"Spellbound" by Cara Lynn Shultz

From Goodreads: "What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death? 

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight. 

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else." 

This was one of those books that I don't think has really made all that much of a splash in the world of YA prior its release. I cannot recall having seen this book in any meme's like "On My Wishlist" or "Waiting on Wednesday"' - it hasn't really had any hype factor surrounding it- and after having read this book all I can do is shake my head and wonder why in the world this is so. This book was honest to goodness such a pleasure to read and dare I say it, I can't recall anything about it being cliched, even with it having a sort of 'insta-love' element going on in it.

Furthermore, this book is reincarnation done well and many authors could really learn a thing or two from Cara (*cough, cough, Lauren Kate). The reincarnation is done well because it actually provides the reader with answers (and as such the reader doesn't find themselves either wanting to scream aloud or throw the book across the room because they are so gosh darned confused as to what is occurring).

Emma and Brendan were such dynamic and multi-faceted characters. Not only did I love seeing them together and their relationship develop, but I loved seeing each of them individually. Emma's life was full of hardships yet she never let it drag her down, whereas Brendan's life was full of luxury but he never let it go to his head. As mentioned, the book did have an 'insta-love' (love at first sight or falling in love without really knowing the person fully) thing going on, but it didn't bother me in the slightest (which I must admit, is quite rare for me).

Aside from the fantabulous romance aspect to the book, the book also had a paranormal element to it, however I didn't find the paranormal element (ie. Emma being a witch) to be all that necessary. Had the book just stuck to reincarnation I think that it would be just as good of a book (if not better) than it was. I just don't see how this paranormal aspect is going to play out if there are any future books in this series (not that there has to be any future books in this series IMO, I think that it everything wraps up perfectly in this book and I would be a-okay with it being a stand-alone book).

All in all this is a great read! The pace and suspense of the book (alongside the very real characters) will grab hold of the readers attention and not let go until the book is finished.

Rating: 10/10

I received this book from the publisher/ NetGalley to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.