Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

 Author: Lauren Oliver. Website, Twitter.
Publsihed: 4 August 2011 (Hodder)
Pages: 416
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love

My Review:
After reading Lauren Oliver's previous book "Before I Fall" I was really excited to read more from her. This book follows Lena, who lives in a society where love is seen a disease. At age 18 everyone must undergo a procedure to "cure" them from the effects of love. The story picks up in the months leading up to Lena's procedure and despite her nerves about her upcoming evaluation to find a suitable "pair" (future husband for after she is cured) she knows that this is what everyone has to do; it's the norm.

The fact she is so accepting of this world she lives in makes for a haunting, and at times, disturbing read. This turns into a gripping tense story as she slowly learns more about the world and the lies she and her whole society has been fed on. Some of the discoveries she makes are so beautifully written and I found myself really feeling for Lena.

The book keeps up a high level of suspense throughout and like Before I Fall I struggled to put it down. It's dystopian with a really great twist so if you've read and enjoyed things like Matched and Divergent then you should absolutely eat this up.

Oliver's writing is beautiful and captivating, wrapping you up in the descriptions and really bringing the characters to life. A definite recommended read!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, the second book in the Delirium Trilogy.
Books like this: Matched by Ally Condie, Divergent by Veronica Roth