24 Feb Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Diving into Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick felt like stepping back into the heyday of YA paranormal romance—a genre that had its golden era in the late 2000s. I was curious to see how this novel, with its themes of fallen angels and forbidden love, would hold up today.

What’s it about?

Nora Grey is an average high school sophomore in Coldwater, Maine—focused on her grades, close with her best friend Vee, and generally not the type to get caught up in dramatic romance. That changes when her biology teacher decides to rearrange seating assignments, forcing Nora to pair up with Patch Cipriano, a new student with an infuriatingly smug attitude, dark eyes that seem to see right through her, and an air of danger that she can’t quite explain.

From the very beginning, Patch is different. He knows things about Nora that he shouldn’t—things he couldn’t possibly have learned from simple observation. He teases her relentlessly, appearing in places he has no reason to be, and seems to push himself into her life at every turn. Nora, despite every warning bell going off in her head, finds herself drawn to him in a way she can’t resist. But then the strange things start happening.

She begins seeing visions, moments of reality that shift and change before her eyes. She hears voices whispering her name. She narrowly escapes bizarre accidents—incidents that feel like something, or someone, is trying to scare her or worse, kill her. At first, she assumes she’s imagining things. But then, an attack leaves her shaken, and she starts questioning whether she’s the target of something far bigger than high school drama.

As she investigates, she meets another student, Elliot, whose past seems suspicious. Alongside his eerily quiet friend Jules, Elliot takes a sudden and intense interest in Nora. At the same time, she learns more about Patch’s mysterious past and his seemingly supernatural ability to predict and manipulate events.

The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that Patch is anything but normal—he’s not even human. He’s a fallen angel, and he’s been watching her for reasons that have everything to do with a centuries-old war between angels and their Nephilim offspring.

When Nora uncovers the shocking truth, she finds herself at the center of an ancient conflict, caught between the warring factions of angels and Nephilim. Patch’s true motivations are murky at best—does he want to protect her or use her for his own ends? And why does it feel like she’s being watched by someone—or something—far more dangerous than Patch?

As Nora fights to uncover the truth, she must decide whether she can trust the very person who may be the biggest threat of all. The closer she gets to Patch, the more she risks losing not just her heart, but her life.

What This Chick Thinks:

Reading Hush, Hush felt like a nostalgic trip back to the era of Twilight-esque romances, where supernatural elements intertwine with teenage angst. The dynamic between Nora and Patch is reminiscent of the classic good girl meets bad boy trope, with an added layer of celestial intrigue.

Nora is portrayed as a diligent student, but her decisions often lead her into perilous situations, making her character feel inconsistent at times. Patch, while intriguing, embodies many of the brooding love interest clichés that were prevalent in YA fiction of that period. He’s got the whole “dangerous but irresistible” vibe, which is both the book’s biggest draw and its most questionable element.

The plot is fast-paced, with twists that keep the reader engaged, though some developments feel predictable. The exploration of angelic lore adds a unique dimension to the story, setting it apart from other paranormal romances. The mythology of the fallen angels, their connection to the Nephilim, and the stakes of their existence give Hush, Hush a darker edge than typical YA romance novels of its time.

However, certain aspects of the narrative haven’t aged well. The power dynamics between Nora and Patch can come across as problematic, and the story leans heavily on tropes that might feel overused to contemporary readers. Patch’s behavior, in particular, toes the line between seductive and unsettling, and it’s the kind of dynamic that, while thrilling at the height of YA paranormal romance, might feel a little dated now.

That said, if you’re in the right mood for a little dark, mysterious romance with an otherworldly twist, Hush, Hush still delivers. It’s easy to see why this book developed such a strong following, and for fans of the genre, it still has that page-turner appeal.

Final Thoughts:

Hush, Hush offers a blend of romance and supernatural elements that will appeal to fans of early 2000s YA paranormal fiction. While it has its shortcomings, it’s a compelling read for those looking to revisit the themes and styles of that era. The angelic lore and slow-burning tension make it a guilty pleasure, even if some of the character dynamics are a little eyebrow-raising by today’s standards.

Rating: 6.5/10

Try it if you like:

• Fallen by Lauren Kate: A tale of star-crossed lovers with a supernatural twist, delving into the mysteries of past lives and angelic destinies.
• The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare: An urban fantasy series that explores a hidden world of angels, demons, and shadowhunters, filled with romance and adventure.
• Evermore by Alyson Noël: A story of a teenage girl who gains psychic abilities after a tragic accident and becomes entangled with an enigmatic immortal.

These novels, like Hush, Hush, blend elements of romance and the supernatural, offering readers a journey into worlds where love and destiny intertwine.