A Need So Beautiful

A Need So Beautiful #1

by Suzanne Young

WE ALL WANT TO BE REMEMBERED. CHARLOTTE'S DESTINY IS TO BE FORGOTTEN.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need - a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become - her mark on this earth, her very existence - is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny - no matter how dark the consequences?

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Angels, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural

267 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 2011

About the author

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program, The Treatment, and several other novels. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was almost a really good book. Angel books are tricky anyway, perhaps because they can't rely so much on the sexy-dangerous vibes of other paranormal creatures such as vampires or werewolves, and then there's a certain expectation of a higher purpose being fulfilled. It's a fine line to balance that greater calling along with making a character relatable and sympathetic, so it's no wonder that we don't see very many good ones. It's very strange, then, to find an angel YA book that does the most difficult elements of an angel book very, very well, but somehow falls short in the everyday life stuff.

Charlotte is an angel whose purpose is to help those in need, but she's destined to be forgotten by everyone she has ever known. Day by day, her Need grows stronger and her ties to the earth grow more tenuous, and Charlotte becomes increasingly distraught over the thought of having to leave everyone she loves behind, including her adoptive family, her best friend, and her boyfriend Harlin.

The way that Charlotte's purpose is described, and the anecdotes with her fulfilling her Need, are well-written and appropriately serious, and I enjoyed the rather lovely imagery of piece by golden piece of her true skin being revealed each time she helps someone. What moved me to a surprising degree, however, were the moments when Charlotte realizes the terrible price she must personally pay for this calling, and her unhappiness when she thinks about having lived a life that no one else remembers. Memory is an important part of our human experience, and the loneliness of Charlotte's plight seemed unbearably sad to me.

This story's greatest weakness, however, is an overemphasis on Charlotte's relationship with--you guessed it--her boyfriend Harlin. We haven't even gotten to know her very well before we're entrenched in the hot and heavy goings-on of their (already existing) relationship. It's always annoying when books that aren't specifically romance novels spend so much time focusing on the boyfriend, and it's especially irritating when one of the two is an angel who should be worried about much more important things. The really good angel books are the ones that manage to find a good balance between human life, angel duties, and romantic entanglements, such as Unearthly or Angel Burn or Mercy. I wish that A Need So Beautiful had spent less time on this rather uninteresting romance (which has a too-neat, easily guessed twist at the end) and more time fleshing out the other elements in the story.

Still, the ending was pretty awesome, and the angel parts were interesting enough that I'll be checking out the next book to see where the story goes. I'm a little afraid of the sequel's blurb, however, since it seems to emphasize the relationship aspect even more. I really, truly hope that's not the case, since the other elements of this scenario are so much more engaging and there's potential for this to be a great angel series...if only we could, once again, take the focus off the romance. It's just terribly sad when girls in life and girls in books keep losing sight of themselves whenever a hot boy is on the horizon.

This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the plus side, I have managed to complete one of my winter challenge books on the very first day it started. And no, I didn't cheat, I listened to all seven boring hours of this thing - sorry if you liked it, but this book is just dull.

It wasn't the cheesy romance, it wasn't the whole angels and emphasis on religion thing, it wasn't even the annoying voice of the audio narrator... it's just that this story is so blah. So very very blah. Haven't I read this story a million times? Don't I know these characters from nearly every other paranormal romance book? The lovestruck heroine, the hunky love interest, the supposedly quirky but mostly uninteresting best friend?

Apart from a few small annoying things that can be said about a lot of young adult novels (particularly of the paranormal kind), there isn't anything really awful that I can pinpoint specifically, hence the rating of two stars instead of one. But I will have forgotten everything about this book tomorrow. In fact, I'm already in the process of forgetting it... I just had to go back and check up on a couple of names to remind myself of the characters. Not good.

The audio narrator in this case does not do the protagonist any favours. She plays upon her whininess, and makes her sound all the more immature and completely (ridiculously) in love. I can only guess that she thought this sounded cute but, unfortunately, it did not. Also, she never changes her voice for different characters, even though several are male and one is meant to have a British accent. I'm not very experienced with audiobooks but aren't you supposed to be able to tell which character is speaking?

The best part of this book is when Charlotte's skin is peeling off - which should tell you a great deal about my interest in this story. As for the rest, her "steamy" encounters with Harlin, the discovery that she is one of the Forgotten... I really just didn't care.

[Kendare Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'd planned on reading this slowly. Seems like I plan to do that a lot. Generally, I fail because I'm a creature of impulse and little restraint. But this time, I can blame a blackout.

I read A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL in one sitting, mostly by candlelight. When the power came back on, I pretty much ignored it and just kept reading. It's a gorgeous story, full of intrigue and sweeping themes. I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with the sadness and necessity of forgetting, so parts of this book made me want to hurl with joy and depression.

Young manages to unfurl her secrets here in such an effective way. It's difficult to put the damned thing down. I'm looking forward to the sequel, A WANT SO WICKED.

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really just loved this book!

A Need So Beautiful is a great take on Angel lore, which I'm always looking for, so this was a nice treat.
I've never read anything by Suzanne Young before, but I think that's just gonna have to change. Her writing is easy to get lost in and kept me intrigued from the first page, on.

What I loved most about this book was that the relationship was already solidly rooted. No awkward first-meets, or getting to know what buttons work here or silly antics to get him to notice you. Not that I mind that in reads, but it's refreshing to to able to sink into a characters love life for a change. Not only are Charlotte and Harlin absolutely adorable and swoon-worthy, but they are both likable and it never felt forced or overly sappy. They had a lot of genuine moments and you can see that what they feel for each other is real, which makes this even more bittersweet.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed myself with this book. It was exactly what I needed for the kind of mood I've been in lately.
It's sexy, sweet and sensational, and I'm definitely gonna need to pick up a copy for keeps.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to sound like a pessimistic reader, but I found this book to be a bit anticlimactic and characters, a little irritating. EXCEPT FOR THE VERY LAST PAGE! THAT really threw me for a mind-f*ck and I'll admit to wanting to read the sequel for that reason alone. It wasn't so much a cliff hanger...the one that enrages a reader with anger or need for the next book, but It's truly compelling. Perhaps it was just me, but I felt a bit underwhelmed, but I decided to change my original rating of 2 stars to 2.5. Most of that is due to the last page and the fact that it had started out so promising.

Charlotte is some form of angel-esque being, who has a time limit on how long she can stay on Earth. However, she only finds that bit of info out gradually throughout the book. She has these increasingly painful need compulsions that overtake her, forcing her into finding someone specific who could benefit from her omniscience about them and their life. Each time she does one of these good deeds, she loses a bit of her physical humanity and start to turn gold. According to her mentor figure, Manroe, it's her destiny as a Forgotten and she'll one day turn into light. The most beautiful light and that'll be the end of it. However, she doesn't want to disappear forever and she tries to find a way to stay, only it becomes a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario for her. That's really it folks.

For some reason all the characters felt a little too one dimensional and flat. As a heroine, all I felt Charlotte let me in on her character was her day-to-day experience with her friends/family and her needs. However it all got rather boring after the first few experiences. How many times does reading about her feeling the need compel her into going to talk to someone suppose to excite/interest the reader? There was nothing menacing about her doing it, or her encounters, and I never felt any sort of tension that would make it truly captivating. The best situation was when she went to sit with the gay guy who dying . I found it to be really touching. I was also very irritated that she kept lying to Harlin in the worst way and hardly ever apologized in a manner that demonstrated true contrition other than try to get physically intimate with him, (distracting him) using a kiss, sex, or other forms of touch. I suppose I was more irritated about the way he didn't really confront her about it until the last 30 pages of the novel. It's like, buddy you need to man up and call her on her f*ckery! The biggest problem was that there was not one person I truly cared about in this novel to a normal degree. I did feel for Harlin at first, but then for some reason I became a little irritated with him and stopped caring. Not caring about the characters, especially the main ones, is never a good thing.

Anyway, I didn't find anything spectacular about this read, except for the last page, as I said before. The pacing was off, characters rather flat, it was redundant, and the prose wasn't anything to gut me, make me swoon, or feel anything other than "meh!". But through all that I didn't hate it, so I can't give it 1 star and I had started off excited to read it and then the very very end, like the last page, really intrigued me. It's more like 2.5 stars but I feel that maybe I'm just being weird about this...like if I'd been able to read in one sitting as I usually do, as oppose to the constant stop-and-go I experienced while reading this, I wouldn't be so harsh? It could all just be wishful thinking.


Recap of my issues:

The redundancy. It's really quite repetitive, all this need calling out to Charlotte and her skin turning gold, and her stomach pains and headaches. Also, the fact that she's constantly saying she doesn't want to be forgotten is all so draining. We get it!

The pacing. The way it seems like no time has gone by at all for every event to escalate to the extreme bothered me. The first time Charlotte decided to not follow her need her whole body damn near turns grey. Really? That soon? I mean she only had one spot of gold on her shoulder after serving two needs in the beginning of the book AND that's after she already completed a few other need assignments before the timeline of the book. Her turning gold was much more gradual to her turning grey. I don't know if it's to symbolize something more significant, that turning against your destiny really sets you back further than your progress when you follow it, but if so, it was poorly executed in my opinion. It felt disingenuous.

Harlin's attitude toward Charlottes lies. I think it took too damn long to call her out on her lies. Furthermore, when he did it seemed so anticlimactic and flat. I dunno. I just couldn't help but not care.

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I could have given A Need So Beautiful just one star for all the "Oh, I love him so" moments, but that wouldn't be fair, because it has this one really great thing going for it, an out of the box concept of a non- angel (the Forgotten) with purpose. The combination of my going in blind plus my particular brand of cover-love did wonders on me wanting to know what the story was. And once all is said and done, I'm divided: a two or a four? There were good parts, there’s that really great part, BUT there were really annoying bits too.

Two Stars

Charlotte Cassidy Needs (notice the caps,) to help and has done so, off and on, through out, but of late, her Need has come on more frequently leaving her more out of sorts than normal. After so many years of being what she was, and doing what she did, why accept the sudden volunteering of information from not one but two people? While one was an old and trusted friend, the same had withheld knowledge, and the other, well, the other was a virtual stranger. And what does Charlotte do? Why, swallow their answers of course! She could be the definition of gullible:



And she's just so perfect, so self-sacrificing. The Need compels her, so she must help. And even with the pain she does so. For seventeen years... Why, she is an angel, isn't she? My question is through all that helping and sneaking about, why didn't anyone notice? Now one of my bigger questions is why withhold the information from her Love at all? Was this another case of telling you would put you in danger? It couldn’t be the case because she didn’t know what she was! And if they loved each other passionately, desperately, why bother hiding? For such a deep true love, there’s a lot that they didn’t talk about. Oh well, that they love each other should be enough.

At least Harlin is sigh-worthy. He is rough around the edges, but he a softy when it came to her. Together though they gave me cavities; they were just so sweet! Other than said couple, there’s the loving adoptive mother and the best friend type that I’ve come to expect in these books. You know, the rich, popular but “misunderstood” best friend. There really is a lot of same old same old in this one.

Four Stars

If that’s all there was, why bother? Well, it's out of the box. Unearthly was notable given its angels with a purpose, is that what Charlotte was? Mercy was a surprise favorite because I did not know where her story would take me. Is that what happened? Both these elements are in A Need So Beautiful. Charlotte has always helped people; but now she is compelled to do so with more frequency. With her secret about to be discovered, she is finally told that she’s to be The Forgotten. Now, to explain that would ruin everything, so I’ll just say, go out and read this one.

[Colleen Houck]

Loved the twist at the end! I can't imagine going through what this girl does and being told by, essentially, her watcher, what she had to do about it. If you loved Buffy, this series has a similar tone. Ready for the next one!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a gush fest, just so you know.....

A Need So Beautiful was so very wonderfully, hauntingly beautiful. I truely did not want this one to end, I could not put it down. It was angelic, but not in the preachy sense. Mrs. Young has charmed me and has me "needing" more of her writing.

Charlotte has these compulsions, these needs. They take her by the heart and she has no choice but to see them through. To fight them seems impossible, besides she never has wanted to until now, now that she knows what she is, now that she knows what is going to happen if she doesn't fight. Only fighting it doesn't really leave a better solution. She feels so hopeless. She doesn't want to just vanish and have no one but her seer remember her. She has to fight for her boyfriend, for her friends, for her family. But, in the end it's not really them she needs to fight for. SHe has to make this decision on her own. It's either a moment of pure love or a lifetime living in the shadows.


Can I just say, that ending was equal parts awesome and sad. I want to know where the "need" comes from. What is sending Charlotte to do all these things? I want to go deeper into this. I see that brilliant little #1 next to the title up there.... maybe I will get some answers. I will definitely be reading #2!

4.5 stars

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Do you hear that, it's a chior singing to you.... they are singing "Read this, it's glorious! Read it, it's Marvelous!"

[Trish Doller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading A Need So Beautiful while it was being written, so I wasn't sure how the story was going to affect me when I finally read the finished book. When I reached the end I had tears streaming down my face, which is saying something because books don't normally make me cry...and I'd read it before!

Suzanne Young has done something special. She's created a fresh mythology in a genre that's gotten really old for me; her characters are flawed and authentic; and her writing...oh, how it shines!

P.S. And If you think this is a book about angels... think again.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Need So Beautiful was one of my most anticipated books of the whole year. I’m not quite sure why it sounded so appealing to me, to be honest, and maybe the cover did influence me a bit more than I should have let it, but I’m not lying when I tell you it was one of the biggest letdowns. Ever.

Charlotte lives with her foster mother and foster siblings in a big city and she goes to an expensive prep school with her best friend Sarah, who’s the pretty, annoying girl who doesn’t have many friends. Charlotte’s boyfriend, Harlin, loves her and even though they don’t see an acceptable-by-society future together, the most important thing to her is finding out a way for them to stay together for as long as possible. Scratch that: the biggest and most important thing on her mind is to figure out to keep her secret. Because Charlotte knows it’s not normal how she’s “called” to certain people and how she blanks out after talking to them and how everyone is forgetting her and how her skin is flaking off gold. She knows it’s not normal, but she can’t help but follow her Need. What is Charlotte, how can she keep everyone she loves from forgetting her, and what’s to come of her?

The plot doesn’t sound as boring as it actually is. In fact, it sounds like some newfound, brilliant angel scheming that has nothing to do with forbidden romance and a sexy devil, which should have been refreshing but obviously wasn’t. I give credits to Young for having an out-of-the-box idea…and then I take most of them back because she was unable to do it justice. What consists of this book is many a chapter of revelations that are never clarified, creatures that are never understood, and description after description of Charlotte doing mundane things and helping people for reasons unexplained, which actually becomes boring after the second time, in case you didn’t know. Charlotte and I were left in the middle of nowhere at the end of the book – this is a problem, even if there is another book on the way, because readers will get confused and muddled and the introduction will take forever when the second book is finally released the next year.

Young has the prose that makes me feel like I’m reading an essay written by someone in the first person. She writes fact after fact, event after event, and when she finally decides to toss in something that would make me CARE about the characters, it’s a lost hope because by that point, nothing could make me care about the characters I don’t know. Charlotte seemed like a nice person and all, but she had the sentiments of a freaking dresser – there were drawers and compartments able to hold something, but none of them were used to store anything worth picking out. Harlin was the human boyfriend who actually got affection, and although I appreciated that Young didn’t introduce someone to rival him, he was stuck in the Bad Boy is Caring stereotype, like Sarah, the best friend, who was stuck in the Snobby Snooty and Stuck-Up rich-blonde stereotype. If Young is good at creating any characters, she’s good at recreating those from Disney’s Prom (a godforsaken movie, just so you know).

Like I said, the climax and cliffhanger were pathetic. Picture riding on an airplane to somewhere, to just arrive in a completely different place – think out-of-this-world – with no idea how you got there. And then imagine that you had no idea how you got on the airplane IN THE FIRST PLACE and how you had no semblance of where you were going then either. Picture that and ask yourself if that mind-boggling crap is worth reading.

I think I’m done reading angel-books. A Need So Beautiful involved more religion than other angel-books (Personal Demons was terrible) and for that I was grateful - I mean, these kids go to a freaking Catholic school, for goodness sakes! You’d think that even if they weren’t angels that they’d have even a little bit of God-loving in them – because she showed a little bit of class and respect. Unfortunately, her okay-characters, decent plot-idea nor her respect-for-religion could save A Need So Beautiful. I won’t be reading a sequel, or anything else by Young.

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young
Audience: 13+ (questionable content, questionable language)
Rating: 2/5
Recommend?: If you’re looking for a quick read with no emotional ties, this is the book for you. If you’re actually looking for something with substance, however, I suggest you skip over angels all together.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is breathtakingly beautiful inside and out. I laughed, I cried, and I connected with the characters in a way that is rare and wonderful. Charlotte has not had an easy life. She's been in a foster family since she was young and has no real memory of where she came from. She has the Need, a driving force that leads her to helping complete strangers. She doesn't know where it will take her, or what she will face while she's there but the urge can't be stopped. Once she's at her destination, she gives the person a message that, in a major way, will change their destiny.


Charlotte is realistic in a sense that she is not perfect, but her personality takes amazing form throughout the book. She might be an angel but she is far from having an angelic personality. She is head-over-heals in love with her boyfriend, Harlin. Once you read this story, it's easy to see why. Harlin is intense, caring, and swoon-worthy beyond many male characters I have read about. His love for Charlotte is deep and meaningful. I never questioned their intense love and affection for one another. I knew from the beginning how they could have been so drawn to each other.


Harlin helps Charlotte in ways no other character could. He wants to be her protector but knows she is keeping something from him. For Charlotte, confiding her dark secret to Harlin is a scary thought. This brings conflict in the story because beyond Charlotte's true identity, she has lived her life as a normal teenage girl in all other aspects. The changes occurring in Charlotte's life, physically and mentally, are having her question her own destiny.


Several other characters help to perfectly round out this story. Her best friend Sarah brings in a great dynamic and her foster family, although rarely seen, help the reader grasp the other parts of Charlotte's life. Throughout the story Charlotte learns more about her identity and it brings her life to a halt. The thought that she could be forgotten, forever, is something she can't begin to grasp.


Suzanne Young's writing paints a clear picture of a girl fighting to survive. A girl who doesn't want her friends and family to forget she ever existed. A Need So Beautiful forces the reader through several emotions as they feel what Charlotte goes through during her journey. This is an angel story like no other, and I'm excited to see where Suzanne Young takes us during the next installment.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting story. I really enjoyed A Need So Beautiful I took my time reading this, which in turn, made the reading experience so much more. This beautifully written story has the capacity to capture your emotions and tug on your heartstrings.

This is about good vs evil, making hard decisions to do what's right. These characters were flawed, realistic and capable of leaving an impact on you. Charlotte, our protagonist, has a duty of fulfilling the "Need" As this special Need pulls her to help people, she becomes less of your normal teen. She is a golden light that shines brightly and fills people she's helped and knows with the feeling of love and hope. As the need grows stronger, the golden glow begins to show. There is one person who holds Charlotte's heart, and that is her boyfriend, Harlin. She would do anything to stay with him. While reading this, my heart just broke. As Charlotte gets closer to the end of her time and fulfilling the Need, she will be wiped away from the memories of those she loved and who loved her.

I think this was written so well. In fact, the beautiful imagery and emotion behind the story was compelling. Memories are such an important part of our lives. Pictures, journals and other fascets of capturing moments of our existance. I couldn't imagine never being remembered. But, there is hope for Charlotte too.

The ending was not what I had expected, but was so much better! Just when you think you know how it will end, Suzanne Young, throws you a twist. It was...beautiful.

I highly recommend A Need So Beautiful

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)]

RTC

[Kelly/yllektra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow!!!
I absolutely adored this book.
From start to finish I felt connected to Charlotte and her destiny and wanted her to actually live and stay...
Towards the end I got so emotional and desperate to see this through, I cried till my mouth went dry.

It is the story of a teenager, 16-year-old Charlotte Cassidy who is an orphan, or at least thinks she is, living with her foster mother, Mercy and her foster siblings, Alex and Georgia.

She was found as a six-year-old, alone and abandoned and ever since then, she has made a life for herself in Portland with them, also having a best friend, Sarah -a spoiled, rich girl you learn to love- and Harlin, her boyfriend - the designated, not-so-bad boy.

Ever since she can remember herself, she has been suffering from episodes, she calls them the "Need", that involve her feeling absolutely compelled to get somewhere, be somewhere in order to help someone or prevent a tragedy. It's not just an intangible need, it is a physically excruciating experience every time, as she is in tremendous pain until she helps the one she is supposed to and then she is euphoric.

She disguises all this as asthma attacks, but as the episodes grow more frequent and intense, she knows that excuse won't hold up for long. As if the Need wasn't enough, she suddenly realizes that her skin is peeling off, revealing nothing but golden light, as if she is a being of pure energy. Freaked out, she doesn't know who to turn to, but her family's long-time doctor friend, Monroe.
Monroe seems relieved and he reveals to her that he is her Seer, the one who is supposed to help her through the transition.
... She is meant to slowly dissolve, shedding her skin, her physical being, becoming only light and ceasing to exist in this world, having however, touched everyone she has helped and loved, with love.
But surprise... They will no longer remember her!

And herein lies the tragedy of this story. Most of us go through the motions in life. We all want to make a difference, but are unsure if we are.
If we can't make the world better, or have the perfect life, the least we hope for is a full life, a life full of love from the people we care about, our family, our friends.
If no one else ends up loving us, at least we have our family to fall back on....
Well, not Charlotte and that just broke my heart.
Isn't helping people noble? Isn't it tremendously important?
Absolutely, but can we really let go of everyone we have ever loved? Can we make that sacrifice? Keep following through with the Need, helping people, only to dissolve and be forgotten?

And what if we had only lived for 16 years like Charlotte?
Would we feel ready to leave everything behind?
It's no wonder Onika - the villain of the story - had an easy time tempting Charlotte towards the shadows, trying to corrupt her.
The backstory between Onika and Monroe seemed fascinating and I'd really want to find out more about them in the next book, which I will soon grab! XD

I think the story was completely original and I didn't see the explanation of "The Forgotten" coming. I didn't think it would be like that, but it was bittersweet, tragic and perfect all in one.
The characters felt "full" and you didn't think anything was missing, you still got a feel of them and were clear and distinct.
I think the love interest was handled nicely, too. I could feel the love and the romance between them, as well as the loyalty and devotion they had towards each other.
I was quite fond of Harlin throughout the book and I liked the little twist at the end.
Sarah initially came across as too self-involved, but reading about her family, it was really justifiable and I think she did the best she could, given the circumstances.
I mean she is just a young teenager, she is allowed to make mistakes.

Charlotte, was strong, brave and noble and I loved that about her. She handled everything with the utmost dignity and whenever she had a breakdown, I broke down with her, as well.
Her emotional devastation was described so powerfully, I really felt for her.
I also think her "visions" were done magnificently.
I loved how the author tackled the background and plot of every single "charge" Charlotte had to help.

I don't think there was anything I didn't like about the book. The editing was great, the plot flowed very nicely and I really had only a couple of moments at which I got frustrated, but that was mostly due to Onika's scenes, which were cut short a few times, prolonging the mystery of her existence and preventing us from knowing Charlotte's alternative choice just for the heck of it (:P) - Or maybe that's what I thought because I couldn't wait to know! XD

All in all, a very gripping and emotionally charged book, at least from me. A really fresh take on the whole "mythology" of Angels, although it is not stated that Charlotte is, indeed, an angel.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Firstly, thanks so much to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this to read and review!**

Suzanne Young’s novel A Need So Beautiful is like nothing I’ve ever read before. So incredibly beautiful in its pain and anguish, I promise you it will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It will not be forgotten......

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. Going into it I was expecting a roundabout angel tale and instead this book was so filled with so much depth and emotion that at times I wasn’t even sure what to think, let alone feel. Having just finished reading it, I’m not quite sure what to write to accurately describe the emotions this book drew from me. Reading about Charlotte’s journey, Young ripped me raw and tore me apart as I saw Charlotte’s world as she knew be ripped apart and watched her faced choices that people aren’t supposed to face.

I admit it took me a tiny bit of time to become absorbed with this book. The beginning seemed slow, but once I fell into the groove of it, I didn’t wanna leave. I cannot deny that this book was filled with wonderful characters, from Charlotte herself to her incredible foster family to her best friend, boyfriend and amazing family friend who helps Charlotte in her difficult journey, however it was the overall plotline and theme behind this book that truly captivated me. Suzanne Young has woven together and incredible tale of angst and choices that makes you think.
I believe we all like to think that we’ll leave a mark on this world, even if it’s in some small way. That eventually when this life ends we’ll be remembered for something we’ve done or a life we’ve touched, and in this fantastic paranormal YA tale we explore this idea. A Need So Beautiful forces you as the reader to imagine Charlotte’s fear and anguish and even desperation as she fights to stop what it ultimately her destiny.

There’s so much growth in Charlotte, from start to finish in this book and she goes from being an everyday teenager with regular problems to realising she’s something more too untimely deciding if she can accept all she was meant to be. Charlotte’s beautiful story of life and acceptance is one that’s tinged with a romance that felt real and realistic and will catch you from the beginning. Charlotte was an amazing character. With a plotline as strong as this one, as the main character Charlotte needed to be someone readers could emphasize with and understand....and she certainly was! Her fears and feelings were rational—you could understand why she acted the way she did, why she fought so hard against that which she couldn’t change and every single one of her denials make absolute sense. Her world was being ripped out from under her and she had no control over it. It was outside her hands and as she struggled to believe and accept that, you were torn apart as you watched her because her situation was so dire, and yet incredibly beautiful at the same time. All Charlotte was, all she’d ever been was catching up with her and forcing her to make the ultimate choice. Every single action and emotion that went through Charlotte’s head and heart were completely justified.

The ending of this book still clings to me even as I write this review and I’m so unsure of what will happen next. It was not exactly what I was expecting and yet I know this heart-tugging story and bittersweet ending will captivate readers, exactly like it has done me and leave us all breathless and begging for more.....

[Darkfallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is truly a different spin on the supernatural. I almost wanna say it's a different spin on angels...but to be honest I'm not sure it is.

In fact I think it is something else entirely...The Forgotten.

What would you do if you found out that you were....quite literally...no one?

Charlotte's character is great. I love her voice. I loved the fact that like any teenager these days, she is completely head over heals in love with her boyfriend, and they express it in the most physical of ways. NO there is not graphic details. This is YA after all. But Ms. Young doesn't play the naive writer. Writing about high school kids that don't have sex, because face it people MOST high school ARE. And Ms. Young isn't expecting her readers to be naive and buy into the whole we have been together for 2 years and still haven't had sex

Another great thing is that this doesn't follow the normal YA pattern of boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy & girl fall in love at first sight, then pull away, only to end up together in the end. Nope it was refreshing to come into Charlotte & Harlin's relationship after it was already established. But I felt so sorry for these two.

I have to admit in the beginning, while the writing was good, I wasn't seeing what all the hype was about. And then, next thing I know, there are tears rolling down my face and I'm like "Hey when did I start caring this much? How are you making me cry?" And that is what I think makes this a great book. It's the sneak attack. One minute you are just kinda idling by and then BAM! It's got you.

The whole concept of the Forgotten. Their sole purpose to bring light into peoples lives. Saving them...mostly from themselves. Saving their souls....at the price of yours? Knowing with each person you save the more you fade away, until you are completely forgotten, until you are nothing. It's heart breaking...truly.

Leaves you wondering if you were ever really anything to begin with. This story takes "self-sacrifice" to a new level.

So I'll ask you again...what is you found out that you were nothing?

Would you give up and accept it?

Or would you fight?

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all Suzanne Young is not a one trick pony. She has more up her sleeve than ninja cheerleaders. While The Naughty List made me laugh (and I will confess, cry a little bit), A Need So Beautiful ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it. If you’ve ever been in love, if you’ve ever had a pain in the ass job to do, A Need So Beautiful is the book for you.

Read the rest of my review here

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75/5

Review coming soon!

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this probably around 2012/2013 and it disappeared into the ether of my old house. Lucky for me, when we cleaned it out I found all the books that I had "lost" and now get to read them.

This one... I don't know how I feel about it. I really didn't like the ending, but that's my personal preference. It felt like there was lots of room for improvement, but it was sitting at a B grade. So it was good, but I kept being let down because I saw the potential for growth. There was lots of repetition and needless repeating that had me frustrated. And it's a relatively short book, so the repetition felt like it was just there for length.

The interesting concept was what really hooked me, though. So it's one of those books that is 50/50 for whether I would recommend it.

And there... are two sequels? I'm intrigued, but I want to follow Charlotte, not a new character.

Alas, it's... okay.

Two out of five stars.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Short Version:
Unique in premise and brilliant in execution, A Need so Beautiful weaves a fresh, fantastic new take on light and dark. Creating an angel of sorts while not relying heavily on actual angel principles, Young has made a stellar blend of contemporary with a supernatural twist. With a sympathetic protagonist, a hot love interest, and a well paced story line, A Need so Beautiful is engaging from the start and fulfilling in the end.

The Extended Version:
Charlotte is an incredibly likable character, filled with great qualities that make her both a great friend and an enjoyable protagonist. Ridden with an overwhelming Need to do good deeds, however, she goes through some trying situations and fantastic overall character growth. Her love for her boyfriend is intense, and the two share some very emotional and poignant scenes. Charlotte’s character is built strongly from the start, with hints of it continuing throughout even as she is pushed further towards being Forgotten.

Harlin is dreamy in every sense of the world, a rugged bad boy with a completely soft, sweet side that outshines the rest. He is deeply in love with Charlotte, and will do most anything for her. He not only drives the plot in some key places, but he pushes Charlotte in ways she otherwise wouldn’t go through. He is a very well done love interest, and the playout as a couple that’s been together for two years rather than falling in love newly adds a fresh element to this book.

The rest of the cast of characters is relatively small but focused and well developed. From Charlotte’s best friend, Sarah, to the doctor at the clinic she volunteers at to her foster mother, Young has made each character unique and memorable. The importance of some characters isn’t seen until the end, and the interactions between them all is both enjoyable and emotional throughout.

While there is angelic element, so to speak, this isn’t an angel book and the new twist on this makes it stand out. Young’s plot is completely unique and plays out a very steady pace. Each new Need adds something not only to Charlotte but to the worldbuilding as well, creating things smoothly for the reader without any specific focus on it. New pieces of the overall puzzle about Charlotte and the Forgotten come at regular intervals, each one at just the right time before the bold finale. The various Needs Charlotte endures each have their own impact and message, and the thought behind them is clear and appreciated.

There is a clear contemporary component to this book, using a setting and situation that any reader can understand, visualize, and imagine themselves in. The incorporation of the Needs and supernatural element is smooth and clear, never leaving the reader confused or wondering what is going on. Explanations come in at just the right moments, and the story logic is easy to follow.

Young’s writing flows very smoothly and has an easy readability to it. With just the bare minimum of description, Young is straight to the point and rich in voice and characterization, while still giving enough detail to build the events in the reader’s mind. There is a good blend between funny and rough, and Young has perfect timing in instances of both humor and romance amidst the more serious events going on. There are some incredibly emotional scenes, cutting right into the reader and pitched in a way that everyone can empathize with, strengthening the bond between reader and the characters.

The overall impact of this book is potent, throwing both right and wrong, and lasting effects into questions. From self sacrifice to how far someone should go with good deeds, and building on things easy to understand and pitched in her own way, Young has most definitely made something that is both enjoyable to read but will make a reader think. Mixing in a focused amount of love and romance also adds to the lasting impression of this book, testing the power of love and slipping in implications of lingering memories and the power they can hold.

[Nafiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I really didn’t. There was one big reason for that and it came with wings. Yeah, this is an angel book and I am afraid that the stigma attached to YA angel books coupled with the cover, which while beautiful does not really say anything pertinent, has led potential readers to decry whatever potential joy this book may bring them. But honestly, Charlotte’s story is not just original, it seems refreshing. Yes, I am talking about an angel book refreshing. I might have had too much coffee but seriously, this is a beautiful book that you need to try out. And you know I’m serious because usually I save the recommendation for the end of the review.

I think what struck me about this book was the delicacy with which the author approaches themes of life and death. Of good and evil. Is it still Good we are doing if we are doing it against our will? And if this Good that we can’t help but do, if it causes us pain, does it still retain its Goodness? Questions like these are prominent to the more discerning reader. Charlotte is an engaging character and her conflicts are so real, so relateable that you can’t help but empathize with her pain. What she is going through, though it is placed in a supernatural context, is real, is very possible. Being forgotten, as though you never were, what must the relatives of people with Alzheimers go through? What sort of betrayal is it? To be forgotten even though it’s unintentional.

I also liked the different kinds of relationships in this book. From the very complicated (and yet very compelling) romance to the plain friendship between two girls. To the dynamics of a family that is created because of feelings rather than blood and genetics. To the relationship forged by duty and responsibility. Every relationship is, for lack of a better word, ponderous and complex. The romance is one of the most wonderful parts of this book because of it’s fierceness and because of its sincerity. There is no third person in this relationship and there doesn’t need to be one to make it as layered as a relationship is.

But at the heart of it all, I think it is Charlotte’s journey inside herself, her struggle and then her eventual courage at the denouement of the novel that finally wins my favour. It is not an easy decision, the one she makes. In fact, I don’t think anyone could easily decide something like that. I won’t give it away except to say that the book delivers strongly and cleanly. And the best part is, there is a sequel that I am absolutely dying to read. It really is a beautiful book and I think you should all give it a try. Seriously.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 2.5 stars ***' Maureen,' I whisper, unable to keep the words inside anymore. 'The baby's not well. You need to see the doctor. You need to see him now.'
Welcome to the oh-so-complicated and supersecret universe of Charlotte Cassidy a.k.a. Doubly-NEEDYGIRL. It isn't sufficient that she has this severely compulsive Joan-of-Arcadia-thingy going on, which physically forces her - by slowly building up pain and body heat, nausea, blindness, suffocation and whatnot - to follow the unpredictably up-popping trails of her own divine scavenger hunt across town without even letting her know what sort of obscure but life-saving message is going to pour out of her sweet, little mouth before she parts her lips. Heavens, NO! Foundling-without-a-proper-past Charlotte literally NEEDS her half-orphaned drop-out-boyfriend Harlin so much it hurts, because apart from turning her into an always-and-forever-horny maniac he makes her able to BREATHE, like she never had breathed before He's like a want I can't describe. And I don't just mean physically. When I'm not with him, I feel almost empty. Lost. I can barely remember what it was like before him. (It's not like she can remember anything from ' before' anyway.) . It goes without saying that those two NEEDS or urges or compulsions clash with each other, and in spite of Harlin being such a cutie, such a perfect boyfriend and such a strappingly glorious soulmate Charlotte cannot risk telling him what makes her spontaneously jump out of windows or prowl her apartment building shoeless and in her sleepwear. Even newbie romantasy consumers would anticipate the inevitable mistrust and frustration that consequently occur in paradise.

To round the situation up there is a rich-but-unhappy-girl bestie who is supposed to have slut-rumor-problems, but has an alcohol problem and Daddy issues instead, and a mysteriously smirking, good or bad Mary Poppins with a cracked face and an umbrella which makes it rain around her. Well.

The puzzling question that forms itself is: Where does the extra half-star come from? I cannot really say, but I definitely did not have to force myself to finish reading the book. It made me eye-roll, but it kept me sufficiently entertained. Which has to count, after all.

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I decided to get off my tbr pile and was not disappointed. Once I stepped into this world, I was taken back by the great world building and amazing characters!

One thing I enjoyed about the book is the world building. I really liked how the reader is able to easily step into the world of Charlotte. The descriptions of the world, the rules of The Forgotten is amazing. I really loved the feel of the plot expanding with more rules and more minor characters becoming more important that I thought.

The characters of the book were amazing. The growth of each character with each new chapter pleased me. I really loved watching them make choices not for them but for others. The sacrifices that these characters make is admirable.

The love interest of this book did take some unexpected turns that I did not see. I am happy that the relationship is much more than just a regular friendship but it's something more. Their love is fresh yet intoxicating. Whenever the reader falls into the relationship, you want to do nothing but stay in the happiness of it.

A Need So Beautiful is an well constructed beautiful story. The suspense and thrilling scenes, it plays well to captivate the reader right away. An engaging story from the first page, A Need So Beautiful is a rich portrait of a young woman coming into her destiny.

[Pam Pho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Need So Beautiful is one of the best YA books I have ever read. Asking me to explain why apparently turns my brain to mush and nothing coherent will follow. However I must try to explain my utter love for this book so that you dear reader can experience it for yourself.

The plot isn't unique, it is the formula that works on me. Boy, girl, wise guiding old person. However the supernatural element is completely unique. Charlotte is a Forgotten. She feels a pull towards people to help them and each time she helps she is losing a part of her self. The ultimate sacrifice is that she will die, but Charlotte doesn't want to die so she may have to align herself with the beautiful woman in her dreams who promises her immortality on earth.

The writing is sweet and sticky. You cling to the words long after you finish reading the story. The love story is beautiful, the best friend's story is tragic, Charlotte is smart and funny and a reluctant hero all in one. I really can't explain how emotionally stirring the book is, so you will just have to try it for yourself when it comes out on the 21st.

All I can say coherently is that I loved A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL and am dying to read A WANT SO WICKED.

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect going into this book. There weren't that many good reviews about it and the few that did praise it did so by dismissing it as a 'guilty pleasure' read... and I have to say that I know exactly what they mean. This book isn't mind-blowing, it isn't a piece of literary gold, but it is entertaining and adorably cheesy. It was exactly what I needed. In case you didn't know, I do love a good cheesy paranormal romance. Yes, they're cliched. Yes, they're going to infuriate some/a lot of readers... but the romance is adorable, the paranormal aspect rather unique and the story easy to dive into. I couldn't help but enjoy the story.

I loved Charlotte. I loved Harlin. I loved them together. Full stop. The relationships in this book were done really well - everything from friendships to couples to siblings. They were realistic and because of that I cared even more about them. The ending broke my heart - so much! - and that 'After' part killed me. I had to pick up the sequel immediately.

Overall, I am glad that I gave the author another chance. This story wasn't a masterpiece but it was enjoyable and that's all I needed. I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of this series and the author's work.

[Novel Novice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne Young has written a truly unique story with one of the most original ideas I've seen in fiction -- not just YA, but fiction, period -- in a very long time. The characters are incredibly vibrant and unique, and the story is one that wraps itself around you. It's one of those books that you want to race through to finish because you simply must know what happens, but want to slow down and savor at the same time. I can't wait to spend more time in this world.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!

A Need So Beautiful was a great story of Charlotte, who is an type of Angel, who helps others but doesn't know what she really is and doesn't understand what is happening to her.
I think Charlotte and Harlin are such a cute couple but the ending is bittersweet and makes you wondering what will happen in the next book.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's difficult for me to rate "A Need So Beautiful" because there are moments in this story where the jarring separation Charlotte experiences with respect to her destiny are quite memorable, and struck a chord with me. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy much of the book. It was very difficult for me to get through.

Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is well founded and I like the idea behind it. Charlotte is a young woman who suffers from a series of attacks that she calls "the Need", a force that pulls her toward people who are on the brink of dying or making drastic decisions that will cripple their lives. Charlotte doesn't really want to follow the Need, not only noting the pain that presses upon and changes her body, but also for the way it forces her to neglect her life and the people within it. It's especially jarring when her compulsions lead her to save other people's lives, but ironically miss the moments when her family and friends need her most. That to me was an amazing point of conflict worth noting. It even becomes more jarring when Charlotte realizes that, slowly, the people in her life are starting to forget that she even exists.

Unfortunately - this story was ruined by the overfocus on both the romantic relationship and the nature of the "Need" itself. I understood the intensity of "the Need" whenever it would occur to Charlotte, but some of it did feel repetitive and overwrought in places. It probably didn't help that I thought the audiobook narrator put a little too much emotion in those parts - to the point where it made it difficult for me to like Charlotte's character, despite her flaws and her unwillingness to embrace her destiny. On the note of Charlotte's unwillingness to embrace her destiny - I didn't really think the book did a great job in showing how she comes to terms with it. Granted, the events of the book by that point do force her hand and her choices, and I understood where it was going, but I didn't feel the depth of it. Also, Charlotte is way, way, WAY too focused on her love interest. Harlin seems like a decent enough guy, and you can tell he loves Charlotte and wants the best for her, but at the same time, I felt that Charlotte would over focus on her affection for Harlin to the point where it took away from some other significant events that were happening in Charlotte's life. I also felt like that time could've been better established into noting who Charlotte was as a person and developed her character a little more, rather than just making her ogle over her relationship. It was disappointing and took me out of the story several times.

I knew the twist with regard to Harlin's role in the story long before it occurred and it didn't really have much of an impact on me. The events toward the ending where Charlotte says goodbye to her family and the people who once knew her was touching, but not as much as it could've been - it felt somewhat rushed, as did the final encounter on the bridge. The very last note of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth, somewhat Twilight Zone-ish when that was really out of the phrasing and structure of the book.

In the end, I saw some of the more touching moments of the book, but the structure and execution of the intention behind it struck me the wrong way. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series yet, but I'll admit the idea behind this was interesting, just not as jarring or emotionally rounded as it could've been.

Overall score: 1.5/5

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just....yeah, wow. I've been trying to write this review for days, and I can't seem to find the right words to share with you how gorgeous A Need So Beautiful really is. See, it's unlike anything I've ever read in so many ways. Suzanne Young has written a story that entranced me, broke my heart, and made me believe in hope all at the same time. I'm being truly honest when I say that this book needs to go on your wish list.

Charlotte is an amazingly multifaceted character. On the surface she is a normal teenage girl. Hanging out with her best friend, sneaking out sometimes, and spending ample hours in the arms of her (extremely hot and swoon worthy) boyfriend Harlin. Just on this level alone I already connected with Charlotte. She was so easygoing, and sweet. However what really made her so fascinating was the heavenly duty with which she had been assigned. This is a girl who, while balancing everything a normal teenager must, has a heavenly duty. She doesn't like it, but it's there.

The Need is what really brought this story to life. Charlotte's sacrifices show the reader how deep of a person she really is. It isn't as though she can run away from it when the Need pulls her. Oh, she's tried. Still, watching Charlotte give up so many things that she really wanted, pulling away from people she loved just to fulfill this Need, is what really got me. I know that being a teenager is tough, and at times egocentric. I've been there. Watching Charlotte battle the two sides of herself was utterly engrossing. Would you be able to give up what was comfortable and easy to fulfill your destiny? I'm not sure I would.

In case you're still stuck up there at the name Harlin, yes there is a romance in this story. A Need So Beautiful provides one heck of a love story. If you aren't sobbing by the end, I'll be truly surprised. Harlin is such an amazing character. He's sweet, funny, and so in love with Charlotte that it's crazy. Rough on the outside and soft on the inside, the perfect boy. Even when everyone around her starts to fade away, it's Harlin that is always there in the foreground. The chemistry between these two made me swoon, and to anyone who says it isn't believable, does it matter? I really wish we all had love like these two do. I really do.

Yes, I'm rambling and I know it. It seems that the more I completely fall in love with a book, the harder it is for me to write a coherent review. The raw emotions that this book evoked for me are hard to explain, but I can say that it's one I won't forget. Plain and simple, you need to read A Need So Beautiful. A heartbreaking story of sacrifice, love, and hope, it's just too fantastic for words. My hope is that you fall in love with as much as I did. Make sure to grab a box of tissues before you read the ending, you'll need it.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’ll make a sucky father someday,” I tell him with a smile. “I feel sorry for the kid that doesn’t get to burst into light to get out of your house.”

He chokes out a laugh. “Is it my sarcasm?”

“Definitely. And that obnoxious accent.”

I <3 Charlotte & Monroe & this book!

Charlotte is one of the Forgotten. She experiences an uncontrollable urge, she has aptly named the Need, that guides her towards someone in need of her help. Only catch is she seems to be losing substance with each person she helps. This is frightening her like you wouldn’t imagine. Raised in foster care with no memory of her life prior, she isn’t sure who she can turn to for help. Now she finds herself struggling between what seems to be an innate instinct, and the desire for a normal life with her best friend, foster family, and boyfriend.

A Need So Beautiful is one of those books that I found myself devouring in an afternoon. I couldn’t put this captivating story down. Packed full of so much emotion, it had me in tears on more than one occasion. Charlotte will find a way under your skin. She is such an amazing character, and it was heartbreaking to watch her struggle between what she needed to do and what she wanted to do.

The secondary characters were also top notch. Monroe is a doctor that Charlotte worked for. The banter between the two of them added just the right amount of lightheartedness to prevent me from bawling my eyes the entire time I read. Oh, and I just might be in love with him. It isn’t often I come across an age appropriate crush while reading YA. Monroe had the sense of humor (and the accent) I just can’t resist. Kudos to Suzanne for providing a little man candy for the older YA readers ;) Then there is Charlotte’s boyfriend Harlin. He is guaranteed to make any woman (of any age) with a pulse swoon. I also really liked Charlotte’s foster family as well as her best friend. They all added something special to the storyline, and made it so easy to understand why Charlotte wasn’t in a hurry to give them up regardless of her destiny.

The ending had my jaw dropping open, me thinking oh my god that can’t be the end, and bombarding poor Suzanne Young with tweets begging her to assure me there will be a sequel. I’m usually not a fan of endings that leave so many questions, but in this case it worked perfectly. Thankfully there is a sequel in the works and I can’t wait! This isn’t like any angel book you may have read. It is refreshingly different, and I highly recommend it to those who have enjoyed the onslaught of angel-centric books, but crave a fresh take. The uniqueness this book exudes has me eager to read it again as soon as I can get a finished copy in my hands.