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The Deviants
‘A tale of revenge, righteousness and recovery with a heart-stopping twist – The Guardian
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two gravesTHENElla, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane.
The Fearless Five, inseparable as children growing up in a sleepy English seaside town. But when Max’s older sister is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.
NOW
Only Max and Ella are in touch, still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. But Ella is hiding things – like why she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level. And when underdog Corey is bullied, the Fearless Five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them.
But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?
’Electrifying, bold, brilliant’ -Amanda Craig
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two gravesTHENElla, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane.
The Fearless Five, inseparable as children growing up in a sleepy English seaside town. But when Max’s older sister is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.
NOW
Only Max and Ella are in touch, still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. But Ella is hiding things – like why she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level. And when underdog Corey is bullied, the Fearless Five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them.
But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?
’Electrifying, bold, brilliant’ -Amanda Craig
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
19 people are currently reading
968 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Skuse
16 books836 followersC.J. SKUSE is the author of the Young Adult novels PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC and DEAD ROMANTIC (Chicken House), MONSTER and THE DEVIANTS (Mira Ink). She was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England. She has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels lectures in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. C.J. is currently working on adult novel SWEETPEA for HQ/HarperCollins (out April 2017).
C.J. loves Masterchef, Gummy Bears and murder sites. She hates carnivals, hard-boiled eggs and coughing. The movies Titanic, My Best Friend's Wedding and Ruby Sparks were all probably based on her ideas; she just didn't get to write them down in time. Before she dies, she would like to go to Japan, try clay-pigeon shooting and have Ryan Gosling present her with the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
You can find C.J. Skuse on Facebook or on Twitter www.twitter.com/CeejaytheAuthor.
C.J. loves Masterchef, Gummy Bears and murder sites. She hates carnivals, hard-boiled eggs and coughing. The movies Titanic, My Best Friend's Wedding and Ruby Sparks were all probably based on her ideas; she just didn't get to write them down in time. Before she dies, she would like to go to Japan, try clay-pigeon shooting and have Ryan Gosling present her with the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
You can find C.J. Skuse on Facebook or on Twitter www.twitter.com/CeejaytheAuthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 16, 2016
This review can also be found on my blog, Dana and the Books.
You know a book is good when you read the entire thing in one sitting without realising. It was dark and gritty, dealing with themes you don’t always find in YA books.
Last year I read Monster by CJ Skuse and it was a rollercoaster of fear. The Deviants was similar in the sense that it started out fairly civil but then, a “thing” happened and before you know it you’re sucked into this twisted maze of tension.
Ella was the perfect main character for this story. She’d been through far too much hurt in her life and it made her jaded and slightly twisted herself. You rooted for her even though she wasn’t perfect and did some horrible things to other people.
The format was unexpected: each chapter ends with an unknown character asking Ella a question. I kept guessing as to who it was Ella was speaking to until the very end (that plot twist!).
CJ Skuse has a fantastic talent at creating terrifying, real villains. The type of people who most certainly exist in this world — and that’s what makes them even scarier. The Deviants wasn’t an easy book to read. It was raw and real with some fairly graphic scenes, and the characters go through so much (it’s a bit hard to say what without spoilers).
CJ Skuse will now be my go-to author for YA suspense! I’m (im)patiently awaiting her next book.
Thank you so much HQ Young Adult for sending over an advanced reading copy!
(Book Depository / Amazon UK)
You know a book is good when you read the entire thing in one sitting without realising. It was dark and gritty, dealing with themes you don’t always find in YA books.
Last year I read Monster by CJ Skuse and it was a rollercoaster of fear. The Deviants was similar in the sense that it started out fairly civil but then, a “thing” happened and before you know it you’re sucked into this twisted maze of tension.
Ella was the perfect main character for this story. She’d been through far too much hurt in her life and it made her jaded and slightly twisted herself. You rooted for her even though she wasn’t perfect and did some horrible things to other people.
The format was unexpected: each chapter ends with an unknown character asking Ella a question. I kept guessing as to who it was Ella was speaking to until the very end (that plot twist!).
CJ Skuse has a fantastic talent at creating terrifying, real villains. The type of people who most certainly exist in this world — and that’s what makes them even scarier. The Deviants wasn’t an easy book to read. It was raw and real with some fairly graphic scenes, and the characters go through so much (it’s a bit hard to say what without spoilers).
CJ Skuse will now be my go-to author for YA suspense! I’m (im)patiently awaiting her next book.
Thank you so much HQ Young Adult for sending over an advanced reading copy!
(Book Depository / Amazon UK)
September 20, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary story about secrets and revenge.
I liked Ella, although it was clear that the secret that she was hiding was eating her up inside and making her act in odd ways at times. I totally understood why she couldn’t tell anybody what had happened to her though, especially knowing the impact it would have on her boyfriend Max.
The storyline in this was quite slowly paced, but the story was enjoyable. It did take quite a long time for the secrets to start revealing themselves, but once they did things picked up a bit. We got some pretty good twists in this story, although the subject matter might be a little hard for some people to read as it did deal with
The ending to this was really sad, and it made me cry that things ended the way they did.
8 out of 10
“Tell me everything. Start with what was happening between you and Max.”
This was a YA contemporary story about secrets and revenge.
I liked Ella, although it was clear that the secret that she was hiding was eating her up inside and making her act in odd ways at times. I totally understood why she couldn’t tell anybody what had happened to her though, especially knowing the impact it would have on her boyfriend Max.
The storyline in this was quite slowly paced, but the story was enjoyable. It did take quite a long time for the secrets to start revealing themselves, but once they did things picked up a bit. We got some pretty good twists in this story, although the subject matter might be a little hard for some people to read as it did deal with
The ending to this was really sad, and it made me cry that things ended the way they did.
8 out of 10
May 26, 2017
“You save yourself or you remain unsaved.”
----Alice Sebold
C.J. Skuse, an English author, has penned a tragic yet extremely riveting young adult thriller called, The Deviants that revolves around five high school teenagers whose friendship blossoms up when one of them is bullied badly, also gradually, the secrets of their lives begin spilling up, when one bad event after another challenges them to keep a hold on their friendships or their dark secrets, especially, it becomes a challenge for the couple from this group of teenagers, who seem to be drifting apart in a gradual motion.
Synopsis:
When you set out for revenge, dig two graves
Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.
Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.
When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?
Ella, Max, Zane, Corey, and Fallon, the fearless five, as they are usually known as, grew up together in a sleepy seaside town where nothing much happens, until the day when Jessica, Max's elder sister died and so the bond of fearless five. Except for Ella and Max, who have become the 'it' couple of their high school, but lately it seems, Ella is trying to avoid Max and their relationship as much as possible. And once again, after ages, the group of fearless five are reunited when Corey, another member from the group, becomes a victim of bullying and not to mention about the news of Fallon's pregnancy. All five of them are hiding dark secrets from one another, yet the burning questions of what or how Jessica died might undo the secrets the teenagers are dearly holding onto.
This is one one of the most compelling young adult thrillers that I've read recently. Yes, this book exceeds all my expectation and turning out to be so poignant yet engrossing enough to keep me glued till the very last page. Even though I've not read any books by this author previously, but after reading this book, I can't wait to get my hands on her previous young adult books. This book is so much more than just a typical YA friendship drama, this book is high on secrets, make that dark secrets, and also the book touches base with so many burning social issues from current times, that makes it highly believable and realistic.
The author's writing is really eloquent and the story has got multiple layers that the author has peeled gradually with the course of the story line. The pacing of the book is very slow, it's rightly to say that this one is a s low-burner yet somehow, that justifies when the suspense thickens and leaves its readers with unpredictable twists and turns near the very tragic climax. The narrative is highly absorbing and is also very real, as the main protagonist foretells the whole story from her perspective.
The mystery, like I said, has many layers, and will keep the readers guessing and vouching for the answers to all those pot-boiling questions. The readers will be thrown off their edges once the author starts unraveling the twists one-after-another and it will feel like watching a train getting burned slowly and gradually, and that no one could do anything to save the people on that train. The whole story line is laced beautifully with deep, evocative emotions that will move the readers and will also sway the readers in its own course.
The characters are simply brilliant with their fractures and secrets, making them look real and raw in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Ella, is developed with plenty of flaws to give her a genuine touch in her demeanor. Ella is secretive, annoying at times but once the mystery starts unraveling, the readers will contemplate with Ella's pain and dark secrets from their past. Max too is an interesting character, who is displayed as bit confused yet headstrong when it comes to Ella and her choices. The rest of the characters are also portrayed strikingly with lots pf gray shades in their demeanor that will make the readers relate with them.
In a nutshell, this is a very mature teenage fiction which deals with difficult modern day social subjects and stigmas, and the way the author has penned it with so much vividness and honesty, that some might find it difficult to read each and every detailed scene from this book. Nevertheless, this is a must read, if you can handle such rawness and brutal pain that this story has to offer.
Verdict: A gripping and an absolutely heart breaking teenage thriller!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Alice Sebold
C.J. Skuse, an English author, has penned a tragic yet extremely riveting young adult thriller called, The Deviants that revolves around five high school teenagers whose friendship blossoms up when one of them is bullied badly, also gradually, the secrets of their lives begin spilling up, when one bad event after another challenges them to keep a hold on their friendships or their dark secrets, especially, it becomes a challenge for the couple from this group of teenagers, who seem to be drifting apart in a gradual motion.
Synopsis:
When you set out for revenge, dig two graves
Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.
Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.
When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?
Ella, Max, Zane, Corey, and Fallon, the fearless five, as they are usually known as, grew up together in a sleepy seaside town where nothing much happens, until the day when Jessica, Max's elder sister died and so the bond of fearless five. Except for Ella and Max, who have become the 'it' couple of their high school, but lately it seems, Ella is trying to avoid Max and their relationship as much as possible. And once again, after ages, the group of fearless five are reunited when Corey, another member from the group, becomes a victim of bullying and not to mention about the news of Fallon's pregnancy. All five of them are hiding dark secrets from one another, yet the burning questions of what or how Jessica died might undo the secrets the teenagers are dearly holding onto.
This is one one of the most compelling young adult thrillers that I've read recently. Yes, this book exceeds all my expectation and turning out to be so poignant yet engrossing enough to keep me glued till the very last page. Even though I've not read any books by this author previously, but after reading this book, I can't wait to get my hands on her previous young adult books. This book is so much more than just a typical YA friendship drama, this book is high on secrets, make that dark secrets, and also the book touches base with so many burning social issues from current times, that makes it highly believable and realistic.
The author's writing is really eloquent and the story has got multiple layers that the author has peeled gradually with the course of the story line. The pacing of the book is very slow, it's rightly to say that this one is a s low-burner yet somehow, that justifies when the suspense thickens and leaves its readers with unpredictable twists and turns near the very tragic climax. The narrative is highly absorbing and is also very real, as the main protagonist foretells the whole story from her perspective.
The mystery, like I said, has many layers, and will keep the readers guessing and vouching for the answers to all those pot-boiling questions. The readers will be thrown off their edges once the author starts unraveling the twists one-after-another and it will feel like watching a train getting burned slowly and gradually, and that no one could do anything to save the people on that train. The whole story line is laced beautifully with deep, evocative emotions that will move the readers and will also sway the readers in its own course.
The characters are simply brilliant with their fractures and secrets, making them look real and raw in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Ella, is developed with plenty of flaws to give her a genuine touch in her demeanor. Ella is secretive, annoying at times but once the mystery starts unraveling, the readers will contemplate with Ella's pain and dark secrets from their past. Max too is an interesting character, who is displayed as bit confused yet headstrong when it comes to Ella and her choices. The rest of the characters are also portrayed strikingly with lots pf gray shades in their demeanor that will make the readers relate with them.
In a nutshell, this is a very mature teenage fiction which deals with difficult modern day social subjects and stigmas, and the way the author has penned it with so much vividness and honesty, that some might find it difficult to read each and every detailed scene from this book. Nevertheless, this is a must read, if you can handle such rawness and brutal pain that this story has to offer.
Verdict: A gripping and an absolutely heart breaking teenage thriller!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
September 30, 2016
5 Words: Secrets, friendship, relationships, family, loyalty.
Slow and steady wins the race.
And this book definitely won.
I always find myself quite thrown when I read a slower-paced thriller. It's always a shock to the system and there are two ways it can go - with The Deviants it was amazing and I was not disappointed. Slow definitely does not mean boring, and it certainly does not mean than the story is any less intense.
I loved the style, I loved the format, I loved how everything was drip-fed and prompted, it was almost like a horror in how I came to certain realisations and how everything built up in intensity into an ending I wasn't quite expecting. I loved the setting and how it seemed to accentuate everything - it's a sleepy seaside town emptied of tourists, where nothing much ever happens and everyone knows everyone.
I really loved Ella and how so many people thought that they knew her, thought that they knew what was best for her. For all of the times she thought that she was being a bitch, deep down she seemed to be a really nice person.
This book tackles a lot of important and difficult subjects. I could pick out so many quote to share, but then I might spoil the story.
Slow and steady wins the race.
And this book definitely won.
I always find myself quite thrown when I read a slower-paced thriller. It's always a shock to the system and there are two ways it can go - with The Deviants it was amazing and I was not disappointed. Slow definitely does not mean boring, and it certainly does not mean than the story is any less intense.
I loved the style, I loved the format, I loved how everything was drip-fed and prompted, it was almost like a horror in how I came to certain realisations and how everything built up in intensity into an ending I wasn't quite expecting. I loved the setting and how it seemed to accentuate everything - it's a sleepy seaside town emptied of tourists, where nothing much ever happens and everyone knows everyone.
I really loved Ella and how so many people thought that they knew her, thought that they knew what was best for her. For all of the times she thought that she was being a bitch, deep down she seemed to be a really nice person.
This book tackles a lot of important and difficult subjects. I could pick out so many quote to share, but then I might spoil the story.
July 12, 2016
I had seen The Deviants on social media, so naturally I hoped on to Netgalley to see if it was there and lo and behold it was! Requested and approved, I settled down to read what turned out to be a very unexpected book.
At about 20% in, I knew I had a special book in my hands. I genuinely could not stop reading it. The story, the characters, everything about it just made me keep turning the pages.
The Deviants is a brilliantly written book, full of depth and with so many hidden layers that it became almost a compulsion to try and figure out what was going on. I don’t usually read YA novels, but r=this book is enough to make me want to read all of CJ Skuse’s back catalogue.
Max and Ella appear to be love’s young dream, even in the wake of Max’s sister Jess’s death. All is not what it seems though. Without going into any detail, their friend Corey is bullied and what happens in the aftermath sets the ball rolling towards one of the most unexpected and emotional stories I have ever read.
The Deviants made me well up, and I can honestly say had I been on my own reading the final few chapters I would have been crying like a baby. I wasn’t prepared for just how much this book would get to me. The tension throughout the book just keeps on building, and you know you’re heading towards something huge, and when you get there it sucker punches you!!!!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. CJ Skuse has written a stellar book, worthy of the early praise it is garnering. Buy it, read it, and weep.
At about 20% in, I knew I had a special book in my hands. I genuinely could not stop reading it. The story, the characters, everything about it just made me keep turning the pages.
The Deviants is a brilliantly written book, full of depth and with so many hidden layers that it became almost a compulsion to try and figure out what was going on. I don’t usually read YA novels, but r=this book is enough to make me want to read all of CJ Skuse’s back catalogue.
Max and Ella appear to be love’s young dream, even in the wake of Max’s sister Jess’s death. All is not what it seems though. Without going into any detail, their friend Corey is bullied and what happens in the aftermath sets the ball rolling towards one of the most unexpected and emotional stories I have ever read.
The Deviants made me well up, and I can honestly say had I been on my own reading the final few chapters I would have been crying like a baby. I wasn’t prepared for just how much this book would get to me. The tension throughout the book just keeps on building, and you know you’re heading towards something huge, and when you get there it sucker punches you!!!!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. CJ Skuse has written a stellar book, worthy of the early praise it is garnering. Buy it, read it, and weep.
October 3, 2016
3.5* ~ This wasn't what I had expected. I thought it was going to be a simple revenge story but it ended up being a lot darker, with some deeper themes. I definitely recommend this to people who loved 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart as, although I didn't love 'We Were Liars', this definitely has a similar feel to it and I know a lot of people adore that book!
Read my full review for 'Deviants' on my blog. http://girlreading.co.uk/bookreviews/...
Read my full review for 'Deviants' on my blog. http://girlreading.co.uk/bookreviews/...
September 10, 2016
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this book fully deserves a 5* review. From the first moment I started reading this, I was quick to realise that this was going to be a story that totally took over me. I wasn't wrong. From beginning to end, this is an intriguing, suspenseful and honest book which kept my wanting more.
The Deviants is predominantly the story of Ella. She is our narrator and through each chapter of the book we learn more about her life and those who are in it. It is clear from the very beginning that Ella is keeping a secret, a dark secret, which is effecting her every day life. We see as she struggles to come to terms with having a sexual relationship with her long-term boyfriend Max and she struggles to deal with her own anger and emotions. It didn't take long for me to roughly work out what her secret would be but it didn't effect the suspense of the story as each chapter revealed that tiny bit more until a really shocking ending.
The Fearless Five were definitely a mixed bunch and I really loved the references to Enid Blyton's The Famous Five. I loved those books as a child and straight away I understood the friendship this groups of teenagers had shared during childhood. Ella is in training for the Commonwealth games but struggling with a dark secret, anger and emotion. Max is the son of a mega rich father who has thrown aside his education to begin work at his father's business, despite the protests of girlfriend Ella. Corey starts out as the weakest link in the group; the one who was bullied for his disability and obsessed with cats and Harry Potter. Zane is now a bully who torments Corey who has seen Zane for who he really is: gay. Fallon is the pregnant teenager who lives with her mother in a house filled with animals and animal skins.
The death of Jessica, Max's sister, is what tore this group apart. What brings them back together is a series of events: the disappearance and death of Corey's cat, discovering Fallon is pregnant, plotting revenge against Fallon's tormentors, seeking revenge against Zane.... And that is just the beginning.
This story is so much more than I thought it was going to be. This is a book about friendship, about rediscovering old friends and building up bridges and making new memories. This is also a book about sexual abuse and the effects this can have on the victim's mental health. There were so many scenes in this book where I couldn't breathe because I felt one of two things: angry or deeply upset. So many incredibly important issues are touched upon in this one book but they are all made to feel so relevant and significant, it was a real reminder of what life can be like for a teenager. There was talk of bullying, seeking revenge (in such cruel ways), suicide, self-harming, pregnancy, sexual abuse, sexual relationship, jealousy, anger. The scope of this book is incredible.
The characters in this book are seriously fantastic. They are all so believable and I think everyone will find something in each of them to relate to. C.J. Skuse has done something really special here, in my opinion. She has created a group of characters who are all incredibly flawed but made them some of the most relatable and painstakingly honest characters I have ever read.
I really loved the writing style and the layout of this book. Each chapter ends with a question in italics which then leads on to the beginning of the next chapter. It ties together seamlessly in an investigation-like manner as we discover more about the truths of the Fearless Five and Ella's own dark secret. Culminating in a heart-pounding confrontation at the beach. I personally didn't see the ending coming and I must admit that I loved it. I felt so emotional and saddened by what happened but at the same time it seemed like the perfect ending for this particular story. The final chapter of this book was full of such raw emotion and I couldn't help but feel a few tears slide down my fave as I finished the last page.
Knowing now what the title The Deviants really means has changed everything about the way I look at this book. If you get a chance, please read this, it really is touching, wonderfully written and important. You won't be disappointed.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The Deviants is predominantly the story of Ella. She is our narrator and through each chapter of the book we learn more about her life and those who are in it. It is clear from the very beginning that Ella is keeping a secret, a dark secret, which is effecting her every day life. We see as she struggles to come to terms with having a sexual relationship with her long-term boyfriend Max and she struggles to deal with her own anger and emotions. It didn't take long for me to roughly work out what her secret would be but it didn't effect the suspense of the story as each chapter revealed that tiny bit more until a really shocking ending.
The Fearless Five were definitely a mixed bunch and I really loved the references to Enid Blyton's The Famous Five. I loved those books as a child and straight away I understood the friendship this groups of teenagers had shared during childhood. Ella is in training for the Commonwealth games but struggling with a dark secret, anger and emotion. Max is the son of a mega rich father who has thrown aside his education to begin work at his father's business, despite the protests of girlfriend Ella. Corey starts out as the weakest link in the group; the one who was bullied for his disability and obsessed with cats and Harry Potter. Zane is now a bully who torments Corey who has seen Zane for who he really is: gay. Fallon is the pregnant teenager who lives with her mother in a house filled with animals and animal skins.
The death of Jessica, Max's sister, is what tore this group apart. What brings them back together is a series of events: the disappearance and death of Corey's cat, discovering Fallon is pregnant, plotting revenge against Fallon's tormentors, seeking revenge against Zane.... And that is just the beginning.
This story is so much more than I thought it was going to be. This is a book about friendship, about rediscovering old friends and building up bridges and making new memories. This is also a book about sexual abuse and the effects this can have on the victim's mental health. There were so many scenes in this book where I couldn't breathe because I felt one of two things: angry or deeply upset. So many incredibly important issues are touched upon in this one book but they are all made to feel so relevant and significant, it was a real reminder of what life can be like for a teenager. There was talk of bullying, seeking revenge (in such cruel ways), suicide, self-harming, pregnancy, sexual abuse, sexual relationship, jealousy, anger. The scope of this book is incredible.
The characters in this book are seriously fantastic. They are all so believable and I think everyone will find something in each of them to relate to. C.J. Skuse has done something really special here, in my opinion. She has created a group of characters who are all incredibly flawed but made them some of the most relatable and painstakingly honest characters I have ever read.
I really loved the writing style and the layout of this book. Each chapter ends with a question in italics which then leads on to the beginning of the next chapter. It ties together seamlessly in an investigation-like manner as we discover more about the truths of the Fearless Five and Ella's own dark secret. Culminating in a heart-pounding confrontation at the beach. I personally didn't see the ending coming and I must admit that I loved it. I felt so emotional and saddened by what happened but at the same time it seemed like the perfect ending for this particular story. The final chapter of this book was full of such raw emotion and I couldn't help but feel a few tears slide down my fave as I finished the last page.
Knowing now what the title The Deviants really means has changed everything about the way I look at this book. If you get a chance, please read this, it really is touching, wonderfully written and important. You won't be disappointed.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2016
C.J. Skuse is one of my favourite authors and every time she has a new book out I wonder how she can possibly top the last, but she does! Every. Single. Time. The Deviants is CJ’s most accomplished book yet and I gobbled it up greedily in a single sitting – it was that good!
Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane used to be best friends. As children they would spend their days having adventures in their sleepy seaside town, and at night would beg Max’s big sister Jess to tell them one of her legendary scary stories, until the day a very real kind of horror finds them when Jess is killed in an accident, changing their lives forever.
Years later and all that remains of their group is Max and Ella who have grown to be more than friends, but when a series of events bring the five back into each other’s lives, they find that secrets of the past never stay buried for long, and that there may be more to Jess’s death than they first thought all those years ago...
The Deviants is a book that doesn’t give up all its secrets at once. I started this book thinking it was one thing, only for CJ to add twists and turns throughout so that by the end, the book is something else entirely. I loved the direction that this book went in and found the bombshells that are dropped so casually throughout the book impossible to predict.
The area where C.J. Skuse really shines in all of her books is with her characters. CJ really gets teenagers and gives them voices and personalities that feel so authentic to read. Ella as a main character is so flawed and complex, I really appreciated not having the traditionally likeable heroine here and thought that it worked particularly well for this story.
When I started this book I never could have predicted the incredible ending, it absolutely blew me away! I’ve been purposefully vague in this review because this is a book that you want to go into knowing as little as possible so that you can experience the full impact, but I will just say that the ending of this book left me with my mouth hanging open!
The Deviants is a thriller with heart. With its clever twists, skilled plotting and heart-breaking finale it’s easily one of my favourite reads of 2016 – don’t miss it!
Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane used to be best friends. As children they would spend their days having adventures in their sleepy seaside town, and at night would beg Max’s big sister Jess to tell them one of her legendary scary stories, until the day a very real kind of horror finds them when Jess is killed in an accident, changing their lives forever.
Years later and all that remains of their group is Max and Ella who have grown to be more than friends, but when a series of events bring the five back into each other’s lives, they find that secrets of the past never stay buried for long, and that there may be more to Jess’s death than they first thought all those years ago...
The Deviants is a book that doesn’t give up all its secrets at once. I started this book thinking it was one thing, only for CJ to add twists and turns throughout so that by the end, the book is something else entirely. I loved the direction that this book went in and found the bombshells that are dropped so casually throughout the book impossible to predict.
The area where C.J. Skuse really shines in all of her books is with her characters. CJ really gets teenagers and gives them voices and personalities that feel so authentic to read. Ella as a main character is so flawed and complex, I really appreciated not having the traditionally likeable heroine here and thought that it worked particularly well for this story.
When I started this book I never could have predicted the incredible ending, it absolutely blew me away! I’ve been purposefully vague in this review because this is a book that you want to go into knowing as little as possible so that you can experience the full impact, but I will just say that the ending of this book left me with my mouth hanging open!
The Deviants is a thriller with heart. With its clever twists, skilled plotting and heart-breaking finale it’s easily one of my favourite reads of 2016 – don’t miss it!
January 11, 2019
**THERE ARE HUGE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW**
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: gay side character, mc with depression
This book was so good. I know, I know, it's pretty strange to open the review with that, given that I've rated it 1 star, but the writing and the characters were great, and I ended up crying at the end. What made me dislike it was the plot.
1) The opening
The book starts with Max and Ella (Ella being the narrator, and Max her boyfriend) on a date, late at night, in a garden centre. Which, fair enough, is explained, and is probably romantic in the context of their relationship. Max is keen to have sex (in the garden centre...) with Ella, and Ella's like, OK, let's do it. Only Max doesn't have any condoms. And do they stop? No. No, they don't. Not until Ella panics and then they do, but the fact that Max, who has clearly been wanting sex, so you'd think would be prepared, has no condoms does not faze them.
And then, when they're getting dressed again, a packet of something falls out his pocket, and she picks it up like what's this, and he says it's condoms. So. He apparently had condoms but claimed not to? (Turns out it's weed because that's so much better. And besides, how can you mistake a packet of weed for anything but that, even if you're only holding it for a few seconds?)
2) The constant theme of someone (unqualified) telling someone else "x is OK"
First it's Pete, the running coach, telling Ella that she doesn't owe Max sex. Like, no offence, but it would be so much better if another girl/woman told Ella that? (Thankfully, Fallon does later on.) And then it's Ella (a straight girl) telling Zane that it's OK to be gay. Thanks for that.
Later, Ella also says she needs to stay because Zane is still hurting and he needs help. Kind of presumptuous of a straight person to think that she is the one qualified to help Zane in this situation. Especially when she was a large part of the reason for him hurting in the first place...
3) Incest
Because Ella doesn't want to have sex, Max, instead of sticking with her, trying to figure things out, being patient, etc etc, goes and has sex with his cousin. His cousin. I have nothing more to say.
4) Girl hating
This is like my biggest bugbear ever. Ella hates on Shelby, Max's cousin, because she finds out he's having sex with her. Why not hate on Max? In fact, she doesn't even blame Max for it. Shelby must have been seducing him, is her take on it, and partly she blames herself for not having sex with Max and thus forcing him to seek it out somewhere else. Can this gross idea stop?
Then she decides to get revenge on Shelby for that. Again, why not Max? He was as involved in it as Shelby, but no. The revenge must be on Shelby.
(As a side note, Shelby at the end during the trial was amazing, and it was nice to have Ella calling her brave, but she only did so once she knew the truth?)
5) Max's jealousy of Pete
This was never fully explained. Was it because Ella spends so much time with Pete? Because she's training with him? Was it because of the weed? (FYI, you can't get away with blaming everything on the weed, especially if it's pointed out that Max has never liked Pete.)
Then there's the part where Max, thinking Pete was the one to abuse Ella and his sister Jess, kidnaps Pete and tries to kill him. I don't know what to say.
(Also, there's a part where Ella kisses Pete. Was that necessary?)
6) The bully is gay
And guess what? He hates himself and is so ashamed of being gay that he bullies everyone and regularly beats up the one (living) person who knows. And because of this, Ella and co decide to get revenge on him, and torment him so badly that he ends up trying to kill himself!! Ella even comments that they broke him!! And she's proud of it!! Such great representation, thanks so much.
Not to mention the part where he has sex with a girl in an attempt to prove that he's not gay, and gets her pregnant. Boy, we have every trope in the book here.
At least he's happy and gets a boyfriend (who we don't see) at the end.
7) The big secret that is revealed...
...is that Ella was r*ped and abused by Max's dad. As was Max's sister Jess, and so she killed herself. Ella even had a miscarriage because let's put all the tropes in why don't we? Honestly, I'm really tired of the big reveal in books being that the MC was abused.
And she dies. Because abuse victims can't live happily ever after, oh no. In fact, they can't ever be happy again (Ella even mentions that she hasn't been happy since the r*pe). I would have given this book one whole more star if Ella had survived. Even if she'd been in a coma after the standoff with Max's dad.
Instead, the big plot twist is that she's narrating the book as a ghost, and the body that's found on the beach in the first chapter is hers.
Great.
8) The writing
The last point I'm going to make, is that sometimes the writing sounded a bit off. There were a few sentences that were a bit strange (skin soft as catmint, I feel dangerous), and then there was the fact that they use asshole instead of arsehole when they're supposed to be in England. And at one point, Max says what the cocking hell. I have never in my life heard someone say that. You can't say that!! It's like when James Rollins tried to turn an adjective sodding into a noun sodder. You just can't.
Anyway. It was a good book, but it just had so many issues for me I ended up not liking it.
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: gay side character, mc with depression
This book was so good. I know, I know, it's pretty strange to open the review with that, given that I've rated it 1 star, but the writing and the characters were great, and I ended up crying at the end. What made me dislike it was the plot.
1) The opening
The book starts with Max and Ella (Ella being the narrator, and Max her boyfriend) on a date, late at night, in a garden centre. Which, fair enough, is explained, and is probably romantic in the context of their relationship. Max is keen to have sex (in the garden centre...) with Ella, and Ella's like, OK, let's do it. Only Max doesn't have any condoms. And do they stop? No. No, they don't. Not until Ella panics and then they do, but the fact that Max, who has clearly been wanting sex, so you'd think would be prepared, has no condoms does not faze them.
And then, when they're getting dressed again, a packet of something falls out his pocket, and she picks it up like what's this, and he says it's condoms. So. He apparently had condoms but claimed not to? (Turns out it's weed because that's so much better. And besides, how can you mistake a packet of weed for anything but that, even if you're only holding it for a few seconds?)
2) The constant theme of someone (unqualified) telling someone else "x is OK"
First it's Pete, the running coach, telling Ella that she doesn't owe Max sex. Like, no offence, but it would be so much better if another girl/woman told Ella that? (Thankfully, Fallon does later on.) And then it's Ella (a straight girl) telling Zane that it's OK to be gay. Thanks for that.
Later, Ella also says she needs to stay because Zane is still hurting and he needs help. Kind of presumptuous of a straight person to think that she is the one qualified to help Zane in this situation. Especially when she was a large part of the reason for him hurting in the first place...
3) Incest
Because Ella doesn't want to have sex, Max, instead of sticking with her, trying to figure things out, being patient, etc etc, goes and has sex with his cousin. His cousin. I have nothing more to say.
4) Girl hating
This is like my biggest bugbear ever. Ella hates on Shelby, Max's cousin, because she finds out he's having sex with her. Why not hate on Max? In fact, she doesn't even blame Max for it. Shelby must have been seducing him, is her take on it, and partly she blames herself for not having sex with Max and thus forcing him to seek it out somewhere else. Can this gross idea stop?
Then she decides to get revenge on Shelby for that. Again, why not Max? He was as involved in it as Shelby, but no. The revenge must be on Shelby.
(As a side note, Shelby at the end during the trial was amazing, and it was nice to have Ella calling her brave, but she only did so once she knew the truth?)
5) Max's jealousy of Pete
This was never fully explained. Was it because Ella spends so much time with Pete? Because she's training with him? Was it because of the weed? (FYI, you can't get away with blaming everything on the weed, especially if it's pointed out that Max has never liked Pete.)
Then there's the part where Max, thinking Pete was the one to abuse Ella and his sister Jess, kidnaps Pete and tries to kill him. I don't know what to say.
(Also, there's a part where Ella kisses Pete. Was that necessary?)
6) The bully is gay
And guess what? He hates himself and is so ashamed of being gay that he bullies everyone and regularly beats up the one (living) person who knows. And because of this, Ella and co decide to get revenge on him, and torment him so badly that he ends up trying to kill himself!! Ella even comments that they broke him!! And she's proud of it!! Such great representation, thanks so much.
Not to mention the part where he has sex with a girl in an attempt to prove that he's not gay, and gets her pregnant. Boy, we have every trope in the book here.
At least he's happy and gets a boyfriend (who we don't see) at the end.
7) The big secret that is revealed...
...is that Ella was r*ped and abused by Max's dad. As was Max's sister Jess, and so she killed herself. Ella even had a miscarriage because let's put all the tropes in why don't we? Honestly, I'm really tired of the big reveal in books being that the MC was abused.
And she dies. Because abuse victims can't live happily ever after, oh no. In fact, they can't ever be happy again (Ella even mentions that she hasn't been happy since the r*pe). I would have given this book one whole more star if Ella had survived. Even if she'd been in a coma after the standoff with Max's dad.
Instead, the big plot twist is that she's narrating the book as a ghost, and the body that's found on the beach in the first chapter is hers.
Great.
8) The writing
The last point I'm going to make, is that sometimes the writing sounded a bit off. There were a few sentences that were a bit strange (skin soft as catmint, I feel dangerous), and then there was the fact that they use asshole instead of arsehole when they're supposed to be in England. And at one point, Max says what the cocking hell. I have never in my life heard someone say that. You can't say that!! It's like when James Rollins tried to turn an adjective sodding into a noun sodder. You just can't.
Anyway. It was a good book, but it just had so many issues for me I ended up not liking it.
March 13, 2017
This book was gripping from start to finish! And just when I thought I knew where everything was going, the characters would shout "AHA" in my face and go in completely the other direction. And the final big twist is something I never would have seen coming!
The book also deals with some HUGE issues and it does so sensitively and skilfully.
An amazing book and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
Highly recommended.
Note on the audiobook: the narration was fantastic and really added to my experience of the story. The narrator used great expression that really gave an insight into what each of the characters was feeling and thinking, and I could tell which characters were speaking, often without the story explicitly telling me because of this.
There were two narrators for this story - one for the main story, in Ella's voice and another for the small questions and statements that ended each chapter. I felt this really added to the experience of the story as you were able to hear the story as the conversation it's meant to be, but the mystery of who Ella is talking to remains secret until the very end of the story.
A very powerful novel. Whether you read it or listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it!
The book also deals with some HUGE issues and it does so sensitively and skilfully.
An amazing book and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
Highly recommended.
Note on the audiobook: the narration was fantastic and really added to my experience of the story. The narrator used great expression that really gave an insight into what each of the characters was feeling and thinking, and I could tell which characters were speaking, often without the story explicitly telling me because of this.
There were two narrators for this story - one for the main story, in Ella's voice and another for the small questions and statements that ended each chapter. I felt this really added to the experience of the story as you were able to hear the story as the conversation it's meant to be, but the mystery of who Ella is talking to remains secret until the very end of the story.
A very powerful novel. Whether you read it or listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it!
July 30, 2016
Review originally on Heart Full of Books
Now, I have read a LOT of YA mystery/thriller kinds of stories, but when I read the blurb for this one, I just couldn’t resist; the mystery pulled me in! Although, I wouldn’t recommend reading the Goodreads blurb, because I think it gives a little too much away, so here’s mine instead: The Deviants follows five teenagers who used to be best friends until everyone’s favourite older sister Jessica died. Years later the fearless five find themselves back together, playing their old tricks and seeking revenge. But Ella, the narrator, is hiding something from the rest of her friends, including her boyfriend Max. If they knew the truth it would surely rip them apart, because it seems like she has an explanation for Jess’s death, and no one is going to like it.
Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane all live in a sleepy seaside town which made this book so atmospheric! Think Broadchurch kind of cinematography and you’re there. So, I was already thinking that the perfect little town is an even better place to hide dirty little secrets. And Ella has the biggest of them all.
The story starts a bit differently. In the beginning I thought ‘Oh no, this is just going to be a whole story about Ella and Max trying to lose their virginity.’ Boy was a I wrong. C. J. Skuse, almost lulls you into a false sense of security with the initial teenage drama, but then things get more serious with bullying, teenage pregnancy, and some seriously evil retaliation. I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised considering how increasingly more traumatic Monster was.
The characters are all pretty diverse. Ella is training for the Commonwealth Games as a runner, Max is the son of the richest guy in the area, Fallon is pregnant and the daughter of the town witch, Corey has cerebral palsy and Zane is a bully. So there are a lot of interesting character dynamics there.
My favourite thing about The Deviants has to be the structure. That sounds crazy, but it felt so unique and was such a pleasant change for the ‘Now and Then’ or jumping back and forth that I seem to have read a million times. At the end of each chapters there’s a question that prompts Ella to continue telling the story and each question builds the tension and forces you to read on because they’re so enticing. I was most interested in who was asking the questions and it kept bugging me throughout. The slow and steady build up was something I really appreciated. The ending did seem a bit rushed, however, and I’m still reeling from the final reveal. It definitely works and once again feels unique.
I would recommend The Deviants to anyone who wants something a bit different that builds tension and really puts you on edge. There are some pretty graphic scenes so I would be warned – it’s seriously not for the light hearted! But if you’re willing to take the risk, it’s definitely worth it!
Now, I have read a LOT of YA mystery/thriller kinds of stories, but when I read the blurb for this one, I just couldn’t resist; the mystery pulled me in! Although, I wouldn’t recommend reading the Goodreads blurb, because I think it gives a little too much away, so here’s mine instead: The Deviants follows five teenagers who used to be best friends until everyone’s favourite older sister Jessica died. Years later the fearless five find themselves back together, playing their old tricks and seeking revenge. But Ella, the narrator, is hiding something from the rest of her friends, including her boyfriend Max. If they knew the truth it would surely rip them apart, because it seems like she has an explanation for Jess’s death, and no one is going to like it.
Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane all live in a sleepy seaside town which made this book so atmospheric! Think Broadchurch kind of cinematography and you’re there. So, I was already thinking that the perfect little town is an even better place to hide dirty little secrets. And Ella has the biggest of them all.
The story starts a bit differently. In the beginning I thought ‘Oh no, this is just going to be a whole story about Ella and Max trying to lose their virginity.’ Boy was a I wrong. C. J. Skuse, almost lulls you into a false sense of security with the initial teenage drama, but then things get more serious with bullying, teenage pregnancy, and some seriously evil retaliation. I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised considering how increasingly more traumatic Monster was.
The characters are all pretty diverse. Ella is training for the Commonwealth Games as a runner, Max is the son of the richest guy in the area, Fallon is pregnant and the daughter of the town witch, Corey has cerebral palsy and Zane is a bully. So there are a lot of interesting character dynamics there.
My favourite thing about The Deviants has to be the structure. That sounds crazy, but it felt so unique and was such a pleasant change for the ‘Now and Then’ or jumping back and forth that I seem to have read a million times. At the end of each chapters there’s a question that prompts Ella to continue telling the story and each question builds the tension and forces you to read on because they’re so enticing. I was most interested in who was asking the questions and it kept bugging me throughout. The slow and steady build up was something I really appreciated. The ending did seem a bit rushed, however, and I’m still reeling from the final reveal. It definitely works and once again feels unique.
I would recommend The Deviants to anyone who wants something a bit different that builds tension and really puts you on edge. There are some pretty graphic scenes so I would be warned – it’s seriously not for the light hearted! But if you’re willing to take the risk, it’s definitely worth it!
September 25, 2016
This turned out to be a really nice surprise. It's slow paced, so for quite a while I just found it interesting enough to spend the day reading. I did not expect to end up liking it this much. It was definitely the ending that made it a full five stars read to me. I think, I liked it especially for being British, but then the way it was told, was rather awesome also. I'm a bit surprised as to why I want to make it a favorite, because a lot of it, is more like almost. I mean, it's contemporary, and it might be great, but it's hardly brilliant. And yet, I read it in one sitting, and I definitely enjoyed it. Very much.
I didn't really know anything about it, except from it being written by the author of Monster, which I want to read, but still haven't gotten around to.
Anyway, Deviants is definitely worthwhile your time, especially if you like contemporary novels like, well I'll avoid a comparison, because it's the sort of novel I wouldn't risk spoiling. At least I know, I would have enjoyed it a lot less, had I expected it to be like something specific.
I didn't really know anything about it, except from it being written by the author of Monster, which I want to read, but still haven't gotten around to.
Anyway, Deviants is definitely worthwhile your time, especially if you like contemporary novels like, well I'll avoid a comparison, because it's the sort of novel I wouldn't risk spoiling. At least I know, I would have enjoyed it a lot less, had I expected it to be like something specific.
October 24, 2017
IL FAUT que je parle de ce livre.
RDV dans le prochain point lecture 👌
RDV dans le prochain point lecture 👌
August 15, 2016
I kept hearing about The Deviants on Twitter and through mutual blogger friends and to my delight Cara offered me an ARC of the book to read- so I had to start straight away to see what the fuss was about and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
The Deviants follows fiver teenagers who at one point were all best friends until their friend Jessica died. Many years later the five of them find themselves together again and playing to their old ways and seeking revenge for what happened. Ella the narrator however is hiding something from the rest of the group, including her boyfriend Max. From the beginning it becomes clear that Ella knows a little more about Jess’s death than the rest of them, and it is right at the very end where we discover her devastating secret and its this that keeps the suspense in the book going.
The setting of the book reminded me so much of Broadchurch, a sleepy seaside town where normally not an awful lot happens and everyone knows everyone’s business. Despite there being a few skeleton’s in everyone’s cupboards all seems settled and not suspicious to begin with until it all comes spilling out of the cracks.
C.J Skuse deals with the normal teenage drama but then draws in the more serious issues of bullying, teenage pregnancy, and evil retaliation. I think if anything this book reminds me of how cruel kids can be, and yet how vulnerable they can be.
I loved the structure of this book, it wasn’t simply flashbacks a million times. At the end of each chapter there is a question that prompts Ella to carry on the story and asking the queries that us the reader has too.
Although I did feel it was a slow start to begin with, C.J. really knew how to build up the suspense and keep me interested throughout. The characters had depth to them and weren’t simply “stupid teenagers” they were believable and relatable.
If you love a read that gives you suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat then The Deviants is a book you must read!
The Deviants follows fiver teenagers who at one point were all best friends until their friend Jessica died. Many years later the five of them find themselves together again and playing to their old ways and seeking revenge for what happened. Ella the narrator however is hiding something from the rest of the group, including her boyfriend Max. From the beginning it becomes clear that Ella knows a little more about Jess’s death than the rest of them, and it is right at the very end where we discover her devastating secret and its this that keeps the suspense in the book going.
The setting of the book reminded me so much of Broadchurch, a sleepy seaside town where normally not an awful lot happens and everyone knows everyone’s business. Despite there being a few skeleton’s in everyone’s cupboards all seems settled and not suspicious to begin with until it all comes spilling out of the cracks.
C.J Skuse deals with the normal teenage drama but then draws in the more serious issues of bullying, teenage pregnancy, and evil retaliation. I think if anything this book reminds me of how cruel kids can be, and yet how vulnerable they can be.
I loved the structure of this book, it wasn’t simply flashbacks a million times. At the end of each chapter there is a question that prompts Ella to carry on the story and asking the queries that us the reader has too.
Although I did feel it was a slow start to begin with, C.J. really knew how to build up the suspense and keep me interested throughout. The characters had depth to them and weren’t simply “stupid teenagers” they were believable and relatable.
If you love a read that gives you suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat then The Deviants is a book you must read!
April 27, 2020
Four stars up until the cop-out ending.
April 29, 2020
i was all ready to give this four stars but that ending! it's dumb and i don't like it! which is just so bad because i loved the friendship in this and i cared about characters.
March 26, 2017
MORE? MORE! @ P.S. I love that book!
THE WORLD: This book is based in small town of England. But other than that it is just an ordinary world just as we know it.
CHARACTERS: Now, before I get into discussing main characters in detail let me just say that it is my personal opinion and it was the way I felt. It all I think depends on your own experience. So yeah, Ella is our main character. Omg how much I disliked her, there are so many situation I could discuss but I do not want to spoil the book so let me just tell you that Ella is not the girl you want to have as a friend. She is selfish, obsessed, has a very twisted understanding of love and is just heads down crazy. Oh and she has this creepy way of victimizing herself. Needless to say I felt like I wanted to slap her all the time. But she got what she deserved. I mean omg, I know teenagers in UK are really wrong in the head most of the time but this was just beyond. Next we have Max, now let me just tell you, he is a psycho in making. The way he treated Pete...like dude are you kidding me? Or what he was doing with his cousin...sick. Fallon is another girl in the book that is missing many things in her head. I don't know if the author was going for mental disability or if it's a 'healthy' character but if the 16 years old girl has sex with a boy she doesn't even like for the first time just because he says I dare you...yeah....All daring is funny when it is in the context of children but later it is creepy and plain stupid. Corey is the fourth boy in this group of five that are referred to as fantastic five. Now he has a disability but really he is probably the only normal character in this book, even tho he does clearly have some level of retardation. And finally we got Zane. Now why the author would go for this big cliche where if the guy is gay he must be a bully and hurt everybody just cuz he is hurting more inside things I will never understand. There is nothing wrong with being gay, gay people are not hurting inside, why is it so hard to understand. Are you hurting inside and bullying everybody around you because you are straight? No! So why would somebody who is gay? And when Ella talks to Zane and supposedly 'understands' his pain, are you kidding me? She forced him to try to kill himself and now she is nurse Mary? I just really don't get it.
LOVE: So incredibly twisted in this book. SPOILERS NEXT! So Ella and Max are together since childhood, he wants to have sex and Ella says always no so he starts pushing her, making her feel uncomfortable in public telling everybody she has a sex problem and blah blah. Makes me wanna slap him. But worst he is having sex with his cousin and when Ella sees she doesn't confront him. She blames the cousin and herself, because you know if she doesn't have sex with him it's okay he does it with somebody else. She never actually confronts Max, they keep on being love birds. This is just so so sick. I think as a YA book it should not tell young readers that such love is healthy and okay.
PLUS: It was short.
MINUS: SPOILERS NEXT! So wow just wow, I never have read a book that made me so angry. Also, there is just every single cliche in this book. Ella is basically victim of the year but you know she is strong, she keeps everything inside and needs to protect those around her. I am not buying. Also, the way she goes to Max's home and sits with her rapist at the same table and pretends she was not abused for years...I am also not buying it. And last thing...The ending. It was just so horrible it gave me a headache. Basically Ella jumps a grown up man on the sand and suddenly the wave overtakes her and pulls her into the sea and basically kills her. Well hello where did this massive wave came from? What kind of wave does it have to be that it pulls almost a fully grown woman into the sea and kills her?!
OVERALL: So so horrible. I gave one star mainly because the cover was beautiful. I feel a little bit bad because I received this book from the review but as stared above, it was for an honest review and so I had to say it all. I do not recommend this book to anybody. It should have never been written.
MORE? MORE! @ P.S. I love that book!
September 21, 2016
In short - Not perfect maybe but at times very powerful and highly readable.
This is the story about five friends who came together in their early teens. By the time of this book, around four years later, they have drifted apart for one reason or another. When one of them is bullied some of them decide to join up again to try and right the wrong. Sound simple doesn't it? On some level it is and on others it is not! This is a Young Adult novel and I've not been one of them for a while although I've read a few of the genre. It is written quite colloquially, in a young style and from time to time feels a little disjointed. It also has very adult content and themes.
The characters generally are well written for me. These are small town kids who maybe hold and are affected by, some secrets. The central character is Ella. She is an up and coming county level athlete and she is troubled. Personally I found her highly believable and got completely caught up in her story which felt credible to me. Corey and Fallon also worked very well as characters and seemed well developed. Maybe others were less good but that may be me.
Some aspects of the story line were less convincing as far as I was concerned. However the parts that were very good were the majority and made for a compelling read. I'd say I was entertained by much of the book but again, that doesn't really do justice to this. Parts of the book were simply so emotional powerful that they were hard to read and hard to put down in almost equal measure. I would warn in a positive way that some parts of this are hard to read - the writing is so good it makes it like that. I'm glad I read this and would happily recommend it to others who are interested.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
This is the story about five friends who came together in their early teens. By the time of this book, around four years later, they have drifted apart for one reason or another. When one of them is bullied some of them decide to join up again to try and right the wrong. Sound simple doesn't it? On some level it is and on others it is not! This is a Young Adult novel and I've not been one of them for a while although I've read a few of the genre. It is written quite colloquially, in a young style and from time to time feels a little disjointed. It also has very adult content and themes.
The characters generally are well written for me. These are small town kids who maybe hold and are affected by, some secrets. The central character is Ella. She is an up and coming county level athlete and she is troubled. Personally I found her highly believable and got completely caught up in her story which felt credible to me. Corey and Fallon also worked very well as characters and seemed well developed. Maybe others were less good but that may be me.
Some aspects of the story line were less convincing as far as I was concerned. However the parts that were very good were the majority and made for a compelling read. I'd say I was entertained by much of the book but again, that doesn't really do justice to this. Parts of the book were simply so emotional powerful that they were hard to read and hard to put down in almost equal measure. I would warn in a positive way that some parts of this are hard to read - the writing is so good it makes it like that. I'm glad I read this and would happily recommend it to others who are interested.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
June 19, 2016
This book was just phenomenal. And will leave you devastated. It covers so many topics, dark and intense and horrific. The way CJ has written about them with a thriller twist is outstanding. I am SO impressed. So many unexpected plot twists, filled to the brim with raw emotions, flawlessly flawed cast of characters and a bombshell of an ending - it's impossible not to love CJ's work. This is one of her best pieces and I can't wait for the rest of the world to get to read it.
It's bone chilling til the very last page. You won't be ready. You'll never be ready.
Full review to come closer to publication date.
It's bone chilling til the very last page. You won't be ready. You'll never be ready.
Full review to come closer to publication date.
October 16, 2016
*4.5 stars*
A shocking, powerful and emotional page-turner - CJ Skuse's best book yet. Wow.
Full review to come.
A shocking, powerful and emotional page-turner - CJ Skuse's best book yet. Wow.
Full review to come.
March 6, 2017
started kinda slow but OMG this book is beautiful.and sad and raw.i didn't expect this at all.made me feel empty and complete at the same time.you just need to read this book,go through the first 100 pages and then it just gets better and better.*hides in my room and cries for a month*
September 23, 2016
I was sent this book from Harper Collins for review thank you so much for allowing me to read this early.
This book has made me speechless first five star book of the year that's how good this was. I had never read anything by c.j Skuse and didn't really know what this was about apart from being a mystery suspense story. Thank god I didn't you really have to go into this not knowing the suspense and shocking twists kept me turning the pages.
We start off with our main character Ella she is a very angry person which we have no idea why. She has been dating max since they were children. But she is hiding dark secrets. They use to belong to the group the fearless five when they were children all grew up together inseparable. Until Max's sister died and they all grew apart. Years later they are all brought back together again due to circumstances that involve their old friends Cory and Fallon. There is a lot of secrets and mystery that comes out later which was done so well. It kept me guessing and was so dark and shocking I could not stop reading. Yes there is grown up subjects but that's why I love this book it went so dark but still kept the witty interactions with the characters.
The characters are so real none of them are perfect they all have flaws which I loved as that is so true to real life. This was defiantly my favourite book of the year just read this and be shocked and amazed by this wonderful book.
This is going to be released September 2016 thank you again for allowing me to review this :)
This book has made me speechless first five star book of the year that's how good this was. I had never read anything by c.j Skuse and didn't really know what this was about apart from being a mystery suspense story. Thank god I didn't you really have to go into this not knowing the suspense and shocking twists kept me turning the pages.
We start off with our main character Ella she is a very angry person which we have no idea why. She has been dating max since they were children. But she is hiding dark secrets. They use to belong to the group the fearless five when they were children all grew up together inseparable. Until Max's sister died and they all grew apart. Years later they are all brought back together again due to circumstances that involve their old friends Cory and Fallon. There is a lot of secrets and mystery that comes out later which was done so well. It kept me guessing and was so dark and shocking I could not stop reading. Yes there is grown up subjects but that's why I love this book it went so dark but still kept the witty interactions with the characters.
The characters are so real none of them are perfect they all have flaws which I loved as that is so true to real life. This was defiantly my favourite book of the year just read this and be shocked and amazed by this wonderful book.
This is going to be released September 2016 thank you again for allowing me to review this :)
Read
September 19, 2016Ella, Max, Zane, Corey, and Fallon grew up together with picnics, adventure, and ghost stories told by Max’s older sister, Jessica. When Jessica died so did the Fearless Five. Now Ella and Max are the only two still close and nothing is as it once was. Secrets stir beneath the surface and, when the Fearless Five are brought back together, it’s only a matter of time before they come out…
I went into this without much idea what it was about. I knew I’d enjoyed CJ Skue’s Monster last year and I’d heard good thing about The Deviants so I was excited to pick up a copy and fully expected to enjoy it without dipping too much into the description. Books like this are always great to read without knowing too much and that definitely counted here. The group’s secrets started spilling out into the open, building to a shocking finish. As soon as I started reaching the end, I was flipping back through the book looking for the signs. It was very cleverly done. I was impressed by the unique structure of the book and would recommend to fans of Sarah Pinborough’s 13 Minutes .
I went into this without much idea what it was about. I knew I’d enjoyed CJ Skue’s Monster last year and I’d heard good thing about The Deviants so I was excited to pick up a copy and fully expected to enjoy it without dipping too much into the description. Books like this are always great to read without knowing too much and that definitely counted here. The group’s secrets started spilling out into the open, building to a shocking finish. As soon as I started reaching the end, I was flipping back through the book looking for the signs. It was very cleverly done. I was impressed by the unique structure of the book and would recommend to fans of Sarah Pinborough’s 13 Minutes .
October 1, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-book copy of this book in exchange of a honest review.
This books deals with a very important topic for that I am glad I've read this. Thank you to the author because it must have been no doubt difficult to right about this subject.
I was immediately gripped in the suspense ridden story line and didn't want to put this down. It was interesting and the characters were unique. I don't usually read books to do with this subject who would? Thankfully I really enjoyed it. It's full of meaning and it taught me a lot. Always stand up for yourself. I couldn't stop the tears in the end.
I needed this book and I'm not a victim of this crime but I felt this book would give a lot of people closure.
Thank you.
This books deals with a very important topic for that I am glad I've read this. Thank you to the author because it must have been no doubt difficult to right about this subject.
I was immediately gripped in the suspense ridden story line and didn't want to put this down. It was interesting and the characters were unique. I don't usually read books to do with this subject who would? Thankfully I really enjoyed it. It's full of meaning and it taught me a lot. Always stand up for yourself. I couldn't stop the tears in the end.
I needed this book and I'm not a victim of this crime but I felt this book would give a lot of people closure.
Thank you.
October 23, 2016
I have never been one to shy away from gritty topics. In fact, I usually find myself in awe of books that are brave enough to tackle them. But despite all the issues that The Deviants packs in its pages, this book unfortunately didn't make me feel as emotional as it was supposed to. I was just so detached from the voice, and disappointed by how predictable the story was. I badly wanted to find myself invested in the characters, feel their hurt and their grief, but I just couldn't. The ending wasn't very satisfying either, sadly.
November 20, 2016
Not bad at all.
Very funny in some parts and very dark in others.
I still have a question mark over the ending the author settle on.
Will need to give this a few days to digest before posting my review.
Very funny in some parts and very dark in others.
I still have a question mark over the ending the author settle on.
Will need to give this a few days to digest before posting my review.
August 13, 2016
4.5 stars - crying.
September 17, 2016
This wonderfully mysterious novel keeps me wake at wee hours. Unputtable with its well plotted story, amazing characters and thrilling momentum of whodunit.
Full review to be posted soon!
Full review to be posted soon!
April 9, 2020
Язык у автора довольно грубый, но читается, в общем-то, нормально.
Изначально создавалось впечатление, что автор не умеет писать YA, потому что повествование и нелепые названия глав больше были похожи на Middle Grade. Вот только с сексом, наркотиками и изнасилованиями девочек. Сначала из-за этого читать было как-то странно, потом я привыкла и перестала обращать на это внимание.
В конце каждой главы на целую страницу курсивом публикуется какой-то короткий вопрос, например: «Ты кому-нибудь об этом рассказывала?»
Вплоть до последних глав не ясно, кто задает эти вопросы героине, от лица которой ведется повествование в главах.
Книга (пролог) начинается со странного обнаружения трупа. Ничего изначально не ясно. И это тоже раскрывается только в конце (такое повествование мне кажется довольно интересным и интригующим).
Все же это очередная неоднозначная книга.
С одной стороны, мне очень понравилось, как автор описала «страдания» героев (в том смысле, что она это сделала качественно). Они реалистичны, она всю книгу нагнетала атмосферу, и мы все ждали взрыва…
А вот, в итоге, сам "взрыв" мне и не понравился. Я, конечно, рыдала, грустила, но… мне кажется, это уже слишком.
Еще мне не всегда нравились персонажи и их поступки. Этакое девиантное поведение у них (ну, книга оправдала свое название). Я не всегда понимала, чем руководствовалась Элла, все это время, мучаясь и оставаясь с Максом… Какие-то у них неадекватные отношения, больше похожие на одержимость, нежели любовь и дружбу. Ну, и ее реакции на поступки Макса… С одной стороны, понять я их могу, а с другой, нет…
В общем, персонажи иногда вызывали у меня недоумение. Но мне кажется, автор специально создала их такими, дабы показать, что они сами не знали, как реагировать на то, что с ними произошло.
Элла не всегда вызывает сочувствие, мне она нравилась через раз. Но опять же понять ее можно. И да, финал мне не особо понравился (ну, это уж слишком), но все же впечатлил. Я прямо рыдала…
YA, конечно, нынче не воздушное. Хотя, вспомнить ту же Колин Гувер… И раньше не все YA было про радуги и единорогов.
Книга тяжелая, сложная и не для всех. Но эмоций вызывает она не мало. И сильные. Так что, наверное, что-то в ней все-таки есть.
Итоговая оценка: 6/10
Изначально создавалось впечатление, что автор не умеет писать YA, потому что повествование и нелепые названия глав больше были похожи на Middle Grade. Вот только с сексом, наркотиками и изнасилованиями девочек. Сначала из-за этого читать было как-то странно, потом я привыкла и перестала обращать на это внимание.
В конце каждой главы на целую страницу курсивом публикуется какой-то короткий вопрос, например: «Ты кому-нибудь об этом рассказывала?»
Вплоть до последних глав не ясно, кто задает эти вопросы героине, от лица которой ведется повествование в главах.
Книга (пролог) начинается со странного обнаружения трупа. Ничего изначально не ясно. И это тоже раскрывается только в конце (такое повествование мне кажется довольно интересным и интригующим).
Все же это очередная неоднозначная книга.
С одной стороны, мне очень понравилось, как автор описала «страдания» героев (в том смысле, что она это сделала качественно). Они реалистичны, она всю книгу нагнетала атмосферу, и мы все ждали взрыва…
А вот, в итоге, сам "взрыв" мне и не понравился. Я, конечно, рыдала, грустила, но… мне кажется, это уже слишком.
Еще мне не всегда нравились персонажи и их поступки. Этакое девиантное поведение у них (ну, книга оправдала свое название). Я не всегда понимала, чем руководствовалась Элла, все это время, мучаясь и оставаясь с Максом… Какие-то у них неадекватные отношения, больше похожие на одержимость, нежели любовь и дружбу. Ну, и ее реакции на поступки Макса… С одной стороны, понять я их могу, а с другой, нет…
В общем, персонажи иногда вызывали у меня недоумение. Но мне кажется, автор специально создала их такими, дабы показать, что они сами не знали, как реагировать на то, что с ними произошло.
Элла не всегда вызывает сочувствие, мне она нравилась через раз. Но опять же понять ее можно. И да, финал мне не особо понравился (ну, это уж слишком), но все же впечатлил. Я прямо рыдала…
YA, конечно, нынче не воздушное. Хотя, вспомнить ту же Колин Гувер… И раньше не все YA было про радуги и единорогов.
Книга тяжелая, сложная и не для всех. Но эмоций вызывает она не мало. И сильные. Так что, наверное, что-то в ней все-таки есть.
Итоговая оценка: 6/10
February 19, 2021
WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS BOOK??? It shocked me to the core, i mean I’ve read worse in NA thrillers but this one was different. I had never read a YA thriller before and I just get fluctuating between so many emotions ranging from anger to sadness and even guilt. I really loved how the story kept building up and the plot twists kept coming one after another, it kept the suspense going and i was hooked! I felt bad for Elle, like super bad and I’m glad justice was served in the end. The very fact that this society lets such evil things happen and overlook it is preposterous! You’ll know why i said that once you read it. I don’t want to give out too many spoilers so just please i insist, READ THIS BOOK. 😩
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