SPEECHLESS: HANNAH HARRINGTON

Last year, I really enjoyed Harrington's debut novel Saving June so I was looking forward to her new book Speechless. First off let me just tell you that the actual physical book is freaking beautiful. I'm not sure why the publisher decided to go with this cover, because it does not stand out online at all. However in person it is stunning and different. I'm glad I read the actual book and not just an ebook with this one. 

Harrington's writing is solid and she is definitely a talented story teller. Both this and Saving June didn't grab me like crazy, but I enjoyed reading them. I thought the story in Speechless was a great addition to current contemporary YA literature. This book explores some timely themes and shows that any moment can change you. 

I liked how Chelsea changes, but is still the same person. It reminded me of how I felt as I came of age in college. I was still me, but I changed and grew. I think most people can relate to a time in there life where they found themselves and Chelsea does that in Speechless.

BOOK BLURB:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

I don't think I am giving too much away by saying that Chelsea outs a fellow student, who then gets attacked and nearly killed by two neanderthals that Chelsea is "friends" with at school. No matter how you feel about the gay issue I don't think anyone can say they are ok with this kind of violence against a student who says he is gay. I liked how Harrington talks about what happened without making you feel like she has a political agenda.

I did have one huge problem with one part at the end that was just too sugary sweet, feel good and I hated it because it did NOT feel like it went went the rest of the book. ("There's someone here tonight who deserves this title way more than I do"? Ugh!)

Great book overall though and I look forward to the next one by this author. 

Read more about it HERE.