Name: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Publisher: Mira Ink
Date published: February 2013
Pages: 263, Paperback ARC
Source: For review (from publisher)
Rating: 4.5 teacups
It didn't take me long to request a copy of Speechless. The fact that it was authored by Hannah Harrington, the oh-so-amazing-creator of Saving June, was enough to make me want to read it straight away.
When I first met Chelsea Knot, I knew she wasn't someone I'd want to be friends with in real life. She was gossipy and shallow and I wondered how I would ever come to warm to her. However, by the end of the book, I really empathised her and felt truly protective of her. Character development is such a key element in Speechless and is what made the book such a touching read for me.
The secondary characters also deserve a mention for adding their own quirkiness and warmth. Asha was such a wonderful friend, soft-spoken and kind-hearted, and Sam was definitely a swoon-worthy love interest. All of them were such unique figures with huge individuality.
Hannah Harrington has definitely not lost her touch for addressing deeper issues with such sensitivity and Speechless proved to be another heartbreaking, thought-provoking read with an important message which rings true for all its readers. My words cannot do this book justice, so I'd like to finish with a quote from one of the characters that nicely sums everything up:
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
[summary taken from Goodreads]
My Thoughts
It didn't take me long to request a copy of Speechless. The fact that it was authored by Hannah Harrington, the oh-so-amazing-creator of Saving June, was enough to make me want to read it straight away.
When I first met Chelsea Knot, I knew she wasn't someone I'd want to be friends with in real life. She was gossipy and shallow and I wondered how I would ever come to warm to her. However, by the end of the book, I really empathised her and felt truly protective of her. Character development is such a key element in Speechless and is what made the book such a touching read for me.
The secondary characters also deserve a mention for adding their own quirkiness and warmth. Asha was such a wonderful friend, soft-spoken and kind-hearted, and Sam was definitely a swoon-worthy love interest. All of them were such unique figures with huge individuality.
Hannah Harrington has definitely not lost her touch for addressing deeper issues with such sensitivity and Speechless proved to be another heartbreaking, thought-provoking read with an important message which rings true for all its readers. My words cannot do this book justice, so I'd like to finish with a quote from one of the characters that nicely sums everything up:
“Hate is... It's too easy. Love. Love takes courage.”
4.5 Teacups for Speechless!
*Many thanks to Mira Ink for the review copy and apologies for the late review*
Happy reading,
Beverley
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