Book Review / The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

So many secrets for such a small island. From the moment Anne Merchant arrives at Cania Christy, a boarding school for the world’s wealthiest teens, the hushed truths of this strange, unfamiliar land begin calling to her—sometimes as lulling drumbeats in the night, sometimes as piercing shrieks.

One by one, unanswered questions rise. No one will tell her why a line is painted across the island or why she is forbidden to cross it. Her every move—even her performance at the school dance—is graded as part of a competition to become valedictorian, a title that brings rewards no one will talk about. And Anne discovers that the parents of her peers surrender million-dollar possessions to enroll their kids in Cania Christy, leaving her to wonder what her lowly funeral director father could have paid to get her in… and why.

As a beautiful senior struggles to help Anne make sense of this cloak-and-dagger world without breaking the rules that bind him, she must summon the courage to face the impossible truth—and change it—before she and everyone she loves is destroyed by it.

Published:     14th January 2014
Publisher:  BenBella Books
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 1, The V Trilogy
Source:  Review Copy from Publisher

My Review    (4 out of 5)

What I loved about this book...

I was definitely intrigued when reading the blurb (above) to this book.  I have to admit that I have a weakness for stories about family secrets and this one just screamed out to have a lot of them.   First off, let's just talk about the cover.  It is so spooky and the way that the girl is walking towards what I can only guess is Cania Christy and seeing a single light on in the top window.  Spooky to say the least.  I have always found that to draw me into reading a book the first place I look is obviously the blurb which tells you about the story but the second is always the cover.

This is one of those books that has a lot of build up at the beginning that leads to a 'big reveal' nearer the end of the book.  The big reveal in this book did not disappoint.  I spent a lot of the book up to nearer the end point wondering where this story was going but when it came to that big reveal, I did have to take a moment to sit back appreciate it in all its glory.  It was definitely one of those wow moments for me as I definitely did not see that coming.  

What I was not fond of with this book..

As I mentioned, there is a lot of build up in this book towards the 'big reveal' and I have to be honest and say that I did get a little bit bored with the build up at times and did wish for something else to come along and surprise me,  but unfortunately for me it didn't.

Summary...

A really great read with a fantastic twist near the end.  A lot of build up at the beginning but the ending is definitely worth the wait!


About the Author

Joanna Wiebe is represented by literary agent Jason Anthony of Lippincott Massie McQuilkin. The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant - the first installment in the V Trilogy - is published by BenBella Books.

Author Website:   http://joannawiebefiction.com/

Best wishes

Debs :-)