Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Love is a most potent & dangerous illness. So dangerous in fact, a cure has been created to prevent the population from having to suffer under its wrath. Lena Holoway can't wait until her 18th birthday, the day she'll finally receive the cure. She's not scared, she's simply anxious to have it over with already. A life without love is predictable & normal, safe. She's spent her whole life in the shameful shadow of her mother's love-induced suicide that Lena is ready to be protected from the deliria's grasp.

In a measured & calculated, fenced off Portland, Lena has spent the last 17 years of her life listening only to prescribed music, reading only approved books & being monitored for any possible sign of deliria infection. A few of her fellow classmates succumb to the terrible disease, but Lena is pleased that neither she nor her best friend Hana have been stricken. That is until Lena happens to meet Alex. And then, everything changes...

I know my review is a little shorter than you may be accustomed to from me, but that's because I continued to give away too much of the story as I wrote. This book was PHENOMENAL!! I absolutely could not put it down. The way the story is written is quite emotional because, despite the eradication of all forms of love, there is this undercurrent of repression. Suppressing a natural instinct is one of the most dangerous things that can be done & I honestly believe that this society is constantly on the brink of rupture. Why else would there be roving bands of guard-like protectors?

On a character level, this book was miles above the author's last attempt, Before I Fall. Many of you may recall my distaste for Oliver's characters in that novel & will say that I am very pleased that I tried this novel. A lot of the time if I don't like the first book an author has written, I won't bother to read any more. The premise of this book was too great to pass up & the characters were exactly what I was hoping they would be. I really enjoyed watching Lena struggle with not only her past & present, but with both her society & her expectations for her life. The three main characters, Lena, Hana, & Alex, are thoroughly formed & can stand on their own. While they all play off one another, I could see them working an independent people.

So basically in summation, you really need to read this book. While I may be overlooking some of the more minor editing details (that I'm sure will be cleaned up in the final editing) I really think this book has a great message & execution. Please enjoy & let me know your thoughts!