Status
Available
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Series
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Publication
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (2011), Hardcover, 464 pages
Description
Seventeen-year-old Mara cannot remember the accident that took the lives of three of her friends but, after moving from Rhode Island to Florida, finding love with Noah, and more deaths, she realizes uncovering something buried in her memory might save her family and her future.
User reviews
LibraryThing member theWallflower
Let me say it like this. I'd originally rated this two stars because the writing was competent. A day later, I was still suffering from the memory of the book, so I lowered the rating to one.
Why is this book so popular? It's just a romance. The writing is colorful, but unsophisticated. And the
The heartthrob is straight out of TFIOS. He's a scruffy, charming guy who speaks like a thirty-five year-old hipster with a Masters. And he has a cigarette thing too. But if that's not enough, he's British and rich. To manipulate the reader into liking him, he has the most blatant "save the dog" moment. Straight out of Carrie 2. He has no life interests in anything but the female lead.
And the female lead is the kind of simpering, do-nothing, damsel in distress that Twilight taught us to hate. She has no agency -- she's constantly being told what to do by the boy. She makes a show of resisting, but eventually goes along with it. Decisions are made for her. And when she does do something, she makes the worst possible decision to keep the plot going. It's an "idiot ball" plot.
And nothing happens. They tool around, arguing, going on dates, while I'm shouting at the book "do something!" The other events are full of cliches. There's the "I don't want to have sex" fight, the "Don't fight to prove your love... okay, fight" fight, bullies that are mean to the new kid for absolutely no reason. There's a little brother who has no presence whatsoever. Halfway in, he goes missing. No one knows why or who did it or why the heartthrob knows where he is or that he's been kidnapped. Uh, red flag?! Plus the kid's had only three lines up to this point, so who gives a fuck if he's gone. And she NEVER asks the boy how or why he knows where he is. She's just "grateful" to have him back. Idiot.
It's not poor writing, it's a poor story. With earmarks of Twilight bandwagon-jumping all over it.
Why is this book so popular? It's just a romance. The writing is colorful, but unsophisticated. And the
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beginning hooks you, but afterward, I felt betrayed. The characters aren't working towards anything. They have no problem to face. The girl seems to have Death Note powers (maybe) but she doesn't have a clue they exist until 75% through. Until then, you're just waiting for something power-related to happen. Meanwhile, you get mind games and insipid teen dating.The heartthrob is straight out of TFIOS. He's a scruffy, charming guy who speaks like a thirty-five year-old hipster with a Masters. And he has a cigarette thing too. But if that's not enough, he's British and rich. To manipulate the reader into liking him, he has the most blatant "save the dog" moment. Straight out of Carrie 2. He has no life interests in anything but the female lead.
And the female lead is the kind of simpering, do-nothing, damsel in distress that Twilight taught us to hate. She has no agency -- she's constantly being told what to do by the boy. She makes a show of resisting, but eventually goes along with it. Decisions are made for her. And when she does do something, she makes the worst possible decision to keep the plot going. It's an "idiot ball" plot.
And nothing happens. They tool around, arguing, going on dates, while I'm shouting at the book "do something!" The other events are full of cliches. There's the "I don't want to have sex" fight, the "Don't fight to prove your love... okay, fight" fight, bullies that are mean to the new kid for absolutely no reason. There's a little brother who has no presence whatsoever. Halfway in, he goes missing. No one knows why or who did it or why the heartthrob knows where he is or that he's been kidnapped. Uh, red flag?! Plus the kid's had only three lines up to this point, so who gives a fuck if he's gone. And she NEVER asks the boy how or why he knows where he is. She's just "grateful" to have him back. Idiot.
It's not poor writing, it's a poor story. With earmarks of Twilight bandwagon-jumping all over it.
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LibraryThing member arielfl
Mediocre paranormal YA novel. Same old, same old. Edward and Bella redux minus the vampire angle. This book makes me appreciate novels like the Hunger Games series and Daughter of Smoke and Bone which attempt to bring something fresh and worth reading about to the teens of today. Aside from the
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lame story line which cribs non stop from Twilight, the romantic male lead smokes. I can't understand why any responsible author would want to glamorize smoking to kids. The only thing I found mildly amusing was the South Florida references of the Miami Seaquarium and the Metro Zoo. As a resident of South Florida I knew the setting well but somehow she missed the multicultural vibrancy of living here in South Florida. Bottom line is there are better books for teens out there and I will not be passing this along to the daughter. Show Less
LibraryThing member FallingForBooks
First Line: My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something.
Favorite Quotes: “When I thought about it, I knew I had won the family lottery.”
“Your level of neuroses will only find love in a made-for-TV movie.”
“….I needed to keep my crazy in check.”
My
I definitely liked Mara. I thought she was relatable and I enjoyed her sense of humor throughout the story. I also enjoyed Noah’s character as well. He was a bad boy misunderstood. I enjoyed the two of them together and liked the bond they shared. I also liked that Mara’s parents were characters in the story. It seems like in some YA books that the parents are just missing.
So, I’m generally not too keen on book series because it seems like every book is part of a series now. But, I’m so looking forward to reading more into this series. I have unanswered questions and am looking forward to the next installment. If you haven’t read this yet, go now!
Overall: In love with this book!
Favorite Quotes: “When I thought about it, I knew I had won the family lottery.”
“Your level of neuroses will only find love in a made-for-TV movie.”
“….I needed to keep my crazy in check.”
My
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thoughts: I've heard so much about this book. It seems like everyone has been talking about it and reviewing it. Sometimes books are over-hyped to say the least; however this book is definitely an exception. I loved this book from beginning to end. I was hooked on this book from the very first page. I thought the plot was original; definitely attention grabbing and filled with lots of twists and turns. I never knew where the story was going to go or what was going on with Mara.I definitely liked Mara. I thought she was relatable and I enjoyed her sense of humor throughout the story. I also enjoyed Noah’s character as well. He was a bad boy misunderstood. I enjoyed the two of them together and liked the bond they shared. I also liked that Mara’s parents were characters in the story. It seems like in some YA books that the parents are just missing.
So, I’m generally not too keen on book series because it seems like every book is part of a series now. But, I’m so looking forward to reading more into this series. I have unanswered questions and am looking forward to the next installment. If you haven’t read this yet, go now!
Overall: In love with this book!
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LibraryThing member AyleeArgh
In short: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin couples a freaky psychological thriller with realistic characters and relationships to masterful effect.
You know I love me a psychological thriller. The more creepy and messed up and confusing, the better. And The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
My favourite part of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was its odd combination of unrealistic hallucinations with realistic characters and relationships. Mara has a whole, complete family (two parents and two brothers), which is unusual and refreshing compared to the non-existant or broken family structure that we're used to seeing in YA. I loved reading about Mara's relationships with every member of her family. But none more than Mara's relationship with her mother - the frustrated daughter and overbearing but caring mother kind of relationship - which wonderfully and accurately represented mother-daughter relationships in real life. Mara's insecurities and awkwardness around her love interest, Noah, also rang true to real life.
I found Mara to be an easy person to like. She's nerdy and awkward and prone to swearing and violence (what's not to like in those qualities?). At various points in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, she feels the urge to punch people in the face for annoying her: the mean girl at school says something rude and she wants to punch her in the face; her brother and her love interest, Noah, team up behind her back and she wants to punch them in the face; on one memorable occasion, the sun blinds her and she wants to punch it in the face; and several times, she says something awkward to Noah and wants to punch herself in the face. I couldn't help but like her for that.
I was not a fan of Noah's, however. I didn't always buy into his character; some of the things he said were cliched. But worse, he was an arrogant jerk, which I know some people who are into bad boys love, but it just isn't my thing. There is a fine line between being confident and smug and just plain douche-y, and unfortunately for me, I found that Noah fell on the wrong side of that line more often than not. That said, I have a feeling I may end up in the minority and most readers will love Noah. At any rate, my love of the plot was able to largely overrule my dislike of Noah, thankfully.
Overall, I loved The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer for the way it messed with my head one moment and then brought me back to earth with its realistic depictions of family life the next. Michelle Hodkin is a talented debut author and I highly recommend The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Word of warning though: if you hate cliffhangers and the wait in between books, watch out because The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer has one heck of a torturous cliffhanger.
You know I love me a psychological thriller. The more creepy and messed up and confusing, the better. And The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
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delivers as an intense, freaky thriller that messes with your mind right from the beginning. I tore my way through this one, largely thanks to its very short chapters, but also because Michelle Hodkin throws at the you scene after mind-bending scene that leaves you more and more confused with every page turned, so that you need to read on to find out what exactly is wrong with Mara Dyer and her freaky hallucinations.My favourite part of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was its odd combination of unrealistic hallucinations with realistic characters and relationships. Mara has a whole, complete family (two parents and two brothers), which is unusual and refreshing compared to the non-existant or broken family structure that we're used to seeing in YA. I loved reading about Mara's relationships with every member of her family. But none more than Mara's relationship with her mother - the frustrated daughter and overbearing but caring mother kind of relationship - which wonderfully and accurately represented mother-daughter relationships in real life. Mara's insecurities and awkwardness around her love interest, Noah, also rang true to real life.
I found Mara to be an easy person to like. She's nerdy and awkward and prone to swearing and violence (what's not to like in those qualities?). At various points in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, she feels the urge to punch people in the face for annoying her: the mean girl at school says something rude and she wants to punch her in the face; her brother and her love interest, Noah, team up behind her back and she wants to punch them in the face; on one memorable occasion, the sun blinds her and she wants to punch it in the face; and several times, she says something awkward to Noah and wants to punch herself in the face. I couldn't help but like her for that.
I was not a fan of Noah's, however. I didn't always buy into his character; some of the things he said were cliched. But worse, he was an arrogant jerk, which I know some people who are into bad boys love, but it just isn't my thing. There is a fine line between being confident and smug and just plain douche-y, and unfortunately for me, I found that Noah fell on the wrong side of that line more often than not. That said, I have a feeling I may end up in the minority and most readers will love Noah. At any rate, my love of the plot was able to largely overrule my dislike of Noah, thankfully.
Overall, I loved The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer for the way it messed with my head one moment and then brought me back to earth with its realistic depictions of family life the next. Michelle Hodkin is a talented debut author and I highly recommend The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Word of warning though: if you hate cliffhangers and the wait in between books, watch out because The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer has one heck of a torturous cliffhanger.
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LibraryThing member Candacemom2two
This is one of those books that sucks you in so thoroughly the entire time your reading that even once you've finished your mind is still focused on the book. Still soaking up all the awesomeness that is within it's pages. For it is full of awesome. So full of awesome that I am naming it my number
Mara is a character that I loved in every possible way. I loved her thoughts, I loved her reactions, I loved every single thing about her. I connected with her more than I probably have with any other character, ever. Mara's family, each and every one of them is important to the story and I loved that. I loved that they were there for her, they were helping her, they were the perfect family while still making mistakes at times.
I loved Noah. LOVED. He is my new favorite book boyfriend. He was also perfect in every way. From the small things he did to his big gestures, he was amazing. And the way things played out between the two of them didn't leave me angry or wanting to throw the book across the room, which is kind of rare in YA these days. Also the banter between Mara and Noah practically jumps off the page. It was so funny but totally realistic. The things they say and do are exactly what teenagers say and do.
The questions in this book definitely had my attention without making me furious at wanting, needing to know what the heck is going on! I think it was done perfectly so I'm curious for more but I'm not dying here. Well, maybe dying. Just a little. But still, it all played out perfect and I'm wonder What the Heck?! But not screaming in frustration at Michelle Hodkin.
Every single sentence in this book held my attention. The writing is phenomenal. I was just amazed at how well done it was! I mean I seriously could have read that book for another 400 pages because it was beautiful and amazing and wonderful and no mere words can describe the beauty that Michelle wrote upon those pages.
I will be very impatiently awaiting the next book but in the meantime I'll be making sure that Noah occupies my dreams...
This is really a beyond 5 star book. It's more like 10/5 stars...
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one most favorite book of the year. Mara is a character that I loved in every possible way. I loved her thoughts, I loved her reactions, I loved every single thing about her. I connected with her more than I probably have with any other character, ever. Mara's family, each and every one of them is important to the story and I loved that. I loved that they were there for her, they were helping her, they were the perfect family while still making mistakes at times.
I loved Noah. LOVED. He is my new favorite book boyfriend. He was also perfect in every way. From the small things he did to his big gestures, he was amazing. And the way things played out between the two of them didn't leave me angry or wanting to throw the book across the room, which is kind of rare in YA these days. Also the banter between Mara and Noah practically jumps off the page. It was so funny but totally realistic. The things they say and do are exactly what teenagers say and do.
The questions in this book definitely had my attention without making me furious at wanting, needing to know what the heck is going on! I think it was done perfectly so I'm curious for more but I'm not dying here. Well, maybe dying. Just a little. But still, it all played out perfect and I'm wonder What the Heck?! But not screaming in frustration at Michelle Hodkin.
Every single sentence in this book held my attention. The writing is phenomenal. I was just amazed at how well done it was! I mean I seriously could have read that book for another 400 pages because it was beautiful and amazing and wonderful and no mere words can describe the beauty that Michelle wrote upon those pages.
I will be very impatiently awaiting the next book but in the meantime I'll be making sure that Noah occupies my dreams...
This is really a beyond 5 star book. It's more like 10/5 stars...
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LibraryThing member krystal_osmond
My Review:
Well Ms. Hodkin, you have written yourself one heck of a book! Hands down, one of the best books I've read this year.
I'd had my eye on this book for quite some time, and was thrilled when a copy from the lovely people at Simon and Schuster ended up in my mailbox. From the first page, I
Michelle Hodkin isn't just a great writer, she is a great story teller. Everything about the way she wrote The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, her debut novel, is extraordinary!
Ms. Hodkin clearly has a way with words. They draw you in and make you want more. The story was painted clear in my head and I love when the author can do that. I felt like I was there, experiencing things with the characters. The other thing I loved about Mara Dyer were the short chapters. I love that I can read here and there (like on my break at work, waiting for my ride, whenever I had a few minutes) and I wouldn't have to worry about being in the middle of something big and important. But honestly, the way Ms. Hodkin ends the chapters...HOLY COW! At some points, it's almost impossible to stop reading.
Let's talk characters. I loved the characters in Mara Dyer. Obviously, we have Mara, a girl who was the only survivor of her friends in an accident. She is such a great character. Everything about Mara is honest, believable and real. She was going through a tough time, dealing with the deaths of her friends. As I was reading, I could really relate to Mara. Her parents were great characters too. And her brothers played key roles in the book, which was great to see. (Not like other books where the family is there just for the sake of having a family) Then we have Noah...oh Noah. I love him! (He's everything I want and more :) !) He was the bad boy with the bad boy reputation (and yes, admit it, we all adore the bad ones) He was sweet, with a gentleman quality and I saw some modesty in him too. Together, Mara and Noah were wonderful. Michelle Hodkin got the characters perfect! Their playful banter and smart remarks always had me smiling and actually laughing out loud.
Engaging characters aside, the story and the plot really had me going. Hodkin had me guessing from the beginning as to what was going on, why Mara was the only survivor and I was a little worried that it would get cheesy at the end when the final plot was revealed. But trust me, there was no cheese in this book, just twists, turns and a whole lot of guessing.
I really can't say enough good things about Michelle Hodkins book. Everything was fantastic. Michelle is a great writer and I believe we will be seeing a lot more greatness from her in the future.
Read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, if you don't read anything else, just read this!
Well Ms. Hodkin, you have written yourself one heck of a book! Hands down, one of the best books I've read this year.
I'd had my eye on this book for quite some time, and was thrilled when a copy from the lovely people at Simon and Schuster ended up in my mailbox. From the first page, I
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was hooked!Michelle Hodkin isn't just a great writer, she is a great story teller. Everything about the way she wrote The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, her debut novel, is extraordinary!
Ms. Hodkin clearly has a way with words. They draw you in and make you want more. The story was painted clear in my head and I love when the author can do that. I felt like I was there, experiencing things with the characters. The other thing I loved about Mara Dyer were the short chapters. I love that I can read here and there (like on my break at work, waiting for my ride, whenever I had a few minutes) and I wouldn't have to worry about being in the middle of something big and important. But honestly, the way Ms. Hodkin ends the chapters...HOLY COW! At some points, it's almost impossible to stop reading.
Let's talk characters. I loved the characters in Mara Dyer. Obviously, we have Mara, a girl who was the only survivor of her friends in an accident. She is such a great character. Everything about Mara is honest, believable and real. She was going through a tough time, dealing with the deaths of her friends. As I was reading, I could really relate to Mara. Her parents were great characters too. And her brothers played key roles in the book, which was great to see. (Not like other books where the family is there just for the sake of having a family) Then we have Noah...oh Noah. I love him! (He's everything I want and more :) !) He was the bad boy with the bad boy reputation (and yes, admit it, we all adore the bad ones) He was sweet, with a gentleman quality and I saw some modesty in him too. Together, Mara and Noah were wonderful. Michelle Hodkin got the characters perfect! Their playful banter and smart remarks always had me smiling and actually laughing out loud.
Engaging characters aside, the story and the plot really had me going. Hodkin had me guessing from the beginning as to what was going on, why Mara was the only survivor and I was a little worried that it would get cheesy at the end when the final plot was revealed. But trust me, there was no cheese in this book, just twists, turns and a whole lot of guessing.
I really can't say enough good things about Michelle Hodkins book. Everything was fantastic. Michelle is a great writer and I believe we will be seeing a lot more greatness from her in the future.
Read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, if you don't read anything else, just read this!
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Guys. I am practically incoherent after finishing this book. Yes, it is THAT GOOD. “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer” has everything I love about a book in it – a balance of all plot elements without the sub-arcs smothering each other while holding up the main plot. Stuff that keeps me guessing,
There is the initial mystery of what happened to Mara in the first place, and Hodkin does a great job of reminding us about this throughout the book, no matter where we are in the sub-arcs, whether we’re in Mara’s new school, experiencing hallucinations or at home, with her in her nightmares/memories/dreams. There’s always the dagger of what happened hanging over her. She can’t forget that, and neither can we. And the way Hodkin does this isn’t overly suffocating – it’s a mention of a look, a quick flashback to what happened at the asylum, someone who looks like her now dead friends and that’s all it takes to remind us how high the stakes are for Mara – literally, her “unbecoming”, as the title suggests, and the unraveling of not just her sanity, but of her very being (moral and otherwise).
And the stakes only get higher as the book goes on. The mysteries start piling up, from her very first day at school (the dog’s owner – was that a hallucination or a real vision of him dead?) forward. There’s never a moment where the tension (be it of the main plot or the sub-arcs that help hold it up) leaves the page. There’s never a moment where the characters are completely still, and therefore, we’re never still. So many books, regardless of genre, try to get this right, and very few actually are able to do it. The answer is provided in Hodkin’s way of writing – you just don’t let the tension leave, ever. Even if it shrinks, it’s still there, and it’s still a reminder of a lingering threat, be it past, present, or future. That’s the key to writing an amazing book, right there. And Hodkin did it.
And then there’s the ending. There’s so much out there, especially in YA as of late, that’s at least two books long. I love me some series, trilogies, and duologies, but to a certain point. Then again, there are many stories that can’t be contained to just one book. I think “Mara Dyer” may be one of them. But Hodkin doesn’t really push this on us – she leaves it to the reader to decide what the ending really means for Mara, her world, and her future. I would love to see another book in this world, but at the same time, I can do just as well without. That too is hard to accomplish, but once more, Hodkin has done it.
So I’m quite happy with how this book turned out. I literally could not put it down. It’s a delicious gem of a book that should be a model for other books out there. Definitely in my top ten for the year. The hype definitely is deserved. Wonderful, awesome, and…I can’t find any more words. Just read it once it comes out, and thank me later.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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stuff that horrifies and intrigues me, a little bit of romance that doesn’t totally overwhelm everything else, and a heroine that kicks ass and takes names — even if she doesn’t realize she’s doing it. And that ending. Cliffhangers that leave open space for another story, yet leaves enough for the reader to make up one’s own open ending; Hodkin does it all with style and grace and I didn’t want leave Mara Dyer’s frighteningly wonderful world once the book ended.There is the initial mystery of what happened to Mara in the first place, and Hodkin does a great job of reminding us about this throughout the book, no matter where we are in the sub-arcs, whether we’re in Mara’s new school, experiencing hallucinations or at home, with her in her nightmares/memories/dreams. There’s always the dagger of what happened hanging over her. She can’t forget that, and neither can we. And the way Hodkin does this isn’t overly suffocating – it’s a mention of a look, a quick flashback to what happened at the asylum, someone who looks like her now dead friends and that’s all it takes to remind us how high the stakes are for Mara – literally, her “unbecoming”, as the title suggests, and the unraveling of not just her sanity, but of her very being (moral and otherwise).
And the stakes only get higher as the book goes on. The mysteries start piling up, from her very first day at school (the dog’s owner – was that a hallucination or a real vision of him dead?) forward. There’s never a moment where the tension (be it of the main plot or the sub-arcs that help hold it up) leaves the page. There’s never a moment where the characters are completely still, and therefore, we’re never still. So many books, regardless of genre, try to get this right, and very few actually are able to do it. The answer is provided in Hodkin’s way of writing – you just don’t let the tension leave, ever. Even if it shrinks, it’s still there, and it’s still a reminder of a lingering threat, be it past, present, or future. That’s the key to writing an amazing book, right there. And Hodkin did it.
And then there’s the ending. There’s so much out there, especially in YA as of late, that’s at least two books long. I love me some series, trilogies, and duologies, but to a certain point. Then again, there are many stories that can’t be contained to just one book. I think “Mara Dyer” may be one of them. But Hodkin doesn’t really push this on us – she leaves it to the reader to decide what the ending really means for Mara, her world, and her future. I would love to see another book in this world, but at the same time, I can do just as well without. That too is hard to accomplish, but once more, Hodkin has done it.
So I’m quite happy with how this book turned out. I literally could not put it down. It’s a delicious gem of a book that should be a model for other books out there. Definitely in my top ten for the year. The hype definitely is deserved. Wonderful, awesome, and…I can’t find any more words. Just read it once it comes out, and thank me later.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member katiedoll
The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer is one of those books that messes with your head. In a really, really great way. I'm not sure how authors like Michelle Hodkin or Kelly Creagh (Nevermore) can pull it off, but I never thought I'd be gushing over how much I loved that I had no clue what was going on.
To be
And I have to mention that this book gave me the creeps. A lot. Mara's got some pretty cruel things happening around her and Hodkin's haunting writing only amplified the creep factor and the whole mysterious loss of memory and hallucination stuff.
Overall, even the hype monster didn't stand a chance against The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer. Michelle Hodkin's dark debut is edgy, scary, romantic, funny and so much more. You know it's been a good reading experience if you're still thinking of one book while in the middle of another, so I definitely recommend you check this one out!
To be
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honest, I would've loved the book even without all of the mind trickery. I would've loved the book if nothing had happened and it was just Mara and Noah, the gorgeous British bad boy, talking for the whole novel. Michelle Hodkin struck gold with this relationship. I was bouncing between laughing from their banter and awing from their sweetness to fanning myself from their sexual tension. This is such a serious book, but I loved those occasional moments of humor andlightness between the two of them. It added a lot of charm.And I have to mention that this book gave me the creeps. A lot. Mara's got some pretty cruel things happening around her and Hodkin's haunting writing only amplified the creep factor and the whole mysterious loss of memory and hallucination stuff.
Overall, even the hype monster didn't stand a chance against The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer. Michelle Hodkin's dark debut is edgy, scary, romantic, funny and so much more. You know it's been a good reading experience if you're still thinking of one book while in the middle of another, so I definitely recommend you check this one out!
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LibraryThing member skaohee
At the end of May, I was pining for this book. I mean, I wanted this book so bad. Doesn't it just intrigue you reading this little bit? It certain snagged me. Then I saw it wasn't coming out until the end of September. I was sad. Then I saw it was at BEA and I thought to myself "WHY, OH WHY am I
BUT THEN. Oh yes, then. THEN, I was at ALA Annual and there she was. Mara Dyer. And she was mine. I read this book back in July and let me tell you what - I'm STILL wild about it. There is sassiness, snarkiness, love, flirting, MYSTERY, and just a tinge of that teenage angst that makes me so happy.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer follows our protagonist as she tries to understand what happened when she was the sole survivor of a collapsed building. Mara, along with the reader, slowly starts to figure out what exactly happened that night and what's going on, at the same time as some murders seem to be occurring. This book reminded me very much of The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson minus the Sci-Fi aspect.
If you're looking for a "psychological thriller with a paranormal twist", this is your go-to fall book. I woke up at 5AM to get reading in before work if that tells you anything about how AMAZING this book is.
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not there?". More sadness.BUT THEN. Oh yes, then. THEN, I was at ALA Annual and there she was. Mara Dyer. And she was mine. I read this book back in July and let me tell you what - I'm STILL wild about it. There is sassiness, snarkiness, love, flirting, MYSTERY, and just a tinge of that teenage angst that makes me so happy.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer follows our protagonist as she tries to understand what happened when she was the sole survivor of a collapsed building. Mara, along with the reader, slowly starts to figure out what exactly happened that night and what's going on, at the same time as some murders seem to be occurring. This book reminded me very much of The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson minus the Sci-Fi aspect.
If you're looking for a "psychological thriller with a paranormal twist", this is your go-to fall book. I woke up at 5AM to get reading in before work if that tells you anything about how AMAZING this book is.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
Sucks you in and doesn't let go -- I hated putting it down (see I love you kids, I put down a fab book to spend time with you )
Mysterious, spooky, and dark
Parents aren't horrendous self absorbed morons (you get extra points just for that)
Love interest is a yummy bad boy with an
Some nice humour - quirky and a little bit snarky - just what I like
Lots of twists and turns and it keeps you on the edge of your seat
Love the relationship between Mara and her brothers
Love Jamie
Did I mention her parents weren't horrendous self absorbed morons- I really have to let this go -- nope not going to I'm old and set in my way
Liked all the pop culture references - yes I do know I am a nerd thank you very much
Author is a fab storyteller - give you a little bit and than makes you wait with anticipation
The Not so Good Stuff
Was a wee bit confused near the end with what was going on
If there is a sequel than the ending was good if not - Michelle Hodkin I will hunt you down and make you (not really but I'd be pissed if that was the final ending to the story)
WTF with the everglades and the leeches - yeah really didn't like those parts
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I decided not to tell her about my little adventure today; if she watched me any closer, she'd turn into the Eye of Sauron"
"So A-holes aside, how's your first week?"
Oh, you know. Saw a dead guy. Losing my mind. Same Old. "Not too bad."
"I gracelessly darted into the crowd and only narrowly avoided being elbowed in the face by a girl attired in what could only be described as "slutty Gryffindor" apparel. So wrong."
Who should/shouldn't read
This one is good for both YA and adults
I would say probably 14+ due to violence and sexuality -- but that is just a suggestion, nothing a more mature 12/13 yr old couldn't handle
Not for those who like a light read, you have to be paying attention
Kelley Armstrong fans will enjoy
4.25 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
Sucks you in and doesn't let go -- I hated putting it down (see I love you kids, I put down a fab book to spend time with you )
Mysterious, spooky, and dark
Parents aren't horrendous self absorbed morons (you get extra points just for that)
Love interest is a yummy bad boy with an
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English accentSome nice humour - quirky and a little bit snarky - just what I like
Lots of twists and turns and it keeps you on the edge of your seat
Love the relationship between Mara and her brothers
Love Jamie
Did I mention her parents weren't horrendous self absorbed morons- I really have to let this go -- nope not going to I'm old and set in my way
Liked all the pop culture references - yes I do know I am a nerd thank you very much
Author is a fab storyteller - give you a little bit and than makes you wait with anticipation
The Not so Good Stuff
Was a wee bit confused near the end with what was going on
If there is a sequel than the ending was good if not - Michelle Hodkin I will hunt you down and make you (not really but I'd be pissed if that was the final ending to the story)
WTF with the everglades and the leeches - yeah really didn't like those parts
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I decided not to tell her about my little adventure today; if she watched me any closer, she'd turn into the Eye of Sauron"
"So A-holes aside, how's your first week?"
Oh, you know. Saw a dead guy. Losing my mind. Same Old. "Not too bad."
"I gracelessly darted into the crowd and only narrowly avoided being elbowed in the face by a girl attired in what could only be described as "slutty Gryffindor" apparel. So wrong."
Who should/shouldn't read
This one is good for both YA and adults
I would say probably 14+ due to violence and sexuality -- but that is just a suggestion, nothing a more mature 12/13 yr old couldn't handle
Not for those who like a light read, you have to be paying attention
Kelley Armstrong fans will enjoy
4.25 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member JessicaSpotswood
OMG. This book. I’ve been wanting to read it since Michelle entered Nathan Bransford’s first paragraph contest in 2009, and it totally lived up to its hook. As someone who’s struggled with anxiety, who spent months feeling broken and wondering if I was crazy, I related to Mara. Uncomfortably
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so, sometimes. But Mara’s amazing–no matter how much she’s hurting and doubting herself, she keeps going, and she’s so much stronger and more compassionate than she gives herself credit for. The dialogue is witty and hilarious without ever feeling overwritten–the kind of dialogue that feels pitch-perfect and gives me serious writer-envy. And Noah Shaw–guys. Noah is British and perpetually disheveled and crazy-hot and smart and he’s going on my list of favorite book boys. Show Less
LibraryThing member psteinke1122
Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital not completely remembering the events that lead up to her hospitalization. Turns out she was in an abandoned/condemned building that collapsed on her and her 3 friends. Her three friends didn’t survive. Mara has to deal with the aftermath, and she is haunted by
Mara Dyer grabs you from the first page. You have to know what happened that caused the death of her friends! And as you are waiting for that to be revealed, other mysterious things start to happen which makes “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer” so hard to put down.
Michelle Hodkin did a beautiful job of creating and fleshing out Mara. Mara had the same questions I did while reading the book and often thought the same things I did while reading it. I could really get into Mara because so much of her psyche and thought process were revealed. It was one of those time where you are almost convinced that Michelle must have had personal experience…know what I mean?
And Noah…the word “dreamy” comes to mind! Holy Hannah! He is a total Knight in Shining Armor, but a flawed one which made him all the more dreamy! In a word, I LOVE Noah!
There was a beautiful twist of an ending…that if we, the reader, had really stopped to think about, shouldn’t have been that surprising. There were clues as to what was coming, but we assumed that they were part of Mara’s “unbecoming”. Very tricky Ms. Hodkin, very tricky. This is definitely one of those books you can’t take at face value…there are a lot of things bubbling just under the surface!
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nightmares and hallucinations. Mara’s family moves to Florida to get a fresh start where she meets Noah…the campus playboy and he is smitten with her…making her an immediate enemy with every other girl in school. As Mara and Noah get closer, other really strange things start to happen, and Mara makes a startling and overwhelming realization.Mara Dyer grabs you from the first page. You have to know what happened that caused the death of her friends! And as you are waiting for that to be revealed, other mysterious things start to happen which makes “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer” so hard to put down.
Michelle Hodkin did a beautiful job of creating and fleshing out Mara. Mara had the same questions I did while reading the book and often thought the same things I did while reading it. I could really get into Mara because so much of her psyche and thought process were revealed. It was one of those time where you are almost convinced that Michelle must have had personal experience…know what I mean?
And Noah…the word “dreamy” comes to mind! Holy Hannah! He is a total Knight in Shining Armor, but a flawed one which made him all the more dreamy! In a word, I LOVE Noah!
There was a beautiful twist of an ending…that if we, the reader, had really stopped to think about, shouldn’t have been that surprising. There were clues as to what was coming, but we assumed that they were part of Mara’s “unbecoming”. Very tricky Ms. Hodkin, very tricky. This is definitely one of those books you can’t take at face value…there are a lot of things bubbling just under the surface!
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LibraryThing member jacindahinten
The books I love the most, are the hardest to write a review for without just squeeing all the time! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of those books to me! Yay! Who doesn’t want that!
This is a book that is hard to say anything about without giving away any type of spoilers. Seriously! So much
This book ended with us pretty much still knowing nothing (well we know some things)…but I have no problem with that. There’s a kinda-sorta, maybe…there IS a cliffhanger. But it is very shocking and has you rethinking certain portions of the book in your head. All in all, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is suspenseful, thriller-y, and has some romance.
All in all…it is a mindf#*$...which is good! Plus we have NOAH!
This is a book that is hard to say anything about without giving away any type of spoilers. Seriously! So much
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craziness happens and many times I caught myself saying, “What the…?!” You might be thinking this was bad, but it wasn’t…it was good confusion…if that is even possible. I admit, I get confused reading books at times and I’m turned off and I won’t continue reading. I was shocked and confused and curious at times, but I wasn’t the same confused I have been with other books. It was a confused where I know stuff will be revealed to me in time and not confused from lack of explanation.This book ended with us pretty much still knowing nothing (well we know some things)…but I have no problem with that. There’s a kinda-sorta, maybe…there IS a cliffhanger. But it is very shocking and has you rethinking certain portions of the book in your head. All in all, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is suspenseful, thriller-y, and has some romance.
All in all…it is a mindf#*$...which is good! Plus we have NOAH!
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LibraryThing member dizzyweasel
To start, three stars does not mean I hated it. I consider ratings like grades, before inflation set in and "C" became a dirty word. "C" is for average, therefore 3 is for average. If this book were a student, it wouldn't be headed to Harvard, but at least it's not headed for community college
Synopsis: Mara Dyer's best friends and boyfriend are dead. When she wakes up in the hospital she has no recollection of what they were doing or how she managed to be the sole survivor. When Mara begins having visions of her dead friends, her mother is convinced Mara has PTSD, and the family moves to Florida. While there, enrolled in private school, Mara meets Noah, a gorgeous British boy with a bad reputation. He and Mara are drawn to one another and become inseparable after her saves her from some school bullies. As the romance unfolds, Mara begins having terrible and disturbing flashes of memory about the fateful night she lost her friends.
Review: When the book began with a redacted letter from "Mara" explaining that wasn't her real name and that her lawyer insisted on anonymity, I thought this was going to be The Basic Eight: A Novel - unreliable narrator, some creepy twist, etc. The reviews had promised something deliciously spooky. I thought, "A girl who sees the ghosts of her friends who died in the building collapse of an abandoned insane asylum? This must be good!" I would be wrong. The spooky, unpleasant unfolding of the deaths of Mara's friends happens to slowly, and the romance is given center stage (and the majority of the page count, which is pretty high). We hear Mara thinking about Noah, drawing Noah, talking to Noah, talking about Noah, going on dates with Noah, sleeping in bed with Noah (no, nothing naughty). You could be reading any mediocre YA romance - there's nothing to set this one apart. Mara is (as usual) a pretty new-girl-in-town, fascinating to the bad boy for no particular reason other than plot device, and Noah is the sexy boy-with-a-reputation to whom Mara is irresistibly drawn. He's well read, he speaks several languages, he's fabulously wealthy, and his teachers seem to have no control over him or his time.
After the author establishes that YOU ARE READING A ROMANCE NOVEL, she throws in a few paranormal elements to keep things interesting. I'd have loved more focus on these if it meant there were less focus on the romance. But alas, no. After slogging through 400 pages, things started to get good. More scary asylum stuff, more action, more weird happenings (and a subplot with a murder case Mara's dad is working on), and I thought we were finally on our way to solving the mystery of Mara's terrible accident. But after another veer off course with the uninteresting subplot, the book dead-ended. On the last page you're treated to a cliffhanger and "End of Volume One".
I was seriously irritated. Once I began enjoying the book, I was pleased that is was going to be a one-shot deal, none of this trilogy (or longer) business YA authors seem to think they need to subscribe to since Twilight and The Hunger Games proved the success of the format. There are some stories that do not require several books to tell them. This story could have been adequately, nay, admirably told in one book. Less obsession with Noah's fine form, more exploration of the spooky mystery. Unfortunately, the paint-by-numbers approach to YA novel writing took over and the mystery was relegated to the backstage in favor of adolescent romance.
The characterization left much to be desired. Mara is undeveloped as a human being, and Noah could easily be interchanged with any other YA hero. The characters are too good. They don't speak or behave like high school students. And for all the time they spend in school, they're certainly not doing anything scholastic with their time. I remember high school. No one was nearly so coherent and mature as these kids. But then the author will try to force teenage characterization by giving the protagonists some expletives to toss out - 'hey look, we're really foul-mouthed kids!'. I suppose that's a warning for parents screening books for their kids: there's quite a bit of swearing and some sexual situations in here, FYI. I was going to pass this on to my colleague's 13-year-old daughter, but I'm rethinking that now.
The Round-Up: Entertaining mystery, bland romance. I don't care a fig for the characters, but I'm interested enough in finding out what happened in the asylum to give Volume Two a shot when it's released.
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either.Synopsis: Mara Dyer's best friends and boyfriend are dead. When she wakes up in the hospital she has no recollection of what they were doing or how she managed to be the sole survivor. When Mara begins having visions of her dead friends, her mother is convinced Mara has PTSD, and the family moves to Florida. While there, enrolled in private school, Mara meets Noah, a gorgeous British boy with a bad reputation. He and Mara are drawn to one another and become inseparable after her saves her from some school bullies. As the romance unfolds, Mara begins having terrible and disturbing flashes of memory about the fateful night she lost her friends.
Review: When the book began with a redacted letter from "Mara" explaining that wasn't her real name and that her lawyer insisted on anonymity, I thought this was going to be The Basic Eight: A Novel - unreliable narrator, some creepy twist, etc. The reviews had promised something deliciously spooky. I thought, "A girl who sees the ghosts of her friends who died in the building collapse of an abandoned insane asylum? This must be good!" I would be wrong. The spooky, unpleasant unfolding of the deaths of Mara's friends happens to slowly, and the romance is given center stage (and the majority of the page count, which is pretty high). We hear Mara thinking about Noah, drawing Noah, talking to Noah, talking about Noah, going on dates with Noah, sleeping in bed with Noah (no, nothing naughty). You could be reading any mediocre YA romance - there's nothing to set this one apart. Mara is (as usual) a pretty new-girl-in-town, fascinating to the bad boy for no particular reason other than plot device, and Noah is the sexy boy-with-a-reputation to whom Mara is irresistibly drawn. He's well read, he speaks several languages, he's fabulously wealthy, and his teachers seem to have no control over him or his time.
After the author establishes that YOU ARE READING A ROMANCE NOVEL, she throws in a few paranormal elements to keep things interesting. I'd have loved more focus on these if it meant there were less focus on the romance. But alas, no. After slogging through 400 pages, things started to get good. More scary asylum stuff, more action, more weird happenings (and a subplot with a murder case Mara's dad is working on), and I thought we were finally on our way to solving the mystery of Mara's terrible accident. But after another veer off course with the uninteresting subplot, the book dead-ended. On the last page you're treated to a cliffhanger and "End of Volume One".
I was seriously irritated. Once I began enjoying the book, I was pleased that is was going to be a one-shot deal, none of this trilogy (or longer) business YA authors seem to think they need to subscribe to since Twilight and The Hunger Games proved the success of the format. There are some stories that do not require several books to tell them. This story could have been adequately, nay, admirably told in one book. Less obsession with Noah's fine form, more exploration of the spooky mystery. Unfortunately, the paint-by-numbers approach to YA novel writing took over and the mystery was relegated to the backstage in favor of adolescent romance.
The characterization left much to be desired. Mara is undeveloped as a human being, and Noah could easily be interchanged with any other YA hero. The characters are too good. They don't speak or behave like high school students. And for all the time they spend in school, they're certainly not doing anything scholastic with their time. I remember high school. No one was nearly so coherent and mature as these kids. But then the author will try to force teenage characterization by giving the protagonists some expletives to toss out - 'hey look, we're really foul-mouthed kids!'. I suppose that's a warning for parents screening books for their kids: there's quite a bit of swearing and some sexual situations in here, FYI. I was going to pass this on to my colleague's 13-year-old daughter, but I'm rethinking that now.
The Round-Up: Entertaining mystery, bland romance. I don't care a fig for the characters, but I'm interested enough in finding out what happened in the asylum to give Volume Two a shot when it's released.
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LibraryThing member _Lily_
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 wrong. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I was really excited to get my hands on this highly coveted YA title. I was expecting an amazing read and Hodkin didn't disappoint. I saw a lot of raves with this title and I must say most of them were spot on.
My only "issue" with this book is I felt like there was a lot of needless padding to it. Some of the scenes that I read and thought were pointless, became very important by time the book was over, so it's possible that the other scenes that still seem "pointless" will come to be important by the time book 2 is out.
I really liked the spookyness of this book and there were many surprises that I never saw coming the end was especially shocking and the way it ended kinda bugged me because now I have to wait to find out what happens to Mara and company!
What I really enjoyed was the relationship between Mara and Noah wasn't a typical YA love-at-first-sight kind, it progressed throughout the story. The dialog in the book was small, that is to say there wasn't loads, a lot of the information we got was through Mara's internal thoughts not the characters telling each other. Hodkin is a shower not a teller.
After reading this book I still have a lot of questions one of the biggest still is the promo question "Who is Mara Dyer?" after reading this book I do wonder who is she? Who is she really?
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA novel that has a bit of spook, a bit of mystery and a bit of romance.
* Hardcover: 464 pages
* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
* ISBN-10: 1442421762
* Author: Michelle Hodkin
* Overall rating ****1/2 out of 5 stars
* Cover art: Best YA cover of 2011.
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.
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
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she's been through, she can fall in love.She's wrong. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I was really excited to get my hands on this highly coveted YA title. I was expecting an amazing read and Hodkin didn't disappoint. I saw a lot of raves with this title and I must say most of them were spot on.
My only "issue" with this book is I felt like there was a lot of needless padding to it. Some of the scenes that I read and thought were pointless, became very important by time the book was over, so it's possible that the other scenes that still seem "pointless" will come to be important by the time book 2 is out.
I really liked the spookyness of this book and there were many surprises that I never saw coming the end was especially shocking and the way it ended kinda bugged me because now I have to wait to find out what happens to Mara and company!
What I really enjoyed was the relationship between Mara and Noah wasn't a typical YA love-at-first-sight kind, it progressed throughout the story. The dialog in the book was small, that is to say there wasn't loads, a lot of the information we got was through Mara's internal thoughts not the characters telling each other. Hodkin is a shower not a teller.
After reading this book I still have a lot of questions one of the biggest still is the promo question "Who is Mara Dyer?" after reading this book I do wonder who is she? Who is she really?
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA novel that has a bit of spook, a bit of mystery and a bit of romance.
* Hardcover: 464 pages
* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
* ISBN-10: 1442421762
* Author: Michelle Hodkin
* Overall rating ****1/2 out of 5 stars
* Cover art: Best YA cover of 2011.
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.
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LibraryThing member lifeafterjane
I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect to fall head first into this book because I did. You've heard all the hype. It's got you psyched. You can't wait to read it because everyone says "It's sooooo good!" and yeah, it was. So when I came up for air 452 pages later, it was no surprise that I loved
Mara wakes up from a terrible accident that claimed the lives of three of her friends. She has no memory of what happened, nor does she remember why or how she even came to be at the scene. In an effort to distance her from the horrible event, Mara's parents move away in hopes that a new location may mean a new life for Mara. She's damaged both emotionally and mentally. She's also more than a little unstable and well, things are happening. Somehow, the things Mara envisions come true and everything Mara sees is dark and deadly.
Mara has, shall we say, talents. Scary ones. But as powerful as her abilities seem, there's still the possibility that none of it actually happened. This story has your brain working overtime; nothing is real- except for everything. Are these things really happening to Mara or are they hallucinations? I couldn't get a handle on what was fact and what was potentially fiction and I absolutely loved that. Even at the end of the story, when we are given the biggest blow to the psyche- did it really happen?
While there is a strong romantic element, the story stands out more to me as a psychological thriller than as a romance. But what romance there is, well it's the kind you want- a hot playboy with an English accent who has ruined more reputations than a supermarket tabloid.
Does it warrant a series? Absolutely. There's a solid setup for a sequel and Hodkin gives you the very worst kind of cliffhanger there is- and that's a good thing.
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it as much as I did. I just knew about this one. Hodkin pulls out all the stops in this very dark, mind-twister of a story and I'm ready for more.Mara wakes up from a terrible accident that claimed the lives of three of her friends. She has no memory of what happened, nor does she remember why or how she even came to be at the scene. In an effort to distance her from the horrible event, Mara's parents move away in hopes that a new location may mean a new life for Mara. She's damaged both emotionally and mentally. She's also more than a little unstable and well, things are happening. Somehow, the things Mara envisions come true and everything Mara sees is dark and deadly.
Mara has, shall we say, talents. Scary ones. But as powerful as her abilities seem, there's still the possibility that none of it actually happened. This story has your brain working overtime; nothing is real- except for everything. Are these things really happening to Mara or are they hallucinations? I couldn't get a handle on what was fact and what was potentially fiction and I absolutely loved that. Even at the end of the story, when we are given the biggest blow to the psyche- did it really happen?
While there is a strong romantic element, the story stands out more to me as a psychological thriller than as a romance. But what romance there is, well it's the kind you want- a hot playboy with an English accent who has ruined more reputations than a supermarket tabloid.
Does it warrant a series? Absolutely. There's a solid setup for a sequel and Hodkin gives you the very worst kind of cliffhanger there is- and that's a good thing.
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LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Most of the time, I was just wondering where this book was going. First I thought it was a psychological story of a girl coping with the death of her best friend, then I thought it was a romance, then I thought that it was something involving an extra ability and eventually I realized it was all of
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this and more. This is clearly book one. Show Less
LibraryThing member renkellym
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a prime example of all the best parts of YA literature. It has a compulsively readable plotline, an incredibly seductive romance, and a very relatable protagonist who has gone through the unthinkable. Mara Dyer is one of those books that you sit down with intending to
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’s storyline isn’t quite traditional—it is a recount of events for the purpose of court (the very first page tells us this). While Mara is honest in her narration, you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s not. Because of Mara’s diagnosis as “crazy”, she may or may not be imagining the things that occur in her narrative. It’s this uncertainty and mysteriousness that makes The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so impossible to put down.
The other force that will stop readers from putting the book down is Noah Shaw. Michelle Hodkin knows how to bring the sexy! This love interest is like any you’ve seen before, and the scenes between Noah and Mara are just perfect. They’re dynamic, often hilarious, and almost always sweet. Noah Shaw, ladies and gentlemen, is an ill-reputed bad-boy with a soft sugary center. Yum.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’s leading lady may be mentally unstable, but she really knows how to crack one-liners. Mara is instantly likable for her humor, but she holds the reader’s attention with her complexity. Mara doesn’t trust herself, and she’s still scarred from the tragedy she survived. Michelle Hodkin flexes Mara from one end of the spectrum to the next; Mara can be dark in one chapter and fairly content in the next. Mara’s range is wide, but she’s ultimately very believable—it’s unquestionable that she’s a great portrayal of a teen who’s not sure what’s happening to her.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and romance-lovers alike. It will appeal to almost any reader, I think, because of its absolutely brilliant storyline, fabulous writing, and fantastic characters. If there’s one book you read this fall, make it The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. You won’t regret it!
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read a few pages, but end up becoming so engrossed that you don’t get up for hours. I found myself losing parts of my day—just like Mara does in the story—because I could not stop reading this book. It’s that addicting; it’s that fantastic.The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’s storyline isn’t quite traditional—it is a recount of events for the purpose of court (the very first page tells us this). While Mara is honest in her narration, you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s not. Because of Mara’s diagnosis as “crazy”, she may or may not be imagining the things that occur in her narrative. It’s this uncertainty and mysteriousness that makes The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so impossible to put down.
The other force that will stop readers from putting the book down is Noah Shaw. Michelle Hodkin knows how to bring the sexy! This love interest is like any you’ve seen before, and the scenes between Noah and Mara are just perfect. They’re dynamic, often hilarious, and almost always sweet. Noah Shaw, ladies and gentlemen, is an ill-reputed bad-boy with a soft sugary center. Yum.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’s leading lady may be mentally unstable, but she really knows how to crack one-liners. Mara is instantly likable for her humor, but she holds the reader’s attention with her complexity. Mara doesn’t trust herself, and she’s still scarred from the tragedy she survived. Michelle Hodkin flexes Mara from one end of the spectrum to the next; Mara can be dark in one chapter and fairly content in the next. Mara’s range is wide, but she’s ultimately very believable—it’s unquestionable that she’s a great portrayal of a teen who’s not sure what’s happening to her.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and romance-lovers alike. It will appeal to almost any reader, I think, because of its absolutely brilliant storyline, fabulous writing, and fantastic characters. If there’s one book you read this fall, make it The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. You won’t regret it!
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LibraryThing member Rhinereads
This story is about Mara Dyer who possess a power that when she sees your death and how it will happen, that is the moment that it does. There are no refunds or returns and theres no way to stop this from happening (as far as we know). Mara cannot control this and doesn't know that this happens
It all starts off when her friend and boyfriend decide to sneak into an abandoned place on the verge of colapsing. The only reason she goes is because she doesnt want to lose her best friend to another but all good things come to an end. After losing not only her friend but her boyfriend, Mara and her family move to florida to start over when she meets the mysterious Noah. Mara is not the only one with a secret but hers is by far the wrost. As these too characters come closer together and find out more about themselves in the process, in the end Mara is faced with a choice that she alone can make. When she makes that choice things take a devestating turn.
I bet your thinking,"OMIGOSH! I need to read this book!"
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until later in the story. It all starts off when her friend and boyfriend decide to sneak into an abandoned place on the verge of colapsing. The only reason she goes is because she doesnt want to lose her best friend to another but all good things come to an end. After losing not only her friend but her boyfriend, Mara and her family move to florida to start over when she meets the mysterious Noah. Mara is not the only one with a secret but hers is by far the wrost. As these too characters come closer together and find out more about themselves in the process, in the end Mara is faced with a choice that she alone can make. When she makes that choice things take a devestating turn.
I bet your thinking,"OMIGOSH! I need to read this book!"
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LibraryThing member cay250
Mara understands that she’s suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after having survived the collapse of a building that killed her best friend, her boyfriend and his sister. To escape constant memories, the family moves from Rhode Island to Miami, and Mara enrolls in a pricey private
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school populated by spoiled rich kids. She falls for Noah, ultra-wealthy, British, handsome and perhaps untrustworthy girl-magnet. Her relationship with Noah take up much of the story, even as Mara keeps seeing her dead friends in the mirror. Meanwhile, Mara tries to cope with a nasty student couple bent on destroying her and with a teacher who hates her for no apparent reason. Add to that her defense-lawyer father, who’s taken on the high-profile trial that affects the family. I like this story even though there were a few too many subplots, Hodkin manages to weave them together into a paranormal crime thriller, teen romance. Can't wait for book 2. Show Less
LibraryThing member DamarisGCR
I have so many mixed thoughts about this book. Not bad thoughts, good ones actually, but I am still a bit confused.The book starts with a letter written by Mara Dyer that leaves you immediately intrigued. From there and on, you will not be able to put the book down. I was immediately glued to the
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pages, quickly falling in love with Mara Dyer and her story, and feeling so bad for her at the same time.Mara Dyer has lost her closest friends in an accident and is the only survivor. She tries to move on by moving, and attending a new school. But moving on for her is hard, especially since she can't even remember anything about the accident.So she finds herself in a new town, new school with so many unfamiliar faces. Not really expecting much or looking to make new friends. There Mara meets a very hot and bad ass male character, who, no matter how hard she tried, Mara just couldn't stay away from. He is a little mysterious and open at the same time. You will fall in love with him just from their first meeting. Their relationship was very believable and developed really well.I did have a couple of issues with this book, but nothing I can really talk about without giving away spoilers. I will say though, that there were quite a couple of times that I was taken by surprise. One minute I thought I knew exactly what was happening and the next I was sitting there with my mouth wide open.The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is unpredictable and unique. And the ending...JUST WOW... that I did not see coming. I can only imagine what the next book is going to be like. Now to play the waiting game. A good read!4 out of 5 stars Show Less
LibraryThing member AmberFIB
I had heard a lot of terrific things about this novel, so I thought I'd give it a try. The book itself isn't bad. The writing is fantastic, it's a page turner, and it's super suspenseful. Mara and Noah are extremely likable and everything moves in a logical order. However, the ending really pissed
Onto the things I liked. Mara was funny, sarcastic, and maybe crazy/maybe supernatural. She was a great character, and you couldn't help but like her. She made some stupid decisions, but you know she was delusional... maybe... I'm not sure because the question wasn't actually answered. Anyway, I could see why she made those stupid decisions. Other than the maybe/maybe not insanity, Mara was also a mature character. I enjoyed reading about things from her POV, and let me tell you, I was terrified for her throughout most of this book. There is a definite underlying suspense/horror type theme going on here, and I liked it because it was different.
Noah was fantastic. He was a bit of a cliche in some ways, but in others, he was unique. I really enjoyed how he and Mara interacted, and I had to laugh at how bitchy she was with him. He was unable to be deterred, though. If I do read the sequel, I hope to see A LOT more of him in it. He's just a fantastic character.
Mara's family was also terrific. No absentee family here. I loved how everyone had their own quirks. It made them seem more realistic. My favorite was Joseph, her twelve year old brother who was obsessed with the stock market. He was great and one of my favorite characters.
The pacing of this book was slow-as-molasses. I feel like it could have been cut by about 100-150 pages and still been just as effective. The ending was rushed, though, and as I mentioned, no questions were actually answered. The entire book dragged until about the 95% mark, and then it rushed through to the worst ending of all time. So the pacing just flat out sucked.
Pacing aside, I loved how Hodkin blended past and present together, and I really enjoyed Mara's flashbacks. Hodkin has a writing style that will draw you in, and before you know it, you'll start seeing things through Mara's eyes. It's terrifying and captivating. Because of that, I may just read the sequel.
Overall, I'd say steer clear of this book until the sequel comes out. My consensus after writing this review is that I will check the sequel out from the library, and if I get no answers AGAIN, then I'm done with the series. Right now, I'm trying to give Hodkin the benefit of a doubt that she didn't really mean to create such a jerky ending. The author is obviously talented, and because talent is hard to come by, I'm afraid I won't be able to pass up the sequel. If you haven't read this book yet, you have been warned... Wait until the sequel is out to pick it up. Otherwise, you'll be all irritated about it like I am.
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me off. Let me explain. I spent around 450 pages wondering what was going on with Mara. Was she crazy, or was it a supernatural thing? Would she and Noah get together or would they go their separate ways? Why does everything die around Mara? Is she as innocent in all of this as she seems to be? Can we even trust her? Are these hallucinations or hauntings? Is Mara safe? Is there someone after her? That's a lot of questions, right? Well a good book is supposed to raise a lot of questions, but, that book is also supposed to answer at least one of those questions. Did Hodkin answer any of the above questions at the end of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer? No, she did not. I got half a question answered. HALF. Not even a full question. She dragged on the freaking suspense for 450 pages, and not one full question was answered. And that, my friends, is why this book has such a low rating from me. Yes, she set up a sequel, but it was such a cop-out ending that I'm not even sure I'll read it. I know cliffhangers are typical in YA literature, but this was just obscene. If she had answered a few questions, or hell, even ONE question, then I would definitely by the sequel. Now, I'm just not so sure. Onto the things I liked. Mara was funny, sarcastic, and maybe crazy/maybe supernatural. She was a great character, and you couldn't help but like her. She made some stupid decisions, but you know she was delusional... maybe... I'm not sure because the question wasn't actually answered. Anyway, I could see why she made those stupid decisions. Other than the maybe/maybe not insanity, Mara was also a mature character. I enjoyed reading about things from her POV, and let me tell you, I was terrified for her throughout most of this book. There is a definite underlying suspense/horror type theme going on here, and I liked it because it was different.
Noah was fantastic. He was a bit of a cliche in some ways, but in others, he was unique. I really enjoyed how he and Mara interacted, and I had to laugh at how bitchy she was with him. He was unable to be deterred, though. If I do read the sequel, I hope to see A LOT more of him in it. He's just a fantastic character.
Mara's family was also terrific. No absentee family here. I loved how everyone had their own quirks. It made them seem more realistic. My favorite was Joseph, her twelve year old brother who was obsessed with the stock market. He was great and one of my favorite characters.
The pacing of this book was slow-as-molasses. I feel like it could have been cut by about 100-150 pages and still been just as effective. The ending was rushed, though, and as I mentioned, no questions were actually answered. The entire book dragged until about the 95% mark, and then it rushed through to the worst ending of all time. So the pacing just flat out sucked.
Pacing aside, I loved how Hodkin blended past and present together, and I really enjoyed Mara's flashbacks. Hodkin has a writing style that will draw you in, and before you know it, you'll start seeing things through Mara's eyes. It's terrifying and captivating. Because of that, I may just read the sequel.
Overall, I'd say steer clear of this book until the sequel comes out. My consensus after writing this review is that I will check the sequel out from the library, and if I get no answers AGAIN, then I'm done with the series. Right now, I'm trying to give Hodkin the benefit of a doubt that she didn't really mean to create such a jerky ending. The author is obviously talented, and because talent is hard to come by, I'm afraid I won't be able to pass up the sequel. If you haven't read this book yet, you have been warned... Wait until the sequel is out to pick it up. Otherwise, you'll be all irritated about it like I am.
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LibraryThing member FlyleafHeather
Opening Line:"My name is not Mara Dyer."My Take On It:So, where to begin. This is going to be difficult to write. You see it is my first negative review. Let me start by saying I really, really wanted to like this book. All the hype and glowing reviews that have been circulating the blogosphere
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since the book's release last fall didn't go unnoticed on my part. I'm a big fan of paranormal reads. And I adore some good old fashioned romance and swoonworthy love interests. I love thrillers and mysteries and I like surprises and lots of "A ha!" moments. I love big, "Holy crap, did that just happen?" endings. All of that. Which is what about 90% of the reviews I read seemed to indicate happened in this book. But unfortunately, my thoughts were of a very different variety. It went a little something like this: "I'm confused, what?" and a whole lot of "That's really beginning to annoy me" accompanied by an eye roll and lastly "Good God, it's just a freaking kiss!"The good, the bad, and the ugly...Ok, first the good. I liked most of Mara's inner snark. I thought she was quick and witty (for the most part) and that's always fun to read. I did catch myself grinning at some of her zingers. I also liked the relationship between Mara and her brothers. Even though Daniel is a pompous ass and know it all, especially when it came to his "superior intelligence" and influence over his parents, he does seem to love Mara and want what's best for her. Ditto for Joseph. He's sort of a non entity throughout the majority of the book (except for a couple of specific scenes) but Mara seems to have genuine love and concern for him. However both of these characters, as with most in this book, felt flat and one dimensional in my opinion. I also enjoyed the scenes when Mara isn't sure what is reality and what is her warped mind playing tricks on her. I'm thinking of the after the club/ party scene back at her house. I thought it was disturbing and a little chilling, and that was a good thing since this book was billed as being super creepy.The bad. Well, there was of course a whole lot of insta- love going on with this book. But, I can get past that sometimes. Why didn't it work for me in this case? One reason was all the bickering and mixed signals. The "I hate you! (but really I love you)" type sentiments that went on ad nauseum between Mara and Noah. Look honey, you aren't convincing anyone of that. Especially after the first 20 times you said it. Not him. Not yourself, and most definitely not me. Enough with all the mixed messages already.I also didn't like how Noah wouldn't leave her alone. The following her around, sitting in on her classes, and all the STARING. It didn't seem sexy to me. It seemed creepy. I know she didn't really want him to leave her alone (or did she? Again, mixed messages) even though she told him that over and over, but shouldn't he have at least tried to seem less stalkerish and back off a little? Maybe it's just me, but it rubbed me the wrong way. And then there were those moments that really elicited far too many eye rolls on my part. The first one that comes to mind: the art class scene. The one where he happens to walk in (again uninvited) and proceeds to show off his abs much to the delight of all the female students. It reminded me of a similar scene in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Except I prefer that version (and what ended up happening to the smug prick who tried that move on Karou) much better. Here again, it didn't feel sexy. It didn't feel hot. It felt cheesy. And I am pretty sure I muttered something not so polite under my breath and quit reading for the night. And for the love of God, I know that it is YA, but what is with the no kissing thing? I know, I know, there is some sort of explanation as to why she can't kiss him, but it really felt like nothing but a ploy to try and drag out the sexual (or non-sexual in this case) tension between Mara and Noah. And frankly, I found myself beginning not to care whether they ever kissed or not. More than that, I was starting to feel resentful and just plain shafted. I know a kiss does not romance make, but for all the Noah Shaw love and adoration I witnessed among readers and reviewers, I was hoping for more.And the ugly. And that, really, was the crux of the problem for me. The potential for this book to knock my socks off was there. Instead it just left me wanting more, but not in a good way. The story, the characters, the romance, all felt like they could have been more. I kept reading, hoping something would make me fall in love with this book, but in the end it just wasn't meant to be. 1/5 starsCover Thoughts:Let's end this downer on a lighter, more upbeat note! I LOVE this cover! It's Gawgeous...It even made my Pinterest Cover Love list! Show Less
LibraryThing member TheRandomGirl
Okay. So after days after putting this review off, it's here. Because really, I can't write a review for this book without going on a fangirl rampage! This book was so amazing it nearly brought me to tears. Nearly. And it oh-so nearly drove me into hysterics. If you don't believe me, my friends can
All around, I've seen other people raving about this book. I expected it to be good, but I didn't expect Michelle Hodkin to blow my mind away. Her writing was exceptional and played with my head so much that I couldn't resist her words even if I wanted to (which I didn't). I fell in love with her through the voice of Mara Dyer. And from the very first page, I fell in love too deep with this novel. From the very first sentence, "My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me to choose something." Mara Dyer and Michelle had me. The first chapter had already left me dazed and amazed. All I could say was, "That was impossible," because rarely do authors have me completely by the very first chapter. Usually it would take me about two-three chapters to leave me breathless. But no, The Unbecoming had me at one.
By the time I realized that I just could not put this book down, I refused to do anything else but read. Through Mara, Michelle swept me up and took me around and about Mara's messy world. Some parts of the novel were easy to follow and entertaining, then there would be a part that would make you go, "Whoa, hold up. What the--?" And then you'll have to reread it again. The Unbecoming has that double-take factor that books should have because it keeps the readers on a hook. The Unbecoming had me on a very, very tight hook.
Not only did the chilling story have me on a tight hook but so did the characters. And oh! The characters! I have to take a deep breath before I fangirl over them too. The characters, Mara, Jamie, Daniel...and let's never, ever forget Noah, had made me fall in love with them and root for these believably three-dimensional characters from the very first time they appeared. But if I had to pick the two characters that stood out, it would definitely be Mara and Noah Shaw. From their banter and sexual tension, to their deep conversations and chemistry, I had to back away a little from the book in fear that these two might actually light the book on fire. And oh Lord, Noah Shaw. I've said it once, and I'll say it a million times more, he will be held responsible if I don't marry in the future. Enough said. You'll fall in love with him in an instant.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a phenomenal debut novel and a promising book that I have no doubts that this novel will have others falling in love it so deeply. This is a dark, edgy, beautiful, and with so much twists that will leave you shocked and romance that will make your heart swell. Michelle Hodkin is a brilliantly talented writer with a lot of potential that can be proven by the fact that her story will not let you go. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is unforgettable and will leave you thinking about it for so long that it'll become a daily ritual.
And that ending...just...Oh My God.
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back me up on that. Before I even say anything: If you don't pick up this book, you are missing a lot in life. Your life will be incomplete without The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. All around, I've seen other people raving about this book. I expected it to be good, but I didn't expect Michelle Hodkin to blow my mind away. Her writing was exceptional and played with my head so much that I couldn't resist her words even if I wanted to (which I didn't). I fell in love with her through the voice of Mara Dyer. And from the very first page, I fell in love too deep with this novel. From the very first sentence, "My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me to choose something." Mara Dyer and Michelle had me. The first chapter had already left me dazed and amazed. All I could say was, "That was impossible," because rarely do authors have me completely by the very first chapter. Usually it would take me about two-three chapters to leave me breathless. But no, The Unbecoming had me at one.
By the time I realized that I just could not put this book down, I refused to do anything else but read. Through Mara, Michelle swept me up and took me around and about Mara's messy world. Some parts of the novel were easy to follow and entertaining, then there would be a part that would make you go, "Whoa, hold up. What the--?" And then you'll have to reread it again. The Unbecoming has that double-take factor that books should have because it keeps the readers on a hook. The Unbecoming had me on a very, very tight hook.
Not only did the chilling story have me on a tight hook but so did the characters. And oh! The characters! I have to take a deep breath before I fangirl over them too. The characters, Mara, Jamie, Daniel...and let's never, ever forget Noah, had made me fall in love with them and root for these believably three-dimensional characters from the very first time they appeared. But if I had to pick the two characters that stood out, it would definitely be Mara and Noah Shaw. From their banter and sexual tension, to their deep conversations and chemistry, I had to back away a little from the book in fear that these two might actually light the book on fire. And oh Lord, Noah Shaw. I've said it once, and I'll say it a million times more, he will be held responsible if I don't marry in the future. Enough said. You'll fall in love with him in an instant.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a phenomenal debut novel and a promising book that I have no doubts that this novel will have others falling in love it so deeply. This is a dark, edgy, beautiful, and with so much twists that will leave you shocked and romance that will make your heart swell. Michelle Hodkin is a brilliantly talented writer with a lot of potential that can be proven by the fact that her story will not let you go. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is unforgettable and will leave you thinking about it for so long that it'll become a daily ritual.
And that ending...just...Oh My God.
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LibraryThing member Juhina
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was so hyped up a couple of months before its release that even I jumped in the wave. Personally I hate having high expectations for a book only to be disappointed, but with a cover like Mara Dyer's how could I go wrong? I'm happy to say while I wasn't wowed by this
The book begins with Mara's memory loss and her three friends already killed in an accident she survived. I am a huge fan of books with memory loss, and I love that this is becoming a trend! I was as confused as Mara Dyer and hoping to find answers to the strange happenings surrounding her. It was definitely a thrilling book that kept me on the edge of my seat (or bed). I can even go as far as calling it a little creepy, with memory loss, sudden deaths, and unexplainable events, who wouldn't?
Mara moves away, starts a new school, and meets new friends, enemies, and Noah. Noah honestly surprised me; While there is a bad boy image, he was so caring and honest to Mara, and any doubts for him was erased. The relationship dynamics in this story are weird and twisted at some points, I honestly found myself so confused with these relationships (Mara and her new friend, her mom, etc) however not all relationships are supposed to be understood in a couple of pages, so I am hoping I get to understand these relationships a bit more in the second book in this series.
4.5/5 stars
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book, I immensely enjoyed it and I totally got sucked into the mystery and strangeness of Mara's life. The book begins with Mara's memory loss and her three friends already killed in an accident she survived. I am a huge fan of books with memory loss, and I love that this is becoming a trend! I was as confused as Mara Dyer and hoping to find answers to the strange happenings surrounding her. It was definitely a thrilling book that kept me on the edge of my seat (or bed). I can even go as far as calling it a little creepy, with memory loss, sudden deaths, and unexplainable events, who wouldn't?
Mara moves away, starts a new school, and meets new friends, enemies, and Noah. Noah honestly surprised me; While there is a bad boy image, he was so caring and honest to Mara, and any doubts for him was erased. The relationship dynamics in this story are weird and twisted at some points, I honestly found myself so confused with these relationships (Mara and her new friend, her mom, etc) however not all relationships are supposed to be understood in a couple of pages, so I am hoping I get to understand these relationships a bit more in the second book in this series.
4.5/5 stars
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Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2015)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2015)
Language
Original publication date
2011-09-27
ISBN
1442421762 / 9781442421769
Local notes
Mara Dyer doesn't believe life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong.
Dammit - another non-ending while we wait for a sequel. Grrr. I found the characters pretty one-dimensional, but at the mystery was kinda interesting (although it didn't live up to the hype for me).
Dammit - another non-ending while we wait for a sequel. Grrr. I found the characters pretty one-dimensional, but at the mystery was kinda interesting (although it didn't live up to the hype for me).