Underneath Everything

by Marcy Beller Paul

[shannonmiz]

This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
So, I did enjoy the writing in this book. And the character development. And I really think that I will read more from the author, because I enjoyed the style.

But the actual story? I don't quite "get it". I mean, the point has escaped me, if there is one. I will say that the book started out really strong. Mattie had been betrayed by her friend Jolene, who knew she really liked this guy (Hudson) and snuck in and started dating him. Have you been there? I have. It isn't fun. At all. Not only is the dude you're having some hardcore (clearly unrequited) feelings for unavailable, but you've lost your best friend in the process. So while hearing this backstory, I was feeling for Mattie.

She basically disappeared from the social scene until one day, she decides to finally go to a party. And who does she run into? Hudson, of course. And, he is single, what luck! Jolene remains a mystery, though. All we really know is that she is an awful "best friend", and wasn't great to Hudson, or basically anyone. Jolene is not a nice person.

But Mattie is still kind of obsessed with her. And maps, Mattie is also obsessed with maps. I have no idea why. So the story meanders through navigating the social scene Mattie has re-entered, along with finally getting to be with the boy she's wanted to be with forever. And there's talk of Jolene, and how she's influenced Mattie and Hudson's relationship, as well as Mattie and Kris's. I just kept waiting for the meandering to be over, and for us to get into some real plot.

And the whole time I was expecting something really outlandish, some kind of huge twist, or revelation, or.... something. Anything. In the end, I just kind of felt like the story lacked purpose. I kept reading, waiting to find out what the point was, and maybe there is one that I simply didn't understand.

Bottom Line: ::Shrugs:: The writing was nice, and I did have sympathy for Mattie and her situation. I just wish something more had happened, because it just felt like a nicely written glimpse into some girl's life.

*Copy provided by publisher for review.