Review: Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver 

Published  February 1st 2011 by HarperCollins

Paperback, 441 pages

Series: Delirium

Genre: Young-Adult Dystopia
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source: Library
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Summary from Goodreads

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

Let me start by saying I had borrowed this book as an audiobook from the library and I learned quickly that audiobooks are just not really for me. It took me 2 days of listening to come to a conclusion that I was only 25% done with the book. When the normal version popped up in the library I quickly grabbed it and devoured it in 2 days. I am a quick reader and I guess I prefer it that way.

Delirium is the first book in Lauren Oliver's series. Thought I have read a few great reviews on it, I found that I was so far behind in things I wanted to read. So I did it. I dove head first into Oliver's world and came out pleasantly surprised.

In the world where love is treated as a disease, every human who lives within the borders of Portland, must undergo a treatment that will cure them of it. The treatment doesn't happen until they are 18 years old, so until then no one is really safe so people do best to follow the rules that have been drilled into them since the young age.

Lena is different. Her mother committed suicide when she was little because she was unable to get cured, and that history has haunted her for most of her teenaged life. She is actually looking forward to get evaluated, assigned a husband and get cured. Until the meets Alex, a boy she learns that isn't cured and he opens up a whole new world for her. World that she was too blind to see existed.

Okay, first. I am not 100% sure how I feel about Lena. I like her I think, but not as much as I liked Hana and Alex. I thought those two were the deeper characters in the book. At first she even appeared kind of meek to me. I am glad she grew a bit more as a person as the book went on. I did end up liking her more towards the end.

I loved the world that Oliver has created. She also has a beautiful way of writing. There is just something about her style, her way with words that grips you from the first page and doesn't let you go. Yes the story flows in sort of a slow pace, but it flows! I found myself unable to put the book down and was looking forward to see what happens in the end. The whole idea behind the world-building and the plot was just new and refreshing for me. It was kind of creepy to see what happens to the people after the cure is administrated. I cannot imagine living in a fog like that when everyday kind of blends together.

There is romance in this book, obviously, and I did enjoy the connection between Alex and Lena. I thought they were cute. I like the fact that he made her come out of the shell. Despite everything that happens, Lena really is a loyal person or at least I thought she was when she went to help Hana. It is emotional, especially the relationship between Lena and her mother as well as Lena and Hana. Not knowing what happens next, if they would still even be friends after the 'cure'.

And Alex...Alex was amazing. I did like him. A lot. I love the fact that he wasn't arrogant, but brave and loyal (which is a nice breather after some other books that I have read). Plus his smart and in the end, really does care about Lena.

I am looking forward to the next book, which I already picked up! And finishing the series. Cannot wait to see what happens next.