Review: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

From Google...

A steamy Southern beauty makes one fatal mistake

Natalie Hargrove would kill to be her high school's Palmetto Princess. But her boyfriend Mike King doesn't share her dream and risks losing the honor of Palmetto Prince to Natalie's nemesis, Justin Balmer. So she convinces Mike to help play a prank on Justin. . . one that goes terribly wrong. They tie him to the front of the church after a party - when they arrive the next morning, Justin is dead.

From blackmail to buried desire, dark secrets to darker deeds, Natalie unravels. She never should've messed with fate. Fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.
Cruel Intentions meets Macbeth in this seductive, riveting tale of conscience and consequence.

My Rating:

My Thoughts

     This wonderful standalone, explores the senior year of Natalie Hargrove. The girl who had it all, the perfect looks, the perfect reputation, and the perfect long-term boyfriend, but nothing comes in a perfect package, right? What Natalie had up her sleeve the years before she moved to Palmetto, is something not even her boyfriend, Mike, could know about.

     As a runner up for the Palmetto Princess, Natalie would literally do anything to ensure her and Mike's places as the Prince and Princess. But on one night party, Natalie and MIke carry their drunk competitor, Justin Balmer, to their car and give him a ride to the church. What a decent idea! But that's not what Natalie has in mind! Just a little fresh lipstick, and arms tied around the doors of the church, can cause some humiliation for Justin, when he wakes up on Sunday morning (Walla! Church day i.e. full of people.)

     Natalie's plan goes a little bit out of control as they find Justin dead by tomorrow morning. Every action has its consequences, and that's what Natalie and Mike experience. Even when crowned as the Prince and Princess, they can't get away from their guilty conscience.

     What should Natalie do to make things right? Will her little mistake be discovered? And what has she been hiding for all those years? You can find out all of this if you read Lauren Kate's tragedic tale of guilty conscience. 

Recommendation:

     I can't explain how wonderful this standalone novel was! Lauren Kate is definitely a professional writer, she actually makes you feel for the heroine and discover her little secret one step at a time. Well, I wasn't expecting the tragedic end, but the unexpectable is so enjoyable! The tale of love and hate, good deeds and bad deeds, is what this novel is all about.