Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 461
Source: Won from 4 Chicks and a Muse
Rating: ★★★★☆

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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.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

My heart is gone and I don't even know where to start looking for it. This book is FOR REALZ YOU GUYS.

Let's break this down:

I'm gonna start by talking about the plot. It might not sound like I am at first, but I am, so stick with me here.

I feel like Juliette's constantly on the verge of throwing the most annoying pity party on the planet, so I can see why some people might get annoyed at her, but since I have a really high tolerance for pity parties (not gonna lie, kids, I often find myself mid-pity party throwing), instead I'm just like: GOD THIS WORLD IS SO UNFAIR WHY CAN'T JULIETTE GET A DAMN HUG?

But then there's Kenji, who's kind of this wildcard character. I feel like not many books have a guy who's sole purpose is to be a BUDDY and not a LOVE INTEREST, who's there to push the MC forward and advance the plot. Kenji keep Juliette unstuck so she can keep US unstuck. 

SO even though one might say that Shatter Me and Unravel Me are one GIANT pity party plot-wise, I really don't think that's the case because progress IS being made. People are moving forward, learning things about their surroundings and themselves, owning their lives and all in all becoming the people we ALL KNOW they can be if they'd only stop with the nonsense and BE THAT PERSON. They just need to move forward in a realistic fashion. Like, could you imagine if Juliette embraced her superpowers without any self pity? Yeah. That'd be weird.

And I think all of the things I mentioned above are exactly what SHOULD go into a second book in a trilogy. I mean, trilogies are tough because, even though all of the readers want moremoremore, it's difficult to figure out how to fill those 1000-1500 pages. And a lot of the times second books get confused. Now, I can't say I'm a master of knowing how to write an unconfused Book 2, but I think Tahereh Mafi's pretty freaking good at it. She really uses Unravel Me to solidify relationships, deepen the complexity of her story and, most importantly, really make her characters living, breathing people, all while having actual things HAPPEN. I never, for a second feel like we don't need Book 2. And not just in a moving-the-plot-along capacity, but in a HI EVERYONE IS MY REAL FRIEND EVEN IF IT'S ONLY IN MY MIND capacity.

And of course, to do this, Tahereh Mafi utilizes the feels. I don't think there was a single chapter (two pages long or otherwise), when my head and heart weren't freaking out. My insides were frozen and my jaw was on the floor and everyone around me in the cafes and on public transportation I read this book in probably thought I was having a fit. Because. I. Was. Every page brought more and more emotions. Especially the mysterious Chapter 62, which was steamy, as promised, but more gut wrenching for me. And that's all I'll say on the matter of Chapter 62.

But before I wrap this up, now that I've spoken about Juliette and Kenji (my homeboy), I obviously need to mention Warner and Adam.

Warner kind of creeped me out by the end of the last book. He redeemed himself in Destroy Me, so when Unravel Me started up, I was like BRING IT - and he delivered in spades. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in love with the psycho (because he is kind of out of his mind), but I do think he's one of the most interesting fictional characters I have EVER read, villain or otherwise, and if I don't learn more about him immediately I might burst.

And as for Adam, I don't think it's a secret I was super suspicious and unsure of him in Shatter Me. Everyone else in this book, except maybe James (who I want to hug ALWAYS), seem to have ISSUES or hidden hurts or secrets but Adam just seemed too perfect. Too transparent. Too wonderful. I know, you're all thinking: GOD GABY HAS ISSUES (I do, I really do). But that's mostly because life has proven many a time that people like Adam just don't exist. And Unravel Me proves me right. Adam's just as screwed up as everyone else and just didn't really let onto that in Shatter Me. He was able to hide what everyone else, even Warner, couldn't. I'm glad he stopped hiding, though, because A) it totally pushed the plot forward, B) he's a much more believable character and C) now I can love him.

Oh, and because I have to choose or the world implodes: I want Juliette with Adam. Warner breaks me heart, but he's a lonely crazypants, like Juliette, and I don't think two lonely crazypants would do well together. Couples need to COMPLIMENT each other, not be the same as each other, y'know? (Relationship advice from the girl who's never been in a relationship, whatever.)

Anyway, I have a couple PREDICTIONS for this book, but I'm thinking I'll save that for the comments/emails if any of you want to ask me about that. I just don't want to put anything into anyone's heads unless they want said thoughts there.

The long and short of it?

Plot: A wonderful use of a second book in a series.
World Building: The expansion here is amazing. We really get an understanding of what it means to be apart of this future Tahereh Mafi has created.
Character Development: This book is FULL OF character development. Everyone flourishes. It really feels like they could walk right off the page and through the glass doors of the coffee shop I'm likely currently inhabiting.
Prose: Just as wonderfully heart wrenching as in Shatter Me. Never stop writing, Tahereh Mafi. Never.
Would I Recommend This Book?: If you're cool with strikeouts and amazing metaphors and superheroes and corrupt governments, pick up Shatter Me and love everything ever. It not, you should probably skip this series.

This insanely long review has finally come to an end. Now it's your turn to tell me: WHAT DID YOU THINK? WERE YOU DYING THE WHOLE TIME ALSO? Share your feels with me, please. And let me know if you want to talk Book 3 predictions because I obviously want to!