[My Review]
I’m really impressed at just how much I enjoyed 13 Minutes. I’m not usually a big YA reader (although I have enjoyed various books from this genre in the past, I do tend to read adult fiction in general), but I do love a good thriller regardless of what age it’s aimed at, and this novel was so gripping and intriguing that I just couldn’t stop reading!
The writing is very engaging and really drew me in. As the novel is aimed at the YA market it is, at times, a little teenage in its language and style- but then that of course makes sense, considering the age of the characters narrating the story is mainly around 16. From the synopsis you think you’ll be hearing everything from Tasha’s, the girl who was found in the river, point of view, but we actually are told a lot of the story from Becca.
I cringed at various points reading the girls’ immature views on things, and the bitchy behaviour of Tasha and her friends, but I know that’s exactly what Sarah Pinsborough intended. Becca is a nice enough girl but shows herself to be just as bitchy as Tasha, Jenny and Nicola (aka. the ‘Barbies’) in certain situations. However we can see why she’s like this, and as a reader understand that she’s just trying to navigate the tricky and tempestuous world of teenagers. Pinsborough has conveyed this really well, plus also created characters that you can wholly believe are today’s teenagers. She’s written a story that effectively comments upon their social interactions, and the impact of social media on young lives today, but in a really entertaining and gripping way.
I raced through this book, really curious to know what really happened. There are surprises along the way, along with some turns of events that I could see coming for a while, but on the whole I am hugely impressed with this novel. I now hope to read many more of her books!
[Rating: 4/5]
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
13 Minutes is released in the UK on 18 February 2016.