{Review+Giveaway} Hushed by Kelley York

Paperback, 260 pages

Expected publication: December 6th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Age Group: YA

Source: Publisher

challenge: None

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.
Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.
Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.
But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

This is one heck of a powerful book. I’m not sure to super serious or dark books. This deals with some heavy issues- murder, abuse, and some really dysfunctional relationships. But it is done so well. It’s gripping and haunting. A story that needs to be read. 

Archer wants vivian’s love so much that he was willing to do ANYTHING to get it. He is normally not the type of character that I would like at all. He has this insane desperation about him, and it leads him to do some crazy things.(and very illegal) It is just not the type of person that I normally like, or respect. But there is just something about him. Something that makes you like him despite his actions. You just want to believe that he is good, that he can be redeemed. And then Evan came into the book.

I loved Evan. He is good, and logical and smart and just what Archer needed. And when Evan believed in Archer’s inherent goodness, it made me believe too. I have so much respect for Evan. Not only because he was so good for Archer, but also because he knew when Archer would become destructive to him. Evan saw that Archer was becoming Evan’s Vivian and he spoke up about it. It would have so easy for Evan to just keep giving in to Archer because of his feelings for him, but Evan removed himself from the unhealthy relationship. I had so much respect for Evan when he stood up to Archer. That must have been so hard for him, but he did it because he knew it was best. But even so, he was always there for Archer.

I think that it is because of Evan that Archer finally realized that he should and could change. Evan gave him strength. It was so great to read about Archer’s journey. It’s raw and real. The struggles are dark- dangerous.

Vivian was such a hot mess. I really did not like her at all. She just didn’t get it. I kept waiting for some character growth, something to show that she wanted to better herself, but it never came. She truly did not care. Which made me not care for her at all.

I loved Hushed. It was a gripping, haunting tale. It ended just perfect for the tone of the story. I thought it was really, really well written. Kelley York knows how to create such a vivid picture with her words. Great Story

3.5/5 Gavels