Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Imagine Me (Shatter Me #6)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: March 31st, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased my own copy!

The explosive finale to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series.

Juliette Ferrars.

Ella Sommers.

Which is the truth and which is the lie?

Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control.

The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.

Penelope's Review

Whew. Explosive finale indeed. I know there is a TON of mixed reviews on this book, but honestly I thought it was pretty great! Couple things I would have liked to see that I didn't but overall... I'm not mad! Please don't read further in this review if you haven't read up to the fifth book!! No spoilers for THIS book but there is for the other books!

So in Defy Me, we had Juliette and Warner kidnapped by Juliette's parents, but they are both remembering the past (despite them trying to wipe Juliette's mind) thanks to Emmaline. The book ends with them escaping, Juliette and Warner are back on amazing terms (THANK GOD), he wants to marry her, and they have a surprise birthday party for him! Woohoo! All is good in the world. 

Lol. NOPE! Imagine Me dives RIGHT into the action basically from page one. We get more information about Emmaline and what she wants and what's going on with her, we get alot more Kenji which is awesome! (though I would have liked a bit more on him and Nazeera). Unfortunately we don't have Warner's point of view for this book, which was super sad but he's still a main character - just seen through Kenji's eyes which was actually an interesting point of view. I just think it would have been a fantastic read to see what was going through his head during this one. Phew, it would've been a rollercoaster lol. Anyway! 

I feel like the book moved along at a fast pace which was great - there's so much going on that there's no time to be bored! I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, as every other review has said lol. It's true - I had maybe 40-50 pages left and I was like how is this going to end?? There's still so much I don't know!!! Ahh!! Very stressful indeed. I would've liked a slightly different ending, but overall I was alright with it.

I will forever love Juliette and Warner, they are absolutely one of my all-time favorite book couples. I also read this entire series TOGETHER rather than the first three like 10 years ago and the next three now so I think that may have alot to do with m higher opinion of the finale. I recommend reading all 6 books one after the other :) Overall, fantastic series! So sad that it's over!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Defy Me (Shatter Me #5)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: April 2nd, 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

Penelope's Review

Holy. My mind can't even cope with all of these revelations and twists and turns and surprises. Seriously. This series is INSANE. Literally insane. This time around, the book is told from Juliette, Warner, and Kenji's point of view!! So exciting! I have loved Kenji from the moment we first met him and it was so fantastic to get some time exploring his inner thoughts.

This book is just mind-blowing. Seriously. Despite learning about some things in Restore Me, I still didn't see everything we learned in Defy Me coming. I finished this book in a day, which is both exciting and sad because I only have one book left in the series. I hope this all ends well.

Also, I absolutely adored the ending to this book. Everything about it was absolute perfection. There's really not much more I can say about this without giving anything away so I'll leave it here. I will say that I found this book an amazing addition to the series and  my fingers are crossed so hard that the last book brings me just as much excitement and ends the series in a good way.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Restore Me (Shatter Me #4)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: March 6th, 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

Penelope's Review

Wow. First of all, I want to say that I absolutely LOVE the fact that this book was in both Juliette and Warner's point of view. It makes me wish we had the first three books in his point of view as well. I loved getting a glimpse into the inner workings of Warner's mind, mixed with the comforting familiarity of Juliette's thoughts. 

This book is chock-full of INTENSE revelations. The twists and turns are literally insane. And so, so good. We get to explore more of Warner and Juliette's relationship - I just love the two of them so much. I loved watching the cracks in Warner's perfect image. Seeing his emotions shine through, and exploring more of his past was amazing. He is a fantastically written character. So many layers, yet so human and relatable. 

Juliette is struggling in this book. She's won the battle and is supreme commander now yet didn't take a moment to think about what that means. The time and responsibility and endless number of things to do are taking their toll. But she's a badass character and I truly think she will come out ahead of all this. Some shocking revelations lead to a bit of instability in her mind, but it was all brilliantly written. We even got some diary excerpts which was a great look at her thought process from her time in the asylum. 

Kenji also deserves a note here - he is one of the best supporting characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. He's hilarious, always able to crack the tension in a room. I am constantly laughing out loud at his antics. But I also loved getting to know more of his back story, and the struggles he's had to endure. He went through so much yet he didn't let it break or twist him into an evil person. Kenji is loyal, selfless, and the best friend Juliette could ever have.

Overall, I think this was an amazing addition to the series. I'm so surprised at the directions this series is taking but I couldn't be more excited to learn more. Restore Me left me in an odd place. I'm not sure I can put into words what I felt at the end. It was a fantastic book, but I wish that certain things hadn't come between certain characters so strongly. I can only hope it is a fissure that can be patched together and overcome. Now it's time for book 5!

Rating: 4.5/5 Devils!

 

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

Penelope's Review

Tahereh Mafi has not ceased to amaze me. Unlike some series, the Shatter Me series seems to get BETTER with each installment that comes out. I'm not bored, I'm not slowing down, I just want more. And more. AND MORE. So if you've read my reviews for Shatter Me and/or Unravel Me then you know that I started this series back in high school - I thought that I read the first three but I can say with almost 100% certainty that I have never read this book before. Which is amazing. Because I did not know what was going to happen, and everything. Was. EPIC. Ignite Me brings stronger character development, brilliant writing, and what is quickly becoming my favorite love story of all time. 

Now because I am obviously reading and reviewing this book in 2022, I am well aware that the series does not end with this book as it was originally supposed to. Therefore, it's a bit difficult for me to say how I feel about the ending if it had been the finale. I think I would have been satisfied, but also sad that Juliette and Warner's story had come to an end. I think I would have felt like I didn't have enough time with them you know what I mean? But thankfully, it is 2022 and I've already got the fourth book flipped to the front page, ready to go! 😂 So moving on!

Juliette is BADASS in this book. Like holy smokes where did all this confidence come from?! I am LIVING for it. I have always loved Juliette as a character - but I think she was portrayed perfectly in this book. Her journey has been written in such a way that I feel like I've grown with her, and I love that connection. Warner has become front and center in my eyes. The man can do no wrong. Seriously. If he wants to kill someone in the name of protecting me... go for it. I will forever be in love with him. I love his love for Juliette. It's just so... raw and powerful. The kind of love every girl deserves. I look forward to seeing where this relationship goes, and how it grows. 

Once again, we have an outstanding storyline. Once again, I was not bored for a second. And once again, I flew threw the pages in a matter of a day or two. There is just something about this world, and these characters, that Tahereh has poured her heart and soul into that has me feeling all sorts of ways. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - amazing author, amazing writing skills, amazing stories. I hope the next three books bring just as much passion and strength as this book has and as the previous two have. 10/10 recommend this series to those both young and old.

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

 

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publish Date: February 5th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased a copy for myself!

It should have taken Juliette a single touch to kill Warner. But his mysterious immunity to her deadly power has left her shaken, wondering why her ultimate defense mechanism failed against the person she most needs protection from.

She and Adam were able to escape Warner’s clutches and join up with a group of rebels, many of whom have powers of their own. Juliette will finally be able to actively fight against The Reestablishment and try to fix her broken world. And perhaps these new allies can help her shed light on the secret behind Adam’s—and Warner’s—immunity to her killer skin.

Juliette’s world is packed with high-stakes action and tantalizing romance, perfect for fans of the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and the Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken.

Penelope's Review

Wow. I'm almost 99% sure that I read this book back in high school but damn I did not remember anything and that just made this re-read SO MUCH BETTER. This book just has so much going on and it's amazing. It's been a very long time since a book made me laugh out loud, or need to put it down for a moment to process what I've just read... I had actually forgotten just how exciting a book can be. Unravel Me took me right back to my younger days when I would gush about a book for days and dream about it for weeks, and think about it for months. Let's talk details!

I want to start by saying I love the writing in this book more than in Shatter Me - as I mentioned in my Shatter Me review, I am well aware that the writing is meant to reflect the mindset of Juliette, and I think Tahereh Mafi is brilliant in the way she was able to do this but I'm just not a huge fan of the style. But now, in the second installment, Juliette is changing. She's getting stronger, more confident (though it takes most of this book to get there, admittedly). But the writing reflects that gradual change. I'm super impressed with the way the author wrote this book. 

This book had a ton of surprises. We get to explore Juliette's power more, and are taken on an emotional whirlwind as she tries to cope with what she's learning. I found her to be more realistic in this book. Her lows and her highs were something I could see anyone feeling if they were going through something similar. We also have Adam experiencing some big moments. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't go into any detail but I will say that this is the book that had me slowly falling out of love with Adam. Which I think was the point lol! And then we have Warner. I knew going into this series that it was a bit of a love triangle situation, but honestly when reading Shatter Me I couldn't fathom how the author expected it to be a difficult choice. I was so hell bent on Adam being end game. And then I read Unravel Me. And that's all I'll say in that regard ;)

In terms of plot itself - fantastic. Not for a single moment was I bored. Every page had me wanting more (which is why I flew through this in two sittings). It was a high-stakes adventure with twists and turns that I never saw coming. Absolutely brilliantly done. Looking forward to the next in the series!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!