Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic

Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Standalone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ebook
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 2 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***    

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Review:

If you’re going into this book thinking that you’ll be reading something like Delirium, then stop. This book is nothing like Delirium and if you go into it thinking it will be, you’re going to be disappointed. Maybe that’s part of the reason I was so disappointed. But honestly, there were a lot of things that I wasn’t a fan of.

The concept sounded interesting. I went to high school in a small town so I can totally see how something like this would start up. The boredom. Nothing to do in a small town so why not invent a dangerous and exciting game to play? But the problem I had was what they were playing for. A big pot of money. But even with the explanations on why the giant pot of money came to be, I was skeptical. I just didn’t believe it. Sorry, I did the math and there’s no possible way the pot could be that large. So strike one.

This book is written in third person alternating between the POVs of three main characters: Dodge, Heather, and Nat. I didn’t like any of them. Strike two. Especially Nat. At least Heather and Dodge had believable reasons for wanting to play the game, but I just didn’t believe in Nat’s reasons. It was such an extreme game and her reasons were honestly frivolous. Her character was flat and I never really saw the purpose she served in the story.

Dodge was crazy. Seriously, he was insane and I never liked him for a second. His motives were so dark and so twisted and I could not get behind him. I wanted to see his relationship with his sister more, but even that fell apart and was never resolved.

Heather was the only one who was somewhat likeable. I enjoyed her relationship with her younger sister, her fierce desire to take care of her and protect her made me relate to her. I will protect my sisters no matter what and I really did love that about Heather. But at the same time, Heather annoyed me. She was so negative and whiny and I just wanted to scream at her to live her freaking life.

This book was a quick read with a few great twists that made my jaw drop though. I wasn’t bored while reading and I didn’t want to put it down. The writing was beautiful because it’s Lauren Oliver and she truly is an incredible writer. But I think the plot and the characters just didn’t work for me. I think that this book will work for some people and that some people are going to love it. But unfortunately, I wasn’t one of those people. Happy reading all!

Have you read this one? What did you think of the pot of money? How did you feel about the characters?