The Evolution of Mara Dyer

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2)

Michelle Hodkin

Pages: 544

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardcover

Source: Barnes & Noble

Age Group: Young Adult

Date Published: October 23, 2012

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

So, it's kind of bittersweet to write this review. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the book, but I've been waiting for so long for it, and now it's over? It makes me kinda sad! I fell so much deeper in love with the characters, especially since I've learned more about what's really going on with Mara (is she insane, or not?) and Noah (could he really have emotion?). And it's brilliant, and beautiful. Heck, it's brilliantly beautiful. I am so in love with Michelle Hodkin's writing style, because it's almost formal, and it feels so smart, but I still really connected with the story. And my goodness, all of the allusions (AP English word!)!!!! They may be my favorite thing about this series, because they're all nerd-related and things I actually know about. SO COOL. I may even like this one a little better than The Unbecoming, if only because there was more kissing :)

So. Talking about the plot AT ALL will most likely spoil things, however, we do know that (after the end of The Unbecoming) Mara's gotta have her sanity checked, you know, medically. And she does, and it's sad, and, at times creepy, since this all started with what happened with she and her friends at the old asylum. There is LOTS of Noah (yay!). And it ends with this EVIL cliffhanger (think almost as bad as the ending of City of Bones, I mean, no incest or anything, but it's like OMG my life now depends on getting the next book which doesn't come out until freaking 2013). So yeah, this is my favorite series EVER, and the plot was crazy and intense and really, really freaking cool.

So, characters. Yeah, well, Mara is amazing. Like, you gotta root for the possibly insane heroine. Always. She's darling and real, and sometimes kind of scary, but it's okay because she has this awesome family and NOAH FREAKING SHAW to lean on and help her through everything. She becomes a much stronger heroine than in the first book, and I love it. I love everything about her. And then there's Noah. Poor, sweet, tortured Noah. Whom I am in love with. He's like Mara's knight in shining armor, because he's always saving her, or protecting her, or doing something to help her. It's like she's everything to him, and it's beautiful. He's so selfless, and there's this one part that is actually from Noah's POV, and it's SO HIM. It's eloquent, with like f-bombs thrown in, and it's all almost scientifically written, and he is just so amazing. I want one. Really, truly, it's more like a need one (if I can't have a Noah, I would def take a Croyden Academy button ;))

And need I say how much I love that cover?! It's even prettier in person (I may or may not keep petting mine. don't judge)

Because this is my favorite series in the whole wide world, and because I love Noah and his extreme selfless awesomeness, I give this book 5 mustaches (I'd honestly give it a thousand if I could).

For those of you who are like, "Uhm, I've heard some mixed reviews for these books, I'm not sure if I'll like it." I would like to say that breaking out of the box is a necessity to life, and you will not regret reading this series :)