A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful, #1) by Suzanne Young

Dec 08, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, pn-angels, young-adult, 2011-publication

This was almost a really good book. Angel books are tricky anyway, perhaps because they can't rely so much on the sexy-dangerous vibes of other paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves, and then there's a certain expectation of a higher purpose being fulfilled. It's a fine line to balance that greater calling along with making a character relatable and sympathetic, so it's no wonder that we don't see very many good ones. It's very strange, then, to find an angel YA book that does the...more This was almost a really good book. Angel books are tricky anyway, perhaps because they can't rely so much on the sexy-dangerous vibes of other paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves, and then there's a certain expectation of a higher purpose being fulfilled. It's a fine line to balance that greater calling along with making a character relatable and sympathetic, so it's no wonder that we don't see very many good ones. It's very strange, then, to find an angel YA book that does the most difficult elements of an angel book very, very well, but somehow falls short in the everyday life stuff.

Charlotte is an angel whose purpose is to help those in need, but she's destined to be forgotten by everyone she has ever known. Day by day, her Need grows stronger and her ties to the earth grow more tenuous, and Charlotte becomes increasingly distraught over the thought of having to leave everyone she loves behind, including her adoptive family, her best friend, and her boyfriend Harlin.

The way that Charlotte's purpose is described, and the anecdotes with her fulfilling her Need, are well-written and appropriately serious, and I enjoyed the rather lovely imagery of piece by golden piece of her true skin being revealed each time she helps someone. What moved me to a surprising degree, however, were the moments when Charlotte realizes the terrible price she must personally pay for this calling, and her unhappiness when she thinks about having lived a life that no one else remembers. Memory is an important part of our human experience, and the loneliness of Charlotte's plight seemed unbearably sad to me.

This story's greatest weakness, however, is an overemphasis on Charlotte's relationship with--you guessed it--her boyfriend Harlin. We haven't even gotten to know her very well before we're entrenched in the hot and heavy goings-on of their (already existing) relationship. It's always annoying when books that aren't specifically romance novels spend so much time focusing on the boyfriend, and it's especially irritating when one of the two is an angel who should be worried about much more important things. The really good angel books are the ones that manage to find a good balance between human life, angel duties, and romantic entanglements, such as Unearthly or Angel Burn or Mercy. I wish that A Need So Beautiful had spent less time on this rather uninteresting romance (which has a too-neat, easily guessed twist at the end) and more time fleshing out the other elements in the story.

Still, the ending was pretty awesome, and the angel parts were interesting enough that I'll be checking out the next book to see where the story goes. I'm a little afraid of the sequel's blurb, however, since it seems to emphasize the relationship aspect even more. I really, truly hope that's not the case, since the other elements of this scenario are so much more engaging and there's potential for this to be a great angel series...if only we could, once again, take the focus off the romance. It's just terribly sad when girls in life and girls in books keep losing sight of themselves whenever a hot boy is on the horizon.

This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.(less)

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Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, angels, pnr, 2011, boring

On the plus side, I have managed to complete one of my winter challenge books on the very first day it started. And no, I didn't cheat, I listened to all seven boring hours of this thing - sorry if you liked it, but this book is just dull.

It wasn't the cheesy romance, it wasn't the whole angels and emphasis on religion thing, it wasn't even the annoying voice of the audio narrator... it's just that this story is so blah. So very very blah. Haven't I read this story a million times? Don't I know...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who don't mind stereotypical characters

Recommended to Karen by: A pop-up ad

Shelves: pretty-cool-but-not-too-much, light-reading, man-meat, meh

For the first time ever, NO SPOILERS!! (yes, it really is a miracle)

What’s the first thing you see when you look at the cover? Here take a closer look:

A recommendation by Carrie Ryan, the author of “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” (well that’s the first thing that caught my eye)! Surely a book recommended by HER would be awesome right?

…

…

…

WRONG.

Although the book in itself was not bad (quite enjoyable actually), the characters were all cliché and we once again had instant love (the worst I’ve seen...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, meh, series-still-aboard

I hate to sound like a pessimistic reader, but I found this book to be a bit anticlimactic and characters, a little irritating. EXCEPT FOR THE VERY LAST PAGE! THAT really threw me for a mind-f*ck and I'll admit to wanting to read the sequel for that reason alone. It wasn't so much a cliff hanger...the one that enrages a reader with anger or need for the next book, but It's truly compelling. Perhaps it was just me, but I felt a bit underwhelmed, but I decided to change my original rating of 2 sta...more I hate to sound like a pessimistic reader, but I found this book to be a bit anticlimactic and characters, a little irritating. EXCEPT FOR THE VERY LAST PAGE! THAT really threw me for a mind-f*ck and I'll admit to wanting to read the sequel for that reason alone. It wasn't so much a cliff hanger...the one that enrages a reader with anger or need for the next book, but It's truly compelling. Perhaps it was just me, but I felt a bit underwhelmed, but I decided to change my original rating of 2 stars to 2.5. Most of that is due to the last page and the fact that it had started out so promising.

Charlotte is some form of angel-esque being, who has a time limit on how long she can stay on Earth. However, she only finds that bit of info out gradually throughout the book. She has these increasingly painful need compulsions that overtake her, forcing her into finding someone specific who could benefit from her omniscience about them and their life. Each time she does one of these good deeds, she loses a bit of her physical humanity and start to turn gold. According to her mentor figure, Manroe, it's her destiny as a Forgotten and she'll one day turn into light. The most beautiful light and that'll be the end of it. However, she doesn't want to disappear forever and she tries to find a way to stay, only it becomes a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario for her. That's really it folks.

For some reason all the characters felt a little too one dimensional and flat. As a heroine, all I felt Charlotte let me in on her character was her day-to-day experience with her friends/family and her needs. However it all got rather boring after the first few experiences. How many times does reading about her feeling the need compel her into going to talk to someone suppose to excite/interest the reader? There was nothing menacing about her doing it, or her encounters, and I never felt any sort of tension that would make it truly captivating. The best situation was when she went to (view spoiler). I found it to be really touching. I was also very irritated that she kept lying to Harlin in the worst way and hardly ever apologized in a manner that demonstrated true contrition other than try to get physically intimate with him, (distracting him) using a kiss, sex, or other forms of touch. I suppose I was more irritated about the way he didn't really confront her about it until the last 30 pages of the novel. It's like, buddy you need to man up and call her on her f*ckery! The biggest problem was that there was not one person I truly cared about in this novel to a normal degree. I did feel for Harlin at first, but then for some reason I became a little irritated with him and stopped caring. Not caring about the characters, especially the main ones, is never a good thing.

Anyway, I didn't find anything spectacular about this read, except for the last page, as I said before. The pacing was off, characters rather flat, it was redundant, and the prose wasn't anything to gut me, make me swoon, or feel anything other than "meh!". But through all that I didn't hate it, so I can't give it 1 star and I had started off excited to read it and then the very very end, like the last page, really intrigued me. It's more like 2.5 stars but I feel that maybe I'm just being weird about this...like if I'd been able to read in one sitting as I usually do, as oppose to the constant stop-and-go I experienced while reading this, I wouldn't be so harsh? It could all just be wishful thinking.

Recap of my issues:

The redundancy. It's really quite repetitive, all this need calling out to Charlotte and her skin turning gold, and her stomach pains and headaches. Also, the fact that she's constantly saying she doesn't want to be forgotten is all so draining. We get it!

The pacing. The way it seems like no time has gone by at all for every event to escalate to the extreme bothered me. The first time Charlotte decided to not follow her need her whole body damn near turns grey. Really? That soon? I mean she only had one spot of gold on her shoulder after serving two needs in the beginning of the book AND that's after she already completed a few other need assignments before the timeline of the book. Her turning gold was much more gradual to her turning grey. I don't know if it's to symbolize something more significant, that turning against your destiny really sets you back further than your progress when you follow it, but if so, it was poorly executed in my opinion. It felt disingenuous.

Harlin's attitude toward Charlottes lies. I think it took too damn long to call her out on her lies. Furthermore, when he did it seemed so anticlimactic and flat. I dunno. I just couldn't help but not care. (less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Isamlq rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'll be honest, I could have given A Need So Beautiful just one star for all the "Oh, I love him so" moments, but that wouldn't be fair, because it has this one really great thing going for it, an out of the box concept of a non- angel (the Forgotten) with purpose. The combination of my going in blind plus my particular brand of cover-love did wonders on me wanting to know what the story was. And once all is said and done, I'm divided: a two or a four? There were good parts, there’s that really...more

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Jun 03, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, ya, romance, paranormal

Y’all Suzanne Young is not a one trick pony. She has more up her sleeve than ninja cheerleaders. While The Naughty List made me laugh (and I will confess, cry a little bit), A Need So Beautiful ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it. If you’ve ever been in love, if you’ve ever had a pain in the ass job to do, A Need So Beautiful is the book for you.

Read the rest of my review here

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Jul 21, 2011 Darkfallen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-n-reviewed

This book is truly a different spin on the supernatural. I almost wanna say it's a different spin on angels...but to be honest I'm not sure it is.

In fact I think it is something else entirely...The Forgotten.

What would you do if you found out that you were....quite literally...no one?

Charlotte's character is great. I love her voice. I loved the fact that like any teenager these days, she is completely head over heals in love with her boyfriend, and they express it in the most physical of ways....more This book is truly a different spin on the supernatural. I almost wanna say it's a different spin on angels...but to be honest I'm not sure it is.

In fact I think it is something else entirely...The Forgotten.

What would you do if you found out that you were....quite literally...no one?

Charlotte's character is great. I love her voice. I loved the fact that like any teenager these days, she is completely head over heals in love with her boyfriend, and they express it in the most physical of ways. NO there is not graphic details. This is YA after all. But Ms. Young doesn't play the naive writer. Writing about high school kids that don't have sex, because face it people MOST high school ARE. And Ms. Young isn't expecting her readers to be naive and buy into the whole we have been together for 2 years and still haven't had sex

Another great thing is that this doesn't follow the normal YA pattern of boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy & girl fall in love at first sight, then pull away, only to end up together in the end. Nope it was refreshing to come into Charlotte & Harlin's relationship after it was already established. But I felt so sorry for these two.

I have to admit in the beginning, while the writing was good, I wasn't seeing what all the hype was about. And then, next thing I know, there are tears rolling down my face and I'm like "Hey when did I start caring this much? How are you making me cry?" And that is what I think makes this a great book. It's the sneak attack. One minute you are just kinda idling by and then BAM! It's got you.

The whole concept of the Forgotten. Their sole purpose to bring light into peoples lives. Saving them...mostly from themselves. Saving their souls....at the price of yours? Knowing with each person you save the more you fade away, until you are completely forgotten, until you are nothing. It's heart breaking...truly.

Leaves you wondering if you were ever really anything to begin with. This story takes "self-sacrifice" to a new level.

So I'll ask you again...what is you found out that you were nothing?

Would you give up and accept it?

Or would you fight?(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Nafiza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I really didn’t. There was one big reason for that and it came with wings. Yeah, this is an angel book and I am afraid that the stigma attached to YA angel books coupled with the cover, which while beautiful does not really say anything pertinent, has led potential readers to decry whatever potential joy this book may bring them. But honestly, Charlotte’s story is not just original, it seems refreshing. Yes, I am talking about an angel book re...more I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I really didn’t. There was one big reason for that and it came with wings. Yeah, this is an angel book and I am afraid that the stigma attached to YA angel books coupled with the cover, which while beautiful does not really say anything pertinent, has led potential readers to decry whatever potential joy this book may bring them. But honestly, Charlotte’s story is not just original, it seems refreshing. Yes, I am talking about an angel book refreshing. I might have had too much coffee but seriously, this is a beautiful book that you need to try out. And you know I’m serious because usually I save the recommendation for the end of the review.

I think what struck me about this book was the delicacy with which the author approaches themes of life and death. Of good and evil. Is it still Good we are doing if we are doing it against our will? And if this Good that we can’t help but do, if it causes us pain, does it still retain its Goodness? Questions like these are prominent to the more discerning reader. Charlotte is an engaging character and her conflicts are so real, so relateable that you can’t help but empathize with her pain. What she is going through, though it is placed in a supernatural context, is real, is very possible. Being forgotten, as though you never were, what must the relatives of people with Alzheimers go through? What sort of betrayal is it? To be forgotten even though it’s unintentional.

I also liked the different kinds of relationships in this book. From the very complicated (and yet very compelling) romance to the plain friendship between two girls. To the dynamics of a family that is created because of feelings rather than blood and genetics. To the relationship forged by duty and responsibility. Every relationship is, for lack of a better word, ponderous and complex. The romance is one of the most wonderful parts of this book because of it’s fierceness and because of its sincerity. There is no third person in this relationship and there doesn’t need to be one to make it as layered as a relationship is.

But at the heart of it all, I think it is Charlotte’s journey inside herself, her struggle and then her eventual courage at the denouement of the novel that finally wins my favour. It is not an easy decision, the one she makes. In fact, I don’t think anyone could easily decide something like that. I won’t give it away except to say that the book delivers strongly and cleanly. And the best part is, there is a sequel that I am absolutely dying to read. It really is a beautiful book and I think you should all give it a try. Seriously.(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 5 of 5 stars

EPIC!

I've read a few books by Suzanne before, her 'Naughty List' books are hilarious and fun, so I had big expectations for A Need So Beautiful. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was a little blown away. Especially when I was able to interview Suzanne and learn a little bit more about the story. I was expecting Suzanne's whit and humor, and I got that. But I also got this emotionally charged, and stunning story.

I almost wish they would have written the summary different, perhaps mentioning the...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

This story is breathtakingly beautiful inside and out. I laughed, I cried, and I connected with the characters in a way that is rare and wonderful. Charlotte has not had an easy life. She's been in a foster family since she was young and has no real memory of where she came from. She has the Need, a driving force that leads her to helping complete strangers. She doesn't know where it will take her, or what she will face while she's there but the urge can't be stopped. Once she's at her destinati...more This story is breathtakingly beautiful inside and out. I laughed, I cried, and I connected with the characters in a way that is rare and wonderful. Charlotte has not had an easy life. She's been in a foster family since she was young and has no real memory of where she came from. She has the Need, a driving force that leads her to helping complete strangers. She doesn't know where it will take her, or what she will face while she's there but the urge can't be stopped. Once she's at her destination, she gives the person a message that, in a major way, will change their destiny.

Charlotte is realistic in a sense that she is not perfect, but her personality takes amazing form throughout the book. She might be an angel but she is far from having an angelic personality. She is head-over-heals in love with her boyfriend, Harlin. Once you read this story, it's easy to see why. Harlin is intense, caring, and swoon-worthy beyond many male characters I have read about. His love for Charlotte is deep and meaningful. I never questioned their intense love and affection for one another. I knew from the beginning how they could have been so drawn to each other.

Harlin helps Charlotte in ways no other character could. He wants to be her protector but knows she is keeping something from him. For Charlotte, confiding her dark secret to Harlin is a scary thought. This brings conflict in the story because beyond Charlotte's true identity, she has lived her life as a normal teenage girl in all other aspects. The changes occurring in Charlotte's life, physically and mentally, are having her question her own destiny.

Several other characters help to perfectly round out this story. Her best friend Sarah brings in a great dynamic and her foster family, although rarely seen, help the reader grasp the other parts of Charlotte's life. Throughout the story Charlotte learns more about her identity and it brings her life to a halt. The thought that she could be forgotten, forever, is something she can't begin to grasp.

Suzanne Young's writing paints a clear picture of a girl fighting to survive. A girl who doesn't want her friends and family to forget she ever existed. A Need So Beautiful forces the reader through several emotions as they feel what Charlotte goes through during her journey. This is an angel story like no other, and I'm excited to see where Suzanne Young takes us during the next installment. (less)

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Nov 16, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: harper-collins-sent, publisher-sent, i-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. **Firstly, thanks so much to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this to read and review!**

Suzanne Young’s novel A Need So Beautiful is like nothing I’ve ever read before. So incredibly beautiful in its pain and anguish, I promise you it will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It will not be forgotten......

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. Going into it I was expecting a roundabout angel tale and instead this book was so filled with so much depth a...more **Firstly, thanks so much to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this to read and review!**

Suzanne Young’s novel A Need So Beautiful is like nothing I’ve ever read before. So incredibly beautiful in its pain and anguish, I promise you it will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It will not be forgotten......

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. Going into it I was expecting a roundabout angel tale and instead this book was so filled with so much depth and emotion that at times I wasn’t even sure what to think, let alone feel. Having just finished reading it, I’m not quite sure what to write to accurately describe the emotions this book drew from me. Reading about Charlotte’s journey, Young ripped me raw and tore me apart as I saw Charlotte’s world as she knew be ripped apart and watched her faced choices that people aren’t supposed to face.

I admit it took me a tiny bit of time to become absorbed with this book. The beginning seemed slow, but once I fell into the groove of it, I didn’t wanna leave. I cannot deny that this book was filled with wonderful characters, from Charlotte herself to her incredible foster family to her best friend, boyfriend and amazing family friend who helps Charlotte in her difficult journey, however it was the overall plotline and theme behind this book that truly captivated me. Suzanne Young has woven together and incredible tale of angst and choices that makes you think.
I believe we all like to think that we’ll leave a mark on this world, even if it’s in some small way. That eventually when this life ends we’ll be remembered for something we’ve done or a life we’ve touched, and in this fantastic paranormal YA tale we explore this idea. A Need So Beautiful forces you as the reader to imagine Charlotte’s fear and anguish and even desperation as she fights to stop what it ultimately her destiny.

There’s so much growth in Charlotte, from start to finish in this book and she goes from being an everyday teenager with regular problems to realising she’s something more too untimely deciding if she can accept all she was meant to be. Charlotte’s beautiful story of life and acceptance is one that’s tinged with a romance that felt real and realistic and will catch you from the beginning. Charlotte was an amazing character. With a plotline as strong as this one, as the main character Charlotte needed to be someone readers could emphasize with and understand....and she certainly was! Her fears and feelings were rational—you could understand why she acted the way she did, why she fought so hard against that which she couldn’t change and every single one of her denials make absolute sense. Her world was being ripped out from under her and she had no control over it. It was outside her hands and as she struggled to believe and accept that, you were torn apart as you watched her because her situation was so dire, and yet incredibly beautiful at the same time. All Charlotte was, all she’d ever been was catching up with her and forcing her to make the ultimate choice. Every single action and emotion that went through Charlotte’s head and heart were completely justified.

The ending of this book still clings to me even as I write this review and I’m so unsure of what will happen next. It was not exactly what I was expecting and yet I know this heart-tugging story and bittersweet ending will captivate readers, exactly like it has done me and leave us all breathless and begging for more.....
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Jun 30, 2011 Trish Doller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sa-woon

I had the pleasure of reading A Need So Beautiful while it was being written, so I wasn't sure how the story was going to affect me when I finally read the finished book. When I reached the end I had tears streaming down my face, which is saying something because books don't normally make me cry...and I'd read it before!

Suzanne Young has done something special. She's created a fresh mythology in a genre that's gotten really old for me; her characters are flawed and authentic; and her writing...o...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Christie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Christie by: Teen Book Scene

Shelves: read-in-2011, favorites

“You’ll make a sucky father someday,” I tell him with a smile. “I feel sorry for the kid that doesn’t get to burst into light to get out of your house.”

He chokes out a laugh. “Is it my sarcasm?”

“Definitely. And that obnoxious accent.”

I <3 Charlotte & Monroe & this book! Full review soon!

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Oct 24, 2011 Annabelle Marie Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gorgeous-cover, fantasy, i-own, angels, books-that-made-me-cry, favorites, i-love-a-guy-in-this-book, romance, sexy-sexy-bad-boy, cliffhangers

FINAL RATING: 2.55 STARS

I adored this book. It had an original concept, a fairly likable heroine, a hot, hot bad boy, and lovely, detailed writing.

This review contains minor spoilers.

THE HEROINE:
Charlotte was not the worst heroine I've ever some across by far, but she was not my favorite, either. For one, she was somewhat stupid, making dumb choices about half of the time. I understood her desire to be remembered. We all want to be remembered. (A line from the inside dust jacket, I know.) But s...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Sasha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: harpercollins, audiobook, paranormal, young-adult

A Need So Beautiful is the story of Charlotte, a seemingly normal 17 year old girl, who has these "needs" to help people that she doesn't know. And while it helps the person, it is physically killing her at the same time. This is the story of how she changes people's lives and how she tries to figure out how to try and stop from fading away.

I'm so torn on this book. Anna from Literary Exploration always harps on me for listening to audiobooks and for once, I wish that I had read this book instea...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-books-in-2011, arcs, blog-tours, favorites

Charlotte has Needs. Not the kind of needs you normally think of when talking about a teenage girl with a hot boyfriend. I mean, Charlotte has Needs that will one day render her Forgotten. If you think you've had your fill of angel books, you couldn't be more wrong when it comes to A Need So Beautiful.

Charlotte is a likable, real heroine who is struggling with something that she can't tell anyone about. If she did, she'd likely lose them all, including her best and only friend Sarah and her too...more Charlotte has Needs. Not the kind of needs you normally think of when talking about a teenage girl with a hot boyfriend. I mean, Charlotte has Needs that will one day render her Forgotten. If you think you've had your fill of angel books, you couldn't be more wrong when it comes to A Need So Beautiful.

Charlotte is a likable, real heroine who is struggling with something that she can't tell anyone about. If she did, she'd likely lose them all, including her best and only friend Sarah and her too smoldering for words boyfriend Harlin. She's been suffering from Needs since she was a child but recently they are coming more often. When she's hit with a Need she has no choice but to follow it and help the person she's led to. As if that wasn't weird enough, Charlotte then realizes something is happening to her skin. She feels like she's falling apart not only on the inside but now the outside too.

With the help of her longtime family friend, Monroe, Charlotte learns exactly what her Needs mean. She's meant to be Forgotten by everyone around her. All the people she's been protecting from her secret will one day no longer remember her at all. It's hard to believe that Sarah, Harlin or her foster mother, Mercy, could ever forget her but it's not long before we learn that they can and do. It's heartbreaking to watch Charlotte struggle with losing the love of those around her, when she's so consumed with giving love and hope to others.

When Charlotte is approached by someone who used to be like her, but is not a Forgotten, she suddenly has hope that she can stay too. Unfortunately, choosing to stay has dark consequences, ones Charlotte isn't sure she can accept. The urge to stay and be with Harlin is so strong that Charlotte isn't sure what she should do, even at the last minute.

A Need So Beautiful is magnificent, incredible, wonderful, enticing, sexy, romantic--perfect! I could not get enough of this book. I fell hard for Charlotte and Harlin's love story and stayed up well into the night to savor every last word. I cried more than once reading this emotional and inspiring tale and am on pins and needles for more. There aren't enough lovey dovey adjectives that I could use to describe this book. It's amazing beyond any of my expectations. A Need So Beautiful is stunning and exquisite through and through.
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May 31, 2011 Sara McClung added it

Shelves: ya, read-in-2011, arc

I'm a fan of Suzanne's Naughty List series, so I was nervous because A Need So Beautiful sounded so different. (Well, it also sounded AWESOME, but still.) As it turns out, I had absolutely no reason to be nervous. Yes, this book is way different, but it's also way way way good. I'll definitely be reading the sequel as soon as I can get my hands on it.

The premise is super original. I haven't read anything like this in recent memory. I wanted to take my time reading the book, because I didn't want...more I'm a fan of Suzanne's Naughty List series, so I was nervous because A Need So Beautiful sounded so different. (Well, it also sounded AWESOME, but still.) As it turns out, I had absolutely no reason to be nervous. Yes, this book is way different, but it's also way way way good. I'll definitely be reading the sequel as soon as I can get my hands on it.

The premise is super original. I haven't read anything like this in recent memory. I wanted to take my time reading the book, because I didn't want it to end--but I couldn't put it down.

The title fits so perfectly. What Charlotte does--her need--really is beautiful. It actually makes me want to go out of my way and help other people more than I do. (Yeah, and okay, I can't tell by looking at someone that their unborn baby is sick, like Charlotte can . . . but I CAN be more considerate, and less self-serving, which is a goal of mine.)

A Need So Beautiful is different from a lot of other YAs out there for two reason: 1) Charlotte starts the book off already knowing that she's different/paranormal and 2) she's already dating the love interest. Don't get me wrong, I love books that take me along the discovery / falling in love path--and this book doesn't disappoint! It's just in a different way. In a clever way. In a more . . . in depth way. Speaking of love: Harlin is Charlotte's boyfriend, and he is the PERFECT kind of bad boy with a good heart. He's rough around the edges, sure, but not once did I get mad at Charlotte for dating him. And that can be kind of rare, for me, with the bad boys in books.

Another thing that sets A Need So Beautiful apart is that while it is definitely paranormal, it doesn't hold back in the slightest from more contemporary-type character troubles. I loved that the secondary characters face very real issues--the same ones that some of today's teenagers face. The same ones that end up getting pushed to the back burner in a lot of the other YA paranormals out there. Suzanne fits them in organically and without overcrowding the plot.

So, clearly, I recommend this book. You should get yourself a copy as soon as you can. (less)

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Apr 22, 2011 Kim Q rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

My mind is still trying to make sense of the ending. I keep rereading the last few pages, and all I can think is: Wow, did that really just happen? Has there been a more beautiful ending? This book takes me to places no book has ever taken me before. I rarely ever cry when I'm reading (Those If I Stay books? Yeah, I didn't get why people cried over them), but this book? It was as if everything bottled up inside of me came out. I got really emotional. I just closed the book up and I'm sniffling a...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Autumn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a

I definitely would have preferred it if we got the idea of Harlin and Charlotte's love for each other in some other way than their physical passion. That took up a bit too much of this book for me. Their relationship felt much too like lust rather than love. I also wasn't such a fan of Charlotte being, pretty much, this angel of light, and then being fine with the people she cares about getting drunk and, at points, focusing on hooking up with her boyfriend. I get that it's fun to add an edge to...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Katherine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-work, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 09, 2011 Loretta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, series, favorites, review-book, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Where do i start with this book?
Because I could go on and on and on and on. And I mean it.
It will take all i have not to copy this book for you, page by page.
Because every page fills you with something, so beautiful,
And for me I always thought the cover of this book was amazing. BUT it's not until you read the book that you actually see the cover, and understand the cover one hundred percent. It fits, Like a GLOVE!

Suzanne Young did it with this book. The writing is amazing. I love it. The charac...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

Wow. Just....yeah, wow. I've been trying to write this review for days, and I can't seem to find the right words to share with you how gorgeous A Need So Beautiful really is. See, it's unlike anything I've ever read in so many ways. Suzanne Young has written a story that entranced me, broke my heart, and made me believe in hope all at the same time. I'm being truly honest when I say that this book needs to go on your wish list.

Charlotte is an amazingly multifaceted character. On the surface she...more Wow. Just....yeah, wow. I've been trying to write this review for days, and I can't seem to find the right words to share with you how gorgeous A Need So Beautiful really is. See, it's unlike anything I've ever read in so many ways. Suzanne Young has written a story that entranced me, broke my heart, and made me believe in hope all at the same time. I'm being truly honest when I say that this book needs to go on your wish list.

Charlotte is an amazingly multifaceted character. On the surface she is a normal teenage girl. Hanging out with her best friend, sneaking out sometimes, and spending ample hours in the arms of her (extremely hot and swoon worthy) boyfriend Harlin. Just on this level alone I already connected with Charlotte. She was so easygoing, and sweet. However what really made her so fascinating was the heavenly duty with which she had been assigned. This is a girl who, while balancing everything a normal teenager must, has a heavenly duty. She doesn't like it, but it's there.

The Need is what really brought this story to life. Charlotte's sacrifices show the reader how deep of a person she really is. It isn't as though she can run away from it when the Need pulls her. Oh, she's tried. Still, watching Charlotte give up so many things that she really wanted, pulling away from people she loved just to fulfill this Need, is what really got me. I know that being a teenager is tough, and at times egocentric. I've been there. Watching Charlotte battle the two sides of herself was utterly engrossing. Would you be able to give up what was comfortable and easy to fulfill your destiny? I'm not sure I would.

In case you're still stuck up there at the name Harlin, yes there is a romance in this story. A Need So Beautiful provides one heck of a love story. If you aren't sobbing by the end, I'll be truly surprised. Harlin is such an amazing character. He's sweet, funny, and so in love with Charlotte that it's crazy. Rough on the outside and soft on the inside, the perfect boy. Even when everyone around her starts to fade away, it's Harlin that is always there in the foreground. The chemistry between these two made me swoon, and to anyone who says it isn't believable, does it matter? I really wish we all had love like these two do. I really do.

Yes, I'm rambling and I know it. It seems that the more I completely fall in love with a book, the harder it is for me to write a coherent review. The raw emotions that this book evoked for me are hard to explain, but I can say that it's one I won't forget. Plain and simple, you need to read A Need So Beautiful. A heartbreaking story of sacrifice, love, and hope, it's just too fantastic for words. My hope is that you fall in love with as much as I did. Make sure to grab a box of tissues before you read the ending, you'll need it.

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Sep 01, 2011 Alyssa rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Do-gooders and fans of Swoon.

Shelves: own, arc-2011, 2011-read, emotional, only-okay, highly-anticipated, really-excited-for, ya-romance, i-skimmed, mystery-suspense, not-even-okay, religious

A Need So Beautiful was one of my most anticipated books of the whole year. I’m not quite sure why it sounded so appealing to me, to be honest, and maybe the cover did influence me a bit more than I should have let it, but I’m not lying when I tell you it was one of the biggest letdowns. Ever.

Charlotte lives with her foster mother and foster siblings in a big city and she goes to an expensive prep school with her best friend Sarah, who’s the pretty, annoying girl who doesn’t have many friends....more

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Jan 24, 2011 Kari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-teen, arc-or-review-from-publisher-author

The Short Version:
Unique in premise and brilliant in execution, A Need so Beautiful weaves a fresh, fantastic new take on light and dark. Creating an angel of sorts while not relying heavily on actual angel principles, Young has made a stellar blend of contemporary with a supernatural twist. With a sympathetic protagonist, a hot love interest, and a well paced story line, A Need so Beautiful is engaging from the start and fulfilling in the end.

The Extended Version:
Charlotte is an incredibly lika...more The Short Version:
Unique in premise and brilliant in execution, A Need so Beautiful weaves a fresh, fantastic new take on light and dark. Creating an angel of sorts while not relying heavily on actual angel principles, Young has made a stellar blend of contemporary with a supernatural twist. With a sympathetic protagonist, a hot love interest, and a well paced story line, A Need so Beautiful is engaging from the start and fulfilling in the end.

The Extended Version:
Charlotte is an incredibly likable character, filled with great qualities that make her both a great friend and an enjoyable protagonist. Ridden with an overwhelming Need to do good deeds, however, she goes through some trying situations and fantastic overall character growth. Her love for her boyfriend is intense, and the two share some very emotional and poignant scenes. Charlotte’s character is built strongly from the start, with hints of it continuing throughout even as she is pushed further towards being Forgotten.

Harlin is dreamy in every sense of the world, a rugged bad boy with a completely soft, sweet side that outshines the rest. He is deeply in love with Charlotte, and will do most anything for her. He not only drives the plot in some key places, but he pushes Charlotte in ways she otherwise wouldn’t go through. He is a very well done love interest, and the playout as a couple that’s been together for two years rather than falling in love newly adds a fresh element to this book.

The rest of the cast of characters is relatively small but focused and well developed. From Charlotte’s best friend, Sarah, to the doctor at the clinic she volunteers at to her foster mother, Young has made each character unique and memorable. The importance of some characters isn’t seen until the end, and the interactions between them all is both enjoyable and emotional throughout.

While there is angelic element, so to speak, this isn’t an angel book and the new twist on this makes it stand out. Young’s plot is completely unique and plays out a very steady pace. Each new Need adds something not only to Charlotte but to the worldbuilding as well, creating things smoothly for the reader without any specific focus on it. New pieces of the overall puzzle about Charlotte and the Forgotten come at regular intervals, each one at just the right time before the bold finale. The various Needs Charlotte endures each have their own impact and message, and the thought behind them is clear and appreciated.

There is a clear contemporary component to this book, using a setting and situation that any reader can understand, visualize, and imagine themselves in. The incorporation of the Needs and supernatural element is smooth and clear, never leaving the reader confused or wondering what is going on. Explanations come in at just the right moments, and the story logic is easy to follow.

Young’s writing flows very smoothly and has an easy readability to it. With just the bare minimum of description, Young is straight to the point and rich in voice and characterization, while still giving enough detail to build the events in the reader’s mind. There is a good blend between funny and rough, and Young has perfect timing in instances of both humor and romance amidst the more serious events going on. There are some incredibly emotional scenes, cutting right into the reader and pitched in a way that everyone can empathize with, strengthening the bond between reader and the characters.

The overall impact of this book is potent, throwing both right and wrong, and lasting effects into questions. From self sacrifice to how far someone should go with good deeds, and building on things easy to understand and pitched in her own way, Young has most definitely made something that is both enjoyable to read but will make a reader think. Mixing in a focused amount of love and romance also adds to the lasting impression of this book, testing the power of love and slipping in implications of lingering memories and the power they can hold.
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Jul 31, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 03, 2012 Amanda (Born Bookish) rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have to say that I went into this book with high hopes, hopes that did not live up to their expectation. I thought the plotline for the book was unique and very interesting, but it stopped there.

I felt like all of the characters were shallow and stereotypical: Harlin the bad boy who’s really soft at heart, Sarah the flirty best friend, Seth the popular guy/jerk at school. I just didn’t really care for or connect with any of them, not even Charlotte.

I also found it really tiresome to keep read...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Kathy Cowley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya-mg, fiction

Charlotte needs to help people. Her need is a sort of magical compulsion, and when she heeds it she says things to people at pivotal times in their lives, changing them forever. Yet every time she helps someone, he/she forgets her permanently, and her identity slowly is erased.

It's a really awesome concept, and well-executed. The character makes a point of not being religious, yet she grapples with issues of what is good and evil, and who she is going to be.

This book uses an approach that is b...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

With no recollection of her childhood before the age of 7yrs old , Charlotte Cassidy has always put it down to post -traumatic stress disorder and that's why she can't remember a thing but it will soon come to light that it's not that she can't remember as such , it's because before then - she didn't exist in the human sense . Now at fifteen , Charlotte has grown up living in a foster home with her mum Mercy and brother and sister Alex and Georgia. She attends St Vincent's School with her best f...more

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May 09, 2012 Rose rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, contemporary, tbr-challenge, young-adult, paranormal, romance, rrrc-audiobook-challenge-2012, supernatural

It's difficult for me to rate "A Need So Beautiful" because there are moments in this story where the jarring separation Charlotte experiences with respect to her destiny are quite memorable, and struck a chord with me. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy much of the book. It was very difficult for me to get through.

Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is well founded and I like the idea behind it. Charlotte is a young woman who suffers from a series of attacks that she calls "the Need", a f...more It's difficult for me to rate "A Need So Beautiful" because there are moments in this story where the jarring separation Charlotte experiences with respect to her destiny are quite memorable, and struck a chord with me. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy much of the book. It was very difficult for me to get through.

Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is well founded and I like the idea behind it. Charlotte is a young woman who suffers from a series of attacks that she calls "the Need", a force that pulls her toward people who are on the brink of dying or making drastic decisions that will cripple their lives. Charlotte doesn't really want to follow the Need, not only noting the pain that presses upon and changes her body, but also for the way it forces her to neglect her life and the people within it. It's especially jarring when her compulsions lead her to save other people's lives, but ironically miss the moments when her family and friends need her most. That to me was an amazing point of conflict worth noting. It even becomes more jarring when Charlotte realizes that, slowly, the people in her life are starting to forget that she even exists.

Unfortunately - this story was ruined by the overfocus on both the romantic relationship and the nature of the "Need" itself. I understood the intensity of "the Need" whenever it would occur to Charlotte, but some of it did feel repetitive and overwrought in places. It probably didn't help that I thought the audiobook narrator put a little too much emotion in those parts - to the point where it made it difficult for me to like Charlotte's character, despite her flaws and her unwillingness to embrace her destiny. On the note of Charlotte's unwillingness to embrace her destiny - I didn't really think the book did a great job in showing how she comes to terms with it. Granted, the events of the book by that point do force her hand and her choices, and I understood where it was going, but I didn't feel the depth of it. Also, Charlotte is way, way, WAY too focused on her love interest. Harlin seems like a decent enough guy, and you can tell he loves Charlotte and wants the best for her, but at the same time, I felt that Charlotte would over focus on her affection for Harlin to the point where it took away from some other significant events that were happening in Charlotte's life. I also felt like that time could've been better established into noting who Charlotte was as a person and developed her character a little more, rather than just making her ogle over her relationship. It was disappointing and took me out of the story several times.

I knew the twist with regard to Harlin's role in the story long before it occurred and it didn't really have much of an impact on me. The events toward the ending where Charlotte says goodbye to her family and the people who once knew her was touching, but not as much as it could've been - it felt somewhat rushed, as did the final encounter on the bridge. The very last note of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth, somewhat Twilight Zone-ish when that was really out of the phrasing and structure of the book.

In the end, I saw some of the more touching moments of the book, but the structure and execution of the intention behind it struck me the wrong way. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series yet, but I'll admit the idea behind this was interesting, just not as jarring or emotionally rounded as it could've been.

Overall score: 1.5/5(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Chloe rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was actually very pleased with the way that this novel went. I enjoyed it far more than expected, but I just tore through it so quickly it felt SO short!

I loved Charlotte, she seemed like just the right mix of sweet and spunky. I can't even imagine how it must have felt to slowly be forgotten by the people you love, it's like reverse Alzheimer's or something. She handled it remarkably well, she just wanted to protect the people that she loved.

Sarah was a little ditzy and oblivious, but she w...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Totally attached?	3	13	Nov 03, 2012 10:32am
a great read a good cry, anyone else in love with Harlin?	10	35	Jul 01, 2012 09:01pm
YA Giveaway!	1	10	Sep 26, 2011 10:15pm
End of Summer YA Giveaway! What is your fave 2011 YA Cover?	1	3	Sep 17, 2011 09:35am
Team Vampire!!: A Need So Beautiful Discussion May Contain Spoilers	2	10	Sep 02, 2011 06:22pm
YA Summer Giveaway (3 Books - 3 Winners)	1	8	Aug 26, 2011 06:49am

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