Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi's Debut Dystopian Romance
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book.
Shatter Me was so addicting, and I am so happy I listened to everyone who told me I had to read it next!
I guzzled this book in all of 2-3 days, and I probably would have read it faster if it weren’t for the fact that I have responsibilities 🙈 (Damn adulting and all the adulting things that need doing!)
To begin, Shatter Me follows Juliette, a 17-year-old girl with a lethal touch that causes crippling pain and eventual death. As a result, the book starts off with poor Juliette in an asylum.
Let me just say, Mafi does an amazing job of conveying Juliette’s insanity from being in isolation for so long. It was a little confusing and disjointed, though, with choppy prose and content that was struck out. I was a little intimidated at first, but as I went along, the psychology of Juliette’s mind was fascinating.
Without giving too much away, Juliette is released from the asylum and brought to live with Warner, the leader of Sector 45. In this dystopian future, the country has fallen into a harsh regime known as The Reestablishment. And Warner has plans to use Juliette’s powerful touch as a weapon.
With the help of a sweet and handsome soldier in Warner’s army, Juliette plans to escape from Warner before he has the chance to use her power for evil.
Destroy Me - A Shatter Me Novella
Now, let's move on to the next book in the series, Destroy Me.
This is a novella that takes place between book 1 and book 2 in the Shatter Me series. It’s written from Aaron Warner’s POV, sharing his experience after Juliette escapes from him.
I’ll start by saying that it’s short, and not really a true novella with a full plot arc, structure, etc. This book is more of a glimpse into Warner and his motivations for why he did the things he did in book 1. Essentially, what makes Warner tick.
Although it’s not needed to understand book 2 in the series (Unravel Me), it helps shift the experience of who Warner is. As a result, reading Destroy Me makes Warner more of an anti-hero and more likeable overall.
If you’ve read book 1 of this series, then I highly recommend you read this little novella BEFORE you read Unravel Me. If you’ve already read Unravel Me, I wouldn’t bother going back and reading the novella.
Final Book Recommendations on Shatter Me
If you like these classic dystopian and romance tropes
✅Love Triangle
✅Forced Proximity
✅Political Intrigue
✅Power Obsession
✅Oppressive Government
then you’re going to love Shatter Me.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romance, dystopian tales, and a taste of magical vibes. This book is also safe for younger readers with no smut and mild language.
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