Sunday, February 14, 2010

Beautiful by Amy Reed

Beautiful by Amy Reed


Released:October 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 240
Genre: Young Adult 
Source: Other Shelf Tours


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars


When thirteen-year-old Cassie moves to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. She chooses some dangerous new friends and is quickly caught up in their fast-paced world of drugs, sex, secrets, and cruelty.


Cassie's new existence both thrills and terrifies her. She embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, starts sleeping with an older boy, and gets pulled into a twisted friendship triangle that is tinged with violence and abuse. Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral, and there's no turning back.


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The first word that pops into my mind about this book is that it was bold. The writing, the characters, and all the events that happen are right there in your face. I'm not a big fan of reading about younger teens so I was surprised how easily I connected with Cassie being as she was thirteen. Still a little surprised that the author made her that young, but at the same time it is very realistic.

By the style that Amy Reed writes, I felt myself being just as foggy as Cassie's life started to be. Right from the get go you watch her start to go downhill. She's slowly destroying herself and you're just waiting for someone or anyone to jump in and stop it. The story was good - haunting even and I did enjoy it. But (yes, there is a but) I felt as if I had already read this story before. I can't really explain it besides that it didn't feel new to me. Still, I think Amy Reed has an excellent and powerful voice, and I am looking forward to seeing what she'll come out with next.

♥amber

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I so have to read this one. It really sounds like something I'd enjoy reading. Thanks for the lovely review. :)

aqtbenz said...

This is on my to-read list! I'm also not too big on reading about younger teens, so I'm glad to hear she's still easy to relate to. Thanks for the great review! I can't wait to read it!

brizmus said...

From all the other reviews I have read of this book, I never once would have guessed that Cassie is only 13.
This book really does sound amazing!

JESSJORDAN said...

I just finished this book, and I really enjoyed it. Cassie had something many MCs lack--voice. Good or bad, it was hers.

That being said ... I don't feel like I've read this story before, but I've certainly seen it before. This was very reminiscent of the movie Thirteen, which I also loved.

Anonymous said...

Great review.. it sounds like a book i would like to read though