Entangled by Cat Clarke

Author: Cat Clarke
Publisher: Quercus
Release Date: 6th January 2011
Pages: 372
Rating: 5/5

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?
Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got there.
As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing.
Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

Ooooh, I have so much to say about this book I don't even know where to begin... I am very glad that I finally got around to reading it because I must say, this is a book no avid reader should miss! It has everything from a great writing style to well planned characters and even faces some of the most troubling issues facing teenagers today.

This plot was so... well planned out and developed and relatable. So different. It kept me guessing throughout. Some twists did surprise me and even though one of the biggest twists I sort-of guessed a little about, certain parts in the story kept making me doubt myself.

Clarke's writing style was just perfect for this story. It was so utterly believable that it was a teenager and Grace's character was potrayed absolutely perfectly because it was being told through her eyes. Even though at the start I had mixed feelings about the swearing and the general relationship involvement, as the story progressed I realised that was just who Grace was and that she had come to be that way because of all the tragic situations she'd been through. For most part I was ready to give this book a rating of four but when the story started toward the end and was so skillfully tied up I just knew it was a five star rating for sure!

I would also really like to talk about the issues faced in this book. Clarke has so thoughtfully showed what some troubled teens can experience. Through Grace we realise that most people do what they do (for example: drinking) for a reason. Maybe they have went through something traumatic and find it easier to feel pain than to actually face themselves and their own "messed-up" lives. Like Grace.

Oh, Grace. Poor, poor, Grace (even though she probably wouldn't appreciate my pity)! Despite the swearing and the drinking and such I actually found her quite a great main character. I just felt so sorry for what she has had to suffer through. She is generally a zoomed in version of a rebellious teen with so much more to her than what she gives herself credit for. Sometimes I just wanted to shake her so she would stop or listen but mostly I just really wanted to be there for her!

The other characters I'd like to mention are Sal and Nat. I'll start with Sal. Now that I've finished reading the book I really want to scream at her for blaming and pratically using Grace. When I was more naive at the beginning I actually found her an okay character but now that I know the whole story I really don't like her one eensey little bit. I can't believe what she did to Grace. She was supposed to be her best friend but what she done was despicable - and messed-up! Woah, I've never had that strong a feeling against any character before - and I'm not even on to Nat! But I suppose I should start now.

I thought Nat was going to be one of those more-than-meets-the-eye but still with the normal teenage boy in him character but now that I've finished the book, like I did with Sal, my feelings changed and I hate him! I actually wanted to slap him after I turned the last page, but since I couldn't do that I sort of punched the book instead hehe. Urghhh, I can't even talk about him without sizzling!

The ending. Oh, the ending! I can't believe it left on a cliff hanger. I just need to know what happens! If only a few more chapters, or a sequel! ... I just really hope Grace doesn't forgive Sal and Nat!

Overall I found Entangled a really thought-provoking and enjoyable book. I managed to read it quite quickly because I was always wanting to know what was going to happen. I definetly think you should check out this book if you are looking for one powerful read!

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo