Title: Thoughtless
Series: Thoughtless, Book 1
Author: Jacqueline Gardner
Published: February 2012
Format: Ebook provided for review
When Bridget finds a dead cheerleader in the janitor’s closet, she becomes the killer’s next target. High school just got worse. It’s bad enough that she can hear the shocking truths that pass through her classmate’s heads. Now she has to worry about staying alive, and all clues point to the one person whose thoughts she can’t read - her boyfriend Terrence. Someone is taunting her, threatening to expose her secret. And when Bridget tries to single out her blackmailer, she’s nearly beaten to death by a mind controlled minion with fiery eyes.
But when Bridget finally comes face-to-face with the killer, suddenly a horde of brainwashed students programmed to destroy her life doesn’t seem so bad.
This book started out and I had kind of a rough time with it. But in the end I was really enjoying the storyline and the characters. I noticed a couple other reviewers have said the same thing, so I think this is definitely one of those books that turn out better than you’d expect. Personally, the first half was a little bit much for me. Things felt a little too convenient and plain. Like, “oh, we’re in this really tough situation, but here comes someone and just explains something crazy – and you know what, I’m A.O.K. with that!” Do you know what I mean? But then I noticed something kind of changed in the writing about halfway through, and it felt a little bit more cohesive.
At a football game Bridget finds Stacy dead. Her first instinct is to hide the body, rather than report it, because she doesn’t want to anyone to find out about her ability. This is one of the areas where I really had some trouble with the storyline. A teenager’s first instinct is to hidea dead body? I didn’t buy it. Then another classmate catches her in the act, and they become accomplices and allies all at once. They both leave Stacy there. Very odd, in my opinion.
We learn that someone is hunting Bridget because of her ability. An ability that up until now only her mother knew about. Bridget can read minds. Who do you trust when you’ve always kept your distance? Is the nerd at school trustworthy? The new hottie who is into you? Your best friend? Your mother?? There was a lot of “whodunit” in this story, and that’s something I really love. A good mystery gets me every time.
Bridget is unable to control whose thoughts she hears and whose she doesn’t, which can understandably be tough on a person. However, there were times that I felt Bridget was mean to people close to her for no reason, and a bit manipulative at times. I guess she’s an actual teenager, and maybe that is a sign of me getting older (insert canned laugher here)
Overall though, I must say, something about this story was really good. There was a lot of action and a lot of mystery. The characters were interesting and not always what you expected. I would definitely recommend this if you were into YA books.
Bonus, this book is still available for free on Smashwords if you wanted to read it for yourself!
Jacqueline Gardner works as a Story Editor for the production company, Labragirl Pictures. Her love of storytelling began at an early age when she would make up stories with her grandmother before bedtime. In early 2010, she completed her first novel and has been stuck on writing ever since. She resides in Colorado and loves hiking, writing, fantasy fiction, and all things cupcake.
