Trigger Warning: This book features animal cruelty, discussion of violent murder, discussion of bad experiences in foster care, implies - though doesn't outright show or say - child abuse.

Beautiful Things by Lauren Oliver sounded horribly sinister and so intriguing, but in the end, I found it to be a pretty forgettable read.

Five years ago, Summer Marks was murdered in the woods. Everyone believes that her best friends Mia and Brynn, and her boyfriend, Owen, did it - even though they were never convicted of it. But as that was mostly down to police mistakes - contamination of evidence, police failing to caution Mia and Brynn - everyone believes they got away with murder. That their obsession with a fantasy book The Way into Lovelord, and their fanfic sequel, Return to Lovelord, turned violent; Summer's murder was a re-enactment of the sacrifice they wrote into their fanfic. But it's not true, they didn't do it. But their lives have been turned upside down, not only by the murder of their best friend, but by people believing they did it. Brynn has been in and out of various rehab facilities for drugs and alcohol, though she fakes it every time as she can't bare to be around her mother and sister, who believe she did it. Mia was treated so badly she had to leave school, and is now homeschooled, while her mother turned to hoarding. But when clearing out her house, Mia finds their old favourite book, she discovers something that makes her believe that Summer parts of their fanfic weren't actually written by her. There's someone else who knows about Lovelorn, who knows what happened in their sequel, about the sacrifice. It's the first clue to finding out what really happened to Summer, finding out who killed her, and proving their innocence. If they can work out who did it, maybe they can finally move on.

Broken Things sounds really intriguing, as I said, and I was completely gripped throughout. I loved the dual narration by Mia and Brynn, seeing how their lives had changed since the murder, and the flashbacks, showing us their friendship with Summer - Summer, who was troubled; Summer, who was beautiful and special; Summer, who was often cruel and vicious - and their love for a story. I also loved the extracts from The Way into Lovelorn, and their fanfic sequel, Return to Lovelorn. Both books had quite dark and sinister elements to them, that was kind of troubling, especially as the girls had started to believe that Lovelorn was real, that they had found their way into it - a shed in the woods that was filled with old equipment belonging to people who are no longer around is one day transformed into a cute little cabin, with wallpaper and and furniture, a little hideaway the girls hang out in, and believe to be their entrance into the fictional world. It was all so interesting and intriguing!

But to be honest, I didn't really care about any of the characters. I disliked Summer, because she was such a bitch, but it was implied that, although it's not excusable, she has had a really hard time of it in various foster homes, and so that's why she is like she is. But I didn't really care about anyone else. And looking back - even though I was completely captivated, always reading, always wanting more answers - nothing really happened. Not in the present. When they're trying to work things out, it's just a load of conversations with people, research we don't see much of, and re-reading of the stories. There aren't even that many leads, it's mostly guesswork. It's not the kind of thriller that point out a number of genuine possible suspects. The few they think it could possibly be are obviously not the killer. For me, there just weren't enough real possible suspects, where I came up with my own theories of, "Oh, it could be them, because of XYZ, but it could also possibly be them, because of ABC." I had one suspect in mind, without anything actually pointing to them, because I just thought "Wouldn't it be funny if it turned out to be X?" But I was wrong. I didn't at all guess who actually did it, and was quite surprised at the reveal. But even the climax was really underwhelming, if you can even call it a climax. But I do guess that that makes it even more sinister, because there was nothing sinister or evil about them, and yet they are clearly unhinged, murdered a child, and it's hinted at sexually abused her. But there was never any sense of more danger to come. I just expect, when reading a thriller, that when you're trying to find a murderer, and you get close, the murderer is going to try and kill you to shut you up, or because you're a convenient next victim, in that they want to kill you to shut you up, but they also find some kind of enjoyment in it. But there was none of that.

So with not a huge amount actually happening, and a disappointing climax, I do feel it was kind of forgettable. I did finish thinking, "That's it?" It's not that the book was awful or terrible, it just wasn't thrilling enough for a thriller, in my opinion. It does have some plus points in regards to representation - Brynn is a lesbian, and Mia used to have selective mutism, and still struggles with it occasionally today, and with Mia's mother struggling with hoarding, and Mia's current best friend, Abby, being omnisexual. But overall, I was fairly disappointed.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for the eProof.

This book was intense. I loved everything about it from the prologue to that ending (that ending! Okay I'm also a little furious about that ending. But it was completely perfect.) The story was so intriguing, knowing virtually nothing about the suspects except who didn't do it (though maybe they did and it's all just a ruse to make you sure that it's not them?).

I think seeing how the people who have been accused or arrested, but not convicted of a crime, are treated is a new favourite thing to read about in crime novels. It's so awful how people just assume that person is guilty from the moment they're arrested, despite the mistakes that police can make and it's such an interesting thing to show. These two girls have gone through so much harassment and worse at the hands of a community that is so sure that they're guilty; the way they've suffered and found their own ways of escape for five years, it's emotional but so fascinating to read. It just makes it so interesting to see a story start from there and work through them trying to prove their innocence.

I loved the excerpts of Lovelorn and the fanfiction that the girls wrote as well. Especially as it was so integral to the plot. It was great hunting for details in every excerpt to try and work out whether it was important. The only thing I'd say that was not so great about this book was how gory some of it was.

Honestly, if you're still unsure about whether to read this book, read the prologue. It left me breathless with excitement for the rest of the book.

Dreams can become nightmares. Magic can be curses, Kids can be murderers? This story unfolds like a fairy tale. Slowly, layer by layer, more is revealed. Of a friendship three girl have, where one of them isn’t just a nice girl, but sometimes can be scary and mean. Nobody knows what happened in the woods, the night Summer died. But then, everybody in town is sure, Brynn, Mia and Owen did it. They killed Summer and got away with it. After five years the three old friends meet again for the first time and more than anything they want to find the real killer. There are a lot of twist and turns, and sometimes it’s as if it might have been Mia or Brynn or Owen, killing Summer that might. But when the real killer, the Shadow, is revealed, it’s not somebody I had on my list. I was hooked from the start on this roller coaster of emotions and kind of fairy tale and loved it. Highly recommended!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton!

Broken Things is a really dark read and I feel like I should say upfront there are some very disturbing scenes that could be triggering (pedophilia, violence against animals, murder of a child, fat shaming and homophobic slurs). I will confess these did bother me at times and I found myself deliberately distancing myself from what I was reading so it couldn’t upset me too much. The story is however intriguing and I really loved the way the author brought elements of fantasy and fairytale into what could be just another murder mystery.

The story is told from the point of view of Brynn and Mia, the girls believed to be responsible for killing their best friend Summer. It begins in the present as Mia discovers something that could be a clue to what happened back then and seeks out Brynn so they can start their own investigation. This is interspersed with flashbacks to five years previously to shed light on the relationship between the three girls.

It very quickly becomes clear that all three of them, and Summer’s boyfriend Owen, were somehow broken, escaping into a fantasy world that somehow became real. I’m not sure I would necessarily say I connected with or could relate to any of the characters but they are complex and make for some fascinating reading. Each was messed up back then and is even more messed up now that the whole country seems to be blaming them for the murder.

I thought the way in which the author showed the tendency for society to want to find someone responsible and then demonize them was very cleverly done. These two girls, who were children at the time, are dehumanized and subject to unending abuse and threats including by adults who really should know better. It does make you empathize with Mia and Brynn and makes a lot of their actions understandable. It also explains why they have to turn detectives with the help of a couple of friends rather than involving the authorities.

Their investigation into the murder is for the most part engaging and while it does seem amateurish at times when you think about their age it is probably realistic. I did feel like it wandered off track a little in the middle and lost some of the tension and pace it needed to make it a truly unputdownable read but it did keep me guessing.

The highlight of the story was however Summer’s character. Troubled doesn’t even begin to cover it and my feelings toward her were all over the place. I swung back and forward between feeling sorry for her, hating her and finding her a little scary. It was difficult to remember just how young she was and I was glad of the frequent reminders within the narrative. One thing I would have loved to know though was more of her past and what was going on her head. She just seems to have this power over everyone around her. They either idolize her or are too terrified to cross her.

I also loved the story within the story and how this book the three girls were so obsessed with was such an important part of it. It brought an additional layer to the mystery and also the possibility that there could be something fantastical going on. I will admit I was not so convinced by the extracts from the book (or the girls fan fiction) that preceded each chapter. I’m not sure they added much to the story and I found myself skimming through them.

The writing is however what you would expect from Oliver and there are some genuinely creepy moments but also some that made me emotional. It’s not always easy to read but if you can stand the gruesome bits (or at least skim through them with your fingers over your eyes) it is a great story.

Broken Things was Earth Shatteringly Brilliant!

*Received this book off Netgalley in exchange for an honest review- but the “OMG mindblown” comments you’re about to see is all me*

Well this was quite the read. From the BOMBSHELL of a first line, where the dark premise of three kids accused of murdering their friend is delivered, I knew I was going to be in for quite the ride.

Going in, I was suspicious of everybody, trying to decipher the murder mystery element and didn’t know who to trust. Which was why it was cool to have it filtered through the eyes of two of the accused, who were trying to solve the mystery of their friend’s death and simultaneously clear their own names. I didn’t know if the narrators themselves would be reliable and they certainly didn’t totally trust each other after all they’d been through.

The dual perspective worked particularly well, since both had very distinctive voices. Brynn came across as sassy; Mia was the quiet one with hidden depths. I particularly liked the running theme of Mia’s lists, which not only showed her personality but were incorporated into her character growth. For where Brynn had to learn to be less prickly, Mia had to find her voice. What was particularly interesting was that learning to speak up showed why she was afraid of words in the first place– words are barbs and she had always known they held that cruel power. It’s like she was capable of monstrous things and was holding back.

I also appreciated the characterisation through each other’s eyes. It was a great tribute to their friendship that they were able to define each other so well. The colourful descriptions were also lent to the side characters, who were well developed in their own right. Wade, the dorky investigator cousin; Abby, the larger than life beauty blogger (who I’ll admit I wasn’t drawn to) and Owen, who is best described as *the love interest* (which doesn’t quite do justice to his uniqueness, but you’ll see why I refer to him as that if you read the book). I especially appreciated the entangled relationships and how believable they were.

This also included the victim herself- who, despite being dead, was so dynamic that she sent aftershocks of her memory through the book. However, she’s not portrayed as a straight-up victim- there’s more than one side to this story. Summer is a complex character- who will make you rage one minute and weep for her the next. Woven into the murder mystery, her life story is devastating. As scary as she can get in her own right, and as much as she is capable of breaking other people, the reader can never forget how broken she is in her own right.

The story is not just a suspense-filled thriller (and it most certainly is that!); it is a dark tale of heartbreak and deals with incredibly sensitive topics (don’t forget, this is a story of child murder). From the image of the piles of junk piling up in Mia’s house, to Brynn stewing in a rehab centre, the reader is instantly given a glimpse into the darkness of their world- and that feeling doesn’t let up throughout the book.

While there is some humour to offset the grim tone, this darkness is also reflected in the magical world of Lovelorn. The world of Lovelorn is both created out of snippets from a book the trio were obsessed with and from the fanfic they wrote on it to continue the story. Now, I will admit, I have a great love for stories that incorporate other stories, so I’m a little biased- BUT I will say that the way this was connected was bolder than most. The narratives of both are intrinsically linked with the plot– from the suspicion that they used the book as a manual for their own demonic ritual to the hints of child snatching in the original story. I loved the complexity of Lovelorn and the amazing symbolism used with the Shadow. I liked that it wasn’t too complicated, but you got the sense it could have been a real book. What was especially awesome was Wade’s interpretation of the book as nothing special, except for its ending.

And I don’t want to spoil anything, yet the ending here was equally phenomenal. There was so much build up and real tension throughout that set my heart racing from the start. Clues and red herrings were scattered throughout the plot and I didn’t know where it was going. Now I get that some people might have reservations about the ending, I see how this kind of conclusion might be divisive, however all I can say is AHHH I LOVE THAT SHE WENT THERE WITH THAT ENDING! For me, it was perfection. And that’s why I had to give it:

Rating: 5/5 bananas

I received a free ecopy of this book I return for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

Having previously read and loved Vanishing Girls, I was delighted by the chance to read Lauren Oliver’s newest thriller. I wasn’t disappointed.

The story is written from the alternating viewpoints of Brynn and Mia, who, at 17 years old, have spent the last 5 years being ostracised by their town, after being accused of murdering their school friend, Summer.

Summer had been removed from a violent, drug-addled mother and placed with foster parents in Twin Lakes. She, Mia and Brynn bonded over a book Summer loved called ‘The Way Into Lovelorn’. The girls even wrote a fanfic sequel together. Then Summer was found clubbed with a rock and stabbed several times. Now, 5 years later, Mia thinks she has found a clue to the killer.

We only meet Summer through the other girls’ flashbacks but she comes alive as a damaged, attention-seeking, and hurtful but intensely vulnerable child. Oliver’s portrayal really came alive for me. Lauren Oliver has a strength in her character portrayals that is a joy to read. I was rooting for Brynn and Mia all the way.

The only negative I had, was that I felt there a little too much red herring. I was blind-sided by the revelation of the killer in a way that made me wonder if I missed some clues along the way. Pretty much all of my guesses turned out to be wrong. I feel like I need to reread and look for the trail of breadcrumbs.

This isn’t a long book, and you progress quickly because the story draws you and wont let go. If you like a good mystery, you should definitely give this a go.

I enjoyed this very much, both POVs were distinct and the flashbacks gave you little tidbits of information to chew on without beating you over the head. I particularly enjoyed the reveal of exactly how and why Summer died, it isn't something I see explored very often with this kind of crime.

However, I did guess the big reveal about halfway through, so I can see how this might frustrate more experienced thriller readers.

Overall I'm glad I picked this one up, and am quite happy I have Lauren Oliver's back catalog to catch up on now.

Five years ago, Mia and Brynn, along with another friend Owen, were investigated for the murder of their best friend, Summer Marks. The three girls were obsessed with the fictional world of Lovelorn and even wrote their own stories. Five years on, hated and reviled by the rest of the town, Brynn has been living in and out of rehab even though she doesn't do drugs or drink, and Mia has hidden herself away from almost everyone as a way of coping. When Owen returns on the fifth anniversary of Summer's death, Mia and Brynn are reconnected and they find out that even they do not know the whole truth of what happened.

There were some very good things about this book; I found that I became invested in the main characters and wanted to know what happened and I really liked Mia and Owen and their story. I thought the pace of the story was just right, it's definitely a page turner and it was a 5 star read up until about halfway through. I didn't like the references to the animal killing (it's something I really don't like reading about) and I thought there were far too many references about a character's weight (Abby). These brought the rating down to a 4 star for me.

TWs: murder, references to paedophilia, animal killing (a couple of mild references, one very strong section), depression, references to weight/body shaming.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Broken Things is a gorgeously dark tale of friendship and mystery. It's beautiful writing and magnificent structure causes the boundaries between reality and fiction to blur, creating a charmingly haunted atmosphere that had me hanging on to every word.

Mia and Brynn have been haunted by their friend's murder for the last five years, and the whole town believes they are guilty. The girls were once inseparable, united by their adoration for The Way into Lovelorn, a magical novel that allowed them to escape the darkness of their ordinary lives. Now, on the anniversary of Summer's death, the two girls are brought together once more in an attempt to clear their names and learn the sinister truth about Lovelorn.

I really enjoyed getting into the minds of these characters and understanding how their past collided their present. I loved how complicated the relationship between Mia, Brynn and Summer was, and how Summer had such a powerful hold on her friend's lives, controlling their choices and relationships and making them doubt themselves, even in death.

My fascination with this novel was not just limited to the characters. Broken Things is brilliantly plotted, and the glimpses into the world of Lovelorn were truly mesmerizing. Lauren Oliver merges the past with the present and reality with fantasy in a way that really heightens the mystery of the novel. It's difficult to know how much of what the characters remember of the past can be trusted, or if as narrators they are even telling the truth, but it's that uncertainty that makes the story so compelling. Furthermore, the extracts taken from Lovelorn echo the body of the novel beautifully, the blending of the two worlds building up to create an ending that is utterly breathtaking.

With complex characters and a captivating story, Broken Things is a book you don't want to be missing out on this Autumn.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Diversity note: Lesbian protagonist

Warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, rehab, drug abuse, depression, self-harm, pedophilia, homophobia, emotional blackmail, fatphobia, killing of animals

I'm struggling to review this book if I'm honest.

I've been teetering on what star rating to give it and in the end I settled on 3 out of 5 stars.

I love Lauren Oliver and the blurb of Broken Things got me all kinds of excited.

However upon reading the novel I was left feeling a bit meh.

Lets start with the good things.

The story was OK.

There was nothing wrong with the writing itself, I really liked the added excerpts from the book that was being used in this novel but over all it just seemed to lack a certain something.

Pacing wasn't quite right, there needed to be a little more drama to keep the pages turning faster.

Characters needed more back-story.

And although the concept was a good one, it just didn't seem to head in the right direction.

If I'm honest, it all felt a little flat.

In the end I was more interested in the book they were following within the novel than the story itself.

This. Was. EVERYTHING. Whodunnit thriller coupled with a Narnia-esque magical world? Yes please.

I'm a big fan of Lauren Oliver's previous books - she's probably best known for her dystopian sci-fi series Delirium, and Broken Things is definitely a departure from this. Combining elements of a thriller with magical realism, Broken Things follows two girls accused of murdering their best friend five years previously and their hunt for justice, whilst dealing with the world of Lovelorn from the obscure book they were obsessed with. Don't come into it expecting a fantasy novel but there are definitely very creepy and surreal elements to this book which really enhanced the plot and the central mystery.

(Thanks to the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review).

A few years ago I really enjoyed the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver so when I noticed she was releasing a new book I was very keen to read it. I love mysterious, thriller type books so the plot of Broken Things appealed to me a lot.

Broken Things has a very ominous beginning as the reader learns the story of the murder of a girl that the public knows, then we find out that this story is not true at all. This makes the reader desperately want to know what the real story here is. Our two main characters are Mia and Brynn who were accused of being involved in the murder of their best friend, Summer. Despite the fact they have not been charged, their lives are still shrouded with suspicion by pretty much everyone. These characters are both interesting to follow for different reasons. Neither of them are in a very good place, mentally. They are both clearly damaged by the events surrounding the murder even five years later which is where we find them. Their friendship has been fractured and the author is so skilled at describing the pain of this. In fact the whole book is really successful in showing pain in all it’s forms and how the past can drag someone back when they least suspect it.

Summer is the character that Broken Things revolves around. She is a total enigma and in flashbacks comes across as both malevolent and cruel but also intensely vulnerable. It is difficult to decipher her intentions as we only have Brynn and Mia’s recollections of her. This book is a fantastic depiction of the utter intensity of teenage female friendship. It shows how this intensity can be both healing and also damaging. The idea of the mysterious land of Lovelorn that the three girls are obsessed with is pretty sinister but in reality it is actually the girls clinging to a world they felt safe in and of their own creation. Lovelorn obviously has a huge power over Summer in particular and in some ways it echoes the real life Slenderman case whilst still feeling completely original.

Overall I really loved Broken Things. It is well written and beautifully paced, giving away just enough at key moments whilst retaining the mystery. I was desperate to know the truth of what happened to Summer Marks and for Brynn and Mia to gain some closure. This is a tense and, at times, incredibly sad story and makes for a fascinating read.

I was engrossed by this story and really wanted to get to the end to see how it all played out. This story was very well written and atmospheric which meant i was totally absorbed and got through the book quite quickly.

I loved Brynn and Mia and was almost more interested in them and their lives than i was the murder mystery.
Lovelorn appealed to my sense of nostalgia and brought back memories of me reading about Narnia when i was a child. This coupled with a tense suspenseful plot made for a very interesting combination. The intermittent flashbacks and the multi perspective between the two main characters was also incredibly well done and really added a lot of depth to the story.

Unfortunately whilst the ending wasn't bad, it didn't live up to the suspense that the author had steadily built up throughout the book and left me feeling a little underwhelmed especially as i has already guessed who it might have been.

I think this book will appeal to a lot of people as it manages to seamlessly blend fantasy, mystery and thriller together.

I absolutely adore this author so you can imagine how excited I was when I was sent this book.
And it didn’t disappoint.

Despite taking me about 20% of the story to truly get involed in the story, by the ending I was gripped.

I loved all the characters, the mystery and the hidden clues.
Brynn was my favourite, hard edged with a soft center. Mia, the shy, quiet of the group.

My first guess on the killer was right but this didn’t detract from the story at all for me.

I would definitely recommend this novel.

I was sent a copy of this ebook from the publisher and author via NetGalley but this has in no way influenced by review or opinion.

*3.5/5 stars*
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of Broken Things by Lauren Oliver. The book follows two girls, Mia and Brynn, who were blamed for the murder of their friend Summer when they were kids. It is a murder mystery book where the girls are trying to find out how Summer actually died all them years ago.
The different POVs from Mia and Brynn both from ‘then’ when the murder of Summer occurred and ‘now’ currently as the story is being told adds a lot to the book as things are seem from both girls perspectives. Also the addition of the two Lovelorn books was a very nice touch to the story although I did predict very early on that Broken Things would end the same way The Way into Lovelorn did. This was my first Lauren Oliver book and I did really like her style of writing.
Often at times I found the story to be very slow and not progressing very fast which meant I did have trouble getting through the book, until the end when everything was coming together, but it took me a lot longer to read than other books of similar length. Furthermore I did not tend to relate very well to the two main characters but I did enjoy the two relationship build-ups throughout the book.
The book was a very good YA thriller/mystery book that everyone should read, however I am only giving it 3.5/5 stars due to slow pace at times and not often relating to the characters.
Thank you to the kind people at Hodder & Stoughton who sent me the book to read via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy for review.

Five years after Summer Marks was murdered, everyone still believes that her best friends, Mia and Brynn, conspired to murder her. They were cleared of the crime and have spent the last five years trying to move on and continue to live their lives despite losing their friend and having so many people believe they are the ones responsible for her death. A new discovery, however, brings them back and forces everyone to face what happened to Summer Marks.

The synopsis of this book was really intriguing and it didn't disappoint - it's the type of book that you don't want to put down because you want to know what is going to happen so strongly. I'm really loving murder mystery books at the moment and it is a great choice if they are something that you like reading too.

The writing was really good and I loved the switching perspectives so that you get to experience more of the story and see the characters more in depth. The characters themselves were good and flawed and definitely added a lot to the story and its development. The mystery element itself was handled well and kept me intrigued throughout.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and it definitely was what I wanted when I decided to read it.

I found it hard to rate this. Although I couldn't put it down, I also found it hard to really think of any theories on what the truth may be.
I became more interested in Mia, Brynn and Owens stories than who killed Summer. But I think it maybe because it felt like they were the main focus and Summer's murder was a side story.

3,5/5 stars.
I am now no stranger to Lauren Oliver and this is the main reason why I was so interested in reading Broken Things;because I loved the Delirium trilogy and Before I Fall. So when I tell you I got into this book not knowing anything except that it is a mystery\thriller kind of YA and that is by Lauren Oliver, I am not lying.

In Broken Things we follow Mia and Brynn, two girls that used to be best friends but grew apart after the murder of their third best friend, Summer, and the fact that they got accused of the crime. The story takes place five years after Summer’s tragic death and therefore, we find our main characters still trying to deal with the murder and the consequences it had on them and their lives when suddenly they are thrusted back in each other’s life and start on a journey to find the truth behind their friend’s death.

First of, let me start with the story. I really enjoyed the mystery and the whole spooky kind of vibe we get because of Lovelorn and the girls’s obsession with this book when they were younger. Moreover, the fact that we get snippets of what happened those five years ago, on the tragic day, as well as moments from their friendship, made the whole thing extremely interesting for both the plot and the characters. I have to admit that I didn’t try to play detective and find out who was the killer; I just let Oliver pull me along and enjoyed the ride. However, the ending left me let down and somewhat disappointed. During the whole story I was intrigued and hooked but with the big reveal, I deflated like a balloon and found myself taken aback. I don’t even know what I would have preferred for an alternative ending, I just felt let down by what we got and I can’t even truly explain why. I did really enjoy the final sentence and the why behind it; would have been truly disappointed if Oliver hadn’t taken the chance to do it.

Although it was not the ending I expected, I still really like the rest of the book and this mainly thanks to Oliver’s writing. She manages to keep you on the edge of your seat while surprising you at every turn.

When it comes to the characters, I have to say that they all left me a bit meh.
— Brynn was okay and I really liked the fact that she got the chance to explain herself and her actions to Mia and her mum and that scene with Mia was probably one of my favourites. Also, she is LGBTQ+ which is always nice to read about. I’m a bit disappointed though that we didn’t get the chance to see a bit more of her after the big reveal.
— Mia was an interesting character, especially with her speaking problem when she was younger. To be honest, sometimes I really liked her and other times I found her really annoying. And the fact that the last chapter is focused on her left me very much meh.
— Summer is definitely the best character out of them all. We only discover fragments of her through memories and what people saw and thought of her, and what a broken girl she was. I would have been really interested to know more about her past and true self.
— The rest of the characters are okay and do bring their own little thing to the story but I don’t know... I would have liked more from them.

To conclude, I can say that this is a really good YA thriller with a very interesting concept and enthralling writing. I didn’t give it a higher rating simply because of the ending and the characters. But if you are a fan of Lauren Oliver and her previous works, you will surely love this one as well. Moreover, this is the perfect read for October and Halloween!

"We fell in love with a story. We fell in love with an idea. And for that we've been punished again and again"

* * * *
4 / 5 

Broken Things was a little bit messed up. It read like a mashup of Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying, and All of This Is True, and it was fantastic. This book is a murder mystery told from the point of view of two young women that perfectly captures that idea of a childhood so tightly wrapped up in stories and fairytales that they begin to think that they might be true. I loved it.

"Summer had slid suddenly and effortlessly into our orbit"

Mia and Brynn killed their best friend Summer when they were only thirteen years old. Except they didn't. Neither do they think it was Summer's boyfriend, Owen. Not that it matters - it's five years on and Mia has become a semi-reclusive shut-in to avoid the vicious looks around town and Brynn is faking an alcohol and drug addiction in order to stay in rehab. The book alternates between Mia and Brynn, between then and now, to weave the story of Summer's death and the twisted descent of three girls into a story.

Summer, Mia, and Brynn were captivated by the book The Way into Lovelorn, a Narnia-inspired tale where three girls wander through a wood and find another world full of magic and wonder. They write their own fan-fiction sequel, editing and discussing it over and over until it almost seems real, so much so that when they walk through their own wood it seems to become Lovelorn. And then Summer dies, stabbed seven times in the chest and left for dead in the wood that the three girls had loved.

"Together, in Lovelorn, we made sense"

What I loved most about the book was how it reflected my own childhood back at me. My friend and I were enraptured by Lord of the Rings when we were their age: we reenacted scenes, wrote our own fic, romped around the countryside (I was always Legolas, she was Aragorn) and those stories we wove effect me even today. They became part of me. In the same way Lovelorn is woven into the heart of who Mia and Brynn are today. 

Broken Things wove a very complex storyline. We have the long-dead Summer who is revealed to us through Mia and Brynn. She is first a saint, a beautiful and tragic figure who throughout the book becomes more disturbed and more real. Summer reminded me a lot of Alison from Pretty Little Liars, revered and hated, and Brynn was her Emily. Their triad was so odd, so warped, their relationships between each other so clearly unhealthy; it was fascinating to read and a little disturbing. 

Oliver wrote a compelling story where I absolutely had to know what happened but was also horrified and couldn't look away. This was an enthralling read.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of Broken Things

Broken Things is a gripping YA thriller about friendship and how things are more complicated than they seem. Anyone on the internet can read about how Mia and Brynn murdered their best friend Summer in the woods, in a way similar to the fan fiction the three of them wrote as a sequel to the fantasy novel The Way into Lovelorn that the author left unfinished. The thing is, Mia and Brynn didn't do it. Five years later, they're no longer friends and they're not doing well. A chance discovery leads them back into the mystery and soon they must confront the past whilst looking for the truth not only of what happened to Summer, but about their friendship with her.

It is a clever, moving young adult novel that combines the tension of the truth about Summer's murder with exploration of the characters of Mia, Brynn, and Summer. Their obsession with Lovelorn - particularly Summer's - is shown as a way of coping with their lives; the world of fandom is not demonised, but rather shown in different lights, and the focus is really on the real world, rather than the fictional one. Particularly fascinating is Brynn, who fakes a drink and drug problem because rehab is the only place she feels safe, away from the people accusing her of murder and away from the truth of her feelings for Summer. Broken Things has a classic wrongly-accused-and-must-find-the-real-killer narrative, combined with engaging characters dealing with real problems.

In some ways, Broken Things is about looking beyond what you can read on the internet. The initial story of the murder sounds a lot like something you might read on Buzzfeed or Tumblr as an unexplained mystery, and then the novel goes on to expose the impact of that happening to innocent people. It is the kind of novel that you can't put down because you need to know what actually happened, but also need to know if the characters can move on.