The Remedy by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Dystopian

The Program Series, Book 0.5

Suzanne Young's website

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Description (taken from Suzanne Young's website):

Can one girl take on so many identities without losing her own? Find out in this riveting companion to The Program and the New York Times bestselling The Treatment.

In a world before The Program…Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty.

She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.

Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.

Quinn is a closer who helps grieving families cope with loss by becoming the person they lost.  She will be that teenaged girl that parents have lost due to a tragic accident.  What this does is give the parents a chance to tell their daughter what they wish they could have told her before she passed.  In a weird way, it helps give them closure to move the grieving process forward.  But with her latest assignment, Quinn's so wrapped up in it that she's lost a part of herself.

Quinn has become Catalina Barnes, a girl who mysteriously died.  She is going to help the parents move on by playing their daughter for her final birthday party.  But there's a curve ball, Catalina's boyfriend also needs closure.  As Quinn melds into Catalina's life, she begins to wish for this dead girl's life.  But is really pretending to be someone around grieving people the best thing for these people?  Will Quinn be able to leave this assignment with her identity and sanity intact?

So this book is definitely one to appeal to fans of The Program; it's why I picked it up.  It's kind of like a long and drawn-out intro to how the Program becomes what it is.  But what on earth do closers have to do with erasing suicidal memories?  Like I said, a long and drawn-out intro...  Now back to the premise of the story:  I was rolling my eyes and wondering if I was going to enjoy this story since the idea is so far-fetched.  I personally think hiring someone to play a dead person to help with grief is a pretty dumb idea.  But I got wrapped up in the story.  And even when I had the story figured out and thought the plot was kind of pathetic, I had to keep reading.  I wanted more.  Even when I finished the book, I wanted the next one to know what happened to Quinn.  That's how much I like Suzanne Young's writing.  It wasn't until a few days later I was able to finally make an opinion and accept the fact that I was not a big fan of the plot.  Even if I want to read the next one, I still think the plot is a little far-fetched.

I think this book and I have a love-hate relationship.  I do want to read the next one.  But I kind of have to tell the logical part of my brain to just ignore the plot and enjoy the story.

Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Mystery/Contemporary/Horror

Suzanne Young's website

Expected publication date:  November 3, 2015

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Description (taken from Suzanne Young's website):

"Stay tonight. Stay forever."

When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she's grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother's death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions--including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey's pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn't have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel's dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she's met, the more her curiosity grows. She's torn in different directions--the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems...

Welcome to the Ruby.

Audrey's father is taking her and her brother across state lines to live with their grandmother.  It seems no one is able to deal with the grief from losing a loved one in this family.  And in the middle of the road trip, Audrey's father takes them to the Hotel Ruby.  An intoxicating and inviting hotel smack-dab in the middle of nowhere.  But once they check in, will they ever want to leave?

Before going to her room, Audrey decides to explore the amenities of the hotel.  She meets a guest named Elias who offers to show her around.  But when night turns to day, she realizes something is a little off in this place.  And as more guests talk about the invitation-only event that happens every night, Audrey begins to wonder why she's the only one who's not invited.  And as her father continues to extend their stay, she wonders if they'll ever be able to leave the Ruby.

I had this pegged from the beginning.  And this one's a tough one to describe because I don't want to give it all away even though it's at the tip of my tongue.  This story just builds off of a web of lies and dreams, and it all captivates you.  The only thing that kind of haunts me is the ending.  I'm not sure I liked that.  It's definitely one I'm going to be thinking about for a while.

This book is a definite for Suzanne Young fans.  And if you haven't picked up her books yet, this would be a good mystery for you.

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.

The Treatment by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Dystopian/Contemporary Romance

The Program Series, Book 2

Suzanne Young's website

Expected publication date:  April 29, 2014

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Note:  This book is a second one meaning it can somewhat spoil plot lines in the first book.  Consider yourself warned.

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

The Program claims it has the ability to heal people, specifically teens.  Apparently there's a suicide epidemic out there growing.  Everyone's on the suicide train, but The Program can stop it.  They can make teens whole again and happy (or calm, whichever makes you feel better).  All it costs are your memories.

Sloane and James both experienced The Program.  They've forgotten their shared past, but it wasn't enough to keep them apart.  Before going on the run, Realm gave Sloane a pill to help her remember her past.  But she struggles on whether to take it.  Sometimes, it's easier to just let the past go.  And then Cas and Dallas enter the picture; rebels on the run.  They're going to help them escape from The Program.  They only need to stay safe long enough until the true story comes out and The Program quits brainwashing the general public.  The only problem is humans are unpredictable.  Sometimes our motivations will turn out to be our downfall.  And the best intentions can sometimes ruin us all.

I would have to say this is my first Suzanne Young book where I didn't breeze through it with a euphoric feeling.  Don't get me wrong; it had excellent human emotions.  But the plot felt dull and predictable.  Half the time I was reading about the suicide epidemic and The Program, I was thinking, really?  This is really happening?  It doesn't sound plausible anymore.  But then the characters you're beginning to love do something incredibly stupid and you're back in the game.  I enjoyed this book, but I was missing the star-shaped glasses I usually wear when I read books by this awesome author.

Honestly, I think the first book, The Program, is an excellent read.  And if you're dying to see it all come to a close, then you're going to pick this one up eventually.  But the story's in the first one...

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.

Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Contemporary

Cat Patrick's website

Suzanne Young's website

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Description (taken from Cat Patrick's website):

One decision will change everything…

Caroline is at a crossroads.

Her grandmother is sick, maybe dying. Like the rest of her family, Caroline’s been bedside since Gram’s stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape—both her family and the reality of Gram’s failing health. So when Caroline’s best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: Stay by Gram’s side for what might be her final hours, or Go to the party and live her life.

The consequences of this one decision will split Caroline’s fate into two separate paths— and she is about to live them both.

Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships, and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she’s ever wanted. Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending . . .

Seeing two worlds open into new beginnings based on one decision.  Isn't this a novel concept?  Well, I've actually read one other book that dealt with this concept, so it's not new to me.  But I enjoy reading how our choices and decisions shape our world and future.

Caroline is a teenager dealing with her grandmother's failing health.  While I wasn't in high school when my grandma passed away (I was in college), I do know how that feels.  Seeing all of the distractions and wanting to use those instead of facing reality.  Watching as your world suddenly stops while everything else keeps moving.  I know how she felt.  And it was a little sad to watch it all play out.  But this book is more than just her grandmother's death.  It's about family, friends, making mistakes and dealing with the consequences, and falling in love.

From the beginning, there was only one boy I was rooting for.  I immediately despised the other one.  And then I realized that this book is a major love story.  And not only that, but it deals with fate and destiny.  Kind of like how no matter what our decisions are, our fate will always find us in the end.  Free will that doesn't mess up the grand scheme of things.  (You'll understand all of this philosophical mumbo-jumbo once you read the book.  Or you'll just think I'm nuts.)

But this book didn't really do it for me.  It was a good story, but I was kind of all "meh" with the ending.  It just wasn't for me.

The Program by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Program Series, Book 1

Suzanne Young's website

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Description (taken from Suzanne Young's website):

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.

When kids are transitioning from the kid-stage to the adult-stage, life gets hectic.  We want our independence, but we're not really smart enough for that completely (using the "we" noun even though I'm not included in the teen category).  Our parents want to shelter us from the the horrors in the world, but they can't always do that.  And our feelings and emotions are totally on overdrive.  But in Sloane's world, showing those emotions can get you into trouble.

The best way to cure suicidal thoughts is to take those thoughts away, right?  In this book, we're going to explore this very question.  I will admit, talking about suicide and seeing how much of it occurs in the book is a little depressing and over the top.  But the book is good.  Sloane has had a rough life: she's seen some very traumatizing things, including suicide, and she's watched her best friend come out of The Program remembering nothing.  Her best friend has become a clean slate, remembering nothing of her tortured past, but she looks happy.  And is Sloane happy?  She's in love, but her world is falling apart.  And not being able to talk things through with anyone, including her parents, makes things spiral out of control.  And soon enough, she's in The Program having her memories erased.  Is it worth it?

This book from start to finish: wow.  Just wow.  It was beautifully well-written, and I was enraptured all the way through.  Towards the ending, I was getting nervous that it wasn't going to be good because I hate bad endings.  But it ended well.  And I'd love to say more without ruining it for you.

If you liked A Need So Beautiful, keep reading Suzanne Young's books.  If you haven't, but this one's caught your attention, read it!  And then read her other books...  I believe I have a new favorite author.

Challenges:  Dystopia Reading Challenge

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy

A Need So Beautiful Series, Book 2

Suzanne Young's website

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Description (taken from Suzanne Young's website)

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park with no idea who she is. After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She's experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people's lives—people she's never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows.

And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who's new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

The title is absolutely perfect for this book.  And like the first book, this one has such a bittersweet ending.  Beautiful!

The first book is from Charlotte's point of view while this one is from Elise's point of view.  But we're still going to see the same kind of storyline that we saw in the first book.  It's a light versus darkness kind of thing without seeming standoffish.  And there's some heavy romance.  My only drawback is that the book is too short, and I wish I could see more of the storyline from the various characters in the story.

Who do I recommend this book to?  Anyone who loved the first one, A Need So Beautiful.  And I'd tell anyone who loves romance and bittersweet things and has five hours to spare to pick the first one up and read it.

Challenges:  Sensational Seconds and Young Adult Reading Challenge

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy

A Need So Beautiful Series, Book 1

Suzanne Young's website
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Description (taken from Suzanne Young's website):

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences?

After reading this book, I believe the title is perfect for this book.  And right from the beginning, I knew this was going to be one that would bring tears to my eyes.  Unfortunately, my husband happened to be sitting next to me as I was reading, so I had to keep the tears from leaving my eyes...

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, but it was so worth it.  I was able to predict the plot, but it's the ride through the plot that counts.  And I loved this ride.  I'll be anxiously awaiting the second one which comes out next year.