I cried; plain, simple; this book is now sealed with my loving tears. SWMLT. What I found bizarre about this book was that I hated the writing style for the majority of the novel, it was written in present tense as if someone is watching from the sidelines (so you feel very removed from the situation). Although it proved very effective in the emotional heart-wrenching sections of the novel, it made the flow of the novel very stilted and it took me a while to get involved in the novel. But most bizarre was that Suzuma's handle of the language is amazing and so whilst hating the way she writes it I love what she writes! Needless to say I was experiencing pretty conflicting emotions as I read this book! The plot itself was simple but extremely effective, poignant and captivating. Matheo is tipped to represent Britain in the Olympics next year, he is a world class diver, extremely young and talented, he has an amazing girlfriend, a popular life in school with supportive, rich and smart friends. He has it all until something happens the night after he wins the Nationals and suddenly his perfect world seems full of cracks and Matheo is spiralling downwards into madness, depression and fear. Matheo is now hiding a secret so terrible it could destroy everything, but by keeping it hidden it, in turn, is destroying him. Revealing his secret would ruin the essence of the novel, Suzuma builds the tension and hypersensitive emotional situation around the hidden secret, the fact the reader is always guessing, and when it is revealed it creates a emotional rollercoaster that left me in tears. And so it is an adventure, a ride, each reader must take for themselves as unaware of what will happen as Matheo himself, as otherwise it will end in an anticlimax; and Suzuma specialises in bringing the novel to a teetering pinpoint of emotions, as the world as we saw it, as events we hear of and don't dare dwell on, crumbles and we are forced into someone else's shoes and we realise that shame, guilt, fear is so wrongly present in the victims when they are really not to blame, yet they cannot believe they are not responsible for what has happened to them. Suzuma expertly portrays a troubling issue with a sensitivity that stresses the cruel, destructive, violating nature of the secret poor Matheo is hiding because of fear and shame. I will definitely revisit Hurt as it is a book I think that will get better on a second read though there's no denying it was a whirlwind of emotions even on this first read.

I received an advance copy of this book for review, and read it in just 2 sittings. I almost don't know what to say, or certainly where to start, so for now I will just say that this is one of - if not THE - most powerful books I have ever read. I honestly didn't know where it was going, but then when it got there the rug was pulled out from under my feet, I sat open-mouthed as I read and the shocks just kept coming. Compelling, disturbing, powerful and beautifully handled. Not for the feint hearted, perhaps, but it's certainly left its mark on me.

After reading all of Tabitha Suzuma's previous books I couldn't wait for Hurt to come out. So much so that I decided to spend the extra couple of pounds and buy the hardback instead of waiting 100 days for the paperback to be released. It didn't dissapoint. The one thing that I've noticed about Suzumas books is that there is no way you can predict what will happen. The constant changes in the story line keep you on edge until the last page and I finished this book the day I brought it with my only regret being that it was already over. The way everything is written in a 3rd person perspective would make you think that you would be too removed to enjoy the book and experience the emotion of the characters. However, for me, it was the opposite and although it was strange to read to start with I liked the way you could get a better feel of the other characters and situations that you might not get if the book was written from Matheos point of view. The reason I love Suzumas books is still there. The brilliant way she handles controversial or upsetting topics is admirable. I believe that teen fiction is still the genre the book belongs but it's definitely for the more mature and sensetive readers that actually want to gain something from books. The ending was so unexpected I was in tears willing for it to change and for the pain I was feeling for the characters to lessen - but it didn't. It might hurt but the ending was definitely what made the book brilliant. I don't know about anyone else but I feel so dissapointed when I read a great book and the ending is the first scenario you predicted, it feels like you've been cheated. That never has happen to me while reading one of Suzumas book and I'd expect nothing less.