Review: The Cellar by Natasha Preston

SYNOPSIS

Nothing ever happens in the town of Long Thorpe – that is, until sixteen-year-old Summer Robinson disappears without a trace. No family or police investigation can track her down. Spending months inside the cellar of her kidnapper with several other girls, Summer learns of Colin’s abusive past, and his thoughts of his victims being his family…his perfect, pure flowers. But flowers can’t survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out….

"Lily?"

My stomach dropped as a tall, dark-haired man stepped into view. Had he been hiding between the trees?

"No. Sorry." Gulping, I took a step back. "I'm not Lily."

He shook his head, a satisfied grin on his face. "No. You are Lily."

"I'm Summer. You have the wrong person." You utter freak!

I could hear my pulse crashing in my ears. How stupid to give him my real name. He continued to stare at me, smiling. It made me feel sick.

"You are Lily," he repeated.

Before I could blink, he threw his arms forward and grabbed me. I tried to shout, but he clasped his hand over my mouth, muffling my screams. My heart raced. I'm going to die.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LpuFSA

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1U5V6j3

*3 STARS*

This book was a total impulse buy back last year while I was perusing the book aisle in Target. I can't visit Target and not take a quick peek (read: at least 15 minutes) at the book aisle. The Husband does not understand this rule, and when I have to go to Target with him, I leave feeling empty because I don't get to stop by and see my friends in the book aisle.

   

It's no secret that I'm very picky about what contemporary books I will read, especially YA. I need more in my plots than some girl wondering if the boy likes her or not...which seems to be the majority of YA contemporary (okay sure, there's some coming of age stuff in there, but since I've already came of age and surpassed it, I'm good, no thanks). So, when I read the synopsis and learned it was about a girl who gets kidnapped, I was sold.

   

The beginning of this book was so slow for me and I just felt like all Summer did was whine. I know, totally justified, but that girl spent an obscene amount of time crying. I found myself skimming over the chapters in her POV, which is ridiculous since that's where all of the good/horrible stuff is supposed to be happening. I even found Lewis's search for her more interesting. I wanted more from Colin's POV. I wanted more about his childhood with his mother who supposedly made such an impact on him that it drove him to severe OCD, killing prostitutes (chill, it's not really that big of a spoiler), and kidnapping the girls. So your mom caught your dad running around on her...totally not enough basis to turn into a psychopath, for crying out loud. I dunno. I'm just on the fence about this one. I gave it 3 stars because at about 70%, some drama ensued and I couldn't put the book down because I just had to find out how it all ended. Honestly, if I wasn't going through withdrawals from Criminal Minds (I marathoned all 10 seasons and can't find season 11, *sad face*), then I probably wouldn't have picked it back up.

 

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