"Unravel Me" by Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 461

From Goodreads: "ticktick
tick
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it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life."

Despite "Shatter Me" being one of my most favourite books of all time, I must admit that I was extremely hesitant to read this book. Why? Because of second book syndrome- I didn't think it possible for me to like this more than I did "Shatter Me" (I mean, how does one top essentially perfection?). However, after having finished this book all I can do is shake my head at my earlier stupidity. This book, if possible, is even better than "Shatter Me".

While there were countless aspects of this novel that I loved, the largest would most likely be the love triangle (no, I can't believe that I wrote that either). This book has, what I like to call, a successful love triangle. What might a successful love triangle be? One where there is actual competition. I literally have no idea who Juliette will end up with (if either of them). On the one hand everything that Adam has done in his life has been for Juliette, but on the other hand ,Warner has entirely given himself to Juliette. How does one choose between the boy who is steady and safe or the boy who is anything but, but burns so brightly with his passion for her.

As becomes evident, I am more so leaning towards Warner in this novel, despite having declared my undying love for Adam in "Shatter Me". While I have always been intrigued by Warner in "Shatter Me", those feelings were amplified in this novel, becoming something more. I think that him and Juliette are so perfect together because they are so broken and as such, who better to put one another back together than each other?

Aside from the boys, I did enjoy Juliette in this novel, though perhaps not as much as I had hoped to (while she has grown, I do think that she still has a ways to go before she truly becomes the person that she is meant to be). And, of course, Kenji. Whenever you feel like you are going to choke on emotions, Kenji appears, bringing with him a breath of fresh air.

If I had to come up with a complaint it would be the predictability. I had guessed the big surprise surrounding two of the characters halfway through "Shatter Me". That being said, I do look forward to seeing how it will be addressed/ played out in the third, and final, book in the series. I think that its reveal could quite literally reshape everything we have ever known about these books and the characters within their pages.

All in all, Tahereh has been able to do what I believe that few authors have been able to- write a sequel that is worthy of the original. I think that she has elevated YA and really brought to light how artful/ beautiful it can be. I cannot recommend this series enough and I cannot wait for said third book in this series.

Rating: 5/5