Shade

By Jeri Smith-Ready

"Hauntingly good" - P.C. Cast, co-author of the #1 NYT bestselling House of Night series

Like everyone born after The Shift, sixteen year-old Aura can see and talk to ghosts. Persistent, and often angry, some even on the verge of becoming Shades, these violet-hued spirits are constantly talking to her, following her, and demanding her help to make amends for their untimely deaths. Aura has always found this mysterious ability annoying and wished she could find a way to reverse it. She'd much rather the ghosts left her alone so she could spend time with her boyfriend, Logan.

But when Logan dies suddenly and unexpectedly, Aura is forced to reconsider her connections with the dead… and, the living. Surely a violet-hued spirit Logan is better than no Logan at all, isn't it?

And things are complicated further when new exchange student, Zachary, is paired with Aura for a class project researching the 'Shift phenomenon'. Zach is so understanding - and so very alive. His support and friendship means more to Aura than she cares to admit. And, as Aura's relationships with both the dead, and the living, become more complicated, so do her feelings for both Logon and Zach. Each holds a piece of her heart… and clues to the secret of the shift.

"A fully satisfying read, with well-developed, believable characters. Smith-Ready changes the world completely by simply changing our ability to see" - Publishers Weekly, starred review

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Sep 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9781847389411

Jeri Smith-Ready

Award-winning author Jeri Smith-Ready lives in Maryland with her husband, two cats, and the world's goofiest greyhound. Jeri's plans to save the earth were ruined when she realized she was more of a problem maker than a problem solver. To stay out of trouble, she keeps her Drama Drive strictly fictional. Her friends and family appreciate that. When not writing, Jeri she can usually be found-well, thinking about writing, or on Twitter. Like her characters, she loves music, movies, and staying up very, very late.

Reviews for Shade

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Original and dark this ghost tale takes us through the death and after life of a 17 year old boy and the girl that loves him. He has everything going for him, love, family and a hot career. ah, Then one stupid mistake takes it all away. Aura the girl was born after some mysterious shift giving her the ability to see and talk with ghost as all after the shifters can. But there is a dark side of ghosts, she finds out. An adorable Scott comes into her life with mysteries of his own, that tie them together, kind of. He Zack is my favorite of all the characters. You will be left hanging, the story does not end with this book. I though it was a fresh new story and the characters were smart and real. I look forward to reading more about them. I listened to this on audio which I would not recommend, the narrator made them all sound like seven year olds.
Warning; There is heavy teen drinking, drugs, language and sex.

[has_bookpusher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Full Review will be posted soon:
Stark and haunting, with well drawn out characters. I really enjoyed it and even though the premise with the ghosts was not unique it was memorable - definitely can't wait for the sequel!

[stephanie.dicesare.7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a good book. I felt so bad for Aura that her love "Logan" died. I liked Zach too.

[bookaholiccat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Audiobook

I really liked this one and as always Khristine Hvam does an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
Now to the next book.

[kmjanek · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Recommended I was hooked after the first few paragraphs. We are introduced to Logan and Aura and their budding high school relationship. Logan is in a band, they have the performance of a lifetime while representatives from several record labels are watching. After the gig, the band members go to a party, Logan ends up overdosing on cocaine and alcohol and the rest of the story deals with the fallout of his death. The supernatural portion of this book deals with an event called the “shift”. Aura can see and talk to ghosts. She attributes her ability on the fact that she was the first baby born after the shift. Then Zachary walks into Aura’s life. He also just happens to be the last baby born just before the shift. Fate seems to have brought them together. The author captures the tragic reality of a young and talented person losing their life to drugs. Apart from the supernatural elements woven throughout the story, the emotions of the characters at the funeral are written in a very realistic way. I enjoyed the writer’s sense of detail to the music. References to Flogging Molly and the Pogues really brought a sense of the type of music the band played in the story. Celtic names like Siobhan, Eowyn and Connor tied together the Irish flavor of the setting. Aura has an interest in the stones of Newgrange because she feels there are some answers for her there. In pursuit of some of these answers, government agents begin to follow Aura and Zachary eventually leading to some courtroom drama. Fortunately, the bonds of friendship stay strong, relationship building and re-building keeps readers hooked.The book contains some scenes of sexual experimentation and may not be suitable for younger teens. A trip to Victoria’s Secret for sexy lingerie, contraception and having sex for the first time were all discussed. I would recommend this book to more mature high school students. Teens who are into the vampire or other supernatural stories, will definitely be open to exploring the ghost aspect of this story. It also sends a pretty realistic message about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Overall, the book was hard to put down. It was an enjoyable read with likeable characters and a new twist to the supernatural.

[ceilidhann · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to my recent reading choices of deadly masochistic tendencies, I’ve developed something of a paranoid fear over paranormal YA. I’m much more wary about dipping my toes into the pool to sample what’s out there for fear of head-desk inducing moments. But I have to say I found “Shade” to be very enjoyable. The basic premise – that everybody born after a specific date has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts – set up an interesting universe with the dynamics seemingly tilted favourably towards the younger generation. Since ghosts have become part of society in a way, it’s up to all ‘post-shifters’ to help out and Aura, our protagonist, who’s auntie and guardian Gina is a lawyer prosecuting in the name of ghost related cases, is particularly heavily involved in such situations. Smith-Ready did a pretty good job showing the dynamics between pre and post-shifters, showing the frustrations and problems encountered by both.

I won’t lie, I did a little air-punch when I realised how much I actually liked Aura as a character and all that credit goes to the author, who did a great job keeping her as a normal teenager and not a patron of the good ship Mary Sue. Yes, she has this amazing ability but so does everyone else under sixteen. She has her mopey moments but you as the reader actually understand why she feels the way she does. She’s hurt, confused and reeling with emotions much bigger than anyone her age is supposed to deal with. She’s grown up in a world where the seemingly impossible is the norm and while she is frustrated with having the dead surround her begging for her help, she understands the toughness of this situation for the others less fortunate than her. Even when the story falls into love triangle territory – probably one of my least favourite things in YA because it’s seldom executed well – I still sympathised with and understood Aura’s choices. And, here’s the kicker, she has a fantastic and responsible attitude towards sex! Okay, the derogatory whore terms are mentioned once or twice in passing which made me flinch but otherwise Aura is not ashamed of her desires and needs. For the more fragile of nature (or whatever you want to call it) there is a brief scene where Aura is on auto-pilot but it didn’t bother me at all. She’s a teenager; of course she’s doing that! Most importantly, she’s a believable teenage girl. She also has a hilarious line slyly lamp-shading a certain series about sparkly things that I daren’t speak of in public.

It’s such a shame that the two objects of her love and confusion weren’t as interesting as Aura herself. On the plus side they’re not deathly dull YA romance stereotypes. Logan is flighty, irresponsible and a little naive but he genuinely loves Aura and regrets his mistakes. While Zachary, the sarcastic Scottish exchange student (hell yeah, patriotism rules!), is probably a much more archetypal character – the witty, slightly smug but gorgeous exotic figure with eyes for only one – he has some interesting traits. Smith-Ready also managed to keep the Scottish-isms to a low, keeping the slang natural and not too distracting. While I still hope that one day love triangles will become as outdated a literary fad as sparkly creatures, in this book I didn’t mind it and it grabbed my interest long enough.

The pacing suffers a bit in the middle and the plotting wavers in places since most of the really exciting stuff doesn’t come until towards the end, and the last few pages definitely feel a little rushed. The story itself feels a little too familiar, even with the interesting mythos in place. While I can forgive a couple of plot holes when the first book is a set up for a series, as this one is, but there were a couple of moments where I was distracted by them so I have to mark the book down for that. This was an enjoyable read and I’m glad I read it but I can’t call it a must buy read. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re sick of the same old creatures and love stories though and I’ll definitely be checking out the sequel “Shift” when it’s released.

[jennyjen-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, that was good. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.  

[zabetreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cover Impressions: To be honest, the cover did not entice me at all. The semi-headless girl in the spangly top smacks of paranormal romance (a genre I usually avoid) and makes it look generic. The color combination feels off, though I can't quite put my finger on why...

The Gist: Aura and most of her friends were born after the Shift that allowed the dead to interact with the living. She has spent her entire life trying to avoid and ignore them. That is, until her boyfriend joins their ranks. Now she walks a tightrope trying to keep him from turning into a dark and twisted shade while fighting her growing feelings for the very cute, and very alive, Zachery.

Review: I fought off this book for a long time. I would read a review or see it pop up on a friend's shelf on Goodreads, check out the blurb/cover and promptly shut it down again. Over and over. I don't do paranormal romance very well. I do big plots with lots of action and adventure and this - isn't that. Finally, I could fight it no longer. I had to see what the fuss was about. Let this be a lesson to you (and me) when a book keeps popping up, read it. Don't dismiss it because of the genre, or the supposed love triangle or your expectations of Just Another Ghost Story. Because this book isn't.

Aura (Just a note - I do hate the name) presents such a realistic portrayal of a teenager that I cannot help but love her. She has temptations, she has urges, she doesn't always do the right thing and she lives with the consequences. I had expected a lot of guilt and whining after Logan's death, but there wasn't. She didn't exactly move on, but she didn't present the reader with diatribes about how this was all her fault and she was a horrible person. Speaking of Logan's death: that was some powerful shit. Even though I knew it was coming, even though I knew I couldn't stop it, it hurt to watch. He was just a sweet kid who thought he was invincible and I wanted to yell at him, tell him what was coming and to not do anything stupid (P.S I yell at tv and movies all the time). It was like watching a horror movie where an innocent girl calmly gets ready for a bath while the audience cringes because we know there is a serial killer hiding in the shower. It was that level of sick-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach suspense for me. That was the point where Smith-Ready had me hooked.

This is not an action filled plot, but it kept me reading just the same. The scenes with Zachery are sweet and exciting and Oh So tempting. They brought me back to those heart thumping first kisses as a teen and the thrill of young love (or at least lust). There are hints of a bigger plot at play, and I do wish this had been explored a little further and that a few more details had come to light. It is very clear that this is part of a series (trilogy?) and we are forced to wait for our answers. Instead of action and adventure we get moments of Oh Noes! and pain that is piercing and palpable. I can't wait to move on to the next one!

As noted below, there are elements within this book that may raise the age level. In the past, I have seen a few of my grade 8 (14-15 year old) students reading it. They really enjoyed it, and they are smart kids, not likely to follow in Logan's footsteps, but I would not personally place it into the hands of anyone under the age of 16.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 16 and up
Gender: Females
Sex: Spoken about, not described. Masturbation.
Violence: None
Inappropriate Language: Retarded, Ho Bag, Fucker
Substance Abuse: Underage Drinking, Use of Cocaine

[kailiasage · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

To say that I loved this book is an understatement. To say that I want a Zachary in real life is an understatement. I’d heard numerous good things about this book and it looked good but I never picked it up. I was bored one day and I decided to read it. Now I’m mad because I didn’t read this book sooner!This book has such a unique idea. 16 and ¾ years ago, after the Shift, all the babies born are able to see ghosts. Seriously, that is the coolest thing about the plot! Not only does our protagonist see ghosts but she’s not the only one who can which makes this even more fun to read about! There is so much great world building in this book! Jeri Smith Ready moves the plot along in the best pace possible and doesn’t confuse you at all. ALSO the mystery involving the Shift and Aura and Zachary kept me wondering what the heck was going to happen next!Aura is a very independent, confident girl who can see ghosts. After her boyfriend Logan dies on his birthday, she begins to see his ghost. It creates lots of problems for Aura since Logan is a ghost and obviously, she still loves him. Things get even more complicated for her when Zachary comes into the picture. Scottish with a killer awesome accent, Zach is a nice guy who genuinely cares about Aura. When she begins to fall for Zach, she wonders if she’s being unfaithful to Logan, who as a ghost can see what Aura does. The relationships are very complicated but they are very realistic as well.Jeri Smith Ready includes lots of music that is really important to our characters and lots and lots of mystery, danger, suspense, and of course, romance! Shade is a great read for lovers of paranormal that is totally addicting. If you haven’t read this one yet, go and read it now!

[thehidingspot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Way too often, I overestimate the greatness of Young Adult supernatural reads, but I'm sorry to admit that I underestimated SHADE. I saw it around GoodReads and blogs, but despite its amazing purple cover, I didn't give it much thought. Don't overlook Jeri Smith-Ready's debut YA offering, you'll sincerely regret it!Often, ghost stories are pretty similar. I feel like many authors don't stretch the concepts of ghosts and spirits, they just focus on making the other elements of the novel unique. Smith-Ready has successfully redefined "ghost"... and I was thoroughly impressed. I hope that in SHIFT, the next installment, there will be a greater exploration of the phenomenon of ghosts and shades, as well as the black box technology that is mentioned throughout the novel.Not only does SHADE have great supernatural elements, it also offers lessons on grief and loss. I never tire of novels where the main character loses someone they love, or even if they are they themselves are the deceased. After reading books of this nature, I find it easier to process and move past grief and loss when confronted in real life. Aura's grief over the loss of Logan is extremely believable, even with the unbelievable presence of his ghost. I think that Zachary, the new boy in school who is Scottish and very good looking, deserves his own paragraph of this review. He is most definitely swoon-worthy, not only based on his description, but his actions as well. I really liked that he didn't force himself on Aura. He was willing to just be her friend and wait until she was ready to move on. That was so refreshing! In addition to the romantic element he brought to the novel, he is also integral to the supernatural plot line... which made me happy because he could be in more scenes throughout the novel.

[mimi8vee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5!Jeri jumping jacks, this book was awesome!I picked it up in recommendation without knowing what to expect. To be honest, neither the cover nor synopsis really caught my eye. But I just adored it.From the very first page, Shade sucked me into a fascinating world where every child born after the Shift (which occurred sixteen years ago) could see the violet ghosts of those unable to pass on. Every little detail was amazing and believable! Jeri Smith-Ready managed to create one of the most compelling worlds I've read in a while -- and, given the amount of books I read, that's saying something.The love triangle was so much better than I expected it to be, too. It was authentic in every way, and I can honestly say that I was torn between the two incredible guys. Super hot exchange student or (dead) rocker boyfriend? Hardest question of life! I'm so anxious to see who our heroine Aura (another reason why I adore this book) chooses in the sequel.Original, brilliant, and well-written, Shade was a thrilling roller coaster ride that had me grinning like an idiot in some parts and wanting to throw the book across the room in others. Because of the mature content and language (note the warning here!), it's definitely a book I'd recommend to all older teens, if not everybody! :)BUY or BORROW?: Buy it! Even if you're not the biggest fan of the cover (like me), what's inside is definitely worth every penny!

[psteinke1122_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Aura loves Logan and decides to gift him with her for his birthday. Unfortunately he dies that night. Aura is devastated but thankful she was born after the “shift”. What is the Shift? It was something, unexplainable, that allowed everyone born afterwards to see and interact with ghosts.Aura is devastated by the loss of Logan. Seeing him just isn’t the same. And when oh-so-Scottish and hunky Zachary moves to town, he makes it clear he only has eyes for Aura and is willing to wait! I’ve discovered I’m not big on the ghost stories…THIS would be the EXCEPTION! There is the initial story of loss, in Aura’s case, the loss of her first love. But on the flip side she can still see and talk with him. Does that make the loss worse or better? Personally, using Aura as my case study, I think being able to see and talk to him would make the loss worse. There would be that constant reminder of what you had and can no longer have. I would think that would wear on both Aura and Logan after a while. And there are consequences to sticking around too long as well. As you can see Jeri Smith-Ready created a complex set of circumstances.Then there is the other storyline that is occurring simultaneously…That would be the one with Zachary. He was born just before the shift and can’t see ghosts. Zachary and Aura’s storyline starts out simply but takes on a more sinister tone because they both learn there are several government watching them. For their own safety they shouldn’t be together, but yet are thrown together with school projects and burgeoning feelings toward one another.I was impressed with how Smith-Ready was able to interweave two completely different storylines so deftly and without confusing the reader or allowing one to die out. Complex characters and very complex storylines make for a highly addictive read! I have the second book in the series and can can’t wait to see what happens next.

[damarisgcr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW... this was such a good book I don't even know what to say about it besides that I loved it! The way Logan and Aura love each other is just beautiful! I cried at almost every scene with Aura and Logan... Some were good tears and some were sad tears. I love when a book can touch me and this book did just that. I loved how Jeri Smith Ready made Aura and Logan's world seem so real. You have your everyday teen issues in it from sex, drugs, alcohol, music etc. Minus the whole seeing the dead bit of course. This book was written so well and everything just fell right into place. Every chapter something was happening and leaving you wanting more. There was never a boring moment in this book. If you're looking for a book with a strong love story in it I definitely recommend this book. Just thinking about certain parts in the book right now makes me want to cry lol. THIS IS A MUST READ!!!SUCH A GOOD BOOK! :-) Worth re-reading two or three times. I am stopping here before I give away anything in the book. IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED IT UP YET THEN GO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? lol

[andreat78_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In One Word ~ OverwhelmingHonestly, one word could never do SHADE justice. It was also: Astonishing, Shattering, Breathtaking, Beautiful, Funny, and Sad. Does that just about cover it? Not a chance.I debated writing this review. In some weird way, I wanted to take SHADE and the emotions it drug through me and just hold them tightly to myself, keep it private. Mine. But then I thought about the massive, and I mean MASSIVE amount of conversation that was started on Twitter with me simply saying that I was starting SHADE. People I "talk" with on a daily basis, occasionally, and never before responded. We all had this happy, hilarious and passionate conversation. It was about the books, the characters, whose Team we were on (I'm still officially on what Jeri calls "Team ShadeBoys", I love them both), kilts, music, kisses, and tears. When a book can inspire that kind of commitment and intensity, you know that you've come across something that sort of transcends... well, it just transcends being simply a book. I realized that SHADE is the type of book that binds people. People who would have never laughed, or squee'd with happiness or even talked to one another have become linked by their love for this series and the author, Jeri Smith-Ready.Oh yeah, this was supposed to be a review. I guess I should be writing reviewer-ish stuff, huh? SHADE is full of everything that makes a fabulous book. Engaging, smart, smartass, beautifully infuriating characters. SHADE has a extremely unique, well-developed plot that involves our world, with a slight tweak that seems entirely possible. Like, I was really looking around for violet-hued figures, lurking in the background.I read SHADE while traveling twelve, count em, twelve hours with my cranky husband and lovable but really whiny kids. I zoomed through this book in about two and a half hours. The tears started leaking as soon as I opened it. I cried the entire time. But don't get me wrong, SHADE is also a super funny book. The dialogue is amazing, so funny and sarcastic, just how I like it.SHADE gave me a really, really good day. Every time I look at this book, I will remember Logan, Aura, and Zach; crying in a car with a box of tissues on my lap; and my brilliant friends who made me feel as if they were reading it for the first time, with me.Favorite Quote ~“Aura," he whispered, "I wish I could wipe away just one of your tears. Then I'd feel like a person again. Like I'm something more than a bunch of light."

[eheinlen_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It took 50 pages for something to happen in this book and, by that time, I already pretty much hated the main characters. None of them had any redeeming qualities as far as I could tell. They were self-absorbed, obnoxious teenagers who didn't care about anything, but ignoring ghosts, bitching about how badly they were treated and drinking and doing drugs. Someone else might like this book, but I certainly did not. Also, I hate when authors have created an alternate world and then wait quite a few pages before actual explaining any of the differences (even though they constantly refer to the changes). Drives me nuts.

[taleofnight · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Aura is a post-shifter, meaning she can see ghosts. She always found ghost annoying, until her boyfriend, Logan, dies. Now she can see and hear her boyfriend, even after death. But now there is this other guy, Zachary, her partner in a school project. Aura is stuck between still having feelings for Logan and the feelings she's starting to have for Zachary. She knows she has to move on one day, but with Logan always being around, it's kind of hard to let go. She goes through all of this while trying to figure out why the shift happened in the first place.I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading Shade because it is an amazing book! I guess I hadn't read the summary since the book came out last year because I was surprised when Logan died. I like when I do that though, I need to stop reading summaries so often.It was heart wrenching to read about Logan and Aura. I couldn't (and don't want to) imagine what it would be like to have a boyfriend die. You would think it would be easier for Aura since she can still see him, but after finishing the book it seemed much harder. She can't let go and move on because he's still there. She can't fully commit to her feelings for Zachary because she feels guilty when she does and there's still those pesky feelings for Logan.I was really intrigued with the astronomy in the story. I love anything that deals with the stars, so I was excited to read that part of it. Especially since Aura thinks it has something to do with the Shift.I also made the mistake of reading the first few pages of the next book in the series, Shift, because now I'm even more at a cliffhanger than when Shade ended.Overall I really loved Shade and can't wait to go out and get Shift.

[mrsboswellbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Shade series by JSR is a standout set of novels in a paranormal genre full of vampires, werewolves and angels. This is the first series I've read based solely on ghosts. It is incredibly unique and well-written.The Shift is such an intriguing event. Not too much information is divulged, but the intrigue, mystery and suspense kept me hooked and wanting to find out more.Aura is a wonderful protagonist. First off, I just love her name and think it suits her perfectly. She is extremely well-developed. I felt like I had a clear shot into Aura's head. Her emotions, thoughts, concerns and struggles felt as though they were my own.There is a love triangle in this series. With most, I am easily able to pick a team and stick to it. I did not get off so easily this time around. After becoming so familiar with each love interest, I couldn't decide who to cheer for. Logan is a rock star with a big heart. Zachary is a lovely, endearing, charming and incredibly sexy Scotsman. Ok, from those descriptions it seems I have picked Zachary... Whom I do tend to lean towards more. But each fought for a place in Aura's heart (and mine) throughout the story.Be forewarned, some of the interactions between a certain girl and one of the boys does get a little risque!Shade ended with a total cliffhanger forcing me to pick up Shift and start it right away. Shift didn't give such a forceful push off of the edge, but it did leave me desiring to know what happens next.JSR's passion shines through every page. Her writing draws you in and doesn't let you go. A great paranormal series I recommend to all.

[ahappybooker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Shade introduces us to a unique and interesting world where sixteen years ago there was what is now known as "the shift" Everyone born after the date of "the shift" are able to see and communicate with ghosts. The heroine, Aura, was born after this shift and spends most of her time trying to avoid ghosts, until her boyfriend Logan becomes one. Aura struggles between her love for the ghost boyfriend and her growing attraction to the Scottish foreign exchange student Zach.I found all of the characters to be fresh and immensely relateable. I felt that Aura's emotional ups and downs and indecision realistically reflected what a teenager in her position would probably be going through in a situation where she is mourning the sudden death of a boyfriend and figuring out what his place is in her life now that he is a ghost. Scottish Zach was a little too understanding sometimes, but his maturity could be due to some of his early losses forcing him to grow up. I hope to read more about him and his story in subsequent novels in this series. Logan was a lovable and emotionally volatile character. There were parts where my heart ached for him and other parts where he annoyed me to no end, exactly how any teenage boy would. I think that this author has a gift for writing believable YA characters and I can't wait to read more of her work. The world that Jeri Smith-Ready created in Shade is a darkly fascinating place, where ghosts can testify in their own murder trials and wrongful death lawsuits, and the sinister "men in black" always in the background, and death doesn't necessarily mean goodbye. I loved all the interractions between human and ghosts and how this world had adjusted to these changes, some even employing ghosts and paying their families. I am eager to read more about this world.The writing itself was simple and engaging. I loved the flow of the dialog between the characters. Each had their own individual “voice”. I was absolutely able to lose myself between the pages, which for me is always the mark of a well written book. While I still have plenty of unanswered questions about some of the plot lines introduced, I was satisfied with the way Shade ended. I will definitely be buying the next in the series as I’m anxious to find out what happens.

[avlytopaz20 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Irish punk rock stars, love, ghosts, and star gazeing. You will fall in love with this book and its characters as they go through love, death, ghostly love and maybejust maybe passing over. Be prepared to fall in love again and again.

[cynditefft · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author's voice is fantastic and had me wishing I were a tenth as good.

*unworthy*

I loved the way she moved Aura through the grief of Logan's death while building the relationship with Zachary. I could feel the push and pull of wanting to be with both of them, the longing and the loss, and yet the book doesn't come across as heavy.

I could tell this was a 5-star book very early on and was worried the author wouldn't be able to sustain the awesome tempo and character development she established from the get go. My worries were unnecessary, as the book was brilliant through and through. I found myself torn between wanting to devour the pages and wanting to savor them.

The ending is a total cliff-hanger, so it's no surprise that I ran out and bought Shift right away.

I'd recommend this book for older teens and adults who love YA. You won't be disappointed!

[allureofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After reading countless rave reviews for this book I went out and bought a copy. I'm glad I did, it was definitely worth it.The story is pretty dark. Not only because of some references to drug use and alcohol, but just the nature of the ghosts and the people out to control them. I felt tense and edgy while reading this, you never know what is around the corner but you know it probably isn't going to be good. I love how caught up I was in the story: constantly on the edge of my seat.All the characters are very compelling. Aura is a great main character, she is so confused and torn apart throughout this book. Thanks to the great writing, it is easy to get inside her head and feel the turmoil she is experiencing through her eyes. As her feelings for Logan started getting mixed up in her feelings for Zachary, I honestly felt as mixed up as she did. She really does have to make a lot of hard decisions in the story, and they are made all the more complicated when she finds out some surprising things about herself.I definitely recommend reading this book. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Quick & Dirty: Unfortunately, Shade is mired with clichéd characters and lackluster worldbuilding. The unique and intriguing premise will string you along, but the book isn’t complete on its own.Opening Sentence: “You can hear me, can’t you?”The Review:The Shift is a complicated event that no one can seem to explain. Because of The Shift, everyone under sixteen can see and communicate with ghosts. Unfortunately for Aura, she falls into that category. With her rocker boyfriend, Logan, on the brink of stardom, Aura is feeling the heat. Knowing that Logan battles skanks day in and day out, Aura wants to solidify her place in his life. It’s settled — the couple plans a day to finally get in some much desired sexy time. Naturally, Logan blows his big moment. After indulging in alcohol, Logan finds himself unable to rise to the challenge. Trying to remedy this situation, Logan accidentally kills himself. Now that Logan has died, he’s a ghost. Aura must help him pass on to the other side or Logan is in danger of turning Shade. Some ghosts turn Shade if they can’t accept their fate and gain closure. In this world, becoming a malevolent ghost is really bad news. Enter most commonly used YA trope, Zach, the new boy at school. As the story progresses, Aura soon finds herself torn between her ghost boyfriend and the hot Scottish boy, Zach.Several of my friends have read this book and loved it, but after reading Shade, I can honestly say that I don’t feel the same way. On the surface, I can see why some might be enamored by this ghostly tale. The premise is actually quite original and pretty interesting. The problem is that the worldbuilding is sorely lacking. This is such a missed opportunity because the most interesting aspects of the story surround an event known as The Shift. Another major point of contention is our protagonist, Aura.Aura easily rises to the top of my most hated protagonists list. Most of the time, Aura behaved like a petulant child. As a reader, Aura’s sexual exploration felt exploited. Nothing felt authentic about her erratic behavior. It’s so patently clear that Aura isn’t ready for a more serious and sexual relationship with Logan or anyone else for that matter. Aura isn’t mature enough emotionally or mentally, yet the undercurrent of her sexual games plays persistently throughout the story. I’m not sure if it was an attempt to make the story edgy, but it failed miserably. I don’t have an issue with the portrayal of drug use, drinking or masturbating in this novel, but for some reason the way in which Aura passive aggressively uses her sexuality really disgusted me. To say that Aura is a cock tease is an understatement. Aura isn’t remotely sympathetic or likable.Just about every character in this book falls into clichéd territory. Logan’s character had a lot of potential for depth and growth, but those two things never materialized. I wasn’t able to form a particularly good impression of Logan. He came off as a bit of a douche. I really liked Zach’s character despite his inconsistent portrayals. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding his background. In the beginning Zach started out sounding like an authentic teenage boy, but he quickly descended into a neutered chickification male. You know the kind – perfectly portrayed from the female perspective no matter the circumstance, when in reality you know your perspective suitor would tell you to piss off and easily find someone who actually gave a damn about him, his needs and feelings. I don’t understand the desire for some female writers to craft this chickification of boys. It’s not all sweetness and light or puppy dogs and ice cream, especially with the head games that Aura plays.Fundamentally, Shade lacks real conflict. I was never really immersed in the story. While reading Shade, I kept thinking, where is the REAL conflict?! When will the story actually focus on details relating to The Shift? I had a hard time buying into the trumped up teenage angst. Character goals, motivations and conflicts just fell flat. Aura finds herself in what she considers complicated situations, all the while refusing to realize that it’s because of her ridiculous actions that she finds herself all out of sorts. Trust me, this gets old real quick. I had a hard time believing many of Aura’s choices.Overall, I think Shade is just a so-so read. The premise is very interesting, but nothing significant happens. The heroine is an annoying narrator, making it nearly impossible for me at least to become truly invested in the story.Notable Scene:I rested my elbow on the back of the bench and inspected Zachary in what I hoped was a casual way. “You don’t look much like a science geek either,” I told him.He lifted one brow while twitching a corner of his mouth. I realized how my words sounded — that I thought he was pretty too.Unfortunately, I did. Not that it was a matter of opinion, except maybe to the legally blind.“Where’s your kilt?” I asked him.Zachary looked over my head, and I got the feeling he was trying not to roll his eyes. Then he moved closer, put his hand on the back of the bench near my shoulder, and leaned deep inside my personal space. “How about this,” he said in a low voice, “you don’t ask me about haggis and bagpipes, and I won’t ask you about garlic and Goodfellas.”Megan laughed out loud. My fingers tightened on the edge of the bench to keep from hitting him. Not that he didn’t have a point.“Okay, no stereotypes,” I said. “Deal.”“So do you have a kilt?” Megan asked him. When I glared at her, she said, “What? He only said you couldn’t ask.” She looked at him. “So do you?”Straightening up, Zachary rubbed the back of his neck and smirked. “I might, I might.”God, he was gorgeous. And Scottish. But maybe kind of an ass.The Shade Series:1. Shade2. Shift3. ShineFTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Shade . No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

[averysbooknook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

***May contain spoilers***Going into this book I had no idea what it was about, all I knew was that it came highly recommended to me and that it, and its sequel, had made quite a splash in the world of YA book blogging. And boy, a splash it did make, especially on myself! Lately I have been reading a whole heck of a lot of books involving ghosts and books involving dystopian societies and I have started to notice quite a few overplayed story lines amongst said genres which does become quite tiring and does almost turn me off from them- however, this book and its plot, in combining both genres, is anything but overplayed- it truly is an entirely original concept, and as such, it really has given me renewed hope for the genres!I am also the sort of person who finds love triangles in YA to be tiring, especially when it is clear who the lead female character will choose (ie. Jace over Simon in Cassie Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series), it almost seems pointless for said love triangle to be included their really isn't much competition (when the story is obviously stacked in one males favour). I much prefer if there is to be a love triangle included in a YA book that the female character (and the reader themselves) have a difficult time choosing between the two male characters (ie. like in "The Hunger Games" trilogy, I, for the life of me, could not choose between Gale and Peeta, or in the "Iron Fey" series I couldn't choose between Ash and Puck) and therefore I was happy to see that that was very much the case for this book.Logan, Aura's dead boyfriend, is full of fiery passion and it is easy to get swept up by said passion, though he does have his a**hat moments that does leave a bad taste in your mouth. Whereas, Zachary was so caring, protective, and honest, but entered into Aura's life at the wrong time- and only for a short period of time- how is a girl to choose? Choose a dead boy who could go up in light at any moment or choose a living boy who could be called back home, across the pond, at any time?All in all, this book is truly a must read- it combines the best elements of various YA genres and Jeri's style of writing makes it easy to slip into this world and truly care for the characters and their outcomes.

[poetrytoprose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't very fair to Shade in the beginning. Going into it I was sure that I wouldn't like it and, with that mindset, I found it very easy to nitpick all sorts of things. I wasn't far in when I got to the point where I forced myself to move onto reading something else temporarily. However, that was for the best because on second try, once I finally allowed myself to just enjoy reading it, the book was impossible to put down.Everyone born after the Shift can see ghosts. Aura is among them and her ability is something she barely tolerates. That changes drastically, however, when Logan dies and her ability is the only thing that allows her to see him. That in itself brings on plenty of conflict, though, as she's torn between wanting him around, wanting him to move on and keep from turning Shade, and wanting herself to move on.I didn't think it was possible, but with Shade I found a love triangle I could actually stomach. As a matter of fact, I loved it. Crazy talk, I know, but I found myself absolutely torn between the love interests Logan and Zachary. I did think Aura jumped into feeling for Zachary a bit too quickly, but I later enjoyed the progression between the two: the hesitation, the frustration, the sweetness... Logan had moments when he was absolutely unlikable and selfish, but he also broke my heart. It was clear to see how much he loved Aura, as well as the loyalty he had for his family. It was impossible to choose between the two!You know how most YA novels have those chaste romance scenes? Yeah, not happening here. There's nothing extremely graphic, but Jeri Smith-Ready definitely goes in a different direction from the norm, raising things up a notch. YOWZA. Shade concluded with a bit of a cliffhanger and many unanswered questions about the Shift. I was definitely left wanting more! At this point, I've read the sequel and loved it even more than this first book. The review should be coming shortly.

[xxlovelyxladyxx · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is what I would call an 'Awkward Reunion'. Its like meeting someone you haven't seen in a really long time and acting really formal and too sweet with them. I mean, I really tried to like this book. Honestly. But there was just something so...fake about the writing. I felt like Jeri Smith-Ready was trying too hard to sound like a mourning teenager in love who wants to do things her way. She tried to emulate how teenagers act and speak and think but the fact is, people don't act like this, at least not so many people. What I'm trying to say is, all the personalities were purely fantasized. Nothing felt realistic about it. And it certainly didn't come out right on paper.Aura is my primary example of a character gone wrong. No matter what she did, I just couldn't understand what she was about. She was a mystery and not in a good way. Too many mood swings and strange statements made her seem all over the place. Yes, of course she would be all over the place from losing her boyfriend but its the things she would say that put me off. She made teenagers look vain, then strong, then angsty, then obsessive, it was too much. I can't like a character if I can't understand her.Then there's Logan. Okay, the part where he died was incredibly sad, I'll give him that but his personality is disgusting. Seriously. How can Aura like a guy whose as whiny, bratty and selfish as him? It makes no sense to me. He claims he loves her and wants to make love to her, then gets drunk and goes to do cocaine in the bathroom. WHAT THE HELL??? I swear, there was nothing redeeming about his personality. Every moment when it seemed as if he would end up caring for Aura or his family or something, boom! He'd throw a hissy fit, get jealous, try throw things around...he seemed more like a two year old to me then a caring boyfriend.There was nothing romantic between them. Once again, I feel as if Smith-Ready forced the romance into the writing. There was either something between Aura and Logan or something between Aura and Zach who by the way is the most random character to ever show up in a book. Seriously, this kid just popped out of nowhere and he's not very realistic either. Honestly, this love triangle thing that writers are obsessed with has got to die. Its getting old, especially when writers can't even it write it correctly.Overall, as you can see by my rant, I did not like this book. I tried really hard. I honestly did. The style was enough to keep me going almost halfway through the book but not to the end. If all the books in the world were to suddenly spontaneously combust and this would be the only book left, I would be hesitant to pick it up again. There were too many issues with this book so it'll be a long time before I so much as look at the cover.Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

[ilikethesebooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. I have heard so much about this series, and it has been on my to-read list since I first heard about it. I was so happy to finally read it, and boy did I like it.Shade follows Aura, a girl born in the first minute after the Shift took place. The Shift is the mysterious event that caused each new child to be born with the ability to see, hear and interact with ghosts. No one knows why the Shift took place, but most people like Aura wish it never did. She is harassed by ghosts in any place that isn't blackboxed (repels ghosts) and doesn't see anything good in her ability. That is until her boyfriend, Logan, dies tragically just minutes after his birthday. Suddenly her ability is the only thing that keeps their connection alive, even though Logan is no longer. Soon Aura finds herself stuck in between the past and present, and worrying about her future. Filled with twists, complications and a fast-paced plot, Shade is the start to a trilogy you don't want to miss.Literally from the first page, this novel grabbed my attention and held it way past the very last page. I loved all the characters, they were each likable, entertaining and different in their own way. Even Logan, who royally pissed me off some times (Team Zachary all the way!), I accepted as a great character. I also really enjoyed the plot. It was paced perfectly: not too fast, but not too slow. It was also different from your run of the mill ghost story. Although there are ghosts in this story, I wouldn't classify it has a traditional "paranormal" novel. I don't know how to truly express what I mean, other than to say it was seemed very realistic and it wasn't a "scary" ghost story. I also appreciated how the author wove in elements about megalith structures (such as Newgrange and Stonehedge) into the fantastical plot. That was something fun, new and surprisingly, pretty educational. I'm not going to spoil anything here, but Oh. My. Ending! Can you say cliffhanger? It was so freaking good. I was dying for the next book, Shift (lucky for me, I already had it on stand by). So here's a word of advice- have Shift handy when you finish Shade because there is no way you will be able to function regularly without the next installment in this trilogy. Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this one!

[neri0724 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book over a week ago and I couldn’t write the review until now. It was hard getting the words out that would do this book justice. This was one of those books that held you from the beginning to the end and had you on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I was in love with the characters from the beginning, the beginning of the story reminded me of the stupid things you do when you’re a teen before you realize that there are serious consequences for your actions. The characters were beautifully written and you could completely relate to them. The story was based on The Shift and the people who were born after it who could see the ghost lingering in our world and the people born before who could not. The story starts off tragically with the death of Aura’s boyfriend Logan. Because she was born post-shift she was able to see his ghost after he died. This is where the heartaches begins, what would you do if you thought you lost a loved one, but then were able to still see them in ghost form. Would you hang on to what’s left or would you try to help them and yourself move on? Aura’s mother died when she was young and all she has left of her is a diary with pages torn out.Her mother writes about Stonehenge and she decides that she would study this for her school project. She meets the swoon worthy Zachary who seems to understand everything she is dealing with. Aura struggles with dealing with her love for Logan and her magnetic attraction to Zach. Throughout the book there were tons of musical references and I loved it. I felt Aura’s anger, pain, suffering and I wept like a little girl. The story was beautifully written and I couldn’t put it down until I read the last page which was a cliffhanger and then I grabbed my tablet and downloaded Shift.

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mini-Review: I really wanted to like this one more. I loved the premise and I do want to read more to find out about the shift and why it happened. However I found the story rushed and disjointed. I never really got a feeling for the characters and I didn't buy the love for Aura and Logan, she seemed to get over him quite quickly after he died. I also don't buy the cliff hanger ending, it just doesn't ring true or quite frankly make any sense. Also the description on the back says that Aura is devastated -- yeah she doesn't act like a devastated girl to me. I do think that the teens will like this and I urge you to check out other reviewers opinion on this, since this isn't written for 40 yr old moms. I was just sort of disappointed. I will try some of the authors other works and honestly will probably pick up the next book when it comes out just to find out more about the shift. 3 Dewey's

[fredamans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The last word in this book pretty much sums up exactly how I feel after reading it. WOW!I felt so many emotions while reading this story, happiness, excitement, fear, anger and even some sadness. The end almost made me cry, even though it was happy for the most part. You just feel so much for the characters that you can't help feeling like crying.I'm so glad I read this book. It made me think differently about ghosts. Plus I secretly wish I had Aura's powers... LOL... Read the book and you will feel the same!

[booksforcompany · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was pretty gripped by this book from the start! What l love most about this book is even with the magic in this book it feels so real. l get the feeling Jeri wrote this book with clear ideas and stuck with them whereas with some books they just get too magical and unbelievable. What helped this book feel real was Aura, the main character, she is just a normal teenage girl who wants to have fun and is with a boyfriend she loves. When Aura loses her boyfriend her grief l feel is exactly how a normal teenage girl would react which again explains the great way Jeri has wrote this book. I found the book confusing in some places but it felt like the book was constantly explaining things to help you understand, this was done is a very clever interesting way and your soon feeling like this world Jeri had created is very real. The ending has left this book in a great way, l wasn't sure if a second book is coming out but once you read the end you are pretty sure there is. The second book 'Shift' is out in the beginning of May 2011.