Review: Hush, Hush

Title: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Hush, Hush Series

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publish Date: October 13th, 2009

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Romance was not part of Nora Grey’s plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems 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 she 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 Nora her life.

To be completely honest, I read this book on a dare (you know exactly who you are). I was dared by someone who found it intolerable, surpassing Twilight as her least favorite book, which is pretty impressive. After skimming a few reviews here on Goodreads, I learned fairly quickly that readers either loved it, or hated it; there was no real middle ground. Rather disappointingly, I noticed that the most popular reviews of Hush, Hush were labeled with only one star, with a sprinkling of the occasional five star review. So with those encouraging thoughts, I began reading and was shocked by how much I enjoyed it.

Nora Grey has never been particularly interested in finding a boyfriend, much to her best friend, Vee’s, dismay. That is, until Patch arrives. Her instincts tell her to run, but her heart draws her closer to him. Patch is both intriguing and terrifying, possessing both unknown secrets from her past and a mysterious past of his own. As her world begins to crumble around her, Nora isn’t sure whom to turn to or whom she can trust. Finding herself caught up in a war between heaven and hell, Nora’s life is on the line and she is forced to distinguish between friend and foe.

Hush, Hush follows the traditional good girl meets bad boy love story; the characters’ true allegiances are not black and white, however, but a muddled mixture of the two, providing readers with a refreshing and well-needed change.

This was my first foray into “fallen angel” novels – it was a completely foreign concept to me until a few weeks ago. I was a little skeptical when I first started Hush, Hush; I couldn’t think of a plausible way to incorporate angels and demons into the plot summarized on the back cover. That being said, the summary doesn’t do the book justice – the actual text was completely different from what I had been expecting. I think I have a new obsession…with fallen angels.

While the story begins in a very Twilight-esque manner, the plot quickly develops some complicated twists and turns. Just when you think you understand what’s about to happen, the book takes a completely different turn, leaving you wide-eyed and mouth gaping open. All of my predictions while I was reading were…very far from the actual outcome – I couldn’t have been more wrong. Then again, that may just be a reflection of my predictions…

The characters were realistic and lovable. Readers could witness each character grow and develop throughout the novel, breaking old habits and developing new ones. Patch stood out to me – the dark, cunning, and mysterious figure that every girl drools over. His calculating, yet down to earth, personality contradict his seemingly bad boy appearance, and his softer side is eventually revealed. And yes, I have a new fictional crush.

As a debut novel, Hush, Hush was an impressive and intriguing read. For those of you who haven’t read it for a wide array of reasons, you’re missing out. The plot summary hints at a cliche boy meets girl love story with a dark, underlying edge, but the plot deviates drastically from this. I highly recommend this – it’s a quick read and it will be over before you know it. Besides, I need someone to gush over Patch with. So get reading!

 

4/5 Cauldrons

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Olivia

I am a senior in high school and an avid reader/reviewer, horseback rider, and graphic designer.  Since a young age, I have fostered a love of reading, beginning with my forays into the Nancy Drew series.  I’ve branched out significantly in my reading tastes since then, and my favorite genres include young adult, romance, mystery, and thriller.  I’m constantly trying to expand my horizons, however, so I do dabble in other genres.  While I’m not reading, I volunteer at a hippotherapy center and a veterinary clinic, practice agility with my dogs, play piano, and sketch.

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