Book Review: Transparent

Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.
Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl. Quoted from Goodreads

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Finally, a fun, paranormal standalone!  Don't get me wrong.  I like series.  I adore series.  I just also find it refreshing to read a book that I don't have to wait two more years to finish the story.

This really is a fun book, but you have to have the right expectations.  The beginning starts off with a bang.  We get to see the sort of things Fiona's dad forces her to do and why, exactly, she had to run away.  It kind of slows down after that. It's much more about her learning to accept who she is as an invisible person, and of course the inevitable romance, than it is about her serving as a mobster assassin or thief. It takes place mostly in a small town, there's a lot of high school involved, and while her father is a constant threat, he doesn't make an appearance until the climax of the story. 

Knowing that, this really is a fun read.  I loved watching Fiona grow up. Being away from her addictive, mobster father lets her finally figure out who she really is.  I also enjoyed exploring what it would be like to live your life as an invisible person.  While I did wonder why she couldn't ever dye her hair or put on heavy make-up for a quick glimpse of what she really looks like, it's still a fun concept to explore: growing up without ever seeing your own face.

I also adored the love interest.  I won't give away what's so great about it, but it's nice that it avoids a lot of the stereotypical pitfalls of YA romance.  

I really enjoy how real so many of the characters in this book are.  Sometimes it's almost annoying, but it gives the story a feeling of reality despite all the super powers the characters possess. Fiona gets to make some great friends, and even her family (dysfunctional as they  may be) grow and their story arcs play out really well.  I especially love her brother Miles.  He's always there for her, and the more you get to know him, the more interesting (and mysterious) he becomes.

All in all, this is a really fun, light book. Personally, I thought it was a lovely 4 stars.  If you're looking for a paranormal stand-alone, this is it.  Seriously, gun new book; fun new author.  You should pick it up.