Nowhere Near You by Leah Thomas | ARC Review

Title: Nowhere Near You
Author: Leah Thomas
Series: Because You'll Never Meet Me (#2)
Publisher:  Bloomsbury Children
Publication Date: February 7th, 2017
Source: NetGalley
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Ollie and Moritz might never meet, but their friendship knows no bounds. Their letters carry on as Ollie embarks on his first road trip away from the woods--no easy feat for a boy allergic to electricity--and Moritz decides which new school would best suit an eyeless boy who prefers to be alone. Along the way they meet other teens like them, other products of strange science who lead seemingly normal lives in ways Ollie and Moritz never imagined possible: A boy who jokes about his atypical skeleton; an aspiring actress who hides a strange deformity; a track star whose abnormal heart propels her to victory. Suddenly the future feels wide open for two former hermits. But even as Ollie and Moritz dare to enjoy life, they can't escape their past, which threatens to destroy any progress they've made. Can these boys ever find their place in a world that might never understand them?

What I thought 

I read Because You'll Never Meet me back when it came out and I loved it (first novel written in letters I've ever enjoyed, let me tell you) so when I heart there was a sequel I had a mighty need for it. You don't end a book like that and not expect readers to go cray cray. So, lo and behold Nowhere Near You. I read it and I loved it (not as much as I loved Because I'll Never Meet You, mind you, but love is still love) and now you're going to hear why.

Characters

Well, for one Ollie is still as funny and fantabulous* as always, if anything he is a little bit more sad. However, his enthusiasm for the world is such a lovely thing to see. He was amazed by anything and everything. Things we take for granted, like the Internet or just anything electric really. For other our Moritz (I always pronounce his name like MORRITS in my head**) underwent character development for the ages. He was my favorite aspect of the story this time around.

*Not a word. I don't care.

**shoutout to any Spanish speaking readers who understand that reference

Plot

Now, let's talk about the plot itself. It's wacky and sci-fi and it somehow works. You do have to undergo suspension of disbilief, but hey, the world is a wacky place so who is to say things like this don't happen, right? I enjoyed the secondary characters. I feel (I'm not sure because what is research) that there probably will be more books in the series. Which is okay, I mean, I'm always up to reading about weird kids living in the real world doing everyday things and wrestling with their demons. Because this book is basically about that.

Writing

I also enjoyed the writing. It's quirky and serious and funny and oftentimes whimsical, but still grounded. Did that even make sense to anyone but me? I, too, am a walking paradox. So, yeah you should go read these books and come talk to me about them.

Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Review

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amy Kauffman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files (#1)
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

What I thought 

I was kind of hesitant to pick up this book, even when everyone and their mother was going crazy about it. I thought it would lack in comparison to the hype it was getting and despite it's gorgeous cover, I told myself that I wouldn't buy it and that I would read it, eventually, after the hype had died down a bit and I could just express my opinion about it. Never during this scenario did I stop and think what would happen if I liked the book. Strange how I thought all about how I wouldn't like it but never stopped to consider what would happen if I did. I'm a strange one, I'll admit to that much. Also, I'm really good at worst case scenarios. It's a character flaw, or virtue, or both. Verdict is still out on that one. The one thing the verdict is not out on is on how much I liked this book. Because I did, like a lot.

The story is sci-fi at its best. There's spaceships, and a lethal virus, and Artificial Intelligence. All things I've had a fascination with at one point or another in my life. So, why wouldn't I love this book when it had all these elements and had them in a way that made sense, wasn't convoluted, and felt all too real? Answer is: I don't know. I'm glad I saw the error of my ways and gave this book a chance because of all the aforementioned elements, but also because of the story at the core of all that sci-fi stuff.

The story is one of survival and what it means to be human and about doing what's right by many. It's the good sci-fi stuff, other than all the other good sci-fi stuff. And the characters, let us speak of the characters that drive this story forward. Teenagers thrust into situations no teenager should be in, but would still handle with more sense of justice and the right thing than a grown up might. Youth is kind of noble and self-righteous and perhaps a little bit selfish. Nothing wrong with that, because hell, at the end of the day you want to live. Kady and Ezra and even AIDAN are all like this. Beautiful because of it too.

Oh and the format of this book is pretty cool too, but it's not the most important thing about the book. Now that I've nodded at the special formatting let me just say that if you're hesitant to pick this book up for the same reasons I had, don't be. This book is worth it.

Video Review