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Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Sunday, April 1, 2012
What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?


When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.


Goodreads Summary


This book jumps right into the plot.  Marshall and Elyse wake in each others' arms to a very awkward day.  Neither of them recognize themselves or know who they are.  The search to find out proves somewhat fruitless and far from enlightening.  Elyse turns out to be the opposite of what she would have imagined for herself and Marshall spends time uncovering their relationship to each other. 

Summer Falls is one of those places that can relax you...to the point of a heat nap.  Curiously, heat naps only occur under certain circumstances, they will not occur at random.  Elyse and Marshall notice odd behaviors and reactions to disturbing happenings in Summer Falls, they slowly begin to piece together the history behind Summer Falls as well as their own pasts. 

Elyse's character was easy to like.  She comes off as very real, she isn't the "pretty girl" or "athletic girl," she is a girl who believes in herself and wants to do the best she can.  Marshall will make all of the female readers jealous of Elyse.  He truly cares for Elyse and goes as far as to try to move in as a guest in her mother's bed and breakfast to keep an eye on her.  His naturally inquisitive, sweet personality will get him in trouble, however.  The other characters act more as "fill in the blanks" than anything else.  The reader will get to know some of them, but not half as well as Elyse and Marshall-whose alternating view points tell the story. 

The events of this story are accompanied by a creepy undertone that will keep the reader constantly aware of the strange goings-on at Summer Falls.   The author is very descriptive when it comes to Elyse and Marshall's environment and actions, the reader can picture what is going on to understand the whole plot.  Once the reader begins to figure out the mystery along with the main character, the reader will discover that the plot is very unique and will likely be very intrigued to read the ending.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.



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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

1 comments:

  1. Dija said...:

    I've come across this book before, but didn't really think I'd enjoy it. Your review's making me reconsider that decision though. :)