ARC Review: Dead To You by Lisa McMann

Title: Dead To You
Series or Stand-alone: Stand-alone
Author: Lisa McMann | Website
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Amazon Vine








Synopsis via Goodreads:


Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

Quotable Quotes:

“Feels like I'm in a play and I don't know all my lines.” 

My thoughts:


Oh my! This book managed to tear my heart in two in just 256 pages. An abducted child is reunited with his family many years after he disappeared. You would expect all rainbows and sunshine, but this is not the case. This novel was ridden with angst. I don't usually enjoy angsty YA, but it felt right in Dead To You. Angst was almost necessary. These characters had been through so much. I loved watching this family heal, then shatter, only to heal again.

I applaud McMann for writing a YA novel from the point of view of a teen boy. Not only did she write it, she did an amazing job at it. Such a rarity in YA unfortunately. We really need more male protags. This book is shorter than most, but still encompasses the depth and detail of a much longer novel. I was completely invested in Ethan's story. I loved the characters even when I didn't agree with their choices. The plot was fast paced and the suspense kept me reading. I didn't want to put this book down. The ending is a killer. I hope she plans to write a follow up because I'm dying to know what happened next.

My Rating: