Book Review: Made For You
When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.
For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.
Eva Tilling stole my heart. There are no words for how refreshing it was to have a popular female character who isn’t a total witch. See, Eva grew up in the Southern elite. A group of people who, based on their money and status, essentially run the entire town. You’d expect her to be a spoiled, petty girl, no? No. In fact, Eva is one of those characters who is instantly likable. Honest, funny, sweet, and just that hint of rebellious that I love. The fact that she felt the pressure to be more, and still held onto her own personality, sold me on her character. I couldn’t have been happier.
Actually, I think the whole idea of this story taking place in Eva’s hometown created some great atmosphere. Southern Gothic stories about the decay of the aristocracy have always been my favorite. Watching those who have everything slowly fall apart intrigues me. In this case, I wouldn’t say Made For You is exactly a Southern Gothic story, but it does have some of those elements. The fact that this town of people is more than willing to cover up certain occurrences, in order to save face with the public, only heightens the feeling that there are secrets brewing beneath the surface.
I could go on about the deliciously palatable tension that flows through this book. I could rave about the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t have to suffer through a love triangle. Or that the killer’s POV was done quite well. There’s a lot I could say, but I’d rather let you discover it for yourself. Any small qualms I had about this book were far overshadowed by what what I loved. I found myself hanging on every word, right up until the ending. If you haven’t yet added this to your reading list, I’d suggest you do! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with this YA thriller.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
