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Speechless
It’s Julia’s first day attending a “regular” high school. She just wanted to know what it felt like to be normal for once. But Julia quickly begins to realize, her high school experience is anything but regular.
It all begins when an attractive guy suddenly shows an interest in her. And wait. . . could she actually hear him? She thinks she did, but just as quickly as the sounds came, they vanished, and with them so did the guy. How was this even possible? Was she getting her hearing back? Plus, there’s a fire no one can remember but her. (Maybe her mind is going too?) But that is not all. A mean girl has also taken an interest in her. A symbolic mark appears down Julia’s back that she can’t explain. And not everyone’s who they say they are.
Julia’s life will never be the same after this year. And definitely, not like how it was before. It’s enough to leave a person Speechless.
It all begins when an attractive guy suddenly shows an interest in her. And wait. . . could she actually hear him? She thinks she did, but just as quickly as the sounds came, they vanished, and with them so did the guy. How was this even possible? Was she getting her hearing back? Plus, there’s a fire no one can remember but her. (Maybe her mind is going too?) But that is not all. A mean girl has also taken an interest in her. A symbolic mark appears down Julia’s back that she can’t explain. And not everyone’s who they say they are.
Julia’s life will never be the same after this year. And definitely, not like how it was before. It’s enough to leave a person Speechless.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2020
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Ava Cates
10 books35 followersAva Cates enjoys walking her dogs, going to church, coming up with new recipes to cook, eating cake, taking photographs and loves playing Christmas music in the middle of July. Follow her on Instagram @ava.cates.books & Twitter @AvaCates1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 1, 2021
What can I say... AMAZING!!
The story was really well done and I really liked the idea of the fantasy world and the paranormal elements. I thought it was a contemporary read but when I started reading, I realised that it was paranormal fantasy. 😂 I wasn't disaponed but surprised because I didn't know where the story was going and what the plot was so when the fantasy elemst came it I was surprised but relieved😌
The characters were great, I really liked that our main character, Julia, was deaf and it was harder for her to understand... But on the other hand, when the paranormal scenes came, she was like... WHAT! And I think that her deafness made a big plus and it made the story more interesting.
I still have a lot of questions about Like and "his people" or "people like him" because we didn't get a big explanation but I'm glad that there is a 2nd book!! The ending was like Boom and it just came there out of nowhere but I liked that 😏 I did have some suspicions but I needed to see for sure 😂 Ava you are an amazing writer and I think that you should deff carry on with your writing because you can really write amazing things!! 😘❤️😊 I also really enjoyed the idea that the story was told from different perspectives and that way, we got to explore the secrets that the other person kept. I also really liked that the setting was in our everyday life/world (at least I think so 😂) and that made it very effective! Can't wait untill I read the 2nd and maybe there is going to be a 3rd we will see, but if the series/duology (for now) continues, I will make sure to check out other books that Ava Cates writes🖋 ☺
Hope you enjoyed and check out my Booktube for longer and more detailed reviews (or just tags and challenges). Raya in Bookland. Have a nice day!! ❤️
The story was really well done and I really liked the idea of the fantasy world and the paranormal elements. I thought it was a contemporary read but when I started reading, I realised that it was paranormal fantasy. 😂 I wasn't disaponed but surprised because I didn't know where the story was going and what the plot was so when the fantasy elemst came it I was surprised but relieved😌
The characters were great, I really liked that our main character, Julia, was deaf and it was harder for her to understand... But on the other hand, when the paranormal scenes came, she was like... WHAT! And I think that her deafness made a big plus and it made the story more interesting.
I still have a lot of questions about Like and "his people" or "people like him" because we didn't get a big explanation but I'm glad that there is a 2nd book!! The ending was like Boom and it just came there out of nowhere but I liked that 😏 I did have some suspicions but I needed to see for sure 😂 Ava you are an amazing writer and I think that you should deff carry on with your writing because you can really write amazing things!! 😘❤️😊 I also really enjoyed the idea that the story was told from different perspectives and that way, we got to explore the secrets that the other person kept. I also really liked that the setting was in our everyday life/world (at least I think so 😂) and that made it very effective! Can't wait untill I read the 2nd and maybe there is going to be a 3rd we will see, but if the series/duology (for now) continues, I will make sure to check out other books that Ava Cates writes🖋 ☺
Hope you enjoyed and check out my Booktube for longer and more detailed reviews (or just tags and challenges). Raya in Bookland. Have a nice day!! ❤️
March 10, 2021
I would give this book 3.75 stars. I devoured it in just one day! I found myself completely sucked into the world of highschoolers Julia and Luke. Julia is a naive teenage girl living on a small farm with her mom and brother. Luke is a sauve, good-looking popular guy. But, in this small town, things are not what they seem. This book gave me Twilight vibes minus the vampires. This book definitely lays the groundwork for a fun series. I am ready for the 2nd book!
Thank you Ava Cates for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Ava Cates for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2020
Incredible! I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this is Ava Cates' debut book. I can only see amazing things coming from this first book. I think she did an outstanding job creating an addictive story with wonderful characters. She captured my attention from the beginning. I couldn't get through the book fast enough and now that I am done with it... I want more!!!
Julia is deaf teenager and is attending "regular" school for the first time. But her experience isn't like your typical high school experience. Julia is just trying to blend in with everyone else, but that doesn't go as she plans when she has an Aid follow her around everywhere. She unintentionally befriends Luke (the school heartthrob) and his friends, as well as Jeremey. But what she doesn't know is that there is more to Luke and his friends then what meets the eye. Upon becoming friends with Luke and Co. things start to get interesting and Julia need answers.
This is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy story that will leave you wanting so much more. I really hope that Ava continues on with this story because I have to know what happens next. She gives us just enough that she'll leave you craving it all.
Julia is deaf teenager and is attending "regular" school for the first time. But her experience isn't like your typical high school experience. Julia is just trying to blend in with everyone else, but that doesn't go as she plans when she has an Aid follow her around everywhere. She unintentionally befriends Luke (the school heartthrob) and his friends, as well as Jeremey. But what she doesn't know is that there is more to Luke and his friends then what meets the eye. Upon becoming friends with Luke and Co. things start to get interesting and Julia need answers.
This is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy story that will leave you wanting so much more. I really hope that Ava continues on with this story because I have to know what happens next. She gives us just enough that she'll leave you craving it all.
November 27, 2020
Wow
That was such a great book!
I loved it from the beginning and I could not stop reading! The characters are so fun to be around, the character development is also very well done! I loved the journey through the book to be with the amazing characters and I loved the twist at the end,(that I did not see coming) I’m not so sure how feel about it though.
Some scenes were so funny and kinda awkward that I blushed with the characters!
The only thing that kept me from devouring it in one sitting was exams
I was so sad when the book ended, but thank goodness there is a second one!
That was such a great book!
I loved it from the beginning and I could not stop reading! The characters are so fun to be around, the character development is also very well done! I loved the journey through the book to be with the amazing characters and I loved the twist at the end,(that I did not see coming) I’m not so sure how feel about it though.
Some scenes were so funny and kinda awkward that I blushed with the characters!
The only thing that kept me from devouring it in one sitting was exams
I was so sad when the book ended, but thank goodness there is a second one!
December 15, 2020
Julia seems to be a lovely naive girl who is deaf. She hasn't heard anything in a long time uptill now. Did she hear him for real or did she hear him in her head? Either way she knew something was different about this guy. This was only the beginning. Julia is introduced into a world of people she knew nothing about, yet was quite pivotal in it. She doesn't know anything about them but they seem to know a lot about her. She may have had connections with them way before she knew it existed.
How important is she to them? Why does she need to be protected?
This book was quite refreshing. It makes me want to try and explore more genres xD
How important is she to them? Why does she need to be protected?
This book was quite refreshing. It makes me want to try and explore more genres xD
December 14, 2020
Speechless by @ava.cates.books is a quick read that had me questioning if people out there can read my mind, and wanting my own secret powers 🙈😂
This was a very interesting mix of fantasy and reality, and I liked it! I’m gonna need the next one soon though, because that ending!!! Geez Ava! Hook me much? 😂
This was a very interesting mix of fantasy and reality, and I liked it! I’m gonna need the next one soon though, because that ending!!! Geez Ava! Hook me much? 😂
January 11, 2021
This book was so amazing! I finished it in 2 days. I could not put it down!
I need read book 2 ASAP. Can’t wait to start downloaded already!
I don’t want to give too much away because it does have a lot of shocks I didn’t see coming but highly recommend. I loved all the characters and the storyline a lot. A very addicting read!
I need read book 2 ASAP. Can’t wait to start downloaded already!
I don’t want to give too much away because it does have a lot of shocks I didn’t see coming but highly recommend. I loved all the characters and the storyline a lot. A very addicting read!
October 3, 2021
This is my neutral rating - age appropriate yes and would recommend for high schoolers interested in contemporary paranormal stuff
As an adult I needed a little more backstory on the paranormal story, and a little less moving from class to class, but again that's where the age appropriate rec comes in.
My biggest issue was that in the kindle version it's hard to tell where chapter breaks are. It's fairly well edited for a self pub but could have used another set of eyes on some parts!
Overall - definitely recommend for a content appropriate high school aged read, quick reads, disability/deaf rep.
As an adult I needed a little more backstory on the paranormal story, and a little less moving from class to class, but again that's where the age appropriate rec comes in.
My biggest issue was that in the kindle version it's hard to tell where chapter breaks are. It's fairly well edited for a self pub but could have used another set of eyes on some parts!
Overall - definitely recommend for a content appropriate high school aged read, quick reads, disability/deaf rep.
February 11, 2022
Very age appropriate for middle/high school students looking to enter the paranormal world. I loved the deaf/disability rep, and the characters were sweet and well put together.
As an adult reader, I need more show and less tell; the story repeatedly described even the smallest happenings (day to day chores and moving from class to class) which didn’t help advance the plot.
As an adult reader, I need more show and less tell; the story repeatedly described even the smallest happenings (day to day chores and moving from class to class) which didn’t help advance the plot.
March 13, 2021
Speechless follows Julia, a high school, deaf girl who is just trying to make it in life. She begins to cross paths with the handsome Luke and realizes one day that he is different - she hears him! What is happening? Who is Luke and his friends? Why the strange mark on her back? So many questions pop up with very few answers.
First off, this is not your typical high school romance as it would seem at first glance. The mystery definitely builds up and that ending leaves you MIND BLOWN that you cannot help but get hands on the sequel, Restless, ASAP! The story is told form Julia's and Luke's perspective allowing you to truly understand all sides of the story. The representation of deaf persons is also really well done in my opinion adding to the mystery. I have a craving to learn sign language now myself! Really a wonderful book that keeps you turning pages.
First off, this is not your typical high school romance as it would seem at first glance. The mystery definitely builds up and that ending leaves you MIND BLOWN that you cannot help but get hands on the sequel, Restless, ASAP! The story is told form Julia's and Luke's perspective allowing you to truly understand all sides of the story. The representation of deaf persons is also really well done in my opinion adding to the mystery. I have a craving to learn sign language now myself! Really a wonderful book that keeps you turning pages.
January 13, 2021
▶Genre- YA Fantasy
▶Page count- 258
▶Blurb- It’s Julia’s first day attending a “regular” high school. She just wanted to know how it felt like to be normal for once. She lost her hearing at the age of 12, so she can speak well but now is depended upon her aid- Helen. Her life took an interesting turn when she starts hearing Luke and had witnessed a fire in school which no one else remember. From only one friend Jill to Jeremy, Luke and Meg, her friend circle blooms. Julia will never be the same after this year. And definitely, not like how it was before. It's enough to leave a person... Speechless.
▶Review- The only response to this novel is simply: WOW. It is breathtaking feat of imagination. The suspense build up was really great, just like Julia, readers were also kept in dark and the mystery of charming Luke and his friends unfold before us giving rise to many new questions. Reading this was like on a quest to know more about shapeshifters and there magical world which co-exist with our ordinary world. This is the first novel in the series on which author is still working and I’m glad that second novel had already released. I’m not left hanging on cliffhanger as I’m sure I will soon start the next part. This book definitely left me speechless and reminded me a little of twilight saga. Well written peace of art.
▶Favorite characters- Meg and Luke.
▶Favorite quote- “I only have one of you.”
▶Page count- 258
▶Blurb- It’s Julia’s first day attending a “regular” high school. She just wanted to know how it felt like to be normal for once. She lost her hearing at the age of 12, so she can speak well but now is depended upon her aid- Helen. Her life took an interesting turn when she starts hearing Luke and had witnessed a fire in school which no one else remember. From only one friend Jill to Jeremy, Luke and Meg, her friend circle blooms. Julia will never be the same after this year. And definitely, not like how it was before. It's enough to leave a person... Speechless.
▶Review- The only response to this novel is simply: WOW. It is breathtaking feat of imagination. The suspense build up was really great, just like Julia, readers were also kept in dark and the mystery of charming Luke and his friends unfold before us giving rise to many new questions. Reading this was like on a quest to know more about shapeshifters and there magical world which co-exist with our ordinary world. This is the first novel in the series on which author is still working and I’m glad that second novel had already released. I’m not left hanging on cliffhanger as I’m sure I will soon start the next part. This book definitely left me speechless and reminded me a little of twilight saga. Well written peace of art.
▶Favorite characters- Meg and Luke.
▶Favorite quote- “I only have one of you.”
May 25, 2022
•I'll just start with how the ending left me in shambles.
•Ava Cates how dare you? Just when I thought everything was going alright between my people :(
•OUR MAIN CHARACTER IS HARD OF HEARING AND THIS IS MY FIRST (SECOND ACTUALLY) TIME READING THE REP.
•It was easy to go with the flow and understand the MC along with her Disability. It's beautifully done. Although it's just my opinion.
•Julia is your farm girl who knows how to you know, do stuff around there.
•Disclaimer: Do not get attached to any male lead in the book. I repeat, do not get attached. Your heart might have to bear some pain later.
•I personally loved how the plot wasn't hard to get along. It was linear with little twists and turns.
•I have no idea how Ava did it but everything happens so fast. At times it was hard to follow.
•Surely worth a try cause I liked it.
•Shortest read of '22 and I'm just glad I did.
•I can't wait to find out what happens to Xavier of all people. I'm just genuinely curious.
•God I love Luke and Jeremy. I just want Ava to give THEM TO ME!
•60% of the book is teenage banter and it's refreshing.
•Mentions of a toxic ex and bullying.
•I need to get the next books soon.
•I enjoyed it, no doubt!
•Ava Cates how dare you? Just when I thought everything was going alright between my people :(
•OUR MAIN CHARACTER IS HARD OF HEARING AND THIS IS MY FIRST (SECOND ACTUALLY) TIME READING THE REP.
•It was easy to go with the flow and understand the MC along with her Disability. It's beautifully done. Although it's just my opinion.
•Julia is your farm girl who knows how to you know, do stuff around there.
•Disclaimer: Do not get attached to any male lead in the book. I repeat, do not get attached. Your heart might have to bear some pain later.
•I personally loved how the plot wasn't hard to get along. It was linear with little twists and turns.
•I have no idea how Ava did it but everything happens so fast. At times it was hard to follow.
•Surely worth a try cause I liked it.
•Shortest read of '22 and I'm just glad I did.
•I can't wait to find out what happens to Xavier of all people. I'm just genuinely curious.
•God I love Luke and Jeremy. I just want Ava to give THEM TO ME!
•60% of the book is teenage banter and it's refreshing.
•Mentions of a toxic ex and bullying.
•I need to get the next books soon.
•I enjoyed it, no doubt!
May 2, 2021
Amazing!
This is an awesome book, it took me in and I ended up becoming invested in the characters and plot.
Julia is such a lovely character, I want to be her friend and protect her from the world. She is trying to be 'normal' because of her deafness and wants to explore high school without holding back. She is one of those unique characters that you want to protect because they are so precious, relatable, loveable and so beautifully written.
I ended up rooting for her, I would read with a smile on my face when you could see her trying new things.
Similarly, when things were difficult my heart would break for her.
I took a break from young adult and paranormal books, I can proudly say that reading Speechless has helped me find my book roots again and made me feel that I am home now.
Julia would be pushed into a whole new world, and I am not talking about high school. She does not know what is going on and what this even means for her.
There are many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I am invested in this tale and cannot wait to see where Julia will be going next.
This is an awesome book, it took me in and I ended up becoming invested in the characters and plot.
Julia is such a lovely character, I want to be her friend and protect her from the world. She is trying to be 'normal' because of her deafness and wants to explore high school without holding back. She is one of those unique characters that you want to protect because they are so precious, relatable, loveable and so beautifully written.
I ended up rooting for her, I would read with a smile on my face when you could see her trying new things.
Similarly, when things were difficult my heart would break for her.
I took a break from young adult and paranormal books, I can proudly say that reading Speechless has helped me find my book roots again and made me feel that I am home now.
Julia would be pushed into a whole new world, and I am not talking about high school. She does not know what is going on and what this even means for her.
There are many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I am invested in this tale and cannot wait to see where Julia will be going next.
May 12, 2021
This book is the perfect blend of contemporary romance and paranormal fantasy.
Julia lost her hearing at twelve in an accident. So when she is starting at a new highschool, she's nervous about how she will fit in.
Like it's not enough that her signing aid tags along with her wherever she goes, Julia can hear and see things that she can't believe are real.
Then there are these two guys who won't stop staring at her, Luke and Jeremy... and Julia needs to figure out what they mean to her...
Then she bonds with one of them, and her feelings are even more complex...
The book was a fast read, and I did not see the unexpected twist at the end coming. Can't wait to read the next book in the series - Restless
Julia lost her hearing at twelve in an accident. So when she is starting at a new highschool, she's nervous about how she will fit in.
Like it's not enough that her signing aid tags along with her wherever she goes, Julia can hear and see things that she can't believe are real.
Then there are these two guys who won't stop staring at her, Luke and Jeremy... and Julia needs to figure out what they mean to her...
Then she bonds with one of them, and her feelings are even more complex...
The book was a fast read, and I did not see the unexpected twist at the end coming. Can't wait to read the next book in the series - Restless
October 10, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I was honestly surprised at how much I loved it because I thought it was mostly a contemporary and then BAM, unknown powers, shapeshifters, a chosen one being hunted by “Others”….I was all in!!! I’m so excited to pick up book two and continue my journey with Julia, Luke and the rest of these amazing characters! Highly recommend you pick this one up….you won’t want to put it down!
June 8, 2022
This is the first of five books in this series.
We follow Julie go through her experience in high school. As she finds her way in fitting in.
I think YA will enjoy this story the characters are well written and interesting to follow
We follow Julie go through her experience in high school. As she finds her way in fitting in.
I think YA will enjoy this story the characters are well written and interesting to follow
July 27, 2021
Fun and surprising read
I wasn’t expecting the supernatural elements this book had, but the surprises were entertaining and it became a page turner. So glad I picked this up.
I wasn’t expecting the supernatural elements this book had, but the surprises were entertaining and it became a page turner. So glad I picked this up.
May 23, 2021
I have to admit, I was really torn when it came to rating this one. On one hand, the characters and the paranormal aspect of the plot were fantastic. Just loved it.
But on the other hand… oof.
Just… oof.
I was strongly tempted to give Speechless three stars. But at the end of the day, I genuinely want to read the next book. I want to know what happens next! So despite the many technical failings, I have to be honest. It’s a four star book that simply lacks polish.
Let’s start with what I loved about this book. First things first: Julia. She is a fantastic MC with an excellent voice and point of view. I loved to love her. I cared about her and wanted to know how her story would turn out.
Her life on the farm was very well fleshed out without being overbearing. And I’m always a sucker for a great brother character/relationship.
It was a breath of fresh air to have a disabled protagonist as well. Her deafness wasn’t just tossed in to make her more interesting. No, we get to experience the everyday struggles of dealing with an unusually complicated social life and having a translator constantly in her business. It was beautifully handled, at least so far as I can tell (not being disabled myself).
And then we have the hunky boys to daydream about. Both Luke and Jeremy are delightful. (I mean, if one is, then the other has to be, right? Read the book to find out why.) The sweet romance element was a great touch to balance out the fantasy side of things.
And speaking of the fantasy, it was original, intriguing, and dramatic. Cates slipped hints to the reader very deliberately to create a slow burn mystery. What exactly is different about Luke? Why can Julia hear his voice in her head?
And the final cherry on top? Ava Cates’s voice is smooth and easy to read. I WANTED to get back to reading this.
So all the building blocks are there for a great fantasy romance. And like I said before, I definitely want to know what happens next for Julia.
But… oof. Though the story, voice, and characters are great, Cates basically stumbles all the way through it. From beginning to end, it’s almost like she doesn’t quite know how to communicate the drama to her readers. Not quite. She’s almost got it, but not quite. She has the talent, but seems to lack the academia of writing a book.
First things first are the typos and grammar errors. This book is in DESPERATE need of an editor. I found many typos, several instances of misused words (who’s instead of whose, etc), and a slew of random commas throughout. I can overlook a handful of mistakes/errors, especially in a self published book. But this was beyond anything I’ve seen in a long time. Especially in a book that has such a lovely, professional-looking cover.
Next was the pacing. Speechless was a fast read, but I basically got whiplash as Julia jumped from one scene to the next at breakneck speed.
And by breakneck, I mean one paragraph she’s at home getting ready for school. Two sentences later, she’s at lunch. The next sentence? Art class. The next paragraph? She’s at work at the cafe. One line of dialogue later, she’s at home again. This happened multiple times, so there were many instances where I simply couldn’t absorb what was happening now before the next thing happened.
And my absolute biggest complaint is the lack of character relationship shown on the page.
The individual characterizations were fantastic. But the interactions between them were fairly shallow. Julia meets Jeremy on the school bus, and then he begins driving her to and from school. Then, that’s literally all they do together. Ride to school together, making chit chat, saying nothing much. And then halfway through the book, Julia suddenly begins describing him as her best friend.
And though it may be true, I simply didn’t see it. I didn’t feel it.
The same was true with Luke. Aside from Julia’s obsession with him, when it came time to interact, there was nothing special. They didn’t have much chemistry on the page. I only knew that Julia kept thinking about him and clearly liked him a lot.
And I honestly simply did not understand the relationship between Julia and Jill, her supposed best friend. Jill is completely in Julia’s corner at first, but then she gets irritated about something and then kind of disappears for the rest of the book.
My final con is that a specific character (which I won’t mention for fear of spoiling something) was inserted almost as an afterthought. He made a handful of appearances toward the end of the book, and the reader is led to believe he will be a major character moving forward. But I couldn’t get a grasp on him. And considering how the book ended, I desperately wanted him to have a better foundation in book one.
This next bit isn’t much of a con, but it was noticeable.
Speechless drew many, MANY parallels to Twilight, which I found amusing.
The first half of the book, not much happened. The MC is fascinated by a beautiful boy who seems to be not quite human. Then at exactly the 50% mark, we get the first mention of danger. Yup, other people like Luke – the not so nice ones – want to hurt Julia.
Luke, the mysterious not-quite-human boy, lives in a house with a bunch of other people like him: his chosen family. Exactly like the Cullens.
There is a love triangle involving shape-shifters. (Sound familiar?)
And Luke even slipped into Julia’s room at night to watch her sleep.
I’ll be honest, I almost stopped reading right there, I was so creeped out by the unknown invasion of her privacy. But I had to be fair, so I continued reading. I would give Cates the opportunity to let Julia find out about it and be justly creeped out as well. By the end of book one, however, Julia still doesn’t know about that little tidbit, so I’ll have to wait until a later book to make sure she doesn’t see it as being romantic.
Any two (or even three) of these cons I could have overlooked. But altogether, they nearly bumped Speechless down to a three.
But at the end of the day, I want to know what happens next. I WANT to read the next book. And that alone is enough to guarantee a four star rating from me. Because that’s the goal, isn’t it? To make people love our stories? Well, I loved this one.
But on the other hand… oof.
Just… oof.
I was strongly tempted to give Speechless three stars. But at the end of the day, I genuinely want to read the next book. I want to know what happens next! So despite the many technical failings, I have to be honest. It’s a four star book that simply lacks polish.
Let’s start with what I loved about this book. First things first: Julia. She is a fantastic MC with an excellent voice and point of view. I loved to love her. I cared about her and wanted to know how her story would turn out.
Her life on the farm was very well fleshed out without being overbearing. And I’m always a sucker for a great brother character/relationship.
It was a breath of fresh air to have a disabled protagonist as well. Her deafness wasn’t just tossed in to make her more interesting. No, we get to experience the everyday struggles of dealing with an unusually complicated social life and having a translator constantly in her business. It was beautifully handled, at least so far as I can tell (not being disabled myself).
And then we have the hunky boys to daydream about. Both Luke and Jeremy are delightful. (I mean, if one is, then the other has to be, right? Read the book to find out why.) The sweet romance element was a great touch to balance out the fantasy side of things.
And speaking of the fantasy, it was original, intriguing, and dramatic. Cates slipped hints to the reader very deliberately to create a slow burn mystery. What exactly is different about Luke? Why can Julia hear his voice in her head?
And the final cherry on top? Ava Cates’s voice is smooth and easy to read. I WANTED to get back to reading this.
So all the building blocks are there for a great fantasy romance. And like I said before, I definitely want to know what happens next for Julia.
But… oof. Though the story, voice, and characters are great, Cates basically stumbles all the way through it. From beginning to end, it’s almost like she doesn’t quite know how to communicate the drama to her readers. Not quite. She’s almost got it, but not quite. She has the talent, but seems to lack the academia of writing a book.
First things first are the typos and grammar errors. This book is in DESPERATE need of an editor. I found many typos, several instances of misused words (who’s instead of whose, etc), and a slew of random commas throughout. I can overlook a handful of mistakes/errors, especially in a self published book. But this was beyond anything I’ve seen in a long time. Especially in a book that has such a lovely, professional-looking cover.
Next was the pacing. Speechless was a fast read, but I basically got whiplash as Julia jumped from one scene to the next at breakneck speed.
And by breakneck, I mean one paragraph she’s at home getting ready for school. Two sentences later, she’s at lunch. The next sentence? Art class. The next paragraph? She’s at work at the cafe. One line of dialogue later, she’s at home again. This happened multiple times, so there were many instances where I simply couldn’t absorb what was happening now before the next thing happened.
And my absolute biggest complaint is the lack of character relationship shown on the page.
The individual characterizations were fantastic. But the interactions between them were fairly shallow. Julia meets Jeremy on the school bus, and then he begins driving her to and from school. Then, that’s literally all they do together. Ride to school together, making chit chat, saying nothing much. And then halfway through the book, Julia suddenly begins describing him as her best friend.
And though it may be true, I simply didn’t see it. I didn’t feel it.
The same was true with Luke. Aside from Julia’s obsession with him, when it came time to interact, there was nothing special. They didn’t have much chemistry on the page. I only knew that Julia kept thinking about him and clearly liked him a lot.
And I honestly simply did not understand the relationship between Julia and Jill, her supposed best friend. Jill is completely in Julia’s corner at first, but then she gets irritated about something and then kind of disappears for the rest of the book.
My final con is that a specific character (which I won’t mention for fear of spoiling something) was inserted almost as an afterthought. He made a handful of appearances toward the end of the book, and the reader is led to believe he will be a major character moving forward. But I couldn’t get a grasp on him. And considering how the book ended, I desperately wanted him to have a better foundation in book one.
This next bit isn’t much of a con, but it was noticeable.
Speechless drew many, MANY parallels to Twilight, which I found amusing.
The first half of the book, not much happened. The MC is fascinated by a beautiful boy who seems to be not quite human. Then at exactly the 50% mark, we get the first mention of danger. Yup, other people like Luke – the not so nice ones – want to hurt Julia.
Luke, the mysterious not-quite-human boy, lives in a house with a bunch of other people like him: his chosen family. Exactly like the Cullens.
There is a love triangle involving shape-shifters. (Sound familiar?)
And Luke even slipped into Julia’s room at night to watch her sleep.
I’ll be honest, I almost stopped reading right there, I was so creeped out by the unknown invasion of her privacy. But I had to be fair, so I continued reading. I would give Cates the opportunity to let Julia find out about it and be justly creeped out as well. By the end of book one, however, Julia still doesn’t know about that little tidbit, so I’ll have to wait until a later book to make sure she doesn’t see it as being romantic.
Any two (or even three) of these cons I could have overlooked. But altogether, they nearly bumped Speechless down to a three.
But at the end of the day, I want to know what happens next. I WANT to read the next book. And that alone is enough to guarantee a four star rating from me. Because that’s the goal, isn’t it? To make people love our stories? Well, I loved this one.
February 12, 2021
Where has this book been that I did not know about it until RECENTLY?!?!
OMG this book was absolutely EPIC and I immediately ordered the second book Restless in the series.
This is a Fantasty/Paranormal/Romance/YA book and it is absolutely glorious and here is WHY.
It is not your same ol' book that you will be thinking of. You have Julia who is a Senior in High School and she is Deaf from a car accident her family was in when she was 12. She has someone named Helen who follows her around school "signing" for her in front of the classroom. She had made a friend Jill who seems to be quite popular in school and knows how to sign who takes her under her wing and shows her around.
When Julia meets Luke Pallan he is drop dead gorgeous and of course all the girls in the school have a crush on him.
A few days go by and Julia goes through her normal routine of farm chores, talking with Jill at school, trying to avoid Helen and just making it through school when one day Luke tries to sit by her and she asks him to go away and she HEARS someone else say "ooooh rejected" and it startles her and Luke can see on her face that she actually heard that in her mind. This is where EVERYTHING goes wrong.
Now she meets a new guy named Jeremy who starts driving her to and from school and they become best friends but she starts having feelings for him all the while starting to hang out with Luke more and of course Jill is not happy about it.
Do you see where I'm going with this? A lot of High School drama most definitely but on the same side there is a lot more to this story that we must find out. This book ended on a major cliffhanger you don't know much and you don't get very many answers and of course this is where you have to immediately dive in to the next book just to feel like you will get some answers.
I'm anxiously waiting for my next book to come in the mail. Ava Cates is a genius and I fell in love with this out of the normal book that had me reading late in to the night just because I couldn't stop reading I was so invested!
This was a DEFINITE 5 star read!!
OMG this book was absolutely EPIC and I immediately ordered the second book Restless in the series.
This is a Fantasty/Paranormal/Romance/YA book and it is absolutely glorious and here is WHY.
It is not your same ol' book that you will be thinking of. You have Julia who is a Senior in High School and she is Deaf from a car accident her family was in when she was 12. She has someone named Helen who follows her around school "signing" for her in front of the classroom. She had made a friend Jill who seems to be quite popular in school and knows how to sign who takes her under her wing and shows her around.
When Julia meets Luke Pallan he is drop dead gorgeous and of course all the girls in the school have a crush on him.
A few days go by and Julia goes through her normal routine of farm chores, talking with Jill at school, trying to avoid Helen and just making it through school when one day Luke tries to sit by her and she asks him to go away and she HEARS someone else say "ooooh rejected" and it startles her and Luke can see on her face that she actually heard that in her mind. This is where EVERYTHING goes wrong.
Now she meets a new guy named Jeremy who starts driving her to and from school and they become best friends but she starts having feelings for him all the while starting to hang out with Luke more and of course Jill is not happy about it.
Do you see where I'm going with this? A lot of High School drama most definitely but on the same side there is a lot more to this story that we must find out. This book ended on a major cliffhanger you don't know much and you don't get very many answers and of course this is where you have to immediately dive in to the next book just to feel like you will get some answers.
I'm anxiously waiting for my next book to come in the mail. Ava Cates is a genius and I fell in love with this out of the normal book that had me reading late in to the night just because I couldn't stop reading I was so invested!
This was a DEFINITE 5 star read!!
May 20, 2021
I need book 2 ASAP! 👏🏼
This was truly remarkable and it's only the beginning! This book left me speechless (pun intended 😂) I couldn't get enough of it, I took my time and devoured every bit of it. Also not to mention tabbing it too.
Color coded:
Pink - conflict and twists
Orange - questioning
Yellow - cute and funny scenes
Green -relatable moments
Blue - Favorite lines
Light purple - Theories
Dark purple - Visuals
•
•
Blurb
We meet Julia, who's deaf and attends to a high school to feel and live normal but before you know it was far from it when she experiences weird events and people.
Then all of a sudden she hears someone, a guy, how was that possible?? Then comes across more people than she had anticipated and events happening to her, she had to know what's up. She knew her life was never going to be the same after encountering something and can't walk away from it.
•
•
The characters and plots were amazing, had me shocked and grew attached to the characters. The magical elements that came upon them was just the cherry on top, and how the relationship builds them to Julia. The start of the fantasy world was something I'm dying to get into and I need book two….like now; so badly! 😭 The exploring of hidden secrets and the life Julia that she knows is gonna get interesting.
The little romance got me hanging too, I'm like #TeamLuke but now I'm not so sure who I want to root for. 🙈 I had my reactions throughout the book, I honestly can't explain how much I truly enjoyed this! ❤
Not to mention how much I truly love how sign language was shown and used to communicate among others. It's beautiful and it made me smile when the main characters were trying to learn. I also found a few scenes that were very much relatable to me that I feel Julia and I would be best of friends in school together!
I highly recommend this and you will not be able to put it down, it's a must read to the end. 🤭
I'd like to thank Ava for giving me this book to read, along with the goodies with it. I'm sorry I took so long to get to it but now you got me wanting to binge read your series!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
This was truly remarkable and it's only the beginning! This book left me speechless (pun intended 😂) I couldn't get enough of it, I took my time and devoured every bit of it. Also not to mention tabbing it too.
Color coded:
Pink - conflict and twists
Orange - questioning
Yellow - cute and funny scenes
Green -relatable moments
Blue - Favorite lines
Light purple - Theories
Dark purple - Visuals
•
•
Blurb
We meet Julia, who's deaf and attends to a high school to feel and live normal but before you know it was far from it when she experiences weird events and people.
Then all of a sudden she hears someone, a guy, how was that possible?? Then comes across more people than she had anticipated and events happening to her, she had to know what's up. She knew her life was never going to be the same after encountering something and can't walk away from it.
•
•
The characters and plots were amazing, had me shocked and grew attached to the characters. The magical elements that came upon them was just the cherry on top, and how the relationship builds them to Julia. The start of the fantasy world was something I'm dying to get into and I need book two….like now; so badly! 😭 The exploring of hidden secrets and the life Julia that she knows is gonna get interesting.
The little romance got me hanging too, I'm like #TeamLuke but now I'm not so sure who I want to root for. 🙈 I had my reactions throughout the book, I honestly can't explain how much I truly enjoyed this! ❤
Not to mention how much I truly love how sign language was shown and used to communicate among others. It's beautiful and it made me smile when the main characters were trying to learn. I also found a few scenes that were very much relatable to me that I feel Julia and I would be best of friends in school together!
I highly recommend this and you will not be able to put it down, it's a must read to the end. 🤭
I'd like to thank Ava for giving me this book to read, along with the goodies with it. I'm sorry I took so long to get to it but now you got me wanting to binge read your series!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
November 21, 2020
🌟🌟🌟.5
—->I’m going to start with a little blurb :
Our MC is Julia. She is a teenager, starting at a new school, and she is also deaf. The only way she can communicate with others is with the help of her aide Helen, her friend Jill, or by reading lips. That is until she starts to hear voices in biology class .. at first she thinks her hearing is coming back. Until a fire breaks out at school that only she remembers.. that’s when she realizes the voices she hears are communicating inside her head, and that they might not be completely human...
Oooh doesn’t that give you chills!!? I really had fun uncovering the mysteries inside this book! Every time I felt like I had figured things out a new twist would pop up and blow me away. Many times these twists would pull at my heart strings, and I would feel all the feels ..the hurt and torn feelings our MC was feeling as well.
I think my favorite part was the multi POVs !! On each day not only is it written in Julia’s POV, but then we get our boys POVs as well!
Inside these pages there were shifters, a love triangle, heartache, and lore that kept me turning page after page! 👏
The only reason this book wasn’t a four star read for me was.. I felt like there needed more details about the shifters and who they were. Also at times the writing felt a little rushed 🤷♀️
But I really enjoyed getting to know Ava Cates writing style, and I am so glad she reached out to me to read her book!! I look forward to seeing what unfolds in your next book! (How could you end it like that !!?? 😱😆)
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal story and love triangles!!! 🖤😍
—->I’m going to start with a little blurb :
Our MC is Julia. She is a teenager, starting at a new school, and she is also deaf. The only way she can communicate with others is with the help of her aide Helen, her friend Jill, or by reading lips. That is until she starts to hear voices in biology class .. at first she thinks her hearing is coming back. Until a fire breaks out at school that only she remembers.. that’s when she realizes the voices she hears are communicating inside her head, and that they might not be completely human...
Oooh doesn’t that give you chills!!? I really had fun uncovering the mysteries inside this book! Every time I felt like I had figured things out a new twist would pop up and blow me away. Many times these twists would pull at my heart strings, and I would feel all the feels ..the hurt and torn feelings our MC was feeling as well.
I think my favorite part was the multi POVs !! On each day not only is it written in Julia’s POV, but then we get our boys POVs as well!
Inside these pages there were shifters, a love triangle, heartache, and lore that kept me turning page after page! 👏
The only reason this book wasn’t a four star read for me was.. I felt like there needed more details about the shifters and who they were. Also at times the writing felt a little rushed 🤷♀️
But I really enjoyed getting to know Ava Cates writing style, and I am so glad she reached out to me to read her book!! I look forward to seeing what unfolds in your next book! (How could you end it like that !!?? 😱😆)
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal story and love triangles!!! 🖤😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2022
The most unassuming book I've ever read in my life.
Nothing about the cover made me think what was inside it was inside of it. Let me start by saying this cover is delicious. Seeing this cover made me want to go and buy turtle necks, throw my hair up in a messy bun, hang out on a lounge chair, read books all day with some tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and forget about the busy world.
I thought I would read a cute, cozy small-town farm romance that would have me all in the feels, and in some ways, it did.
I wish some things were more pronounced in the book in the beginning because I think that more readers would have been drawn to it had they known about these elements, just a tip for the author. These elements are like SHIT HOT and seriously made me think of many things.
Think Roswell meets Switched at Birth, but only she wasn't switched at birth. That's all I'm going to tell you because you will have to read it yourself.
OMG, Jeremy, sweet innocent Jeremy, wait until you meet him in the book. You will be just as sad as the Main Character, Julia, when you find out something about him. I know I was.
When I was about to 86% through the book (at least that's what my kindle said), I thought I was getting whiplash and the author had lost her mind. I seriously thought, "Is she tired and forgetting her place." The BOMB was dropped, and I'm like, OMG, are you SERIOUS?
Then I went to the next page, and it was the about the author page.
WTH, I can't right now. I have to know more. It left you at a good place where you had some closure if you weren't into the storyline, but I'm totally into it, so I have to know more.
Clever you are, Ms. Ava Cates, Touche!!!!!!!
Nothing about the cover made me think what was inside it was inside of it. Let me start by saying this cover is delicious. Seeing this cover made me want to go and buy turtle necks, throw my hair up in a messy bun, hang out on a lounge chair, read books all day with some tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and forget about the busy world.
I thought I would read a cute, cozy small-town farm romance that would have me all in the feels, and in some ways, it did.
I wish some things were more pronounced in the book in the beginning because I think that more readers would have been drawn to it had they known about these elements, just a tip for the author. These elements are like SHIT HOT and seriously made me think of many things.
Think Roswell meets Switched at Birth, but only she wasn't switched at birth. That's all I'm going to tell you because you will have to read it yourself.
OMG, Jeremy, sweet innocent Jeremy, wait until you meet him in the book. You will be just as sad as the Main Character, Julia, when you find out something about him. I know I was.
When I was about to 86% through the book (at least that's what my kindle said), I thought I was getting whiplash and the author had lost her mind. I seriously thought, "Is she tired and forgetting her place." The BOMB was dropped, and I'm like, OMG, are you SERIOUS?
Then I went to the next page, and it was the about the author page.
WTH, I can't right now. I have to know more. It left you at a good place where you had some closure if you weren't into the storyline, but I'm totally into it, so I have to know more.
Clever you are, Ms. Ava Cates, Touche!!!!!!!
November 4, 2021
Julia is deaf going to a "normal" school for the first time and trying to fit in. She lost her hearing when she was 12 and has learned to communicate with sign and lip reading. She also has an aid who follows her from class to class which makes it difficult for her to blend.
When she suddenly "hears" someone talking to her she thinks her hearing has returned and no one believes her. What she doesn't realize is that she hears them in her head - telepathically. She thinks there are two good looking boys, Luke and Jeremy interested in her but unbeknownst to her they are one and the same. Several accidents befall her because she can hear Luke and his "kind". Why can she hear him. She needs answers.
The story is unusual because Julia is differently abled. There are some typos and grammatical errors that need to be corrected. In some places the story mirrors Twilight almost to the letter.
The reader is left with questions that aren't quite clear or explained - such as what is Luke's "kind" and who are the Others?
The back and forth points of view was a bit disconcerting for me, but it did seem to give an overall perspective of the same situation. There are bits of inconsistency when Julia is talking to people in terms of how she is communicating with them.
All in all the story is enjoyable despite all of it's parallels and has good characters. I would read the next book in the series.
When she suddenly "hears" someone talking to her she thinks her hearing has returned and no one believes her. What she doesn't realize is that she hears them in her head - telepathically. She thinks there are two good looking boys, Luke and Jeremy interested in her but unbeknownst to her they are one and the same. Several accidents befall her because she can hear Luke and his "kind". Why can she hear him. She needs answers.
The story is unusual because Julia is differently abled. There are some typos and grammatical errors that need to be corrected. In some places the story mirrors Twilight almost to the letter.
The reader is left with questions that aren't quite clear or explained - such as what is Luke's "kind" and who are the Others?
The back and forth points of view was a bit disconcerting for me, but it did seem to give an overall perspective of the same situation. There are bits of inconsistency when Julia is talking to people in terms of how she is communicating with them.
All in all the story is enjoyable despite all of it's parallels and has good characters. I would read the next book in the series.
May 8, 2021
From the beginning of the book it is not clear I was about to dive into a fantasy world. The main character is a deaf high school student named Julia. She lives on a farm and lives her normal day to day life until she transfers high schools. At the new school the plot quickly thickens as a group of “popular kids” won’t stop keeping an eye on Julia. From there the story really picks up pace and paranormal aspects.
I liked several aspects of the book. Like typical YA, there was teenage drama, however, adding that element of paranormal and fantasy was the cherry on top. I also loved that the main character is deaf; you do not often ready a fantasy book where the main character has a disability. I believe it made Julia even more intriguing.
However, one aspect I would have liked more of is information about Luke and “his kind.” For how much they in the story the reader gets very limited information.
Thankfully there are two more books written so far in the series! I am looking forward to seeing how Julia progresses with her abilities and relationships.
I liked several aspects of the book. Like typical YA, there was teenage drama, however, adding that element of paranormal and fantasy was the cherry on top. I also loved that the main character is deaf; you do not often ready a fantasy book where the main character has a disability. I believe it made Julia even more intriguing.
However, one aspect I would have liked more of is information about Luke and “his kind.” For how much they in the story the reader gets very limited information.
Thankfully there are two more books written so far in the series! I am looking forward to seeing how Julia progresses with her abilities and relationships.
April 1, 2023
4.25⭐️
This is one of those times when you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover because you are most definitely wrong! 😆
Synopsis
Julia is finally attending a “regular” high school after her accident that left her deaf, but her experience is anything but regular. After a fire that no one remembers, the mean girl takes an interest in Julia, and a strange symbolic mark appears on her back…Julia’s life will never be the same.
My thoughts
Speechless has mystery, romance, and fantasy and paranormal elements. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I devoted this book pretty fast. That ending left my jaw on the floor. I was not expecting that.
I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series. Book 1 does end in a bit of a cliffhanger. Thank you so much Ava for sending me a copy of your book in March of 2022. I’m sorry it took me so long to finally read it!
This is one of those times when you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover because you are most definitely wrong! 😆
Synopsis
Julia is finally attending a “regular” high school after her accident that left her deaf, but her experience is anything but regular. After a fire that no one remembers, the mean girl takes an interest in Julia, and a strange symbolic mark appears on her back…Julia’s life will never be the same.
My thoughts
Speechless has mystery, romance, and fantasy and paranormal elements. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I devoted this book pretty fast. That ending left my jaw on the floor. I was not expecting that.
I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series. Book 1 does end in a bit of a cliffhanger. Thank you so much Ava for sending me a copy of your book in March of 2022. I’m sorry it took me so long to finally read it!
November 12, 2021
Julia's High School Experience . . .
I wasn’t at all sure where this story was heading when I read the blurb. But there were many surprises along the way that kept my curiosity and imagination pushing me to keep going. Julia is a deaf student who is attending a regular high school for the experience. And she is surprised when she thinks she hears someone speak to her. She doesn’t realize she is receiving his words in her mind. She meets Luke and his friends, but they are definitely “different”.
This story will draw the reader in. It is so unique compared to other stories I have read. I loved the various characters. Who are Luke and the others? Or maybe “what” are they? Grab your copy and follow Julia’s story to see if she gets the answers you are wondering about as well.
I wasn’t at all sure where this story was heading when I read the blurb. But there were many surprises along the way that kept my curiosity and imagination pushing me to keep going. Julia is a deaf student who is attending a regular high school for the experience. And she is surprised when she thinks she hears someone speak to her. She doesn’t realize she is receiving his words in her mind. She meets Luke and his friends, but they are definitely “different”.
This story will draw the reader in. It is so unique compared to other stories I have read. I loved the various characters. Who are Luke and the others? Or maybe “what” are they? Grab your copy and follow Julia’s story to see if she gets the answers you are wondering about as well.
May 21, 2021
As the book says it kept me speechless as well 😂. Cliffhanger is pretty rough tho, glad I had it's next part with me 🥵. So as you can see the plot line is pretty interesting and I'm just awestruck with this one. Characterization of each and every character is done beautifully. It made me hooked till the end and eventually lead me to a cliffhanger. Julia's character was fab , the thrill and suspense was well maintained. Fast paced and very engaging. Writing is lucid and strikingly good. Narration is great. This book won't disappoint you at all. So what are you waiting for grab your copy asap!!! Now off to "Restless" 🏄🏄
May 21, 2021
So it was the cover that initially brought me to this book. I have a thing for illustrated covers and I just really loved this one. After reading the blurb I still wasn’t sure what to expect so I went in with zero expectations and a little bit of hesitation with it being a YA. I’ve been lost in the rabbit hole of Romancelandia and I don’t know the last time I read a YA. To my pleasant surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Then to discover it’s a debut!? Like wow, Ava Cates did an amazing job with it. The whole premise of the story is so intriguing and I love the teasing way she gave you just a little to keep you engaged and wanting more. I can tell Julia has one heck of a story and I’m so eager to know more especially with the ending we’re left with.
November 4, 2021
What an amazing start to a series loved that it has a paranormal twist to it and it has all the right elements. A bit of high school drama and a disability that people take in to consideration (signing). The triangle between Luke and Jeremy. The powers that surround her and a surprise ending. This is filled with suspense intrigue secrets, lies, revlations, chemistry and a bond. Great read can not wait to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 21, 2020
Love the Characters!
Was up all night reading this book. I can’t wait to read the second one. It left me wondering what was going to happen to the characters which to me is always a sign of a good book. Very enjoyable and I love when you finish a book and know what you’re going to read next! Definitely worth the couple bucks!
Was up all night reading this book. I can’t wait to read the second one. It left me wondering what was going to happen to the characters which to me is always a sign of a good book. Very enjoyable and I love when you finish a book and know what you’re going to read next! Definitely worth the couple bucks!
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