Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook

Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Age Group: Young Adult Pages: 304

Summary: Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

My Thoughts: I loved this book so much! We are introduced to Isobel who has just moved to a new home with her mother! Her mother just got remarried, and now Iosbel has a new stepfather named Richard aka Dick and a new step brother named Nathaniel. Problem is, she really dislikes her stepfather, and moving of course, and to top it off her brother is a babe!  She doesn't know this boy very well but she thinks he's gorgeous! Richards' former wife and daughter died a while ago so Iosbel and her mother fit in perfectly to take their roles.

Isobel starts a new school and starts to befriend the cheerleader. She is the complete opposite of Isobel. Isobel is the kind of girl who is more gothy than anything else.

Iosbel's dad has Schizophrenia and when Isobel starts seeing ghosts, she starts to get worried. She wonders if she's really seeing ghosts or if she's sick like her father.

Iosbel is her own person, she sticks up for herself, she loves art. She is one of a kind.

This book was magically wonderful. I loved it, every word of it and I read it in one sitting. I loved the chemistry between her and her stepbrother. Yes, this is kind of wrong here, but it's also kind of funny and a little bit romantic (smack me now.) Of course, Isobel also has some competition. The leader of the cheerleaders also wants to dig her hooks into Nate.

Iosbel starts to do some research on the family home, and discovers a lot of stories about it. There are ghost stories, there are stories with no endings. Are these rumors or did this stuff really happen at some point? She meets some great characters throughout the novel too, including her librarian friend.

I loved the ghost aspect and I was on edge my seat all the way through. I loved how this story went. I loved the conclusion. It was perfect. By the end of the book, I was all smiley and happy. The step siblings thing was pretty awesome too. I knew from the first page, I would be laughing at Isobel's reaction to the hotness of Nate, especially when she sees him in his boxers!

This is a great wonderful suspenseful story with a tad bit of romance sparkled in. It is just what I was in the mood for.

Overall: I loved it! Wonderful story with a wonderful setting. It was a little paranormal but mostly contemporary. I loved Iosbel and Nate. I loved how easy they got a long once they got past the whole hating each other thing.

Cover: Love it! Since she's an artist and she's drawing, it fits perfectly! I also like how the colors go together and it is an overall awesome cover!

What I'd Give It: