So, I know, it’s probably my favorite genre, but THIS one, WOWEE. Lauren Oliver has created herself a world — just like our world, really — where love is a disease. A disease that needs to be wiped out. The procedure that makes this a reality is called “the cure” and Lena is ready. She knows all about the crazy things that “amor deliria nervosa” can do to people, people in her own family. To have to live without really feeling? No pain? Sounds just right to Lena, who knows what pain is.

And then, of course, she meets a boy.

And that’s all I want to say. Because I enjoyed this journey oh so muchly. Oliver captures the essence of teenage love absolutely and completely. In fact, I think she may have even put into words actual feelings I remember having, when I loved someone so much I thought maybe my heart had actually been ripped out. And she ties it into this society where things are set up to be so controlled, where things you think are keeping you safe are really just tying you up. Even when I thought I had the plot figured out, she twisted it enough to never make me feel like I’d guessed it all.

I finished and was thrilled to discover this is the first of a trilogy. This time I can’t wait to read more!

Rated: Moderate for language (two instances of strong language and other milder language throughout). Sexual situations are mild and there isn’t any actual description at all. One scene has a character take off her shirt, but there are no further actions or descriptions. There are some violent scenes with people getting heads bashed in, etc., but no gore, really.