This book is so difficult to rate. I really, really wanted to love it, but sadly I didn’t no matter how much I tried. This book had the potential of being the THUG for a Muslim main character, but unfortunately it did not live up to that.

I loved the first books in The Shatter Me-series by Tahereh Mafi and her unique, beautiful writing style just blew me off. So when I found out that she had written a new book with a Muslim main character who is completely herself, I had such high expectations of another wonderful breathtaking reading experience. Unfortunately though, the writing style is not at all the same in this book. The language is much more plain and nowhere near the feverish, raw, amazing way in which The Shatter Me-series was written. My biggest problem however, was the main character and the rushed romance.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a coming-of-age story following Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl, in the extremely turbulent times after 9/11. Tired of all the rude stares, degrading comments, even the physical violence, she’s met with, Shirin has built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother and his friends. Until she meets Ocean, who sees her for who she is behind the stereotypes and refuses to let her rejection keep him from getting to know her better. Slowly, slowly he manages to break down her walls. (Yes, the title of the book is a very clever and poetic way of naming the book after Shirin’s love interest.)

Story-wise, I feel that this book could have been so much more. I have settled for a 3 star rating of this book, since it on the one hand was very emotional and heart-breaking, showing Shirin’s anger and frustration at all the injustice and prejudice she’s suffering, but on the other hand, I didn’t connect with Shirin and the story was written in a tell-not-show-way while leaving too much out to make you fully invested in the story. There was so much more I wanted to know; like how could her parents be both so controlling and yet so disturbingly uninterested in her struggles, how was Shirin’s connection to her faith, did she pray, what did she think about kissing and being with a non-Muslim boy from that perspective, and more about the friendship with her breakdance-crew. I understand why Shirin kept everyone at arm’s length, but as a reader it was frustrating not to learn more about her thoughts and considerations. It also made the romance less real, less emotional, than it could have been. Ocean was adorable, so sweet and kind, but you never got really close to him either. It was as if he was too perfect to be a real person somehow. I wish it could have been more of Shirin actually seeing Ocean playing basket and being with his friends, to allow us readers to see him through her eyes. The romance and the story felt rushed, and I couldn’t invest emotionally in it as much as I’d like to, especially considering that it was such a huge part of the book.

Still, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is an important, emotional book dealing with racism in post-9/11 America, showing the anger, pain and struggle that a Muslim teenager may have to deal with and how horrible, hateful, mean and prejudice people can be. And even though the romance part wasn’t one of my favorites, the sibling relationship between Shirin and her older brother Navid was. I think Navid is now one of my favorite book brothers of all time. He was so protective of her, but also so supportive in the decisions she made. I just wish that the book had been MORE. More of Shirin’s sense of identity, her religious and cultural beliefs. More of her friendship with the breakdancing crew. More of the relationship with her brother and parents. So even though this book did not live up to my expectations, I’m still, really happy that it exists for Muslim teens to identify with and for opening the eyes of readers to all the horrible islamophobia in the world.

​Rating:
3 stars

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Tahereh Mafi

It was a bit confusing thinking that the Shatter Me-series ended with Ignite Me, then to find out about this fourth book, Restore Me, and two more coming books to the series. But since I really, really loved the original trilogy (it's one of my favorite dystopian series of all times!) I was so excited for continuing the series. Sadly though, this book was a disappointment.

It’s hard to explain, but this book felt a bit off somehow. The characters that I had loved so much for their complexity suddenly felt one-dimensional and the plot was kind of slow.
 
I was so taken by the character developments in the series, especially in Ignite Me. It was amazing to see a character grow as much as Juliette did and I really loved the new, stronger her. And the way we got to know Warner, how he revealed his true self bit by bit. I absolutely loved all the Warner and Juliette moments and the feels, the attraction, the way they were equals and supported each other, how they opened up and were vulnerable and honest to each other. But in Restore Me, most of that seems to be gone.
 
I think the main reason that I’m feeling a bit disappointed is that the story kind of reverted in some major aspects. The strong Juliette that we got to know in Ignite Me was replaced by her old insecure and whining self again. And the romance with Warner just didn’t fly this time. They were both too occupied with themselves to really connect. And the plot was much slower this time. Honestly, I don’t think very much happened other than spending time with the characters. Not until the end that is (and the end was a completely shocking cliff-hanger).

What I did enjoy was the flashbacks to Juliette’s diary, which added a great extra dimension and connected the dots to the first book, and to see more of Kenji again. But I’m still a bit confused about the purpose of the book and the ending, and I feel that I will not continue the series. Instead, I’ve decided to see it as the series actually ended after three books, so that trilogy can remain my favorite dystopian, without this book bringing the previous ones down.

Rating:
3 stars

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Tahereh Mafi

I really loved the first book in the series, then the second book was a bit slower (at first, the second half was amazing!), but this third book is back at full speed again. OMG the intensity, the feelings, the action!
 
The character developments in this book is wonderful. It’s amazing to see a character grow as much as Juliette does throughout the series. I really love this new, stronger, Juliette. And the way we get to know Warner. It’s not so much that his character develops, it’s more that he reveals his true self bit by bit. I absolutely loved all the Warner and Juliette moments. The feels, the attraction, the way they are equals and support each other, how they open up and are vulnerable and honest to each other. Not to mention the intimate scenes…. I must say that they were all so hot. Scorching hot!
 
This series was so unpredictable in the way Tahereh Mafi made you love the unpopular characters, such as Warner, and in the end disliked the ones you loved from the start, such as Adam. I must say that I’m a bit disappointed in the way Adam’s character developed. It seemed like he became a completely different person; mean, selfish and childish. But it was nice to see him smooth some of the worst edges at the end of the book.
 
Even though I love Juliette and Warner, my favorite character in the series is definitely Kenji. I love his humor, his badass attitude, his kindness.
 
Tahereh Mafi’s writing has changed a bit during the series, in this book there are almost no strike-throughs for example, but it still leaves you completely breathless. It’s so beautiful, raw and poetic.
 
It’s a bit confusing that this seems to be the end of the trilogy, but then there is a fourth book as well… But I’m not complaining, if I get to stay in this marvelous world with my beloved characters for a while longer, I’m all in! As for an ending of the trilogy this was a really satisfying one. I’m always nervous about series endings because your hopes get so high and too often your hopes are dashed. But not this time! Ignite Me is a perfect (half)ending to a completely marvelous series.

Rating:
5 stars

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Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me is the second book in the amazing and unique Shatter Me-series. I was so blown away by the first book and couldn’t wait to dive into this one. But to start with, I felt a bit let down. 

The start of this book was quite slow, and I didn’t really like Juliette and how she whined and just moped around and didn’t even try to get the others in Omega Point at first. She came across as quite childish and selfish, to be honest. But then halfway in the book it all changed and all that I loved from the first book was back again; the intensity, the feelings, the action, the unique writing style! I don’t want to say too much to spoil anything but the book got so much better once Warner was in it again.
 
The second half of the book was pure perfection, so mind-blowing and with so many twists I hadn’t expected at all. And now the writing style worked its magic again. Once again, Tahereh Mafi’s unique writing felt beautiful and fluid and so full of emotions, drawing you into the dark world and troublesome minds of both Juliette and Warner. 
 
I loved that we got to know Kenji a bit more and how he and Juliette grew closer as friends. But I’m hoping for even more of Kenji in the third book, he’s got such a potential to be a favorite character. I also missed Adam’s connection with James, and hope we get to see more of that too. And I can’t wait for Juliette to really start kicking some ass and getting her revenge!

So even though I had some issues with the start, it nevertheless ended up being a five star-read.

Rating:
5 stars

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Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me is amazing and unique! It’s raw, twisted and dark, yet hopeful and romantic at the same time.

There are so many things I love about this book, especially the writing style. It’s very special though, so I can understand why it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it was definitely mine! I think the writing is extraordinary. The way Tahereh Mafi uses numbers to tell and emphasize the story is so unique. The repetitions and the way she crosses over text to make us understand the underlying thoughts and doubts is almost magical.
 
The characters are also very complex and engaging. My heart really aches for Juliette and her situation. And even though it’s a sci-fi setting and a supernatural problem, you can really relate to it all, especially the feeling of being unwanted and scared without control over your own faith. And then the slow-burning romance with Adam. It’s so intense, with Juliette fighting her urge and desire to touch him, knowing that it might kill him. It’s so well done! And Warner. Talk about complex character! I have a strong feeling that he and Kenji will get much more focus in the following books. At least I hope so, they sure have captured my interest and I want to know so much more about them!
 
Overall Shatter Me was a brilliant and unique read and a fabulous start of this series that I cannot wait to continue!

Rating:
5 stars

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Tahereh Mafi