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Initial Thoughts:

I’d seen many bloggers post reviews of this series but I had never read the reviews or even read the excerpt on the inside cover or back cover of the book. When I picked it up at my local library I was excited only because I knew a lot of people were talking about this book, whether their reviews were positive or negative I had no idea.

I still wasn’t sold on reading it until I went to the next shelf and saw the next book in the series, Pandemonium, staring up at me. I knew it was fate. Ever since I was little I would always, always, always, as a rule of nerdom, get the first and second book in a series together (if they were both printed at the time).

Staying true to my rule, I quickly grabbed both books off the shelf and proceeded the check them out. I don’t think I ever read an excerpt from the book, I just dove in which turned out to be the best possible way to read it.

Spoilers!

I wasn’t sure where the story would take me, so I enjoyed the ride. Admittedly, I found the ride to be a bit slow or leisurely in the beginning. I was adapting to this new world where Love is a disease and I was personally in a frame of mind where I could see the logic behind that theory. I didn’t get too carried away though, I still think Love is essential to us as human beings and it’s a ‘disease’ we all yearn to have, but at the time I could relate to Lena.

I felt like the plot really began to speed up once Lena meets Alex and learns the truth about him. That is the real moment her life changes and her journey begins. I almost don’t want to say too much about the plot because it was such a great story with such amazing twists and turns I don’t want to spoil it for the next person.

So instead, I’ll talk about Lauren Oliver’s writing.

I was instantly hooked and transfixed and captivated by every word on the page. I hate running. It hurts, it’s pointless unless someone is chasing you, and I just hate it. But Lena loved to run, and when I was reading the scenes where Lena would go on runs, I felt like I loved running too, which was bizarre! I wanted to get up, put on my sneakers, and go running somewhere, to feel how good she felt to run. Lauren Oliver made me feel what Lena felt throughout the novel.

I won’t say much about the ending other than I cried…hard. That ugly crying too (thank goodness I was alone in my room). I was obviously emotional, but I felt numb the way Lena did when she running through the woods. It was so unexpected and brilliant and I was mad but I respected the author and her decision to end it that way because in the back of my mind I knew that wasn’t the end. It just couldn’t be!

Conclusion:

This book did one simple, yet complex thing to me as a reader. A book that describes love as a disease, made me believe in love again. Before I read Delirium I hadn’t realized what it was that was missing from my life and it was that belief in love. Maybe it won’t happen right away, but I believe that one day it will.

I know that got a little deep there, but reading and books in general is a very personal experience for me and if it’s a good book, with a good message, and well written, a book has the potential to change me as a person.

I had originally borrowed this book from my local library but I’m in the process of buying the whole series (the third book hasn’t been released yet). Would I recommend this book? Hell. Yes. There are only a few series I’ve read in my life that have made such a significant impact like this one did and when I find them I don’t let go or look back.

Rating: 5/5 Stars