Book Review and Giveaway: Made For You by Melissa Marr

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy/Psych. Thriller

Pub. Date: September 16, 2014

Source: Publisher for review

Other Novels by Author: Wicked Lovely

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva. For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling."

Eva lives in a small southern town; she is practically royalty as she is an heiress and set to inherit her family's successful winery.  At first glance, it appears Eva lives the perfect life. She is popular, good looking, has great friends and a boyfriend, Robert, whom everyone loves. However, one night when she is walking home (from being stood up by Robert!) a car swerves and hits her.  She nearly dies and is left with broken bones as well as scars all over her face.  While she is in the hospital, she comes to discover something else she acquired from the accident: the chilling ability to foresee people's deaths. When other young girls start dying in her sleepy town, she knows that her accident wasn't an "accident" at all. In fact, someone is out to get her and her friends and they have a message for her. One thing Eva knows is that she must stop the killer.  Melissa Marr's Made For You is an edge-of-your-seat read and a psychological thriller that had me desperately trying to figure out who the killer is.

Although I didn't connect completely with Eva, there was no doubt I felt for her after all she has been through.  I was really interested in her newly acquired ability to foresee people's deaths and it becomes blatantly apparent that the murderer is out there looking for her friends when she starts to get chilling visions of their untimely deaths by just touching their bare skin.  Regarding Eva's friends, I especially enjoyed her relationship with best friend Grace as she seemed like a true friend to Eva.  They definitely had each other's backs. Then there's Nate, Eva's long-lost friend from childhood, whom she reconnects with at the hospital.  I wasn't completely on board with the way they quickly reconnected, but nonetheless, I really enjoyed their budding relationship, especially because Eva's boyfriend, Robert, isn't the type of boyfriend Eva deserves.  Needless to say, Made For You includes a cast of characters, all have their flaws, but are equally compelling, especially Judge.

Judge is the killer and Marr provides us with chapters from his point of view, which were especially spine-chilling. He is obsessed with Eva and it was one of those things where I knew it would freak me out, but I just couldn't.stop.reading. He is obviously a sociopath and he also justifies his behavior by saying he speaks to God, it's God's will, etc. Creepy! Also, he tries to communicate with Eva through flowers and then other violent and disturbing gestures.  Judge was a captivating villain and I was dying to figure out his true identity as the story progressed. Readers will find out who the killer is before Eva does, which only increased my anxiety in Made For You.

I have been all about psychological thrillers this year and Made For You is one I recommend for fans of the genre.  Although it wasn't perfect, I still think fans of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting will enjoy this one.  Made For You is part murder mystery and part psychological thriller with a touch of fantasy in that Eva possesses supernatural powers.  This would be a perfect book to curl up with on a cold night this fall….just make sure you have a flashlight with you, especially if you are like me and are easily spooked!

Thanks to HarperCollins, I am hosting a giveaway for Made For You to one lucky reader and I am sponsoring a giveaway as well since I have an extra copy; therefore, there will be TWO winners! The giveaway is limited to US readers, the deadline is September 29th, and please refer to my giveaway rules.  Good luck!

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