Open Heart (Farsighted, #2)

Mar 18, 2012 Emlyn Chand added it · (Review from the author)

Wait, what's this? The next book in my series. Cool!

Jun 20, 2012 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-that-are-keepers, characters-blind-heroes, characters-black-heroines, characters-geek-heroes, characters-geek-chicks, characters-asian-heroines, characters-psychics, characters-indian-teens, characters-unusual-heroes, characters-unusual-heroines, e-books-free, genre-ya-fiction, heroines-who-should-be-smacked, opinions-read-this-book-now, heroines-who-rock, other-emotional, settings-small-towns, sub-genre-multicultural-ya-fiction, theme-interracial-relationships, theme-paranormal, the-vixennes-ya-saves-challenge, theme-eating-disorders, genre-interracial-romance, poc-on-the-covers

Firstly, many thanks to the awesome Emlyn Chand for offering an Advanced Reader Copy of Open Heart to her blog followers. Some of us (*me*) lack the patience to wait until it’s released. I scarfed this book down in the span of two days, highly upset that things like work and sleeping kept getting in the damn way.

Emlyn Chand gets major kudos for writing a series of books that aren’t Caucasian-centric. I don't get why so many YA fiction authors (and genre fiction writers in general) seem to write...more Firstly, many thanks to the awesome Emlyn Chand for offering an Advanced Reader Copy of Open Heart to her blog followers. Some of us (*me*) lack the patience to wait until it’s released. I scarfed this book down in the span of two days, highly upset that things like work and sleeping kept getting in the damn way.

Emlyn Chand gets major kudos for writing a series of books that aren’t Caucasian-centric. I don't get why so many YA fiction authors (and genre fiction writers in general) seem to write contemporary books that feature NO characters of color, or gay, or disabled people. It's like these authors are channeling 'Mad Men' or something. Of course, when put on the spot about their willful whitewashing, they'll fall back on lame stock answers like "I don't know if I could write a character like that right" or "My character can be anyone" (yeah, right). It's obvious that Ms. Chand got the Facebook update that not only do characters of color exist in contemporary settings, but it's not rocket science to write characters who are just like real people and not stereotypes. Simmi, Alex and Shapri could be found in practically any high school in America. The only difference is her teenagers just so happen to possess preternatural powers abnd struggle with all the responsibility of what such gifts bring.

I’m going to do my damndest not to give away too much, but truthfully, this book was a love/hate relationship. Overall I loved it and am now eagerly chomping at the bit for Shapri's story. Open Heart was just as intense as Farsighted and perhaps even more so since the main character Simmi is dealing with a crisis just as debilitating as Alex's blindness. She's suffering from serious self-esteem issues and she's also is distancing herself from her power of clarsentience out of fear she could hurt or kill someone accidentally. Suddenly, the self-assured, kick-ass girl with the huge smarts from the first book doubts everything about herself, including how much boyfriend Alex loves her. It’s highly ironic that she can use her powers to make others feel better, but can’t save herself from the controlling cycle of binging and purging that has begun to take over her life. I kept wanting to grab Simmi around her head and shake some sense into her. Unfortunately Simmi's fictional issue with weight is one that many struggle with in real life. The scenes of her convincing herself while bent over the toilet bowl were so painful to read. They were crafted with an immediacy that put me right there as a reader in the bathroom and unable to do anything to help.

The hate part also belongs to Simmi (for reasons that I will not give away), but it all stems from her self-hate.

Can I spare a few sentences for Alex? Okay I'm fangirling over Alex. Forget all the stalker-I-love-you-I-hate-you fake boyfriends littering the YA landscape. Alex is just awesome and the love he feels for Simmi felt that it came from a real and honest place. I love his loyalty, and I understand his discomfort about having the guy who'd he been dreaming about murdering his girlfriend now living under his roof.

My only quibble is that Open Heart felt a little unfinished. There’s a whole bunch of strangers moving into the sleepy little town of Grandon, some of them even possess psychic powers, but there’s no explanation as to why or how.

Open Heart is a wonderfully emotional roller-coaster of a book with characters who feel as real to be as best friends. Now, hurry up with Shapri's story!!!(less)

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Feb 07, 2013 Katrina (Kindred Dreamheart) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review, blog-tour, e-reader

Open Heart eliminated any doubts I had about the Farsighted series. Simmi’s story completely surprised me and exceeded my expectations. Open Heart picks up where Farsighted left off. Dax is now living with Alex and has become the latest torn in his side. At this point, I’ve become immune to Alex’s sullenness and since the story isn’t from his point of view, I was able to whip right through this one. In Farsighted Simmi was presented the way Alex saw her: Nice & Sweet. But there’s so much mor...more

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May 16, 2012 Jill Cooper rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I read it in a day, give or take a few, and just wanted to find out what happened next. There is a paranormal aspect to this book, a mystery that controls the aspects of the characters lives but it takes a backseat to them and their relationships.

It takes the same characters from Farsighted, but now we're inside Simmi's head instead of Alex's. Simmi is a sympathetic lead and one I wanted to be friends with and kill at the same time. She's hard on herself like alot of teen girl...more I loved this book. I read it in a day, give or take a few, and just wanted to find out what happened next. There is a paranormal aspect to this book, a mystery that controls the aspects of the characters lives but it takes a backseat to them and their relationships.

It takes the same characters from Farsighted, but now we're inside Simmi's head instead of Alex's. Simmi is a sympathetic lead and one I wanted to be friends with and kill at the same time. She's hard on herself like alot of teen girls are and she compares herself to the thing, perfect girls she thinks other people expect her to be.

I would love to hug her and tell her it's going to be okay, people love her for who she is, and she doesn't need to change. I think alot of girls need that and I hope by reading how hateful Simmi's own thoughts about herself can be, girls will realize how destructive this self talk is.

Simmi's inner turmoil and struggles are forefront in my mind, because they are simular to my own. I'm a binge eater, no secret there, and Simmi takes this a step further. She's endangering her health, her relationships, and her health, though she never thinks of it this way exactly. Though I am sure she knows it can't continue forever.

Her struggles are real and feel that way from the first time she's embarrassed at the mall. I know the self-loathing she feels shopping with friends, or just going to school. The author did a great job of portraying it and also pouring her heart onto the pages.

Simmi and Alex are dating and it's fun, interesting to see Alex from a different point of view, if you have read Farsighted. Alex becomes that clingy boyfriend, desperate not to lose his girlfriend. Oh, Alex. If only I could smack you upside the head. He's a nice boy and Simmi is a nice girl, so that means this is a match made in heaven, right?

I am trying not to spoil too much. I know I enjoyed this book immensely and the slow burn of suspense that builds from the characters interactions. I enjoy high octane chase-fight-action oriented fiction most of the time. This pace was slower than that, but in no way less enjoyable.

Here the characters are center stage. Their relationships and their days are what is most important. It's almost like being a 6th wheel and you're the invisible friend, tagging along. It was fun and I loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.

There are moments where you will route for everyone in the book, be it Simmi, Dax, Alex, Sharpi, and newcomer to the group Murray. Ahh, Murray, when you grow up, you're the guy all the girls are going to want to marry, I'm sure of it.
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May 24, 2012 Mallory rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a very good read. If you liked Farsighted, you will love Open Heart.

This novel is engaging and has a good pace throughout the book, keeping the reader's interest. The twists in the story are done well and make one eager for the next installment in this series.

I think the character of Simmi was very well done. She is very dynamic. I found myself hating her through most of the book, yet still liking the book. The glimpse into the mindset of a teenage girl with an eating disorder is e...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Step Into Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jessica

If you have NOT read Farsighted please read with caution. There are some spoilers that were unavoidable. Proceed with caution . . .

I was a little iffy about the first book, Farsighted, but let me tell you; this book is so much better. I think my main problem with Farsighted was Alex doesn't seem realistic. As a teenage boy, he just doesn't act like one, in my opinion. However, this book is from Simmi's point of view and it's fantastic. There's many times I want to hit her but by the end, my emo...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours

In this second installment of the Farsighted Series, the story focuses on Simmi and is told from her point of view. Simmi is now dating Alex, and is once again best friends with Shapri. Simmi has gained a lot of weight and has very poor self-esteem. On top of that, she still feels guilty for the way that she got Alex to be her boyfriend, especially since he is so crazy about her, and she can't quite decide if she feels the same way. Dax, who is now living with Alex's family, stirs feelings insid...more In this second installment of the Farsighted Series, the story focuses on Simmi and is told from her point of view. Simmi is now dating Alex, and is once again best friends with Shapri. Simmi has gained a lot of weight and has very poor self-esteem. On top of that, she still feels guilty for the way that she got Alex to be her boyfriend, especially since he is so crazy about her, and she can't quite decide if she feels the same way. Dax, who is now living with Alex's family, stirs feelings inside her every time she sees him that are far from friendship, confusing her even further. Many new people with "special abilities" have now moved to town, resulting in a construction boom. Some of these new people are nice, like Murray, a freshman boy who has a great personality and is a lot of fun to be around and also has the same ability that Simmi does. Then there is Ronnie, who is not so nice. Ronnie is a blond bombshell with a bad attitude, and is also a spoiled brat who is used to getting her way. Even stranger is Ronnie's father, and the things that are revealed about him as the story progresses are even more mysterious. When forced to choose between Alex and Dax, will Simmi follow her heart at the risk of losing her friends?

Open Heart was an interesting second installment in the Farsighted series. I honestly can't say that I liked Simmi's character, though I did care more for her in this book. Simmi is very depressed about things in her life, including her past, and is overcome with grief and shame regarding her weight gain. She is desperate to lose the weight, which results in a battle with anorexia and bulimia, something she hides from everyone the entire time, though I think Dax may have an idea what may be going on. She loves her friends, but is also very self-absorbed and consumed with her own problems, desires, jealousy, and guilt. She cares for Alex and doesn't want to hurt his feelings, and winds up lying to him about how she feels, which only makes things worse. Alex is very moody in this novel and his obsession with Simmi is somewhat codependent. It is admirable how much he loves her, yet concerning as to how much he thinks he "needs" her. He is still very angry at Dax, especially now that he is living with his family, and his family seems to love Dax so much. If you are unfamiliar with the series, Alex is also blind, but has the gift of being a Seer, and has visions.

I did like Dax in this installment and in fact, found him to be quite charming. I even felt sorry for him because of how he has been misunderstood. I did start to like Simmi a little bit more towards the end of the book. For a "big" girl Simmi sure does now how to attract the guys, having both Alex and Dax pining for her, and she has a few "heavy" make-out scenes with them both. There is a devastating tragedy towards the end of this book, which is sad, but also helps Simmi see the truth about some things that have happened, and helps give her direction in making choices for the future. Overall, I found this to be an interesting second installment in this series. I enjoyed all the different ethnic elements that Emlyn Chand integrated in with the paranormal and romantic aspects of the story. It will be interesting to see where Emlyn Chand takes things in the next installment.
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Mar 06, 2013 Trini rated it 4 of 5 stars

Simmi has a lot of issues to overcome in this story. With her eating disorder, low self-esteem, self-doubt, true feelings, hidden feelings and relationships her life seems to be in a constant state of uncertainty. I both love and hate her in this story. I guess I shouldn’t say hate, maybe the perfect word is frustrated.
It seems Alex couldn’t catch a break in this book. A lot of things in this story didn’t go as he would have liked and I couldn’t help but shake my head at some of his solutions to...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Mary Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Open Heart, the second installment in the series by Chand, focuses more on Simmi's story and POV. The story picks up from where Farsighted left off. Here we encounter what happens after Dax settles down, the blossoming of Alex's and Simmi's relationship, introduction of new players and other interesting developments.

I enjoyed reading Farsightedand comparing Open Heart to the first book, I kinda liked Farsighted better. The vibe of that sto...more Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Open Heart, the second installment in the series by Chand, focuses more on Simmi's story and POV. The story picks up from where Farsighted left off. Here we encounter what happens after Dax settles down, the blossoming of Alex's and Simmi's relationship, introduction of new players and other interesting developments.

I enjoyed reading Farsighted and comparing Open Heart to the first book, I kinda liked Farsighted better. The vibe of that story is more lightweight compared to this one. We're back to hating Dax again but now its not only Alex who's pissed at him but also Shapri. I get the loyalty but seriously, I don't get where the hatred is coming from. This book just had a lot of negativity from Alex that it made my reading experience somewhat sad, slower than I expected and torn. Sad because I like Alex, however he's too young to be investing too much anger when he should be focusing on his relationship with Simmi instead. The only thing I can think about the whole time I was reading the story is how stupid their misplaced anger is. I just don't get it. Alex is uber mad, jealous, immature and he exaggerates everything associated to Dax. C'mon, get over it. Then Shapri is also overbearing, out of place and irritating with her comments and accusations. Enough about that rant now - let me tell you what I enjoyed and love about Open Heart.

As I said, Simmi is our main focus and from my review of Farsighted I definitely love her character. She's strong and caring and just shows so much spunk and energy its contagious. Her gift is strong and she has a very good heart. This story tells us a different side of Simmi. Her vulnerable, insecure and sad side. I didn't pity her through the story but I felt for her sadness. It's painful to read a strong willed person be broken down like that and all the while I was hoping that she'll turn things around which she did eventually. In addition to that, I can see that Simmi and Alex aren't clicking. Which is another thing that's making me sad since they do have a bond but it was very obvious there wasn't anything for Simmi there. I can feel more electricity and spark with Simmi and Dax. Whenever I read their moments together, I just smile as to reading her time with Alex I cringe. I believe Dax is good for her. Dax brings out the blubby and fun Simmi in Farsighted .

This review is becoming more character focus. Okay, unto other things then. Hehe. Open Heart will introduce other characters. Some are passing by and some shows signs of being regulars. Not really certain yet but it seems like it. The new characters are actually effective when it comes to embodying nastiness. Oh you will hate Ronnie but definitely get intrigued with her and her dad. Villains we all love to hate. Pacing was a little affected with how Alex is in this book but halfway through, it picks up. I would love to have read more about the new baddies in the series but I think it'll be explored more on the next stories. Not really an issue for me. At least, we can read more about each characters with these individual focuses. Ending was a bit rough and abrupt but bearable. Overall, rocky reading experience but happy with character and story development. Intrigued with how the author will stir up more trouble for the gang and what will happen in the next books.(less)

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Feb 25, 2013 Diayll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: Bailey

Open Heart is the story of an insecure girl named Simmi. Over the course of the book, Simmi has a lot to deal with, whether it is centered around her powers or typical high school drama. Not only does Simmi have to deal with her power of clairsentience and the powers of those around her, she has to deal with the school’s new resident mean girl, Ronnie, a growing attraction to Dax, whom...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Momma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-received-for-review, ya, paranormal, romance

While it took me a little while to get into Farsighted, I was pulled right into Open Heart! The series is getting better and better! In Open Heart, we focus on Simmi. Her powers progressed immensely towards the end of Farsighted and seem to stutter to a halt in Open Heart. Simmi has felt what power feels like and it scares her enough to start slacking on her training and trying to turn it off. She is overwhelmed with juggling her intense dislike of her own "fluffy" body, her boyfriend who she kn...more

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Feb 20, 2013 ReadingDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

**Originally posted at ReadingDiva's Blog**

REVIEW: Open Heart is told from Simmi’s point of view. If you read my review of Farsighted you will know why I liked Open Heart a lot more. This story goes into the struggles and insecurities every teenager including those with impairment goes through while also touching their struggles with life and death, and situations of love and acceptance. Simmi is kind, sweet and loving. I like her character because she almost seems real, her struggles and insecu...more **Originally posted at ReadingDiva's Blog**

REVIEW: Open Heart is told from Simmi’s point of view. If you read my review of Farsighted you will know why I liked Open Heart a lot more. This story goes into the struggles and insecurities every teenager including those with impairment goes through while also touching their struggles with life and death, and situations of love and acceptance. Simmi is kind, sweet and loving. I like her character because she almost seems real, her struggles and insecurity gives the story a “real” feeling to it. The story is emotional and heartfelt. The uncertainty of the unknown gives the story a spark of suspense and interest that will keep the reader glue to the pages. While Alex and Simmi struggles with their “gift” new things start to happen around them and their love and loyalty will get tested.

I like how well the author was able to define and spell out the troubles these teens go through, as well as how well diversified her characters are. I liked every aspect of this book a lot more than the first book. The combination of emotional and young characters gives the story the dramatic spark that makes it entertaining while showing us the struggles and heartfelt situations that define these characters. The supernatural & paranormal effect gives the story necessary uncertainty while bringing afloat everyday issues which are relevant to the story making it feel real and unique. The character are mature, unique and very likeable. Unlike most of the YA being published lately, these characters come from different social and cultural background giving the story a more unique and diverse point of view while reflecting on differences and prejudice.

Open Heart gives us, heartfelt situations, daily struggles with weight, love, trust, and loyalty. This is a book you want to add to your list of Paranormal YA/Fantasy, make sure you read Farsighted first since these are not stand alone stories. If you read Open Heart first, you will not be able to understand some of the struggles and decisions that are based on previous events and situations. I recommend the Farsighted Series to anyone who wants to read something different about a group of characters who live in the world of the supernatural and paranormal while experiencing the every day social struggles that are part of every teenager’s life.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Farrah rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Started off slow, but got there in the end. Open Heart was a lovely book full of real emotion and sprinkles of romance.

Simmi was portrayed very differently in this book than in Farsighted. In Farsighted, Alex-sweet boy that he is-saw her as a borderline goddess. In Open Heart, we see into all the insecurities that the real Simmi has. It was a little frustrating after a time. She was extremely insecure and would someti...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Ginifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

OPEN HEART is the perfect sequel. While FARSIGHTED was told from Alex’s POV, this second installment in the series is Simmi’s story. I really enjoyed seeing things through Simmi’s eyes. Her story is dark in a very different way than Alex’s was, and while I didn’t agree with her choices, I understand her viewpoint.

Simmi has lost all confidence in herself. She is struggling with her weight and has developed an eating disorder. She is also insecure in her ability to control her “gift.” She battles...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Simmi Shergill is a girl overwhelmed by emotions. Not only does she have her own barrage of teenage feelings to handle, she also feels and even influences the emotions of others. Saved from a grim fate by her boyfriend Alex's powers of precognition, she now enters back into her regular life. But the stress of that everyday life is getting to her. Her powerful emotional influence has frightened her with the responsibility and guilt of forcing others to her own will. Will turning to a dangerous ea...more Simmi Shergill is a girl overwhelmed by emotions. Not only does she have her own barrage of teenage feelings to handle, she also feels and even influences the emotions of others. Saved from a grim fate by her boyfriend Alex's powers of precognition, she now enters back into her regular life. But the stress of that everyday life is getting to her. Her powerful emotional influence has frightened her with the responsibility and guilt of forcing others to her own will. Will turning to a dangerous eating disorder help her to regain control? Can she become the actress she wants to be, earning the right to shine in the only thing that seems to bring back her confidence? What are these feelings she has for Dax, the telekinetic boy who sort-of almost caused her death? Why doesn’t she feel the same way about Alex that he feels about her?
This story is a tangle of emotions, just like a real teenage girl's life. I could relate very closely with the visceral feelings and insecurities of a girl who feels so out of place. Emlyn almost made me feel Simmi's physical reactions to her emotional states. Though it didn't contain the unique perspective of the first book of the series, I really enjoyed the perspective of someone beside Alex as a reflection on the first character.
Simmi is a very spicy character, appearing as mild as she can manage though she broils with feeling. I loved the part her culture and family played in her inner struggle, pitting her American teen lifestyle against her Indian family values. Her fears and insecurities add to the tension of the story, where everyday interactions become charged with emotion. I didn't always like how she reacted or the choices she made, but it forced the reality of her story under my skin. None of us do what we should or react the way we should and I could forgive Simmi's mistakes knowing I'd mess up too.
I also enjoyed the group of characters she's put together in Simmi, Alex, Dax, Shapri, and all their families. They don't work together as a seamless team as often ends up happening in a story. They struggle through, misunderstanding and screwing up, trying to make it through. This brings a tremendous amount of sympathy and heart to the story.
The ending was shocking and chilling, and I appreciated the courage Emlyn had in allowing Simmi's powers and romantic troubles to come to their startling conclusion, rather than swooping in to save her somehow. It really made me eager to hear more of the story in the next book!(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 J.F. Jenkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book of the series, so this one was kind of a disappointment to me. Most of this comes from the book having no underlying plotline. The book was essentially about Simmi, who I grew to like more in this book than I had the last. In it she struggles with insecurities dealing with her weight and her overall self worth in terms of her developing psychic powers. Oh, and a growing attraction to her boyfriends nemesis.

Chand is a great writer. She has a talent of getting into...more

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May 29, 2012 Marie Borthwick rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Farsighted Series is a unique series about ... well a lot of things, by my dear friend Emlyn Chand. When I read the first book (see my previous posts here), I read it from cover to cover (so to speak since it was on the Kindle app of my iPhone) in one sitting - something that I can easily do but haven't done for a long time (with the exception of the books from the Harry Potter Series. When I got an email from Emlyn with an early copy of Open Heart (book #2), I was flattered and excited all...more

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May 28, 2012 Allizabeth Collins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Description:

After the events of last summer, Simmi Shergill is in a constant state of fear and trepidation; being convinced that you are going to die can do that to a person. Her psychic powers and focus are out of control, her boyfriend Alex is all about "I love you"s, she's feeling a strange attraction to Alex's nemesis, Dax, and her weight is making her self-conscious. To top that off, something sinister is happening in Grandon Township, and Simmi may be one of the only ones able to sense t...more Description:

After the events of last summer, Simmi Shergill is in a constant state of fear and trepidation; being convinced that you are going to die can do that to a person. Her psychic powers and focus are out of control, her boyfriend Alex is all about "I love you"s, she's feeling a strange attraction to Alex's nemesis, Dax, and her weight is making her self-conscious. To top that off, something sinister is happening in Grandon Township, and Simmi may be one of the only ones able to sense the danger. Can Simmi find the good inside herself and free her abilities before she loses everything?

Review:

I hate when a series starts out strong only to crumble during the second installment...Thank goodness that Emlyn Chand's Farsighted Series seems quite the opposite! Each book gets better and better, taking the reader deeper into the lives of Grandon's own psychically-charged residents: Simmi, Alex, Shapri, Dax, etc. I thought that Farsighted was amazing, but Open Heart is better! These characters are anything but typical, yes they are gifted, but they still battle with the same fears, insecurities and disillusions that many teens and adults suffer from in the real world. In Farsighted, Alex's blindness paired with his seer abilities made for an interesting plot. Everything was described from his perspective - touch, taste, smell and sound. In Open Heart, Simmi may have all of her senses, but she, like most women, is uncomfortable with the way she looks, delving into self-hating practices - starvation and bulimia. I myself have struggled with self-esteem and weight issues, so I can relate to Simmi's plight. You begin to feel like you are not good enough, even if there are people who love you unconditionally. I was truly affected by Simmi's story and point of view; I wanted to reach out to her, embrace her, to let her know she was not alone. High school is rough enough without the added pressures of looking and being perfect. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and Simmi is one of the most brilliantly beautiful and real characters that I have had the pleasure of reading about.The author has done a wonderful job on Simmi's character mentally, physically and psychically. I am quite awestruck by the book as a whole, it is so much more emotionally raw than I anticipated. Every character has a different background, and author Emlyn Chand is not afraid to tackle anything. She is definitely emotionally-keen, maybe even as psychically attuned as Simmi! Another aspect that I loved was the addition of Indian language and culture; I learned many interesting words and phrases, as well as some new far east mythology. I read this book in about two hours - nonstop - but I wish I would have taken it slower so that I would not have to wait so long for another book. The next book in the series is Pitch, and it will chronicle Shapri's story, so May 2013 better get here soon, because I am impatient and cannot wait to see what happens in Grandon next! Recommended for all readers (YA/adult) who are psychically drawn to the paranormal.

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Read my review of Farsighted - Book One in the Farsighted Series HERE!(less)

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May 24, 2012 Emily Rae Robles rated it 4 of 5 stars

First thing to establish: I love that this series is written from different perspectives. This is one of my favorite things. Points of view are cool, and you could not find two more opposite narrators than Alex (from Farsighted, the first book) and Simmi (the narrator of Open Heart.) Alex is straightforward, honest, often oblivious, and--oh yes--blind. Simmi, on the other hand, is all over the place emotionally. And did I mention that Alex is a psychic and Simmi is a clairsentient? Basically, th...more

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May 15, 2012 Kira McFadden rated it 5 of 5 stars

The second novel in the Farsighted series has quite a bit to live up to. After reading a coming-of-age tale from the point-of-view of a blind psychic, Emlyn Chand’s Open Heart’s point-of-view character, Simran “Simmi” Kaur Shergill, had to maintain the steady flow of the Farsighted plot and action. This is not always easy to accomplish when the point-of-view is from a young woman struggling to love her image and herself. Because of her clairsentience, Simmi is able to make others feel better, bu...more The second novel in the Farsighted series has quite a bit to live up to. After reading a coming-of-age tale from the point-of-view of a blind psychic, Emlyn Chand’s Open Heart’s point-of-view character, Simran “Simmi” Kaur Shergill, had to maintain the steady flow of the Farsighted plot and action. This is not always easy to accomplish when the point-of-view is from a young woman struggling to love her image and herself. Because of her clairsentience, Simmi is able to make others feel better, but cannot use her powers to ease her personal demons.

The reader learns early in the novel that Simmi constantly compares herself to other women and what society deems beautiful. She comments about being a size fourteen in U.S. manufacturing standards, which is huge, because as she says, “everybody knows America is the fattest country in the world.” Things take a turn for the worse when she meets Veronica “Ronnie” Franklin, a beautiful blonde high school girl, who comments on Simmi’s weight and uses any and every excuse to exploit the weakness. Ronnie is cruel for no apparent reason, which is true in many cases today. Bullying, racism, and social cliques still occur in schools today, and Chand seizes the opportunity to reveal that even the most beautiful of people can have ugly insides.

Open Heart takes a darker turn when Simmi discovers bulimia as a method of controlling her weight. Right before auditions for the school’s presentation of West Side Story, she confronts her fears in the girl’s restroom. From there, Simmi spirals into a character the reader sympathizes with and, at some points, hates. The exploration of bulimia transforms the YA Paranormal genre from being about schoolwork, boys, and mastering powers, to focusing on the reality many young women in America face. As American media emphasizes thinness as a model for beauty, the standard of self confidence among teenage girls and young women drops significantly. Chand breaks the mold by delving into the personal, and sometimes heartbreaking, obstacles the average teenage girl faces.

Other than bulimia, Simmi fights with her feelings of affection toward Alex. He saved her life the previous year, and she has become convinced that she is indebted to him. In order to fulfill her debt, Simmi tries her best to love Alex and maintain her relationship with him. At the same token, Alex becomes increasingly attached to her, which drives her away. The realization that she does not actually love Alex as a boyfriend reflects the unpleasant thoughts of a high school girl trying to find her place in the world, and in some cases, even results in Simmi going so far as to admit that she stole Alex away from her best friend the year before because she was jealous. Chand does a brilliant job of giving Simmi multiple layers. Where Alex was blunt and honest most of the time, Simmi is envious, self-focused, and pitiful. This mixture of characteristics is what makes her such a powerful, round person.

Overall, Open Heart’s pacing, themes, and characters expand the world of Farsighted and the sequel exceeds expectations. While Simmi is not the sweet, loving young woman readers saw in Farsighted, she does have a caring side. Like everyone, though, she has a private, darker side, which she tries desperately to eliminate or hide. One minute the reader hates her, and the next, Simmi is a sympathetic, real person who the reader cannot imagine being any other way.
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Feb 14, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was different to see this world from a new set of eyes, as this second book in the Farsighted series is from Simmi's point of view, and the first was from Alex's. Simmi has a different gift, so therefore processes things differently, she of course can see, and she is a girl. So while I ultimately enjoyed her character (even if I despised how she handled certain things) and her voice, it took a bit to get used to the different narration.
She was also pushing away Alex at first, and being hars...more It was different to see this world from a new set of eyes, as this second book in the Farsighted series is from Simmi's point of view, and the first was from Alex's. Simmi has a different gift, so therefore processes things differently, she of course can see, and she is a girl. So while I ultimately enjoyed her character (even if I despised how she handled certain things) and her voice, it took a bit to get used to the different narration.
She was also pushing away Alex at first, and being harsh with him, but I quickly figured out that was partly due to a self esteem issue. I, of course, had no idea what she looked like, just her smell and personality from Farsighted, so the fact that she is a size 14, a size she thinks is huge, contributes to her insecurities. (I am totally a 12-16 depending on pants, so I get the insecurities and feeling like most everyone is bigger than me.) There were a few other things that I can't really talk about without spoiling that made me doubt her actions, and wonder where she is coming from, because on the surface it is selfish. Maybe it is more because I was in Alex's head for the first book, but I don't know.
It was nice to see the theme of family involvement carried over. I appreciated that Simmi and her parents had dinner together with her little sister, and that they were concerned about her.
The issues of the eating disorder was very realistic. The way she tried to hide it and felt like she had control over something, when she in reality was losing it piece by piece. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and knew that it had to catch up to her. I wasn't really expecting something like this in my fantasy, but the dose of contemporary was unique. I really hope that more healing and understanding about real beauty comes to her as the series goes on.
It was so hard seeing her struggle with her feelings--I guess I should have been prepared from the summary and the end of Farsighted, but it didn't make it any easier. I can definitely see the appeal of Dax but I just think the betrayal is hard. I wish she would have just handled it all differently. I think when she had the first doubts about Alex, she should have backed off and maybe it would have been better. I am also nervous about the turn of events with her gift at the end and really hope that she can learn to control it, and only use for good. I believe she has a good heart, and regardless of some questionable decisions that all teens make at some point, I hope that the negative can't consume her.
As far as Dax goes, I hope that we are in his head really soon, because from the outside I am really liking what I see. He is gentlemanly, and learning to control himself so that no one else gets hurt. I hope that Alex is just jealous and letting that come before forgiveness, and not because he truly still feels or has seen something truly horrible that Dax will do.
Open Hearted is paced well, and I like how the plot continued, although I don't really feel like we are given a true ending to this one. It feels like it just stopped, and I can't wait for the next book.

Bottom line: The Farsighted world from new eyes, dealing with hard hitting emotional issues, and a choice that will hurt someone regardless. (less)

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May 21, 2012 Leanne (The Selkie Reads Stories) rated it 4 of 5 stars

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I was never a Team Simmi girl. She was more of a prop character in Farsighted, and I felt she was fake-ish and shallow. I said fake-ish because I wasn't entirely sure, but Open Heart came along and confirmed everything.

--------IGNORE THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ MY RANT------------
The deal is, Simmi has thins whole self-loathing problem where she has all these negative thoughts about herself like "omg i'm too fat" and "omg i'm too ugly". It's not a problem though, since t...more Read full review here
I was never a Team Simmi girl. She was more of a prop character in Farsighted, and I felt she was fake-ish and shallow. I said fake-ish because I wasn't entirely sure, but Open Heart came along and confirmed everything.

--------IGNORE THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ MY RANT------------
The deal is, Simmi has thins whole self-loathing problem where she has all these negative thoughts about herself like "omg i'm too fat" and "omg i'm too ugly". It's not a problem though, since that's perfectly normal. Heck, even I feel like i'm an ugly sea cow most of the time. My problem with Simmi is how she deals with her problem. She has all these eating disorders, she lies to the people who care about her, she manipulates them for all the wrong reasons, she takes comfort in the insecurities of other people, and she wants other people stop judging her but she keeps on judging other people herself and sizes them up and makes mental venn diagrams in order to figure out who's better or who's more handsome LIKE IT'S ALL JUST A HUGE MISS UNIVERSE CONTEST. And honestly, her "he's dangerous and I shouldn't but something's luring me in" monologues sound exactly like a typical Bella pining for her smexy but dangerous Edward.
-----------------------------END OF MY RANT----------------------------

It was extremely hard for me to rate this book. Putting my 'hatred' for Simmi at bay in order to write a proper review is just too mentally frustrating. I mean, Simmi is definitely not a character you'd easily love. But because Emlyn is such a sweetheart, here is a bullet list (Emlyn likes bullet lists!) of what I liked about this book:

•Alex Kosmitoras. Need I say more? Err I guess i really should explain this further but I can't without spoiling the story, so you need to read the book. *wink wink, nudge nudge* ;D
•Basically every character in the book except for Simmi. I loved them all. Even the "antagonists" like the popular kids and Dax had redeeming features, and they even had their own little backstory that Emlyn managed to fit in without ruining the whole plot.
•The writing! I mean, it's not exactly grand poetry or anything like that. It's more of an easy, flowy type and it's really easy to read but it worked. I actually felt like I was reading Simmi's journal and everything was so vivid. And I have to say, Emlyn's writing definitely improves since Farsighted.
•It's perfectly paced. It was a really smooth process without any boring bumps in the road, and the build towards the climax was also steady-sailing.
•I got a taste of Indian culture yet again! The story was filled with ideas about chakras and Sikhism, and I'm personally really interested in other religions and all that jazz, so it really made my reading experience exciting! And, learning something new is always a good thing.
•It's not white-washed. Open Heart had all these characters from different races, cultures, and backgrounds. It's really hard to find that in YA novels these days.
•Okay, this definitely deserves the last-but-not-the-least pimp spot. I really really liked how Emlyn tackled Simmi's eating disorders and self-loathing. She didn't sugarcoat it at all. I know that it is a common problem, and that it is a problem that is commonly denied. Most girls don't even realize they have eating disorders, or they don't even consider it as a disorder or a problem. That's what made Simmi real, I think. She may not be a likeable character per se, but she is very very real. There's a little bit of Simmi in all of us, I think.

THE NUB AND GIST:
Mentally and emotionally exhausting, but definitely not in a bad way. (less)

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Jul 12, 2012 Frederick Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, did I ever feel like I was back in high school, reading the new YA novel, Open Heart! Remember the feelings that coursed through you back when you were 16, borne on a raging torrent of supercharged hormones? My high school tags would include words like messy, chaotic, panicky, depressed, elated, flip-flopping decisions, terrible decisions, nauseous, furious, homecoming dance, girlfriends, low self-esteem. It's all right here in this book.

The first book in the series, Farsighted, related eve...more Wow, did I ever feel like I was back in high school, reading the new YA novel, Open Heart! Remember the feelings that coursed through you back when you were 16, borne on a raging torrent of supercharged hormones? My high school tags would include words like messy, chaotic, panicky, depressed, elated, flip-flopping decisions, terrible decisions, nauseous, furious, homecoming dance, girlfriends, low self-esteem. It's all right here in this book.

The first book in the series, Farsighted, related events from Alex's point of view. Alex is blind and also clairvoyant. He can read people's minds. But you don't have to have first read Farsighted in order to enjoy Open Heart, which is told entirely from Simmi's point of view, Simmi being Alex's girlfriend.

Simmi is what you call clairsentient, meaning she can sense other people's feelings and control them as well, just by touching them. I accept that the characters in this series have these superpowers, but I also thought Simmi's special gift worked as a kind of metaphor for the hypersensitivity of kids in high school. When your girlfriend agrees to go to the dance, you're on top of the world. Then, when she drops you it's like the end of the world.

Simmi also has a special, very ordinary teenage problem relating to her weight and her feelings of low self-worth. This darkens the picture and for me at least makes everything in the story very real. I do not want to give anything away by divulging details, so I will just say that the theme of Simmi's sickness and how it affected all the people around her, despite her best efforts to hide it, was handled masterfully.

Simmi herself and some of her friends are of Indian descent, and there is a fair amount of Indian food and even words and expressions in Hindi in Open Heart. For me, this too helped the image form in my mind of an enormously complex world in which these teenagers are living and struggling to do what's right. Over and over again, Simmi makes a bad decision, and I found myself rooting for her to take a different path. But then I'm an adult, and adults are able to plan ahead and calculate the consequences of their actions (theoretically, at least), whereas teenagers are usually unable to do so. They're learning those skills. Exhorting them to think things out is like egging them on to grow up already. It doesn't work, because it can't be accelerated.

The kids are all trying out for the high school musical, and the show they're doing this year is West Side Story. Another beautiful touch in Open Heart is the idea that the ethnically diverse kids of today are playing roles in the famous Broadway musical that pits the Jets, who are white, against the sharks, who are Puerto Rican. In Simmi's audition she does a Bollywood dance with typical Indian hand movements, singing her heart out in a language the director and most of the others don't understand a word of, Hindi.

Emlyn Chand has captured this high school world perfectly in Open Heart. I never would have said it could be possible as I started the book, because I loved the premise of a blind boy who was clairvoyant in Farsighted, but I liked Open Heart even better than I liked Farsighted. It's a fantastic read.
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Mar 09, 2013 Lucia The Loyal Book rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted here (scroll down for Englihs): http://theloyalbook.blogspot.it/2013/...

Open Heart è il secondo libro della serie Farsighted (la recensione del primo volume la potete trovare QUI) e devo dire che è decisamente diverso. In primo luogo per il cambio di voce narrante; se nel primo è Alex che ci conduce dentro la storia, questa volta è Simmi, la sua ragazza indiana, a raccontare gli eventi. Inoltre anche il focus mi sembra leggermente cambiato: nel primo libro ci si concentra sulla...more

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May 20, 2012 Wendi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another hit from Emlyn Chand!

Told from Simmi Shergill's point of view, again we get to peak into the lives of our friends Alex, Shapri, and Simmi, teenagers who have extrasensory powers, and we get to know Dax better. Their own abilities attract others with similar powers to move into the area, and their small town has a population explosion, introducing new characters into the mix, and making for some interesting times.

Having the special gift of clairsentience--the ability to detect and influen...more

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May 25, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you have enjoyed Farsighted, you'll definitely enjoy Open Heart too! Expect the unexpected again. If you thought that Open Heart would be told in Alex's POV you are totally wrong! This time, the story is told from Simmi's perspective and it continues on from Farsighted. So, if you haven't read Farsighted, be sure to read it first!

Simmi's danger was over. There's no more visions haunting Alex. Right now, Simmi's main concerns were her size, her powers and her feelings towards her boyfriend's n...more If you have enjoyed Farsighted, you'll definitely enjoy Open Heart too! Expect the unexpected again. If you thought that Open Heart would be told in Alex's POV you are totally wrong! This time, the story is told from Simmi's perspective and it continues on from Farsighted. So, if you haven't read Farsighted, be sure to read it first!

Simmi's danger was over. There's no more visions haunting Alex. Right now, Simmi's main concerns were her size, her powers and her feelings towards her boyfriend's nemesis, Dax. In addition, there was a sudden population boom within the town and there was a shortage of space within their school. What's with the sudden construction of condo within their small town?

This is a book about self-worth and self-love. A big portion of the book is about Simmi's diet, how she avoided food and how she tried to get them out of her system. I find myself cringing every time she did that. I do understand why she would want to do that. Alex was still sweet to Simmi's in Open Heart and I smiled whenever there's a scene about them. I can feel Simmi's gradual shift in feeling but I'm not angered by it. Perhaps it's because of the way the author wrote the story, it felt as if Simmi had explained whatever feelings she had. So I'm not surprised with the ways things turned up. Will she return to Alex or will she choose someone else? You'll have to read it to find out!

There's more about their gifts in Open Heart than in Farsighted. This time we get to add Dax into the story and how he used his gifts. We also get to know more about the mysterious and dangerous Dax and how life was for him in the Kosmitoras family.

There's an additional complication within the story. We now have a new unknown enemy that came together with the influx of people into the town. How did it affect the gang and how will they react? I'm not telling of course! Which is why you will have to get the book to find out more! :D

Overall, Open Heart is an enjoyable book about self-worth and Simmi's journey to accepting herself and her gifts. Again, this book is recommended to those who have enjoyed reading Farsighted as well as those who love reading paranormal books. Warning: lots of kisses in the book. :D And um... graphic description of eating disorders.

Disclosure: An eARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. (less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Aimee rated it 3 of 5 stars

There are a lot of good things going in these first two books but I had a hard time connecting. The characters all had a strong voice and I felt like I could hear and see them, I just didn't make those emotional connections to them. I wish the paranormal side would have taken a stronger hold of the story lines and driven the plot forward faster. It felt like I was in the characters heads a lot and heard a lot about how they were feeling but I was there just too long and too much. I guess I wante...more There are a lot of good things going in these first two books but I had a hard time connecting. The characters all had a strong voice and I felt like I could hear and see them, I just didn't make those emotional connections to them. I wish the paranormal side would have taken a stronger hold of the story lines and driven the plot forward faster. It felt like I was in the characters heads a lot and heard a lot about how they were feeling but I was there just too long and too much. I guess I wanted to see them do more with their abilities and work together to accomplish some great goal against some evil force (which sort of did happen at the end of the first book but it was at the very end and didn't really last too long). I guess for me it just fell a little short of the mark as far as the plot goes.

But, like I said before, the characters were strong. Their voices were distinct and clear. I liked how the author brought in real life family and social circumstances to the forefront of the books. In Open Heart, Simmi deals with an eating disorder. I thought the author did a great job portraying the thoughts and feelings that go along with such a hard thing.

I like the diverse group of characters, different race, different family make-up, different abilities. Honestly, the characters I am most interested in are Shapri and Dax.

One thing I really appreciate and respect is the note at the beginning of Open Heart from the author and the dedication. The dedication reads, "For every girl who has ever doubted herself, felt ugly, or unloved, or undeserving, or struggled through hardships alone. Reach in and give yourself a hug." I love that dedication.

And the note to readers goes like this. "Although Open Heart is intended for a Young Adult audience, please bear in mind some mature situations present themselves during the course of this novel, including steamy make-out sessions, mild violence, and graphic descriptions of Simmi's eating disorder. Parents of younger readers may want to read through themselves to determine whether Open Heart is a suitable fit for their children."

Thank you, Emlyn Chand for that. I really appreciate it.

I would add to the author's note of caution that there is swearing in both books as well.(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

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What an emotional and powerful book this was for me. This book is a continuation of Farsighted, which I loved also. In this book we see things from Simmi's point of view instead of Alex's. Simmi is a "chunky" girl in her eyes and hates that she is continually gaining weight. She starts to compensate by not eating, or trying not to eat. I felt like I could really relate to Simmi, having been a chunky child myself, and being a chunky adult after having my son on....more Kindle via author for honest review

What an emotional and powerful book this was for me. This book is a continuation of Farsighted, which I loved also. In this book we see things from Simmi's point of view instead of Alex's. Simmi is a "chunky" girl in her eyes and hates that she is continually gaining weight. She starts to compensate by not eating, or trying not to eat. I felt like I could really relate to Simmi, having been a chunky child myself, and being a chunky adult after having my son on. She struggles every day just to try and be "normal" and not let her friends know how she is feeling. Hard to feel pretty if you carry a few extra pounds, but even harder if you have a girl friend like Shapri who is skinny and beautiful. Simmi deals with other things too such as her new views on her powers, her new boyfriend...Alex, and the boy who tried to kill her who now lives with Alex and his family. Having a boyfriend can be bad enough, but being insecure, worried, and becoming attracted to Dax, the boy who tried to kill her makes this relationship stuff really difficult on Simmi. She knows Alex loves her, but she just doesn't feel she can reciprocate that feeling yet...if ever. Can Simmi come to terms with her powers, her weight, and her relationship with Alex? Will she stay with Alex when she isn't sure she really loves him? Would she really risk her friendship to Alex too, by going after the "bad boy" instead? Will she ever realize that she is beautiful no matter what size she is?

Real emotional issues and circumstances are present in this book and that is what makes it great! As a reader I was able to relate and come to love the characters in this book even more than when I first met them in the first book of the series. I felt like if I could I would have reached into the book and hugged Simmi. I felt the author really put her whole heart and soul into writing this book. I can't wait to see what happens next and how the relationships grow and the characters grow in the following book. It can't come out soon enough for me. This book may not have been as action packed and dramatic as ones I normally read, but I found myself enjoying the ride through it just the same.

4/5 Stars!(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Katrina Tinnon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book deals with some pretty heavy issues. Trust and eating disorders being the major ones. It's also told from Simmi's perspective.

Simmi seems like a completely different person from Farsighted. A lot of this could be because of how Alex sees her. But she never seemed so distraught before. She suffers from low self-esteem, especially when her best friend is skinny and beautiful. Simmi is constantly having to hide her pain, and dislike of herself, from her family and friends. Due to all of...more This book deals with some pretty heavy issues. Trust and eating disorders being the major ones. It's also told from Simmi's perspective.

Simmi seems like a completely different person from Farsighted. A lot of this could be because of how Alex sees her. But she never seemed so distraught before. She suffers from low self-esteem, especially when her best friend is skinny and beautiful. Simmi is constantly having to hide her pain, and dislike of herself, from her family and friends. Due to all of these issues she's facing alone, her powers are diminishing. She can't control them, and doesn't trust herself to wield them the way they are meant to be. She cuts herself off from all of her friends.

I didn't care for Alex very much in this installment. He seems very overprotective, and pushy. He also doesn't seem to care about anything that interests Simmi. I want to say this is completely his fault, but it's not. Simmi is always withdrawing into herself because of her size, looks, and the fact that she's confused about her relationship with him. I do see why Alex behaves the way he does. Shapri is oblivious to the problems that plague Simmi. She tries to cheer her best friend up, but doesn't realize she's hurting her instead. Shapri isn't doing it intentionally. She remains loyal to Simmi, and defends her when she won't defend herself.

The plot in this one seemed to move kind of slow. We are thrown into Simmi's mind, but nothing really happens. She knows that there's a threat that's moved to town, but doesn't do anything to figure out why. That bugged me to no end. There are signs of the craziness everywhere, and it takes her a while to put two and two together. I do love how much thought is put into Simmi's eating disorder. It's a very scary sickness, and can be life ending. It's a topic that I think should be broached more often. Everyone is scared to talk about it, but in a world that glorifies the "perfect" body it needs to be discussed.

The events that happen in this book seem to be a catalyst for what's going to happen next in the series. I'm excited to read more about this group of friends, and see where their journeys take them.

3.5(less)

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Feb 07, 2013 Jena rated it 3 of 5 stars

Open Heart starts us right where we left off in Farsighted except now we're looking through Simmi's eyes. This book definitely amps up the personal emotions and deals with topics many people struggle with. It's a page turner with lots of deep internal struggles. Plus, the cover is gorgeous.

I really ached for Alex in this one. I loved him and how he overcame his blindness in book one. Through out Open Heart I just felt as if Alex kept getting one disappointment after another. Yet he has such a go...more Open Heart starts us right where we left off in Farsighted except now we're looking through Simmi's eyes. This book definitely amps up the personal emotions and deals with topics many people struggle with. It's a page turner with lots of deep internal struggles. Plus, the cover is gorgeous.

I really ached for Alex in this one. I loved him and how he overcame his blindness in book one. Through out Open Heart I just felt as if Alex kept getting one disappointment after another. Yet he has such a good heart and is loyal, I really like him as a character. Then there's Simmi, another character who I really enjoyed in Farsighted but in Open Heart I'm going to be honest I started to not like her. I totally felt for her while she dealt with personal problems because I've been there and felt that way, but towards the end the way she handled certain things I was really disappointed in her. I just wish she would have made some different decisions.

However, I must say Shapri really grows on me the more we see her. In book one I liked her, but in Open Heart I love her. I feel like she's finally becoming comfortable with her powers and she's so easy going. Yet at the same time she's bubbly and her heart and head are always in the right place. With that, another character I liked was Dax. I was definitely nervous of the role he'd play but he definitely grew on me. I love his dark hair, pale skin, and green eyes and I also liked how he handled things with Simmi. He admitted his mistakes and handled the relation the correct way and I commend him for that.

Overall Farsighted was definitely enjoyable. We get school drama, personal problems, romance, heartache and all while still in the world of psychics. I give Emlyn props for writing some hard emotional scenes where Simmi's eating disorder is concerned and thought those were done really well. There were still a few things though I wish we're handled differently, but over all I liked Farsighted and would definitely still read the next book. (less)

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Open Heart (Farsighted #2)

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