ARC Review: Cyn Balog - Touched

Cyn Balog - Touched

• Pub Date: August 14, 2012
• Publisher: DelacorteBooks for Young Readers
• Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
• Age Range: Young Adult
• Source: ALA

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there?

In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make. . .

I really liked this one. It kept me guessing until the very end. And there were times where I was really shocked and needed to keep reading. But I still thought the end was slightly weak. The last few paragraphs started to wrap it up way too quickly. I don't ever want anything to drag out unnecessarily, but with the way this ends, it needed a little bit more to explain everything.

I liked that this was male POV. I always find that a refreshing change of pace. Books like Anna Dressed in Blood and Freefall with male POV change it up for me. I read a lot of books with a female perspective. So I liked that about this book. I also liked the premise behind it. It's a bit confusing at the beginning, but after a while I got really into it. It seemed like it was going to be such a cluster for Nick's life, and I always wanted a happy ending for him. I liked him and Taryn. I wasn't sure I would, but I definitely felt for the characters.

Parts of this felt a bit overdone, but again, I liked it. I guess there was drama with this author, but I enjoyed the book anyway. It's different and enjoyable with a few WTF moments in there. I like that. :o)

Bottom line: I enjoyed the story but I wanted more at the end.

Rating:

3.5 / 5 book sharks