My Overall Rating:
4/5

Age Recommendation:
I think I would give this one an age rec. of about 13. There's nothing graphic, but there are some sexual allusions. I don't think that the violence is too extreme to raise the rec. above 14. Again, nothing too graphic there. There is only one scene with a graphic nature and it is the result of violent acts.

Cover Art:
I really like the cover art. I think it's really pretty, and I also think that it ties in well with the story. For me, covers that actually go with the book is important. I like to think that the cover artist did actually read the book. For me, the cover of Need has some pretty good significance to the tale.

Re-read and Recommendation?:
A definite re-read. It's quite a fun book to read and it's greatly amusing. So many funny moments that make me want to actually compile a list of them. The book had me literally laughing out loud. And I enjoy that. As for a recommendation, I would definitely say that mostly anyone who enjoyed Twilight or fans of the TOUCH series. Maybe even some Wicked Lovely fans would be a good classification for people I would recommend this book to. Anyone who likes a good fey story with a little bit of suspense and of course a touch of romance would probably enjoy this book.

Summary:
Zara collects phobias the way other girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life's been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother's pretty much checked out. Now Zara's living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays "safe." Zara doesn't think she's in danger; she thinks her mother can't deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving the trails of gold glitter, isn't a figment of her imagination. He's a pixie-and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He's the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he's trailing Zara.

My Thoughts:
When I first started reading Need, it took me a little while to get started. As I'm sure you all can tell. It just seemed a bit too familiar at first. Like I had already read what I was reading and I couldn't find where I left off. Well, just recently, it hit me. It was Twilight-esque. In a sense, I had already read that beginning. Emo girl sent away by her mother for her own good to live with a relative. In a completely different place than home. And of course, the hot guy at school, who just happens to be supernatural, saves her. From an incident with a car. Sound familiar anyone? But after I got past that, everything else started to fall into place. It turned into a book that I couldn't put down. I had to find out what happened next.

There were, however, a couple things that did bother me. There is absolutely no skepticism what so ever in this book. Mind you, after a little bit, you can kind of see why, but the kids rely on the internet far too much. One website in particular actually. And it just kind of goes against the whole "just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true" mantra. It's true because it IS on the internet in this book. Not to mention, things kind of end up a little predictable after a bit. Well, maybe not so much predictable, but they aren't exactly a surprise.

Now, the characters in this book were fantastic. Zara is a charming girl once she get's out of her little emo funk. But then again, who can blame her for being so down. I mean, I'd be a mess if I lost my dad. But her recovery is admirable. And her sense of humor, greatly amusing. I have so many favorite quote from this book. By Zara. Now, her two "sidekicks" Issie and Devyn are definitely a girls best friends. Issie is that lovable, adorable friend that any girl would love in an instant. She is too cute, her love for bunnies and happy-go-lucky personality make her so ridiculously adorable. Devyn is that sweet guy that all girls want to have in their lives. He's the supportive friend who is always there in a pinch. Now...Nick. There's a character every girl wants to be real. I swear, from the moment I met him in the book, I had a little school girl crush. Known as the bad boy in school. Hottest guy in school. And a total gentleman to boot! The development of the characters is very good. And that is always an important factor. There are no questions about the characters left unanswered. You really do get to know them as if you are Zara. And that is always my favorite part of reading.

I don't know how I'd react if I were sent away by my mother with no explanation other than "it'll be good for you, you'll be safe." I'd be pissed. And well, Zara is too. In the beginning. She ignores her mother. And I'm pretty sure that I would too. With a chance to start over completely, you can be whoever you want. But you can't exactly run away from your past and ignore it. Somehow, it always makes it's way back into your life. And that is the case for poor Zara. And when caught in the thresholds of the unavoidable, running and hiding REALLY doesn't work.

The complications Zara faces in this book are not your typical teen issues, although she does still face problems with relationships, trust, and family/parents. This book is relate-able on a couple different levels: relationships, coping, discovery, and familial issues. And for the first book in the series, it's pretty well done. It's a great story, and I can't wait to see how the rest of it unfolds in the forthcoming installations.



Need by Carrie Jones
Pages: 306
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Summary from Carrie Jone's Official Need Site
Purchased from store