A Need So Beautiful (A Need so Beautiful #1) by Suzanne Young - Starting June 6th. 2016

[[deleted user]]

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need - a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become - her mark on this earth, her very existence - is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny - no matter how dark the consequences?

[[deleted user]]

Up to chapter 5:
(view spoiler)[Not much has happened but I liked how we're learning everything just as Charlotte does too. I didn't know much about this book before starting it and I think it was good that I didn't.

I hope we get to see more of Charlotte's family (her adoptive family I mean) even when she starts learning more things about herself. It would be a shame if they were just forgotten.

Clearly the lady she keeps seeing (the one from the bus stop) is someone. Is she looking after her? Was she doing it before too? Why didn't she appear before and why does she appear now? Does Mercy know too?
Maybe she's bad, but she hasn't attacked her or anything, so I thought she was on her side so I'm imagining her as a protector of some sorts. (hide spoiler)]

[Katarzyna]

Chapters 1-5:
(view spoiler)[I didn't know too much about this book going into it, and I feel as though that was probably for the better, as I feel that if I had known more about the storyline it would have spoiled some of the interest that all of Charlotte's changes have sparked. For an example, I feel like the scene beginning on page 43, of Charlotte's skin flaking off to reveal a layer of gold, would have been less of an intriguing scene if I had some knowledge that Charlotte would be going through strange changes like she is.

I agree with you, Anna, on the fact that as we begin the book, the fact that neither we nor Charlotte know what exactly is going on in terms of what the NEED is and what Charlotte is, makes for a very intriguing story that really pulls the reader into the novel. I can't wait to learn more about the NEED and what Charlotte is.

At this point in the novel, I feel as though Charlotte is to some extent human, just like Harlin and Sarah, but I feel as though she might be some form of an angel stuck on Earth. This is based off of the fact that she is capable of the abilities that she has, almost guardian angel like abilities, yet she has no idea what her purpose is like a saint would. At first I thought saint, with her NEED being to help others avoid devastating scenarios, however, it says in the book that Charlotte has considered this, but ruled it out for the before mentioned fact of her purpose being unknown to herself.

I also agree with you, Anna, on the fact that the woman from the bus stop must be of some importance to the novel, as she keeps reappearing at the spots where Charlotte feels and/or carries out the NEED. I think of her not as being bad, but instead of a being sent to observe her and make sure that she is carrying out the NEED's desires to help the different individuals. I feel as though she is a good being who might also have gifts like Charlotte, as whenever Charlotte sees her she is always smiling as though she approves of Charlotte's work in fulfilling the NEED. Could she possibly have some sort of connection to when Charlotte gets the feeling of the NEED, as in maybe she is from the future and is passing on to Charlotte the info that she needs to carry out the NEED? Could the strange woman possibly even be the biological mother of Charlotte, as it says in the beginning that the woman seems to be familiar to Charlotte, like she knows her, but not the connection that the two share?

Overall, I am really enjoying the book up to this point and cannot wait to see how the plot evolves over the course of the rest of the novel! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

@Chloe This is a reply to your previous post, I haven't read any further:

(view spoiler)[Exactly. Some people may think that not knowing what Charlotte is slows the book down, but in my opinion, it's part of the charm. If she knew what she was, the story would be very different. And this way, we get more detailed explanations and details about her.

Charlotte: I like your idea of her being a guardian angel; it makes perfect sense and I find that mythology to be fascinating, so if she is an angel ideed, I'd like to know everything! I also think she is human (to some extent at least); she may have some special abilities, but nothing like magic or vampirism, more like clairvoyance.

The Need: I'm wondering how it works exactly. How are people selected? Why is she the one to protect those people? Basicaly, I want to know everything.

The woman (you know which one): I thought you were going to say, and now I'm starting to believe it too, that she was the one who led her to the hospital when she was little. I see her as a gaurdia figure, but I wonder why she hasn't make a move or why isn't she helping her. Maybe she can't do that, but maybe there's something else.
What you're saying about her being connected or monitoring Charlotte's Need is very interesting.

And, as you said, the book is enjoyable and the pace is good, so even though I can't read as much as I'd like because I'm busy, I don't stress out when I have to read it.
(hide spoiler)]