Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (October 13, 2009)
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5

About the book:
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

My Review:
After her father’s murder a year ago, Nora stays with her mother in the same old farmhouse just outside the city. As they have to come up with the maintenance cost for the farmhouse, her mother has to work after her father’s death and Nora is mostly home alone with her mother traveling for her job. Nora is a sincere student and none of the boys in her School provide any attraction or distraction for her.

Enter Patch. Patch is a new transfer and is usually quite and detached. Of course Nora and Patch are coupled for biology Assignment and part of it is getting to know each other and then making a report out of it. In spite of the fact that Nora knows something is wrong with Patch, she finds it very difficult to stay detached from him. Without giving much away, what ensues later is unraveling of mysteries, of Patch and of some other guys that enter the picture later.

I started the book thinking it would be heavy on fantasy but it was focused on the mystery aspect of the story for most of the part. But the mystery was so good that I did not mind. The characters were great. Patch was sexy and attractive and dangerous. Although I didn’t like Nora much she wasn’t some dumb female attracted to the dark and dangerous kind and acting on it just because she could (Read Bella from Twilight). She was intelligent and had a mind of her own. Nora’s friend Vee was the most entertaining of the lot. I almost waited for her to come in the picture. She was entertaining even when she was discussed in third person.

The one thing that I do find myself complaining about is the lack of atmosphere. I’m not saying it wasn’t there, just that I didn’t feel it much. Although I enjoyed Hush Hush thoroughly, I wish I could be transported to that place while reading it. I would have enjoyed it even more than I did. But then I haven’t seen this complaint in any other reviews so it could just be my mood. I am not sure.

In spite of my minor complaint, the fact remains that Hush, Hush is a great debut novel and I will definitely be looking out for books by Becca Fitzpatrick in the future.

Highly recommended if you like Young Adult or Fantasy.