Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michele Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.

I can't even recall how long I had been dying to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. From the cover to the avatar images reading "Who is Mara Dyer?" to that incredibly vague synopsis up there, I was utterly and completely intrigued. Therefore, it is only logical to assume that I would pounce on my very first opportunity to get my hands on a copy, and that is exactly what I did. Despite the hype and my already sky high expectations, Michelle Hodkin still managed to blow my mind on several occasions and leave me speechless in the best way possible.

The novel starts off with a letter from the narrator, informing the reader that her name is not in fact Mara Dyer. The following chapters provide a bit of "Mara's" backstory. It is obvious from the very beginning that, though simply an adolescent girl, this protagonist could never conform to a modern standard of normal. Within her very self lies a chilling secret that is waiting to be unlocked.

Now, in case you're wondering why I'm being fairly vague with this review, let me explain. First, it's rather difficult to talk about Mara Dyer without giving away significant keys to the plot, and I don't like ruining books for people. And second, I want you all to read it. I've been an avid reader for a long time, and it's fairly rare for me to deem a book worthy of ratings far beyond the five star system. This story is one of those. Michelle Hodkin created a world that had me up for hours, frightened out of my wits but unable to stop reading. I had to know what happened next. I had to know how it ended. Speaking of the ending, I was totally and completely stunned. To this day, I still have no clue as to how that sequence of events could've occurred, or how the conflict will be resolved.

I can't post this review without mentioning a certain gorgeous guy with a British accent. Yes, I'm talking about the infamous Noah Shaw. I'm so glad the author created a character who was equal parts bad boy and total sweetheart, because he's exactly what Mara needs. Noah can dish sarcasm and wit that is right up to par with Mara's personality. Each is in a sense broken, and the other is fully capable of putting them back together.

Is it 2012 yet?! I need a sequel! That is all.

Rating: 5+/5 stars