Review of Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
My Review of Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi will look at book two in this unique new Dystopian Romance trilogy!
Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
Published by HarperCollins on February 5, 2012
Source: bought
Warning: Some spoilers if you have not read Shatter Me and Destroy Me.
Plot summary of Unravel Me
Juliette — the girl who can kill with a touch — has escaped with the help of Adam and Kenji. Now they are are safe at Omega Point, a haven for people with special abilities.
They hope to use their combined powers to stay one step ahead of the Re-establishment, led by the super-evil Supreme Commander Anderson, who also happens to be the father of Warner, their former captor.
But Juliette has been keeping a big secret from Adam, a secret that will come back to haunt her. As the scientists at Omega Point help Juliette and Adam learn more about their powers, these new discoveries begin to threaten their relationship.
And when a new, high-value prisoner arrives at Omega Point, a prisoner Juliette begins to connect with, she will learn that she can wound others with her words and actions, not just her lethal touch.
Review of Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Whew. So many thoughts about Unravel Me, and I will attempt to express them with no spoilers.
warner:
I have mixed feelings about the novella craze, but in the case of this series, I do think that Destroy Me helps you understand why Warner has been nominated as both Favorite Leading YA Guy of 2012 AND Favorite YA 2012 Villain in my YA Academy Awards. He’s that bad boy that women think they can redeem, the guy who’s bad for a reason. I’m definitely buying that he has a softer side, and I’m on his team for sure (because I’m usually Team Underdog) but I wish he’d stop calling Juliette “love” because it creeps me out just a little bit.
Adam:
Juliette:
Being in her head — as she is the narrator of these books — gets a little claustrophobic at times. She’s extremely self-critical. She seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown much of the time. She’s intensely interested in the minutiae of her own thoughts to the point that she ignores everything and everyone around her. Her power can save the world, but it’s all she can do just to keep herself from losing it. She can be … exhausting. I say she just has to pick a guy who can handle all that cray.
Kenji:
My love for him grows with every page of every book. He says what I am thinking as I read, things like:
“You only function on two settings: you’re either moping or you’re making out with Adam.”
He’s the much-needed comic relief in this book. I loved him in Shatter Me. In Unravel Me, my love for him turns to extreme worship. His humor and snark and refreshing well-adjustedness (is that a word?) cut through all Juliette’s angst like a breath of fresh air.
The Big Bad of Love Triangles:
“Deep down, I know this can’t be right. Deep down, I know it could end badly.”Um, yeah, Juliette. No kidding. I promised no spoilers, but … whoa. In Unravel Me, Taherah Mafi sets up the most wrenching love triangle I have read since I cried through an entire box of tissues when that stupid Amy ended up with Laurie in Little Women. (I’m still in denial about that one.)
Without giving too much away, let’s just say there is a revelation in the book that sets this particular love triangle into This Is Not Going to End Well territory.
The Ending — no spoilers
“Mass chaos is in my future.”Juliette makes this promise at the end of Unravel Me. And I swear, if she doesn’t keep it, I will find a way to reach into the pages and slap her. Because I always regretted not doing that in Little Women.
Now that you are finished with this book, check out these great posts:Quiz: How Well Do You Know Juliette from the Shatter Me series?
Quiz: Can You Match Juliette’s Descriptions of Adam and Warner?
My Spoiler Free Thoughts on Book Three: Ignite Me!
LOL I kind of like when Warner calls her love. Although it reminds me of Klaus who also calls Caroline love. Kenji does bring some great comic relief. He cracks me up. The revelations do make the love triangle even more complicated. Someone will get hurt badly! But chapter 62 was so hot and I moved to Team Warner! I'm also usually Team Guy #2 and Team Underdog!
Warner has a LOT of fans. This is going to be verrrrry interesting….
I am totally on Team Warner too- which is odd because normally I like the good guys.
And I'm still in denial about Laurie and Jo too- although it helped that Professor Behr was played by Gabriel Byrne in the one movie version. But yeah, stupid Amy!
I do too! I don't usually go for the Bad Boy. The Underdog usually isn't the Bad Boy.
*sigh* I don't know. I really want to read this and I like some heartbreak, but I love Adam and I don't want him to be the underdog. 🙁 I'm sure I'll get to it eventually.
I know. These kind of triangles are sad.
I really loved Warner's charisma in Shatter Me (especially since Juliette and Adam were so dang boring) so I'm excited to hear that we're spending more time with him. I do worry that Juliette will annoy me too much but I definitely want to check this sequel out.
If you liked Warner in book one, you DEFINITELY want to check this out.
Yeah, reading about Adam and Juliette was a snoozefest. I still LOVED Shatter Me.
My review posts on Friday, and so agree about Kenji. If Adam and Warren were out of the picture he would so be my man. I adore this author's writing style!
Honestly, it should be a love rectangle and she should pick him. He's the one who can get her out of her own head.
I didn't read your review because I am going to be writing my review for it in the next few days. I know a lot of people have turned team Warner, but honestly I still don't like him. I get why he is the way he is, but it doesn't make me like him. I still think that Adam is better for her, even though he is more of a whiny girl that she is. To be honest, I am team Kenji!! If only she could touch him.
Well, I'm glad there are still some Team Adam people out there, because it seems like everyone is jumping ship to Warner's side. I just think Warner and Juliette are more interesting together.
I REALLY need to get this book! I'm not sure how I feel about the love triangle, I haven't read the novella yet so as of right now, I really don't like Warner but maybe that'll change? Great review!!
Read the novella and come back and tell me. IDK, I'm definitely on Warner's side at this point.
Oh my gosh, I literally just finished Unravel Me last night and I love you review for it! 🙂 I was always Team Adam, but now I can definitely see why people like Warner. I agree with you about not thinking the love triangle is going to end well. Amazing review!
It's going to be bad!!
Most wretched love triangle ever! But I can't wait to where she will go with it! Lol
It breaks one if not two of my main Love Triangle Rules (can't say which without spoilers.)
I honestly think I'm going to wait until the last book comes out to read Unravel Me. I hate the waiting and the triangle you are describing is going to drive me crazy!
Yeah, it's pretty excruciating!!
I have no love for Warner. Go sell your sob story somewhere else cuz I'm not buying it. I will love Adam forever. Just sayin!
Okay. If you say so. And I usually go for the good guy because he's usually the underdog.
I love this premise and can't wait to get a chance to read this series. Sorry it felt a bit claustrophobic with her self criticalness.
But that love triangle sounds heart wrenching!
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
You've got to read it!! Unless you want to wait and see how it all comes out.
AWESOME review. Kenji Kishimoto is my hero in this book, LOVE HIM:)I am Team Underdog nine times out of ten too. But here, I am all Team Warner regardless of who ends up as the underdog:)
*high five for Team Underdog*
BAH. I was going to skip this one but I changed my mind. I'm on hold for it at the libs and I'm kind of psyched to read it.
*SQUEEEL* I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS BOOOK!! IM totally team Warner!! but im sad to hear that Adam suffers in this boook!!!! I LOVE BOTH OF THEM SO MUCH!! *cries* and yay for Kenji!!! aaah LOVELY review, Jen!!
– Farah @ MajiBookshelf
Talk about stockholm syndrome right? AHHHH! So excited for the next book.
I need to read Shatter Me so freaking bad! Ugh. I'm going to squeeze it in soon because I can't take it anymore.
I still haven't read shatter me! going to make a conscious effort to accept fewer review copies and actually read some of my own books this year!
OH! That Amy and Laurie ending up together in Little Women SLAYED me! I wanted to throw that book across the room! I have a feeling this is not going to end well, either. 🙁 Great review, Jen!
Wonderful review, glad you are enjoying this series. I still need to order and read book 1 but I have been so behind on my reading 🙁 soon.
I just laughed out loud at your review, and I totally agree! Except that I'm team Adam all the way. He WAS pushed to the side in this one, and I am hoping that he's going to take his stand in the next book. I'm also hoping that he and Juliette will work out their insurmountable issues. As for Warner, I agree that he has a softer side, and I'm sympathetic. But I still prefer Adam. KENJI! YES to all of your paragraph. JULIETTE – your thoughts were amusing and painfully true, especially "she seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown much of the time." SHE BETTER STEP IT UP in the NEXT BOOK. Great review!
I know everyone loves this series and maybe I should give this novella or book two a try but Juliette just wears me out….I hear Warner is redeemed some here but I can't think of him as anything other than a villain. An AWESOME villain but a villain lol. Adam was kind of meh for me.
I can't wait to read this one! I loved Shatter Me, I still need to read Destroy Me too! So I'm not really sure about the whole Warner thing, that should be interesting to see how that comes about…
Also, sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been very busy and .. spacey? I guess. I haven't even noticed how fast time has been going by. So this is my first time seeing the new design and I really like it 🙂 I will try to be around more!
I'm about to start Shatter Me since I've been so curious about this book series. Also, Tahereh's coming to the Philippines next week for a signing and I'm excited!:)