Author: Sarah Alderson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK, 320 pages, (August 1st 2013)
From: bought from Amazon.co.uk
Format: e-book
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Synopsis: When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.
What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...
Review: 4 stars -**Contains spoilers**
17 year old Ren Kingston travels to the US, looking forward to a relaxed working summer. Looking after the Tripp’s two children Brodie and Braiden, blogging and reading, seems perfect. But you know things never go that well in real life……
Ren arrives in Nantucket, Boston and is quickly thrown into her role as nanny, despite the fact that she has never even changed a nappy or held a baby before.
Invited out to lunch with the Tripps and their friends; Ren meets the Thorn triplets, Jeremy, Eliza and Matt. These are the privileged kids she’s heard all about. They are stereo-typical rich kids, not wanting for anything and who spend their entire summer on the beach. Initially Ren feels out of place, she’s not as perfectly polished as these teens, but Jeremy soon makes her feel relaxed and a friendship blossoms.
The quiet summer Ren had planned soon turns into a season of events, beach and pool parties and mingling with the rich teens and their influential parents.
After deciding a great way to explore Nantucket is by renting a bike. The last thing she expects is to meet moody and handsome Jesse, in the cycle rental shop. A guy who would get no marks for customer service, but full marks for his good looks. The whole town hates him because he had a fight with Tyler, a friend of Jeremy’s. Despite warnings from town’s other residents; and her initial reservations Ren can’t help but befriend him.
While enjoying the 4th July celebrations, Ren and Jeremy’s relationship nearly takes a step further. That is until Jesse steps in to defend her honour.
After confronting Jesse about what happened; Ren discovers a dark secret. It unravels the mystery of why the townspeople hate Jesse so much. Even though he was only defending someone he loves.
Jesse really opens up to Ren, and I hoped their friendship would develop into something more. Sadly, Jesse won’t put her through any possible trouble that could occur because of something that happened last year.
After a foreign nanny is attacked, rumours start flying around that it’s a serial killer/attacker; another nanny was attacked earlier in the summer and a girl killed the year before. Ren doesn’t want to leave Nantucket, she’s still enjoying her summer and with her new attraction Jesse, she really doesn’t want to leave. Ren is advised by the Tripps to take extra precautions when she’s out if she does stay. However when her Mum finds out she demands Ren returns home to the UK.
While saying goodbye, Ren discovers from an unlikely source that her relationship with Jeremy might not have been all it seemed. There is a way Ren can help a friend in their time of need and uncover the truth, but as with everything there seems to be more than one obstacle in the way to stop her.
The End. What can I say about this? I was completely not expecting who the bad guy was, I don’t know if anyone else will suspect this person either. I will admit to having read the book twice in the process of writing this review, a few months between both reads. I’d forgotten who the attacker was in those few months, so was shocked again when I read it the second time.
The only reason The Sound didn’t get 5 stars from me, was because of the epilogue. I felt it was a little too perfect.
On the whole I liked the characters. At times I did shout at Ren- she didn’t seem sure of herself. I understand living in a different place with new people would be intimidating but she needed a bit more confidence in what she could do. And sometimes needs to be sensible and not be the Bella Swan-esque girl she doesn’t want to be.
Jesse is high up there on my book boyfriend list. He’s gorgeous and a musician, what’s not to love. Although he has had bad experiences, he just wants to protect those he loves. Alderson has a way of writing attractive young men that make you swoon. Please keep this up Sarah!
I love Sarah Alderson’s style of writing. Her pop culture references may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they made me laugh.
The Sound is an easy read, with all the twists and turns of a brilliant thriller, romance and a few life lessons thrown in to wet your appetite. I have already enjoyed reading Alderson’s other book series and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Read if you enjoyed Alderson’s Hunting Lila and Losing Lila.
I didn't read too much since I didn't want to pick up on the spoilers but I love the look of this.On the one hand this looks like a fab contemporary romance and on the other it looks like we have a good thriller on our hands!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! :)
Alex @ The Shelf Diaries