Shiirleyy's Bookshelf has migrated to Dear Shirley ! I will continue to post book reviews but there will also be a lot of personal and travel-related posts :)

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

15 Feb 2013



by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Allen & Unwin 
Release Date: February 2013
Format: Paperback, 480 pages 

Our lips touch and I know I'm going to split at the seams. He kisses me softly then strongly like he's lost me and he's found me and I'm slipping away and he's never going to let me go. 

 Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. 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. 

 Haunted by her past, terrified of her future, Juliette knows that in her present, she will have to make some life-changing choices. Choices that may include choosing between her heart - and Adam's life.
* CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM UNRAVEL ME.*
(Sorry guys! Couldn't resist :S I needed to rant!)
I remember raving and gushing and writing my review for Shatter Me with a massive grin on my face since I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I had extremely high expectations when I started Unravel Me, and while my expectations were met for the most part, I wasn’t thrilled with Juliette’s performance in the first half of the book. Honestly, if it weren’t for Kenji’s wise, and sometimes harsh but essential lectures and Warner’s appearances, I would’ve stopped reading after 100 pages. Thank goodness the pacing picked up after the half-way mark though!

KENJIKENJIKENJI! I LOVEEEE YOUUUUUU!<3 Kenji’s still his charming self; cracking jokes every now and then, but we also got to see another side of Kenji; his serious side. He really cares about what happens at Omega Point, and he always has his priorities straight. We find out a little about Kenji’s life before arriving at Omega Point but I hope to learn the whole story in either his own novella or Book #3!<3 KENJI, YOU’RE MY HERO!!!

Now, WARNER<3 I didn’t care for him at all in Shatter Me; he was just delusional and plain…psycho. But after Unravel Me? HE STOLE MY HEART. He’s so broken, so obsessed with Juliette, it’s pitiful and how much he cares for her her and loves her is just..so..endearing. My heart melted. WARNER, YOU DESERVE YOUR HAPPY ENDING<3

And lastly, I have a letter I’d like Juliette to read. It expresses my feelings about her character in Unravel Me and….yeah…I had a lot to say so I thought I’d write it in the form of a letter ;) Here it is…
Dear Juliette,

I remember loving you back when I read Shatter Me; you were so broken and vulnerable yet you also showed me you were brave and I loved you. I really did. Then, after the last page of Shatter Me, I anticipated some kick-ass action in Unravel Me because you seemed like…you finally found somewhere where you could be you. It’s so unfortunate that Unravel Me commenced with you feeling lonely, and distanced from everyone at Omega Point. You whined constantly about how you couldn’t control your power, how everyone always looked at you like a murderer, and then later about how you and Adam couldn’t be together.GET YOUR FREAKING ACT TOGETHER. Go talk to people. Try to make friends. You want to help the people at Omega Point? Stop complaining about how you can’t do anything, ask for help and be MOTIVATED. And as for Adam? WOMAN. YOUR LIFE DOESN’T DEPEND ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. You two may not be able to be together for the moment but it’s not the end of the world!! You’re so lucky to have Kenji by your side who can keep you on the right track, otherwise, honestly, I would have you stabbed with a freaking knife.

Oh, and one more thing. YOU HAVE WARNER. WARNER, who shows you his true self, the side NO ONE knows about. WARNER, who really understands you. WARNER, who knows you inside and out (unlike Adam, because THERE ARE TOO MANY SECRETS BETWEEN YOU TWO. Did you know you’re actually pushing each other away instead of protecting one another every time one of you consciously lies to the other?) WARNER, who SAVED YOUR LIFE. HE SAVED YOUR FREAKING LIFE. DON’T YOU DARE PUSH HIM AWAY AGAIN. And do you remember what happened in chapter 62? You should, because I definitely wasn’t the only person who had FEELS during those pages. YOU LIKED IT. YOU LIKED IT HEAPS. And remember how you said Warner is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? Yeah? THAT’S WHAT YOU SAY TO YOUR OTHER HALF. Therefore, Juliette, look at what’s in front of you, what’s been handed to you on a silver platter rather than chasing someone that can’t be yours.

I genuinely hope what you said at the end of Unravel Me will carry through in the next book. I’d hate to be disappointed with you again.

Yours sincerely,

Warner’s #1 Fan.

Unravel Me was an epic and completely riveting follow-up to Shatter Me. I may have had issues with Juliette, but I'm happy to say, it didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book :) This is one sequel you cannot miss!


***
Oh, and since I love Warner so much, here's some Warner love from fellow bloggers<3



A massive thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Unravel Me for review!

12 comments:

  1. I think I fell in love in Warner while reading Destroy Me. His e-novella changed everything and I loved it. Unravel me was, in some ways,even better than Shatter Me, with the exception of Juliette. I really needed her to act like an actual adult and start talking to people.
    I have ono idea where this story can possibly go now. I NEED to know how it ends, and a year is a very long time.
    I agree with everything you wrote to Juliette. :)
    Great review!

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  2. SSKJFHDGHLDGHLKGSDKFJHDFKGHLKJSDHFSDKJHFSKJDHFLSKJDHFKDJSHFLSKJDHFKHSDF

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    SHIRLEY!! YOUR REVIEW = PERFECT. It just seriously captures everything I felt about Unravel Me. I never thought I'd end up loving Warner but UNRAVEL ME (*cough chapter 62 cough*) made me fall for Warner!! AND KENJI too ;) I'm sorry Adam but Warner's replacing you now :P

    AND YOUR LETTER!! GOSH, so AWESOME. Haha, love how you close it with "Warner's #1 fan"

    PS: Hehe, I feel so honoured that you put my tweets in your review!! TEAM WARNER!!

    Love your gorgeous review, Shirley! SO can't wait for book 3. ♥♥♥♥

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  3. SHIRLEY! EVERYTHING YOU SAID . . . IT WAS EXACTLY HOW I FELT!

    WARRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR! I have mega feels for that guy and gosh - I SHIP HIM SO HARD IN THIS BOOK! afisdjfajfafalasgsgsgshdgs! Enough said.

    Lovely review once again! I seriously need book 3 right about now!

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  4. SHIRLEY!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS REVIEW!!! Yes caps were totally necessary there, we finally have one book that we've read and we felt exactly the same way about! Oh my gosh Juliette seriously needs to pull it together, I think she has forgotten chapter 62, that was like the best chapter ever! I definitely need more Warner now, a year is far too long away! I think to pass the time I will have to read chapter 62 over and over again!!!!!! ;)

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  5. SHIRLEY! THIS BOOK IS GOING TO GIVE ME A COMPLEX!!!!! I want to keep my love for Adam and not be won over by Warner but I'm NOT SURE I'M STRONG ENOUGH! He sounds extraordinary, and based on your clear and undying love for him, I think my love for Adam is destined to fade in the face of Warner's epicness. MUST READ THIS IMMEDIATELY.

    Also, you are adorable. That is all.

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  6. Warner's #1 Fan?! Well, Shirley, say hello to Adam's #1 Fan. ;)

    Hehe! I love your letter to Juliette. She really frustrated me at times during this too (I just needed her to grow a backbone!), but I loved Kenji. I'm glad he voiced my opinion of her throughout this. If anything, he impressed me more than any of the other characters. I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!

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  7. Well shirley i need to read book2 soon .great review

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  8. I'm glad to know that if I find the beginning slow, I should just keep going - I've been putting this off because I'm sure I'm not going to like it. And I don't believe that I will end up liking Warner, but everyone else has so we will see!

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  9. Juliette was pretty mopey in the beginning. I wanted to shake her a few times and your letter expresses everything so well, Shirley! I was solidly Team Adam in the first book but now I can't decide! I'm going to hurt for whoever is not picked. Freaking love triangles!! Brilliant review :)

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  10. Oh boy. My UM review will be going up next week. I do a lot of ranting about Juliette and her stupid behaviour in the beginning of the book LOL. Argh, hated it! *throws book and stomps on it* It got better though :P Loved Kenji to absolute death but still not LOVING Warner and wanting to have his babies.. Hehe. Happy with the way things were left by the end and looking forward to book 3 ;)

    Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

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  11. I wholeheartedly agree with this letter, Juliette needs to make the right decision and choose Warner. Picking Adam, like Warner said, would only be the "safe" decision. She needs passion, darn it! I will probably lose it if she pulls a freaking Calla and goes with the guy NO ONE wants! Speak the truth.

    - Warner's #2 fan :)

    Judith @ Judith's Choice Reads

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  12. SORRY I COULD NOT READ YOUR REVIEW!!! I WILL NOT SPOIL THIS FOR ME! But i did read your letter, and im kind of disappointed that Juliette is whiny in this book.. UGH! Though im still excited for it! Lovely review, Shirley!!
    - Farah @ MajiBookshelf

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