Author: S.K. Falls
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Source: Patchwork Press via NetGalley
Goodreads | Amazon
Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.Review by Nara
She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.
Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives
For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?
In case the blurb hasn't already made this apparent, Secret for a Song is not a light read. It's honestly quite grim and serious (overall), and definitely not for the faint of heart (also probably not the best book for the judgmental- Saylor does so many unbelievable and just plain crazy things....)
One thing you should know about the book is that the writing is excellent. While reading the book, you seriously cannot relax at all. You're always on edge, wanting to know what comes next. Such an intense read...I commend the author in being so brave in tackling a difficult issue, and I really did want to give the novel 5 stars, but there was just something about the novel overall that I couldn't quite overcome. I found it really difficult to connect with the main character, and that just slightly skewed my enjoyment.
It's hard to understand why Saylor does the things she does- I guess it's quite obvious that she has a mental illness (Munchausen Syndrome), but it's quite difficult as the reader, because she seems so lucid, and somewhat blase about it all. SO MANY WTF MOMENTS. I mean, she gives herself an abscess. What. The. Hell. That is actually freaking disgusting!
As you read, you seriously dread the moment that the truth will come out that she's faking it all (she pretends to have multiple sclerosis), and you know that she's probably too much of a coward to tell Drew herself or that she'll finally get the courage to tell him, but will be too late. Either way, you know it's really not going to end well. On the flip side, you kinda dread her staying with Drew as well, because he keeps saying that he'd leave if his condition progresses...(Query: I wonder how Drew plays the guitar if he has an ataxia- wouldn't that mess with the coordination of his fingers??)
But HOLY CRAP. DAT ENDING.
(Random side note: the cover model has great hair.)
p.s. I ended my review incompletely just like the book. Yeah, if you're reading this, take that Ms Falls! (Although I must admit that the ending was pretty amazing in the book. It was probably the perfect ending.)
Liked it
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
I loved the ending! It was probably one of the best book endings that I have read in a while! Glad you enjoyed the book too. The author really hit the nail on the head with the voice of Saylor. Many Munchausen sufferers sound exactly the same when talking about their condition, like it's nothing big.
ReplyDeleteI quite liked Saylor's voice as well. I just found it a bit hard to connect with her as a character though. Still, that didn't change the fact that it was an incredibly well written novel.
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