Hannah Harrington (1)

I haven’t often had time to read a full book in one day the past couple of years. I don’t really have time right now either. That said, I absolutely totally and completely could NOT put this book down for the life of me and so I made time to devour it within one day. (Hello, 3am.)

This book was utterly adorable – it brought tears to my eyes at points, and made me giggle at other points. I fell in love with all of the main characters, and cheered them on whenever something awesome show more happened to them.

The characters were all so well developed, and all seemed to grow in this book. Especially Chelsea, who started out as a spoiled popular girl who cared only about being at the hot parties, but ended up being someone who actually cared about her friends and about how her actions affect other people. Even those who ended up being the worst people in the book (Chelsea’s friends at the beginning of the book) seemed to grow and change throughout everything that was happening all along… though, whether that’s due to them actually growing, or due to how Chelsea’s view of them changes as she matures, I’m unsure. Probably a little bit of both.

While her actions at the beginning of the book really made me want to give Chelsea a little shake – outing a boy at school, which results in a few drunk boys beating this guy until he gets put into a coma – by the end of the book, she’s starting to make amends with those she has hurt, and has learned to forgive herself for causing this all to happen. A lot of the book dealt with Chelsea’s pain at what happened to this other boy, but thankfully not in the expected teen angst sort of way. I expected a lot of angst in this book, and am extremely relieved that it wasn’t present. Urgh, I do not enjoy the angst anymore!

The Bottom Line
So yes, this book was completely charming, and I absolutely adored it. Would recommend to fans of contemporary YA. show less

4½ stars/5 stars
Source: NetGalley

When I found Hannah Harrington’s novel Speechless at NetGalley I actually wondered “How good can a book about a teenage girl who takes a vow of silence really be?” The simple answer: extremely good!

Speechless is a cautionary tale of just how damaging words and gossip can be. Chelsea Knot is the central character and she is, without doubt, a bitch. Chelsea has gossiped her way to the top of her high school’s social ladder and she doesn’t care who show more she hurts or how she hurts them as long as she maintains her position. Chelsea wields gossip like a weapon without ever stopping to think how her words, true or otherwise, can tear apart another person’s life. And then one Friday night Chelsea discovers how her chosen weapon can not only backfire but have tragic consequences for others. One student is in the hospital in a coma and two others are accused of beating that student into the coma. Chelsea knows none of this would have ever happened if she just could have kept her big mouth shut!

To Chelsea’s credit, she does do the right thing and with the help of her parents she tells the police everything she knows about the beating, how it happened and who was involved. Chelsea understands that by doing the right thing it will cost her everything she holds so dear: her friends, her social standing, and thanks to her vow of silence, her voice. Yes, a teenage girl takes a vow of silence – hell hath frozen over! I really wondered how Harrington could pull off a novel where the main character doesn’t actually speak. Turns out, inner monologue can be quite fun and can very easily keep a character moving and developing. Chelsea spends a little more than a month honoring her vow of silence and it is during this month that she discovers what she once held so dear was not ever really worth holding on to at all. Her old “friends” lash out at Chelsea for ratting out two of their own: she is taunted, teased, her locker and car are vandalized, and she becomes a social pariah.

Initially, I found it very, very, very hard to feel any semblance of sympathy for Chelsea. Her words and actions caused the mess she and others find themselves in and she should rightfully face the consequences of those actions. I really didn’t want to like Chelsea but in the end, she surprised me! I honestly don’t think I would have been able to change my opinion about Chelsea if she were using her actual voice and not her inner monologue. In her own head Chelsea acknowledges and faces many hard facts and realities about herself and her actions. She learns words mean something and once out there, they cannot be taken back. Chelsea begins to consider her words more carefully and when she does need to communicate (using a dry erase board) she thinks before she “speaks”.

Chelsea soon discovers that her vow of silence has some pleasant consequences to go along with the bad. She meets a few other social outcasts and while everyone is initially wary of one another the group finally comes together and Chelsea begins to understand what it is to have true friends. Chelsea also begins to understand that, like everyone else, she is human, has flaws, and will make mistakes. Once Chelsea understands and appreciates these revelations she is able to once again use her voice.

The bottom line: Speechless is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time and I really had no trouble getting through this book in short order. The plot is solid, the characters (both good and bad) show development and growth throughout, and the overall message that words matter is clear without being preachy. I can absolutely see this book appealing to a wide range of readers including more mature young adults and adults alike. show less

To be honest, the very first thing I noticed about Speechless was the gorgeous cover. I realize you might find that a little odd. There are no faces, no swirls, no fancy typeface to draw in the reader. However it is exactly the lack of all those accoutrements that caught my eye. Simplistic. Beautiful. A blank slate. Then, the synopsis. Thank you whoever wrote this! Thank you so very much for not giving away the entire plot in a few paragraphs. I promise you, vague or not, this synopsis is show more perfection. Speechless holds much more than you are expecting.

Chelsea Knot is definitely not a perfect person. What she is, is realistic. A girl who is flawed, selfish, and raw. Harrington starts out the book by showing us a Chelsea that is pretty easy to dislike. One who spreads rumors, and hurts people. However as she learns the error of her ways, she grows by leaps and bounds. The Chelsea at the end of Speechless is an entirely different person, and just being there for her journey will make you fall in love. In fact, the entire cast of characters that support Chelsea in her time of need are easy to love. I could go on and on about Asha, Sam, Dex and Lou, but I won't. I'll let you meet them for yourself.

What I loved most about this book is that Chelsea's story is full of hope. It is full of growth, and understanding. Speechless touches on tough topics, and it does it well. Instead of relying on angst to draw the reader in, we get to dive deep in Chelsea's head and learn right along with her. There is a message here, that bridges that gap between all ages that might pick up this book. I think Harrington says it best with: "Hate is... it's too easy," he says. "Love. Love takes courage."

Despite it taking some time for me to feel the writing style of the book, I soon became immersed. In fact, a sigh escaped my lips when I reached the last page. A sigh of contentment at how perfectly this book is paced, and executed. Even the romance in this book is spot on, and builds slowly. Gorgeous. Speechless has just further cemented my opinion that Hannah Harrington is a master of her craft. show less

Harper Scott's older sister recently - and unexpectedly committed suicide shortly before her high school graduation. . . Just a few more weeks and she would have been June who died in June, Harper thinks. But she didn't make it long. Harper's divorcing parents plan to divide June's ashes.

Harper plans to take them to the only place June ever really wanted to go: California. On a road trip with her best friend Laney and a guy, Jake who has a mysterious connection to June, Harper learns things show more about herself, June and life.

Saving June is an excellent story with very distinct characters. From Harper to Laney to Jake, each character is most definitely their own and when they're in a group, the novel really comes a live. Each of the characters has their own quirks and traits that make them, them - and different not only from each other but characters in other books.

The road trip of Saving June is, admittedly, not one that everyone reading would want to take. The characters do engage in some activities that are not for everyone. Yet, that's part of what makes it great. Whether you're one of the readers who thinks their trips sounds like the greatest one ever and will spend the book working out way to hide out as a stow-a-way or one who knows right a way it's a trip you would not work out on, it's still a book for you.

Neither Saving June's story nor its characters alienate anyone. Love everything the characters are and do or be incredibly put-off by some of it, it's okay. If you're the latter, you can still enjoy the trip vicariously. Harrington doesn't ask that you be the same as her characters to enjoy her book. The closest I can think to compare it to is I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert (yet much lighter).

All of that is not even talking about the absolute music love that is in Saving June. It's a great book for someone who's always watching Behind the Music but you want them to read a book - because it's almost Behind the Music in book form but with plot and emotion and greatness. (And playlists in the back!)

Saving June is really unlike any book I've read in a long, long while and I absolutely love that - and it. show less