Teardrop by Lauren Kate Series: Teardrop #1
Published by Delacorte Press on October 22, 2013
Pages: 441
Format: Hardcover
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Never, ever cry...
Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.
And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.
Can everything you love be washed away?
I had a lot of trouble deciding how to rate this book and deciding how I felt about it overall. It confused me more than any book I’ve read recently, especially since I began blogging.
First, I will say that as a fan of the Fallen series, I can see the ways in which Kate’s writing has improved. I couldn’t tell you in specific detail, because it has been a few years since I read the Fallen series. But I remember enough to realize she has absolutely improved. I found the book descriptive and intriguing, the plot interesting and the characters likable – for the most part.
The thing that got me the most, though, was how long and drawn out the book was. We learn way too much in the prologue. This happened in Fallen, as well. It felt almost like reading a spoiler. And the “Big reveal” didn’t happen until page 388… out of 441 pages.. In addition, a couple of the character’s were very, very cliche and stereotypical.
Eureka was an interesting character. She was a little bit more relatable than Luce from Fallen. She was more down-to-earth and she didn’t have a perfect, white picket fence life. She was broken when the story began which, though sad, was slightly refreshing. I know that probably sounds weird or mean. But I feel like, in a lot of YA novels, the main character lives a happy, carefree existence until the “big bad” happens and everything shatters. I’m not saying that happens in every YA novel and I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. But this was definitely refreshing.
I really didn’t know what to make of Ander. I didn’t really care either way about him in the beginning. The prologue gives so much away, too, that it took away the shock value of finding out his role in things. As far as the other “love interest” in the book, I loved Brooks in the beginning. And then things happened. I don’t want to spoil it, but I did NOT like the direction his character went in..
While I hated her stepmother, Rhoda and the cliche therapist, Dr. Landry, I really loved Eureka’s best friend, Cat. She was the perfect YA Best Friend. I loved the ways in which she tried to be there for Eureka, to cheer her up and make her feel better. I love her role and involvement near the end, as well.
Overall, I did enjoy this book a lot. I know I rated it low at 3.5 stars, but that was due mainly to the long, drawn-out reveal. And some of the characters and their actions. Kate’s writing has improved and I am definitely looking forward to the second book. In addition, if asked, I would absolutely recommend it. What I didn’t like, others might love and I can see the ways in which Teardrop’s ending sets up for an action-packed (I hope) book two.