily's best friend Sara has crazy religious parents and most of their small community is the same. Other girls hate Lily 'just because' and the queen bee, Erin, attacks Lily cause she thinks Lily's trying to steal her boyfriend. The next morning Erin's parents discover her dead. The main suspect are Matt, Erin's boyfriend and Lily. They team up to find out who's the real murderer. 

I was surprised how much I was enjoying this book. I'm a thriller/mystery buff and most of the time I try to figure out the secrets, who's the liar, who had nothing to do with the crime and who's the killer. This time I just wanted to sit back and read more about Lily and the mortician business because those parts were interesting (read hella creepy). Had no idea there was so much effort put into a body before it's buried. 

By now you should know there's always a but Here's what happened near the end. Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil anything! The book went from hot to lukewarm. The whole reveal wasn't what I thought it would be. I expected something more. Something better because I up until then I had nothing remotely bad to say about the whole story. It was entertaining and satisfying. I was cheering for the author and thinking about picking up some of her other books. Then the ending happened.