Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Imaginary Girls

Author: Nova Ren Suma

Pages: 344

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Genre: Paranormal

Release: June 4th 2011

Age: Young Adult (12-18)

Book Source: Library

     Chloe's older sister, Ruby, always gets what she wants. One night two summers ago, Fourteen year old Chloe was dared to swim across the reservoir, quite a dire and dangerous task. But she never did it. Soon after beginning to swim she discovers a boat, with the body of a classmate. Dead.

      Soon after Chloe moves to live with her dad, to live a normal life and escape the past that has been haunting her ever since the night she swam upon the boat. Two years later, Ruby wants Chloe back. She wants everything normal and as if it was those two summers ago.

      When Chloe returns to their quaint little town everything is the same; the exact same. Or is it?

      Ruby as the older sister of Chloe, she'll always protect Chloe, its her duty as a sister. But when deadly secrets threaten to expose the truth to Chloe of that night out at the reservoir. But for Chloe deadly secrets can have deadly consequences, that may lead to her straight to her death. 

      Imaginary Girls by Nova Suma Ren was quite a feat that left me guessing through out the entire novel. I suppose you could classify this book as a thriller but the plot went along quite slow and was rather dragging throughout the first third of the book. But soon after the ball began rolling I just couldn't put it down and read the rest in one seating. 

      The characters were rather confusing,  such as Ruby's strange, suspicious personality. She is the kind of girl no one can ever figure out, and that no one knows that better than Chloe.

      The sisterhood exemplified in this novel was rather sweet and endearing. In a creepy way.  But when Chloe is always following Ruby it feels rather forced, Why can't Chloe have her own personality? But maybe that's the point... Anyways, the true sisterly love does appear. Throughout the book Chloe always thought her feelings but never communicated them to other characters which I had found rather annoying (COME ON JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY). 

       Nova Ren Suma's writing was very much her own. I haven't read a book with writing quite like that- ever. It had just enough creative writing and descriptive writing to keep me hooked throughout the novel. The mystery portrayed through her words was intriguing and exciting to follow.

      Imaginary Girls may be a paranormal thriller- do not confuse it with a book such as White Cat by Holly Black. This book is very unique with it's plot and characters and that was one of the things I enjoyed most. Though it got REALLY wacko confusing at times, it was a delectable read that left me wanting more. I can't wait to see what Nova Ren Suma has up her sleeve next!

 “Ruby’s stories didn’t have morals. 

They meant one thing in the light

 and one thing in the dark 

and another thing entirely when she was wearing sunglasses.”

 “Sometimes a perfect memory can be ruined if put to words.”

“There's something ugly about a pretty boy who knows he's pretty 

and assumes everyone else know it too.” 

“The story you choose to tell isn't always the story you believe.”
― Nova Ren Suma, Imaginary Girls 

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Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Release Date: June 14th, 2011

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 352

Buy This Book: Amazon

In this subtle little horrifying nightmare of a book, Nova Ren Suma explores the relationship between sisters while gradually entering the world of horror and paranormal. This novel starts as our narrator, Chloe, is asked by her older sister, Ruby, to swim across a resevoir to prove her unique water abilities. Ruby and Chloe share the tightest bond-through all their lives, they have lived and survived together, never counting on their always drunk mother to depend on. Not only that, but they admire each other, and Chloe to Ruby especially. Everybody admires Ruby-they will do whatever she asks them to do, and boys and girls flock to do her every bidding. So it doesn't come as a surprise when Chloe accepts, and starts swimming across the Resevoir, even though her sister tells tales of a town called Olive that resides deep in its watery depths, wanting revenge because of their people's watery death...

And then Chloe sees a dead body in the water, and she realizes its London, her old classmate, and that night, everything changes...

Chloe is sent to live with her father, while Ruby remains in their little town. After two years of complete isolation, however, Chloe runs away back to her sister, and it is there she discovers that all might not be right with their 'little town' after all-and Chloe suspects it has to do with Ruby and the night she discovered London, the memory still haunting both of their consciences.

Though eerie and grim, Imaginary Girls is a one of a kind book that you will never forget. It lays in your heart, no matter when you put it down, and it stays, much like the people of Olive stayed in the Resevoir of Chloe and Ruby's little town. And you will always remember the story of their sisterhood, their undenying love to each ther-you will always remember the beauty of family.