Book Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Title: Hysteria
Author: Megan Miranda
Copy Obtained: Bought for blog tour

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. 

Ok I LOVED this book.  Really loved it!  

Here is the internal monologue that went on in my head during large chunks of it.

"What?!?"

"Oh wow never saw that coming?"

"No waaaaaaay!"

"O.M.G. wow, wow, wow."

"Oooooooooh I get it!".

"Brilliant."

"Wow."

"How did she put this all together?????"

"Must stay awake and finish!"

Really that's what I was thinking! I was just a great book.  I went into it thinking it was just going to be about Mallory dealing with what she had done - coming to terms with it.  I didn't know all this other stuff was going to be there too.  And to be honest all that other "stuff" is what made it a great book to me.  It's what hooked me in and kept me reading.  It's what made me want to know what the in the world was going on!  I just love when I read a book and the author has constructed it in such a way that I just dieing to find out what really happened.  When an author wraps me up in all the questions and then slow unwinds them pulling me along it's a story I'll love forever.  That was the case here.  Megan Miranda wrote a book that completely hooked me and dragged me along.  She created a world where I didn't know what was happening, who I could trust, and where it would all end.  Time and time again she pulled the rug out from under me when I felt all proud of myself for thinking I knew what was happening.  I LOVED it! I'm not one for clearly predictable books.  When an author pulls out a plot point I never expected AND it fits perfectly I stand in awe.  And I stand in awe of Hysteria.  Just a great book.  

Quickly - what I also liked was Mallory.  Had she been a whiny, weak, sniveling character I would've quit the book.  She was none of that.  Mallory carried this story fully.  Yes she had help from friends like Colleen and Reid (loved Reid!), but it was fully on her shoulders and she carried it well.  If she was a real person I'd love to meet her! So what I'm saying is not only was the plot strong - the main character was just as strong.

Final thought: Read my internal monologue above and then go read the book

Best stick-with-you image: Sooooooo hard to pick!  Mallory's bruises were a big one though

Best for readers: Who love a story where they can't trust everything they read

Best for ages: 12+  There is a bit of "older" ya stuff in it, but not enough for me to see it as fully upper YA

For the Guys?  Yes!  I think guys would like the plot set-up of this one would hook guys just as well as girls.