The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Release Date: January 7, 2010
Pages: 208
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly. Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?

The Secret Year was an original, fresh, and new story with loss, pain, and love. I was thinking this would be a similar type of story like Romeo and Juliet. It wasn’t. Instead, I was brought to a new level. This time, they were not meant to be but always wanted each other.

Hubbard’s writing is full of emotion. She can really make you feel the way how the characters feel (Colt). It was smooth, especially the style of the writing. The only part I found to be a bit boring was the start; the first few chapters were a bit dull. Although, as soon as the book progressed, it just got better and better.

I found Julia to be the type of whatever-she-wants-she-gets person. Not that she gets everything she wanted but everything came to her so easily. Her life is so different to Colt’s. She’s rich, has a boyfriend, expensive cars, and has a huge house. Colt, his life is simple. He’s that down to earth character. No girlfriend, simple house, and simple cars. He was so mysterious, and at the same time, dark. Colt had a lot of feelings for Julia. He had flashbacks and memories of Julia. Julia’s personality was shown through her entries in her journal just for Colt. I loved reading the entries that Julia wrote. She was always writing the way she felt for Colt, their relationship and how she wanted to break up with her boyfriend, Austin. It was the part that always made me want to read more.

Hubbard focuses on Colt and Julia the most. The other characters in this novel also had played an important role, especially Julia’s best friend, Pam. Her letter to Colt, since she had found out all about Colt and Julia’s relationship, told me everything. Pam had explained what happened to Julia the night of her death. She died in a car accident since she was too drunk. Colt was the character I think Hubbard developed the most. I love his personality, plus, he was a sweet guy.

The Secret Year is not a light read. If your one who likes something with fun romance, this isn’t the type of book to read. It’s full of emotional characters, a deep, engrossing story. I definitely recommend this to readers.