Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Title: The Hollow
Author: Jessica Verday
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb:

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special. Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

My thoughts...

I am so torn about this book, I have a definite love-hate thing with it.  First, let me say the that cover is amazing and actually depicts a part in the book, for the most part anyway.  When I first started reading this book I was sucked in and lost some sleep getting through the first half of the book trying the answer the questions of who Caspian was and what was going on.  That became the problem of the 2nd half was that I felt like there was a lot of "filler" type info that wasn't necessary for the story and we were not finding out anything more until the very end of the book.  At 544 pages, I think it could be cut down somewhat taking the unnecessary stuff out that really has no relation to the story being told.

The story overall is good with romance and a touch of paranormal.  The main character, Abbey, is likable for the most part but has times being a spoiled brat and whiny that can get on your nerves, you want to scream, ENOUGH ALREADY...MOVE ON.  The plot is a little weak and meandering at times but overall I did enjoy the book and really look forward to the next installment of the trilogy that is due out in 2010.  See what I mean...love-hate :)

I found the note about the author very interesting, that she wrote The Hollow's first draft by hand using 13 spiral notebooks and 15 black pens.  She is also writing the 2nd book in this fashion.  Do I even know how to write one page in cursive anymore?  Just give me my laptop, thank you :)