Book Review; The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorenson

Author: Jessica Sorenson
Publisher: Sphere
Published: 11th April 2013
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy from Publisher
Add It: Goodreads, Amazon UK, TBD
Summary:

It Starts

There are books I struggle to read quickly, simply because I am a slow reader, and then there are the books that, despite all logic, I devour in short spaces of time, – although needless to say it is still not as quickly as some! – so it is with pride that I admit that The Secret of Ella and Micha was one book that I sped through surprisingly quickly. When I first heard about the book, I was curious about it, especially as New Adult books are generating a lot of buzz lately, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself truly enjoying this book. It was the perfect book for me to read at the time as I was struggling with a blogging slump and it was easy to read, kept me turning the page quickly and simply got me interested in reading again. It was a book that has won me over and I’m proud to have sitting on my bookshelf.

With A Moment

In the short of it, this book is merely a contemporary romance for mature readers, for those that want something just a little bit more than just YA romance. But, the long of it tells another story altogether. This book looks at loss, friendship, first loves, alcohol, growing up, but most importantly, it looks at what being true to yourself truly means. It shows how to support ourselves to be ourselves without the dependence on others while also allowing others in. It’s a truly spectacular story that will really grip you and make you want to know so much more about it. There’s a sense of knowing where the story is headed but there are also many twists and turns thrown in that you’re left wondering if it will really end as you think, which definitely makes it an interesting read.

Between Different People

One of the reasons this book is so captivating is simply because of the well-written characters. Jessica doesn’t shy away from the dark sides of her characters, and the things they keep hidden not just from each other but from themselves really makes them feel like solid believable characters. Everyone in the book is going through some sort of journey and they are all doing so in such a realistic way that it seems impossible that this is merely a work of fiction. Ella is our main protagonist in the story and she is a truly incredible character. With so much on her shoulders, she shut herself away and tried to just move on with a new life but it’s never easy to run from your past. She’s such a strong character, and clearly just wants to have some fun but isn’t sure how. I was so happy for her by the end of the story.

Micha, on the other hand, is our second protagonist and I really truly found him to be a great character. He was caring and protective, but he also had a temper and a dark past and trust issues within himself as well. I loved his character because he was just so lovely and open and just wasn’t going to give up without a fight and it really showed how real he was. This pair is a large reason why I really loved this book but I also really enjoyed the secondary characters and the stories that they bring to the table. Lila is a really complex character that you only get to see through the eyes of others but you can still get such a good idea of her character, including the things she doesn’t tell the others and I found that to be really intriguing. Ethan is the one character that I wish we saw a bit more of. There were snippets of who he is that shine through and you can see he is a good guy but I just wanted to see more of him. I’m hoping to see more of him in the next book!

With A Force

Like many books on the market at the moment, The Secret of Ella and Micha has a dual narrative. It would switch between Ella and Micha’s POV throughout the book and I really enjoyed that about this book. Sometimes dual narratives can feel like a cop out but that is certainly not the case here. Jessica gives us a full view of both these characters by giving us just enough of each to fully appreciate their place in the story. I really loved getting the opinions of both characters and how much they varied. It was also good that you could really hear the different voices which is one of the hardest things to do with a dual narrative. It is clear that Jessica is very talented and I look forward to reading more from her.

That Changes Everything

Overall, The Secret of Ella and Micha is a really complex, enjoyable, and compelling read. With in-depth characters that you quickly become emotionally invested in, this is a story that strikes the heart, allowing you to fall in love with the story as a whole. It is a novel that will take you on an incredible journey and one to read if you’re like me and like character-driven narratives. If you liked Easy by Tammara Webber, then I am certain that you will also like this. It is books like these that make the New Adult category so very powerful, popular, and interesting. I would easily recommend this to others so if you want to read a good New Adult book with deep, mature, and strong themes, then you should definitely pick this one up!

** I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. **