Hysteria by Megan Miranda

 One of my favorite covers so far this year!!
Mallory stabbed and killed her boyfriend, but she's not going to jail since the police ruled it self-defense. Now she's going to Monroe, a boarding school her father is an alumnus of and also happens to be hundreds of miles away from her home and her BFF Colleen. Of course everyone at Monroe knows her story and she has to endure the whispers and stares, but there is also Reid... a boy who she's known through her dad. Even though Mallory knows it's probably too soon to get involved with somebody, she just can't help herself. But being with Reid doesn't stop her from hearing and seeing things that may or may not be there.

Then another guy winds up dead in Mallory's dorm room, and all hell breaks loose. 


This book was just what I needed... something new and different.  It was page-turner for sure, part mystery and part creepy thriller. I HAD to know what was going on with Mallory. She was hearing things at night that seemed to be in her head, but then tangible things were really happening to her... I couldn't figure out if she was crazy, there were ghosts, or Brian's mom was really out there. I loved that the title of the book really put all of these questions into context and painted picture for what was really going on... but of course there was still the murder. The murder definitely wasn't as big of a mystery as what happened to Brian and what was haunting Mallory. It was sort of obvious what was going on, but that didn't bother me.  What I really wish is that we got to know Jason, Bree, Krista, and Taryn a little more.  They were an integral part of the book, but I didn't feel like I knew them at all.

I loved all the flashbacks and the way the flashbacks were tied into what was happening in the present. My favorite part was the friendship between Colleen and Mallory. They were fractured in a way after Brian's death, but the way they came through it all.... it was heart-warming and had me wishing I had a friendship like that.

Overall: I definitely recommend this book! It is a quick, exciting, addicting read. I LOVED the writing and the way Mallory interacted with everyone in her life, especially Colleen. If you liked The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, you will probably like this book. (Although I actually think I prefer this one over Mara). 

Add it to your To-Read List!!

My Rating:

4/4


Date Published: 2/5/2013
How I got this book: Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books