YA Fiction Review: Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon

Book Description:

Willow Lamott’s best friend is a convicted killer, and no one in the small town of Gilt Hollow will let her forget it. Over four long years, she’s tried to fade into the background—but none of that matters when Ashton Keller comes striding into school, fresh out of juvie and fueled by revenge. The moment their eyes meet, Willow no longer feels invisible. Drawn to the vulnerability behind Ashton’s mask of rage, she sinks deeper into his sinister world and begins to question whether he’s a villain, a savior, or both.

Ashton thought he wanted vengeance, until Willow Lamott stepped back into his life. Now he longs to clear his name and become the person she sees in him. But the closer they get to uncovering the truth, the darker the secrets become, and Ashton wonders if his return to Gilt Hollow will destroy everyone he loves.

My Review:
Wow-I'm not sure where to begin with Gilt Hollow. First of all, it's obvious Lori Langdon poured her heart into her writing. She's created a funky college town as a perfect setting for the town of Gilt Hollow. Her characters are vibrant and deep. And the story left me breathless at times. All of that being said, it's been awhile since I've read young adult literature. I was somewhat surprised to find a sprinkling of curse words and a few heated kissing scenes since I received this book from a Christian publisher (Blink, Zondervan). I'm not going to get on my soapbox, but felt the cursing wasn't necessary and the kissing scenes could have been toned down. I was pleased with the theme of forgiveness and how it played out including some references to God. The book is written for older teens (15+) and deals with violent circumstances and teen romance. Lorie is also the co-writer of the Doon series. I received Gilt Hollow in exchange for a fair review.