Sophie's Secret

Sophie's Secret (Whispers #1)
Author: Tara West
Kindle Edition
Published November 16th 2011

After shedding 30 pounds of baby fat, Sophie Sinora has grown into a pretty, but insecure, teen in bloom. To make her life more complicated, Sophie can sometimes read minds. Sophie's BFFs, AJ and Krysta, are also 'gifted' with paranormal abilities. Keeping their gifts secret proves difficult, as their powers are strengthening, making them feel more and more like freaks. When Sophie falls for Jacob, she hopes he'll ask her out to the Freshman Formal. But when she's forced to cheat and lie for him, she wonders how far she'll have to go to make him like her. Add to her growing list of problems - her teacher's suicidal thoughts, a locker bully who wants to kick her butt, the hot school flirt who won't stop teasing her, her pregnant sister who boots Sophie out of her room, and the growing tension between Sophie and her best friends. Sophie's got issues. Hopefully, she can fix them in time to save her teacher's life and her social life.

Sophie's got a secret. You have to read her mind if you want to know it.. Or, is it the other way around?

Yes, Sophie can read minds. And this  gift is getting stronger while she gets older. She's got friends who also have hidden abilities: AJ can see visions and Krysta gets visits from the dead. Together, they get on with their everyday lives, crushing on boys, harboring hidden anger on their moms, pretending that life is rich and glorious like those in Cosmo magazine.


Surprisingly, I enjoyed the book; it was a quick read. But I noticed, at first, there wasn't much characterization and depth on the story. I would have loved to know more how the three girls got their powers. And why their abilities were not fully used. Why was Summer always picking on Sophie and how did Frankie got his "ladies man" reputation when he clearly got his eyes on Sophie alone.

But as I went through the whole book, I was pleased to know that this coming-of-age story is every bit exciting. I liked Sophie's new friend Lara and the ever-loving teacher, Mrs. Stein. I liked how Sophie and her sister finally realized what a dumb@ss their choice of men was. Well, evidently, the author Tara West got my attention with her book. In her next story, I would like to read more about Sophie's other sister and Jacob's fate with Summer. But I don't think I'll get much further with that because Book 2 is about AJ. Yes, I would love to understand AJ and her family more. I'm sure I'll have a good time reading another West story :)