ARC Review: The Safest Lies

The Safest Lies
Megan Miranda
Young Adult
Crown Books/May 24, 2016

Kelsey was raised to see danger everywhere. Her mother hasn't set foot outside their front door in seventeen years, since she escaped from her kidnappers with Kelsey growing inside her. 

Kelsey knows she’s supposed to keep a low profile for their own protection, but that plan is shattered when she drives off a cliff and is rescued by volunteer firefighter and classmate Ryan Baker.

A few days later, she arrives home to face her greatest fear: her mother is missing. She and her mother have drilled for all contingencies—except this one. Luckily, Ryan is as skilled at emergency rescues as Kelsey is at escape and evasion. 

To have a chance at a future, Kelsey will have to face all her darkest fears. Because someone is coming for her.And the truth about the past may end up being the most dangerous thing of all.

So this was different. It was good, overall, although I did have to suspend my reality in place of the author's reality. The unconventional life Kelsey has lived isn't easy to relate to but Ms. Miranda does well conveying Kelsey's feelings and showing how her lifestyle has affected her in her short life. 

One event can change a life. In Kelsey's case, the first time it was what happened to her mother that also shaped Kelsey's life. Then, Kelsey's life is again disrupted by a harrowing experience. This becomes the storm before the break in the clouds and beginning of something new and ultimately, the best thing to happen to Kelsey. 

Kelsey has gotten her wish. She gets to venture out of her home and attend public school. Until now, she has been home schooled but for her senior year of high school, her mother has agreed to allow Kelsey to attend public school. This is huge and Kelsey acts as if she has been given work release from prison. She still has to return every day to her prison-like home, but while she is out, she relishes the taste of freedom, no matter how scary it sometimes is.   

The guy in Kelsey's life is a genuine hero. He's a high school student who moonlights as a volunteer firefighter. Ryan is a good guy who does not understand Kelsey's life but doesn't treat her like she's a freak. He has patience with her while encouraging her to experience the typical life of a teenager.  If only it would have been typical but Kelsey's mother's past catches up with them. I would have liked to see more of Kelsey attempting to fit in but the suspense aspect was kept in the forefront. 

The over-the-top some of the situations were created some problems. This is where I had to suspend my disbelief and just go where the author lead me. There were couple of eye rolls and "good-griefs" but in the end the story was interesting although the surprise ending didn't come as a complete surprise. 

Rating: B