What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mediator #6
Twilight
This time it's life or death.
Suze has gotten used to ghosts. She's a mediator, after all, and communicating with the dead is all in a day's work. So she certainly never expected to fall in love with one: Jesse, a nineteenth-century hottie. But when she discovers that she has the power to determine who becomes a ghost in the first place, Suze begins to freak. It means she can alter the course of history... and prevent Jesse's murder, keeping him from ever becoming a ghost - and from ever meeting Suze.
Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her?
Suze has gotten used to ghosts. She's a mediator, after all, and communicating with the dead is all in a day's work. So she certainly never expected to fall in love with one: Jesse, a nineteenth-century hottie. But when she discovers that she has the power to determine who becomes a ghost in the first place, Suze begins to freak. It means she can alter the course of history... and prevent Jesse's murder, keeping him from ever becoming a ghost - and from ever meeting Suze.
Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her?
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
About the author
Meg Cabot
239 books34.8k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,246 reviews
February 13, 2017
OMG I CAN'T EVEN
December 8, 2014
NEW UPDATE: 17th APRIL, 2013.
The Mediator Series has been optioned to be made into a movie!!
Here's what Meg updated!
https://www.facebook.com/megcabot/pos...
.......................................................
10 FUCKING STARS. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES. <3
.......................................................
YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS.
MEG CABOT IS WRITING THE 7TH BOOK FOR THE MEDIATOR SERIES.
https://twitter.com/megcabot/status/2...
https://twitter.com/megcabot/status/2...
https://www.facebook.com/mediatorbook...
I HAVE ALL THESE FEELS. OMFG. SO FUCKING HAPPY!
MEG CABOT.
*DEAD*
The Mediator Series has been optioned to be made into a movie!!
Here's what Meg updated!
https://www.facebook.com/megcabot/pos...
.......................................................
10 FUCKING STARS. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES. <3
.......................................................
YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS.
MEG CABOT IS WRITING THE 7TH BOOK FOR THE MEDIATOR SERIES.
https://twitter.com/megcabot/status/2...
https://twitter.com/megcabot/status/2...
https://www.facebook.com/mediatorbook...
I HAVE ALL THESE FEELS. OMFG. SO FUCKING HAPPY!
MEG CABOT.
*DEAD*
April 11, 2010
Dear Jesse,
I went back in time. Your time. To the 19th century. I know, I know. It was dangerous and could've cost my life, but I still went. I mean, really, since when did I ever listen to what someone told me to do.Whatever. The real reason for this is to say goodbye. Why? You ask, well because, in the future you and me, well we'll never meet. you know I'm actually smiling right now because, if you were here you'd probably get all mad and say , "Susannah. it's 'you and I.'"
At first I considered of keeping my dad from dying. But then, my life wouldn't be the way it is. My mom wouldn't have met Andy and get married to him, I wouldn't have any brothers, well David. And I'd never move to Califorinia. Meet Father Dom,CeeCee, and Adam, and most importantly you. I wouldn't have met you Jesse. My dad, said it was okay. That it would be alright if I didn't keep him from dying. It meant so much to him that I actually considered doing something like that.
At first I came to stop Paul from stopping Felix from killing you. Or else I'd never have met you. But then I met you Jesse, the real you. And how could I stand and see you die? Even if, you had made me cry my eyes out. I'm sorry, but you did. Come on, you didn't believe me. You thought I was a nutcrack. And then you called me "Mrs. Susannah."
I wish that instead of you being from the 19th century and instead of you'd have been born in the 21st century, so then you wouldn't be a ghost or anything. And it would be perfectly fine if we'd had actually gone out or something. But then I think, would you actually have hung out with me? Would we ever even meet eachother? I doubt it, you'd probably have hung around some other college girl, the same age as you and not 5 years younger.
This is probably the most hardest thing that I've ever done in my life.
The thing I hate mostly about this is that when I get back to the 21st century I'll never ever remember you. But even though I would never have actually known you I'd know in my heart that their was someone that I was wupposed to meet. Someone I was supposed to be together with. So I'd be waiting for that person all my life, and never have met him. Because that person would be you. So I would never, ever, ever be able to be in an actual relationship with someone because I would know that that person is not you.
And if I go back in time, and Paul's plan actually happens to work, and I do fall for him. And we end up together. Please don't get mad. Because somewhere, someday I'll know that you are the person I'm supposed to be with. That you are the person I was supposed to love and have a future with.
I hope you finally get to Rest In Peace. But look in the bright side, you don't get killed. Your not married to that skanky bitch Maria. And now you know.
I love you, Jesse. I love you so much, that I can prove it to you. I'm doing this for you. RIP. And maybe we'll be together soon, in both of our next lives.
Don't worry I'll make sure that I find away to beat up Paul.
With all my love,
Suze Simon (also known as Susannah to Jesse de Silva)
I love you so so so so so so so much.
I went back in time. Your time. To the 19th century. I know, I know. It was dangerous and could've cost my life, but I still went. I mean, really, since when did I ever listen to what someone told me to do.Whatever. The real reason for this is to say goodbye. Why? You ask, well because, in the future you and me, well we'll never meet. you know I'm actually smiling right now because, if you were here you'd probably get all mad and say , "Susannah. it's 'you and I.'"
At first I considered of keeping my dad from dying. But then, my life wouldn't be the way it is. My mom wouldn't have met Andy and get married to him, I wouldn't have any brothers, well David. And I'd never move to Califorinia. Meet Father Dom,CeeCee, and Adam, and most importantly you. I wouldn't have met you Jesse. My dad, said it was okay. That it would be alright if I didn't keep him from dying. It meant so much to him that I actually considered doing something like that.
At first I came to stop Paul from stopping Felix from killing you. Or else I'd never have met you. But then I met you Jesse, the real you. And how could I stand and see you die? Even if, you had made me cry my eyes out. I'm sorry, but you did. Come on, you didn't believe me. You thought I was a nutcrack. And then you called me "Mrs. Susannah."
I wish that instead of you being from the 19th century and instead of you'd have been born in the 21st century, so then you wouldn't be a ghost or anything. And it would be perfectly fine if we'd had actually gone out or something. But then I think, would you actually have hung out with me? Would we ever even meet eachother? I doubt it, you'd probably have hung around some other college girl, the same age as you and not 5 years younger.
This is probably the most hardest thing that I've ever done in my life.
The thing I hate mostly about this is that when I get back to the 21st century I'll never ever remember you. But even though I would never have actually known you I'd know in my heart that their was someone that I was wupposed to meet. Someone I was supposed to be together with. So I'd be waiting for that person all my life, and never have met him. Because that person would be you. So I would never, ever, ever be able to be in an actual relationship with someone because I would know that that person is not you.
And if I go back in time, and Paul's plan actually happens to work, and I do fall for him. And we end up together. Please don't get mad. Because somewhere, someday I'll know that you are the person I'm supposed to be with. That you are the person I was supposed to love and have a future with.
I hope you finally get to Rest In Peace. But look in the bright side, you don't get killed. Your not married to that skanky bitch Maria. And now you know.
I love you, Jesse. I love you so much, that I can prove it to you. I'm doing this for you. RIP. And maybe we'll be together soon, in both of our next lives.
Don't worry I'll make sure that I find away to beat up Paul.
With all my love,
Suze Simon (also known as Susannah to Jesse de Silva)
I love you so so so so so so so much.
February 14, 2018
For some reason, this is the book I remembered the most from my first read through. I really enjoyed my reread of this series overall. It's not a perfect series - the writing is a bit juvenile - but it's a whole lot of fun. I would recommend it for anyone who wouldn't get hung up on the writing and wants a breezy series.
September 13, 2022
Oh my gosh, I hate Paul! I just can't even. This opens up with a scene where we get him in all his creepy psychopathic glory and I am just done. I know I loved this book but for the life of me I don't remember how I got past Paul. Doing deals with a psychopath with sexual designs openly expressed is madness. I want Suze to ice that guy. He needs some killing. Seriously. Nobody is safe while he's walking around with his teeth in his mouth. And the person least safe is the one he's obsessed with, namely Suze. It's self defense as far as I'm concerned.
I'm torn on whether to adjust my rating from eons ago. Particularly since I couldn't get past the first chapter on this reread. Sigh. Past me was an idiot, though, so yeah, I'm dropping it down to an over-generous three.
I'm torn on whether to adjust my rating from eons ago. Particularly since I couldn't get past the first chapter on this reread. Sigh. Past me was an idiot, though, so yeah, I'm dropping it down to an over-generous three.
May 8, 2018
When our heroine learns about a new power she has her love is greatly tested. Will she do the right thing or will she choose what makes her happy?
Good story with lots of action.
Good story with lots of action.
August 4, 2018
I can’t believe this. One more book left now. I’m sorry to see this series go. I save these books to read for Sundays, and it has been what I look forward to most the past several Sundays.
Admittedly, I have found Suze quite annoying and weak in this book, especially with how she handles Paul. This is such a shame because she has been so strong and capable and such a badass female protagonist before this Paul stuff. *sigh*
However, everything has worked out for the best in a way and I finish this book feeling content. Even though some things could have been better concerning Suze’s behavior, I am letting it go now because this book has ended in such a beautiful note. It makes it all… worth it, y’know?
I don’t even know what rating to give it with all of my conflicting feelings, but let’s go with 3.5 stars mainly for that on-point ending.
Also~~ I’m super excited (and sad) because the next book is the last book, but before that, we shall have the PROPOSAL NOVELLA. I’m curious to see the reason for why Meg Cabot has chosen a decade to return to this series. I hope this means the last book will be a worthwhile conclusion to Suze’s adventures <3
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor? Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
Admittedly, I have found Suze quite annoying and weak in this book, especially with how she handles Paul. This is such a shame because she has been so strong and capable and such a badass female protagonist before this Paul stuff. *sigh*
However, everything has worked out for the best in a way and I finish this book feeling content. Even though some things could have been better concerning Suze’s behavior, I am letting it go now because this book has ended in such a beautiful note. It makes it all… worth it, y’know?
I don’t even know what rating to give it with all of my conflicting feelings, but let’s go with 3.5 stars mainly for that on-point ending.
Also~~ I’m super excited (and sad) because the next book is the last book, but before that, we shall have the PROPOSAL NOVELLA. I’m curious to see the reason for why Meg Cabot has chosen a decade to return to this series. I hope this means the last book will be a worthwhile conclusion to Suze’s adventures <3
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor? Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
June 1, 2017
Re-read 5/26/17: I will always and forever love this series with all of my heart. Aside from Harry Potter this is the series that really kick-started my reading as a youngster, and my love for it is eternal. Also: Jesse gives Michael Moscovitz a run for his money as my number one book bae, which is a Big Deal.
I'M A HAPPY LADY!
I'M A HAPPY LADY!
February 8, 2014
This book annoyed the SHIT out of me. As far as I am concerned this was a horrible ending to a series that started out fantastic. I loved this series when I first started reading it, the main character Suze was tough, sassy, funny as hell and she had a good sense about her (and great taste in shoes, but that is neither here nor there). Point is, I really liked her, she didn't seem like the typical teen I've been reading about so much lately and I liked her, I truly did. But as the series went on, I found myself liking her less and less. Looking back at my ratings, the stars steadily dropped with each book. I would give this a 1 star but she did redeem herself in a very slight way at the end, so I'll give it that star, begrudgingly.
Serious spoiler, book is ruined if you read this so don't if you haven't read it, warning has been issued.
Got that off my chest didn't I.
As always peeps, this is my opinion on this book and series. You might feel the exact opposite, that's fantastic, but I think it sucked. Read it yourself and see what you think. Enjoy... (if you can)
Serious spoiler, book is ruined if you read this so don't if you haven't read it, warning has been issued.
Got that off my chest didn't I.
As always peeps, this is my opinion on this book and series. You might feel the exact opposite, that's fantastic, but I think it sucked. Read it yourself and see what you think. Enjoy... (if you can)
April 21, 2015
ทำไมอ่านจบแล้วรู้สึกเฉยๆ ปกติอ่านตอนจบนิยายชุดไหนที่มันมีหลายๆเล่มแบบนี้ เราจะต้องรู้สึกราวกับตัวเองโดนความอีพิคถล่มทับ ปลื้มปริ่มประหนึ่งตอนดูแฮร์รี่ครบแปดภาคแล้วถึงกับน้ำตาไหลตอนเฮอร์ไมโอนี่กอดแฮร์รี่ตอนที่เขาจะไปหาโวลเดอร์มอร์ แต่นี่เราว่ามันเป็นตอนจบที่ดูเหมือนจะขาดอะไรไป คือตัดจบแบบห้วนๆไปหน่อย อยากเห็นทั้งคู่อยู่ด้วยกันมากกว่านี้ง่ะ แต่ก็ไม่เป็นไร เมื่อคิดถึงเรื่องบทสรุปที่คลายปมออกมาได้ดี แม้เราจะคิดว่าระหว่างเรื่องมีคาแรคเตอร์ของพอลนี่แหละที่เราว่ามันดูหลุดๆ แรงจูงใจก็ดูแปลกๆ ทะแม่งๆยังไงก็ไม่รู้ โทนเรื่องเราก็ว่าดรอปลงจากสองเล่มที่แล้วอยู่หน่อยนา เจสซี่ในเล่มนี้บทบาทก็แลดูไม่เด่นเท่ากับพอลเลย สังเกตว่าทั้งในหัวของซูซนี่ คิดถึงเรื่องพอลเกินกว่า 50% ได้ละมั้งในช่วงแรกของหนังสือ
คือแบบ...คิดว่าสองเล่มก่อนหน้าเหมือนปูเนื้อเรื่องมาดีๆและก็พีคขึ้นเรื่อยๆอยู่นะ พอมาเล่มนี้เหมือนกับมันสะดุด... ตั้งแต่ครึ่งแรกของเล่มละที่สงสัยว่านางเอกจะทำแบบนั้นไปทำไม ดูไม่ค่อยมีเหตุผลบางครั้ง ส่วนพอลเราก็ว่ามีอะไรบางอย่างทะแม่งๆอยู่ เหมือนวางคาแรคเตอร์มาไม่เนียนเลยเล่มนี้ แต่ก็โอเค...เป็นหนังสืออีกชุดที่อ่านเพลินๆ ฆ่าเวลาได้ดี แม้ว่าเราจะไม่ได้ชอบไปซะทุกเล่ม แต่ก็มีบางเล่มที่เราคิดว่าคุ้มค่าต่อการอ่านอยู่นะ
สรุปว่าเรียงลำดับความชอบนะ 4 > 5 > 6 > 1 > 3 > 2
คือแบบ...คิดว่าสองเล่มก่อนหน้าเหมือนปูเนื้อเรื่องมาดีๆและก็พีคขึ้นเรื่อยๆอยู่นะ พอมาเล่มนี้เหมือนกับมันสะดุด... ตั้งแต่ครึ่งแรกของเล่มละที่สงสัยว่านางเอกจะทำแบบนั้นไปทำไม ดูไม่ค่อยมีเหตุผลบางครั้ง ส่วนพอลเราก็ว่ามีอะไรบางอย่างทะแม่งๆอยู่ เหมือนวางคาแรคเตอร์มาไม่เนียนเลยเล่มนี้ แต่ก็โอเค...เป็นหนังสืออีกชุดที่อ่านเพลินๆ ฆ่าเวลาได้ดี แม้ว่าเราจะไม่ได้ชอบไปซะทุกเล่ม แต่ก็มีบางเล่มที่เราคิดว่าคุ้มค่าต่อการอ่านอยู่นะ
สรุปว่าเรียงลำดับความชอบนะ 4 > 5 > 6 > 1 > 3 > 2
August 9, 2016
20 pages in, and I'm already enraged at Paul. I quit. I am so done with this series. Literally all it took to ruin this series for me was a pushy, invasive, patronizing, borderline rapey son of a bitch.
I can't stand him. So I'm out. I quit. It was fun while it lasted but I am so done.
I can't stand him. So I'm out. I quit. It was fun while it lasted but I am so done.
September 8, 2020
This isn't a review but a general appreciation for the whole series.
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE, LIKE ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, SERIES AS A TEENAGER AND I STILL LOVE IT TO DEATH.
Hector 'Jesse' de Silva was my first book boyfriend ever, along with Rob Wilkins of the Missing series (by the same author lol) and Susannah was the best, most inspiring girl I had read as a young girl and I learned a great many things from her- need for self defense against supernatural things, sarcasm (literally, she is the initiator of my sarcasm phase which still hasn't ended), sass, confidence and being a headstrong girl who can crush on a guy but can crush him too. I absolutely Love™️ these two characters. I would sell my soul just to be a part of their world.
The only female character that could compare to Susannah was Jess of the Missing series (yes, the one I mentioned above) but Jess was way more blunt and Suze was a bit more on the clever side. My freaking email is named after Susannah, so like..........I'll say it like this-
Me, with this series:
My friends describing me reading this series:
Me, with every book in the series:
And finally, for all of you:
Keep a teenage mindset and you'll just breeze through them, I promise.
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE, LIKE ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, SERIES AS A TEENAGER AND I STILL LOVE IT TO DEATH.
Hector 'Jesse' de Silva was my first book boyfriend ever, along with Rob Wilkins of the Missing series (by the same author lol) and Susannah was the best, most inspiring girl I had read as a young girl and I learned a great many things from her- need for self defense against supernatural things, sarcasm (literally, she is the initiator of my sarcasm phase which still hasn't ended), sass, confidence and being a headstrong girl who can crush on a guy but can crush him too. I absolutely Love™️ these two characters. I would sell my soul just to be a part of their world.
The only female character that could compare to Susannah was Jess of the Missing series (yes, the one I mentioned above) but Jess was way more blunt and Suze was a bit more on the clever side. My freaking email is named after Susannah, so like..........I'll say it like this-
Me, with this series:
My friends describing me reading this series:
Me, with every book in the series:
And finally, for all of you:
Keep a teenage mindset and you'll just breeze through them, I promise.
September 4, 2010
The conclusion to an otherwise great series left a lot to be desired despite its happy ending. I often thought Paul's introduction brought this series down a notch. It would've been different if he was a formidable foe, but he was used more as a foil to Jesse&Suze's relationship for the stupid love triangle angle. I didn't like that Paul's previous involvement in trying to kill/hurt her and her friends was sort of glossed over and Cabot had Suze lusting after him despite his obvious psychopathic tendencies. Really disappointing.
Also, it's hard to get time traveling right and Meg Cabot should've left it alone. There were too many holes in that one that I couldn't really be satisfied with the ending.
Also, it's hard to get time traveling right and Meg Cabot should've left it alone. There were too many holes in that one that I couldn't really be satisfied with the ending.
October 18, 2020
It's over...the series ends...what is my life's purpose now? *tears streaming down as she dreamily imagines Jesse living in the 21st century*
January 28, 2021
Original review: 4 stars
7/2020 reread: 3 stars
--
The central conflict of the book once again centers around Paul Slater's obsession with Suze. His most recent galaxy brain idea is to "shift" back in time (a hitherto-unmentioned skill mediators possess; it's becoming a theme, just go with it) to the year 1850, in order to prevent Jesse's murder by waylaying his murderer, Felix Diego.
Now, while I'm not a massive time travel snob (I know how to enjoy things), it's only good if it's handled by an above-average writer and, I would argue, scholar. Because it gets real twisty real fast, and you have to have the chops and the narrative skill to massage those mind-bending facts into something a reader feels comfortable accepting (if not believing).
Is Meg Cabot a writer or scholar of that caliber? Lmao. No. She literally forgot that Adam knew about Jesse in Haunted, the book directly prior to this one. Satisfying time travel narratives aren't within her skill set. Some of the most glaring issues with this particular plot contrivance are:
1) As mentioned previously, this wasn't ever a skill mediators possessed and, arguably, isn't one they should possess because . . . Why? How? Cabot tries to get around this by limiting the ability to ghosts the shifter has personally "mediated," but it's not convincing.
2) There aren't realistic consequences. A huge fire burns down the barn behind the boardinghouse, and Diego is killed. Diego previously married Maria and had eleven children, most or all of whom then had children, etc. There was never any discussion of how that single change radically impacted history?
3) The original idea was that if Jesse was saved by Paul/Suze, nobody would remember him because he would have never become a ghost and therefore would never have the opportunity to meet Suze. However, this memory trick doesn't seem to apply to the changes that did occur: they all remember Diego, despite the fact that if he died in 1850 he never would have been a ghost capable of meeting Suze. And Jesse doesn't seem to remember meeting her / recognizing her as I would expect him to?
I respect that Cabot was trying to provide an ideal ending to Jesse and Suze, and I love that he got his true body back and was able to live again. It's exactly the kind of ending I wanted, regardless of how far-fetched that desire was. And Cabot gave it to us, which I appreciate, because authors and scriptwriters are so disrespectful of their readership these days, more interested in torture porn or needless suffering for the sake of "realism" (read: shock factor word-of-mouth) than like . . . providing genuine emotional catharsis and meeting established expectations.
It's a mixed bag. The time travel thing could have worked if she'd done it with a bit more subtlety or skill. The end result is an A+ but the execution is a flat D.
The rest of the conflict is pretty good, in my opinion, especially Suze having to reconcile her love for Jesse and what she owes to Jesse as somebody who loves him. She spends a lot of the book trying to prevent Paul's nefarious plan to save Jesse's life because it will take him from her, but in the end, she saves him. And that moment is lovely and affecting.
I also really like the glimpses we get into the Suze/Jesse romantic relationship (particularly the car scene).
Overall, it was a sweet and hopeful ending to the original series.
7/2020 reread: 3 stars
--
I couldn't let Jesse die, even if it meant never seeing him again. I loved him too much. It was as simple as that.So, originally, I had this review at four stars . . . but if we're being honest, the book just doesn't deserve that high of a rating. Not because it didn't provide the exact sort of HEA closure that readers--and the book's characters--deserved, but because the way we got to that point was ridiculous.
The central conflict of the book once again centers around Paul Slater's obsession with Suze. His most recent galaxy brain idea is to "shift" back in time (a hitherto-unmentioned skill mediators possess; it's becoming a theme, just go with it) to the year 1850, in order to prevent Jesse's murder by waylaying his murderer, Felix Diego.
Now, while I'm not a massive time travel snob (I know how to enjoy things), it's only good if it's handled by an above-average writer and, I would argue, scholar. Because it gets real twisty real fast, and you have to have the chops and the narrative skill to massage those mind-bending facts into something a reader feels comfortable accepting (if not believing).
Is Meg Cabot a writer or scholar of that caliber? Lmao. No. She literally forgot that Adam knew about Jesse in Haunted, the book directly prior to this one. Satisfying time travel narratives aren't within her skill set. Some of the most glaring issues with this particular plot contrivance are:
1) As mentioned previously, this wasn't ever a skill mediators possessed and, arguably, isn't one they should possess because . . . Why? How? Cabot tries to get around this by limiting the ability to ghosts the shifter has personally "mediated," but it's not convincing.
2) There aren't realistic consequences. A huge fire burns down the barn behind the boardinghouse, and Diego is killed. Diego previously married Maria and had eleven children, most or all of whom then had children, etc. There was never any discussion of how that single change radically impacted history?
3) The original idea was that if Jesse was saved by Paul/Suze, nobody would remember him because he would have never become a ghost and therefore would never have the opportunity to meet Suze. However, this memory trick doesn't seem to apply to the changes that did occur: they all remember Diego, despite the fact that if he died in 1850 he never would have been a ghost capable of meeting Suze. And Jesse doesn't seem to remember meeting her / recognizing her as I would expect him to?
I respect that Cabot was trying to provide an ideal ending to Jesse and Suze, and I love that he got his true body back and was able to live again. It's exactly the kind of ending I wanted, regardless of how far-fetched that desire was. And Cabot gave it to us, which I appreciate, because authors and scriptwriters are so disrespectful of their readership these days, more interested in torture porn or needless suffering for the sake of "realism" (read: shock factor word-of-mouth) than like . . . providing genuine emotional catharsis and meeting established expectations.
It's a mixed bag. The time travel thing could have worked if she'd done it with a bit more subtlety or skill. The end result is an A+ but the execution is a flat D.
The rest of the conflict is pretty good, in my opinion, especially Suze having to reconcile her love for Jesse and what she owes to Jesse as somebody who loves him. She spends a lot of the book trying to prevent Paul's nefarious plan to save Jesse's life because it will take him from her, but in the end, she saves him. And that moment is lovely and affecting.
I also really like the glimpses we get into the Suze/Jesse romantic relationship (particularly the car scene).
Overall, it was a sweet and hopeful ending to the original series.
April 26, 2015
Gave this entire series a reread and let me tell you, it does not hold up to the test of time.
First, I realized that as an actual professional working young adult, I can't read young adult lit anymore because I look at these 16 year old characters and their /so much older/ 20 year old boyfriends and the only possible reaction is "You're all babies! Stay home and play Neopets!"
Ugh so much brand name dropping. So much generalization everywhere. What even is up with the description of New York City in the first book. Falling back to the most cliched broad sweeping stereotypes is clearly easier than making an actually nuanced and realistic setting.
Characterization is just all over the place.Example: earlier in the series, Suze is all "I hate maple syrup" then later in the series it's her mother who hates maple syrup and Suze has a loving, fond flashback to having maple syrup drenched french toast with her mother. Minor point but still sloppy.
Plot points are all over the place too. Sometimes ghosts are like how they died. But sometimes, especially for the hot ones, they're shown in the "peak of their life" which is coincidentally how Suze finds out about them.
The whole, new girl is suddenly popular and like omg doesn't even realize because she was so not popular back home is a fairly common trope in Y.A. before Twilight but it was still eye-rollingly bad to see it again here. How can Suze complain about "nonexistent" boy issues when there is literally a new boy every book.
Honestly, I picked this series up again because I heard news of a sequel novel coming out next year. That novel is (thank God) going to be classified as a full-on novel instead of young adult and I dearly hope the author puts more effort into it because she clearly didn't give a shit about this series other than making rent money.
(basically this entire review can be boiled down to "I'm too old for young adult, you kids get off my literary lawn.")
First, I realized that as an actual professional working young adult, I can't read young adult lit anymore because I look at these 16 year old characters and their /so much older/ 20 year old boyfriends and the only possible reaction is "You're all babies! Stay home and play Neopets!"
Ugh so much brand name dropping. So much generalization everywhere. What even is up with the description of New York City in the first book. Falling back to the most cliched broad sweeping stereotypes is clearly easier than making an actually nuanced and realistic setting.
Characterization is just all over the place.Example: earlier in the series, Suze is all "I hate maple syrup" then later in the series it's her mother who hates maple syrup and Suze has a loving, fond flashback to having maple syrup drenched french toast with her mother. Minor point but still sloppy.
Plot points are all over the place too. Sometimes ghosts are like how they died. But sometimes, especially for the hot ones, they're shown in the "peak of their life" which is coincidentally how Suze finds out about them.
The whole, new girl is suddenly popular and like omg doesn't even realize because she was so not popular back home is a fairly common trope in Y.A. before Twilight but it was still eye-rollingly bad to see it again here. How can Suze complain about "nonexistent" boy issues when there is literally a new boy every book.
Honestly, I picked this series up again because I heard news of a sequel novel coming out next year. That novel is (thank God) going to be classified as a full-on novel instead of young adult and I dearly hope the author puts more effort into it because she clearly didn't give a shit about this series other than making rent money.
(basically this entire review can be boiled down to "I'm too old for young adult, you kids get off my literary lawn.")
April 25, 2015
Actual review rating: 4.5 stars
In the sixth instalment of the Mediator series Suzie is forcefully studying her talents with fellow mediator Paul due to their agreement to protect Jesse. When Suzie finds out that Paul may have a trick up his sleeve to make sure Jesse never meets her she does everything in her power to stop him. But will Jesse agree with Suzie's drastic measures to protect his ghost form? and what will happen when both mediators travel back to the eighteen hundreds and meet Mr De Silva in the flesh?
I loved this book, there was passion and an amazing conclusion. There was also twists and turns in every chapter and even though some were predictable I really got involved with the characters and wanted them to succeeded.
I loved the time travel element to this story and thought it was set up nicely. I liked that we saw Jesse in his natural environment and the type of person he used to be. I think it was important for Suzie to see that. Cabot did a good job of setting the scene for the reader and you could really picture the contrast of the past and future Pine Crest Road.
I do slightly wish that Suzie's dad was involved in this series a little more, I loved his role at the end of this book but I do think I would have felt more overwhelmed by what he did if I felt more of a connection to his story.
Heaven Sent was an amazing end to Jesse and Suzie's story. I know Meg Cabot is currently writing a seventh book in this series based on our main characters lives as adults but all in all she could have ended the series here. However, this book was filled with so much Jesse I nearly fell in love with him myself so I'm glad there is going to be another instalment.
In the sixth instalment of the Mediator series Suzie is forcefully studying her talents with fellow mediator Paul due to their agreement to protect Jesse. When Suzie finds out that Paul may have a trick up his sleeve to make sure Jesse never meets her she does everything in her power to stop him. But will Jesse agree with Suzie's drastic measures to protect his ghost form? and what will happen when both mediators travel back to the eighteen hundreds and meet Mr De Silva in the flesh?
I loved this book, there was passion and an amazing conclusion. There was also twists and turns in every chapter and even though some were predictable I really got involved with the characters and wanted them to succeeded.
I loved the time travel element to this story and thought it was set up nicely. I liked that we saw Jesse in his natural environment and the type of person he used to be. I think it was important for Suzie to see that. Cabot did a good job of setting the scene for the reader and you could really picture the contrast of the past and future Pine Crest Road.
I do slightly wish that Suzie's dad was involved in this series a little more, I loved his role at the end of this book but I do think I would have felt more overwhelmed by what he did if I felt more of a connection to his story.
Heaven Sent was an amazing end to Jesse and Suzie's story. I know Meg Cabot is currently writing a seventh book in this series based on our main characters lives as adults but all in all she could have ended the series here. However, this book was filled with so much Jesse I nearly fell in love with him myself so I'm glad there is going to be another instalment.
January 21, 2011
I can honestly say that Twilight was the best book in The Mediator series. I loved all six books, but this one was one of the best books Meg Cabot has ever written. I loved the way she ended The Mediator and this book had more suspense and laughs than its predecessors. Not only was there the really cool supernatural storyline but this one had time travel! This unexpected addition to The Mediator books was awesome to say the least.
Twilight picks up a few months from where Haunted left off. Suze has an uneasy truce with Paul and is spending more time with him than she'd like. But the lure of learning more about what it means to be a shifter and the desire to keep Jesse safe from Paul's devious plans has Suze getting "mediator lessons" from her worst enemy. Paul seems to be behaving so well and her romance with Jesse is so great that it all seems too good to be true- and it is. Paul has concocted a plot so devious that Suze might be parted from Jesse forever and not even be able to remember. Because Paul has found out that shifters have the power to time travel and he's determined to go back to 1850 and prevent Jesse from ever getting murdered. So that he'll never become the ghost who loves Suze.
Twilight had added suspense because this time the stakes were so high. Suze is faced with a dilemna so startling I couldn't guess what would happen next. There was more romance and Meg Cabot's signature humor was laugh-out-loud hilarious. Though I was sad to finish one of my favorite series, I couldn't have hoped for a better ending.
Twilight picks up a few months from where Haunted left off. Suze has an uneasy truce with Paul and is spending more time with him than she'd like. But the lure of learning more about what it means to be a shifter and the desire to keep Jesse safe from Paul's devious plans has Suze getting "mediator lessons" from her worst enemy. Paul seems to be behaving so well and her romance with Jesse is so great that it all seems too good to be true- and it is. Paul has concocted a plot so devious that Suze might be parted from Jesse forever and not even be able to remember. Because Paul has found out that shifters have the power to time travel and he's determined to go back to 1850 and prevent Jesse from ever getting murdered. So that he'll never become the ghost who loves Suze.
Twilight had added suspense because this time the stakes were so high. Suze is faced with a dilemna so startling I couldn't guess what would happen next. There was more romance and Meg Cabot's signature humor was laugh-out-loud hilarious. Though I was sad to finish one of my favorite series, I couldn't have hoped for a better ending.
November 22, 2011
I read this whole series straight through in about two weeks. I loved the whole "I see dead people" thing. It was very interesting and the additional mediator talents revealed in the last three books were even more interesting. For a book to be romantic, the guy and girl have to be separated tragically. The fact that Suze is alive and Jesse is dead was really unique and I enjoyed that throughout the whole series. It ended exactly the way you think its going to end, but it was fun reading it nevertheless.
My major problem with this series is the swearing. I know Suze is supposedly from Brooklyn, but I don't care, its a book for entertainment... I don't want to be assaulted with swearing on every page. I'm okay that Suze is very self-centered and combative, it drives the plot. Also, the fact that she is obsessed with guys is normal for her age, but I don't like the fact that all these teenagers think that saving sex is old fashioned and ridiculous. There is no sex in the books, but the opinion that it would be okay is frequently repeated and it doesn't add anything to the book, so I just wished it wasn't there. What is wrong with wanting to find someone who truly loves you and wants to commit to you instead of wanting to just sleep around?
My major problem with this series is the swearing. I know Suze is supposedly from Brooklyn, but I don't care, its a book for entertainment... I don't want to be assaulted with swearing on every page. I'm okay that Suze is very self-centered and combative, it drives the plot. Also, the fact that she is obsessed with guys is normal for her age, but I don't like the fact that all these teenagers think that saving sex is old fashioned and ridiculous. There is no sex in the books, but the opinion that it would be okay is frequently repeated and it doesn't add anything to the book, so I just wished it wasn't there. What is wrong with wanting to find someone who truly loves you and wants to commit to you instead of wanting to just sleep around?
August 30, 2009
People can change. Paul Slater wants nothing more that what he can't have; Suze Simon. Suze is in love with an 150-year-old ghost. Things aren't easy for them, considering nobody else can see or feel Jesse. Aside from the obvious, things are going along pretty smooth for them until Paul give some strange threats. Paul is convinced he can go back in time and save Jesse from dying, so he and suze will never meet. When this plan is proved possible, Suze goes into panic mode. She goes back to stop Paul from saving Jesse. Paul ties her up in a barn, and leaves her gagged. When the real, non-ghost Jesse comes along, she realized how he died was wrong... 'If you love somrthing set it free. If it was ment to be it will come back to you." When she tries to go back to the future she accidently brings Jesse's body back with her. Jesse gets sucked backed into his body, her father moves on, Paul realizes he'll never get Suze and they become friends, and Jesse and Suze live happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2016
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I am so glad this was not the end to the series and Meg decided to write Remembrance. I cannot wait to start it because there were more loose ends than I remember. I need closure and I did not get that from Twilight. I finished this audiobook and thought...WHAT?! Not that it wasn't a great book because it was. But I just wanted a smudge more closure.
I loved getting to know Jesse in the past, and of course more Paul is always good news for me! I just want Paul to be happy!! Is that too much to ask??? Maybe.
This book focused mostly on Suze, Jesse, and Paul. It didn't seem like we saw a lot of the other characters, but I was totally fine with it. I love the way the three interact!!! I can't wait to see the reunion in Remembrance!!
I loved getting to know Jesse in the past, and of course more Paul is always good news for me! I just want Paul to be happy!! Is that too much to ask??? Maybe.
This book focused mostly on Suze, Jesse, and Paul. It didn't seem like we saw a lot of the other characters, but I was totally fine with it. I love the way the three interact!!! I can't wait to see the reunion in Remembrance!!
December 13, 2011
Suze annoys me so much this book. I feel like it could be a good 100 pages shorter and better if they would take out all the whining she does about how if Paul saves Jesse then they will never meet, seriously over and over. Ok we GET IT! She even goes on to say how he is the only thing she has in her life that makes it worth living at some point. That's really great that your family and friends you don't care at all about, just your boyfriend, am I reading the other Twilight here? She spends enough time talking about the way Jesse looks to make me think I am. The ending was unbelievably lucky and felt like a cop out. I feel like there's so many other ways Meg Cabot could have finished it that would have been better. I'd stick with reading one of the other Mediator books.
February 5, 2012
This last book is an astounding grand finale for "The Mediator" series! Very well planned and written! A masterpiece indeed!
The ending is perfect! When I read it, I couldn't forget it! I'm so glad at the same time sad, for it's done.
Over all, it's a beautiful book! A perfect love story everyone will love! It's a kind of love story, whoever will read it, will never forget it! I want to thank Meg Cabot for writing such a novel! She inspired me!
The ending is perfect! When I read it, I couldn't forget it! I'm so glad at the same time sad, for it's done.
Over all, it's a beautiful book! A perfect love story everyone will love! It's a kind of love story, whoever will read it, will never forget it! I want to thank Meg Cabot for writing such a novel! She inspired me!
March 7, 2013
You might like it if you're a girly girl who is still waiting for her Edward or Jacob but if you are a feminist and are into action-packed stuff, you might just want to throw it out of the balcony.
June 18, 2018
WOW WOW WOW. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SERIES. Enough said.
August 8, 2020
Re-read in 2020 on audio:
Twilight is book 6 in the Mediator series and for the longest time, it was also the final book in the series. This officially concludes my re-read of the original series. Next, I will continue my journey and read Proposal and Remembrance for the very first time.
This book made me super emotional. I loved seeing Jesse as a human...alive 🥺😭 I also loved seeing Suze with her dad 🥺😭 The denouement is so well written and the HEA is so well deserved. And the ending is simply perfect. To be honest, there isn't a need for more Mediator books. But I could read 48293992 books about Jesse, so I'm not complaining about Meg Cabot deciding to take this series a step further into the adult world.
Paul also kind of realizes how much of a dick he's been and we are told that he is putting in the effort to get to know his grandpa better and I hope he does the same with his younger brother. I'm a little nervous to read the new book that was released 4 years ago because apparently Paul comes back as a villain, still in love with Suze. Which makes no sense to me, given how Twilight ended. If he does come back, I'm hoping to see more of him as a redeemed character. I really hope there isn't character regression where Paul is concerned. But I won't know for sure until I finish Proposal and Remembrance.
P.S. When Jesse wakes up as a human and the first thing he says is "Querida" 🥺🥺😭😭❤❤
Twilight is book 6 in the Mediator series and for the longest time, it was also the final book in the series. This officially concludes my re-read of the original series. Next, I will continue my journey and read Proposal and Remembrance for the very first time.
This book made me super emotional. I loved seeing Jesse as a human...alive 🥺😭 I also loved seeing Suze with her dad 🥺😭 The denouement is so well written and the HEA is so well deserved. And the ending is simply perfect. To be honest, there isn't a need for more Mediator books. But I could read 48293992 books about Jesse, so I'm not complaining about Meg Cabot deciding to take this series a step further into the adult world.
Paul also kind of realizes how much of a dick he's been and we are told that he is putting in the effort to get to know his grandpa better and I hope he does the same with his younger brother. I'm a little nervous to read the new book that was released 4 years ago because apparently Paul comes back as a villain, still in love with Suze. Which makes no sense to me, given how Twilight ended. If he does come back, I'm hoping to see more of him as a redeemed character. I really hope there isn't character regression where Paul is concerned. But I won't know for sure until I finish Proposal and Remembrance.
P.S. When Jesse wakes up as a human and the first thing he says is "Querida" 🥺🥺😭😭❤❤
August 10, 2018
I really was very curious about how this was going to resolve since I knew I had the right ship, and while it's very easy, I am also very okay with it.
Paul is still the worst.
P.S. I missed Sleepy.
Paul is still the worst.
P.S. I missed Sleepy.
August 8, 2018
100 stars because this was just as good as I remembered and brought back so many happy teenage memories!
May 14, 2019
The originally last book of the YA series, where Suze finally gets her happy ending.
Suze is at her worst in this book, selfish and stubborn, and for a bit part of the book I felt more annoyed than anything else, especially when she kept insisting that .
When push comes to shove, despite her initial intentions, she does the right thing, and in a twist of fate, she unintentionally .
All's well that ends well, and by the end of the book Suze couldn't be happier or more hopeful for the future. The romantic in me loved the happy ending, but not as much as I would have had Suze not been so irritating for most of the story.
Hopefully she'll have grown up some in the adult continuation of the series, starting with the short story Proposal next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Haunted (The Mediator, #5)
✦ Darkest Hour (The Mediator, #4)
✦ Every Girl's Dream (The Mediator, #3.5)
✦ Reunion (The Mediator, #3)
Suze is at her worst in this book, selfish and stubborn, and for a bit part of the book I felt more annoyed than anything else, especially when she kept insisting that .
When push comes to shove, despite her initial intentions, she does the right thing, and in a twist of fate, she unintentionally .
All's well that ends well, and by the end of the book Suze couldn't be happier or more hopeful for the future. The romantic in me loved the happy ending, but not as much as I would have had Suze not been so irritating for most of the story.
Hopefully she'll have grown up some in the adult continuation of the series, starting with the short story Proposal next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Haunted (The Mediator, #5)
✦ Darkest Hour (The Mediator, #4)
✦ Every Girl's Dream (The Mediator, #3.5)
✦ Reunion (The Mediator, #3)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,246 reviews