#141 Book Review: Speechless [ARC]

Speechless [ARC]
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Author: Hannah Harrington
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:
The story of a girl named Chelsea Knot who takes a voluntary oath of silence after her gossip-mongering ways yield unexpected consequences…

Saying she’s sorry isn’t enough.

Cover:
I like how the girl's mouth in the cover is sealed with tape to show that she's not willing to speak and how the title of the book  is written on the tape. Although, I somehow find the US cover more interesting because I've never actually seen a cover so...plain. But the plainness of the cover represents a whole lot of things, which is why I think I prefer it over the Australian cover.

Story:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret...

Chelsea always shares the juiciest gossip to her best friend, Kristen. One day, in Kristen's party, Chelsea witnesses two boys kissing. She decides to share it with others and this is a terrible mistake. It brings a serious consequence to her and all those involved. Then Chelsea takes a vow of silence to keep her mouth shut and to prevent hurting anyone else. She is hated by those who used to be her friends but soon, she finds that her silence means something more and that new friends are coming her way. Can her new friends forgive her for what she's done? Can Chelsea forgive herself?


When I finished Speechless, I was speechless [no pun intended]. It took me quite a while to gather my words and thoughts to write a review for this book because it was amazing. Hannah Harrington's debut, Saving June, completely took my breath away last year. She quickly became one of my favourite contemporary authors. And she has done it again with Speechless.


'Hate is easy, but love takes courage'


There is something beautiful about the way Harrington writes. It tugged my heart, melted my heart and made me think a lot. I love contemporary stories that not only contained a beautiful story for readers to enjoy but also made them think. Speechless was one of them. Speechless carries strong themes within its story such as the power of words, bullying, homophobia and accepting the consequences of your actions. Hannah Harrington delivered it beautifully. She carried these themes across to readers successfully. I also adored the romance. It was sweet, heart-warming and in a way showed that despite how your life may seem bleak and miserable, there's that light, whether it's from your friends or your loved ones that will brighten your life.


Characters:
Besides her well-executed story, Harrington's characters are characters that represents life. It's the kind of characters that you can possibly meet in real life, whether they are good or bad. Chelsea was a character I completely relate to. I understood what she was going through and I have felt like her several times. There were times when I wished I hadn't said some of the things I said in the past. Sometimes I did not think before I speak and accidentally blurted out something that could have hurt someone else. This showed how words are powerful. A slip and your whole life can change, such as how who you thought were your friends might stab you in your back and who you thought were your enemies might end up becoming your friends. I really liked Chelsea's new friends, starting from Asha (such a lovely, kind girl!), Sam (He makes the best TUNA MELT! I BEG YOU, please make me one! and PS: I love you.), Andy and Noah (you guys are such a cute couple!). Her new friends completely touched me because even though Chelsea did something wrong, they opened up to her and made her feel better. I really adored Chelsea and Sam's growing relationship. It felt as if it was a flower bud, slowly opening until it fully bloomed. Their romance was sweet, cute and heart-melting. 


Overall:
Speechless made me speechless. Hannah Harrington is back with a beautiful novel, carrying themes of a teenager's life, bullying, accepting the consequences of your actions and more importantly, the power of words. This book taught me that words are more powerful than you think because a slip can drastically change your life. Well-executed with characters who will tug your heart, I highly recommend fans of contemporary novels to read Speechless!

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Speechless!

 Thank you Harlequin Teen Australia for the review copy!