ARC Review: Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

Broken Things
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publication: HarperCollins (October 2, 2018)

Description: It’s been five years since Summer Marks was brutally murdered in the woods. 

Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly.

The only thing is: they didn’t do it. 

On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago—no matter how monstrous.

With all the intensity and whiplash turns of Gone Girl and One of Us Is Lying, this engrossing psychological thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver is an unforgettable, mesmerizing tale of exquisite obsession, spoiled innocence, and impossible friendships.

My Thoughts: Once upon a time there were three girls. Mia was a gifted dancer and selectively mute. Brynn was a lesbian and a loner. Samantha was the broken foster child who drew them together because of her obsession with an obscure children's book called THE WAY INTO LOVELORN.

The girls were 12 or 13 when Samantha was murdered and the Mia and Brynn and their friend Owen were suspected of murdering her. Mia and Brynn were never charged but Owen was charged and the charges dismissed because the police messed up the evidence. The experience tore the kids apart.

Five years have passed. Mia's parents have divorced leaving her with her mother who has become a hoarder. She has lost her gift for dancing and is home-schooled because of the bullying she faced after Summer's death. Brynn spends her time in rehab because she finds it safe despite the fact that she doesn't have any addictions. Owen was taken away by his father to finish his schooling out of the country.

They get together along with Brynn's cousin Wade who has a website about the crime to try to find out what really happened to Summer and find some closure and a way to move on with their lives.

The story is told by Mia and Brynn in separate chapters in the current time and during the time when Summer died. There are also chapters from THE WAY INTO LOVELORN and the sequel that the three girls were writing.

The story was complex and filled with emotions. The characters were well developed and interesting people. While the story is a mystery, as much attention on placed on the characters of each of the girls and their tangled and twisted relationships. I liked the way Summer was revealed in all her strengths and weaknesses through the course of this story.

This was an engaging story that grabbed my attention and held it to the very end.

Favorite Quote:

"Jake Ginsky was on the football team," I say. "He was, like, outfielder or something."

"Outfielder's a baseball term," Mia says.

Leave it to Mia to be nerdy about even non-nerdy things. "Whatever. He was tight ass or rear end or whatever they call it."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.