This review was originally posted on Ruby's Reads. 
 I'm a big fan of teen thrillers, especially since they're not exactly thick on the ground these days. Honestly, I'm the perfect example of some the way demand is created via scarcity. Anyway, I have a caveat: teen thrillers with paranormal elements are easy to find. And they can be fun, but I prefer my mysteries straight up. And I'd say Hysteria leans away from the paranormal and toward the tricks the mind can play, especially after traumatic events. And what's more traumatic than killing someone and not remembering doing it? (Probably a few things, but let's not go there.) 
 However, Hysteria isn't about the killing itself. It's about the aftermath. How Brian's death affects Mallory, her family, and his family. It's also about the deep friendship between Mallory and her best friend, Colleen. It's not entirely successful, and I guessed whodunnit fairly quickly, but I did practically read the book in one sitting. I contend that this has to account for something. A book that encourages you to speed through the pages to the end has value, even if you don't feel satisfied upon finishing the last page. 
 So, yes, I raced through this book; was absorbed by it. Even as I read, though, I was aware that things weren't working for me. Mallory, while the traumatized victim, was not exactly a sympathetic character. Flashbacks, remembered at jagged intervals, slowly reveal the circumstances of Brian's death. They also reveal Mallory's relationship with him, which does not exactly paint her in a favorable light. Basically, while I thought "That sucks," about her situation, I didn't really feel it. Maybe I'm just cold-hearted-and I in no way mean that Mallory's actions deserved to be met with violence-but I would have appreciated a little more self-reflection on her part. A little acknowledgement of the part she played in the whole mess. To be more specific would be to spoil, though, so I can't really go on. 
 Also, the parts of the novel that I found most intriguing-how Mallory's relationship with her parents changed after Brian's death-got the short shrift in terms of resolution. The focus is on Mallory coming to terms with Brian's death, and on moving past it, what moving past it means regarding her relationship with Colleen, and what moving on looks like, period. Which is why the boarding school setting felt like a convenient excuse to escape adult supervision-one of the trickiest aspects of teen fiction. I like boarding school settings, but I prefer them when they play a role in the story. I didn't really get that feeling from Hysteria. 
 To sum up: Hysteria was a quick, absorbing read. It was a little like a Hostess Cupcake (RIP). It tastes good and it's gone quickly, but it leaves you wishing you'd actually had Death By Chocolate Cake instead.