Made for you

I usually avoid YA books like the plague. I have enough teenage drama in my real life that I don't need to be reading about it also. This sounded more like a good thriller then a romance, plus that cover is ALL sorts of awesome. So I decided to give it a go.

It turned out to be a really well written read. Nate and Eva use to be best friends, then something happened and Nate started to ignore Eva. Nate is now known as “the Jessup man-whore” which I thought was quite a moniker for a 17 year old, but what-evs, and Eva is dating (and sleeping with) Robert. They all attend a high school that sort of resembles Gossip Girl with Eva being the queen bee (yes I was a total Gossip Girl fan, don't judge) Anyway, one day Eva is walking home and gets hit by a car and almost killed. Soon it becomes apparent that someone is fixated on Eva as more and more of her classmates turn up dead.

The mystery was very well done in this. I had an idea on who “Judge” was from early on, but I wouldn't say it was obvious. We also get POV's from Eva, Judge, and her best friend that offers insight. There is also a sort of paranormal angle to the story. After Eva is hit by the car, she can see how people are going to die when they touch her. I found it to be an interesting added tidbit.

There is a romance here between Eva and Nate, but it's a clean book beings as in YA, but it was still sweetly done. Overall though this was a really great book.

Nothing wrong, I just never found myself really engrossed or interested.

I was pretty disappointed in this book because I was a big fan of Marr's fae stories but found the tone of this one a little too juvenile for me - the POV of the high school girl that most of the story is told from is vain and obsessive and spoiled, even though she isn't as bad as some of her “friends”. I understand that she's a rich “well bred” girl in a small Southern town but she went on and on about her scars, when they weren't really described in detail so I felt she had to be really over exaggerating and it got boring to hear her mention them to the reader and other characters at least every chapter. We get it, you're slightly disfigured - but plans of hiding from mirrors the rest of her life is just a bit over-dramatic to me.
I just couldn't relate to anyone in the story and figured out who the killer was a little more than half way through, which I hardly ever do. It did get a bit exciting towards the end but that's the point of a climax, so at least that wasn't disappointing.

Overall, a great thriller for teenage readers but I feel I'm a little too old to really enjoy it.

Well now, this book surprised me! When it was first offered to me for review, I was understandably thrilled. Melissa Marr has never left me disappointed. I'll grant you the fact that I was also a little nervous, simply because Made For You is a break from what Marr normally writes. I was promised something contemporary. A dark, sinister thriller that would keep me reading well into the night. I'm happy to report that all of that was quite true.

Eva Tilling stole my heart. There are no words for how refreshing it was to have a popular female character who isn't a total witch. See, Eva grew up in the Southern elite. A group of people who, based on their money and status, essentially run the entire town. You'd expect her to be a spoiled, petty girl, no? No. In fact, Eva is one of those characters who is instantly likable. Honest, funny, sweet, and just that hint of rebellious that I love. The fact that she felt the pressure to be more, and still held onto her own personality, sold me on her character. I couldn't have been happier.

Actually, I think the whole idea of this story taking place in Eva's hometown created some great atmosphere. Southern Gothic stories about the decay of the aristocracy have always been my favorite. Watching those who have everything slowly fall apart intrigues me. In this case, I wouldn't say Made For You is exactly a Southern Gothic story, but it does have some of those elements. The fact that this town of people is more than willing to cover up certain occurrences, in order to save face with the public, only heightens the feeling that there are secrets brewing beneath the surface.

I could go on about the deliciously palatable tension that flows through this book. I could rave about the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I didn't have to suffer through a love triangle. Or that the killer's POV was done quite well. There's a lot I could say, but I'd rather let you discover it for yourself. Any small qualms I had about this book were far overshadowed by what what I loved. I found myself hanging on every word, right up until the ending. If you haven't yet added this to your reading list, I'd suggest you do! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with this YA thriller.