Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Published: August 28, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Hate is... It's too easy. Love. Love takes courage.”
― Hannah Harrington, Speechless

Synopsis
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. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I have been reading books at a rip-roaring speed because this is my last week off before I start at my new job! Yay! Exciting and nerve-wracking! So, I have been trying to make a dent in my TBR pile before I start. Even though I will have less time for reading, my book blog will still be a BIG part of my life. Since reading will always be a BIG part of my life. I need to read. Okay, onto the book review.

Speechless was a solid read. I don't read much contemporary at all, but I like to mix it up every once and awhile. I am not a big fan of high school drama or the whole mean girl scene, and this book has plenty of both. Speechless reminded me of Speak and Easy A, with the victimized girl (all because of her honesty) and her rebellious nature as she flips the bird to the popular crowd.

There were so many stereotypical characters. The blond, popular girl. The homophobic, pothead jocks. The Asian girl with the math skills. Speechless was an enjoyable read, but it followed the line of many stories before. The plot was predictable, but not boring or slow. It was a fun read, but it did deal with some serious topics. It took a more meaningful route as it explored homophobia and how exhausting hatred can be. It also focused on the whole lesson of you should be who you want to be.

I wasn't a fan of Chelsea in the beginning. She was shallow, mean, and a people-pleaser. All of her concerns revolved around the popular crowd. I didn't sympathize with her outcast status because she was a horrible friend at the start and very self-absorbed. She grew on me over time since she wasn't opening her mouth and talking most of the book. I liked her silent treatment. She became an entirely different person, as with any coming of age story, but I still couldn't help remembering how popularity had turned her into a monster.

The vow of silence was a creative twist, and I never felt the plot suffered from Chelsea's silence. We still learned so much about her, and she was able to communicate just as well with others through facial expressions and notes. It made for a fascinating premise. And I loved all of her new friends. All of the scenes at the diner were cute and heartwarming, and it was nice seeing Chelsea change because of their kindness and friendship. Plus, I loved Sam and his dorkiness. He was a sweetie and a much better love interest than Brendan. And Asha was adorable with her enthusiasm and loyalty.

I would recommend Speechless to anyone who loves books featuring the high school scene, girl drama, and a quest for revenge. All the above isn't my cup of tea, but it might be yours. Overall, it was an entertaining read.

*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.*