ARC Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Disappearing

Author: Ashley Elston

Publication: Disney-Hyperion (May 14, 2013)

Description: She's been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she's been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last. 

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they've given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do-or see-that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all of the Suits' rules-and her dad's silence. If he won't help, it's time she got some answers for herself. 

But Meg isn't counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who's too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there's only one rule that really matters-survival.

My Thoughts: THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING was an excellent mystery/thriller. The main character who had just been renamed Meg Jones by the Witness Protection Program and relocated to Natchitoches, Louisiana is a wonderful, well-rounded character. She and her family have been moved around a lot by Witness Protection and it has done great harm to their family. Meg's mom has turned to alcohol and her younger sister Teeny has become fearful and clingy. Meg herself is plagued by nightmares. She has determined that this time she won't make friends or get involved because it hurts too much to leave them behind when they are relocated.

Ethan Landry doesn't fit into her plans though. She first meets him in the school office where he is bruised from fighting. He keeps making approaches to Meg through all her various rebuffs. When Meg gets an after-school job at a pizza place, she is surprised to learn that his aunt owns it. But constantly running into Ethan there and at school, has Ethan growing on her. He is a great character -- honest, caring, cute and persistent.

Meg has been blaming her father for the disruption in the family's life and keeps asking him what he did or knows that caused them to enter the Witness Protection Program. It is only gradually that the memories come back to her of what she saw and she learns that she is the one who is in danger because she saw a man kill a family friend and the boy she had a crush on. The killer saw her too but let her live when she said she knew the whereabouts of some ledgers that he wanted. 

Now, in order to get the killer off their trail, Meg hatches a plan to go back to Arizona to recover the ledgers. Her plan was to go alone but Ethan convinces her to let him come along. Not only are they trying to stay ahead of the criminals who want Meg dead but the US Marshal's Service too. 

This story was an exciting thriller and a really nice romance too. I liked the twists and turns. Young adult thriller fans will like this one too. 

Favorite Quote:

I keep thinking about Ethan and the bomb he dropped in the courtyard. Who does he think he is? If I look at the people around her like they're from another planet, it's because they are! Weird food and weirder animals. The gas station near our house has a jar of pickled pig feet sitting on the counter. And people buy them. To eat.

I got this eARC from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.