Author: Melissa Pearl
Genre: Romance, mystery
Published on: April 17, 2014 by Evatopia Press
Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.
Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free...if anything, it's going to get him killed.
The intriguing synopsis drew me to this novel. A teenage girl living on the run after witnessing a horrible crime? I had to know more. The protagonist, Lucy Tate, fled from home after a crooked cop murdered her parents. She was only thirteen at the time, too young to have been forced into such a dangerous life. Lucy had to adapt fast to survive. Several years later, she turns up in Danville, a small but wealthy California town. Lucy enrolls at Monte Vista High under the alias of Danielle Harrison.
I Know Lucy starts by introducing the other protagonist, Zach Schultz. He notices Danielle at school one day and feels an irresistible attraction to her. Zach is a bit of a male Nancy Drew, highly curious and with a taste for mysteries. He doesn’t know Danielle before deciding she’s a puzzle he needs to solve. Something about the new girl intrigues Zach. I scoffed a bit at this even though I’m not judgmental about romance. Still, this was a little over the top. Zach sees a lot in Danielle from just one or two looks at her.
Zach gets the chance to know more about Danielle when they get paired for a class assignment. She seems as drawn to Zach as he is to her. Danielle approaches him first, which makes Zach feel elated. Soon after, Danielle joins Zach’s circle of friends. I really liked them; they’re a fabulous bunch. They all feel like real people rather than mere fictional characters. There’s Liesl, an uber-gorgeous girl with a sweet personality. She’s dating AJ, a talented aspiring chef. Then there’s Jaeda, a petite redhead with a creative fashion taste. She likes trying risky makeup looks and ends up rocking them. Last is Elliot, a wise for his years guy who is loyal and protective of his friends.
Most of Zach’s friends accept Danielle into their group, with few reservations. Elliot is the one most suspicious about her, though. He doesn’t want Zach to go through yet another messy breakup. Elliot distrusts Danielle because he’s not sure what to make of her. She’s unusually secretive. For instance, Danielle refuses to let anyone know where she lives. She prefers to walk home alone, no matter where from. Zach takes Danielle’s demand for privacy in stride at first. He’s curious by nature, so he can’t quite let it go. Zach gets more suspicious when he finds a clue that reveals Danielle is hiding something huge.
I Know Lucy was a riveting book. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen with Lucy. As a character, I found her charming and multilayered. I went a little slow on my first read-through, to make sure I didn’t skim over the words. My second read-through, I finished the book in three days. The story is neither short not long, but it can be read fast and is easy to follow. The book’s ending means Lucy’s story isn’t done yet. I look forward to reading the sequel. I want Lucy to finally win the freedom she deserves.
My rating: ★★★★
4 stars - Definitely enjoyed it!
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