Book Description: Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.
Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.
Review:
Literaphobia-The fear of reading bad books. I've suffered from that phobia ever since I got hooked on phonics a kid. But my fear was unfounded with Carrie Jones paranormal love story, Need. If Twilight and Wicked Lovely had a book baby, it would be Need.
Woods and werewolves and pixies…oh my!
Zara is hollow inside and has been ever since her dad died. Thinking a change of scenery will wake Zara out of her coma-like trance, her mother ships her off to her grandmother in a little town in freezing Maine. Her mother succeeds far beyond her expectations, however, when Zara awakens not just to her life again (through the help of the brooding Nick), but to a dangerous world of ravenous pixies where her own soul may be the price demanded to save the lives of others.
The character of Zara is an extremely well written, very real, portrayal of a girl barley existing after a tragic loss. She has a quirk, a cooping mechanism, of mentally running through lists of other people’s phobias when she is scared or uncomfortable, in fact the titles of each chapter of Need is a different phobia.
The author uses the present tense throughout this book (except in flashbacks) very effectively. This is a welcome trend that I'm beginning to notice in more and more books, especially YA books (The Hunger Games come to mind). As I reader, this tense allows me to feel like I'm experiencing the story as it happens, to almost be a part of the story.
There is a romance in Need, but unlike many books in this genre, it really isn’t the focus of the story. At its heart, Need is Zara’s story. How she copes with loss, new friends, family revelations, and her very way of life. Falling in love is only a part—a good part, but a part nonetheless--of her story.
My only real complaint with Need is how easily Zara accepts the paranormal aspects of her life. A few bizarre things happen and she immediately jumps to a fantastical conclusion without a hiccup. In reality, I can’t imagine someone acting that way. To add insult to injury, once she decides the paranormal explanation is the only one, she does an internet search and blindly believes everything see reads on one site without ever questioning its reliability.
All in all, the writing style is a notch above most in this genre, the character of Zara is extremely believable and likeable, her love interest tortured yet loveable, and the story is imminently readable. Yay for me that Captivate (Need, book 2) is available now!
Sexual Content: (YA titles receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing.
Click HERE to read an excerpt of Need
Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; Reprint edition (December 8, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1599904535
- ISBN-13: 978-1599904535
- Cover art: Nicole Gastonguay
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Great review! I liked how you pointed out about the use of present tense. I rarely see that used in a novel. Zara sounds like a really good character - real and believable.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME review! I cant wait to pick this one up, I have captivate on the way, so I need to read this one SOON! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your review!
I'm totally taken with the idea of books having babies. I love this book too.
ReplyDelete"If Twilight and Wicked Lovely had a book baby, it would be Need."
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great thing to write. ;)~ I've added this to my TBR pile (just waiting for the holds list at the library to get to me). Great review!
This is a great reveiw. As Jo said above having a book baby would produce Need.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review.
I've been seeing this one everywhere, and I think I might have a copy...glad you liked.
ReplyDeleteI finished Need and am on to Captivate too. This was a fun read!
ReplyDeleteI bought Need! I'm double glad I did too. Great review, TwiLovely baby, huh? Well, I haven't read Wicked Lovely so I'll have to take your word on it. Will read this one soon. I hear Captivate is really good also.
ReplyDelete