Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published May 2015
416 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets We Were Liars in this thought-provoking and brilliantly written debut that is part love story, part mystery, part high-stakes drama.
What would you pay to cure your heartbreak? Banish your sadness? Transform your looks? The right spell can fix anything…. When Ari's boyfriend Win dies, she gets a spell to erase all memory of him. But spells come at a cost, and this one sets off a chain of events that reveal the hidden—and sometimes dangerous—connections between Ari, her friends, and the boyfriend she can no longer remember.
Told from four different points of view, this original and affecting novel weaves past and present in a suspenseful narrative that unveils the truth behind a terrible tragedy.
"An engrossing, emotionally resonant spin on the old adage: Be careful what you wish for." - Kirkus Reviews
"The premise of Lehrman's debut is quite intriguing. Unfortunately, the novel does not deliver due to stereotypical characters and a story that turns convoluted very quickly." - School Library Journal
"Lehrman's prose pulses with dark emotion…and the steady desperation of her characters is both disturbing and compelling." - Publishers Weekly
"A memorable debut, one that reminds readers to be careful what they wish for, because, yes, they may just get it." - Booklist
"The most creepily awesome cautionary tale ever. Magic—or hekame—does exist, and wishes can be granted...but always at a cost. Brilliant, provocative, and absolutely spellbinding." - Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of The Infinite Moment of Us
"Maggie Lehrman nimbly reveals secrets wrapped around our most basic need. The Cost of All Things is a walk of the soul." - Rita Williams-Garcia, Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
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