Shatter Me: Shatter Me (#1)

The first line is just captivating. How much I hated the guy we were suppose to love and then love the guy we were suppose to hate. Not to mention how she admitted to the spark between her and the "bad guy." I just couldn't stop reading. You need this entire series. It's just Amaz-balls.

This book blew me away.

Shatter Me has undertones of dystopian fiction, but it is really its own entity. How do I explain this? Imagine that your favorite paranormal, superhero, and dystopian books were put into a blender to make one single book. That right there? That would be this book.

Now I think it's important I start off with the writing style in Shatter Me because that seems to be the one thing that might keep people from falling in love with this gorgeous book. I'll admit, Tahereh Mafi's writing style is unlike anything I've read before. It's eerily prosaic, wonderfully descriptive, and oddly disconcerting, all at the same time. Replete with strikethroughs and repeated phrases, it feels sometimes like you might be going crazy yourself. I think it's important to remember that the reader is inside Juliette's head during the story. This is a girl who hasn't seen another person, hasn't touched another person, for what seems to her to be an endless amount of time. Being in Juliette's head can be off putting, or it can be beautiful. It all depends on how much you allow yourself to be immersed in the girl, and the world, that is built here.

Juliette's character is what really brings Shatter Me to life. Constantly fighting a battle between the madness that she thinks still might consume her, and the giving person Adam knows her to be. Juliette is equal parts strong willed and vulnerable. The knowledge that her power can harm others cripples her, and she constantly wavers between feeling like a monster and a normal girl. Juliette truly has a power that can be used for good or evil, and both opportunities are presented to her. It might sound cliche at first glance, but I assure you that the girl on the pages is anything but that. Juliette's wariness at trusting others, her need to help even if she isn't sure if she should, her constant questioning of herself even when she's fairly sure that she is right, is all the product of her past. Tahereh Mafi builds up a girl who is believable and unique wrapped into one package. Juliette isn't perfect, and I loved her for that.

Shatter Me is definitely dsytopian, and the world that is built around Juliette's story is amazing. Cities crumble to the ground in the wake of The Reestablishment. People cower in doorways as what is left of society is patrolled, and essentially owned, by the soldiers who are loyal to the movement. The explanation as to how this came about hit very close to home for me. To say that this world is possible, well that's an understatement. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that there is a distinct possibility we really could get to that point. It made me ponder that, and that made me fall even further under the spell of this book.

If you can't tell from my musings above, I fell madly in love with this story. Devouring 120 pages in half an hour let me know that I was in for the long haul. I admit that I know that it won't be for everyone. As I mentioned, the writing style is different and might put some people off. However I can honestly say that if you give it a chance, if you allow yourself to fall wholeheartedly into Juliette's world, you might just find a story that will immerse you like it did me. Shatter Me is a refreshingly unique read that I enjoyed thoroughly. If there is indeed a sequel coming, I can't wait!

The moment I finished with this book, I quite literally wanted to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again! If I didn't have a stack of about 20 other books to read, I would have immediately! I will confess to going back through and re-reading the shower scenes (oh la la) and ALL the other swoon worthy scenes!

I loved this book, and the characters are amazing!

Juliette--the heroine who can kill people with her touch. I loved taking this journey with her as she is realizing that it's not a curse, but a gift. It's written like a diary, so there are thoughts marked out that really dig even deeper into her psyche. We see what she fears and her innermost desires. Some reviewers hated the way Mafi writes, but I absolutely adored it. The repetition and the metaphors captured me...if only there were more writers like her!

And then there are the boys....Adam (boy of my dreams) and Warner (bad boy of my dreams).

I'm not going to write much for fear of giving something away, but I have to say that Adam is just so....I can't even put it into words! I love him! He's sexy, chiseled, compassionate, obsessive, defensive, bold (oh so bold) and I love all of him!And I love the way Mafi describes his reactions to Juliette. I felt like I was right there with him! He definitely made me blush and increased my heartbeat ten fold!

Now Warner...the resident bad boy of this piece. He's a walking oxymoron--obsessive yet loving, angry yet kind....I just don't know what to think about him. He wants Juliette for her power, but does it stop there? Does he love her or is it just crazy power-obsessed psychosis??

I can't wait until Unravel Me comes out....eeek! February 2013 can't get here soon enough. Until then, I'll just have to keep re-reading and dreaming!

I can't read fast enough, I can't read fast enough, I can't read fast enough! My eyes are blurs raking across every word, every word, every word, burning into my brain... I keep going...

More of my reviews at http://wwwthebookshelves.blogspot.com

?Shatter Me was a additive, stunning, sexy, dysoptian debut that will leave you breathless after page one! It was riveting, gripping, and absolutely mesmerising! Tahereh Mafi weaves a book so good, you want to savor every sentence, word and page one hooked me!


Did you see that cover??? So flipping amazing! And the trailer????!!! Once I saw it I immediately bought it the day it came and I normally don't do that but this book...I NEEEDED IT!!!


The writing? Do I need to say anything? Its AMAZING. It flows so well and I experience a whole new sensation reading this book! It was flawless and beautifully written, Tahereh Mafi is only 23. Unbelievable right??? Everything pieces in and its hard to believe its her debut novel!. Seriously go out and buy this book. Right now.






Juliette hasn't touch another human being in exactly 264 days. She's looked up in an asylum where the Reestablishment treats her like a monster, with a curse, and they tell her locking her up was the best thing. Juliette is a strong, tough, I-have-plans-of-my-on type of heroine. She plans to escape and flee to a world she wouldn't have for once be judged.
She's counting the days, hours, second in small notebook hidden in a crevice of her cell.


Then the unexpected happens. [Yep the romance.] Adam Kent. ADAM. ADAM. He was the perfect guy for Juliette. I can't remember the times I was reading this and swooning over the scorching romance scenes. It was beautiful. It was like cookies and milk when you eat them it melts with perfection, that's how the romance is. I can't believe how easily I loved Adam and Juliette....PERFECT!!!!!!!!! :D Adam was a tought, swoony, heart-pounding guy. There was something about him that maded all YA romance novel guy not the same at all.


Warner. Warner was convincing and intrigiung each time he spoke and him personally. He can really twist your mind and make you think of yourself as a lethal weapon, like he did for Juliette. I actually liked him. Odd right? Well, he really jumped between the lines of a romantic, supper evil villan.
Juliette stood up to him. She was a total bad ass, with the power to take down people with a slight touch of her hands. Don't tell me that's not total kick-ass power! Think of her clawing through four walls of concrete and glass. Imaginative! Best Dysoptian ever. Period.


I can't stop thinking or shwoing off this book! It was PERFECTION. Perfect. Perfect. I can't stop saying how awesome this book is! I'm actually reading it for the second time beacuse I can't get enough of it and me praising alll about it! This book was delicious throiughtout, crispy in the edges, and a slice of stunning perfection! I cannott stop looking at that cover!

Tahereh Mafi is a gifted writer! I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. The world she created is not the pretty and perfect world. It literally sucks! Everything is falling apart and Juliette gets thrown into it. She has been in isolation for 264 days, don't know what is going on, on the outside world. People are starving, rivals are fighting for control. History is being erased so a new world can be built.
I really liked the characters in this book. I love how Tahereh brought Juliette to life using her words. Her writing made me feel for Juliette. I felt for her when she was taken away from her parents, and they didn't even try to help her. I cared for her when she spent 264 days in isolation with no one to talk to. I worried for her when she screams from her nightmares and wishes that she never has to sleep. I liked how she gave so much to others and never asked for anything in return. All she wanted was to be accepted and not seen as a monster. She is a fighter and never gave up when Warner tempted her with luxury. She's gifted and I hope we get to see more of it in the next book.
Adam, the love interest, just seems too good to be true! Why can't all guys be like him? =P At first I was kind of hesitant about him, until I later found out that they new each other since third grade, although they never talked to each other. Their relationship in the book is SO intense! There are quite a few parts in this book that were hot!! =) Adam is so loyal and determined that he was willing to sacrifice himself to help Juliette get out of the horrible institution. In walks Warner, the villain. He's an interesting character. I want to know more about him. You just can't help but like him even when he's mean. Yeah he's the bad ass in the story who wants nothing but control and power, but I just feel like there's a lot more to him. When Juliette joked about "Your poor mother" he was so alarmed and had this unguarded look on his face, it just makes you wonder about his relationship with his mother, was is a good one or bad one? Did he love her? What happened to her? I hope we get the chance to see his side of the story.
Overall, this book is a five star! I love where Tahereh is going with the story, everything opens up in the end makes you wondering what will happen next. I was so engrossed in this book that the next thing I know, I was reading the last page of the book. I couldn't believe I finished it within a few hours. That's how good it was. This book is a definitely must read! I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) expected publication date is February 5th 2013.

This series broke my heart and put it back together. I couldn't put any of the books down.

Long story short: this totally blew my mind. Even before I read it, the synopsis already had me wrapped around in its little finger. With all sorts of twists and turns, it made reading it an emotional roller-coaster ride with you at the edge of your seat. Juliette Farrars, a girl with a seriously creepy power that the government wants to harness and use for their own gain. Enter Adam Kent, a guy who just may be Juliette's downfall. I love the entire idea of Juliette having to not only fight off outside forces but also her own horrific self. Can't wait for the next book!

This book was a little slow for me in the beginning, but it soon picked up and I found myself making up places to go so I could listen to it in my car. The audio experience was one of the best I have listened to! Something unique about this book is the way the author incorporates the strikethrough. With this being an audio book you could actually hear a sound that sounded like someone scratching out a word. I thought this might be annoying, but it actually made the story more powerful.



Tahereh Mafi has an extraordinary way with words. They way she combines words is like an intricate puzzle that fits together perfectly. At times the book read like a song or poem.



I quickly grew to care about Juliette. She is such a kick butt girl, who is just discovering what she is capable of. She has always seen her "gift" as a burden, but as the story goes along she begins to consider the benefits of her gift. She definitely puts other people first, and deals with a huge amount of guilt for things that were out of her control. She has nobody until Adam shows up.



Adam is another male in YA to crush on. He is everything we want our YA heroes to be! I liked him immediately. I also liked how he had a history with Juliette, which helped me to accept and believe the "insta-love" a little easier.



A character that I ended up adoring was Adam's little brother James. He was just awesome and brave and accepting and enthusiastic. I think one of the reasons I loved him so much, was because of the narrator's portrayal of him. He was just fun!



Overall, this book was a super audiobook. With that aside, I would have LOVED this story if I had just read it. The story itself holds its own, and the audio just adds to the experience.

Read this book!