This is going to be a hard review to write as I read this back in September but what I do remember is that I loved this book; it was unique, mysterious & completely addictive. This is one of the books I felt privileged to have received in return for a review.

I was sent this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

This book contains death, violence, racism, sexism & scenes of a sexual nature.

Two hearts. Twice as vulnerable.

Manhattan, 1850. Born out of wedlock to a wealthy socialite and a nameless immigrant, Cora Lee can mingle with the rich just as easily as she can slip unnoticed into the slums and graveyards of the city. As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she’s carved out a niche procuring bodies afflicted with the strangest of anomalies. Anatomists will pay exorbitant sums for such specimens—dissecting and displaying them for the eager public.

Cora’s speciality is not only profitable, it’s a means to keep a finger on the pulse of those searching for her. She’s the girl born with two hearts—a legend among grave robbers and anatomists—sought after as an endangered prize.

Now, as a series of murders unfolds closer and closer to Cora, she can no longer trust those she holds dear, including the young medical student she’s fallen for. Because someone has no intention of waiting for Cora to die a natural death.

The Impossible Girl is an impossible book to put down; from the very first few pages readers are swept into an eerie environment, that is countered by the classier side of society, depending on which side of Cora Lee you meet. When Cora is dressed to the nines in her finest gowns you’d never even consider that at night she’s dressed as her imaginary twin brother Jacob, digging up the bodies of medical anomalies – but that’s where you’ll find her! With lots of twists, addictive events & two-sided characters, this book is without doubt one of a kind.

I loved how unique this story was, I mean, how many YA books do you get that are based around digging up bodies & selling them? I was in a massive reading slump before I picked this up but Cora & Jacob managed to dig me out of it… Even though the story was told from the perspective of Cora/Jacob I still wasn’t sure how honest they were being with me, & the rest of the characters were total mysteries too! They were also written in a way that made each character completely their own, & it was easy to envision them as real life people.

Lydia Kang’s writing in this story was incredibly clever & she was able to keep me on the edge of my seat until (literally) the last page of the epilogue; even months after finishing this curious, compelling tale I still can’t help but get excited when I think about it. You can grab your own copy of the book using the links below:
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery