“I’ve become something different, every parent’s nightmare: the drugs hidden in the bedroom, the lies, the call in the middle of the night, the police knocking on the door.” Tess Sharpe’s novel is a page turner that is highly recommended to individuals interested in reading about a teen overcoming obstacles while trying to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s murder.

“Far From You” follows a similar plot to “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Morgan Matson. The main characters discover mysterious truths about their missing friend. Both suspenseful books connect to the everyday conflicts of overcoming obstacles and trying to survive the brutal setting called high school.

Sharpe’s novel is cleverly arranged to portray the plot in a creative way by switching between past and present events in the main character’s life every chapter. “Far From You” follows a thrilling timeline spanning roughly six years into the life of Sophie Winters and the misfortune that comes along in her story.

The plot thickens as the main character develops a strong mindset and perseveres to uncover details about her best friend Mina’s murder. Sophie knows the police are looking in the wrong places for her murderer, but nobody believes her. She is aware that the only way to get to the bottom of this is to find Mina’s killer herself. As Sophie learns the twisting truths about the life of the girl she thought she knew, she is joined by a very few people that believe her side of the story. Sophie must endure the struggle that comes along with keeping a secret from everyone for Mina’s sake.

The tension between Sophie and Mina’s brother, Trev, is unruly, but how long can they deny what is really going on? To add to it, the police and her own parents don’t believe her account from the night Mina was murdered, putting the blame that her murder was connected to Sophie’s past drug problems.

There is a lot of pressure on Sophie as she tries to find out the truth about Mina’s murder, while trying not to relapse and coping with the loss of her other half and the pain that she is always in. As things begin to get clearer about who Mina was, they also get more confusing on why and how things got the way they did without anyone knowing.

Sharpe’s novel leaves readers on the edge of their seat, longing to continue reading with a new plot twist around every corner. The author wants readers to feel the pain the main character is going through, how one average girl’s life changed in the blink of an eye. The shift in present and past plot line and similar character names may create a form of confusion throughout the book, though.

More character development throughout the story would have been good as Sharpe mainly focuses on what the characters were like in the past. The characters give off different messages of sorrow and grief, but also of love and perseverance. The plot builds as the protagonist learns that the world around her is dark and brutal. At the beginning of the novel, Sophie is at a low point in her life, she gains the confidence and growth mindset she needs in order to accomplish her goals.

The idea that someone can fight so hard even when it seems like the whole world is against them, is a powerful message. Sharpe’s books are created from a true passion for entertaining and writing. Her novels are intriguing literature aimed to interest teen readers. The 341-page book “Far From You” is an excellent read and is sold for $9.99 at Barnes and Noble.