Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
My Rating:
Summary:
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast – and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence – to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way – people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
First Sentence: Keeping secrets isn’t my specialty.
My Review:
I’m very iffy about my opinion of Speechless. I’ve heard nothing but good praise for Speechless, but when I started reading it, there was only one word to describe my mood: annoyed.
In the beginning, Chelsea Knot was one of those girl everyone hates for a good reason. She’s a backstabber, a whiner, a brat, shallow, and worse of all, she doesn’t know she’s being used by her so-called “friend.” I’ve read enough books about those kinds of people to immediately recognize her for what she is and how she’s being used, but not realizing it.
Chelsea does change in the end of Speechless, but her bratty attitude from the beginning is always fresh on my mind. I just can’t get over it, probably because while I was reading Speechless, I was also working on an assignment for English about gay/lesbian discrimination, namely bullying, which included the well-known Clementi case that was on the news for more than two weeks. Doesn’t Chelsea know that what happened to him is whatever could have happened to Noah once she told everyone his secret? Sure, she was drunk, but there is simply no excuse for her behavior. It just makes me want to tug my hair out. I personally think Chelsea deserved to get shunned and get a taste of her own medicine. Luckily, she becomes a better person at the end of the novel or else I would have thrown Speechless across the room twenty times.
Despite my bad impression of Chelsea, I have to give Hannah Harrington major credit for the beautifully written book with lots of memorable quotes and reflections. If Chelsea wasn’t such an annoying character in the beginning of Speechless, I would have fully embraced the novel instead of continually dropping it because I couldn’t stand Chelsea.
A lot of Speechless‘s characters are stereotyped. Kristen is the typical blond, popular, vein girl who gets whatever she wants and goes out on a rampage if she doesn’t get it. Derek and Lowell are the brainless jocks that only lives for their sports teams. Asha is that typical unique but cool girl that’s smart and likes to knit. Only Sam and Andy are truly refreshing.
I will try reading Hannah Harrington’s Saving June soon. I have a strong feeling that I’ll like that novel better than Speechless as long as the main character isn’t shallow and annoying like how Chelsea was in the beginning of Speechless.
I thought about reading this book because of the movie, I never watched it, and after your review, I probably won’t read it. I can’t get through a book if I hate the main character, especially if it’s in first person. I find myself putting the book down and leaving it for days or sometimes even weeks. I love your review, though it’s honest and I like that.
There’s a movie based on the book? Really? This is the first time I’ve heard of it. o:
Yeah, I hate going through a book with a main character I DESPISE.
Thanks! (:
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: This Song Will Save Your Life – Leila Sales
I really loved reading Saving June! Quite sad about this one though, I don’t think I’ll like it very much. Chelsea doesn’t seem like a character I would enjoy reading.
Hazel recently posted…Cover Reveal: Panic by Lauren Oliver
Yeah, Chelsea made this book very iffy for me Her personality in the first half of the book was SO hard to like.
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Dirty Little Secret – Jennifer Echols
I’m about 80% thought this book right now & I agree Chelsea at the beginning sucked!! I wanted to reach in & strangle her. But overall I have liked it for the most part. I think the main point of the book is character growth, which so far has came across. I also love Sam & Andy. They are my 2 favorites in the book. I do see where this makes a great read for highschool students though. I’m glad to see authors touch on these subjects that really are going on today with the youth.
Crystal @ Crystal in Bookland recently posted…Iron Pendulum by Megan Curd COVER REVEAL
Yeah, the main point of the book is character growth and I still see that. I couldn’t help but be REALLY annoyed with Chelsea at the beginning.
I’m really glad that the author dealt with this subject too. There are just so few books out there that talk about these kind of hard subjects.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]
Good review. I was very annoyed by this book as well. I just didn’t like the character.