Book Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

Perception by Kim Harrington
(Clarity, #2)
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Point; 288 pages

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

Brilliant. If you asked me to sum up PERCEPTION in one word it would be brilliant. It was a fun, mysterious book that had me guessing and then second guessing myself. I love books where you can't easily predict what's going to happen. It ruins the surprise for the reader, I think.

The love triangle is also beautifully done. It's an honest, teenage dilemma. Ex-boyfriend whose still in love with you and whom you still have feelings for but just not sure exactly what type of feelings. Then this new good looking, adventurous guys swoops in and makes your heart flutter. Yeah, so maybe not totally normal but how many people have been dumped and still have feelings for the person you just got dumped by? Those feelings just don't go away over night. There is a problem with this love triangle for the reader, as well. Both guys, ex-boyfriend, Justin, and new comer hottie (whom we first meet in CLARITY), Gabriel, are so damn likable. Most times, when I read a YA book with a love triangle (so about 95% of the books I read) one of the guys is so much more likable than the other but no, not in these books. I'm torn, are you?

Clare's brother Perry, that boy deserves a big freaking hug and I volunteer to give him one. He went through so much in CLARITY and it's forever screwed with his mind. Poor guy can't even leave the house without breaking down. One good thing to this? He's put a stop to his womanizing ways. His best friend, Nate, is worried sick about him that he comes home every weekend to spend time with him instead of living the normal college life. What a friend, seriously! I wish there was more of Perry, he might be my favorite character in these books.

Clare has a stalker in this book. A crazy stalker, at that. There are so many people this stalker could be and so many times you think you have it right but you might not. Something else happens that makes you question everything. I LOVE these kinds of books. I don't read enough of them. I like second guessing myself while reading. Then I feel happy if I've guessed something right. A lot of times I don't see things that are right in front of my face. So when I do guess something, I give myself a pat on the back. :)

If you have not read CLARITY then I ask you, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? I loved it. And I highly recommend it but I do believe you should read that before reading this. Not that I think it's completely necessary but I find it might be easier and more exciting for the reader. So buy both of these amazing books. Or get them from the library...whichever you prefer just read them, please!

*highlight to view spoiler* I'm kind of bummed she chose Gabriel. I figured she'd do this much but I don't know, there's something special about Justin. The fact that she found out he never really did cheat on her would make me question everything. Gosh, I don't know. I'm so torn on both of these guys but I think I lean more toward Justin. I kind of always had some weird hope that Nate liked her in that way, as well. The first time I met him I thought it'd be cute. Clare and Nate. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this? But I adore the idea. . . *spoiler*