Hysteria by Megan Miranda Review + Giveaway

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens; 336 pages

Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear ...When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

Megan Miranda has certainly surprised me with her second released book, Hysteria. It was creepy, that’s for sure but I actually think I enjoyed it a lot more the second time through. Yes, I re-read this book because it had been months since the first time I read it and wanted refresh my memory before tackling this review. (Plus, I’ve read like 60+ since reading it the first time…details become fuzzy after that many books!)

Mallory is just a normal girl…or she was…before she killed her boyfriend, Brian a few months ago. It’s not like she meant to kill him….but you can’t take back a life taken. She wasn’t charged in this case as it was proven as self defense but it doesn’t change the fact that his mom is stalking her looking for her son, his brother (whom she liked before she even met Brian) Dylan glares at her, her mother is afraid of her and just…nothing is the same. Plus, she’s certain Brian’s spirit is haunting her…she has to take sleeping pills to get any sort of rest but she never falls asleep before the boom boom boom comes to haunt her…

Her parents decided to send her to her father’s old private school; Monroe and Mallory can’t help feeling angry. I don’t blame her, really. I would feel like my parents were trying to get rid of me so they can try leading a normal life since the past few months haven’t been anything near normal. Sending her away is not only their chance for normalcy but hopefully for her, as well. Problem is she heading in to a school of rich snobs and a guy whom she once tried to kiss and he denied her. You would think she’d be over that put down years later but the second she see’s him she realizes she’s not.

The one thing I liked most about this book is it’s like two stories in one. Not only is Mallory trying to figure out everything that happened with her and Brian but also she’s suddenly thrown in to some serious situations at her new school in Monroe…including lead suspect in a new murder. While she’s not even over killing Brian in self defense she has to deal with something all over again…while her wounds are still fresh.

Another thing I liked is the relationship between Mallory and her best friend, Colleen. They have such a strong bond and they are so close that they would lie for each other in a heartbeat. Hell, Colleen was even willing to run away with Mallory after she found out about Brian while Mallory was missing. That is what best friends are supposed to be like. It’s relationships like that that you never want to take for granted. I also really like the relationship between Reid and Mallory…and how it progresses. It seems real and legit…it’s not sudden and it’s certainly not perfect.

I have read this book twice and the first time it was insanely creepy. The second, even knowing the outcome I felt more interested in certain characters and their actions moreso than I was the first time. It was like reading the story from another pair of eyes, it was truly amazing. So with that being said, it’s definitely one I recommend reading more than once. Hell, I think both her books (Fracture) are worth reading more than once, as I’ve read both at least twice.

So come February 5, this is definitely a book I recommend going out to read.

I will be seeing Megan in early March so I'm offering one personalized signed copy to one lucky winner! This contest is opened internationally so anyone is able to enter!

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