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The hardest part about reviewing a book like this is not giving anything away. The hardest part about reading a book like this is knowing what to believe.
There are unreliable narrators — characters who don’t understand what’s going on around them, who either willfully or unknowingly misinterpret the information around them, while the reader fully understands what’s going on. Then there’s Micah. Micah is a liar, something about which she’s very up front.
However, that means everything in the book is suspect. Everything.
The basic plot — that Micah’s “after hours” boyfriend, Zach, was brutally killed — can pretty much be believed. But everything else, from the opening sentence to the final paragraph, is suspect. How much is truth? Micah says she’s telling the truth, but as the book unfolds, there are lies. And really: is she lying about lying? You can’t trust her as a narrator, and yet you have no information other than what she gives you.
It’s a fascinating and compelling look at … what? Lying and truth-telling, yes. But other things as well. But you could also go meta here: it’s exploring the role of a narrator in a book, the role of a reader and the agreements the reader makes with the narrator/author when opening up the book. It’s an exploration of a girl trying to fit in, but… how?
In a word: fascinating.
Rated: High for language. There are quite a few instances of strong language. There is also some mention of teen sex.
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