ARC Review: No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace

Title: No One Needs to Know
Author: Amanda Grace
Publication: September 8th 2014 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary, LGBT
Source: Provided by the kind publisher..

Sometimes, the cost of love is too steep

Olivia's twin brother, Liam, has been her best friend her whole life. But when he starts dating, Olivia is left feeling alone, so she tries to drive away Liam's girlfriends in an effort to get her best friend back.

But she meets her match in Zoey, Liam's latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia's tricks. What starts as verbal sparring between the two changes into something different, however, as they share their deepest insecurities and learn they have a lot in common. Olivia falls for Zoey, believing her brother could never get serious with her. But when Liam confesses that he's in love with Zoey, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself?

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I consider myself a great fan of Amanda Grace. I've read every book of hers under this name. Because this a pseudonym, and Mandy Hubbard is her name. I'll just say Amanda, though :)
     Olivia and her twin brother Liam have learned how to go through life on their own without their always-absent parents, and Olivia could always count on her brother Liam. But it seems like Liam's priorities are changing as he's getting older. And when Liam makes Zoey his new girlfriend, there's  another problem; Olivia is in love with Zoey, so is her brother.
     This is by far, my FIRST LGBT book. And it was a refreshing journey, indeed. First off, I was already sure that I'll like this book because I absolutely loved Amanda Grace's But I Love Him, and The Truth about You and Me. Although this book didn't live up to their level of complicated perfection, it was still very enjoyable.
     First off, there are the characters. Apart from Zoey and Olivia, we don't see many other characters. And the ones we do see are a bit shallow and not well-developed. But I didn't mind that, because the focus is on these two girls. They're two polar opposites from different sides of town. One rich, one scraping by. But they get on together really well. it was wonderful watching their weird friendship unfold. I liked Liam but not very much. he was the typical stereotypical teenage guy.
     The romance is the main part of this book. At first, it's mostly from Olivia's side. But the chapters alternate between Olivia and Zoey's point of views, this was really good. And we got to see the relationship from two different perspectives, which I think was needed to make this story work as efficiently as possible. The romance was sweet, wonderful, really. I loved it. I can't believe I didn't mind it, but really, it was believable.
     One thing that stopped me from giving this book four or five stars is that it was; first, too short for my liking. Second, it was very-slow-moving at parts. Third, it lacked the deep-feelings that I associate with Amanda Grace's books. They're always tragically beautiful and wonderfully deep. Although this is not my favorite, i am definitely going to keep on reading her books. She's a talented author.