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| Read from July 15, 2012 to July 22, 2012 |
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of Pages: 288
Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary
Hate is...it's too easy. Love. Love takes courage.
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself. - From Goodreads
Hate is...it's too easy. Love. Love takes courage.
Speechless spoke to me in so many levels. I believe this is one of the strongest contemporary novel I've read to date.
Chelsea, for a lack of a better word, is a blabber. She's a gossip starter and she couldn't care any less whatever her gossiping might bring to the persons involved. She's doing it for Kristen, her supposed-to-be best friend and the most popular girl in school, and she's doing it for her social status. But everything went horribly wrong when the latest secret she shared almost cost the life of someone. She ended up telling what happened to her parents, cops were called, news spread out, and just overnight, her social status came crashing down.
At first, I thought I wouldn't like Chelsea. I thought she was conceited and self-involved. But boy was I wrong! Not only did I love her but she and me connected in a way I never thought we would. I love her voice, I love being inside her head, and I love hearing her thoughts. When she took the vow of silence, she didn't know it yet but this showcased her strength and character.
It's not an easy process, though. I saw her struggle to maintain her vow, how confused and frustrated she was that Kristen didn't take her side but only made her downfall worse. But with these came the realization that what she and Kristen had was an unhealthy relationship. New friends came along the way and she understood the true value of friendship.
In the end, Chelsea became one of my most favorite characters. Her resilience is commendable and I admire her for growing up, owning up to her bad decisions, and learning to forgive herself.
Speechless is my first Hannah Harrington novel and it definitely wouldn't be my last. I am very much looking forward to reading her debut novel, Saving June, and her future works. Speechless is out today. Don't forget to grab yourself a copy, I assure you it won't disappoint.
Cupid's Verdict:
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| 5 Cupids |
An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.
I just read Saving June and I absolutely loved it. I will definitely have to read this soon. Great review! :D
ReplyDelete-Rachel
I didn't like Chelsea either at the beginning but I loved the girl she was in the end. She grew so much, it was wonderful to see her mature and become a better person. YES to everything you said, I couldn't agree more :) Enjoy Saving June, Hannah is such an amazing author. She is now an aut0-buy author for me. Great review, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am very much looking forward to reading Speechless. It has intrigued me from the get-go and I am intensely curious about it. The subject matter alone is such an important and the vow that is taken is huge. Not one that a lot of teenagers OR adults could take and keep. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDelete