Wednesday 19 November 2014

Review & Giveaway: Made For You by Melissa Marr

Made For You by Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication date: September 16th 2014
My rating: 4 stars 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755773-better-homes-and-hauntings

Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.


My Thoughts:
Made For You was creepy as heck! BUT it was also a story of longing and unrequited love! I’m such a sucker for those!

Eva Telling is part of the elite in the small southern town of Jessup but that doesn’t protect her from the brutal attempt on her life.  When she’s struck down by a car and left for dead, she has no recollection of what happened.  Waking up in the hospital, cut and broken, she has no idea who would do this to her. Even more chilling is the fact that since waking up she seems to have the ability to see a person’s death if they touch her.  When her estranged best friend, Nate, shows up at the hospital and sticks to her side the time they’ve spent apart evaporates, but the longtime longing Eva’s felt for him intensifies.  Nate’s protective and supportive, and it’s a good thing because this deranged killer isn’t finished with Eva.

When she “sees” the death of her friends Eva does what she can to prevent them while trying to identify the killer in the process.  As she picks out clues from her visions, with Nate’s help, they hope to get an advantage over the killer and stop the deaths until he’s caught.

This is one seriously creepy read, because we are privy to the killer’s SERIOUSLY cuckoo thoughts through his POV!  To know there are actually people out there in real life like this killer made this story bone chilling.  Someone you’re acquainted with now could have these very thoughts and you wouldn’t know until it’s possibly too late is an unsettling thought, to put it mildly, and this is exactly what happens to Eva and her friends!  Thankfully, most of the book is in Eva’s POV, because I don’t think I could be in his head the entire book!

While Made For You had a very realistic contemporary feel, there still was a touch of the uncanny with Eva’s “death visions”.  I would categorize this as part thriller, part mystery and part romance, with emphasis on the thriller part.  I was on the edge of my seat wondering when and how the killer would strike next and the visions show he definitely wasn’t done killing! I liked the logical approach Eva took throughout the story.  No unbelievably stupid actions on her part, withholding of secrets or lack of communication issues that I find completely frustrating in many of YA’s are found in this tale! *sighs in relief* Eva was a sensible protagonist I found easy to connect to.

As for the romance, as I said I’m a sucker for unrequited love, especially between best friends.  Add in the longing that comes from wanting from afar, like we have with Eva and Nate, and I NEED their love to work out!  Facing death these two have no use for sidestepping their obvious long held feelings, still, there was a gradual, tentative progression with their relationship.  Loved it!

Melissa Marr weaved a disturbing thriller with a swoony romance all in one exciting story! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!






Connect with Melissa Marr:



I've decided to give my ARC copy of Made For You to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US or Canadian residents only.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.







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24 comments:

Unknown said...

The book sounds great!

Unknown said...

I was really creeper out by Stephen King's "It".

Jillyn said...

I was creeped out The Girl from the Well

Joy said...

This book reminds me of the Visions series by Lisa McMann. Super creepy, but it has a contemporary romance feel to it as well. Nothing creepier than having an insight to the killer's head, for sure.

Great review, Rachel!

Jenny said...

YEAH RACHEL!!!!! Wasn't this so good? The killer's chapters were beyond chilling, but I loved that we got them because they were just so well done. I need more from Melissa Marr in this genre for sure. Yes to creepy killers and an even bigger YES to this kind of romance:)

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

Oh, yeah! I'm a big Marr fan anyway but this was so different than what we've previously seen from her, I think I appreciated it even more. So creepy, especially with that killer's voice interspersed in the story.

erin said...

I can honestly say that no book has really scared me. I enjoy creepy and horror. I had my Dean Koontz phase :)

Siiri said...

This one seems so creepy and twisted that I don't know if it's for me, but my friend Sue loved it a whole bunch and we usually love the same things + you loved it which makes me that much more intrigued ;) Haha! I don't think I could read the killer's pov in this case. I'm glad Eva was a good protagonist! I mean, I find it ok to make mistakes but most of the time YA heroines make such rookie mistakes it's painful to read about. So happy you loved this one and enjoyed the romance :)

Unknown said...

Aaaaah this one sounds unbelievably creepy but I'm glad you really liked it! It's a relief to hear that the miscommunication and other shenanigans aren't in this book - they drive me up the wall too! Brilliant review, Rach :)

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Ooh this sounds great. I am a sucker for "creepy" books even if they freak me out. haha I like that you get the killer's point of view a bit.

Anonymous said...

Actually, no books have ever scared me. I like horror movies better.

Katiria said...

Sorry I have not really read any books that creeped me out or scare me like that. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

Elizabeth Chang said...

The only horror book I've read is Anna Dressed in Blood, and it wasn't even that scary...

Glass said...

This actually sounds really awesome. For some reason, I have prejudices about Melissa Marr. I've never read her novels, but I keep thinking that I won't like them. I should stop making decisions based on stupid "hunches" like that, right?
Great review, Rachel.

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy to hear that you loved this one too, Rachel. This was really creepy and I really liked the killer POVs as well. They had me flipping through the pages.
Also, I completely agree with you on the main character. I loved that she did not make silly mistakes.
Lovely review!

Rachel said...

I read the first two books of the Visions series and trust me, this was WAY creepier! But I did love it. :)

brandileigh2003 said...

The unrequited love was great in this one along with creep factor, I so agree

The Cover Contessa said...

Christine by Stephen King!

Lisa @ Lost in Literature said...

I agree, totally creepy! And I really enjoyed the killer's perspective. It added a lot to the story for me. Great review! :)

kelly g. said...

Pretty much every Stephen King novel ever, but especially Lisey's Story.

Unknown said...

Great review, Rachel! This one is on my TBR pile for sure; I hope to like it as much as you did! The romance sounds super sweet (though his past man whorish ways is worrisome lol), and the story itself I'll probably really enjoy. Love a creepy book now and then. :)

Ashley said...

Welcome to the Dark House!

Susan T. said...

I just listened to the audiobook of You by Caroline Kepnes which is told entirely from the point of view of a murderous, creepy stalker. Hearing his voice gave me the shivers! The narrator for it was really awesome!

Christina said...

I don't think I've come across a book that really scared me.

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