Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Published: February 5, 2013 (Walker Children's)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Rating: Squee-worthy

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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.

Memorable Quote

 Because it felt like we were starting right now.  Then I was so close I could feel his breath, coming a little too fast.  And my hands were on his chest, like I could push him away any minute, but I didn't.  I spread my palms flat and tried to feel his heartbeat.

It was racing.

- Page 176

My Review

Megan Miranda became one of my go-to authors last year with Fracture, her debut novel, so as soon as I heard about Hysteria, I knew I had to read this YA thriller.  Within the first few pages, I was captivated, and wanted to learn more about Mallory, and about what happened the night her boyfriend died.  Megan's ability to weave a fascinating story continues in Hysteria.  Once again, I didn't know who to trust, and couldn't figure out what, exactly, was happening until the last minute.  Everyone was a suspect - Mallory included. 

Not many authors could take an unreliable narrator like Mallory and make me care about her, but Megan Miranda did.    Throughout Hysteria, scattered flashbacks reveal what really happened the night Mallory's boyfriend died, but I wasn't sure which was more compelling - Mallory's past, or her present.  Starting over at a new school poses its own challenges; there's a boy, who might be a new chance at love, if Mallory is brave enough to take that chance.  I wanted to push her toward Reid, who was so patient, loyal, and understanding.  But I had to trust in Megan Miranda to let Mallory grow, slowly, but steadily, into someone who could trust herself again - which was incredibly difficult to believe would happen, with Mallory receiving ghostly nightmares, visions, and threats.  

Hysteria is a wild ride, but one I'm glad I took.  Only Megan Miranda could have told this type of story: a mystery, and a ghost story all rolled into one - with some swoon-worthy romance sprinkled in.  The characters are genuine, and I couldn't get enough of the macabre undertones to Hysteria.  It's a book I'll definitely purchase to add to my bookshelf!


Other books by this author:

Fracture
Vengeance (Fracture #2 | 2014, Walker Children's) 

You're sure to fall for:

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

About Megan

Megan Miranda was a scientist and high school teacher before writing Fracture, which came out of her fascination with scientific mysteries—especially those associated with the brain. Megan has a BS in biology from MIT and spent her post-college years either rocking a lab coat or reading books. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor. Fracture is her first novel.

Visit Megan at: her website | twitter 

Shop for Hysteria at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Pages: 272

Expected publication: January 17th, 2012 (Walker & Company)

Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone

Further info: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find the author online: Website | Twitter

Rating: Squee-worthy

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

 My Review

Debut author Megan Miranda's poignant and thrilling novel, Fracture, opens with protagonist Delaney Maxwell slipping through the ice in a local pond.  Delaney opens her eyes six days later, discovering she has been in a coma, and that she was clinically dead.  Down-to-earth, genuine Delaney takes all this information in stride, and Fracture sets a satisfying pace throughout the rest of the book.  We're introduced to Delaney, her best friend, Decker Phillips, and a strong cast of secondary characters - Delaney's parents, and friends, including twins Carson and Janna.  The characters never felt forced or stereotypical; for the most part, they all had a certain something that set them apart from the mold, and distinguished them.  

Throughout this young adult contemporary, running alongside the uneasy overtone to the novel, as Delaney recovers from her death and resurrection, that sense of genuineness remains.   These were characters that I could understand, characters that I could relate to.  Delaney is a strong voice, a reliable narrator even amidst all the turmoil in her life.  She's someone you've passed on the street, and I applaud Megan Miranda for crafting such a sympathetic and wonderful heroine. 

Fracture asks some hard questions though.  Delaney has a strange connection to death, which is explored at several different points.  Faced with confronting what she doesn't understand - from her survival, to her ability/curse of being drawn to death, Delaney has to wonder: is she meant to be a help, or a hindrance?  Does she have a gift, or is it truly a curse?  Megan Miranda deftly weaves these questions into the patterns of Fracture, leaving even the reader asking what it all means.  

I wasn't sure at first if Fracture was the sort of book  I would enjoy; after all, it was quite heavy and intense at times, but to me, the pacing was always spot-on and there were some amazing moments that added incredible depth of another kind to the novel.  Delaney's relationship with her neighbor and best friend, Decker, provided most of those moments.  Decker is probably one of the coolest and hug-worthy male characters I've come across in awhile.  Simply seeing his grief over Delaney and his relief upon her waking up endeared him to me, which he continued to do over the course of Fracture.  I absolutely adored his friendship with Delaney, and their vibe.  There were several points where I wanted to shake them both, opportunities they each did their best to destroy.  They were both so stubborn in that aspect, yet I loved them so, and was pleased with the direction Megan Miranda took them in.  

I did have a few issues with the book; mainly, that of Delaney's parents.  Her father was a really great guy, and very well-meaning, but he seemed so distracted at times, and unwilling to really take a stand in the family.  And I didn't like her mother's actions at a couple of points in the book - especially the way she pretty much gave up on Delaney.  I understand she was frustrated - they all were -  but that's never justified.  However, both characters were interestingly flawed.  And the storyline with Troy was both fascinating and creepy.  I would have enjoyed seeing it play out over more time, but for what it was, I was satisfied, yet saddened by his arc in the book.  

Overall I think Fracture is a strong debut.  Megan Miranda clearly knows how to tell a solid story that pulled me in, to the point that  I didn't want to put the book down, for fear of not getting a chance to come back to it.  I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA contemporary.  It's an emotional thrill ride you won't soon forget! 

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via Debut Author ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.