Saturday Read: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

I hope you’re still enjoying your summer! I’ve been spending as much time as possible outside, soaking up the rays so my pale skin can get even the slightest hint of a tan. That also means I’ve been devouring novels, in lots of different genres, and wanted to share one of the stand-outs with you.

By Alex K.

Imaginary Girls is the story of two sisters: Ruby and Chloe. Ruby is older and the typical girl everyone wants to be or be with. She’s captivating, but also dark and mysterious. Chloe looks up to her big sister and totally emulates her, going so far as to be blind to her Ruby’s shortcomings. One evening, Chloe is hanging out with Ruby and her friends at the reservoir, when Ruby dares Chloe to swim across it. In the middle of it, Chloe discovers the body of London Hayes, her classmate, floating in the water. As a result of this, Chloe is whisked away to live with her father in another state. She desperately misses Ruby and 2 years after moving, ends up making her way back. However, the reunion with Ruby isn’t exactly what Chloe imagined and as she delves deeper into the secrets Ruby has been keeping, the image of her perfect big sister begins to unravel.

I picked this up because of the beautiful cover. I’ll admit, despite the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, I usually do. The picture is stunning and doesn’t get any less stunning the more I look at it on my nightstand. But besides the cover, the book it holds is equally stunning! Nova Ren Suma has written a completely magical thriller. Even though this is labeled teen fiction, it’s so outside the realm of any teen fiction I’ve ever read (in a GREAT way!). You really never know what Ruby is actually up to or actually thinking. She is an incredibly complex character, but one that just jumps of the pages.

I did get slightly frustrated along the way, with all the mystery surrounding Ruby and London Hayes. Ruby does things that seem completely out of character and since the motives are hidden, you are constantly confused by her. Chloe is a decent narrator, but very naive and the reader suffers through some irritation as a result. This sounds annoying, but only contributes to how amazing the book is as a whole.

I know I have to be a bit vague, considering that this is a thriller, but trust me, this one is golden. If you’re looking to shake up your summer reading and take a break from mindless chick-lit, definitely pick up Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma.