Thursday, October 24, 2013

Hysteria by Megan Miranda 
Release Date: Feb 5th, 2013 by Walker Childrens
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary > Mystery Thriller
Source: NetGalley (Thank you NetGalley & Walker Childrens!)
Find It: Amazon || GoodReads || B&N
Summary:
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.






If I could describe Hysteria in one it would be... awkward. 

Mallory killed her boyfriend. She can't exactly recollect what happened that night and while I find books like this incredibly interesting, Hysteria did not grab me. At all. Eventually Mallory's parents send her to Monroe, a fancy prep school her father attended. Which I guess was a smart thing to do since Brian (her dead ex boyfriend)'s mom is on her own quest to pretty much kill Mallory. I know, what the hey hey right? So while at Monroe, really strange things are happening and the usual jackassary of prep kids who think they rule the world, all the while Mallory's parents are excited but not excited to hear from her, her best friend is pretty banned from ever speaking to her and then... there's Reid. Reid who's father is friends with her father and they pretty much grew up together and almost kissed once. Oh and there's also weird psychological trauma things going on.

While I felt for Mallory and I felt her anxiety through out the journey, I couldn't understand why she kept running all the time. Why didn't she just ask Reid if he saw this or that? I mean sure it would make her look strange but I'm sure it would make her look a little more sane than her running all the time at the most random times. I didn't really dig Mallory's best friend, there was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way and I wish we got to know Dylan in a more acceptable environment. Everyone else I pretty much disliked except for Reid. Sweet sweet Reid; he knew the story behind Mallory's move and it didn't matter to him because he knew her and that should had spoken volumes to Mallory but it didn't. Because she chose it not to. But he was so sweet and caring and I just really liked him.

I don't know if there was suppose to be a twist or what was even going on... I was pretty confused by the time things started "coming together". Like Dylan showing up in her motel room --- how he figured out where she was is way beyond me but the fact that he ran up on her and then just backed away was the most confusing thing.... ever. When all of Mallory's memories started coming back, it was a little hard to understand why she stabbed Brian. I mean, okay he was kinda out of control but I don't know, it seemed more like a "deck him in the chin" or "hit him when a chair" sort of situation and not so much of a "stab him" situation. I don't know, I sort of just felt like everything didn't click together as nicely as I would had wanted it to. Like the author (I am not bashing, I'm just saying) tried to think of an intense situation but not one TOO intense to fit the bill.

Overall, I sadly didn't really enjoy reading this and I wish I did because it sounded like something that could be so good.

2 comments:

  1. Aw, sad to hear that this one fell so short for you, Marie! I enjoyed this author's first book, but I never got around to reading this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Becky I haven't read her first book yet, even though it's been in my TBR since its release. Go figure lol! I'm hoping Fracture is a bit better than Hysteria.

      It wasn't AWFUL, just sort of strange. I always find psychological thrillers to be really creepy or really awkward.

      Delete