Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.
This is one of those books almost everyone seems to pick up at some point. From what I've heard, a lot of those people love this book and it makes it onto a lot of favorite shelves. So, needless to say, I had high expectations for this book. I wasn't disappointed, but it also won't be on my favorite shelf any time soon.
The pace was slow. It takes place over the course of a little less then a hundred days, so I suppose that's why, but it made it hard to read. I was slogging along, waiting for something, anything, to happen. From the way this book ended I think the next one might be a little faster and more dramatic.
The characters were good. Each one was well defined, I liked the ones I was supposed to, disliked the ones I was supposed to. It's a clear cut divide between the "good guys" and the "bad guys", which was both nice and rather disappointing. I felt that I knew Lena really well, like she was a real person who reacted like a real person would. However, no matter how well the reader knows her, I can't help but feel she was a little drab. She certainly grows over the course of the book, but her attitude and just general personality reminded me of a wet blanket.
Alex was very crush worthy, but I didn't feel like I knew him as well as any of the other characters, which I'm assuming was on purpose. His and Lena's love was very heart-warming and natural feeling. The character that I feel really takes the cake is Hana. She was a different sort of best friend then I often see in YA books. Not only was she exciting and rebellious, but she needed Lena as much as Lena needed her and acted like her own person. Her character never betrays itself and keeps grounded in the reality of the story.
The idea behind this story, a world where love is a disease, was so real it had me believing it. The fact that this could happen (theoretically) and how people respond to it is perfectly depicted and leaves you wondering. It makes you feel like this world isn't very far away from ours.
The writing in this book was gorgeous and melodic. You know that you're reading the work of a genius. There are great writers, and then there is this. Lauren Oliver obviously knows her way around a keyboard. Honestly, I'm envious of her skill, and can see how this book has sold so many copies and almost became a television series.
Rating: 4 stars
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