Underneath Everything

by Marcy Beller Paul

Overview

Underneath Everything is a seductive, gorgeously written debut about two girls bound by an obsessive and toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and Courtney Summers.

Mattie shouldn't be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason. But now Mattie is a senior, and she's sick of missing things. So here she is. And there's Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know—she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.

But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can't figure out where Jolene's life ends and hers begins. Because there's something Mattie hasn't told anyone: She walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062327215
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/27/2015
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Marcy Beller Paul is bad at reading maps but good at folding notes. She graduated from Harvard University in Massachusetts and worked as an editor in New York before moving back to New Jersey, where she now lives with her husband and two children. Underneath Everything is her first novel.

Editorial Reviews

Lyrical, nuanced, and achingly real, Marcy Beller Paul’s debut explores the unmappable territory that is female friendship with honesty and heart. This is a book for every girl who’s ever gotten lost trying to find where she ends and her best friends begin—which, let’s face it, is every girl.” — Amanda Maciel, author of Tease

“Marcy Beller Paul’s Underneath Everything is a lyrical and haunting debut novel. The story of Mattie and Jolene digs right into the heart of a poisonous friendship between two teenage girls, and I found myself holding my breath during the book’s final pages.” — Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Truth About Alice

“Strong characters, an intense plot, and relatable situations make this debut novel a worthwhile read.” — School Library Journal

“Paul’s writing has a dreamlike quality that will keep readers wondering how much is imagined and how much is real.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Lyrical, nuanced, and achingly real, Marcy Beller Paul’s debut explores the unmappable territory that is female friendship with honesty and heart. This is a book for every girl who’s ever gotten lost trying to find where she ends and her best friends begin—which, let’s face it, is every girl.

Amanda Maciel

Marcy Beller Paul’s Underneath Everything is a lyrical and haunting debut novel. The story of Mattie and Jolene digs right into the heart of a poisonous friendship between two teenage girls, and I found myself holding my breath during the book’s final pages.

Jennifer Mathieu

2015-07-15
After dropping off the social grid for a year and a half, Mattie decides to attend a party that will change the course of her senior year in ways she never could have imagined. Running into an ex-boyfriend not only rekindles old feelings, but also sets Mattie down a path that will inevitably force her to confront the same friend who drove her to give it all away. Jolene's power over Mattie is destructive and all-consuming. Only Mattie can decide if the pleasure is worth the pain. Unfortunately for readers, what could have been a haunting story of an obsessive friendship falls flat. Jolene is far too one-sided. Her cruel intentions and manipulations are painfully obvious, and there is absolutely no evidence that she has a redeeming side, making it impossible to understand her hold over Mattie. Even worse, it makes Mattie look weak, and worse yet, references to a sexual attraction between the two feel gratuitous. A painfully slow reveal of what happened to temporarily end their friendship doesn't help matters, as it is both frustrating and disappointing. It is increasingly difficult to muster up any empathy for Mattie, as she appears to be getting exactly what she deserves, at least for most of the novel. As it turns out, what's really underneath everything just isn't all that compelling. (Fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews