[Joint Review] Thorn Abbey by Nancy Ohlin

Thorn Abbey
Nancy Ohlin
May 7th, 2013
Simon Pulse
304 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

Nothing is as it seems in this darkly romantic tale of infatuation and possession, inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.

Becca was the perfect girlfriend: smart, gorgeous, and loved by everyone at New England’s premier boarding school, Thorn Abbey. But Becca’s dead. And her boyfriend, Max, can’t get over his loss.

Then Tess transfers to Thorn Abbey. She’s shy, insecure, and ordinary—everything that Becca wasn’t. And despite her roommate’s warnings, she falls for brooding Max.

Now Max finally has a reason to move on. Except it won’t be easy. Because Becca may be gone, but she’s not quite ready to let him go…

 My first initial reaction on this book is a decent read. I liked it if I take the book as a separate story on it's own. It was spooky, tragic, and full of mystery. I liked that the story moved fast and it was a quick read. In the beginning, it moved kind of slow, but picked up about 30% into the story. That is when Tess gets involved with Max and spooky things start to happen. Tess starts seeing things and warnings pop up in her bedroom. Her roommate Devon starts acting creepy. The ending of the book left goosebumps on my flesh. In the end the story of Thorn Abbey was a nice homage to the classic Rebecca. The original story in my opinion will always be my favorite. I felt Thorn Abbey didn't try to be exactly like Rebecca to the point where I didn't like it. I give Thorn Abbey three laser pistols. I liked it but it didn't blow me away. It was a decent read, a tribute to Daphne du Maurier's classic tale.

I'll state right now, Rebecca is one of my favorite classics. This book had a lot to live up to and it didn't hit the mark.

Think of every book you've read with a boarding school in it. There, you have the generic backdrop. Now, add some R.L. Stine. Add a dash of Mean Girls and some of the du Maurier original. Bake at 350 degrees for some hours. You've now got yourself a generic YA novel.

Nothing jumped out at me. Nothing screamed originality. The other students were brats, as expected. Even the big shocker, which I must say, after just watching Old Boy, did not at all give me a gut lurching flutter. The scene with the dress, the big, iconic devastation was even lackluster.

That ending though, straight out of something I'd read in middle school. A Christopher Pike or an R.L. Stine ending, something that is meant to be shocking, but generally ends up over the top and silly. I felt that way reading their books long ago, I felt that way now. At least there was no poetic irony involved.

I'm giving it three stars only because it really did give off a Babysitter or Cheerleaders vibe. I read it all the way through, and it remained entertaining in its simplicity.