Author: Megan Miranda
Genre: YA Contemp, Mystery
See it at Goodreads
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.
I liked the overall tone of Hysteria immediately from the first sentence. It was one of those reads that just pulled me right in and I held on until the very end. Though admittedly, I enjoyed Fracture probably more so than this title, I did find Hysteria thrilling, mysterious, and compulsively readable. I enjoyed the romantic interest, Reid, who seemed to be non-judgmental and open-minded. He showed easily that he didn’t care about the typical school gossip, no matter his popularity, and that what mattered was seeking the actual truth of the situation. The character dynamics and emotional reactions are well-done.
I have this odd love of enjoying the whole boarding school setting thing. And while I wasn’t entirely wowed by it from this title, I did find it interesting enough to keep the story moving along. My only nitpicks might’ve been that I felt sympathy for poor Mallory pretty often--especially when it came to how her parents treated her after the murder--and being sent away within months afterward while still suffering from the trauma (enough of it to where she is on sleeping medication still). I was glad she’d at least found her friendship/relationship with Reid, because I felt her hopelessness at that point, and she really needed that connection as a character. It helped add some oomph to the pages.
I found the mean girls a bit cliché and predictable, but it didn’t pull me away from the story. I still found myself easily breezing through it and finished quickly.
Hysteria was an enjoyable fast-paced read that will steal your breath away with its strange mystery.
Now, welcome Ms. Miranda to the blog, everyone! I know I'm delighted to have her here. :) Welcome Ms. Miranda! I only have a few quick questions so I don't take up too much time. I want the next book to get here as fast as possible, of course. Ha!
Me: What began your interest in writing?
MM: I loved to read and write growing up, and I also loved
science. Writing was something I always enjoyed, but I let it go after high
school, thinking I was supposed to pick one thing to do. So I picked science,
because it seemed more practical. I always read, but I'm ashamed to say I went
many years without writing. It wasn't until I had changed careers and then quit
to stay home with my kids that my husband asked me why I wasn't writing, since
it was something I loved to do. I started writing again that night, and haven't
stopped since.
Me: What was your inspiration behind Hysteria?
MM: There wasn’t one single event that inspired Hysteria, but
a bunch of smaller things that all came together. For one, I had the idea for
Mallory already—a girl who had gotten away with killing her boyfriend. So that
was one piece of the story already. As I was writing, I got very interested in
the definition of the word haunt, and all the things that can haunt, and all
the ways they can do it. I started researching memories and psychosomatic
conditions, and I read stories about people who had psychological conditions
that manifested in physical ways. All of these elements came together as I was coming
up with the idea behind Hysteria.
Me: If you could cast your own characters into a movie, which
actors would you choose?
MM: Oh, I am
typically so bad at casting questions! Mostly because I am pretty out-of-it
when it comes to current entertainment. Or past entertainment. All
entertainment, really.
I picture
Mallory as maybe a cross between Nina Dobrev and Melissa Benoist. Reid would be
maybe Tyler Posey. Colleen I’d picture as a young Scarlett Johannson.
Me: Your debut, Fracture,
was released last year in January. Some inquiring minds want to know if there’s
going to be a companion or sequel. So, yes or no? ;)
MM: Yes! The sequel/companion will be coming out in early
2014. It will be told from Decker's point of view and it takes place about 8
months after the events in Fracture.
Me: Could you tell us one quirky fact about yourself?
MM: Just one? Oh boy. Um… I have a thing about even numbers.
Like I need to eat chips in even numbers and stuff. Or maybe that’s just weird.
How about the fact that I talk with my hands so much (seriously, I can’t get
them to stop), even when I’m on the phone… and sometimes it makes me drop the
phone.
Me: Anything else you would like to add?
MM: Just that I
really enjoyed writing Hysteria, and I hope you like it! Thanks for having me
on your blog J
Me: Thank you so much for being on the blog with us today!
About the Author
**My thanks to Bloomsbury for asking my blog to take part in the tour. I received an e-galley in exchange for my honest review.**
I have this so I'll definitely read it at some point. It seems like the ratings average around 3 stars for it so I guess my expectations won't be too high.
ReplyDeleteregards,
marlene of Hunting Alaska