*Grrr*
Now, tell me true: did we really just go through the entire first book, just to go through it again?
Because, I mean, that seems like what happened here.
Okay, it was little different. The Shadows played a bigger role here. there was Lucy. (that was, like, wow. Like, OMG, Are you freaking serious? Not only Elise/Charlotte, but Lucy?
It was seriously… *Grrr*
Oh, and then there’s the whole Elise/Charlotte thing. I spent the whole first half of the book confused about that because I just simply DID NOT WANT TO BEIEVE IT. I mean, come on. How unfair would it be for Charlotte to have gone through the entire firs book, get reincarnated and told to do it AGAIN?
Seriously freaking unfair.
But, apparently, that’s the point.
And now it SEEMS that she won’t be fading away, which is a plus. But, uh… I’m not sure if I’d go so far as to call it justice.
Which means these books are still in danger of being burned.
I need the next one to come out!!!!!
Like, now!!!!!
GRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( )

I won this book a really long time ago. Back when I had my old blog. I was so excited because I had been wanting to read A Need So Beautiful for a long time, and getting this book was the perfect excuse to finally get the first one. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. It took me a very long time to get my hands on A Need So Beautiful. When it finally happened, I read it right away and really liked it. As soon as I finished, I went right into this one.

Guys, I hate to say it but I didn’t like this one as much. I still liked it, but it wasn’t as good. I liked Elise, but not as much as Charlotte. I’m not sure why that is. I kind of felt that way about all the characters. I liked them, but not as much. I still enjoyed this book and I wish there was a third book because I want more. ( )

There are very few books that have that page turnability that feels like addiction. Book two still has it in spades. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: A much better, less boring repeat of A Need So Beautiful. Young comes back with her heart-wrenching scenes and a determined female protagonist.

Opening Sentence: I hear an echo as sound hums its way into my ears.

The Review:

Elise remembers everything from her childhood – from her mom’s death to her sister’s late night escapes – but none of it actually happened. As Elise and her sister settle into their new home, they both discover new things, but handle them in entirely different ways. Elise starts a new job at a Mexican restaurant where she meets the alluring Abe, who dares her to be a little wild. But there’s also the stranger on the motorcycle that keeps appearing randomly. Of course nothing is stranger than the random impulses to help people she experiences – a warming and yet disconcerting experience that precedes flashes of someone else’s life. Forced to reconcile with what she is and face whatever these Shadows people keep warning her about, Elise must choose once again whether to fight for the good or succumb to the evil.

This book is almost the exact arc of A Need So Beautiful. Only more enjoyable and entertaining. The Needs are so much more heart-breaking and the memories are nostalgic, adding to the depth of the conflict. Although there were a lot of abrupt developments – Harlin and Elise’s whole relationship is insta-love (literally) once they finally start talking – and this was even before she remembers who she is. Their whole relationship is confusing, but that just started in the first book. Abe on the other hand, was pretty well-developed, pretty basic, but he had more depth than Harlin. Where Harlin was just a broken mourning mess, Abe had motives (not just feelings/attraction) to become close to Elise. The love triangle’s conclusion was also very abrupt (can’t go into detail without spoilers).

I’ve always loved Young’s writing and themes in this series. The importance of family and responsibility are shown throughout the books. From her heart-wrenching, sob-story, to the development of the main character’s inner-war, Young’s writing has always be able to express the turbulent emotions the characters face.

Yet this ability to pull the reader’s heart-strings cannot overshadow the confusing character developments and the odd plot. Although most of the character development started in the first book, there were still new characters that seemed inconsistent and flat. As I said before, Harlin is such a confusing character from the beginning. His actions do not always coincide with his personality and in this book, he is a very wimpy and depressing all the time. Abe on the other hand is a deliciously complex character that has snark down to a T. Although he is also very confusing, Abe was still more developed than Harlin.

Despite its rocky journey, the Need series is pretty good. If you have patience with odd character arcs but love a good heart-tugging story, I suggest these to you.

Notable Scene:

“Wait,” Harlin whispers, reaching to take my hand. Startled, I turn to him. He studies me with what can only be described as absolute pain. I nearly reach for him, but he lets my hand drop.

Harlin leans to put his elbows on his knees, his face in his palms. Marceline slides the bowl of mints toward him, but he doesn’t lift his head.

The wrinkles in Marceline’s skin seems to deepen. When her eyes meet mine, she shrugs apologetically. “You’re the reincarnation of his girlfriend. A Forgotten.”

I stumble back a step. “I’m a what?”

“Your name was Charlotte Cassidy. Beautiful soul–very loving. In the end, you–”

Harlin jumps up then, rushing past us. He doesn’t say a word, and when the front door closes, I know he’s gone. Tears begin to gather in my eyes.

“He’s never learned to handle his grief,” Marceline explains. “He’ll find you when he’s ready. He always does.”

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of A Want So Wicked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

Pretty excited about the cover. I'm a fan!