Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover, 391 pages
Published October 13th 2009 by Simon & Schuster
Purchased

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice could cost her dearly.

Hush Hush was one of the biggest hyped up YA novels releasing this year. The hypnotic cover and the allure of an angel story had my interests piqued for sure. Reading the first few chapters sucked me in and I sat absorbing the world Fitzpatrick created. After closing the book I’m not really sure what to think of Nora and Patch’s twisted love story.

The story follows the somewhat immature and awfully gullible Nora, her best friend Vee, the object of Nora’s desire Patch, and two new transfer students Elliot and Jules. Lets just skip over the set up of the plotline here and get right into Patch and Nora. The chemistry between the main characters, Patch and Nora, was off for me- and that was my biggest problem with Hush, Hush. Patch spends most of the book being an elusive bad boy with a sensitive terrorizing streak. More disturbing are the mixed feelings Nora has with Patch, in the same sentence she has overwhelming desire for him and mind numbing fear to go with it. A guy your in-love with should not make you want to run for hills, by the end of the novel, I was exhausted with is he good or is he bad and Nora’s idiotic damsel in distress- I’m so scared but he’s so hot bullshit. The hero's in these YA novels lately, especially the young men are starting to get on my nerves and beginning to rekindle the feminist that lives inside me.

Another part of the book that I had a hard time with was the angelic factors, I love a story with angels in them and when reading them, I usually like angels the good-guys, however with this new fallen angel trend I’m finding myself a little squeamish with angels having relationships in a sexual nature and a big question for this story- if Patch can't feel anything physical why is he wasting his time with Nora? Why would he even attempt the sexual stuff if he can't and whats up with all these douche-bag best friends lately? I mean seriously Vee is a big epic fail as far as bff's go. (lol- now I feel ranty so lets move on.....)

HISTORY LESSON: FYI only: The main meaty parts of this story come from a version of The Book of Enoch, (which I've read) If you don’t know about this text- its part of the Gnostic Gospels, not a part of the Biblical Canon and has not ever been deemed authentic. The book itself is broken into five sections, the most popular and quoted by many authors is The Watchers section which explains the fall of the watchers aka the angels who fathered the Nephilim, (mentioned in the actual Bible) children who were the spawns of angels and women and described as savage beasts .

"And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells[40]: Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood." (Taken from Enoch book one)


That could be interpreted so many ways, fallen angels, angel kids, vampires, cannibals, you name it. In the book of Genesis the Nephilim are spoken of in a few spots; Genesis 6:1-4 and Numbers 13 and never states who the Nephilim are except for saying they were really tall and powerful and makes a comment about the sons of renowned men. It also states in the Bible that this race was destroyed in a flood, so even the account of who the real Nephilim were and where they came from is a mystery.

I’m torn on Hush, Hush- the book was suspenseful and intriguing but I didn’t like Patch or like how he was developed or how he treated Nora, The whole relationship was borderline abusive ( all the signs were there - guy meets girl- controls her, scares her, forces her into things, obsesses over her, stalks her…. throw in a few punches to the face and you have domestic abuse) and for young girls reading this looking for their Patch or dare I say a twisted Edward, is not a healthy past time or message. Stalking is not love, Abuse is not love, Control is not love, Manipulating is not love and a boy who scares you is defiantly not LOVE.

Come on YA authors what are you thinking?

Rating

Hush Hush- is recommended to mature teens/adults and contains- violence, stalking, sensuality, mild language and religious aspects.

2/5 YA- Fallen Angels, Romance