Title: Deceived
Author: Julie Anne Lindsey
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Suspense/Romance
Publisher: Merit Press
Number of Pages: 330
Source: Author
Publication Date: September 18, 2013
| When Elle's father, a single parent and a big shot in corporate insurance, moves her to yet another boarding school for senior year, Elle is disgusted when nothing changes. Her night terrors don't go away, and, soon, despite her father's caring calls and visits, Elle starts to believe she's losing her mind. She knows she's being followed; a ribbon is tied around her doorknob, and there are those cigarette butts that keep turning up on the doormat, in violation of a strict smoking ban on campus. Then there's Bryan, an intriguing boy Elle meets at a flea market and later finds out is a student at her school. Yet on campus, he pretends he doesn't recognize her - until the day he divulges just how much danger she's in. In her search for an answer to all the madness, Elle unravels the truth about her dad's real identity, why someone has lied to her all her life, and the terrifying truth that she may be the only one who can save her from the one who's following her now. |
I think what I liked best about Deceived was that Elle was a refreshing heroine. Sure, she's crushing on a cute guy, trying to fit in at a new school, and full of teen angst but what I liked best about her was that she was your typical teen. She actually has a group of friends, doesn't drop them for the guy, and has a parent who isn't there a lot, but isn't completely uninvolved either. I also really enjoyed how when strange things happen to her she's freaked out by them-yet does her best to figure out what in the heck is going on. There is a romance, but I think that just ads to the mystery instead of taking away from it like it does in so many books.
I liked her best friend Pixie a lot-she was a great supporting character who made Elle get involved with school stuff even when she wasn't sure she wanted to and was there for her when she needed to be. The storyline kept me guessing till the end, which I loved. I think what I enjoyed the most was that this was just a pure, contemporary YA Suspense book with no *gasp* I suddenly have powers in it. :)
Deceived was just a refreshing read that once I sat down and was able to read it uninterrupted had it done in one sitting. If you are looking for a Young Adult read that's a bit different, I really recommend this one.
