Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
Source: Publisher
Everyone has secrets. Lucy's secret is bigger and dirtier then others. Her mother hoards anything. Nobody would understand the stack of newspapers and mounds of garbage are filling the house to the brim. A rotting scent covers the house, Lucy is afraid that one day the smell will attach to her clothes. After years of keeping others at a distance, Lucy has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend that is as if she can appear normal to then, but one day, Lucy comes home from a sleepover to find her mother dead. She almost calls an ambulance, but notices all of the filth and garbage. The paramedic will come and bring the fire trucks and the news camera. No one will remember mom as the nice oncology nurse with lovely children. Her family will be known as major garbage hoarders in her town.
Lucy was an interesting character. She had fears about not being accepted by others, because of her families secret and she also has normal teen issues. Josh was cute. Kaylie was also a interesting character. The plot was amazing and really got me thinking, if anyone in my family started hoarding, I think that it would be utterly disgusting and I couldn't handle it. It is a disease, so it is a little more understandable, but Lucy's mom had asthma and all of the mold and decay could not be good for her. This book also covers such a small time frame, because it is so well detailed. This book is unlike any other book that I have read. Omololu is such a great writer, her descriptions were hauntingly disturbing. Also, the ending was a complete surprise to me. Seriously, get this book now!