Review: Make It Count by Tamar Sloan

by MK French

Casey can see the number of days someone has left to live as soon as she makes skin to skin contact with them. Because it hurts to know this and not discuss it, she has retreated into herself and faked a phobia of death. Now that she's seventeen, others are calling her on it and not allowing her to isolate as much. She resists until she meets PJ and can't deny that she wants to get closer to others.
Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2017; Clean Reads; 978-1621357179
ebook, print (361 pages); romance, dystopian

Casey's paranormal gift isn't explained over the course of the novel, and just taken as another trait that she has, as much a part of her as hair or eye color. There aren't excessive bits of magic in the book, so this isn't exactly a standard paranormal YA story. It's more that the ability to see how many days in a lifetime is the extraordinary source of her anxiety, rather than the social phobia mentioned in her group therapy sessions. It works probably because everything else in the novel is so normal, and it's not treated as a one-note trick. There are consequences to having this ability, and we see very clearly what they are before PJ shows up.

The teens are all very likable in this novel, and are realistic. We see some of Casey's blog entries, the interactions with her best friend over Skype, and the way she speaks with her brothers. We understand her fears in time; references are made to sadness and some kind of tragedy, but it's not until about halfway through that we discover what it is. Casey's behavior suddenly makes a lot more sense, and it's the same with the other characters. Once we learn more about the kinds of things they experienced, we understand exactly why they make the choices they do. It all comes about very naturally and in an engaging way.

Buy Make It Count at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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