Shadow Hills

I love any book that takes place at some private prep school. They are most always going to be good, and this was no exception! Every character in this book was awesome. They all had really great names also, and the mystery was really cool! I really liked Trent actually. All of this is good, but I feel like there should have been more to the story. It just kind of ended.

An excellent debut novel. Anastasia Hopcus has created a completely believable world with characters living just outside the realm of everyday society. With a story that draws you in and won't let you go, she has an innate ability to transfer her characters emotions to the readers and make them longing for more. A promising start to what I can only hope will become a series of stories taking us within the world of the Phe, Zach and the rest of Shadow Hills and Devenish Prep.
*Please note that I received an ARC of this book.

Reader reviewed by Emily H.

An excellent debut novel. Anastasia Hopcus
has created a completely believable world with characters living just
outside the realm of everyday society. With a story that draws you in
and won't let you go, she has an innate ability to transfer her
characters emotions to the readers and make them longing for more. A
promising start to what I can only hope will become a series of stories
taking us within the world of the Phe, Zach and the rest of Shadow Hills
and Devenish Prep.

Reader reviewed by Courtney Rae

For months
before it was released into the world, Anastasia Hopcus Shadow Hills
has been causing buzz. Very good buzz, at that! When I finally got a
copy to read for myself, I instantly knew why.
Anastasia has written a beautiful story about a town full of secrets and young love. Both of which I enjoy.


After her sisters mysterious death, strange things have been
happening to Phe. She doesnt know what is going on, but she does know
that she needs to go to Shadow Hills, where her sister had been planning
on going. But when Phe finally gets there, she realizes there is
something off about the town.
Determined to know more, Phe
searches through the school, looking for answers. What she stumbles upon
isnt normal. Hundreds of years back, an epidemic spread through the
town. Killing everyone except the townies. Why did they survive? And
why do the townies act strange?
Throughout the novel, Phe
unlocks secrets that seem to be connected to her. But how? And in
between all this she meets a boy name Zach, a townie. Something is
different about him, just like everyone else. And, you guessed it, they
have very strong feelings for each other.


I loved this novel. The idea is not exactly new, but its also not
worn out. Girl who faced a tragic loss goes to a new school. This new
school happens to be strange and has a hot boy. Girl gets tied up in it
all. Girl and Boy fall in love.
Yes we have read that story line a
considerable amount of times. But Shadow Hills was different. It may
have possessed some of the same qualities, but it is definitely unique.


The main characters were all great. Phe is a very unique girl. She
does her own thing and doesnt really follow any clique lines. Zach is
H-O-T. HOT! The two of them together was perfect. They are definitely
one of my favorite YA lit couples.
Some of the side characters
were fun, but not very memorable. Though a few did make an impact on the
story and you could never forget them.

The ending was kind
of shocking, but you catch yourself saying I knew it! I just knew it!
You are left with one or two unanswered questions. Does this mean a
sequel? Hmm& I hope so!

Shadow Hills is dark, yet very fun read.

Reader reviewed by The Bookshelf Sophisticate

This book reminded me why I love a good mystery so much. Add in the great romance Anastasia Hopus has blooming between Phe and Zach and you've got me as a big fan without a doubt. From start to finish Hopcus builds the mystery that hangs over the small town of Shadow Hills. Clues are given out and revelations are made at just the right times but I was just as much in the dark as the characters were. It was perfect, I wasn't predicting the end by page one but instead enjoying the complexity that Hopcus created. There are clear "good" guys and clear bad guys but it was the floaters that surprised me and kept me second guessing myself from the beginning to the very end.

After Phe's older sister Athena dies, she wants answers and doesn't want to wait around for them to come to her, or to never materialize at all. She was such a fun character to watch in action. She was brave and gutsy (yes I just used the word gutsy) and went after what she wanted, no holds barred. The mysterious Zach (a local native of Shadow Hills) has secrets and plays hard to get but that just makes you like him all the more.

With her new boarding school friends (and who doesn't love a boarding school backdrop?) Phe sets out to solve the puzzle of her new home town and figure out how her and her sister fit in with the whole thing. Readers will love the mystery, romance and of course the suspense, and will want more where that came from. Hopcus says on her blog that she can't confirm a sequel but that she is working on book two. Let's just hope that she can confirm and release that book very soon!