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Book Review of Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, Bk 1)

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, Bk 1)
nantuckerin avatar reviewed on + 158 more book reviews


I'd heard so much about Hush, Hush, by the time I actually read it, I had no idea what to expect. For every shining recommendation I heard from fellow paranormal YA lit fans, I'd find another reader who panned the book mercilessly.

The book is built on one of the new, hot concepts in paranormal fiction: angels. (Because vampires and weres are so 2007, after all.) Of course, the focus of this novel aren't serene, harp-toting cherubs. Author Becca Fitzpatrick introduces half-human, half-angel Nephilim, fallen angels, andgels of death, avenging angels and other powerful, etherial beings. The fresh premise engaged my attention, and it was a treat to be exposed to a new set of mythology in addition to a thrilling storyline.

Sweet, studious Nora is a true good-girl. Her sheltered life is marred by the death of her father one year ago. Otherwise, her biggest annoyance is her new biology partner, Patch, a dangerously handsome transfer student whose bad attitude and flirtatious distraction threaten Nora's precious GPA -- and chance to get into an Ivy League college.

Nora has a typical good-girl reaction to an attractive bad boy -- she's simultanously drawn to him, and repelled by him. Their charged chemistry and his attention makes her uneasy, but it thrills her, too. Still, she can't shake the feeling that Patch is more than just a brooding guy in black -- he's hiding something. And he might actually be out to hurt her. Because Nora is being watched. And Patch seems to show up everywhere she does.

A lot of the reviews I read criticized Hush, Hush for romanticizing bad boys and encouraging young girls to make bad romantic decisions. Me, personally? I really enjoyed Hush, Hush. Author Becca Fitzpatrick is brave enough to write a male love interest that's actually a dynamic, conflicted character -- not a stereotypical hero or tortured good guy. It's interesting, and unexpected.

I felt Hush, Hush did have some weaknesses, however. The adult-child relationship in the book was not believable and was underdeveloped. Some of the characters are undeniably unlikeable, in fact. But the main relationship has a lot of good tension and potential, and I look forward to reading more about Nora and Patch and their challenges in Crescendo.

Oh yes, and that brings me to a side note about the book's title. I can't seem to find the connection between the title and the storyline or theme. But isn't the cover art amazing?