Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published: November 15, 2011 by Harper Collins
Received: gifted by Cynthia - thank you!

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. {taken from goodreads.com}

Let me start this review by saying HOLY WOW.  First, I know this book does not come out for another few months, but I can't contain my love and adoration for it.  I just have to share it NOW.  The insanity I feel for this book is out of control.  OUT. OF. CONTROL.  My mind is still spinning, attempting to wrap my brain around what I just ingested.  You know when someone says, oh this book is so good I couldn't put it down?  Well, I physically could not put this one down.  I plowed through the first half (at work - oops) and neglected my responsibilities for a day.  It's that good people.

I usually do a quick run through of what a book is about before I share my opinions on it, but in this case I will not be doing that.  Let me just say, there is some dark stuff happening on the verge of a corrupted world.  A girl has some special "talents" that she refuses to share with the world, one evil creature in particular.  I know that's a seriously vague description of what this book is about, but I am keeping it vague on purpose.  The surprise element in this story is ridiculous.  I want you to be able to read it, with no idea what's coming next.  It will add to the intensity, trust me.

I will, however, share some details from the story that are very difficult to keep a secret.  HOLY SEXYTIMES.  And before you ask, is this considered YA?? Oh yes it is.  Tahereh Mafi has done an amazingly superb job of keeping it tasteful, yet so so SO steamy.  I literally had to put the book down in a few parts and fan myself.  This woman knows how to write the passion.  The pages are soaked in sexual tension that pull you in and never, ever let you go.  I loved the richness of every emotion as it's described and portrayed.  From fear, to excitement, to amazement, and especially to passion. 

I am blown away by this debut author (and she's only 23!!).  Her writing capabilities astound me.  Every sentence is written so poetically that my mouth is just dripping from word to word.  I couldn't get enough.  I love the obviousness of her writing.  She puts thoughts out there that we're all thinking.  She has taken a broken, beaten down character and given her so much life, so much existence, that in the end I am crying for her triumphs.  There is one point in the story that I was physically on the edge of my seat, flipping the pages, so scared of what I'd find on the next page.  The intensity is so, so hot.  BURNING through your fingers.  I can not wait for you all to get a hold of this book.  If you're not an instant fan, then who are you?! (just kidding - sort of).  Shatter Me is the beginning of an epic series that I know, for sure will be sought after by so many in the YA book blogging community.