Review: Total snooze fest!
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
Rating: 2 starsArrrrggghhhh- I'm so mad right now. Not mad at the author or the book, but at myself. I feel like there's something wrong with me! I love love LOVE CM Stunich. I have yet to be disappointed, and yet, I feel somewhat let down after reading this story. I adore YA books too- they take me back to my younger days, in high school when everything was easy and my biggest worry was which boy I thought I liked more.In San Alplastar it is a yearly tradition for kids between the ages of 13-18 to participate in 'The Arrangement' where titles are rewarded to certain teens after voting, sort of like voting for homecoming king/queen, in a way. The main character in the story, Chloe Summers, decided to sit this years festivities out but is chosen as the Crush anyway. Having no idea how her signature was forged on the form and how she earned this title, the adventure unfolds and many mysteries remain, the most important being: who killed last years Crush, Tatiana?So there are several roles that are filled each year for this Arrangement. It doesn't last all year, just during the summer months and after it is over, everything is SUPPOSED to go back to normal. Chloe meets a guy whom she eventually falls for named Casper after he saves her from drowning in the beginning of the story. Casper's sister, Julie, is terminally ill and picked for the Outcast role during the Arrangement period. The Outcast deals with many hardships throughout this time, including: cruelty, hate, vandalism, harassment, and so on. Why do the townspeople and the police turn their backs away to this behavior? All because of some stupid tradition? Or is there more to it than that?I really tried to get into this story but often times felt so confused. Maybe part of the reason was because I couldn't connect myself to the characters well enough and didn't pay attention to the extent I normally would. I found myself putting my Kindle down a lot! When I read CM's books I hardly EVER walk away- so this really came as a shock to me. I can't blame it on the author because I know how amazingly talented she is- I blame myself. This book just wasn't for me. I confirmed this after reading many wonderful reviews online. I don't want to sway any other potential readers opinions here, but an honest review is what I'm asked for so that's what I give.