Book Shelf: A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1) by Suzanne Young

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.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

Suzanne Young’s novel A Need So Beautiful is like nothing I’ve ever read before. So incredibly beautiful in its pain and anguish, I promise you it will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It will not be forgotten......

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. Going into it I was expecting a roundabout angel tale and instead this book was so filled with so much depth and emotion that at times I wasn’t even sure what to think, let alone feel. Having just finished reading it, I’m not quite sure what to write to accurately describe the emotions this book drew from me. Reading about Charlotte’s journey, Young ripped me raw and tore me apart as I saw Charlotte’s world as she knew be ripped apart and watched her faced choices that people aren’t supposed to face.

I admit it took me a tiny bit of time to become absorbed with this book. The beginning seemed slow, but once I fell into the groove of it, I didn’t wanna leave. I cannot deny that this book was filled with wonderful characters, from Charlotte herself to her incredible foster family to her best friend, boyfriend and amazing family friend who helps Charlotte in her difficult journey, however it was the overall plotline and theme behind this book that truly captivated me. Suzanne Young has woven together and incredible tale of angst and choices that makes you think.
I believe we all like to think that we’ll leave a mark on this world, even if it’s in some small way. That eventually when this life ends we’ll be remembered for something we’ve done or a life we’ve touched, and in this fantastic paranormal YA tale we explore this idea. A Need So Beautiful forces you as the reader to imagine Charlotte’s fear and anguish and even desperation as she fights to stop what it ultimately her destiny.

There’s so much growth in Charlotte, from start to finish in this book and she goes from being an everyday teenager with regular problems to realising she’s something more too untimely deciding if she can accept all she was meant to be. Charlotte’s beautiful story of life and acceptance is one that’s tinged with a romance that felt real and realistic and will catch you from the beginning. Charlotte was an amazing character. With a plotline as strong as this one, as the main character Charlotte needed to be someone readers could emphasize with and understand....and she certainly was! Her fears and feelings were rational—you could understand why she acted the way she did, why she fought so hard against that which she couldn’t change and every single one of her denials make absolute sense. Her world was being ripped out from under her and she had no control over it. It was outside her hands and as she struggled to believe and accept that, you were torn apart as you watched her because her situation was so dire, and yet incredibly beautiful at the same time. All Charlotte was, all she’d ever been was catching up with her and forcing her to make the ultimate choice. Every single action and emotion that went through Charlotte’s head and heart were completely justified.

The ending of this book still clings to me even as I write this review and I’m so unsure of what will happen next. It was not exactly what I was expecting and yet I know this heart-tugging story and bittersweet ending will captivate readers, exactly like it has done me and leave us all breathless and begging for more.....

Rating:
Source: Sent by Harper Collins Australia (Thanks so much Lara!)
Format: Hardback
AU Release Date: Available now!
Expected AU Price: $24.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover: Beautiful.
Read sequel/continue with series: Most definitely....