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Cursed #2
Piccoli segreti proibiti
Cursed Series
Non fidarti di nessuno. Tutti mentono.
Solo tu puoi salvare te stessa.
Doveva essere un venerdì sera qualunque per Lana e le sue migliori amiche ma all’improvviso tutto cambia. Lana è testimone di un crimine orribile, di cui non può parlare con nessuno, se vuole proteggere le sue amiche. Nessuno le crederebbe ed è costretta a pagare per il suo silenzio. Invece di frequentare il riformatorio, però, viene trasferita in una scuola per ragazzi privilegiati, la Blackwoos School nel Vermont. Qui tutto sembra un’illusione, comprese le vite dell’elite che la frequenta. Lana non è ricca, né privilegiata. L’unica cosa che ha in comune con i figli di politici e celebrità è il fatto di essere una delinquente, esattamente come loro. Proprio quando inizia a sentirsi accettata, sui muri della scuola qualcuno scrive delle minacce rivolte a lei e tra le sue cose Lana ritrova degli strani biglietti. Lei sa chi può averlo fatto. Qualcuno che credeva le fosse amico. I segreti iniziano a riaffiorare e Lana ha troppe domande irrisolte ma poche persone di cui fidarsi.
Non fidarti di nessuno. Tutti mentono.
Solo tu puoi salvare te stessa.
Doveva essere un venerdì sera qualunque per Lana e le sue migliori amiche ma all’improvviso tutto cambia. Lana è testimone di un crimine orribile, di cui non può parlare con nessuno, se vuole proteggere le sue amiche. Nessuno le crederebbe ed è costretta a pagare per il suo silenzio. Invece di frequentare il riformatorio, però, viene trasferita in una scuola per ragazzi privilegiati, la Blackwoos School nel Vermont. Qui tutto sembra un’illusione, comprese le vite dell’elite che la frequenta. Lana non è ricca, né privilegiata. L’unica cosa che ha in comune con i figli di politici e celebrità è il fatto di essere una delinquente, esattamente come loro. Proprio quando inizia a sentirsi accettata, sui muri della scuola qualcuno scrive delle minacce rivolte a lei e tra le sue cose Lana ritrova degli strani biglietti. Lei sa chi può averlo fatto. Qualcuno che credeva le fosse amico. I segreti iniziano a riaffiorare e Lana ha troppe domande irrisolte ma poche persone di cui fidarsi.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2018
51 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Donovan
17 books9,386 followersOptimism seeps from every pore of my body. I truly believe that what's supposed to happen... will! In that regard, I don't know how to give up; it's not part of my biological make up.
I'm a passionate (and some would say, overly enthusiastic) person. I learn by doing (and have been burned more times that I'd like to admit), but I will always throw my entire self into whatever I do - fail or succeed.
I think this is evident when I write, leaving nothing behind and spilling it all out on the pages. I give it all to my readers - love it or hate it.
The path I'm on is very often my own, veering off the beaten path at the sight of something more interesting or captivating, getting caught in the vines and thorns in order to experience the beauty and intrigue others often pass by. And I always meet the most interesting people along the way...
I'm a passionate (and some would say, overly enthusiastic) person. I learn by doing (and have been burned more times that I'd like to admit), but I will always throw my entire self into whatever I do - fail or succeed.
I think this is evident when I write, leaving nothing behind and spilling it all out on the pages. I give it all to my readers - love it or hate it.
The path I'm on is very often my own, veering off the beaten path at the sight of something more interesting or captivating, getting caught in the vines and thorns in order to experience the beauty and intrigue others often pass by. And I always meet the most interesting people along the way...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
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March 28, 2018
August 1, 2019
Again, I loathe multiple books to tell ONE story. The second second installment of the Cursed series was full of our heroine's bikini top descriptions. She prefers the bandeau top in case you're wondering. There is all this secret society stuff going on and then the end has yet another cliffhanger, which was kind of predictable, the person who it is, not so much, but the fact that the "thing" happened was not surprising.
So, all in all, I just don't care how their issues get resolved and the heroine, well I don't care for her at all. She is supposed to be so special, all of the man boys want her, but I didn't really read anything special about her. She is bitchy and treats most people like dirt.
Huge disappointment considering the Breathing series was such a hit with me.
August 22, 2018
3.5 "Trust no one. Everyone lies. You can only save yourself." stars
I love this feisty little pixie, Lana and her new friends!
Parts of the story moved a little slow for me but also kept me guessing.
I feel a connection to Lana, I understand her and I am interested in seeing how things end up for her.
I love this feisty little pixie, Lana and her new friends!
Parts of the story moved a little slow for me but also kept me guessing.
I feel a connection to Lana, I understand her and I am interested in seeing how things end up for her.
December 28, 2018
I'm truly enjoying this series. It suspenseful, a little bit angsty and a whole lot of awesome. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
April 13, 2020
This book had a lot going on. Too much. It felt like a paranormal premise squished into a contemporary world. It almost felt unbelievable the situation and the coincidences Lana found herself in. The number of parties, mentions of balls, carnivals all in one story felt like overkill.
Also, there were times in the dialogue where the timeline felt off.
I also didn’t care much for Lana much of the story. Which is fine. I don’t need to like the main character to enjoy the story. (My example Hunger Games. I hated Katiness but loved that series).
Also, the number of boys drooling over Lana became annoying probably because I didn’t like her not that it couldn’t happen.
Anyway, I still found myself turning the pages and warming to Lana by the time it ended. I’m not quite there yet with her, but I’m thawing. Onto the next.
Also, there were times in the dialogue where the timeline felt off.
I also didn’t care much for Lana much of the story. Which is fine. I don’t need to like the main character to enjoy the story. (My example Hunger Games. I hated Katiness but loved that series).
Also, the number of boys drooling over Lana became annoying probably because I didn’t like her not that it couldn’t happen.
Anyway, I still found myself turning the pages and warming to Lana by the time it ended. I’m not quite there yet with her, but I’m thawing. Onto the next.
June 27, 2018
I love these teens! The angst is off the charts, their maturity is amazing and this one has me questioning everything!
I completely devoured this read and need the next book cause even though I picked it apart...I can’t solve the mystery! I love, love Lana! She’s spunky and smart, full of dedication to the people she feels she needs to protect.
There’s a whole group of kids to love here! Someone is set on her destruction, showing her the truth and there’s something up with this school..it’s seriously creepy. I need answers...so many answers and this read played like a perfect TV series in my head.
A young adult read that had me smiling at some of the sweetness of Grant, page turning to solve the mystery and on the edge of my seat piecing the clues together. It’s a elaborate game of Clue and I need to check off some more boxes before I can put it all together!
I can’t wait for the next read!
I completely devoured this read and need the next book cause even though I picked it apart...I can’t solve the mystery! I love, love Lana! She’s spunky and smart, full of dedication to the people she feels she needs to protect.
There’s a whole group of kids to love here! Someone is set on her destruction, showing her the truth and there’s something up with this school..it’s seriously creepy. I need answers...so many answers and this read played like a perfect TV series in my head.
A young adult read that had me smiling at some of the sweetness of Grant, page turning to solve the mystery and on the edge of my seat piecing the clues together. It’s a elaborate game of Clue and I need to check off some more boxes before I can put it all together!
I can’t wait for the next read!
April 9, 2020
4,5 ⭐️
Non so bene cosa pensare di questo libro. La Donovan scrive sempre bene, questo è certo e la storia mi ha anche preso, però all’inizio ho fatto davvero fatica ad entrarci perché del libro precedente avevo sinceramente solo vaghi ricordi (è passato troppo tempo da quando è uscito).
Per quanto riguarda gli sviluppi, mi è sembrato che volesse mettere un po’ troppa carne al fuoco e a volte ci si perdeva in altre questioni piuttosto che quella da cui è partito tutto. Poi vabbè non ce la vedo con quello che le piace!! Uffffffffff 😫😫
Ora se potessimo evitare di far uscire il seguito tra altri due anni, magari riesco a ricordarmi tutte le domande che mi sono venute nel corso della lettura e che aspettano una risposta.
Non so bene cosa pensare di questo libro. La Donovan scrive sempre bene, questo è certo e la storia mi ha anche preso, però all’inizio ho fatto davvero fatica ad entrarci perché del libro precedente avevo sinceramente solo vaghi ricordi (è passato troppo tempo da quando è uscito).
Per quanto riguarda gli sviluppi, mi è sembrato che volesse mettere un po’ troppa carne al fuoco e a volte ci si perdeva in altre questioni piuttosto che quella da cui è partito tutto. Poi vabbè non ce la vedo con quello che le piace!! Uffffffffff 😫😫
Ora se potessimo evitare di far uscire il seguito tra altri due anni, magari riesco a ricordarmi tutte le domande che mi sono venute nel corso della lettura e che aspettano una risposta.
March 27, 2019
(Source: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to The Next Step PR and Rebecca Donovan.)
The truth is the truth. It is never wrong. It’s not always what you want it to be. It can be profound and enlightening. Or it can be ugly and brutal. But it will always be the truth.
But it’s not. Not really.
I did not enjoy the second part as much as I did the first one. There were many reasons for that, like the book seemed dragged and long, the conversations especially. I understand when you want to keep the suspense but dragging it again and again around the same topic loses people.
Every life experience held a lesson to be learned. And my grandmother was the most passionate of teachers. No matter how many times I’m forced to learn the hard way, the lesson is always the same.
Trust no one.
Everyone lies.
You can only save yourself.
Another reason that the second part bothered me was that, I could not connect to her anymore. The character was all over the place, and the whole meaning of the series, the essence of it, THE CURSES, were lost here. In this book, they were out of place, to the point that I started to think, why do we even need them. It felt like it was there just to be there, but really did not have any impact on the story itself.
“It’s how I make sure I’m heard,” I tell him in a whisper, my eyes still closed. “As a girl, especially my size, guys think they have a right to me. To touch. To degrade. To dismiss me. So I fight because that’s my voice. That’s how I say no. That’s how I tell them to fuck off. That’s how I make it clear that I’m not theirs. It’s how I know they hear me.” I open my eyes and stare directly into his.
“Is that why you don’t date?”
I consider it a second. “Maybe.” He intertwines his fingers with mine. “I don’t want to belong to anyone. I’m not a possession. I’m not his. I’ve seen it so many times, becoming lost to another person. No longer identified as an individual, only as an us. Until one of them decides us isn’t enough and leaves, because they always do. I won’t lose myself to anyone. That way, they can’t take me with them when they leave me.”
Third reason, was her jumping from one guy to another, but it did not bother me as much as not remembering her friends. I mean she did, but they were mentioned like two times or something. She never talked about them and never discussed them. Considering how close they were, it felt like the new friends just threw shadow on the old ones and they were forgotten just like that.
“Love isn’t something you can hold onto, or will into being. It already is, because we are it. Love is us, at our essence.”
“Then how come it hurts? Breaks hearts? Destroys lives?”
“That’s not love. That’s fear. Fear rules our minds. Every time we overthink and try to talk ourselves out of our feelings, that’s fear talking. And when it’s threatened, when love starts to take over, it speaks louder, trying to make us believe we’re not worthy of being loved, or it’s only going to hurt us. But love never hurts. Not ever.
“You don’t get to choose who you love. You are love. So when you share that love, you’re sharing you. You never really fall in love exactly. It’s a connection. A bond. Our souls recognize that connection long before we do. Love can’t be given or taken away, it can only be experienced in a beautiful symbiotic way that fills up your entire being.”
“Like light,” a voice inside me says.
Squirrel is quiet for a moment. “Yeah. Like light.” I guess he heard that voice too.
Now, there is one thing that I LOVED in both books, YES, the Harrison brothers. I mean, can you blame me? Finding out that there were no two of them but three mad my day (well reading). I shipped her with Parker since book one, and I know that it will not happen like ever after the revelation, but if it is a lie, then I want them together. The tension, and chemistry was there even more than with Joey or Grant. I just want to see it come true even though it goes against my morals.
“When you’re connected to someone, time doesn’t matter. It can feel like you’ve known them forever. And even though I don’t know your details, like when you lost your first tooth, or your favorite ice cream flavor, I know you. The rest is just … well, details. The most important thing is that feeling I have that lets me know that I can trust you. That you’re a good person. That allows me to see through your cynicism and recognize that you really do believe in love. You just don’t like what other people have done to abuse it.
“We’re connected, Lana, and despite where we came from, who are parents are, or what we were doing a month ago, it brought us here … together. And that’s pretty fricken amazing if you ask me. Because I didn’t know you even existed until a few weeks ago. But the moment I met you, it was like you’ve always existed in my life. You always belonged there. So we don’t have to say love, but I feel it.”
Well, Grant was a nice guy, but their love mostly reminded me of puppy love. He was too good, and I agree with Ashton, I like good but I want some bad in there. I want a bad that is good to you. I just did not get excited for them when I read about them, did not get butterflies or anything, it was just meh, so that bothered me a bit.
Overall, this book was fun to read! This second part is past-boarding school phase. The plot got even more twisted, now, I cannot wait to read the third book.
The truth is the truth. It is never wrong. It’s not always what you want it to be. It can be profound and enlightening. Or it can be ugly and brutal. But it will always be the truth.
But it’s not. Not really.
I did not enjoy the second part as much as I did the first one. There were many reasons for that, like the book seemed dragged and long, the conversations especially. I understand when you want to keep the suspense but dragging it again and again around the same topic loses people.
Every life experience held a lesson to be learned. And my grandmother was the most passionate of teachers. No matter how many times I’m forced to learn the hard way, the lesson is always the same.
Trust no one.
Everyone lies.
You can only save yourself.
Another reason that the second part bothered me was that, I could not connect to her anymore. The character was all over the place, and the whole meaning of the series, the essence of it, THE CURSES, were lost here. In this book, they were out of place, to the point that I started to think, why do we even need them. It felt like it was there just to be there, but really did not have any impact on the story itself.
“It’s how I make sure I’m heard,” I tell him in a whisper, my eyes still closed. “As a girl, especially my size, guys think they have a right to me. To touch. To degrade. To dismiss me. So I fight because that’s my voice. That’s how I say no. That’s how I tell them to fuck off. That’s how I make it clear that I’m not theirs. It’s how I know they hear me.” I open my eyes and stare directly into his.
“Is that why you don’t date?”
I consider it a second. “Maybe.” He intertwines his fingers with mine. “I don’t want to belong to anyone. I’m not a possession. I’m not his. I’ve seen it so many times, becoming lost to another person. No longer identified as an individual, only as an us. Until one of them decides us isn’t enough and leaves, because they always do. I won’t lose myself to anyone. That way, they can’t take me with them when they leave me.”
Third reason, was her jumping from one guy to another, but it did not bother me as much as not remembering her friends. I mean she did, but they were mentioned like two times or something. She never talked about them and never discussed them. Considering how close they were, it felt like the new friends just threw shadow on the old ones and they were forgotten just like that.
“Love isn’t something you can hold onto, or will into being. It already is, because we are it. Love is us, at our essence.”
“Then how come it hurts? Breaks hearts? Destroys lives?”
“That’s not love. That’s fear. Fear rules our minds. Every time we overthink and try to talk ourselves out of our feelings, that’s fear talking. And when it’s threatened, when love starts to take over, it speaks louder, trying to make us believe we’re not worthy of being loved, or it’s only going to hurt us. But love never hurts. Not ever.
“You don’t get to choose who you love. You are love. So when you share that love, you’re sharing you. You never really fall in love exactly. It’s a connection. A bond. Our souls recognize that connection long before we do. Love can’t be given or taken away, it can only be experienced in a beautiful symbiotic way that fills up your entire being.”
“Like light,” a voice inside me says.
Squirrel is quiet for a moment. “Yeah. Like light.” I guess he heard that voice too.
Now, there is one thing that I LOVED in both books, YES, the Harrison brothers. I mean, can you blame me? Finding out that there were no two of them but three mad my day (well reading). I shipped her with Parker since book one, and I know that it will not happen like ever after the revelation, but if it is a lie, then I want them together. The tension, and chemistry was there even more than with Joey or Grant. I just want to see it come true even though it goes against my morals.
“When you’re connected to someone, time doesn’t matter. It can feel like you’ve known them forever. And even though I don’t know your details, like when you lost your first tooth, or your favorite ice cream flavor, I know you. The rest is just … well, details. The most important thing is that feeling I have that lets me know that I can trust you. That you’re a good person. That allows me to see through your cynicism and recognize that you really do believe in love. You just don’t like what other people have done to abuse it.
“We’re connected, Lana, and despite where we came from, who are parents are, or what we were doing a month ago, it brought us here … together. And that’s pretty fricken amazing if you ask me. Because I didn’t know you even existed until a few weeks ago. But the moment I met you, it was like you’ve always existed in my life. You always belonged there. So we don’t have to say love, but I feel it.”
Well, Grant was a nice guy, but their love mostly reminded me of puppy love. He was too good, and I agree with Ashton, I like good but I want some bad in there. I want a bad that is good to you. I just did not get excited for them when I read about them, did not get butterflies or anything, it was just meh, so that bothered me a bit.
Overall, this book was fun to read! This second part is past-boarding school phase. The plot got even more twisted, now, I cannot wait to read the third book.
July 4, 2018
Rebecca Donovan’s Cursed series has quickly become my KRYPTONITE, continuing to catapult me like canons to my heart, first with If I’d Known and now with Knowing You. If I’d Known is so good, but its sequel is even better! Knowing You is an intricately-woven, edge-of-your-seat young adult journey of self-discovery, parallel paths, destiny, love, and the virtues that weave them together. Knowing You is the best marriage of YA, romance and suspense! Dark spun with light, as virtues of good and evil floated like lingering ghosts, haunting and hitting my heart. My mind and body had the best workout where my heart raced, my pulse pounded, my soul shattered, and my mind chased everything . . . everywhere. I was so CONSUMED with this story!
I’m being suffocated by secrets. And most aren’t even mine.
With an intrigue factor that’s off the charts and a burning intensity that’s its own rush, Knowing You plays as a Cruel Intentions-like movie in your head while reading. An adventure in words set in a wealthy boarding school for struggling young adults, Knowing You is told through a troubled but truthful teen girl and her circle of equally-troubled but true friends. The cast of charismatic characters in this spellbinding saga are simply striking—so full of life—that you can’t help but fall under their spell. You can’t help but fall hard for Knowing You’s masterfully-crafted storyline that’s a complex web of suspense wrapped in virtues, one that delivers a satisfying, but shocking twist ending.
”The moment I met you, it was like you’ve always existed in my life.”
Knowing You is an ENTHRALLING and EMOTIONALLY RICH coming of age journey woven in virtues. It’s a lesson of love and the power of friendship to help heal lifelong wounds. It’s bits of ugly woven with bits of beauty and all the angst. It’s darkness mixed with light. It’s deception meets devotion. It’s one of those WOW stories—so raw that it screams real—that bares you open, as it bares itself to you, where you’re a character in this adventure too. It’s a THRILLING and TOUCHING tale of truth amidst the twists, turns, and terror.
”I want to hear your truths.”
Secret after secret. Lie after lie. Truth upon truth. Knowing You is haunting, harrowing, and heartfelt. Rebecca Donovan took me on a tantalizing trip into the teenage mind where I rode an emotional roller coaster of thrills, twists, and turns that made my pulse pound and my heart soar! This YA adventure of virtues is intriguing, intellectually rich, and intense. Knowing You is a twisted and tender tale that talks to the soul. It’s UNIQUE. It’s UNFORGETTABLE. It’s EVERYTHING. I’m still stuck in this story and may never leave.
”Love never hurts. Not ever.”
💋💋💋💋💋 haunting, heartfelt, and honest kisses
A MUST-READ ROMANCE that blew me away!
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June 29, 2018
Okay WHOA!
I mean...WOW...I am at a loss for words, this book had me in knots. Let me back up and explain. The first book eeerrr well novella in this series sets up everything. We follow Lana on this one crazy night and because she is a true friend and loyal when she gets implicated in a crime she didn't commit she says nothing. Now I know most people would be like WTF? That makes no sense but if you are from the street, you get it. I got it. Which sets up this book. Man oh, man. There is so much to dissect, The Harrison boys, Blackwood Academy, Ashton, Lily, Brendan...oh especially Brendan he is weird and really all-knowing, I think that is why he is creepy. There is so much that happens and like Brendan I have questions. Not much get answered but this book but I got a glimpses of connections and OMFG I swear to god if what I am thinking is going to happen, happens I will chuck my kindle because seriously NO JUST NO!! And seriously what is up with that creepy ass school? The teachers, the security guards and layout are all weird.
This book is so well written, I mean it's Rebecca Donovan...
I didn't know she had a new book until I was asked if I wanted to be on this tour and of course I said yes, I went to the Zon and snatched up the first book and read it so quick, it would make one's head spin. Her writing just has this way of sucking you in. When I got this ARC I read it all in one sitting, I could not stop. So now I am just sitting here thinking about the characters and their connections and WTF about the Harrison boys, the kids she attends this school with, and her mom. UGH I feel like a crack head who needs another hit, I need to know more, I need the next book already.
I give Rebecca major kudos on this book. I love diverse characters in books, she did it so subtly and I loved it. When authors say they can't write diverse books I want to roll my eyes at them, they act as if we POC are aliens. Take notes authors because Rebecca gots the skills and know how. She blew me away and I can't wait for the next book.
I mean...WOW...I am at a loss for words, this book had me in knots. Let me back up and explain. The first book eeerrr well novella in this series sets up everything. We follow Lana on this one crazy night and because she is a true friend and loyal when she gets implicated in a crime she didn't commit she says nothing. Now I know most people would be like WTF? That makes no sense but if you are from the street, you get it. I got it. Which sets up this book. Man oh, man. There is so much to dissect, The Harrison boys, Blackwood Academy, Ashton, Lily, Brendan...oh especially Brendan he is weird and really all-knowing, I think that is why he is creepy. There is so much that happens and like Brendan I have questions. Not much get answered but this book but I got a glimpses of connections and OMFG I swear to god if what I am thinking is going to happen, happens I will chuck my kindle because seriously NO JUST NO!! And seriously what is up with that creepy ass school? The teachers, the security guards and layout are all weird.
This book is so well written, I mean it's Rebecca Donovan...
I didn't know she had a new book until I was asked if I wanted to be on this tour and of course I said yes, I went to the Zon and snatched up the first book and read it so quick, it would make one's head spin. Her writing just has this way of sucking you in. When I got this ARC I read it all in one sitting, I could not stop. So now I am just sitting here thinking about the characters and their connections and WTF about the Harrison boys, the kids she attends this school with, and her mom. UGH I feel like a crack head who needs another hit, I need to know more, I need the next book already.
I give Rebecca major kudos on this book. I love diverse characters in books, she did it so subtly and I loved it. When authors say they can't write diverse books I want to roll my eyes at them, they act as if we POC are aliens. Take notes authors because Rebecca gots the skills and know how. She blew me away and I can't wait for the next book.
June 29, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
Knowing You is the second book in the Cursed Series from Rebecca Donovan. You have to read If I'd Known before you read this book or your going to be so lost.
Under suspicion for a crime she watched him commit, Lana will pay for her silence. Her new lawyer strikes a deal, sending her to a boarding school in Vermont. It's supposed to be a second chance for a dead in life in Sherling. Except Lana doesn't want to leave those who depend on her behind. Lana is convinced she has nothing in common with the sons and daughters of celebrities and politicians who attend Blackwood School. But she soon finds out that they are all delinquents....just like her. theirs is a world of contrived headlines and publicity facades, and Lana's unabated honesty is a keen contrast to their lie-filled lives. She finds herself with new friends, just by telling the truth. But not everyone is welcoming. Someone is out to destroy Lana, and she has no idea why. The longer she stays at Balckwood, the more dangerous it becomes for her and everyone she cares about. And it will only get worse when Lana discovers the truth.
If you read the first book, you know that it ended up with Lana being in the police station. In knowing you she has a Harrison as a lawyer and even finds out that she will be going to a new school with yet another Harrison. There are Harrison's coming out of the wood work. I will tell you that if you read this book and try to figure out just what exactly is going on your going to probably miss some things and confuse yourself. I liked getting to know Lana more than as just the party girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she has been sent to Blackwood instead of Juvenile Hall. This school has strict rules and keeps track of their students at all times. But they have to work to pay off their fines and things and they can get out on occasion. This is where Grant will come in and I really really love him and Lana the girl who doesn't believe in love together. However someone is leaving notes or warnings or threats and Lana has no idea if they are warnings or threats and who exactly is a suspect. This is the part you won't figure out. The connection to the Harrison family is one you won't figure out either and once again we are left hanging with a shocking ending. I can not wait for the next book to see what happens next. I fell for all the characters in this book and I loved watching Lana make new friends and get out of her shell that her fear has put her in.
Knowing You is the second book in the Cursed Series from Rebecca Donovan. You have to read If I'd Known before you read this book or your going to be so lost.
Under suspicion for a crime she watched him commit, Lana will pay for her silence. Her new lawyer strikes a deal, sending her to a boarding school in Vermont. It's supposed to be a second chance for a dead in life in Sherling. Except Lana doesn't want to leave those who depend on her behind. Lana is convinced she has nothing in common with the sons and daughters of celebrities and politicians who attend Blackwood School. But she soon finds out that they are all delinquents....just like her. theirs is a world of contrived headlines and publicity facades, and Lana's unabated honesty is a keen contrast to their lie-filled lives. She finds herself with new friends, just by telling the truth. But not everyone is welcoming. Someone is out to destroy Lana, and she has no idea why. The longer she stays at Balckwood, the more dangerous it becomes for her and everyone she cares about. And it will only get worse when Lana discovers the truth.
If you read the first book, you know that it ended up with Lana being in the police station. In knowing you she has a Harrison as a lawyer and even finds out that she will be going to a new school with yet another Harrison. There are Harrison's coming out of the wood work. I will tell you that if you read this book and try to figure out just what exactly is going on your going to probably miss some things and confuse yourself. I liked getting to know Lana more than as just the party girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she has been sent to Blackwood instead of Juvenile Hall. This school has strict rules and keeps track of their students at all times. But they have to work to pay off their fines and things and they can get out on occasion. This is where Grant will come in and I really really love him and Lana the girl who doesn't believe in love together. However someone is leaving notes or warnings or threats and Lana has no idea if they are warnings or threats and who exactly is a suspect. This is the part you won't figure out. The connection to the Harrison family is one you won't figure out either and once again we are left hanging with a shocking ending. I can not wait for the next book to see what happens next. I fell for all the characters in this book and I loved watching Lana make new friends and get out of her shell that her fear has put her in.
July 1, 2018
Honor, Loyalty, Respect, Confidence, Perception, Nobility, Compassion
Knowing You by Rebecca Donovan is raw, real, and will leave you in complete and utter awe by the last page. I didn't see it coming and I'm still torn about how I feel about it. I love reading a book that I get so invested in and I feel every emotion coming from the pages. Rebecca has a way of throwing you into her books and making you a part of the magic. I loved the beauty within the pages of Knowing You.
Knowing You begins where If I'd Known ended. It throws you back into Lana's turmoil and despair. I couldn't believe everything she'd gone through because of one person and it upset me so much she was paying for someone else's mistakes. But I loved her for protecting everyone she cared for. In Knowing You, you meet so many new characters and you'll love each and everyone of them as much as I did. Brendan, Ashton, Lance and Grant are all amazing. Each one brings Lana out of her shell and shows her that she can love, she can trust, and they all have her back. I was so torn with loving Grant because I'm a big fan of the Harrison boys, but I did love him. The moments him and Lana share are breathtaking. So prepare yourself for an amazing book that's going to leave you begging for the next book and in shock by the last page.
I give Knowing You by Rebecca Donovan 5 out of 5 CONNECTED STARS!
Knowing You by Rebecca Donovan is raw, real, and will leave you in complete and utter awe by the last page. I didn't see it coming and I'm still torn about how I feel about it. I love reading a book that I get so invested in and I feel every emotion coming from the pages. Rebecca has a way of throwing you into her books and making you a part of the magic. I loved the beauty within the pages of Knowing You.
Knowing You begins where If I'd Known ended. It throws you back into Lana's turmoil and despair. I couldn't believe everything she'd gone through because of one person and it upset me so much she was paying for someone else's mistakes. But I loved her for protecting everyone she cared for. In Knowing You, you meet so many new characters and you'll love each and everyone of them as much as I did. Brendan, Ashton, Lance and Grant are all amazing. Each one brings Lana out of her shell and shows her that she can love, she can trust, and they all have her back. I was so torn with loving Grant because I'm a big fan of the Harrison boys, but I did love him. The moments him and Lana share are breathtaking. So prepare yourself for an amazing book that's going to leave you begging for the next book and in shock by the last page.
I give Knowing You by Rebecca Donovan 5 out of 5 CONNECTED STARS!
June 29, 2018
This writer is crazy good!
After the cliffhanger of If I’d known, I was dying to dive into Knowing You.
We find out that Lana is sent to a private institution as opposed to continue serving time in juvie. She soon realizes that the school she was sent to wasn’t You average rich kids school. The students there had a lot more in common with her than meets the eye.
We get a whole new set of friends surrounding Lana while still seeing a couple from the previous book.
This story had so many twists and turns. You know that someone is out to get Lana. But, you don’t know if it’s malicious or warning threats coming her way.
Once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. These band of crazy kids were hilarious. It’s nice to have moments of crazy laughter in the middle of a mystery.
I loved that we got to see Lana befriend Grant. Everything about their development was so adorable. I want to see more of that next book.
Just like the previous, Knowing You ended on a cliffhanger. But, this cliffhanger was GIGANTIC compared to the first. A huge, huge, HUGE bomb was dropped on Lana that left her knees weak. It left my knees weak.
Oh, Rebecca Donovan. I need the next book RIGHT NOW! Pleeeaassseee!!!!
After the cliffhanger of If I’d known, I was dying to dive into Knowing You.
We find out that Lana is sent to a private institution as opposed to continue serving time in juvie. She soon realizes that the school she was sent to wasn’t You average rich kids school. The students there had a lot more in common with her than meets the eye.
We get a whole new set of friends surrounding Lana while still seeing a couple from the previous book.
This story had so many twists and turns. You know that someone is out to get Lana. But, you don’t know if it’s malicious or warning threats coming her way.
Once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. These band of crazy kids were hilarious. It’s nice to have moments of crazy laughter in the middle of a mystery.
I loved that we got to see Lana befriend Grant. Everything about their development was so adorable. I want to see more of that next book.
Just like the previous, Knowing You ended on a cliffhanger. But, this cliffhanger was GIGANTIC compared to the first. A huge, huge, HUGE bomb was dropped on Lana that left her knees weak. It left my knees weak.
Oh, Rebecca Donovan. I need the next book RIGHT NOW! Pleeeaassseee!!!!
June 30, 2018
Lana finds herself at the mercy of her curse, which is the truth. Only she is withholding all of it, so it lands her in the middle of nowhere at a prestigious school called Blackwood. A new cast of characters pop up and add to that, a mystery on top of it. The circumstances of why Lana is here specifically and how she might be linked to some of the others leads her to start digging for answers. Not to mention the bonds she forms with certain students and as different as they may seem from her on the outside, she might not be so much the outsider that she thinks. I was definitely engaged in getting to know these other people and watching Lana develop attachments and feelings for them, while trying to piece together how this would all puzzle out. She's growing up and taking more responsibility for her decisions, while still landing herself in hot water and realizing the domino effect of consequences. My guesses are presumptuous at best and I'm hoping to get some more answers in the next book. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that Lana wakes up to her feelings for a certain guy (not naming him, but there are multiple possibilities in this story).
*I received an ARC*
*I received an ARC*
May 14, 2021
Da un lato questo libro mi è piaciuto poiché amo lo stile di questa autrice, trovo l'idea delle maledizioni interessanti, la storia promette bene e ho un debole per Grant (adoro i protagonisti maschili di questa scrittrice nel loro essere sempre pronti a capire, a esserci, ad andare oltre le apparenze, nonostante le loro controparti femmini rendano sempre loro difficile e sofferta la vita). Dall'altro, la scelta della casa editrice di separarlo dal primo volume quando invece in lingua originale non è così, rende questo libro una seconda introduzione ai prossimi e di conseguenza un brodo allungato. Il primo volume pone infatti le basi del secondo e nel secondo, se si tirano le somme, oltre a essere presentati gli altri personaggi e approfondita la protagonista, non succede nulla di memorabile. Tanto mistero, ma poi quando le cose si iniziano a fare interessanti, a poche pagine dalla fine, il libro termina, con il risultato che sono rimasta a bocca asciutta. Non mi resta che aspettare il terzo volume.
"«Come puoi avere paura di una cosa che non hai mai provato?».[...]
«Imparo dagli errori degli altri. E sono rimasta a guardare mentre le altre persone si innamoravano più e più volte di gente sbagliata»."
"«Come puoi avere paura di una cosa che non hai mai provato?».[...]
«Imparo dagli errori degli altri. E sono rimasta a guardare mentre le altre persone si innamoravano più e più volte di gente sbagliata»."
July 1, 2018
This book. The imagery is amazing. The plot and the twists keep you not only interested but constantly changing your opinion. The "who" and the "why" is a revolving door where I go back and forth. "Don't trust anyone" is seriously the motto and the truth of this book. I still doubt even the characters that I love. I do feel like the tone of this book is different than the tone of 1st book, it was less dark in many ways, but it also felt more magical. Like the hint of something more than human was there shimmering in the background. I cannot wait for book three. I'm desperate now for book 3. On pins and needles.
August 17, 2018
Knowing
This book seems like a different series from the first book. The fairy tale at every chapter didn't seem to fit or I wasn't smart enough to get the connection. Her actions reflected someone in college than sophomore. The characters were a lot more interesting but unanswered questions was frustrating.
This book seems like a different series from the first book. The fairy tale at every chapter didn't seem to fit or I wasn't smart enough to get the connection. Her actions reflected someone in college than sophomore. The characters were a lot more interesting but unanswered questions was frustrating.
July 3, 2018
Knowing You is the Second book in the Cursed Series and I Loved It. This Book kept me on edge. I was glued to the story from beginning to end.
I Highly Recommend all Readers to read this series right now. It's amazing read.
I Highly Recommend all Readers to read this series right now. It's amazing read.
May 8, 2020
Knowing You (Cursed #2):
4 stars
Of COURSE there is a cliffhanger of sorts. I sorta guess by the end where this was going. Lana for me at times was getting annoying. Just got to stick with it to find out what happens next.
Narrator Phoebe Strole is great.
4 stars
Of COURSE there is a cliffhanger of sorts. I sorta guess by the end where this was going. Lana for me at times was getting annoying. Just got to stick with it to find out what happens next.
Narrator Phoebe Strole is great.
March 22, 2020
Holy carp bring in the next one asap
August 13, 2018
Wow, this is has so much more going on than you could imagine. Am I the only one who thinks its super weird that five of the women that were at Nantucket were all pregnant?! I cannot wait to find out who is related to who, there are so many different possibilities. I kind of wondered from reading If I'd Known that somehow Joey and Lana were related and that's why they did not end up sleeping together. I loved that at the beginning of each chapter was bits of Lana's fairytale about the dark night her Grandmother was murdered. There is just so much mystery surrounding Blackwood. Its courtyard seems magical but also frightening at the same time, it makes you wonder if the court is magical or if someone is really coming and changing the court frequently. Lana comes to find such an interesting group of friends her first few days at Blackwood its such a mix of people that you wouldn't think would be friends and you know they are all hiding something. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I have to know more this is such a detailed and interesting story. Rebecca has put so much thought and effort into this series and it is amazing, I have never read anything like this.
May 4, 2020
Voto libro: 2.5
Salve Confine,
oggi torno a parlarvi di una serie il cui primo volume è uscito quasi due anni fa.
Si tratta della “Cursed Series” di Rebecca Donovan, uscita in Italia con Newton Compton editori, il cui primo romanzo, “Una ragione per dirti no”, mi era piaciuto ma non mi aveva convinto per una serie di cose.
Finalmente è uscito il secondo romanzo nel mese di aprile, “Piccoli segreti proibiti”, e per leggerlo nel modo giusto sono andata prima a rileggere velocemente il precedente.
Avevamo lasciato Lana in preda agli avvenimenti avvenuti un venerdì sera in cui era uscita con le sue amiche e Joey Harrison, per cui ha una cotta.
Durante quell’uscita si uniscono a loro altri personaggi e Lana si trova ad assistere a ben due crimini commessi dalla stessa persona e di cui non può parlare con nessuno per proteggere i suoi amici.
Nel secondo volume la ritroviamo in galera, in procinto di uscire solo seguendo determinate regole pattuite dal suo nuovo avvocato, Niall Herrison, padre dei fratelli Harrison a cui lei è legata e dai quali si sente attratta. Per evitare il carcere minorile, Lana viene mandata in una scuola speciale nel Vermont, la Blackwood School, dove vengono inviati, per essere recuperati, tutti i figli “pecore nere” dell’élite americana.
La scuola si presenta in maniera inquietante, con i suoi giardini che cambiano continuamente aspetto, i viali di sassi che si illuminano di notte e i passaggi segreti di cui è piena.
Gli studenti sono tenuti sotto controllo in ogni aspetto della loro giornata, anche di notte, da dei GPS che sono inseriti dentro pseudo cellulari che vengono loro dati per essere sorvegliati e avvisati delle attività scolastiche. Per il resto gli studenti non sono tenuti a possedere alcun cellulare personale che li possa mettere in contatto con l’esterno, né di internet e quant’altro. Inoltre la loro vita viene scandita da orari, regole e coprifuoco.
Molti di loro, tra cui anche Lana, devono lavorare al country club del luogo come punizione da scontare e per imparare l’autodisciplina.
Lana non avrebbe voluto essere lì perché a casa ha sua madre che non è in grado di prendersi cura di se stessa, ma ben presto fa amicizia con alcuni dei ragazzi che si trovano lì con lei, non ultimo un altro dei fratelli Harrison, Lance.
Purtroppo la sua vita non sembra essere al sicuro nemmeno in questa scuola, perché riceve messaggi minacciosi lasciati per lei nella sua stanza, e perché, ben presto, anche il ragazzo che si è reso colpevole di quei crimini che hanno messo Lana nei guai arriverà in quella scuola.
«Penso che si riceva sempre quello che ci si merita. L’aver fede c’entra poco. C’entrano di più il nostro comportamento e come ci barcameniamo tra il bene e il male. Perché il bene esista, deve esserci anche il male no?»
Allooooora. Del primo volume avevo detto che la storia era intrigante ma non avevo digerito le varie esagerazioni, tra le tante, che una ragazza di 15 anni sia così vissuta e navigata come Lana e come il resto dei suoi amici, oltretutto. Diciamoci anche che molte cose non avevano proprio senso ed ero rimasta male per il tremendo cliffhanger con il quale era terminata la situazione.
A distanza di quasi due anni prendo in mano il secondo volume e spero di avere chiarimenti e delucidazioni ma, ovviamente, sarebbe stato chiedere troppo.
Nulla di quello che è successo nel primo volume trova un finale in questo secondo, anzi i misteri e le situazioni assurde si moltiplicano e, come per seguire una qualsiasi forma di coerenza, anche questo ci lascia appesi come vestiti dismessi lasciati malamente sulle grucce.
Lana viene spedita in questa scuola come punizione, per riabilitarsi e tutto il resto.
Una scuola che sembra essere peggio del carcere, o così ci viene rappresentata, con tutti quei dispositivi per la sorveglianza degli studenti, le regole ferree che quasi non permettono agli studenti di socializzare troppo tra loro, ecc.
Invece non solo i ragazzi escono per andare a lavorare in un country club in cui fanno la pacchia, ma hanno anche il permesso di uscire fuori per andare alle feste.
Dico, ma siamo seri? Che scuola riabilitativa è se dentro ci sono ragazzi con problemi di alcool e droghe, che ti dà il permesso di andare in luoghi dove alcool e droghe abbondano come i pesci nel mare?
Ma davvero fosse solo questo!
Le amenità simili si sprecano e, come prima, questi ragazzini di 15 e 16 anni fanno la vita da adulti scafati.
Al country club Lana scopre l’amore, lei che dell’amore non vuole sapere nulla e che degli altri non si fida.
Grant, il ragazzo più bello di tutti che studia all’università vicina insieme a Parker Harrison, per cui Lana ha da sempre una cotta… ah, Lana ha una cotta anche per Joey Harrison, e no, per fortuna Lance non rientra nel suo gusto!
Per il modo in cui l’autrice descrive Lana e il suo carattere, per quello che le fa dire e per come la fa comportare, questo fatto di essere continuamente attratta dal sesso maschile la rende davvero troppo incoerente e poi, a 15 anni davvero esistono ragazzini così?
Niente, anche se la trama è intrigante, il resto non funziona per nulla, nemmeno l’aria angosciante che si respira, pesante e tendente al nero carbone, o lo stile cupo e pieno di suspense disattesa dell’autrice.
Comunque il finale ci lascia con un grosso nuovo punto di domanda.
A questo punto devo leggere il terzo volume, quando sarà disponibile certo, speriamo non tra due anni ancora.
Buona lettura.
Salve Confine,
oggi torno a parlarvi di una serie il cui primo volume è uscito quasi due anni fa.
Si tratta della “Cursed Series” di Rebecca Donovan, uscita in Italia con Newton Compton editori, il cui primo romanzo, “Una ragione per dirti no”, mi era piaciuto ma non mi aveva convinto per una serie di cose.
Finalmente è uscito il secondo romanzo nel mese di aprile, “Piccoli segreti proibiti”, e per leggerlo nel modo giusto sono andata prima a rileggere velocemente il precedente.
Avevamo lasciato Lana in preda agli avvenimenti avvenuti un venerdì sera in cui era uscita con le sue amiche e Joey Harrison, per cui ha una cotta.
Durante quell’uscita si uniscono a loro altri personaggi e Lana si trova ad assistere a ben due crimini commessi dalla stessa persona e di cui non può parlare con nessuno per proteggere i suoi amici.
Nel secondo volume la ritroviamo in galera, in procinto di uscire solo seguendo determinate regole pattuite dal suo nuovo avvocato, Niall Herrison, padre dei fratelli Harrison a cui lei è legata e dai quali si sente attratta. Per evitare il carcere minorile, Lana viene mandata in una scuola speciale nel Vermont, la Blackwood School, dove vengono inviati, per essere recuperati, tutti i figli “pecore nere” dell’élite americana.
La scuola si presenta in maniera inquietante, con i suoi giardini che cambiano continuamente aspetto, i viali di sassi che si illuminano di notte e i passaggi segreti di cui è piena.
Gli studenti sono tenuti sotto controllo in ogni aspetto della loro giornata, anche di notte, da dei GPS che sono inseriti dentro pseudo cellulari che vengono loro dati per essere sorvegliati e avvisati delle attività scolastiche. Per il resto gli studenti non sono tenuti a possedere alcun cellulare personale che li possa mettere in contatto con l’esterno, né di internet e quant’altro. Inoltre la loro vita viene scandita da orari, regole e coprifuoco.
Molti di loro, tra cui anche Lana, devono lavorare al country club del luogo come punizione da scontare e per imparare l’autodisciplina.
Lana non avrebbe voluto essere lì perché a casa ha sua madre che non è in grado di prendersi cura di se stessa, ma ben presto fa amicizia con alcuni dei ragazzi che si trovano lì con lei, non ultimo un altro dei fratelli Harrison, Lance.
Purtroppo la sua vita non sembra essere al sicuro nemmeno in questa scuola, perché riceve messaggi minacciosi lasciati per lei nella sua stanza, e perché, ben presto, anche il ragazzo che si è reso colpevole di quei crimini che hanno messo Lana nei guai arriverà in quella scuola.
«Penso che si riceva sempre quello che ci si merita. L’aver fede c’entra poco. C’entrano di più il nostro comportamento e come ci barcameniamo tra il bene e il male. Perché il bene esista, deve esserci anche il male no?»
Allooooora. Del primo volume avevo detto che la storia era intrigante ma non avevo digerito le varie esagerazioni, tra le tante, che una ragazza di 15 anni sia così vissuta e navigata come Lana e come il resto dei suoi amici, oltretutto. Diciamoci anche che molte cose non avevano proprio senso ed ero rimasta male per il tremendo cliffhanger con il quale era terminata la situazione.
A distanza di quasi due anni prendo in mano il secondo volume e spero di avere chiarimenti e delucidazioni ma, ovviamente, sarebbe stato chiedere troppo.
Nulla di quello che è successo nel primo volume trova un finale in questo secondo, anzi i misteri e le situazioni assurde si moltiplicano e, come per seguire una qualsiasi forma di coerenza, anche questo ci lascia appesi come vestiti dismessi lasciati malamente sulle grucce.
Lana viene spedita in questa scuola come punizione, per riabilitarsi e tutto il resto.
Una scuola che sembra essere peggio del carcere, o così ci viene rappresentata, con tutti quei dispositivi per la sorveglianza degli studenti, le regole ferree che quasi non permettono agli studenti di socializzare troppo tra loro, ecc.
Invece non solo i ragazzi escono per andare a lavorare in un country club in cui fanno la pacchia, ma hanno anche il permesso di uscire fuori per andare alle feste.
Dico, ma siamo seri? Che scuola riabilitativa è se dentro ci sono ragazzi con problemi di alcool e droghe, che ti dà il permesso di andare in luoghi dove alcool e droghe abbondano come i pesci nel mare?
Ma davvero fosse solo questo!
Le amenità simili si sprecano e, come prima, questi ragazzini di 15 e 16 anni fanno la vita da adulti scafati.
Al country club Lana scopre l’amore, lei che dell’amore non vuole sapere nulla e che degli altri non si fida.
Grant, il ragazzo più bello di tutti che studia all’università vicina insieme a Parker Harrison, per cui Lana ha da sempre una cotta… ah, Lana ha una cotta anche per Joey Harrison, e no, per fortuna Lance non rientra nel suo gusto!
Per il modo in cui l’autrice descrive Lana e il suo carattere, per quello che le fa dire e per come la fa comportare, questo fatto di essere continuamente attratta dal sesso maschile la rende davvero troppo incoerente e poi, a 15 anni davvero esistono ragazzini così?
Niente, anche se la trama è intrigante, il resto non funziona per nulla, nemmeno l’aria angosciante che si respira, pesante e tendente al nero carbone, o lo stile cupo e pieno di suspense disattesa dell’autrice.
Comunque il finale ci lascia con un grosso nuovo punto di domanda.
A questo punto devo leggere il terzo volume, quando sarà disponibile certo, speriamo non tra due anni ancora.
Buona lettura.
July 6, 2018
So I did like the plot of this novel, but I find that there's an issue with the characters. We are introduced to so many new characters without knowing what happened to the previous ones...I would like more development with the players we have.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
Read
March 14, 2020I loved this book! So much more mystery than the first book, love that! These characters were awesome, some of the things they say cracked me up! Lana was more herself, sassy and doesn’t hold back. Brenden was awesome! Can’t wait to read book 3 to learn more!!
April 15, 2020
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Parto subito a gamba tesa perchè anche questo secondo libro mi ha lasciato a bocca asciutta, quasi amara, come aveva già fatto a suo tempo il primo. Non nascondo che molto fastidio è stato causato dal troppo tempo, quasi due anni, intercorsi tra la pubblicazione del primo e questo, il che mi ha costretto a rileggere velocemente la storia passata di Lana, la piccola protagonista, una ragazzina adulta. Lo so che sembra una contraddizione in termini, ma è la realtà: Lana ha solo quindici anni quando due fatti, accaduti una malaugurata notte in cui era fuori insieme ai suoi amici, le sconvolgono la vita. Tuttavia ha la determinazione e la sicurezza di una donna molto più matura della propria madre nel prendersi sulle spalle il peso di quegli eventi e accettare il destino che ne consegue per lei.
Salvata dal suo avvocato da un destino ingrato di carcere minorile, pur senza avere colpe ma accusata dal suo ostinato silenzio sui fatti accaduti, Lana viene trasferita in una scuola che potremmo definire "di recupero", dove si trovano molti, troppi, ragazzini della sua età, figli di ricchi, famosi e assenti genitori che ne tutelano la privacy e cercano di costruirne il futuro ma sostanzialmente ne rifiutano l'amore. Tutti i ragazzi sono cinici, hanno problemi di dipendenze varie e di relazioni sociali, difficoltà a controllare l'emotività e ad adattarsi alle molte regole della scuola/prigione, ma tutti sono abili e decisamente intelligenti, come topi da laboratorio selezionati naturalmente. Lana non fa eccezione, se non per il fatto di non essere affatto ricca come tutti gli altri. Pare che il suo avvocato, uno dei cui figli si trova nella stessa scuola di Lana, abbia sostenuto tutte le spese per la sua iscrizione, e lei vuole assolutamente scoprire la ragione per cui lo ha fatto.
Mentre i giorni si susseguono Lana stringe diverse amicizie con alcuni suoi compagni, arrivando anche quasi ad innamorarsi, cosa di cui lei ha una paura folle: amare vuol dire mettersi in pericolo, affidarsi a qualcuno di diverso da noi stessi, quando nessuno è mai degno della nostra fiducia.
Accadono anche fatti inquietanti: biglietti e messaggi sui muri intimidatori che dovrebbero spaventare Lana ma la rendono sempre più determinata a fare luce sulla propria vita. Chi è davvero? Perché l'avvocato Harrison si fa carico di lei anche se non ha un soldo? Quando potrà raccontare cos'è accaduto davvero la notte maledetta?
Sostanzialmente il libro è tutto qui, anzi, tutta la serie risiede nel tentativo di dare risposta a queste domande e, non illudetevi, non le avrete nemmeno qui. Infatti anche questo secondo libro finisce con un cliffhanger che lascia con tutte le supposizioni e i dubbi sulla punta della... pagina.
Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
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Parto subito a gamba tesa perchè anche questo secondo libro mi ha lasciato a bocca asciutta, quasi amara, come aveva già fatto a suo tempo il primo. Non nascondo che molto fastidio è stato causato dal troppo tempo, quasi due anni, intercorsi tra la pubblicazione del primo e questo, il che mi ha costretto a rileggere velocemente la storia passata di Lana, la piccola protagonista, una ragazzina adulta. Lo so che sembra una contraddizione in termini, ma è la realtà: Lana ha solo quindici anni quando due fatti, accaduti una malaugurata notte in cui era fuori insieme ai suoi amici, le sconvolgono la vita. Tuttavia ha la determinazione e la sicurezza di una donna molto più matura della propria madre nel prendersi sulle spalle il peso di quegli eventi e accettare il destino che ne consegue per lei.
Salvata dal suo avvocato da un destino ingrato di carcere minorile, pur senza avere colpe ma accusata dal suo ostinato silenzio sui fatti accaduti, Lana viene trasferita in una scuola che potremmo definire "di recupero", dove si trovano molti, troppi, ragazzini della sua età, figli di ricchi, famosi e assenti genitori che ne tutelano la privacy e cercano di costruirne il futuro ma sostanzialmente ne rifiutano l'amore. Tutti i ragazzi sono cinici, hanno problemi di dipendenze varie e di relazioni sociali, difficoltà a controllare l'emotività e ad adattarsi alle molte regole della scuola/prigione, ma tutti sono abili e decisamente intelligenti, come topi da laboratorio selezionati naturalmente. Lana non fa eccezione, se non per il fatto di non essere affatto ricca come tutti gli altri. Pare che il suo avvocato, uno dei cui figli si trova nella stessa scuola di Lana, abbia sostenuto tutte le spese per la sua iscrizione, e lei vuole assolutamente scoprire la ragione per cui lo ha fatto.
Mentre i giorni si susseguono Lana stringe diverse amicizie con alcuni suoi compagni, arrivando anche quasi ad innamorarsi, cosa di cui lei ha una paura folle: amare vuol dire mettersi in pericolo, affidarsi a qualcuno di diverso da noi stessi, quando nessuno è mai degno della nostra fiducia.
Accadono anche fatti inquietanti: biglietti e messaggi sui muri intimidatori che dovrebbero spaventare Lana ma la rendono sempre più determinata a fare luce sulla propria vita. Chi è davvero? Perché l'avvocato Harrison si fa carico di lei anche se non ha un soldo? Quando potrà raccontare cos'è accaduto davvero la notte maledetta?
Sostanzialmente il libro è tutto qui, anzi, tutta la serie risiede nel tentativo di dare risposta a queste domande e, non illudetevi, non le avrete nemmeno qui. Infatti anche questo secondo libro finisce con un cliffhanger che lascia con tutte le supposizioni e i dubbi sulla punta della... pagina.
Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
July 3, 2018
As soon as I finished reading If I’d Known, I needed to get my hands on this book. There were so many loose ends, so many things to decipher, so many connections that seemed to be more than they were on the surface. After reading Knowing You, I’m even more intrigued by this world. Honestly, I wish I had waited to start these books until they were all out because I know the time spent trying to figure out all the intricacies of this world is going to cut into my reading time.
It’s hard to say too much about Knowing You without giving anything away. This series has so many moving parts; there seems to be an entire history and web of connections we’re just beginning to get a glimpse of that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to completely comprehend exactly how these characters have all began to connect. I’m sitting here contemplating what I believe, what I don’t, what I am sure I know, and what I may have missed the first go ‘round if there were breadcrumbs that gave me a hint as to what is to come.
As much as I love Lana, she’s smart, tough, and tenacious; I have a hard time believing or remembering she’s barely a junior in high school. She seems so much more mature than anyone I knew at that age, and her life experiences are so all-consuming, the way she deals with everything lends her a feeling of being at least ten years older than her purported age. She impressed me with both her honesty and her loyalty – even to those who didn’t deserve it – in If I’d Know and she continues to amaze me with her adherence to her ‘curse.’
While I’m not saying I didn’t love Lana’s friends in If I’d Known, I love her new friends in this book. Especially Ashton, from the moment she appeared she had a magnetism about her that consumed me. Brendan is equally fascinating, though I’m not sure if I should be terrified of him or in awe. His ability to find things out is astonishing, and I want to trust him, I’m just not sure if I’m supposed to. And honestly, that is one of the best things about this book; I’m not 100% sure who’s good, who’s bad, and what part they all have in the big picture of this series.
Every moment of Knowing You kept me riveted. From the mysterious reasons Lana was accepted to Blackwood, to Brendan’s knowledge of her and everyone else, to the messages Lana is receiving, to the revelations at the end of the book, I couldn’t put the book down. I have a list of questions a mile long, and I’m going crazy trying to figure out what is coming and what the implications of the information they just received are going to be. I just absolutely need book three now.
Knowing You is book two in Rebecca Donovan’s Cursed series. These books are not standalones and must be read in order. The book is written in first-person perspective, narrated by Lana.
It’s hard to say too much about Knowing You without giving anything away. This series has so many moving parts; there seems to be an entire history and web of connections we’re just beginning to get a glimpse of that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to completely comprehend exactly how these characters have all began to connect. I’m sitting here contemplating what I believe, what I don’t, what I am sure I know, and what I may have missed the first go ‘round if there were breadcrumbs that gave me a hint as to what is to come.
As much as I love Lana, she’s smart, tough, and tenacious; I have a hard time believing or remembering she’s barely a junior in high school. She seems so much more mature than anyone I knew at that age, and her life experiences are so all-consuming, the way she deals with everything lends her a feeling of being at least ten years older than her purported age. She impressed me with both her honesty and her loyalty – even to those who didn’t deserve it – in If I’d Know and she continues to amaze me with her adherence to her ‘curse.’
While I’m not saying I didn’t love Lana’s friends in If I’d Known, I love her new friends in this book. Especially Ashton, from the moment she appeared she had a magnetism about her that consumed me. Brendan is equally fascinating, though I’m not sure if I should be terrified of him or in awe. His ability to find things out is astonishing, and I want to trust him, I’m just not sure if I’m supposed to. And honestly, that is one of the best things about this book; I’m not 100% sure who’s good, who’s bad, and what part they all have in the big picture of this series.
Every moment of Knowing You kept me riveted. From the mysterious reasons Lana was accepted to Blackwood, to Brendan’s knowledge of her and everyone else, to the messages Lana is receiving, to the revelations at the end of the book, I couldn’t put the book down. I have a list of questions a mile long, and I’m going crazy trying to figure out what is coming and what the implications of the information they just received are going to be. I just absolutely need book three now.
Knowing You is book two in Rebecca Donovan’s Cursed series. These books are not standalones and must be read in order. The book is written in first-person perspective, narrated by Lana.
June 30, 2018
Knowing You is the second book in the Cursed series, so you MUST READ If I'd Known (Book 1) FIRST, as it's a continuation, otherwise, you will be lost. See, Lana's lawyer has gotten her a deal that has her in a boarding school, instead of locked up for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and not naming names. But it's left her in the middle of nowhere, without any way to talk to her friends, or a way to take care of her fragile mother, which has her on edge. However, she quickly learns that she's making new friends, as all the kids at this school are just like her, but with families that have money & fame. But someone doesn't want her there, & things are getting dicey, not to mention, secrets are coming to light. WOW! I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about this series, but I'm completely hooked, even though it's about a bunch of teenagers. The twists & turns are quite plentiful, which have the f-bombs dropping, as none are really panning out fully yet, but are still taking some sort of form, so yeah, I'm dying for more. Lana is a great heroine, who is flawed, yet easy to love somehow, as life hasn't been too kind to her, as her layers are revealed slowly. And the cast of secondaries are complicated, because I'm not sure who is good, bad, and/or ugly yet, so they add all kinds of dimensions to the story. I can say this, Rebecca Donovan's talented & addictive writing style is fully on display with this series, and I'm desperately needing What They Knew ASAP, as she left me dangling off the side of a cliff! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
June 27, 2018
This Duet starts out with If I’D Know and it jumps off with a bang!! The first book starts of following a group of high school girls who get invited to a very elite party. To say thing go smooth would be a complete and utter Lie!! This first book takes place all in one day and is just jam packed with craziness!! So good!! This series is full of mystery And romance!!
As book two starts we enter the world of the private high school for the children of the rich and famous. It a place where parents send their not so perfect children. This duet is a mystery written within a mystery. It’s not easy to put down!! Fantastic read, incredible characters!!
I just didn’t realize what I was getting into with this series!! I absolutely love Lana and her friends! This story is angst filled and so fast paced!! The twists just kept coming and even when I thought I had it figured out I’d find an entirely new direction to go in!! I couldn’t put this series down! I read book 1 and 2 In two days it would have been shorter if I didn’t have to go to work!! This story has so many layers it just keeps you turning the pages. Can anyone one say crazy creepy boarding school!! You will fall In Love with these kids. I love how this author touches on real life issues all the while weaving such an intricate twisted tale!
June 28, 2018
Wow, this was a really mysterious, creepy read.
I haven't read the first book in this series, so I'll admit to being a little lost at the beginning, but it was easy to pick up on the basics of this story. Something happened in the first book and now Lana is being accused of it. So she's in juvie just trying to get through each day. She's tough, though, and doesn't let anyone mess with her. Then her savior in the form of a new lawyer, Niall, comes and rescues her by sending her to a new school. It's at this school where she'll form a tight circle of friends including Ashton, Grant, Brendan, and Lance. And she'll fall for Grant in that way only teens can fall.
But there are creepy, mysterious things happening at this school and Lana's being targeted for unknown reasons. It all just adds to the really weird feel this whole story exudes. And then the holy shit WTF cliffhanger and I was left even more freaked out. Can't wait for the third installment!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I haven't read the first book in this series, so I'll admit to being a little lost at the beginning, but it was easy to pick up on the basics of this story. Something happened in the first book and now Lana is being accused of it. So she's in juvie just trying to get through each day. She's tough, though, and doesn't let anyone mess with her. Then her savior in the form of a new lawyer, Niall, comes and rescues her by sending her to a new school. It's at this school where she'll form a tight circle of friends including Ashton, Grant, Brendan, and Lance. And she'll fall for Grant in that way only teens can fall.
But there are creepy, mysterious things happening at this school and Lana's being targeted for unknown reasons. It all just adds to the really weird feel this whole story exudes. And then the holy shit WTF cliffhanger and I was left even more freaked out. Can't wait for the third installment!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
August 8, 2018
Addicting
This second portion of the Cursed Series was just as riveting as the first, and I struggled to put it down. Again.
Donovan cleverly wrote a convoluted, twisty, and mysterious plot, and that was part of what made it enthralling. I’m still confounded by Brendan’s ability to know everything, and Lana’s innate ability to be entranced by her. I simply loved how she was learning that there were people in the world that had faith in her, truly wanted her to thrive, and showed her that in tangible ways.
At some points, I wanted to dig deeper, but I am a fussy reader. I wanted Lana’s concern for her mother to have more effect on her days, but otherwise I was simply hooked.
This is stunning YA writing and would satisfy YA readers who like a mysterious challenge, can cope with all the exceptionally beautiful people, ;-) , and can keep up the pace in a fast-moving story. Well done, Rebecca Donovan, well done.
This second portion of the Cursed Series was just as riveting as the first, and I struggled to put it down. Again.
Donovan cleverly wrote a convoluted, twisty, and mysterious plot, and that was part of what made it enthralling. I’m still confounded by Brendan’s ability to know everything, and Lana’s innate ability to be entranced by her. I simply loved how she was learning that there were people in the world that had faith in her, truly wanted her to thrive, and showed her that in tangible ways.
At some points, I wanted to dig deeper, but I am a fussy reader. I wanted Lana’s concern for her mother to have more effect on her days, but otherwise I was simply hooked.
This is stunning YA writing and would satisfy YA readers who like a mysterious challenge, can cope with all the exceptionally beautiful people, ;-) , and can keep up the pace in a fast-moving story. Well done, Rebecca Donovan, well done.
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