Damage Done
By: Amanda Panitch
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.
Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.
After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.
Now that she’s Lucy Black, she’s able to begin again. She’s even getting used to the empty bedroom where her brother should be. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy’s forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.
One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .
The Story:
Oh goodness, how to describe this book without giving anything away? Damage Done was the type of book it is best not knowing much about. The experience of reading this story and watching it unfold was so enjoyable and thought provoking I wouldn’t want to take that from a future reader.
I knew little going in other than this book was a thriller. I loved the idea that this story dealt with a main character that had experienced something traumatic and had to come to terms with the fall out. I think many times books focus on the build up to an event which tends to be the climax and then the reader is left wondering what became of the characters. In Damage Done we start the story well after the traumatic event has occurred and work our way back from Lucy/Julia’s memories and experiences.
The story was told in first person from Julia’s point of view. Interspersed between the chapters are journal entries from a philologist which gave little tid-bits into the story the reader wouldn’t otherwise know. Prepare yourself for a page turner that keeps you guessing the outcome.
The Characters:
Though Damage Done had some action sequences the story focused most on the characters and the physiological impact of the events that led to them picking up their lives and completely moving on- even taking new names. This was immediately mesmerizing to me and I loved watching how the characters cracked at the edges. I loved peeking into their memories and thoughts trying to understand Julia/Lucy and what exactly had occurred.
I thought that Panitch did an incredible job creating her characters. I found them, especially Julia, to be interesting. The side characters are less detailed and more one dimensional but in this book this actually adds to the story rather than detracting.
Final Thoughts:
Damage Done was a well executed physiological thriller that was thought provoking, tense and fast paced. I really enjoyed guessing what happened within those 22 minutes that changed Julia’s life forever.
Giveaway
Thank you to Random House for providing a copy for giveaway! Because the publisher will be providing the giveaway copy this is US only.
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This one was pretty good, wasn’t it? I didn’t really see that ending coming at all.
I want to read Damage done because it looks like such an interesting read! Plus I have heard many positive things about it!
Sounds like something I might like. Just not for bed-time reading!
I love the cover, and the synopsis sounds so interesting! Also, I love the kind of books that make you guess. Guessing is fun! It’s even better when something you don’t expect happens.
This one sounds a bit different and kind of cool. I would definitely like to give it a try.
My favorite read is a psychological mystery.
I love a good thriller!
I want to read Damage Done because it sounds so unique and interesting. I’m always in the market for unique books & thrillers! Thrillers veer off from my regular books I like to read. It’s nice to mix things up. 🙂
This book looks amazing! I’m excited to read it. Thank you for the giveaway!!!
Murder mystery a always catches my attention.
Damage Done is one of the books on my TBR! I really want to read it and I don’t think I have seen a negative review of this book anywhere yet. The cover is interesting and I love a good thriller from time to time. So glad to hear you loved it!
Yay 😀 Awesome review Kristen. <3 So glad that you liked this book a lot 😀 I had to decline on the blog tour 🙁 Since I didn't think this book would be for me, sadly :\ though now you are making me curious about it. Hmph. But anyway. Glad you enjoyed it sweet girl 😀 Thank you for sharing. <3
For some reason this sounds like it could be an unreliable narrator and I love those because they keep you guessing all the time! Another book to add to the wish list for sure!
Great review Kristen!
It’s one of my favorite genre and I think this book is really intriguing!
I want to read Damage Done because that cover kills me. I know, don’t judge a book by its cover. But who doesn’t? This cover looks like it gives you a glimpse into the story but shrouds the rest, which is exactly what the summary does. I love it! Plus, your review makes me even more curious.
I took a chance and agreed to join the blog tour, always a risky business with a review post. In this case, my curiosity didn t kill the cat, though Ryan killed a bunch of them in this book.