The Bookworm says... Maybe. Replica by Lauren Oliver is a very interesting read.
Gemma is a teenage girl who has been in and out of hospitals her entire life with a varying slew of illnesses. Gemma's parents are extremely protective, and as she grows older she begins to question her family's past. She also tries to understand her father's mysterious connection to the Haven center of research, something that is near impossible because of the high security surrounding the center.
Lyra, also known as 24, is an experimental subject at the Haven research center. After disaster strikes at Haven, she and a boy known only as 72 are left to fend for themselves in the real world.
When Gemma and Lyra cross paths, they each find answers to questions they didn't know they should be asking.
The concept behind Replica is very creative, and I found it very intriguing. The book has two sides- Gemma's story and Lyra's story. It can be read starting with Gemma's side, starting with Lyra's side, or alternating chapters. I opted to read Gemma's side first, and I thought it was excellent. But, when it was time to flip the book over and read from Lyra's point of view, I became very bored. I truly cannot see the appeal in re-reading the exact same story from another point of view, and I don't think that too much new information was revealed from the other side. This book would have been better if it was written with the chapters alternating point of view- it would be smoother and much more enjoyable. My boredom with the second side may also be a result of the incredible amount of other books I have to read, but I truly think that reading the second side was a colossal waste of time.
"A strange and baffling truth: that the people we're supposed to know best can turn out to be strangers, and that near strangers can feel so much like home."
Previously reviewed by Lauren Oliver: Before I Fall, Panic,
DISCLAIMER: Review is based on an advanced reading copy made from uncorrected proofs. Tentative release date is October 4th, 2016.
