I was super excited when I got on the blog tour for this book. I mean, it's not something that you read about every day and I love when someone decides to write about something unique and that's what I got reading this story.
Author: Ashley Elston
Pages: 320
Genre: YA Contemporary
Date Published: May 14th, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format Read: eARC provided by the publisher for honest review
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Summary:
She’s been six different
people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri,
Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural
Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.
-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:
This book was delightful. I know that it's weird to say a book about being in Witness Protection is delightful, but for some reason it was. I like that deep down this book was exciting and full of mystery (even up until the very last page) and showed how the whole situation affected the family in this story.
Elston didn't pull any punches in showing how being a slew of different people over a short time period could affect the people who were forced to pretend that they were someone else. Just imagine one family having to pretend to be 6 different families in 6 new places, never knowing when they will have to be moved. That's what Meg and her family have to deal with. It was awesome to see that things weren't all rainbows and butterflies. Life was a mess for them and it's displayed in the family dynamic in a way that will touch you. It might also make you cringe.
I knew I was going to like Meg when she picks her newest name because a sappy, old school Meg Ryan movie is playing in the background. You find out the other names she and her little sister "Mary" have picked out before, but Meg really seems to fit her. Sure Meg has her issues, but she's really there for her family. She's her little sisters rock, the one who picks her drunk mother up off the floor and the one who primarily sets her father free in the end.
And Ethan! Ethan was quite a stand out gent. I also like that he actually figured out what was going on with Meg without much help. I mean it was frustrating for Meg, but as a reader it was fun to watch him try to put the pieces together about why Meg did all the things that she was doing. I also really liked how supportive he was of her and their relationship was refreshing after some of the ones that I've been reading lately. The only issue I had with it was Meg telling us all the time that she shouldn't be dating Ethan and then doing it anyway. I feel like she said something like that all the time in the book. After awhile I just wanted to yell at her for repeating herself, cause she obliviously wasn't listening to begin with!
I have to admit that for the most part, I saw all of the twists coming from about 100 miles away. But this book was written in a such an engaging way that I actually didn't care. And Elston still manages to surprise me with a few things. The ending was one of those things. Some people might not like that it was so open ended, but I love that feeling of "wait a second" that I get when a book ends like this one did. I give Elston mad props for the way she wrapped or didn't wrap this one up.
I also thought that some of the book was kinda far fetched, but once again I was entertained that I just didn't really care. I wish that I could talk about the plot a little bit more than I have at this point, but I don't want to spoil it for any of you.
One of my favorite little tid bits in this novel, that I just have to mention, was the fact that at the beginning of every chapter there were The Rules for Disappearing. Meg's snarky voice was there voicing what she thought the rules of staying in one place were and they were so entertaining. I like when a book has something a little bit out of the ordinary at the beginning of each chapter and this one had that!
Overall I enjoyed the fast paced, easy read that was The Rules for Disappearing. It had some things that weren't my favorite, but overall, I really enjoyed it. This would be a great adventure filled summer read. Mixing romance, family and finding out who you really are while pretending to be who your not.
Rating:
4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!
Buy The Book:
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Ashley
Elston lives is North
Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a
wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to
pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a licensed
Landscape Horticulturist and helps her husband run a commercial lawn
and landscaping business. They also custom harvest pecans and have cows.
Yes, cows.
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On The Run Playlist:
(the last track does have a cuss word or two)
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Giveaway:
Win yourself a copy of this awesome book! Get at it!
