Waiting on Wednesday {28}

Jill @ Breaking the Spine hosts this weekly meme where we can share a book that we are so excited for and are anxiously awaiting their upcoming release!

This week my WoW pick is...

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Surprise surprise, right? I know that (just about) EVERYONE is squirming with excitement and impatient to read this book and this is just to prove that I'm included in that group too. And now that Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver has been released, and Insurgent is only THREE (!!!) months away it's time to get the countdown started!

Did I mention only three more months of waiting? It's coming SO soon, squee! I can't wait to dive back into the world of Divergent because I think that Veronica Roth's world development and the world she created is completely brilliant. The amount of detail she includes in it, and the different factions... it's one of my favourite dysoptian worlds ever. And you know what? I love the cover for Insurgent even more than Divergent too!
Goodreads Synopsis (may contain some spoilers for Divergent):
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Teen Review: Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
Release Date ~ March 1, 2012
G.P. Putnam's Sons ~ Penguin
ISBN13: 9780399254239
E-galley received from publisher for review

Goodreads Synopsis:
Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course...

‘Wow’.  That is the best word I can use to describe the way I felt after reading this book.  That turned into a ‘Whaaaat????!!!!!’ when I learned that this novel was written for younger teens/middle graders.  This book did have a few lines that made me laugh, and a couple of the characters I did like, but mostly this novel felt like it went on and on and on.

1. Uncommon Main Character:
   When I say, ‘main character’, I don’t mean the protagonist of the book.  I mean one of the characters that interacts a lot with the protagonist.  I’ve read a lot of YA, and I have never really found a lot of openly homosexual characters.  I can only think of two series’ where the main plot was not the homosexuality of the characters, but it was open and out there.  Every time I do run into it, the characters are 90% of the time male. (slight spoiler ahead)  In this book though, she was female.  It is heavily hinted at the entire novel, until the end where everything is thrust out into the open.  If you like having different unique characters like that, you just might enjoy this book.

But overall, this book didn’t really impress me.  A ton of the things that were in the book were very questionable things that I don’t even usually read about such as: drugs, drinking, sex, etc...  I do not think that this novel is really that appropriate for really youger teens. 

The writing I found was a bit awkward, and the author seemed to quickly start a scene and then just end it just as fast.  I’m not quite sure I understood what the plot was, but maybe that’s because I don’t really connect with books like this.  Also, it felt like every time it got to be an appropriate ending for the novel, something else would happen.  The last 80 pages felt like forever.  In the end, this novel just didn’t do it for me.

Review: First Date

First Date by Krista McGee
Release Date ~ January 10, 2012
Thomas Nelson
ISBN13: 9781401684884
E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley

Amazon Synopsis:

The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President's son.
She's focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn't even audition for it.
But she got selected anyway.
So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President's son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.
Addy's totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.

 

The story of Queen Esther is one of my favourites and actually where the "Esther" from "Esther's Ever After" comes from - I love the story, and how it's like an early version of a Cinderella fairytale but with a Queen who risks her life and saves an entire group of people from genocide.

It's kind of a big deal. So you might understand why I was so excited to learn that a YA retelling of the story was coming out, and that I was even MORE excited to later find it on Net Galley! First Date takes this story in an interesting direction, one that lacks some of the real impact of Esther but mixes in many of the various aspects and fills in some of the blanks of this old story.

1. A fluffy chick lit, marshmallow read:
   First Date is an extremely fast read, one that really doesn't delve into anything too serious. Perfect for those times when you just need a break from heavier books and require some light, fun reading STAT. There really isn't that much substance or drama to it,and it's kept fairly simple. Plus, "The Bachelor" aspect of it definitely gives it that bit of fun and humour.
2. Fun, modern retelling:
   I really loved seeing how the beauty pageant aspect was played up and turned into a Bachelor-esque reality TV show; it definitely makes for some good jokes about the reality TV lifestyle, and a fun way to modernize such an ancient story.

Also, this one is very, very overtly Christian. It doesn't shy away from mentions of Addy's faith and it definitely plays an important role in her life and the story is told from her perspective. It isn't something you can completely ignore in the story, yet at the same time it isn't too preachy either. Like I said, it's a big part of ADDY'S life, but not for everyone in the story either.

First Date is a tad predictable and cliche, but I had those expectations going into the story so it didn't bother me. I was, however, disappointed by the ending because of how it seemed to lack any real resolution. Although Addy takes a big step forward in her personal life, we really don't get to see much of an impact from that at all and I would have liked to have seen that to really grasp the importance of her actions.

Pandemonium Club: Delirium Audiobook Review

Do you know what week it is? PANDEMONIUM WEEK brought to you by the #PandemoniumClub!

See, a while ago there were a few of us blogger friends who used to jokingly refer to ourselves as the Delirium Club while we were anxiously awaiting Pandemonium... so we decided to do something fun to share our love for Lauren Oliver's dystopian series.

This week, a new post is going to be shared each day on a new blog  highlighting the series and why we love it! We even have a fun, fanmade playlist and interview with Lauren!

And of course, a little giveaway.

HarperCollins Canada has very generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for one winner! The details are pretty simple and straightforward.

Open to Canadian residents only (sorry!)

The prize is a copy of Delirium AND Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver! So if you haven't picked up a copy of them yet, here's your chance!

To enter: all you have to do is leave a comment on the Pandemonium Club posts with your e-mail address. That's it. You can comment once on each separate post, for a total of 5 entries. Good luck!

And now, for my special contest I'm doing a special review for the audiobook of Delirium, which I listened to as a reread of Delirium a few weeks ago :) This is perfect for those of you who haven't read Delirium yet and want to know what you can expect from it without getting any spoilers!

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver ~ audiobook
Release Date ~ February 1, 2011
Harper Audio ~ HarperCollins
Narrated by ~ Sarah Drew
Length ~ 11 hours and 41 minutes

Goodreads Synopsis:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

"Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe.
I wonder whether the procedure will hurt.
I want to get it over with.
It’s hard to be patient.
It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet.
Still, I worry.
They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness.
The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t."


I somehow thought (perhaps naively) thought Delirium wouldn't be as heartbreaking the second time around as it was the first time I read it. I thought that it would be less shocking, less gripping, less everything. That's my confession, coming from someone who picked Delirium as her NUMBER 1 book of 2011. Of that whole year.

And I can now absolutely, confidently say that I was wrong. If anything, Delirium is even worse when you're rereading it because you remember just enough of what to expect from it.

It's like getting on to that really big, really scary roller coaster for the second time. No, it isn't quite like the first time where every drop startles you but you know it's coming, and even though you're expecting it the ride is still THAT intense. That's Delirium for you. That's exactly what it will do to your emotions.

1. A unique dystopian:
   I had read other dystopian books before Delirium, but this is the book that really sold me on them. And Delirium still stands out even among the numerous others currently being cranked out. Rather than focusing on daring action scenes, most of Delirium is a fairly quiet plot. Lena is a rather quiet, obedient introvert. She has no desire to do anything else besides what she's been told she will do and that day (the day she'll be cured) is coming soon. Delirium is different because it goes so far as having others try to control what's inside you, as well as everything surrounding you in society. Love as a disease? That's scary. Just think about it.
2. Lena's growth as a character:
   I can't stress this enough, but Lena changes SO MUCH as a young woman over the course of Delirium. And that continues into Pandemonium (hint), but it all makes perfect sense. Her development is so gradual and natural that you barely notice it and there really aren't any sudden, jarring changes that don't add up or conflict with her character. Lena, along with Alex and Hana, are all very well-done characters and I love getting to see the different sides of them.
3. Alex:
   I know I'm biased because I'm a total Alex fangirl BUT I really do think that Alex is reason enough to read Delirium. Just give it (him) a chance. Alex is like the perfect dream boy, and I just love him as a YA romantic interest! He walks that fine line between being brave and protective, but without becoming overprotective and controlling. He's thoughtful, and such a warm person. He's just the perfect boy to balance out Lena. He just steps into a scene and does something cute, and it's like "ALEX!!!!! *swoon*". Constantly.
4. Perfect heartbreak:
   If you've heard anything by now about Delirium, I'm sure you've heard mentions of a totally emotional, shocking ending. It might be less so because you've just heard SO much about it by now, but this book is awful when you can't stop thinking about it and how sad it is, and you can't possibly imagine how things will ever work out. EVER. But you want it to happen so badly. And I'm a total baby and sobbed after reading this one. Both times.
5. The ultimate forbidden romance:
   I know there are plenty of these out there. There's no shortage of forbidden romances in pop culture, and we just eat them up. Romeo and Juliet. Buffy and Angel. Now there's Alex and Lena. Seriously, when you can't be in love because one of you is about to undergo a surgery to remove your capability to love, and love is seen as a disease, a SICKNESS (among other things) and you happen to be in love... well, that's really forbidden. Pure treason right there.

My love for this book is undying. I almost feel like I've been ruined for other books, because I really do have a hard time seeing how another book could ever impact me as much as this one. It's definitely a slower paced book, but just go with it. It will pick up. And it needs that slowness to set the stage for everything that's about to happen. And of course, Lauren's writing style is just as beautiful as ever. It's impeccable and everything about it makes the story just feel right somehow.

Thoughts on the audio:
I wanted to listen to the audio as a reread of Delirium since I hadn't found time to read the actual book yet. and I ended up really enjoying it!

Sarah Drew is a fantastic pick to narrate Lena's voice, and I loved how put together she sounded at times but then you could still hear the anxiety and frustration and love sickness in her voice at other times. She also does a GREAT job doing voices for the other characters, especially Hana, although I was conflicted over her voice for Alex. I didn't love it as much as I wanted to, and seeing as Alex is my favourite character I was definitely hoping for more. But sometimes his drawl just didn't come across right and it just sounded odd. And because Alex has so many lines towards the end, you get to hear that odd voice a lot. But that was really the only thing that ended up taking away from the overall experience for me, and sometimes she really nailed Alex's lines. Especially the whispered ones. Oh my, those ones gave me such chills listening to them!

Review: New Girl

New Girl by Paige Harbison
HarlequinTeen
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
ISBN13: 9780373210428
E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley

Goodreads Synopsis:

It's hard to be the new girl--especially when she's filling the spot at an exclusive boarding school that was formerly held by perfect Becca, the girl everyone loved. Becca--the girl who disappeared, and who may or may not be really gone. Original.

New Girl caught my eye from it's psychological thriller premise, a genre I don't read nearly enough of (not because of a lack of interest, but there really isn't that much out there) mixed in with some mystery.

I had my worries that the book wouldn't live up to my expectations for it, since these seem to be so tricky to write well but overall I was extremely satisfied and impressed with this retelling of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (which I have yet to read but I'm interested in now)!

1. Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars:
   Wayyyy back when PLL first came out, I was on that bandwagon. I loved everything about the mystery of that series and just how intense it was! But gradually, after the books just kept coming out and the twists (and bodies) continued to pile up... well, I got a little bit tired of it. So New Girl is the ideal book for those of who loved the mystery of a missing girl, the drama of those left behind to pick up the pieces, and potential danger lurking around every dark, sketchy corner...
2. A fantastic ambience:
   The writing by Paige Harbison is truly effective at creating a very creepy and eerie atmosphere; and that was probably what made this book shine so much on its own. So many weird, curious things start happening to the new girl and I didn't want to put the book down just because I had to know what had actually happened to Becca!

As more of the story was uncovered, I really loved getting to find out what exactly transpired between the various characters and seeing all the different sides of them... Becca is definitely one character that you're supposed to dislike as a reader. But some of the others (like Max and Johnny) I ended up feeling a little torn over; I wasn't entirely sure what to make of them and I think I was supposed to like them more than I did (they kinda seemed like jerks to be honest).

And I honestly loved the majority of the book... until the ending. The ending felt entirely different from the rest of the book, and had a very disjointed feel to it. It came across as overly moralistic and preachy even, and didn't seem to conclude logically from the rest of the story we were given. That ended up being my greatest disappointment, because I was so unsure of what to make of it. But it still wasn't as disappointing as I feared (and could have been); and I was happy to see things tied up nicely. Plus, it was a fairly unexpected surprise but one that was realistic and appropriate to the plot.

There were a few things about the story that didn't appear to be relevant after reading it (such as why we never hear the main character's name until the end of the story; I'm still not clear on the reasoning behind that) and even some of the writing seemed like it jumped around a bit too much. Overall though, I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed this one and think it's a great one to add some zest to your reading list.

Review: Stolen Away

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date ~ January 17, 2012
Walker Childrens ~ Bloomsbury USA
ISBN13: 9780802721891
E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley

Goodreads Synopsis:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

I have read some incredible faerie stories from YA authors in the past few years, so I couldn't wait to see what Alyxandra Harvey had written with Stolen Away (especially after hearing amazing things about her other books).

Unfortunately, I found Stolen Away to be rather unremarkable and lacking much of the charm I found in other novels. I was hoping for so much more, and perhaps my expectations were just set too high for this book.

1. Some neat, interesting plot twists:
   There were a number of plot twists at the end of the novel which I honestly wasn't expecting, and I'm typically pleased with surprises I don't see coming; and the ones in Stolen Away were no exception to this. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book, and wished I had seen more of it throughout the rest of the fairly predictable storyline.

Ultimately, I had an incredibly difficult time connecting (or even liking) any of the characters in the story. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't enjoy them and they all came across as excruciatingly stereotypical and that was disappointing. The romance was bland and predictable- not much meat to it. And did I mention that it moved FAST? Way too fast. The best way to sum it up is with this line from the book:

"I barely knew him but it hardly mattered. We were connected somehow, something precious burned between us." I'm sorry, but no. It almost sounded as if this was supposed to be ironic when it comes to the insta!love common to YA, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around loving someone that way after meeting him 2 days earlier, making out once, and still not knowing his first name.

One of the main reasons I saw for this was that the story is written in dual perspectives, which I recognize is a tricky way to write. But the story moved along so quickly (and it's a standalone, so there isn't the time to develop the plot or characters over a number of sequels) that we just didn't have time to relate to the characters or form a bond with them. And it felt like we were jumping around too fast to really care about what was happening.

The actual story felt far too black and white, lacking sophistication, depth and charm that I love to see in YA books. And I was crushed seeing how many action scenes were basically just skipped over.

Clearly, this one just wasn't for me. I really hoped for more and I just didn't see anything original or redeeming from Stolen Away.

Review: Pandemonium

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
Release Date ~ March 6, 2012
HarperCollins ~ Harper Teen
ISBN13: 9780061978067

Goodreads Synopsis:
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.
THERE ARE NO WORDS. I will NEVER be able to properly express my love and adoration for this series. NEVER. Lauren is brilliant, and I am infected with deliria for these perfectly captivating books.

Delirium was my FAVOURITE book of 2011 and it absolutely blew me away. I just sobbed after I finished it, for all its emotional turmoil and the way Lauren Oliver managed to wring my heart like a wet towel. So of course, I have been anxious for Pandemonium and I devoured it as soon as I got an ARC in the mail.

How am I supposed to express my thoughts on this book?? I can't write reviews that will do Lauren's books justice. I just can't, I'm actually incapable of doing that. Because Lauren's book consistently affect me in such a personal, INTIMATE way.

But I'm going to try. Because everyone needs to read these books!

1. Sobbing, tears, forever crying:
   Delirium, as a series, is incredibly heartbreaking. A world where love is treated like a disease? SCARY. And Lena struggles so much, both physically and emotionally. She's particularly fragile in Pandemonium after what has occured in The Last Chapter of Delirum (capitalization is clearly required, as those of you who have read it know). Pandemonium is tragic in its own way, as Lena is so desperately trying to cope with the events and changes which took place in Delirium. It isn't easy. But what can you expect?
2. Stunning, lyrical writing:
   I'm convinced that Lauren is a sort of author genius. I have yet to be unimpressed by anything she's written!
   
   "I wonder if this is how people always get close: They heal each other's wounds; they repair the broken skin." And everything has such meaning and depth behind it. Nothing is just said casually, and it is all so thoughfully laced with emotion and words to draw you in to the story itself. Pandemonium is another indication of extreme talent on Lauren's part.
3. Two timelines:
   I'm not usually a fan of books written with two alternating timelines from chapter to chapter, but I was really impressed by how it was done in Pandemonium. Normally I find it to be confusing, and unnecessary as it doesn't seem to add much to the story. However, Lauren would finish a chapter from the past and then carry over the same atmosphere and feelings into the new chapter based in the present. And THAT impressed me and really made the story flow well. Yet it all felt very natural, so I'm not even sure this was an intended result of the writing style.
4. Those hints and teasers which made fans worried...
   We've all heard the nerve-wracking hints and teasers about Pandemonium; and I know I'm not the only Delirium fan who was dreadfully worried about the direction Pandemonium would take. I refuse to give anything away and confirm one way or another, but I can say that I was utterly surprised by what Lauren included in the story but was still very impressed with how it was handled. And that left me feeling extremely satisfied overall.

Now, I will say that Pandemonium did not leave the same impact on me that Delirium did. I found it harder to relate to some of the new characters introduced, and I so dearly miss Alex. I ADORE Alex. It's forever Alex for me <3

But I can say with complete confidence that I'm going to be counting down the days to Requiem, very very soon and I cannot wait to see how this series ends! Totally one of my favourites in YA and dystopian.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

Review: The Edumacation of Jay Baker

The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark
Release Date ~ January 31, 2012
Henry Holt & Company ~ Macmillan
ISBN13: 9780805092561
ARC received from Raincoast Books for review

Goodreads Description:
A few "sexy" bullet points about Jay:
- He is in love with a cheerleader named Cameo "Appearance" Parnell
- He is forever losing "Love-15" to tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson
- He rocks a touche array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns
- His family-life cookie is about to crumble.

Live vicariously through Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents' relationship implode, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself(ish).

1. Strong main character:
   One thing I really liked about Jay Baker as a character was that even though he felt totally confused and overwhelmed at the changing circumstances in his life, he doesn't just sit around and mope about it. He's constantly trying to tackle these problems head on and deal with them- not always in the most mature way, but he tries.
2. Humour GALORE:
   This book is just filled with witty one-liners, which genuinely adds to Jay's personality. I think it's great to see a book character with such a rich sense of humour, And it seemed like every other character in the book felt like they  had to keep up with him, and the dialogue ends up being a lot of banter back and forth.

But at the same time, that was one of my main problems with the book. There were too many times when I just didn't connect with that exact sense of humour, and I found relatively few of the jokes and lines to be actually funny. And the banter struck me as more unbelievable than an episode of Gilmore Girls featuring Lorelai and Rory.

And I didn't feel that the problems were really resolved by the end either; it seemed like characters spend most of the book working towards one thing, just undo it all in the last few chapters. So I liked that it tackled some common teenage problems in a different way (see: a character who doesn't mope around for 300 pages) and I appreciated that it took a humorous approach, but it just didn't quite work for me the way I hoped it would.

Review: Hana

Hana (Delirium #1.5) by Lauren Oliver
Release Date ~ February 28, 2012 (released early on MTV.com on February 14, 2012)
HarperCollins
ASIN: B005MMNZYE
Read online at MTV.com

Goodreads Description:
The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.
But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.
In this digital story that will appeal to fans of Delirium and welcome new admirers to its world, readers will come to understand scenes from Delirium through Hana's perspective. Hana is a touching and revealing look at a life-changing and tumultuous summer.

I think by now it's fairly well established that Delirium is one of my favourite books EVER. I love it. Adore it. And reading Hana was a little bit different for me since I'd already read Pandemonium and was curious to see how Hana would line up with it. By the way, Hana really does fit in neatly just before Pandemonium. There isn't any overlap.

Hana is a lovely little teaser of another perspective in Lena's story, and adds more depth to it overall. Ideal for fans, but I would hold off on reading it if you haven't read Delirium yet.

1. Hana's perspective:
   
   This is definitely the top reason to read Hana, as we get a very intimate look into her life and what was happened with her while Delirium focused on Lena. The story ends up being really fleshed out, and we have a far better idea of the relationships and characters involved. Plus Hana was just such a fun (and different person from Lena) that she deserves a story all on her own.
2. Novella that packs a punch:
   
   Even though the short story is only about 70 pages long, it isn't lacking in any way. Lauren's writing is as gorgeous as ever, the voice of Hana is heard loud and clear, and as always the ending is a killer one. We should honestly stop being surprised by this with this series.

Whilethis is such a worthwhile read, it is so short that I'm really not sure you can get more than 2 reasons out of me for this one ;) but it's a grand novella, very well done and put together. Perfect for fans, and I'm happy to see that it was released for free on MTV just before Pandemonium comes out.