Book Review: Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Release Date: Available
Now Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Source: Received from publicist/author for honest review

Summary: It's tough living in the shadow of a dead girl. . . .In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda's death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister's world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own. When two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears, Miranda is stripped of her former life. She must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister's demons and her own. In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.

My Review: Tell Me A Secret was a dynamic debut with an emotional, heart-wrenching storyline. Holly's writing provided substance and meaning behind actual, real life issues. Named Miranda as a baby, but known as Rand in her teens was a complex and lost soul. Ever since her sister Xanda passed away, everything turned into shambles. At first, her intelligence and artistic talent was impressive. But, instead of trying to move on, she continued to have her sister's unknown death suck away her existence. Rand wasn't the only one effected by Xanda, her parents grew apart which caused a rift in the family. Her mother dreamed Rand would be nothing like Xanda. In contrast, Rand held a secret that would stand disastrous in her mother's eyes, she was pregnant. The whole journey through Rand's pregnancy was a chaotic roller coaster ride.

Kamran, the baby's father wasn't around, while her friends, especially Delaney were turning on her. Ugh, let me not get started on Delaney, she was one evil, backstabbing witch. Overall, the supportive system she needed was lacking. I felt so bad for her until an unexpected person wrapped love and comfort during the hospital scenes. The chapters where Rand was giving birth was beautifully written. Holly created a raw, vulnerable moment that a non-mother could feel. Lexi, like so many other babies, helped Rand understand herself better and gave her a reason to breathe. Also, the element of her sister's revealed death was eye opening. The unexpected and interchanging lives of everyone in this novel was uniquely crafted. I can't stress enough how moving and deeply inspirational Tell Me A Secret was. I am thrilled to see Holly's future mark in the YA industry, her sheer creativity will prove advantageous in her works. This debut not only will attract to teens but adults as well.

My Rating:
Book Trailer:

Author's Info:
Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. When she isn't writing and contributing to readergirlz, she spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope. Tell Me A Secret is her first novel. Ten percent of the author's proceeds go toward World Vision's Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls.

For more info on Holly, visit her site(s):
-Website
-Twitter
-Facebook
-GoodReads
-MySpace