"Secret for a Song" by S.K. Falls

Release Date: June 3, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published

From Goodreads: "Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.

Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives.

For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?" 

This book is without a doubt the best self-published book that I can recall having ever read before- it becomes evident that author S.K. Falls did a lot of research into almost every element in this book, from the various illnesses that the characters had, to the impacts of alcoholism, and whatnot. Furthermore, this is also one of the most unique New Adult novels that I have read to date- it truly is a beacon in the genre, in my opinion, not following any of the tropes that many of us have begun to tire of (broken girl haunted by her past, stemming from an encounter from a male, bad-boy male, covered in tattoos and snark, who quickly sweeps her off of her feet in their love/ hate relationship, the eventual falling into one another's bed, where they stay for much of the novel, the girl's secrets being revealed, tearing them apart, them coming back together in an almost perfect way). That being said, despite my praise, I don't find myself as grabbed as I had hoped to.

I personally can't pinpoint exactly what it is that I find off with this book, I'm not quite sure if it was too hyped for my liking, therefore resulting in me being a bit disappointed in it (almost every reader who I know who is somewhat critical has given it 5 stars), if it were a bit too short for me to draw any real connection to it (despite it being near 500 pages, you will fly through it, devouring it within a few hours)- not once actually having the opportunity to feel the FEELS (something that is essentially unheard of for me), if it hit too clsoe to home, or something else (perhaps outside influences impacting my opinion). 

Another strength of this book, which should not be overlooked, are the secondary characters. They are second to none- some of the best secondary characters that I can recall having read in a long time. While they don't get too much of a spot in the limelight I do think that each of their personalities was well ferreted out, Zee especially. 

For me, personally, it has all of the makings of the perfect New Adult novel, however, it doesn't quite deliver on that promise- however, I think that other New Adult fans will be extremely satisfied with it- especially those fans of "heavier" New Adult novels (those not for the faint of heart), such as "Hopeless" by Colleen Hoover or "The Sea of Tranquility" by Katja Millay. After having finished this S.K. has risen to the top of my "Must Read" authors list and I will be reading her previous releases ("Fevered Souls" and "World of Shell and Bone") and any future books that she may pen. 

Rating: 3/5

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