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    A Need So Beautiful
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    A Need So Beautiful
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    A Need So Beautiful
    Audiobook7 hours

    A Need So Beautiful

    Written by Suzanne Young

    Narrated by Hannah Whitall Smith

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

    Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

    But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

    Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJun 21, 2011
    ISBN9780062069863
    Unavailable
    A Need So Beautiful
    Author

    Suzanne Young

    Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Program series. Originally from New York, Suzanne is a dual US and Italian citizen, currently living in the Veneto region of Italy with her family. She has published more than twenty novels, including the Program series, Girls with Sharp Sticks series, In Nightfall, and her middle grade debut, What Stays Buried. When not writing, Suzanne is the founder of Writing in Italy—an Italian retreat and tour company. Follow Suzanne and her three photogenic dogs on Instagram at @authorsuzanneyoung.

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    Reviews for A Need So Beautiful

    4/5

    112 ratings30 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Find this review and more at On The Shelf! Charlotte has a great life with people who love her, but the Need comes at very inconvenient times and she has no way to explain it to her loved ones. It gets harder to deal with since the frequency of the Need increases, and becomes more painful. Being a Forgotten is not something Charlotte wants, or knows how to handle. She tries to fight off the pain of her Needs and attempts to find a way to stop it. This story wasn’t exactly what I expected, though I’m not really sure exactly what it was I did expect. There wasn’t really any action in it, but it still read pretty quickly. There was a lot of repetition that I could have done without. The power in the book though was still strong. I could feel Charlotte’s overwhelming desire to fight against being a Forgotten and I was very heartbroken for her for what she was going through. I liked the cover; it seemed very angelic to me since the girl had a heavenly glow to her. I also liked the couple of fancy letters in the title that gave it a bit of elegance. The characters were written very well, and I really liked Harlin, who was willing to fight hard for what he wanted. There are many books with their own spin on angels, but this one is different from others I have read and it takes on a unique plot. It has a cliffhanger ending so beware! But I do look forward to the next book titled A Want so Wicked, which is an awesome title. Though it wasn’t a super fantastic read for me, it was still enjoyable.Heartbreaking, strong characters, mysterious, not much action.
    • 4/5
      Review from A Journey Through PagesLike with Bumped, A Need So Beautiful was a book I checked out because I had won the sequel, A Want So Wicked. It had been a book I had been debating about reading for a long time however never got to it. There is really one word to describe it: Beautiful.This is a story about the ultimate sacrifice, about what love is and how much memory means. Charlotte has odd urges to help people how, tell them the one thing they need to hear and now she's started losing skin and turning gold, then she is told that eventually everyone she loves will forget her.It was absolutely heartbreaking to read, but I couldn't stop. The writing style fits the plot so perfectly with its slight poetic tone. It really makes you wonder what would you do if you were in Charlotte's position. Would you give into temptation? Or would you want to sacrifice yourself? I honestly am not sure what I would do myself, as one of my biggest fears is not existing (weird I know), so the idea of it scares me so much.--This is a book one reads while listening to epic Celtic music. It's paranormal, but plays out more like a Tragedy than YA Paranormal. You leave the book with an odd feeling inside of you that I can't quite explain, all I can say I don't regret reading it one bit.
    • 4/5
      Having just read another YA supernaturalish novel that fell victim to just about every YA cliche in the book, I had to come back to this one and write a review for it. Suzanne Young managed to produce a well-written teen novel that avoided the expected. The dialog and interactions felt believable, the main character didn't have legions of men falling at her feel, and her angst felt understandable instead of overwrought. Plus, the ending was ballsy and threw me for a loop. Young is definitely an author to watch.
    • 4/5
      This book has a delicious and surprising ending. It's a book about love, friendship and sacrifice. I enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      I love it!! Could not stop reading until I was done!
    • 3/5
      Coming right on the heels of my reading Mark of Athena and Days of Starlight and Blood, I picked up this book (which I started in April) to finish. The problem was, on the heels of the others, this one was so much weaker by comparison to such tight, massive story plays going on.

      I wanted more visceral detail about emotions and the things going on with Angels and Watchers than we got. It was good, but it might be a long while before I consider tracking down book two.
    • 4/5
      I wanted this book before it even came out but it took me years to find it. One day I just happened to be at the book store and there it was, a signed hardcover for $5. I don’t think I’ve ever grabbed a book off the shelves that fast before. As soon as I bought it, I started reading it and I couldn’t put it down. It was just so good. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next.The writing, the character, and the plot are all really good. As soon as I finished reading A Need So Beautiful I went to my shelves, picked up A Want So Wicked and started reading it. I needed more.Note: This is an older review. So I don’t feel like I can get more into what I liked and disliked about it. Maybe someday I will re-read A Need So Beautiful and do another review. Better reviews (hopefully) in the future.
    • 2/5
      What I Liked:
      Suzanne Young has a great writing style, an ear for dialogue, and has obviously poured herself into this book to make it the best it can be. The characters were well defined and easy to picture.

      What I Didn't Like:
      The paranormal plot of this book was too weak to carry it through, in my opinion. I felt as if the incidents of "the Need" were repetitive, so much so that I found myself skimming to get to where the story resumed.

      I disliked how the heroine distrusted her boyfriend, convinced that he could never love her if she were honest about her experiences.

      Summary:
      Pacing was my main issue with this book. There's a sequel coming out and I truly feel like the story has been stretched too thin in order to create two books out of one. If A Need So Beautiful and its sequel were edited into one book, my guess is that the pacing issues would have disappeared, leaving a fast-moving, compelling story.

      I think Young has great talent as a writer and I will keep my eye open for other books by her in the future. I think she'd do very well with a YA contemporary novel with her ability to craft believable dialogue.
    • 4/5
      I wanted this book before it even came out but it took me years to find it. One day I just happened to be at the book store and there it was, a signed hardcover for $5. I don’t think I’ve ever grabbed a book off the shelves that fast before. As soon as I bought it, I started reading it and I couldn’t put it down. It was just so good. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next.The writing, the character, and the plot are all really good. As soon as I finished reading A Need So Beautiful I went to my shelves, picked up A Want So Wicked and started reading it. I needed more.
    • 4/5
      A Need So Beautiful introduces us to Charlotte Cassidy, an orphan living with her foster mother and several other foster children. Charlotte suffers from uncontrollable compulsions which she calls her “need” that compels her to seek out certain people and help them in some life-changing way. These compulsions come over her randomly and manifests as a physical ache deep within her that is only relieved when she completes her task. She has tried to keep all of these compulsive “needs” hidden from everyone, but her best friend seems to have an idea that something is a bit different about Charlotte. When Charlotte begins to realize that these “needs” are not only taking over her life, but may also end it, she has to come to terms with who and what she really is and decide which path to take.

      I had such a difficult time writing this review. I thought the premise was incredibly fascinating and original. The compulsions that basically ruled Charlotte’s life were intriguing in the way they came upon her as well as in the way she fulfilled each task. I felt her frustration that these “needs'’ would so often take her away from what she preferred to be doing and she seemed to be powerless to control when and where these compulsions would overtake her. I can’t imagine having my life ruled by these impulses to help other people even when I didn’t particularly want to. It was almost as if Charlotte was a slave whose will was forced to follow the whims of these compulsions. Understandably, she resented this. Charlotte has the basic desires of many teenagers, to spend as much time as possible with her boyfriend and when she’s not with him, to hang out with her best friend. When her body began to show physical changes because of these impulses, she began to search for answers and a way to stop what was happening to her. As much as I would love to make a difference in the world and in other people’s lives, would I be willing to do so at the expense of my own life and my own happiness?

      While I loved the premise, I often felt a bit of a disconnect with Charlottes character. Her obsession with her boyfriend was a bit much at times but some of that could be explained by the fact that, because of the “needs,” she may have naturally tended to invest that level of intensity into everything including her relationships with others. There were also quite a few holes in the plot as well as many unanswered questions about the mythology behind “The Forgotten.” Throughout the story, I alternated between being fascinated by and put off by a condition that would seem to push Charlotte toward what is essentially suicide and I really would have liked a lot more clarification about that. Then there were the secondary characters, Monroe and Onika and boyfriend Harlin. These characters seemed a bit weak and one dimensional. There was definitely a disconnect as far as they were concerned. I was left with more questions than answers by the end of this book. For some reason, all of the pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite come together for me.

      With that being said, the plot and characters were certainly strong enough to hold my interest throughout the entirety of this book and after that jaw-dropping ending, I will definitely be back for more. I am eagerly anticipating reading A Want So Wicked, and I hope that what I did not understand with this book will be cleared up in the sequel.

      Much of the disconnect I felt may have been due to the narration in the audio I listened to. This was one of the worst audio narrations I’ve ever listened to. It truly speaks to the strength of the plot and story that I was able to listen to this complete audio. The English? accent that this narrator used for Monroe and the Russian? accent used for Onika was painfully annoying as was the cloyingly cutesy voice used for Charlotte’s best friend Sarah. If want to get this book, choose the print or eBook.

      Ultimately, I enjoyed A Need So Beautiful because of the original premise and interesting main character. While I felt the book had some definite flaws, I would still recommend it to those who have been looking for something fresh and new in YA fantasy.
    • 4/5
      A Need So Beautiful introduces us to Charlotte Cassidy, an orphan living with her foster mother and several other foster children. Charlotte suffers from uncontrollable compulsions which she calls her “need” that compels her to seek out certain people and help them in some life-changing way. These compulsions come over her randomly and manifests as a physical ache deep within her that is only relieved when she completes her task. She has tried to keep all of these compulsive “needs” hidden from everyone, but her best friend seems to have an idea that something is a bit different about Charlotte. When Charlotte begins to realize that these “needs” are not only taking over her life, but may also end it, she has to come to terms with who and what she really is and decide which path to take.

      I had such a difficult time writing this review. I thought the premise was incredibly fascinating and original. The compulsions that basically ruled Charlotte’s life were intriguing in the way they came upon her as well as in the way she fulfilled each task. I felt her frustration that these “needs'’ would so often take her away from what she preferred to be doing and she seemed to be powerless to control when and where these compulsions would overtake her. I can’t imagine having my life ruled by these impulses to help other people even when I didn’t particularly want to. It was almost as if Charlotte was a slave whose will was forced to follow the whims of these compulsions. Understandably, she resented this. Charlotte has the basic desires of many teenagers, to spend as much time as possible with her boyfriend and when she’s not with him, to hang out with her best friend. When her body began to show physical changes because of these impulses, she began to search for answers and a way to stop what was happening to her. As much as I would love to make a difference in the world and in other people’s lives, would I be willing to do so at the expense of my own life and my own happiness?

      While I loved the premise, I often felt a bit of a disconnect with Charlottes character. Her obsession with her boyfriend was a bit much at times but some of that could be explained by the fact that, because of the “needs,” she may have naturally tended to invest that level of intensity into everything including her relationships with others. There were also quite a few holes in the plot as well as many unanswered questions about the mythology behind “The Forgotten.” Throughout the story, I alternated between being fascinated by and put off by a condition that would seem to push Charlotte toward what is essentially suicide and I really would have liked a lot more clarification about that. Then there were the secondary characters, Monroe and Onika and boyfriend Harlin. These characters seemed a bit weak and one dimensional. There was definitely a disconnect as far as they were concerned. I was left with more questions than answers by the end of this book. For some reason, all of the pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite come together for me.

      With that being said, the plot and characters were certainly strong enough to hold my interest throughout the entirety of this book and after that jaw-dropping ending, I will definitely be back for more. I am eagerly anticipating reading A Want So Wicked, and I hope that what I did not understand with this book will be cleared up in the sequel.

      Much of the disconnect I felt may have been due to the narration in the audio I listened to. This was one of the worst audio narrations I’ve ever listened to. It truly speaks to the strength of the plot and story that I was able to listen to this complete audio. The English? accent that this narrator used for Monroe and the Russian? accent used for Onika was painfully annoying as was the cloyingly cutesy voice used for Charlotte’s best friend Sarah. If want to get this book, choose the print or eBook.

      Ultimately, I enjoyed A Need So Beautiful because of the original premise and interesting main character. While I felt the book had some definite flaws, I would still recommend it to those who have been looking for something fresh and new in YA fantasy.
    • 4/5
      I actually read this book a little while ago. It was another one of those Borders going out of business pick-ups. I couldn't resist the cover, it's almost like it glows.

      I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a happy ending and from the moment I started reading this book I knew. I knew how it was going to turn out. I put it down for an hour thinking I was mad at it, how could this be happening to Charlotte and then quickly scooped it up and read like my life depended on it. I had moments when I was angry at characters and moments when I was just sad. I loved Harlin's dedication to Charlotte even though she was acting out of sorts. This was a great example of sacrifice for the greater good but I honestly had moments where i was torn between wanting her to be selfish and wanting her to fulfill her Need. We all sometimes struggle to do the right thing, nobody is perfect. I loved that about this book.
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A slow mystery with a great ending.Opening Sentence: I sit on the front steps of St. Vincent’s Cathedral and pick at the moss nestled in the cracks of the concrete.The Review: Charlotte doesn’t know what’s happening to her. It started when she was very young, when the Need pulled her away once a year. Now, as a teenager, the Need draws her towards strangers everyday, demanding her to help this woman here, or save that man over there. No one knows about the fits of pain and squeezing of her lungs the precedes the urge to help someone in need. No one knows the why she disappears so often or where she goes. It’s tearing Charlotte apart, and she can’t do anything about it. Until a lady named Onika appears in her dreams, describing a life free of the Need, free of aging, free of dying. But it comes with a price. Charlotte has a choice. Follow her destiny and live out a life as a Forgotten. Or live for eternity as a broken Shadow.As I started reading this book, I thought “Wow. This is boring.” I liked the protagonist well enough, despised the love interest to no end, loved the best friend, and adored the mother and doctor. But the plot was so slow! The most interesting parts were the Needs, but they were infrequent and very short. Charlotte’s desperation was a tad too much without seeing the situation in its entirety. BUT about 3/4 of the way through, the story changes from watching snails race to watching a lap of the Indy 500. It’s the type of ending that makes you ask “It’s over already?” AND the tear-jerker scene and the unexpected twist… If the entire book was like the end I would rate this 5 skulls. If only.The characters in this story didn’t impress me much (until the end.) Sarah, Charlotte’s best friend, often gets into trouble with the law, but has the money to pay bail. Her mother is a charity fanatic, and her doctor is her only father figure. Charlotte was a love-struck teenager that, in my opinion, had a choice that was obvious. Either fight evil by creating peace, or become undead and stay with your drop-out boyfriend that is ridiculously in love with her. For me, that’s a no-brainer. But of course for Charlotte it’s a hard choice. It’s the first 3/4 of the book that Charlotte is exposed to these choices, and she develops a stubbornness to stay remembered. It’s the last quarter of the book that the pressure to choose is closing in, and the Need becomes even more persistent and heart wrenching.I absolutely love the concept of the Need. Okay, so I’d rather not actually experience them, but the concept in a book is a sure-fire way to make the tears roll. Literally. I have never cried during a book (except my eyes got watery reading the end of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, but that’s not full out crying). Tears were literally rolling down my face as I read the last Need Charlotte accomplished, and for some odd reason that scene is my favorite scene out of the whole book. So, to shed some light on what I’m talking about, down below is a snippet of the scene. Notable Scene: He smiles. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he says.Tingles race over my skin. “You have?”He nods. “Saw you once, when Roderick died. You were in the hospital with him. Of course, not as you are now, but I recognize you still.”My lips part and I want to pull my hand out of his, oddly afraid of his words. But as I meet his eyes, his glow goes out and my vision returns. I see his chest rising and falling slower. He’s almost gone and I still don’t know why I’m here.“Your mother?” I ask. “Do you want me to call her?”He closes his eyes and then shakes his head. “No, she passed away a few months ago. She talked to me though. Apologized.”I exhale, feeling relieved. I thought that maybe I was here to help him reconcile with his family, to heal some of that hurt. But it seems that already happened.“Then why am I here, Warren?” I don’t even mean to ask it out loud. But he looks at me so sadly that I feel my entire body shudder from the sorrow.“Because I don’t want to die alone.”FTC Advisory: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of A Need So Beautiful. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      I purchased this book on a whim and it was the best spontaneous buy all summer. I honestly can’t stand books that have a guaranteed happy ending and midway through A Need so Beautiful, there were two plausible endings to the book and both were bittersweet. Instead of the typical instant-love-triangle mess of many YA novels, the heroine starts out already involved in the boy of her dreams. Charlotte’s problems with her boyfriend arise because of her “Need” to do good things for other people. As these compulsions become more frequent, she finds it harder to hide it from other people. I really connected to Charlotte. Although she liked doing good things for others, she really wanted to have a chance to live her own life. As the book progresses, Charlotte discovers that she may end up with no life at all.I can’t say that the characters were unique, as Charlotte’s best friend, Sarah, is a shopaholic who only wants to be loved by her father. Charlotte’s boyfriend, Harlin, is pretty tame and quiet, since he’s still getting over the murder of his father a few years ago. I can’t say that I’m a fangirl, but I can see where his sensitive nature can be attractive.As for the ending, apparently a chapter was added at the very end to transform this stand alone book into a series. I like the book better without the epilogue, but I also enjoyed reading the second book…so whatever. It wasn’t a cliff-hanger (well, maybe it was a “bridge-hanger”…you’ll understand after reading) so I’m satisfied.If you love YA fantasy with a melodramatic twist, this is an awesome book to check out. The concept of angels “Forgotten” are unique and the book will keep you engaged until the last word.
    • 2/5
      I have to say that I went into this book with high hopes, hopes that did not live up to their expectation. I thought the plotline for the book was unique and very interesting, but it stopped there. I felt like all of the characters were shallow and stereotypical: Harlin the bad boy who’s really soft at heart, Sarah the flirty best friend, Seth the popular guy/jerk at school. I just didn’t really care for or connect with any of them, not even Charlotte. I also found it really tiresome to keep reading the same thing over and over every time Charlotte was struck with the Need. She’s compelled to move against her will, there is an intense burning in her shoulder, and so on and so forth, every single time. I think the author was just trying to get us to understand the pain Charlotte was going through, but instead it just caused me pain to keep reading it over and over. I think she could have abbreviated the process a little bit once we understood what it was like whenever the Need hit. Overall this book just wasn’t my cup of tea.
    • 3/5
      I am not really sure how I feel about A Need So Beautiful. The love between Harlin and Charlotte is what got me through the story. Theirs is a love that is intense; they have this pull to each other that just cannot be explained. Charlotte finds out that her "asthma" is really the effects of her becomming a Forgotten, a type of celestial being. Being a Forgotten is her destiny, of which she is not sure is for her. She wants to fight it, so she can live with Harlin, but fate has more in mind for her. The fight between good and evil is the thread that holds the story together, but it is a weak one. At times, it was hard to hold onto what was happening to Charlotte. I am curious about a sequel, but not sure that I will read it.
    • 5/5
      Another book I decided to get off my tbr pile and was not disappointed. Once I stepped into this world, I was taken back by the great world building and amazing characters!One thing I enjoyed about the book is the world building. I really liked how the reader is able to easily step into the world of Charlotte. The descriptions of the world, the rules of The Forgotten is amazing. I really loved the feel of the plot expanding with more rules and more minor characters becoming more important that I thought.The characters of the book were amazing. The growth of each character with each new chapter pleased me. I really loved watching them make choices not for them but for others. The sacrifices that these characters make is admirable. The love interest of this book did take some unexpected turns that I did not see. I am happy that the relationship is much more than just a regular friendship but it's something more. Their love is fresh yet intoxicating. Whenever the reader falls into the relationship, you want to do nothing but stay in the happiness of it.A Need So Beautiful is an well constructed beautiful story. The suspense and thrilling scenes, it plays well to captivate the reader right away. An engaging story from the first page, A Need So Beautiful is a rich portrait of a young woman coming into her destiny.
    • 3/5
      I know, another angel-themed book? Honestly I would not have considered, but Suzanne Young made me snort milk through my nose with her Naughty List series, so I thought I’d give A Need So Beautiful a shot. The tension between Charlotte and Harlin was tighter than tight, but overall the story did not have a similar effect for me. I wish the characters had more memorable presence, but they seemed to drift in for a little while and then out again. While Charlotte found some answers about her strange Need, there is so much more left unsaid for the reader. I will warn you that the story ends with a cliffhanger (think mercy), and if I were you I would wait until the next book comes out before picking this book up! I am hoping that A Want So Wicked will bring more answers, and I am looking forward to seeing how Harlin turns out in Book 2.
    • 2/5
      Sometimes a book just doesn't manage to pull me in. It's extremely rare, but this was one of those books. I just couldn't bring myself to finish it after struggling through half of the book. I was disappointed because I'd really been looking forward to this one. :(
    • 3/5
      A Need So Beautiful is the story of Charlotte, a seemingly normal 17 year old girl, who has these "needs" to help people that she doesn't know. And while it helps the person, it is physically killing her at the same time. This is the story of how she changes people's lives and how she tries to figure out how to try and stop from fading away.I'm so torn on this book. Anna from Literary Exploration always harps on me for listening to audiobooks and for once, I wish that I had read this book instead of listening to it on audio. I really really liked the concept of the book - it was really unique. I always thought that angels would want to help people and the repercussions of NOT helping them..well I never really put much thought into it. But because I listened to this on audiobook, I found myself thoroughly annoyed at the characters. Charlotte, Harlin, and especially Sarah were SO whiny. I realize that they're 16-17 years old and that means that they are selfish, spoiled, self-centered, whiny, annoying, immature..but the narrator did TOO good of a job at this part and it made me dislike almost all of the characters. The only character I really liked was Monroe!I would recommend that fans of Paranormal Romance or people who have an affinity for books with angels in them but definitely pick up the book and not the audio!
    • 3/5
      A Need So Beautiful breaks new ground with the angel concept and delivers an engaging story about love, fate and sacrifice where there are no easy answers. The main character struggles to choose the correct path and faces impossible choices. I appreciated the original approach taken with this story, but felt disconnected with the characters, possibly due to the audiobook narration, which I didn’t find a perfect match to the story.The main character Charlotte is sort of an angel, and her talent is feeling a Need, a pull that won’t be ignored, whenever someone nearby needs help. She gets a type of psychic bond with the person in need of help and relays some information to them that will change their life. However, each time she does help someone it causes irreparable harm to her body and makes her become more and more forgettable to those closest to her.Charlotte has close relationships on earth that are in jeopardy due to her unique ability. I liked that she has a long-term boyfriend in the story. She and Harlin have some sweet interactions, although their relationship is tested as Charlotte’s gift gets in the way. She does have a mentor of sorts that she can turn to for advice, but that doesn’t make her difficult choices any easier.Charlotte’s struggle to fulfill her destiny to help others versus prioritizing her own desires was thought provoking. She faced real consequences with her actions, whether it was ignoring the Need, or accepting it. Both choices had high stakes attached and make the reader conflicted as well.The audiobook narrator’s voice did not line up with how I expected Charlotte to sound, and caused me to have less of an emotional connection with the character. I guess with Charlotte’s life experience and tragedies I expected her to sound less naive. The reader handles the other characters voices fine, including the British accent of Monroe. Even though the story is fast paced I struggled to get through the audiobook and had to put it aside for a break.What sets A Need So Beautiful apart from other books about angels is the unique paranormal talent, the thought provoking difficult choices, and the surprising twists and turns. The ending is a game changer, and that alone makes me curious to read the sequel, but probably the book version next time. The sequel, A Want So Wicked, is due out in July 2012.
    • 4/5
      The idea behind this book, the idea of being forgotten, is something I'm sure everyone thinks about from time to time. Maybe you have had a dream where your family or friends don't remember who you are. That's a nightmare right there. A nightmare that Charlotte is living. I was completely wrapped up in her story. Imagine feeling extreme pain if you don't fulfill the urge to help someone. What a unique idea, and it was exicuted perfectly.Charlotte was a fantastic main character. She was confused and frustrated that she didn't understand what was happening to her. Once she discovers what is happening to her she fights to stay, fights to be remembered. Harlin (that has been one of my favorite names for years) is swooooon worthy. Her boyfriend is so sweet. I wanted to be the one wrapped up in his arms. I felt so bad for him and was begging Charlotte to just tell him about the Need already!The writing is wonderful. Easy to read and holds your attention through the whole book. I couldn't wait to begin each and every chapter. Suzanne did a wonderful job on this book. I cannot wait for the second one!
    • 5/5
      Wow. Just wow. A Need So Beautiful is an unbelievably genuine story full of love, loss, and hope. I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day! I fell in love with the unique storyline and the delightful characters! I don't know how I am going to be able to wait a whole year for the A Want So Wicked! I need more of this story, and I need to know what happens after that ending!!Charlotte is a beautiful protagonist, inside and out. I was rooting for her the whole time. I was shocked at what she feels when the Need comes on, and I felt her pain at having to lie to her boyfriend, her best friend, and her family about the Need. Even though the Need put Charlotte through so much emotional and physical pain, it is an amazing thing. When Charlotte helps others who are in dire need of guidance, it is heartwarming and beautiful. It truly is a Need so beautiful.Harlin...Oh, how to describe this wonderfully amazing man. I truly wish there was someone like Harlin out there. He is such a compassionate boyfriend to Charlotte, and even when he doesn't understand why she acts the way she does, he is still there for her. He is sweet, charming, and utterly gorgeous! Definitely one of my favorite guys of YA.If you haven't read this book, you are sure missing out on a breathtaking story. I would highly recommend this story to everyone out there! You will laugh, cry, gasp, and swoon throughout all of the trials that Charlotte goes through.
    • 5/5
      Summary: Ever since she was a little girl, Charlotte has felt the Need—the unstoppable desire to help someone whose life needs turning around. Now, the Need has become more frequent; Charlotte feels compelled every single day, and it’s starting to interrupt her life. When Charlotte’s skin begins to peel back, revealing shimmering gold underneath, she discovers that she’s not who she thought she was—she’s a Forgotten, destined to leave the earth a better place. But there’s a price all Forgotten pay: they will not be remembered by anyone, including people they love.My thoughts: Heartbreaking and full of passion, A Need so Beautiful is a sparkling addition to the YA genre. Suzanne Young’s take on angels is the most authentic I’ve read. Those compelled by the Need make painful sacrifices but in the end feel euphoria, making them both horrific and saintly to the reader. Suzanne Young’s concept of the ultimate sacrifice (being forgotten) is very thought provoking and close to home. How many times have we heard people say that their goal in life is to leave their mark on the world? It’s easy to put yourself in Charlotte’s place while reading, and the feeling it leaves is heart wrenching. A Need so Beautiful isn’t all sad, however. There are fun moments, like the interactions between Charlotte and her shallow (yet hilarious) best friend Sarah. Plus, there’s an adorable, incredibly passionate romance between Charlotte and her boyfriend Harlin. Their relationship brings the trope of star-crossed lovers to an entirely new level. The love between the two is almost palpable, and you can’t help but feel devastated along with them as Charlotte discovers her fate. Charlotte, despite being a Forgotten, thinks and acts just like a modern teen. Her higher purpose does nothing to weaken her authenticity. Charlotte is the girl next door at the beginning of the book—someone really easy to relate to—but the way she faces her obstacles is amazing, and she grows into an incredibly strong and selfless person (whether she wants to be or not). Every character surrounding Charlotte has his or her own distinctive voice, which makes for an impressive cast of sub-characters. They feel just as real as Charlotte, and each and every one of them is enjoyable to read about. A Need so Beautiful is an utterly fantastic book—it grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. If you’re looking for an evocative, beautiful, unforgettable read, Suzanne Young’s latest is the way to go. You won’t regret it!
    • 5/5
      I love Suz, and I loved this book. It had a great pace, a sexy and refreshing love story, a unique concept, and more than anything else, I connected with Charlotte--I put myself in her place and wanted to know what I would do in her situation; I could feel her pain and her temptation and her indecision and her sadness...and I cannot wait for the sequel. Especially after the very last chapter, so intriguing!
    • 3/5
      Charlotte Cassidy has the Need: a call to help others, one that grows unbearably painful if she tries to ignore it. She has no control over it and the pull comes at any given time: at school, when she’s making out with her boyfriend, when her best friend needs her the most… As if that weren’t enough, she soon learns that the more she helps those that need her, the more her loved ones forget her.I really appreciated the journey of emotions that Charlotte went through in the course of the book. Suzanne Young perfectly displayed the inner conflict that Charlotte endured: the pull in this and that direction, the different degrees of obligation that Charlotte felt — both to strangers and her own loved ones — and, of course, the requisite desire to just be normal. Unlike many of the abilities featured in other YA supernatural novels, Charlotte doesn’t get any cool perks. Sure, she knows that she helped someone, but she loses part of herself in the process. It was a very personal struggle and one that was very heartbreaking.Most of the minor characters fell flat to me. Harlin came across as the perfect boyfriend and all that good stuff, but I felt that there wasn’t much substance to him. Charlotte’s best friend, Sarah, was a bit more interesting with her family dynamic but, even with her, there was a distinct feeling that we barely skimmed over the surface of her character. Similarly, though Charlotte’s relationships with her family were the most interesting and touching, there wasn’t enough. Yes, this is only the first book of the series, and I’m sure we’ll see more these characters in the second, but there was a certain missing piece to have them “come alive” for me. As for Monroe, their interactions were the ones I enjoyed the most as I actually saw progress — and setbacks — in their friendship.The conclusion of the book completely turned everything upside down — in a very good way. An already interesting premise has the potential to get even better in the sequel, A Want So Wicked. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story continues!
    • 5/5
      Charlotte is one of the Forgotten. She experiences an uncontrollable urge, she has aptly named the Need, that guides her towards someone in need of her help. Only catch is she seems to be losing substance with each person she helps. This is frightening her like you wouldn’t imagine. Raised in foster care with no memory of her life prior, she isn’t sure who she can turn to for help. Now she finds herself struggling between what seems to be an innate instinct, and the desire for a normal life with her best friend, foster family, and boyfriend.A Need So Beautiful is one of those books that I found myself devouring in an afternoon. I couldn’t put this captivating story down. Packed full of so much emotion, it had me in tears on more than one occasion. Charlotte will find a way under your skin. She is such an amazing character, and it was heartbreaking to watch her struggle between what she needed to do and what she wanted to do. The secondary characters were also top notch. Monroe is a doctor that Charlotte worked for. The banter between the two of them added just the right amount of lightheartedness to prevent me from bawling my eyes the entire time I read. Oh, and I just might be in love with him. It isn’t often I come across an age appropriate crush while reading YA. Monroe had the sense of humor (and the accent) I just can’t resist. Kudos to Suzanne for providing a little man candy for the older YA readers ;) Then there is Charlotte’s boyfriend Harlin. He is guaranteed to make any woman (of any age) with a pulse swoon. I also really liked Charlotte’s foster family as well as her best friend. They all added something special to the storyline, and made it so easy to understand why Charlotte wasn’t in a hurry to give them up regardless of her destiny.The ending had my jaw dropping open, me thinking oh my god that can’t be the end, and bombarding poor Suzanne Young with tweets begging her to assure me there will be a sequel. I’m usually not a fan of endings that leave so many questions, but in this case it worked perfectly. Thankfully there is a sequel in the works and I can’t wait! This isn’t like any angel book you may have read. It is refreshingly different, and I highly recommend it to those who have enjoyed the onslaught of angel-centric books, but crave a fresh take. The uniqueness this book exudes has me eager to read it again as soon as I can get a finished copy in my hands.
    • 4/5
      A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, by Suzanne Young, is a brilliant story of a girl whose past is a mystery and her once normal idea of a future is anything but. Young created a fascinating story about understanding faith and fate.Young throws the reader right into Charlotte's life and her increasingly insistent pull toward the Need. At any moment an overwhelming urge to go to someone takes over her body and fighting it makes the painful symptoms worse. I, along with Charlotte, was kept in the dark for some time about the reason for the Need. The feelings came more frequently, causing Charlotte to lie to her friends and family more often about what was going on in her life.I loved Charlotte's friends and family. Young created dynamic and interesting characters that it made me extremely sad when they started to forget her like her Seer said they would. Charlotte and her best friend, Sarah, were an unlikley pair in coming from different socital classes, but their friendship went deeper than that.Overall, fantastic and unique book that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end!
    • 2/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyA NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young is not a book about angels. But it’s also not not about angels. Charlotte is a Forgotten, which for all intensive purposes is an angel, but without any sort of religious connotation. She’s more like a New Age angel. She doesn’t know what she is except that for the past few years she’s been sporadically struck with a compulsion, a Need, to help people. And the Needs are becoming more debilitating and more frequent.Charlotte has a pack of very interesting people in her life including Sarah, her seemingly shallow and promiscuous best friend; Mercy, her saint-like adoptive single mother who collects foster kids and is too soft to ever discipline them; Monroe, a doctor at a volunteer clinic and surrogate father with questionable motives; and her boyfriend Harlin who was easily the best thing about this book. He’s got a bad boy vibe in all the ways a girl could want, but with a warm and compassionate side. With the exception of Harlin, the other characters unfortunately all came off as fairly cliché.My biggest problem with A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, however, is that practically every supporting character has a subplot that is introduced but never resolved. At all. I could understand if a couple were left open for the next book in the series, but all of them? There are at least five that are started and then just left hanging.I also think that Charlotte had too many Needs. A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is a relatively short book, only 272 pages, and yet there were half a dozen or more Need scenarios that each had there own mini story (most of which struck me as soap opera-ish). I wish that number had been cut in half and more time given to developing the relationships Charlotte had with Sarah, Harlin, and Monroe.Overall, despite my criticisms about the cliché characters and unresolved subplots, the writing is good and I always applaud an outside-the-box premise. I also appreciate the choice the author made in the end to stay consistent with the world and rules she established throughout the book. I was half afraid she would just wave away the problems and deliver a typically HEA, but she choose the harder and ultimately more fulfilling path. It is a huge cliffhanger and I’m still not sure I even understand the very last chapter, I can only hope the answers will come when the sequel, A WANT SO WICKED, is published in 2012. Sexual Content:References to homosexuality. References to molestation. References to sex. References to oral sex.
    • 4/5
      A Need So Beautiful presents a really unique premise, and while I didn't fall head over heels in love with it, I did enjoy it quite a bit. The story really give you a lot to think about---Charlotte is not so much an angel as she is this being of light whose soul purpose on earth is to guide people to do the right thing and then be instantly forgotten. She feels "The Need" as she calls it, and is compelled, quite painfully I might add, to the place and person where she is needed, but once her message is delivered, its like she was never there. Furthermore, as her time on earth comes to a close, everyone she ever loved or knew starts to forget her. The story is about her struggle with all of this and the temptation to turn to something dark if it means being remembered and loved. This was the part of the story that I really enjoyed, the whole dark vs. light plot, and finding out which path Charlotte would choose. I also really loved the stories behind the people she was drawn to help and how they got into the situation they were in---all really interesting back stories.I really liked Charlotte. She was pretty normal, in the beginning just kind of rolling with the punches of her strange "Needs" and humoring her best friend when she suspects that Charlotte is psychic. The blurb alludes to the fact that Charlotte's boyfriend, Harlin, thought she was cheating on him, but I didn't really see that anywhere. He was an interesting character; not your everyday variety bad boy---he's hiding a pretty big softy side and he really loved Charlotte. It's kind of funny, while I liked Charlotte and I liked Harlin, I didn't especially like them together. For me, it was a little too much boyfriend worship at the beginning. Whenever he was mentioned, it would be "oh he's so beautiful, oh he's so perfect". (And just a note, for those considering this for younger readers, there is a quite a bit of casual sex going on.) It wasn't until we got into Harlin's history a bit more that I got a feeling for his character. Same with the best friend. Sarah was hard for me to click with---she was selfish and self-destructive. It wasn't until really far into the story that you get a tiny glimpse of her home life and then I was able to feel some compassion for her. Monroe, Charlotte's boss, was meant to be a kind of father-figure to her, but he really just came off as kind of creepy to me---which was actually perfect for propelling the story since his motives often come into question.A really thought-provoking story that pulled lots of conflicting emotions from me! It was poignant and heart-wrenching and filled with little moments of life lessons about family, love, giving selflessly, remembrance, and taking those little decisions for granted that effect our lives in big ways. Definitely worth a read and the ending left a nice possibility for a sequel.