Review: Replica by Lauren Oliver

Title: Replica

Author:  Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins

Publishing Date: October 4th 2016

Pages: 544
Genre: YA Sci- Fi Thriller

Series:  Replica #1
Source: Audio

 

Two girls, two stories, one epic novel

From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book" that contains two narratives in one, and it is the first in a duology. Turn the book one way and read Lyra's story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma's story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.

Lyra's story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family's past and discovers her father's mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.

I have been trying to picky over my reads lately as my time to read and review has suffered significantly. This was a risk for me. I wanted to read this book but I haven't always enjoyed books from this author. I read this book...listened to it on audio and loved it. There was a bit of a slow start but it didn't last and when it did pick up, I couldn't put it down. It was everything that I was looking for in a read. It had science fiction, thrilling moments, chases, secrets, romance, moral dilemmas and more. It was pretty awesome. 

This book is the story of two girls. Their stories are their own but are intertwined. Each has their own story to tell. Lyra has grown up on an island with other replicas. Created, studied, poked and prodded with no rights. One day her world changes as her home is destroyed. Gemma is a girl of privilege and no freedom. Her parents' are very over protective. One day her world changes when she discovers her father's past is full of secrets. Both girls set out on a journey that changes their lives dramatically. 

This book was pretty awesome for me. Lauren Oliver has been a hit or miss for me but for some reason I always want to read her books. This one has been my favorite by far. The emotional and moral reality in this book is really intenese. The sci fi was pretty good but it read more like a realistic fiction. Strange I know but I felt the book was more about what the girls had and are going through the injustice of it the emotions of it the moral realization of the entire thing. So it really hit hard and deep for me. I throughly enjoyed it on the emtional level. 

The sci fi was there but it felt like something that could be going on now so it wasn't extreme sci fi. There were sci fi elements and that was nice. I did like it more because it wasn't far fetched. The read also had a thriller and mystery aspect which I loved. Those are my kind of reads. A tiny bit of romance that was light and fun. This book basically had all the nessecities that I need in a read. 

I connected to the characters pretty quickly and on completely different levels. I did read the story in a flip flop version so I didn't always know what the girls were going to figure out or see. I do recommend reading it this way. I think it helped me connect easily with the girls. Gemma was a stronger connection at first. I really felt for her from the very beginning. I felt her lonliness, her outsider status, her longing to belong and to be accepted and her strenght  and will to survive. She was amazing to me. She was a true tropper even when her world was flipped upside down. 

Lyra was a bit more stand offish at first. Although that was her character. She didn't know how to bond and find connections with others. Once she was introduced to the idea of being a part of something bigger and someone else's life- she blossomed and I just grew to love her. 

The love interests in both stories were just spot on for me. I loved how one was slow and steady and the other more intense. I loved both boys and just well it was all good for me. Actually one of the boys was my favorite character. The way they all connect into each others lives was just brilliant. loved it. 

I really just could not put this book down. It had me quickly and I just loved it more the more I read it. 

Awesome read for me. I can't wait for more.

Lauren Oliver is the cofounder of content development company Paper Lantern Lit. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of the YA novels Replica, Vanishing Girls, Panic, and the Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem, which have been translated into more than thirty languages. The film rights to both Replica and Lauren's bestselling first novel, Before I Fall, were acquired by AwesomenessTV; a major motion picture adaptation of Before I Fall was announced by Open Road Films in 2016. Her novels for middle grade readers include The Spindlers, Liesl & Po, and the Curiosity House series, co-written with H. C. Chester. She has written one novel for adults, Rooms.
A graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU's MFA program, Lauren Oliver divides her time between New York, Connecticut, and a variety of airport lounges. You can visit her online at www.laurenoliverbooks.com