Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

"We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences."

Title: A Need So Beautiful

Author: Suzanne Young

Release Date: June 21, 2011

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Pages: 267, Hardcover

A Need So Beautiful wasn't exactly what I expected. I originally thought that it was about angels, but I am...way off. Sort of. Suzanne Young was able to create a unique spin on the paranormal genre, which I thought was totally fun to read about. However, my overall opinion of the book is kind of low. While the concept was fantastic, the characters and plot were lacking for me.

Charlotte Cassidy lives a secret life. On the outside, she's just a normal girl who goes to a private school, and lives with a foster mom. But on the inside, she's not normal like the others. She feels the Need, which is the compulsion to help others, and do what is right. The Need also includes something like an asthma attack, which is exactly what she uses, always as the excuse. Charlotte is of the Forgotten. Monroe, her clinic doctor, helps her along the way to figure things out. In the end, Charlotte must choose between the light, and the evil.

The plot was a huge problem for me. In literature class, I'm sure everyone has learned that in a story, there has to be 3 main parts: a beginning, climax, and solution. Now, I did not find myself at a climax, ever. If you were looking at the story through a line graph, you'd see a flat line. Pretty much, for all I see, the plot was about different scenarios in which Charlotte had to give into her Need and help someone out. And then towards the end, FINALLY something happened. And then the story just ended.

Despite the insufficient plot, Suzanne Young DID do a great job with a twist in the end. I kind of saw it coming, but I did love it; it left me hanging. It makes me want to check out A Want So Wicked.

Onto the characters. They were all extremely shallow, except for maybe Mercy. Charlotte just seemed whiny ALL THE TIME. And I hated how she was never truthful to Harlin! Ever! That makes a very weak relationship. And Harlin, I didn't see what was so good about Harlin. He didn't stand out to me, in the sea of YA boys. He was alright, I guess. And Monroe, goodness, Monroe. I did not care for him at all. He was so vague and it annoyed the crap out of me! He didn't tell Charlotte anything for a long time when she clearly needed answers! Even Charlotte's best friend, Sarah was… *shudders*. Not the best friend you would ask for.

The only thing that I really favored was the concept. It is extremely unique, and I do love myself some creativity every once and a while! Not the same old, same old.

To conclude, I wasn't disappointed with this read, because I hadn't expected too much out of it. A Need So Beatiful wasn't my type of read, but I do recommend trying it out. I suggest reading it, not listening to it on audio, because I think that also affected my overall enjoyment of the story. I am still undecided on whether I want to pick up A Want So Wicked. Maybe someday!

Audio Performance: As mentioned above, I recommend not to listen to it on audio. The reader killed Monroe's British accent--it kind of scarred me for life. I wish I had read the book.

Grade: C

Source: Online library (audiobook)