Losing the Light by Andrea Dunlop Review

Title: Losing the Light
Author: Andrea Dunlop
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Series: N/A
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.

Andrea Dunlop's first novel has been sitting in my library stack for the last three weeks, taunting me, begging me to read it. And I was so excited to start it--I mean, come on. France, a sexy love triangle, wine, betrayal? Yes, sign me up, immediately! I read this novel in three short days, glued to the pages, until I finished it this afternoon. And to say that my feelings are mixed is an understatement. I loved most of the parts of this book, don't get me wrong, but there were also some parts where I was either crying or shaking my head at. At times it seemed like Sophie was really contrived, the catalog mean girl.

Brooke sets out to France her senior year of high school after a youthful mistake on her part. And she falls in love with France, and her future. There, she becomes fast friends with the bright, lovely Sophie. Their lives change forever when they meet Veronique, a beautiful Frenchwoman, and her older, sexy cousin named  Alex. Intoxicated by their new home and one another, Brooke and Sophie find their new friendship pushed to the breaking point after lies, secrets, and betrayals come to light.

What can I say? This book, first and foremost, gave me the travel bug, just like Maestra did. I want to go to Europe so badly now! (Not that I didn't want to before, but you know what I mean.)  I found myself longing to be in France, eating great food and drinking exemplary wine. I was completely swept away in Brooke's dreamy narrative, and I couldn't pull myself away. I was absolutely spellbound, and the pacing was breakneck.

I was caught up in the twisted, strangely seductive love triangle that Brooke, Alex, and Sophie occupied. I was absolutely hypnotized, even when I wanted to look away. It was kind of like watching a train wreck or a car accident--you want to look away, even when you actually can't. I was so caught up in Brooke's dreamy, slightly naive narrative that I literally had to force myself to save the ending.  The bottom line: A tale of travel, food, first love, and finding yourself, Losing the Light was a wonderful debut--I can't wait to see what Andrea Dunlop has for us next! Next on deck: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater!

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