Shatter Me

Spoiler-Free Review:

I've been seeing this book around for a bit, and I was finally able to pick it up to fill a prompt for The Bibliovert Podcast's Maassive Readathon. I really wanted to love this book since there are so many book in the series (y'all know I love a series binge), but it just fell flat for me. I think the pacing was a bit slow, which I expect for a first book in a fantasy series. I also had a hard time connecting with the female main character, Juliette. Her inner monologue was very chaotic which makes sense since she has been isolated for most of her life. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator does a great job of portraying this chaos. I've heard this is an enemies to lovers series, but we don't get much of that in this first book. I may read the second book just to give the series another shot. We do have a friends to lovers bit happening with Adam which is super sweet. I think there's a reason she loves him and feels comfortable around him, and I think it's because, as far has she knows, he is the only one who can touch her without being harmed. Juliette has been searching for acceptance and reasons for why she is the way she is. She doesn't know who to trust or where to turn, and at the end of this first book we discover a secret that's been hidden from her and most of the world. It's been a long time since I've read a dystopian book so it took be a bit to get back into the mindset. Tahereh Mafi does a good job at describing Juliette's character and inner thoughts. She has laid the groundwork for what I hope is a better second book and series. I enjoyed it but didn't love it so it's like more than a 3 star but less than a 4 star in my opinion. This is a YA Fantasy/dystopian 14+ for some violence and themes.