Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse. All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. 
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher Simon & Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below).
What a great debut novel! Compulsion definitely exceeded my expectations, and left me wanting more from the heirs of Watson Island by the end of it. I loved the protagonist Barrie. She was so funny and quirky, and I had a lot of fun while reading from her point of view. I swear, there must be something about guys with numbers as names, but Eight Beaufort was beyond swoon worthy. Barrie and Eight's relationship was a really great addition to Compulsion's charm, though it was already charmed beyond measure with its southern gothic theme. My favorite aspect to this book was the actual magic of Watson island. The people and the island's origins was a really great of stating that things really do go down in history. I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book, I have a feeling that it's going to be absolutely great!
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
Reviewer:
Grace
