Review: The Rules for Disappearing

Title: The Rules for Disappearing
Author: Ashley Elston
Genre: Suspense, thriller, realistic fiction, YA
Ages: 15-18 years

Goodreads Description:
She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

My Review:

This book had something for everyone--suspense, action, romance.  The idea of being in the Witness Protection program is an interesting one, especially surviving the process while also dealing with the normal struggles of being a teenager.  The main character is mature and strong, dealing with many issues including surviving the witness protection program, an alcoholic mother, and taking care of her younger sister.  However, readers relate to her as she also deals with figuring out who she is, avoiding drama caused by the popular mean girl, and having a crush on a cute boy.  The book was well written and filled with suspense and action that make it easy to keep the pages turning.


*ARC provided by NetGalley.