Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Slide by Jill Hathaway




UK cover // US cover

The blurb: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again. (taken from goodreads)


Me, chatting it up: Slide is a refreshing, energetic YA debut for fans of Veronica Mars. 

Sylvia (Vee) can slide into other people bodies, bearing witness to what they are doing, but having no sway over them. It’s pretty much a perfect premise for a sleuthing novel as Vee can sleuth her way around people minds (helping progress the plot forward with conveniently witnessed scenes). 

I liked Vee from the first chapter. She is funky without being try-hard. I loved her narration: 

She is my sister and my exact opposite in every way. If she’s the pink glitter on your valentine, I’m the black sharpie you use to draw mustaches on the teachers in your yearbook.
How cool is Vee, eh? ^^

It’s pretty much a mystery story and the plot is expertly woven. The stakes continually rise (as does the body count). The red herrings are plentiful and really make for a page-turner. 


Set in a high school, type-casting* is initially used to set the scene, yet Hathaway (mostly) pushes past cliches to give all her characters depth, which I really admired. 

The climax is everything you’d expect a climax to be in this genre: secrets are unveiled, past and present tragedies collide. I can see why it has already been optioned as it has all the drama and intrigue (and originality) to play out gorgeously on the big screen. It would make a fun high school flick, hey. As for the Big Reveal... nicely done. I guess I saw it coming when I was supposed to see it coming (?) and it was sufficiently daytime drama to give thrills but not overly melodramatic, still matching the tone of the rest of the book. 

I am not usually a huge fan of YA stories featuring cheerleaders, arrogant jocks, high school cliques and all the petty/vicious girl-warfare that goes down. But in Slide it was fun looking on. Vee is an ex-cheerleader and far removed from the scene (thankfully), it is through other peoples eyes that we get involved. Vee herself is a blend of gorgeously achey, pragmatic and funky. Her best friend Rollins is so much fun, a little bit enigmatic and a lot crush-worthy (hey, I am a fan). 

It’s a fun story, dramatic in parts and sad in others. It also has patches of heart (particularly in regards to relationships: Vee and her sister, Vee and her best friend, Rollins (LOVED Rollins), and Vee and her father ~ (he is a broken man and their relationship is tenderly handled). 

Vee and her sister, Mattie: 
Then I climb into bed and wrap my arms around her, pretending we’re stranded in Antarctica and I have to use my body heat to keep her alive.
Recommended : I read this through in the space of 24 hours. I grinned a lot (some of Vee’s narration is so likeable) and had a relaxed time reading it. This is a book for fans of YA mystery, Veronica Mars, high school stories and for those wanting an addictive story with a lot of energy in it. In terms of genre, it has the (paranormal?) premise, but it reads like a contemporary novel. 

*I like typecasting in plot-centric books. It’s a great strategy with many strengths and Hathaway utilises all the strengths without falling prey to any weaknesses of typecasting (such as overusing cliches or creating one-dimensional characters)



Here is the info of the Aussie edition (no cover yet), courtesy of Netgalley:

Print Editions:
Format: Paperback
Publication Date:03/01/2012
Pages:336
Trim Size:216x135
ISBN:9780007446377
List Price:$14.99




So, being Australian, the publishing date looks to me like the 3rd of January... Hmm. Or, perhaps the info was entered backwards (aka US style) and it will be out on the 1st March? Couldn't find it on HarperCollins Australia to confirm the Aussie date

Slide will be out March 27 in the US 

Thanks to HarperCollins Australia and Netgalley for generously providing the egalley :)

15 comments:

  1. I normally don't like high school-entrenched books. I like it more as a backdrop, but this sounds wonderful. I heard a little about it from a fellow blogger friend and have wanted to read it since then, but this review has made me that much more eager :)

    - Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)

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  2. I'd seen this one, and it looked really interesting. The setup sounded a bitlike WAKE (Lisa McMann), which I loved.

    I'm looking forward to the release on this one--thanks for the review!

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  3. It doesn't appear on Title Page (the Australian book industry's online price and availability service) yet, so I don't know when it's coming. Sorry!

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  4. I'm liking the US cover better so far! WE'll see what the Aussie looks like.

    It sounds terrific anyway! :D

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  5. I've been really looking forward to this. I'm glad you liked it!

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  6. this sounds really cool, i love a good narrator and a good murder mystery.
    i'm definetly looking forward to reading it :)

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  7. This one sounds like a fun read and different from anything else I've read lately.

    I prefer the US cover. The UK cover does nothing for me!

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  8. this looks so good, and has been on my TBR list since Jill announced her deal. I think I like the US cover better...

    also, I'm pretty sure the Aussie release date is jan 3, as HarperCollins doesn't like to offer up eARCs on Netgalley any earlier than 60 days prior to book release. (but i could be wrong. dont quote me or anything)

    great review, Nomes!

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  9. I'm totally looking forward to Slide- I like the author's blog, and the premise sounds totally interesting. Great review!

    And since I'm still in high school, I love high school settings. It's nice to see schools other than your own sometimes :)

    The first cover and the second one are so drastically different- they both give off a completely different vibe. I like the second one better myself :)

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  10. Hmm... I see that date and think March 1st. LOL

    Okay, when I first glanced that UK cover, I thought this book must be a horror story of some kind. I certainly wasn't expecting funky. It's nice to be surprised!

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  11. I've got this one coming up soon, so I'm glad to see you liked it. Vee sounds pretty cool. Great review Nomes :)

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  12. Sounds great, kind of like a lighter/funnier Wake.

    I love the US cover, the UK cover is slightly weird.

    Great review.

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  13. Vee sounds very cool and I have no problem with books set in high school since most of my 8th graders are bidding their time before freshman year. I also love a well written mystery and this sound like an excellent book for both. Great review!

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  14. I didn't give this book a second look, to be honest. But actually reading the synopsis and your thoughts on it, it sounds like something I'd love to read! Thanks a lot, Nomes. :)

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Thanks for the commenty love :)