Author Yvonne Woon
Format e-ARC
Print Length 464 pages
Publisher Disney-Hyperion
Published September 21, 2010
On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she'd ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder.
After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine, where she finds herself studying subjects like Philosophy, Latin, and the “Crude Sciences.”
It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems.
Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life.
Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.
My Opinion
A book for those who love to read all things paranormal in the YA world. Dead Beautiful is an easy read, that will chase the hours away before you know it.
Renee finds her parents dead body and in less than a week her grandpa ships her to a boarding school on the other side of America. There she meets a bubbly roommate (Eleanor) and a nerdy boy (Nathaniel) who become her two best friends. She tries to stay in touch with her bestie from well birth but that is not going so well. You see, they no longer have anything in common.
Renee reminds me of a typical teenager, who wants to be liked but wants to appear not to care. She does internalize it a bit. Seriously though, who can blame her? She has just been uprooted from her very normal life and dropped in the land of weird.
Dante is a fascinating love interest for her. First starters he is not mean- not at all. He seems genuine and sincere in his pursuit of her. Yes, he does have an air of mystery to him- carried even farther because he will not kiss her. This only serves to make him more appealing.
Things get interesting when her roommate disappears and no one knows where she has gone off to. Renee and Dante are dragged into the mystery of Eleanor’s disappearance. Things take an interesting turn once Eleanor is found.
Overall, a fun read that will charm you into spending a few hours at Gottfried Academy.
My Rating 3 stars out of 5
Favorite Quote “Crying only makes your problems last longer.”
Other People
Eleanor- overly friendly roommate
Nathaniel- weird best guy friend
Dustin- Bulter, friend, I think he may secretly be a paranormal
Grandpa- Renee’ distant grandpa, now has custody of her
I haven't heard much about this one, I've never really paid much attention to it if I'm honest, which is a shame, it seems like a fun read, with some great characters with added mystery, so that sounds great. Glad you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteDead Beautiful sounds likes it was an interesting, fun, and fast paced read. I'm glad that you enjoyed it! I love books that have mystery in them, and am curious why Dante will not kiss Renee. Great Review Angela :)
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape