Patch, the new guy in school, isn’t really Nora’s kind of guy. Even just sitting next to her in biology, he practically reeks of trouble, and Nora is one who really appreciates knowing exactly what is going to happen next. So why is he so irresistible? Why won’t he answer any questions about himself? And why can’t she get him out of her mind? Beyond that, why is it that as soon as Patch comes into her life, bizarre and more-than-a-little-terrifying things start to happen? As much as Nora knows she should stay away from him, she pretty much is incapable of doing it — which only serves to deepen her involvement in whatever is going on.
This one was a bit of a white-knuckle read. I really didn’t know where it was taking me, and even as things started being revealed I was still trying to make sense of it, and I love that. I couldn’t put it down. Patch’s secrets, and what they teach Nora about a world beyond our own, were interesting and unique. More than once I felt the underpinnings of Twilight (bad otherworldly guy, normal girl, a different realm of reality among us) but it was different enough and executed well enough that it didn’t bother me. I liked Patch as a bad-guy/good-guy character, and although Nora’s horrendous decision-making drove me a bit crazy, I found myself rooting for them, and I was interested in seeing where the romance would lead. I appreciated that it was edgy but not graphic. I’d definitely read more of this story; I’m glad I just heard there will be a sequel.
Rated: Moderate: Multiple (both explicit and implicit) references to teen sex. A couple of mild sexual situations that are a little steamy but no actual sex occurs. Language is surprisingly clean.
