Review: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Title: Unraveling

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 4.24.2012

Pages: 445

Genre: Paranormal, Aliens

Series: Yes (Unraveling #1)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

Review:

Unraveling is one of those amazing books I just fell in love with from the first page. Right from the start, Elizabeth Norris drew me in with her earnest, warm storytelling. I can’t remember the last time I fell so quick for a heroine.

Janelle is, plainly put, an extremely likeable girl. When weird things happen she questions them and goes after answers, but she also has the good sense to be afraid when it’s appropriate. So many YA heroines dismiss danger because of love, but Janelle pauses and that endeared her forever to me. I love that her family is fractured and broken because it makes her all the more human.

And what can I say about Ben? I rooted for them from the very beginning. There was something about Janelle and Ben that is reminiscent of Liz and Max (from Roswell—both the TV show and the book series). Their love was impossible, but visceral.

I’m not a huge SciFi fan, but this book kept me entertained the whole way through. The scientific aspects are very well explained (and dumbed down for science idiots like myself) and not hard to follow. The entire plot is wonderfully paced, never dragging or rushing. Norris did a fantastic job keeping everything moving, but still adding necessary details that made the story come alive.

I adored this book, and I’m sure you will, too. My only complaint is that there isn’t more of it, or that there won’t be more books because I was still left with a few questions. That minor annoyance aside, go and get this book. I highly doubt you’ll regret it.

ETA: I have now learned this is only book one and it's sequel will be out next year, this answering my unanswered questions and making all right in the world again. READ THIS BOOK.

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