Find Me by Romily Bernard

Series: Find Me (bk. 1)

Genera: Suspense/Thriller/Realistic/ Contemporary Romance

Subjects: hackers, computers, high school, mystery, Georgia

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 307 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

My Review: I rarely read realistic fiction. I’m all about paranormal and sci-fi. Hacking is kind of like sci-fi stuff, but real, so I gave it a try. Some people called it cyber-punk light. I just saw it as a thriller/mystery. I started reading it and it was really easy to get into. The narration is entertaining and fun. Wick has a strong personality. She’s very funny and nerdy. Wick is such a unique name. Short for Wicket. What does Wicket mean? It sound like an old British name, or like a horrible celebrity baby name. I though Wick was just a nickname like a candlewick, but that wasn’t the case.

This was an extremely fast paced read. The chapters are short and well paced. There’s lots of hacking. I think I even learned a few things from this book that could prevent viruses and spyware, or prevent me from being scammed. This book deals with some real issues. Wick’s dad is a drug dealer and she and her sister Lily are in foster care. Wick hacks for money. Women pay her to find out if their husband or fiancé is cheating on them, which mostly involves breaking into email accounts. She’s using her skills for good, kind of, but also for profit.

When a classmate, Tessa, commits suicide, and her diary show up on Wick’s doorstep with a Find Me sticky note, Wick tried to find out who put it there. Could it be Officer Carson, the policeman always driving by their home? He was there that night.

Later on, Griff eventually helps her, and there’s some romance between them. A really nice, realistic romance. It’s not even close to insta-love. I love funny bickering fights that include flirty teasing. And I’m always thinking, shut up and kiss already! The ending of the book I didn’t see coming. I never guessed who it was, so I was very surprised.

This book reminded me of a lot of thing, so if you liked any of the following, you may want to read this. Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon: They are both HarperTeen books about teen hackers and foster care kids. Find Me is definitely more exciting in my opinion. Transparent by Natalie Whipple: The writing style felt similar, and also the main characters both have drug dealing/crime organizing fathers who made them commit crimes. Wick I kept either picturing as that red-haired hacker on Supernatural season 7 & 8, or Emma Stone. Emma Stone’s a blond that dyed her hair red and kind of act like Wick does in a few movies. Emma Stone should play a hacker. Wick’s personality reminded me of Maximum Ride. I never read/saw Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but I guess if you liked it, this may be for you.

This book is the 1^st book in a trilogy. I originally thought it was a standalone. Book 2: Remember Me (Fall 2014) and Book 3: Trust Me (Fall 2015). I got this book as an ARC at YA Fandom Frenzy in Naperville (I traded another ARC to get it). I’m happy to have read it. I hope you all like it too.

Cover Art Review: I love this cover! Love the picture in the reverse type “Find Me.” I tried doing this once in both Illustrator and InDesign and couldn’t figure it out. I think it’s a layer mask.