Last year, I fell in love with Clarity by Kim Harrington — and this year, it’s happened again with the sequel Perception, in stores this week.
In this sequel, Harrington returns us to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the wake of everything that happened in Clarity. The summer is over though, now. The tourists have gone home and the Halloween decorations are coming out. And even though Clare has already solved one murder mystery, there’s a new crime to tackle.
In Clarity, the murder-mystery was definitely the focus of the book. But in Perception, Clare herself takes center stage. She’s still torn between two boys: her remorseful ex Justin and the conflicted Gabriel. Then there are the strange gifts and messages she starts receiving from a secret admirer that soon turn from being flattering, to creepy! And on top of all that, Clare is drawn towards helping solve the disappearance of a classmate, even though no one wants her to get involved.
The main focus of the book really is Clare herself and the decisions she will have to make: about her love life, about her friendships, and about how she will use her talent. At times, I longed for a bit more of the suspense that I loved so much in Clarity, but at the end of the day I just loved spending more time with Harrington’s wonderful cast of characters. And some of those topics left open-ended at the end of Clarity? Expect some resolutions and new information to come forward as you dive into Perception.
And as with Clarity, Harrington’s signature sense of humor shines through, lending the book all the extra charm that elevates it above other mysteries on the YA shelves today. Clare is a psychic wanna-be detective with snark and sarcasm, and by golly, she’s not afraid to use it!
Perception is in stores this week. Here is the official synopsis:
When you can see things others can’t, what do you do when someone’s watching you?
Everybody knows about Clarity “Clare” Fern. She’s the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.
Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.
But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare’s pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare’s hopeful ex-boyfriend who’d do anything to win her back?
One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.
Novel Novice 
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