A retelling of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca, set in a boarding school (just like in New Girl, one of the 2012 retellings.) Has a cool supernatural element and twisty ending. ( )

I'm a huge fan of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, on which Thorn Abbey is based, and gothic novels in general, so I really looked forward to reading this YA adaptation. But I wasn't terribly impressed with what I found. Ohlin's novel is interesting, and manages to do angsty-rich-prep-school-teen drama without being irritating (thanks to Max and the main character not being superficial, self-absorbed characters like most of the rest of the students). I probably would have enjoyed this book far more back when I was in high school and better able to identify with Tess's sophomore year, new-girl-in-school problems.

Mostly, I thought the plot was unevenly developed, especially given the atmosphere of the original Rebecca. Tess came off as a strongly-written character at some times but a pushover at others. Details in the story were mentioned and then dropped, like Tess's like for astronomy (ignored for the rest of the book though Max expresses some nerdiness you'd think she'd catch onto and appreciate) or early clues about upcoming plot twists. And...the ending was weird. There are no overtly supernatural elements to Rebecca that I remember, which is a major plus for its gothic atmosphere. But in Ohlin's version, there's very clearly a haunting in the most literal, fantasy-genre sense. The conclusion, while probably meant to be a dramatic alteration to the original, was just too much. While it is possible to translate classic gothic novels into contemporary YA novels (I've seen it done well once or twice), Thorn Abbey just isn't one of those successes. ( )

OK, this re-imagining of Rebecca (one of my favorite books) is a young adult novel. So I am going to review it as a YA book. This book is a nice paranormal romance. It is pretty angsty, but then so is Rebecca and the character is not 15 years old. Our main character, Tess, is attending a very exclusive private school. She is immediately attracted to Max, a brooding hunk. When she discovers that Max's ex-girlfriend died the previous spring, she is haunted by the image of the perfect and popular Becca.

I think this is a great book for tween and teen girls. Some boys might enjoy it too. It is not one of those young adult books that I think a lot of adults would like. It is too tied up in the angst and the whole, what do I wear thing for that. But the paranormal twist was nice. I actually found myself wondering what would happen next and hoping for a sequel. ( )

Oh, I had such high hopes. Daphne Du Maurier's novel Rebecca is an enduring favourite of mine - I try to re-read the book every year, and I love the film - but I have yet to find a satisfying follow-up. So when I randomly found this teen update on the library catalogue, I thought I might be onto a winner, sort of Richelle Mead does Rebecca. I only wish she had.

Don't get me wrong, the 'reimagining' is very clever - Manderley becomes Thorn Abbey, a private school for 'trust fund babies and backstabbing bitches', where shy new girl Tess transfers from New York, instantly developing a crush on moody Max de Villiers - but the ending is just bonkers! What happened to working with atmosphere and emotion when building a thrilling supernatural story? Did Nancy Ohlin think that teens wouldn't understand such a complex plot? Also, there is no depth - we never learn what Becca was really like, or why Devon (Mrs Danvers) was being dosed up by her mother, they are just respectively evil and unhinged. I did enjoy Tess' narrative, which is the standard teen speak of this type of novel but amusing too, and her growth from insecure new girl to self-assured heroine isn't too jarring.

I hope this novel leads a few readers onto Daphne Du Maurier's infinitely more powerful novel, but please be aware that there are no soul-stealing succubi in the original! ( )

Spooky and ethereal, Thorn Abbey is a far cry from the "normal" high school that our lead character is used to. Weird things keep happening and her roommate is no help. Neither is the hunky boyfriend. Nothing earth-shattering but a fun mystery. ( )