Wednesday 23 May 2012

Review: Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt

Summary from Goodreads:
Ugly people don't have feelings. They're not like everyone else. They don't notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn't hurt them. They're not like real people. Or that's what I used to think. Before I learned...


After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan. Ryan's a traveller. When he and his mother moor their narrow boat on the outskirts of a village, she tells him this time it will be different. He doesn't believe her; he can't imagine why this place shouldn't be as unwelcoming as the rest. Until he meets Jenna. But as Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is found..

Skin deep is a book that I have been wanting to read, so I was very excited to see it in my local library. I'm not the biggest fan of romances that don't have a paranormal edge but I quite liked this one.  Skin Deep is a book that isn't just about love against 'the odds', it's about overcoming what people think of you. 

Jenna is struggling to recover from the car crash that left her best friend dead and her with a disfiguring scar  on her face. Jenna is very self conscious about her scar and ts understandable especially as one of the boys that was in the car with her that night taunts her. She can't bear anyone looking at her. Then she meets Ryan, who faces prejudice and abuse because of his background. Ryan is a traveller and understands what its like to be judged and stared at. The two seem perfect for each other and I loved the interaction between them.

Ryan treats Jenna just as she wants to be treated, as if she was a normal girl with no scars. Ryan understands how she feels being stared at in the street and he makes sure that she feels normal when she's with him. 

The one thing that I found hard to understand was the age of the characters. Jenna is FOURTEEN and her family allows her to go out at all times of the night!

The story with the body was very interesting. A nice turn in the plot. I shall not reveal who was killed, you have to read it for yourself!

Laura Jarrat writes a book outlining prejudices that are rife in society, but she deals with them in a sensitive way. 

Overall this is a cute, fun book to read! 




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