Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush #1

     "A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGEL

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

     Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

     But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems 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 she 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 Nora her life."

Almost exactly a year ago I read this book. My initial response was "It's good, I enjoyed this book, but there feels like something is missing." I gave it a four-star rating at the time, I don't know why I just did.

This is my re-read review. I feel exactly the same now as I did then about this book. I really do like this book and this story. But everything about the plot is way too convenient. And Nora is far too rational to fall for any of the tricks that plague her mind, or at least she starts off as being too rational, then rather abruptly becomes gullible and irrational. Blame it on Patch being seductive, or Vee being pushy to spend time with boys she thinks are hot. Either way, an abrupt character change needs to be done more delicately than it was. All the scenes that hinted at a romantic interaction were cut before anything happened. Like when they were making Tacos, that scene could have been far more romantic and involved than it was. It was a 3 sentence interaction, then he kissed her neck. I suppose if the reader has a vivid imagination they can add in what they assume, or would want to happen.

Patch is possibly the most boring male character of all time in this book. Yes, he's hot, mysterious, and smells "divine". But other than the obviousness of his cocky behavior we are given no glimpse to what his personality is, or that he is in love with Nora. He mostly seems to just like to make her flustered, and I am no expert but that doesn't spell "love" to me. He is attracted to her, and she thinks he is attractive. But in this book, that is as far as their romance goes. I would find her willingness to be near him more believable had she shown more interest in him rather than fear from the beginning.

Nora is an odd protagonist. We are told from her perspective that she is smart. She gets good grades, likes to study. But all the decisions she makes are dumb, and she allows Vee way too much reign over her life than any "friend" should allow. The only good decisions she made involved her being suspicious about Elliott and Jules. She assumes a lot of things that wouldn't come to mind of an average person and jumps to a few wild accusations about certain things. Which, is another thing that averts from her supposed rational disposition.

Aside from my grievances of this book, I still like it and recommend it to people that I think will like it. I still have an issue with the titles of these books. They have zero connection to the story.