Review + GIVEAWAY!: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel Hush, Hush (Simon & Schuster / Oct. 13, 2009) grabbed my attention when I first saw its cover and read the synopsis back in May and WoWed it. Since then, Becca has been amazing to me, making sure that I got an ARC, which I promptly read and then raved about to her.

Becca has allowed me to share my review with you a couple months before Hush, Hush is released, which I am ecstatic to do, since I am an ardent supporter of Nora and Patch's story. And WHAT ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY?, you say? Hang on to your horses and read on to find out. I promise there aren't any spoilers. :)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publication date: Oct. 13, 2009 (Simon & Schuster)

Tags: YA, paranormal, angels, danger, romance

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary

The last thing high school sophomore Nora Grey wanted was to be partnered with a total stranger in biology, especially for a section on human anatomy and sexuality. But Patch, her biology partner, is very attractive, fascinatingly intriguing…and has a way of unnerving Nora in all the ways she never wanted to be unnerved. Nora knows that Patch is dangerous, and that she should probably stay away from him—especially after she suspects him of being the masked stalker who seems to be trying to kill her—but their paths keep on crossing, and she can’t deny the connection that she feels with him.

However, Nora doesn’t know that she’s about to become a pawn in a dangerous game that may end her life. For Patch is a fallen angel, one whose wings were ripped off for disobedience. He wants to become human, and that requires a particular female sacrifice. But that’s not all. Others are also out for Nora’s blood, and against her will Nora feels that Patch might be the only one who can save her, as dangerous as he himself is for her…

Review

Look out, Edward—dark, dangerous, and sexy has a new name, and that name is Patch. Becca Fitzpatrick writes a forbidden romance that’s so delicious, so intoxicating, it should be illegal. Thankfully it’s not, and we can all be treated to the alluring and dangerous world that Nora and Patch live in.

HUSH, HUSH focuses mostly on developing Nora, Patch, and their dance of a relationship. Thus, what it sometimes lacks in pace, it more than makes up for in Patch and Nora’s fantastic dynamics. Every time they meet, you can practically see the sparks flying out of the page. All the other characters fade in comparison, but it’s okay, as Nora and Patch are exceptionally well drawn and three-dimensional. Nora, while seemingly helpless in a Bella-like way under the dark shadow of Patch’s sinister behavior, is actually quite determined and innovative, given the terrifying circumstances she has been thrust into.

Readers will either fall over themselves to get more of Patch, or be creeped out by him. He certainly exhibits a lot of the stalkerish tendencies that some readers dislike about Edward from Twilight. In addition, he is rude, condescending, cocky, sexually aggressive, and pretty darn selfish (did I mention the part where he wants to kill Nora for his own purposes?). However, I am firmly in the first camp: I adore Patch. He is the incarnation of every girl’s secret bad boy daydream: your very own otherworldly, dangerous, drop-dead sexy, decidedly masculine fantasy come true. Whenever Patch shows up in HUSH, HUSH, you’ll want to sweat—partly from attraction, partly from fear. It’s easy to understand why Nora feels the way she does about him, even if the romance between the two feels the tiniest bit rushed and uneven to me.

Nora and Patch aside, the rest of HUSH, HUSH was a decent exploration of a different world, one where fallen angels roam among us. The story doesn’t really pick up the pace until the last third or so of the novel, where we learn about Patch’s past as well as the story of the fallen angels, Nora and Patch’s building attraction finally comes to a head, and mortal danger awaits. Indeed, the final part of the book was so delicious and action-packed that I had to reread it again and again, never getting enough each time. This fallen angel world that Becca Fitzpatrick has created is one that I will gladly step into again, even if it’s not for the continuation of Patch and Nora’s story.

All in all, HUSH, HUSH is an edgier read that will appeal to more mature fans of Twilight and the Mortal Instruments series. Becca Fitzpatrick is an absolute star at creating fantastic main characters: the attraction between Nora and Patch is sure to break thermometers. This one’s a keeper on my shelf for sure, so that I can reread it whenever I need a rush of danger and impossible desire. Can’t wait to see what Becca has to show us next!

Similar Authors

Stephenie Meyer

Cassandra Clare

Melissa Marr

Writing: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Want more? Hell yes. Becca's got me addicted.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Cover discussion: 5 out of 5 - By far the best cover all this year. The grays that turn to blood red on the feathers, the lighting, the model's posture all add up to a sensuous and deeply appropriate cover. Many kudos to James Porto for a pretty much perfect cover.

Thank you, Becca and S&S, for offering me an ARC to read and review!

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Want to win an ARC of this book?

Of course you do. Why am I even asking? Becca was fantastic enough to provide readers with an ARC of Hush, Hush. To enter, answer this question:

***Why do you want to read this book?***

NO ANSWER, NO ENTRY. I'm serious. It's an easy question.

For extra entries:

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This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY (since Becca is awesome) and ends on August 28, 2009. Happy entering! And while you're at it, don't forget to check out Becca's LiveJournal. She updates it frequently and always responds to your comments!