Clarity

review taken from One Book At A Time

I really had no expectations going into this book. The cover intrigued me and the description sounded like it might have something new to offer. I was so glad to get a chance to review it for Book It Forward Tours.

I really enjoyed Clare's fresh voice. She's only 16, but I seriously had to remind myself of that constantly. It's not that she acted older than she is, because there's is definitely some teenage moments. It's all about her attitude and her sense of self. She's had to deal with everyone else thinking her family are freaks. It's made her a stronger person and it shows. I love her witty comebacks. Her family may be strange, but I actually really loved how each of them has their own talent. It made each of their personalities unique and how they functioned together as a whole really interesting.

I also really enjoyed the who done it mystery. It was really well played out. I liked how the official investigation was different than the one going on behind the scenes. It had that Nancy Drew mystery feel with the teenagers being the ones to figure it out. Add in the paranormal elements, and it was just a lot of fun. I had no idea who the real killer was until the end, so that's always a plus!

My only problem (and it's such a tiny complaint)... I wish it was longer! I didn't want it to end. So, fantastic and fun debut for Kim Harrington. I can't wait to read more!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

From a bookworms perspective...

Im a teen about to be 14 and i am VERY picky about what i read. If i dont like a book i stop reading it right when i realize the ending. This book keeps you guessing even through the slow parts, i always felt the need to pick it up and read iteven through a part that i thought was lame. This novel definitly will keep me waiting to see who Clarity ends up with... it was so similer to school now and yet diffrent enough so that it wasnt an everyday read i highly recomend it fir my age group of teens!

<3

Loved this book couldnt put it down

Awesome!

I really didn¿t know what to expect when I picked this book up. I had read so many great views of the book; I was just excited to finally have a chance to read it. I really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading more from this author!

I really like the main character, Clarity. She¿s different, but she doesn¿t let that bother her much. I love strong heroines, and she¿s definitely a kick-butt character. I loved her! The two love interests in the book are Clarity¿s ex-boyfriend Justine, and the new town sheriff¿s son, Gabriel. I am usually really good at picking a ¿team¿, but I love both of these boys. It would be really hard to choose between them.

I can honestly say I didn¿t see the end coming. The author had me second guessing myself so many times throughout the book. In the end, I didn¿t have it figured out. I love a book that keeps me guessing! I was absolutely absorbed in the story. The writing was simple and suspenseful. This was a very quick read, I pretty much read it in one sitting.

Overall, I loved this book. It was great, and I¿m kicking myself for waiting so long to have read it. I was beyond thrilled to find out it is going to be a series. I can¿t wait to read Perception!

Review on Literary Exploration

I think I first saw this book awhile back on a Goodreads giveaway or something. It sounded interesting enough, so I entered, and of course I didn't get it. But then I found it at Borders during the closeout sale so here we are. At first glance, I'm not big on the cover. It's too digital and fake, the girl isn't that good looking, and it doesn't tell you much about the story. I got past it. I enjoyed this book enough, it was really fast-paced and I read it in less than 24 hours, which is always fun, but it didn't make me think, it didn't make me question anything, it was just sort of a good read.

There are A LOT of characters to keep track of which got sort of hectic at times. There's Clarity, the main character (who is like Ben from the Touch series) she can see what's happened in a person's life by touching their objects. Her brother is Perry, who talks to dead people. Her mom can read minds. Her ex-boyfriend Justin is a skeeze, and I don't know why everyone in the book liked him so much. Her new hottie mchottie interest is Gabriel, seriously Gabriel even SOUNDS hotter than Justin, anyways, he's "bad news" because he's the new detective's son. Then there's Nate, Perry's best friend, and on and on and on. Yeah there are a lot of people to keep track of.

I don't really like when there are so many characters because it makes it really hard to focus on building a really deep set of intricate characters. Instead you end up with a million shallow characters who you don't really get close to. Either way, in 242 pages, how much character building can you really do?

The plot is pretty interesting, a tourist girl is murdered so Justin enlists Clarity (Clare for short) to touch things and help find out what happened to this girl. Oh yeah, Justin is the mayor's son.... Throughout her search plenty of weird things happen, more people die, yadda yadda, nothing we haven't heard of before. The end was a bit of a shocker, but I had sort of guessed who the killer was ahead of time so it wasn't a big "OMG" moment like I would have liked. There are just so many characters you sort of know it's going to be one of them. You can tell I'm really hung up on this too-many-characters thing huh? The ending was also pretty happy, another one of those "YA books have to have optimistic endings" decisions I guess.

Overall, the book was good enough, I enjoyed reading it, but I probably wouldn't read it again. It was quick, fun, intriguing, with the right amount of sexy, and I'd recommend it to anyone who just wants a fun read. Something "fluffy" :)

A unique favorite

I absolutely loved this book!! It has a strong, funny, fabulous main character, suspense, hot boys, and a fantastic plot that will keep your eyes glued to each page.

We start off with Clarity "Clare" Fern and her family, who are psychics. They live in a town along the ocean and using their "powers" have become their job. Her mother can read peoples thoughts, her brother can speak to spirits, and Clare can touch a persons object and see the past. When a tourist is murdered and her brother becomes a main suspect, Clare's ex-boyfriend Justin asks her to help solve the case. She accepts and with the help of the yummy new detective's son, Gabriel, plus Justin they begin to piece the clues together. But things aren't always what they seem, even if you are a psychic.

I loved this book! I loved the characters! And I loved the plot! It was fantastic. Clare is such a strong person and I was so intrigued by her ability. I can see where it DEFINITELY can cause problems though. Gabriel... Phew you sexy boy. How could you not want to work along side him? He has demons of his own to overcome but he was a great character. I loved Clare's family as well, they are always there for her, as she is for them. Finally, Justin. I loved him!!! I think Clare made a right decision, and truthfully I don't know if I'd be able to forgive him either, but I still love him! Justin is good looking, caring, protective, and seems like a down right good guy. Yes he made a mistake, a huge one, but everyone makes mistakes and you have to learn to forgive them. Gabriel is hot but I'm all team Justin. :)

This book will have you guessing until the very end. The plot moves along fabulously and it's a sexy murder mystery that I'm sure you will love! I cannot wait until the next book!! 10 stars out of 5!

Great book!

As soon as I started this book I knew I was in trouble. I loved a good book filled with drama along with a good mysterious, solve the puzzle story. This book is just that.

The characters of this book Wow'ed me. I loved that not only were they well develop, but love it even more when learn and grow in front of your eyes. As the reader, I felt in-tune with the characters following them along solving the mystery of the murders. Ms. Harrington did a great job in creating a good story line as well as a great mystery. I can't tell you how much I enjoy figuring out who the killer is. It's like playing my favorite game of Clue!!

The plot line of this book had some great drama in it as well. I like that the murders revolved around the family so closely. This "special" family doesn't hide who they are but embraces it. I like the feel of the family. They are one. They trust each other. Ms. Harrington wrote a great family aspect to the book, as always being there for each other no matter what. Simply fantastic!

The love interest in this book had me excited! I love a good love triangle (as long as it is done right). The reason I enjoyed this love triangle is cause right from the beginning you learn about betrayals and the love that still stands there. I stand by Clarity and her decision. Though I can see how difficult it can be. Ms. Harrington didn't write up a love with no problems, inst-love or whatnot. She wrote about a real relationship with real problems. I adore this cause anyone can relate to it.

A wonderful work of literature, Ms Harrington's book is a book I should've picked up sooner. The book contain great elements such a suspense, a murder mystery, and a love that may or may no be over. I can't wait to read the next adventure of Clarity and her family!

Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington

What do you get when you combine a family with psychic abilities, a small tourist town, and an unsolved murder? Add a little romance to the mix and you have Clarity, a captivating debut novel by Kim Harrington.

Clare Fern is biding her time until she can go away to college. Raised in a family of psychics, she has always been the outcast at school and relied on her brother and his friend for company. Things seemed to change when she dated the mayor's son, but when that relationship ended, so did her respite from the teasing. But this summer, things might change. When a tourist is found murdered over the July 4 weekend, the town's new detective is expected to solve the case. But Clare's ex-boyfriend Justin knows what she can do and wants to enlist her help. Clare soon finds herself not only having to work with Justin but also with Gabriel, the detective's attractive son, to try and solve the murder. But as they get deeper into their investigation, the stakes get higher, and soon nobody is safe. Will Clare be able to see the investigation through in one piece...and with her heart intact?

Clarity was a great blend of mystery and paranormal elements. As much as I enjoyed watching the Fern family use their psychic abilities, I really loved following Clare, Justin, and Gabriel as they worked to solve the murder. The story was fast-paced with one surprise after another; I started reading it one morning and didn't put it down until a couple of hours later when I finished it. The chain of suspects as well as the unexpected events during the investigation kept me guessing who the murderer was right along with Clare. In addition, everything from the setting to Clare's emotions were very vivid. It was easy to identify with her, from her desire to protect those she loved to her internal struggle about how to balance the feelings that never quite disappeared for Justin with her growing attraction to Gabriel. The book continued to be a roller coaster (in a good way) until the end.

I wish that this book had been longer, because I definitely wanted more. I have to admit that the ending seemed a bit rushed and the explanation was not completely believable. However, I did enjoy the role that one of the smaller characters played in the outcome. Also, even though the murder was solved, things were left open between Clare, Justin, and Gabriel. I'm curious to see what Clare decides to do in Perception, the sequel.

Clarity has a world and cast of characters that it's easy to fall in love with. This was a fabulous debut novel, and I can't wait for the next book!

Amazing

I read it and litterally could not put it down! Absolutely amazing! Highly recommend!!

Must read

I was lent this book by a friend who went to her book signing and I enjoyed it. Couldn't put it down.
I would have to say it was well written and kept you on the edge of the truth. Can't wait for more. well done Kim Harrington!

A Enjoyable Debut

Clarity is a great debut novel that will have you drawn in right from the beginning. Filled with mystery, a great strong snarky female lead and plenty of boys, Clarity is filled with fun.

The best thing about Clarity is the characters. All the characters are AWESOME!! Clare is definitely one of my favorite characters EVER. She is so full of spunk. Clare is such a strong character and she has to be being from a family of "freaks" and bullied about it at school. Clare can really hold her own against everyone else. And she is full of snark. I LOVE SNARK! I would have been fine just reading a story about Clare's everyday life even if nothing happened because she is just entertaining. Clare had me laughing out loud at times too. She's pretty kick-ass. I really loved Clare's brother Perry too. While Perry has his flaws and is a player, he still has this loveable characteristic. Clare and Perry's relationship was spot on too. They truly felt like brother and sister, you could feel the love between them and the need to protect each other, and I loved that.

While Clare and her family has special abilities, the supernatural aspect from their abilities did not dominate the story. I really liked that abilities was not the center of the story. Instead, the characters and the relationship between the characters was what I felt was center of the story. Also the mystery WAS GREAT! I literally did not know who the murderer was. I would suspect it to be one person but find out it wasn't. I thought the murderer was like four different people and in the end I WAS WRONG! I had no clue who the murderer was. That's great a feat to completely blind side the read with who the killer is. I really liked that.

I really loved how Kim wrapped up this book. The ending wrapped up everything nice, but still left things open enough for the next book. Especially with Clare's boy situation. I really cannot decide if I want Clare with Justin or Gabriel. They both have their own flaws and own charms so I cannot pick!

Overall, Clarity was a great fun read. I loved Clare, she was such a strong, confidant, spunky character. She is definitely one of my favorite characters of this year. I cannot wait to read the next book because it is sure to be AWESOME!!

Can't wait to read more!

I loved this story and the characters in it. I anxiously await more from this author.

Awweeesoommeeee+bOooook

Loovvveed+tthee+boouook+sooiqor+gooood+%0ACclatriittyyy+rrrroqcks

I really loved this book

I really did not know what was going to happen in this book. It was just really good. I reaally liked all of the people in the book. If u really want it get IT!!!! I would say u should be about 13 or 14 because of some things might not be good for kids 12 or younger.

Great read!

'Clarity' is an awesome book about a teenage girl who has psychic abilities that threaten to get her, and the people she knows, killed. It twists and turns and I highly doubt that you'll guess who the killer, or killers, are...

Another fast, fun read!

Really enjoyed this one, as Clare is very likable! She grew up "different" in a small town, which is never easy. Her entire family is psychic, and her mother has found a way to use their talent to make a living. Unfortunately, this just makes Clare feel like an even bigger freak.

When there's a murder in town, Clare's ex-boyfriend convinces her to use her gift to try and help solve the crime. Murder is bad for tourism, and the ex's father is mayor. Factor in the little tidbit the the new detective has a hot son, and Clare is on the case! Clare discovers even more incentive to help when her brother turns out to be the last known person to see the murdered girl alive, so she needs to prove his innocence!

This was a fast, interesting read that left me wanting to learn more about Clare. For someone who has always felt like a freak, she seemed remarkably well-adjusted. Sure, she had no girlfriends, but she certainly isn't the only teenager like that. She has her brother and his best friend, so it's not like she's entirely friendless. And her gift has to be hard to live with, as that's how her boyfriend became her ex-boyfriend.

Gave this one a 4/5 as I enjoyed the story and it left me wanting more! Harrington is a good writer, and kept things interesting. She made life in a tourist town sound real, and I liked that Clare wasn't perfect. Looking forward to the sequel, which is due out next year!

Short, fun, exciting read.

I'm not usually one for mysteries, but this book really caught my eye. I love paranormal stuff (not paranormal romance trash though) so when I saw this, I was pretty intrigued. The characters are all pretty relocatable, and Harrington paints a perfect picture of teenage life. While the main character, Clarity "Clare" Fern, is a casual, sarcastic girl, she sometimes has deeper moments when she feels very vulnerable. There's a touch of romance, though not enough to change it's genre to romance from mystery. As for the actual mystery part of the story, it's great. With the psychic stuff thrown in, it keeps you guessing till the very end, which is just what a good mystery should do.

So-so mystery

Clarity (Clare) Fern is considered a freak. Everyone in her small coastal New England town knows that her family "sees things". Clarity is a psychic (she can see things by touching objects), her brother, Perry, is a medium (he can talk to the dead) and her mother is a telepath (she can read people's thoughts). Together they entertain the tourists in their home be giving family "readings".

Clarity is looking forward to the day when she leaves for college, so she can start fresh with a clean slate. She will go far away from her hometown where no one knows about her or her "gift". Until then, she has resigned herself to sit at home, do her readings and wait for high school to end. Clarity's summer is about to be turned on end, though. A teenage girl has been found murdered in a hotel, and the last person to see her was Perry (he's a bit of a man-whore). Soon, her ex-boyfriend (and son of the mayor) asks for her help in solving the case. She joins him, and the son of the new police detective to track down the killer. When more people wind up dead, Clairty has a feeling that she may be next.

I enjoyed the book, and read it quickly. It's an easy read, and follows the typical "whodunnit" path. Something about it didn't totally suck me in, though. As much as I tried, I just couldn't buy in to some of the twists, and the resolve was only ho-hum to me. The characters were fairly well-drawn, though some of the supporting characters seemed erratic in their behavior. The most consistent characters were Clarity and her family. If you like mysteries, you will probably really like this book. For me, it was just okay.

A Delightfully Humorous Mystery

SUMMARY: Clarity "Clare" Fern is a psychic--kind of. By touching objects, she can see where they've been and who has touched them last. Clare uses her ability to help with the family business--her mom can hear people's thoughts and her brother can talk to dead people, making them the kitschiest tourist attraction in town. But when a young tourist is murdered, Clare is roped in to help with the investigation. Though the detective on the case and his hot son don't believe in psychics, they're willing to take a chance on Clare's ability. Will she be able to solve the case before more people are killed?

MY THOUGHTS: Clarity pretty much represents everything I love about young adult literature. It has a likable heroine, believable love interests, and an engaging story. Mad props to Kim Harrington!

The best part of Clarity, I think, is the mystery. Clare's abilities make for extremely interesting sleuthing, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out the identity of the killer. And let me tell you--I couldn't guess! Usually I'm able to predict whodunit, but with Clarity I was completely blindsided. I love unpredictability! The mystery was developed really well; Kim Harrington is definitely a writer to watch!

Another awesome aspect of Clarity is the titular character herself. Clare is funny, intelligent, and someone I would love to be buds with. She doesn't take anyone's crap and is almost completely comfortable with herself (she dumped a friggin' soda on a mean girl. I literally shouted in triumph!). Her quirky personality really made the book really fun--I loved reading the murder mystery through her perspective.
Though Clare is usually sassy, the moments when she let her softer side show were great, too. I definitely couldn't say that Clare was a one-dimensional character--she was very dynamic, and I could easily feel every feeling she felt.

Let's talk love interests. Clare is seriously fending off dudes with a stick, the lucky girl--she has two serious love interests and one sort-of love interest. Usually I'd call that overkill, but it really worked in Clarity. Justin, Clare's ex, was a really sweet dude, and though he made a big mistake in the past, I still found him adorable. Then there's Gabriel, the sexy boy detective (an oxymoron? Nay!). I loved his banter with Clare. It was so difficult for me to choose who to root for! I wasn't too happy with where the book left off in terms of Clare's love life, but I can't wait to see what happens in book two!

I'd recommend Clarity to anyone. I'd consider it a good gateway book for those uncertain about YA--it proves that yes, teens have decent murder mysteries, too! Seriously, guys, you need to pick up this book. Go! Get thee to a bookstore! I can almost guarantee that you'll love Clarity as much as I did.

Quirky and mysterious

The characterization in this novel is riveting. Readers will love Clare from page one, when she elbows an obnoxious bully soundly in the gut and starts the novel off with a bang. The poor girl doesn't have it easy in her small town, where being psychic makes her a "freak," but she doesn't take the abuse lying down. It is refreshing to see a teenage heroine who isn't afraid to fight back against the bullies, rather than crying in a bathroom stall. Readers will sympathize with spunky Clare all the more strongly because she doesn't wallow in the stereotypical angst and self-pity.

Despite her pariah status, Clare has a bit of a love triangle (or square?) to contend with, and Kim Harrington manages to make the reader invest in each romance. The various potential heroes have a unique spark that turns them into more than just a one-dimensional plot device. Gabriel is the bad boy who will immediately pique readers' interest, while a secret tragedy in his past gives shade to his character. Justin is the good guy who made an irreparable mistake (and I applaud Clare for refusing to overlook it). Then there's Nate, the best-friend-but-maybe-more, and Stephen, the former-enemy-but-maybe-more. Despite the ubiquity of love triangles, Harrington brings a realism to Clare's relationships that prevents them from feeling forced or cliche. CLARITY evokes the spectrum of human bonds with subtle power, ranging from the various beaux, to the endearing brother/sister relationship between Clare and Perry, and the dysfunctional parent relationship with their flaky mother.

On top of a stellar cast of characters, Harrington blends mystery and mysticism to create a captivating crime novel. The unique take on psychic ability lends nicely to the murder mystery element. Clare can relive the memories and emotions imprinted on an object just by touching it, while Perry can see the dead and their mother can read minds. I especially enjoyed Clare's fascinating ability, and loved the way it raised almost as many questions as it answered while she desperately tried to find the killer before they struck again.

Though this is a murder mystery, it was not excessively gruesome. Readers will be able to enjoy the tension and the thrill of the chase, while still being caught up in the lively and playful tone of the narrator. Clare's voice blows through like a breath of fresh air, full of snark and vivacity. She is an utterly loveable heroine, with complex layers that hide a sweet vulnerability beneath her bravado. Clare's appeal will draw readers into this supernatural saga, and the suspense will keep them on the edge of their seats, racking their brains to solve the crime before the final heart-pounding reveal.

~Review from thebookishtype[dot]blogspot[dot]com