Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi

[This is the second book of the Shatter Me series. If you haven't started this series yet, feel free to check out my review of Shatter Me (Book 1) instead.]

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi 

Series: Shatter Me #2

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Source/Format: Borrowed from Cass || ARC

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. (from Goodreads)

After enjoying the unusualness of Shatter Me, I was eager to find out what happened next to Juliette, Adam and Warner. The one thing I can now say after finishing Unravel Me is that I have so many feelings. There's a ton of new information to process! Mafi certainly makes it a point to elaborate on the world and to make her characters even more dynamic and complex and twisty. While it was certainly harder for me to read than the first, Unravel Me was a fascinating follow-up to its predecessor.

One of the things I've noticed about this series is that it is character-based. That's fitting because we follow along in Juliette's mind for most of it, and she's gotten abused to the point where her thoughts simply revolve around herself and the people in her life. This is the only series I'm currently reading that really focuses on its characters - and that's a point in its favor. 

It was difficult for me to like Juliette in this book, mostly because I was fed up with her pity party. While I understand the origins of her loneliness, her fear of the "monster" she could possibly be and feeling like an outsider, enough is enough! She was receiving support and consideration from the people at Omega Point. While it should have taken some time, it shouldn't have taken as long as it had for her to stop thinking only about herself and instead consider these other people she cared about. And I know that she was capable of caring about others because of how she felt about Adam! So, I was mostly annoyed with her and her impulsive actions in this book - but I'm trying to extend some semblance of understanding considering her circumstances.

Speaking of Adam... My reaction is basically "Oh, Adam." Adam discovers new things about himself, and desperately tries to deal with all that... for his sake and for Juliette's. I loved seeing the strength and steadfastness of his commitment to her, and how he tries to do everything he can to make it possible for them to be together. It makes me sad that he's not present for a lot of the book, but it also makes sense if we consider that this is Juliette's tale and not his.

When I think of Warner, Chapter 62 is immediately what comes to mind. That chapter was definitely... steamy. After reading the novella (Destroy Me) and this book, I have more insight into what turned him into the person that he is. I'm still not sure that I can ever fall in love with him like some other people have, but I will admit to having a bit of an... attraction. I still have some reservations about his character, but I can recognize the goodness in him when it comes to Juliette. They do share something, an understanding, and that's definitely something that deserves to be... explored.

One of my favorite things about this book is that Kenji gets to be a major player. He's the friend who tells it like it is for Juliette - and that kind of friendship is important (even in real life). Learning more about his story and seeing the extent of his abilities was certainly enjoyable, and I look forward to learning more about his character (*coughs* novella please *coughs*).

Even though the story really reflects character growth for the most part, the revelations and turning points are endless. I felt like I was running into one after another, after another, after another. I was emotionally wrecked and mentally engaged. This is the kind of book that induces verbal reactions and physical movement! I like that Mafi got me to care so much about these characters and their stories that I was fully involved in the story the entire time I read it, which is certainly no easy feat.

As Unravel Me draws to a close, the stakes have only gotten higher for Juliette - in terms of the civil uprising against the Reestablishment and in terms of her own life. Even though reading this novel made me uncomfortable, emotional and confused, I still think this series is very unique and well-done. I'm eager to see how it all comes to an end in the final installment - and I'm holding out hope for Juliette to have the best future possible!