Book Review: Delirium (Delirium #1)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:

In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn’t about to make the same mistake.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the government’s radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

~SPOILER ALERT~

My original thought from the description was that it reminded me a lot of Matched by Ally Condie. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy that series much so I’m hoping that overall this one will be better.

As of right now, I do not like Lena. I can’t stand how low her self esteem is and how she calls herself a nobody. She’s so closed minded and oblivious to how the world really is. I get it, she’s gonna have this great character development by the end of the series but right now it’s just annoying. I get that she’s young and all but it shouldn’t take a guy telling you you’re beautiful for you to start believing it. She also scared of EVERYTHING. She also uses the word “delicious” way more than necessary.

I love Hana. I really hope that she plays a bigger role in the rebellion because she’s been one of the most exciting books in this whole book so far.

I like Alex I guess. He’s normal to me. He is how the main character should be to me. I hate that he gets shot and ultimately gets captured at the end but I’m hoping he finds a way out somehow.

There were a few things over the span of the book that I didn’t like:

She uses the R word when referring to Gracie.
As someone who is not a fan of children, I hate the fact that the government decides for you whether or not you will have kids, and how many. Even if you express that you don’t want them. I fucking hate that.
Having three men evaluate Lena while she was stripped down seemed inappropriate.
Girls who don’t go to college have to get married right after high school and apparently most (if not all) women are housewives. (Hoping I’m wrong about this but that’s what it seems like).
Referring to homosexuality as “unnaturalism”

Aside from that I guess it was okay overall, although I do have some questions.