Stevie‘s review of Whisper (Aidan Falls, Book 0.5) by Crystal Green
Contemporary New Adult Romance published by InterMix 20 Jan 15
Back in the days when I had lots of free time in which to browse the internet, I would sometimes lose hours to browsing the various sites that spun off from the Post Secrets community art project. So the idea of something similar existing as a phone app and being the starting point for a New Adult series definitely appealed to me. However, I’ve was a bit dubious about the ease with which users are able to recognise themselves in others’ posts, and this story got around that potential barrier rather neatly.
Because this version of the secret sharing conceit, being an app rather than an online community, allows users to see when someone in their area has posted a secret, Carly – the new girl in town – is alerted to the fact that she has a secret admirer. The app also allows users to chat anonymously, and so when Carly’s first attempt at identifying her secret admirer – by going to a party she’s sure he’ll also attend – falls through, she is able to arrange a meeting at another gathering.
I like that this second attempt to meet is at an underground event that called itself The Hellfire Club, although nothing we get to see of the party really ties in with the name. I also feel that the true identity of Carly’s secret admirer is flagged up in such an obvious way to readers that it is impossible to believe that Carly and her almost-best-friend fail to guess who he is. Some of my niggles could be explained away by this story being a teaser novella for the series-proper, but sadly it fails to tease me enough that I want to read more. A pity, since I do like stories that play with extrapolating from current technology to jump just a fraction ahead of where we’re at today.
One for bigger fans of the New Adult genre than me, I suspect.
Grade: C
Summary:
“Confess What You’re Hiding , Show Who You Really Are, Meet Others Just Like You…”
That’s the promise of the social media app called TellTale, and shy new girl Carley Rios is drawn by its lure of finding friendship…and maybe even more than that. Since she dropped out of college, she’s been aimless and lost in Aidan Falls, a town where everyone seems so tight-knit.When she comes across an anonymous, heartfelt confession on TellTale that seems to be about her, she feels a spark of hope. And when one sexy, sinful confession leads to another, she becomes swept up in a game of secret admirer. All signs point to her admirer being another newcomer in town, Micah, who’s quickly gaining a reputation as a lothario.
But Carley is about to find out that love and acceptance is sometimes only a heartbeat away—and in a place where you haven’t bothered to look until a whisper finally catches your attention…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
