A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

8:30 PM

Title: A Need So Beautiful
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: June 21, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Balzer  & Bray
Pages: 272
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Summary:
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?

My Thoughts:
I'm always wary about YA novels centering around angels these days. Out of the ones that I've read, there have been both hits and misses... but I'm always willing to give the book the benefit of the doubt beforehand. However, I really shouldn't have had any worries regarding A Need So Beautiful because it has easily pulled itself apart from the rest to completely stand out on its own in a positively good way!

Suzanne Young's absolutely beautiful writing blew me away. Her prose had what seemed to be a certain soft, melodic lilt that left me in awe and was so easy to read. Charlotte may be kind and selfless, but there are limits to how much she's willing to give up... and when you learn about her ultimate fate of being completely forgotten by her loved ones, your heart will break too. She only wants to lead a normal life, but there's nothing regular when it comes to being one of the Forgotten. 

As for the romance? Be prepared to completely swoon! Harlin. Harlin. Harlin. Oh my gosh, I really did fall for him. He's the epitome of the perfect bad boy image but has a golden, kind heart that will melt your own while leaving your spine tingling. Harlin's had a rough past but he would do anything in the world for Charlotte to make her happy and keep her safe.

I have no idea what to make of the ending except that I absolutely need to know what will happen in the second novel, A Want So Wicked! A myriad of emotions must have crossed my face when I finished, that's for sure. Confusion, amazement, dismay, sadness, surprise and a great level of utter shock were definitely among them! I would have loved it if the novel were a bit longer though because I just couldn't accept the fact that I had already reach the final page.

A Need So Beautiful will leave you just as breathless as its cover! Suzanne Young has offered a fresh, unique touch to the angel genre in what is easily her best novel to date so far! Just as Charlotte is constantly overcome with the Need to help others, you'll be finding it impossibly difficult to put this book down!

Thanks so much to HarperCollins Canada for sending me this review copy! 

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7 comments

  1. Great review! I don't have this one yet but it sounds so good. I'll have to get it soon :)

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  2. Great review! I'm *really* wary of all paranormal books these days.. well this year. I actually haven't read too many at all, but this one seems to be winning everybody over! I think I'll need to read this

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  3. I love a good swoon together with a unique story so I will be definitely be picking this up. Great review :)

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  4. Oh yay! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! I'm looking forward to reading it and falling in love with Harlin as well :) I'm also a bit wary of angel-fiction, I've been disappointed by them before..
    Anyway, great review!

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  5. Fantastic review! So excited for this now! Was looking forward to it but didn't know if it would live up to my expectations ;)

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  6. I just won a signed ARC of this in a giveaway and I cannot wait to start reading this. What a wonderful review, that totally made me want to read the book even more now! :)

    Happy Reading! ;)
    Suz @ A Soul Unsung
    My IMM
    My Teaser Tuesday
    My WoW!

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  7. A Need So Beautiful is an well constructed beautiful story. The suspense and thrilling scenes, it plays well to captivate the reader right away. An engaging story from the first page, A Need So Beautiful is a rich portrait of a young woman coming into her destiny.

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