This ebook was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for HarlequinTeen.)
Check out the blurb here.
Warning: New Girl includes disturbing & mature scenes.
Meet Becca Normandy. The name on everyone's lips at Manderley Academy. She's beautiful, she's adventurous, she's unique.
A 'Goddess' as they say, but now she's missing and no-one knows what happened to beautiful Becca.
Her tragic disappearance frees up one spot at the prestigious Boarding school- a spot taken by shy and bright-eyed transfer student from Florida, the 'New Girl', who quickly finds herself caught in the crossfire between suspicion and gossip.
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Funnily enough, I only came across this book by chance, browsing through Goodreads recc's without real intention, but there was something about the cover that intrigued me. The cover looked familiar to me and so I checked the Netgalley shelf on my kindle and there it was. Can't believe I forgot about it.
However, as much as the cover held me, I didn't quite understand its relevance to the story at first. Yes, it was beautiful and well designed, but what did it have do with the story of the so called 'New girl'?
Was it a reference to the isolation she felt at the new school? Was she 'drowning' in her own loneliness? Was the cover foreshadowing her own death? Or was it something entirely more philosophical? Well, as it turned out, I couldn't have been more wrong on all accounts.
I found out later that it was a modern adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca'. I'd seen the 1940's Hitchcock thriller 'Rebecca' in a lecture a couple of months back and loved it.
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Alright, first things first, I had a bit of a hard time trying to get into the story. The first few chapters were a little dull in my eyes, but on the premise of wanting to know how this modern version would play out, I kept going, and I'm glad I did.
The double POV confused me at the beginning, but it became easier to follow as the story progressed. I'm actually really glad Harbison included Rebecca's flashbacks because it made the story easier to grasp and gave you a more intimate insight into the life of the missing girl.
As irritating as I found Rebecca's character at the beginning, I sort of felt for her toward the end. It was interesting to find out more about her as a person, rather than the 'beloved, beautiful girl' everyone made her out to be. Her cunning, manipulative ways almost had me admiring her for a little while and I felt crazy for entraining the thought, but I've got to say it, even against my better judgment, I still did a little bit.
Regardless, I rather disliked her character. Her actions felt a little rushed to me, manic even, but in a strange way, they made sense in the end.
I mean, I am no prude, but the amount of unjustified teen sex in the first couple of Rebecca's chapters alone made me want to hurl myself of the nearest bridge, as did her irrational behaviour around her friends. She lies, she cheats and she's awfully cruel, yet, people can't seem to get enough of her. But then again, isn't that always the way?
As the story progresses, we watch 'The New Girl' being tormented by her new roommate Dana who used to be Rebecca's best friend.
Dana is psychotic, violent and creepy as hell. (AND I LOVED HER.) Her level of creepiness picks up slowly but surely throughout the chapters, which I thought was pretty well done. I did really enjoy how unpredictable her character was, it kept you guessing till the end.
It was obvious from the beginning that there's something very wrong with Dana, but you don't realise just how disturbed the girl is until later on.
I only realised half way through the book that I didn't actually know the New Girl's first name. Everybody at Manderley just referred to her as 'The New Girl' and never once by her first name... You're so wrapped up in the school's drama, that you don't have time to focus on much else. Sounds strange, but it's true and it really threw me because I'm usually quite observant.
So top marks, Harbison. That. was. brilliant.
As much as I enjoyed Dana's mean streak, I would have liked to see the New Girl defend herself a little better. Truth be told, I kind of wanted to shake her at one point. (COME ON GURL, What's wrong with you!)
I really couldn't understand the comparisons between Becca and her, aside from the obvious. Personality wise, the two girls couldn't have been more different.
I didn't really care for Max's bizarre affections towards the New Girl and in all honesty, nor did I really have much respect left for him after all of Becca's flashbacks. Why did he let her drag him around like a dog on a leash?
Despite this being a modern version of the 1940's classic, Max Holloway hardly did Maxim De Winter justice. Whereas Maxim was a cultured, intelligent older man, character Max Holloway was just a bit of an ass with hardly any valuable morals.
Despite this being a modern version of the 1940's classic, Max Holloway hardly did Maxim De Winter justice. Whereas Maxim was a cultured, intelligent older man, character Max Holloway was just a bit of an ass with hardly any valuable morals.
I did however rate the books 3.5 stars after finishing. Aside from the crappy romance and other somewhat questionable bits, the mystery side of the story was well executed. It got increasingly more difficult to put the book down and I'll warn you now, if mystery is your thing, you'll burn right through the pages. So make sure you're well rested before you start this book, because you won't be able to tear yourself away for long.
The ending left me a little rattled and I felt for both Dana and Becca after finding out their secrets, but I sort of saw it coming.
As strange and bizarre as the book was, I'd definitely recommend it. Especially to those who enjoy mystery books. It's a fun, intriguing read with a bitter twist, but I wouldn't so much call it an adaption of the original and opt for 'Loose retelling' instead.
Finals words: GOOD JOB, GLAD I PICKED IT UP.
Buy links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Kobo