Hung Up by Kristen Tracy

Hung Up by Kristen Tracy


Review by Lauren


copy for review; all opinions are my own


Official Summary: Can you fall in love with a voice? This witty romance, told entirely
through phone calls, chronicles the tale of a wrong number gone right.

It
all started with a wrong number. The voicemails Lucy left on James’s
phone were meant for someone else—someone who used to have James’s
digits. But then when James finally answers and the two start to talk, a
unique bond forms between the two teens.

Gradually Lucy and
James begin to understand each other on a deeper level than anyone else
in their lives. But when James wants to meet in person, Lucy is
strangely resistant. And when her secret is revealed, he’ll understand
why…

Review: When I first started this book, I figured it would be a quick and fun read. It is told entirely through voicemails, texts, and phone calls. I was right about one thing…it was definitely quick. But was it fun? Yes and no.

First off, I should probably state that I really liked this book. It was much more intriguing than I originally thought it would be. Hung Up has a title and a cover that might deter certain readers, but I do hope more people give it a chance. There is plenty of lighthearted moments and getting to know Lucy and James was a lot of fun.

However, there are aspects of their lives that they are hesitant to share; Lucy more so than James. Talking on the phone to someone you’ve never met in person is kind of like talking to someone online. You get to know each other, and often on a level that is difficult to come to when looking someone in the eye.

I appreciated that Tracy turned the story from what could have been a simple, fluffy romance to one that felt realistic. Lucy and James were similar, yet different. They both had a past they wanted to share with someone who might truly understand, yet that past involved other people who they were not keen to talk about. As I said above, James was more open than Lucy, but the reasons become clear by the end of the book. Lucy wants to be more open, but she’s dealing with a lot of anxiety and even though she’s talking through a phone, she has come to like James and doesn’t want to scare him off.

As for that romance aspect of the book, I think it was done really well. There was no insta-love in this book and while the two begin to care for and like each other, it’s never unrealistic. There are no declarations of love. It was just two teens feeling a connection and wanting that to last through face-to-face encounters.

Finally, while this book is told entirely through conversations, you do get to know the cast of characters that surround these two. Lucy’s parents and her best friend CeCe. James’ brother Bo and his grandma. These secondary characters come alive, even though they never speak directly to the reader.

Tracy has created a wonderful story of connection that definitely surprised me in its depth. I would certainly recommend this to others.