Release Date: Out now!
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 342pgs
The Story
I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else - two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for one more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
The Review
A big thanks to the publisher on netGalley for accepting my request in reading this book early!
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME was immediately on my to-read list once I heard about its storyline and what it entailed. With the idea of having two souls possessing a single human body, the idea of it alone lead me straight back to one of my other favourite books of Stephanie Meyer's The Host and while this particular book shares some similarities in certain aspects to Meyer's unique world, it still didn't matter to me - at least not too much - because the story owns itself and I quite enjoyed the world as well which is the main thing here, right?
Even without a very detailed set of world-building, I was still so entertained and compelled by Eva and Addison's personal struggles in not wanting to disappear and allowing the other soul to take over their own human body. Imagining two very different people owning one body and wanting nothing more than to survive and live out the lives that they were clearly meant to live just gives me this terrifying feeling and I wanted so badly to give those lives to both of these two individuals - even though it seems to be so impossible given their current situation of being 'stuck'. But with that said, I found it oddly strange that I'd preferred one girl over the other and I was kind of being biased here when I read this book because I was rooting (mostly) for one of the girls and that was Eva.
Eva was honestly my favourite character in the entire book. I honestly hated Addison with a passion. I mean for the majority of the book it seemed Addison was always there and present in the girl's body - the one always doing the walking and talking and living - and only allowing Eva to fade in the distance, which I thought was quite selfish of her to do considering Eva has a voice and a mind of her own. She had a right to live too. To me, I found it really unfair to say the least for Addison taking all of the control and just when Eva came to realize this, Addison just completely shuts down and argues with Eva continuously for even more selfish purposes and I just didn't like that at all. As for Eva, I firmly believe she is the strongest one out of the two girls, the one with the voice of reason and the one who thinks of everyone else before herself - even the girl who wants her body. In the future sequels I just hope Addison takes her sort of 'twin' into more consideration and be more understanding of how she feels . . . after all it's harder on both of them because they are individuals and have the right to their own body.
As for some blossoming romance that is going on in the book (a slight spoiler here folks), I quite enjoyed that aspect as well and how the love interests in question also had two souls inside of him, Devon and Ryan, and it's interesting to watch these two girls fall in love with two very different guys in one body as well as them falling in love with two very, very different girls. For sure, it can at times get a little bit confusing in knowing who the characters are speaking to (in knowing it's Eva or Addison or Devon or Ryan) but once you grasp the situation . . . the situation within itself becomes quite heart-aching to witness and it's just what this story needs in order to play with your emotions - not to mention your own mind - on many different levels.
Overall, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME is a very promising start to a YA trilogy and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel and gaining those answers to the questions I now already have!
Even without a very detailed set of world-building, I was still so entertained and compelled by Eva and Addison's personal struggles in not wanting to disappear and allowing the other soul to take over their own human body. Imagining two very different people owning one body and wanting nothing more than to survive and live out the lives that they were clearly meant to live just gives me this terrifying feeling and I wanted so badly to give those lives to both of these two individuals - even though it seems to be so impossible given their current situation of being 'stuck'. But with that said, I found it oddly strange that I'd preferred one girl over the other and I was kind of being biased here when I read this book because I was rooting (mostly) for one of the girls and that was Eva.
Eva was honestly my favourite character in the entire book. I honestly hated Addison with a passion. I mean for the majority of the book it seemed Addison was always there and present in the girl's body - the one always doing the walking and talking and living - and only allowing Eva to fade in the distance, which I thought was quite selfish of her to do considering Eva has a voice and a mind of her own. She had a right to live too. To me, I found it really unfair to say the least for Addison taking all of the control and just when Eva came to realize this, Addison just completely shuts down and argues with Eva continuously for even more selfish purposes and I just didn't like that at all. As for Eva, I firmly believe she is the strongest one out of the two girls, the one with the voice of reason and the one who thinks of everyone else before herself - even the girl who wants her body. In the future sequels I just hope Addison takes her sort of 'twin' into more consideration and be more understanding of how she feels . . . after all it's harder on both of them because they are individuals and have the right to their own body.
As for some blossoming romance that is going on in the book (a slight spoiler here folks), I quite enjoyed that aspect as well and how the love interests in question also had two souls inside of him, Devon and Ryan, and it's interesting to watch these two girls fall in love with two very different guys in one body as well as them falling in love with two very, very different girls. For sure, it can at times get a little bit confusing in knowing who the characters are speaking to (in knowing it's Eva or Addison or Devon or Ryan) but once you grasp the situation . . . the situation within itself becomes quite heart-aching to witness and it's just what this story needs in order to play with your emotions - not to mention your own mind - on many different levels.
Overall, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME is a very promising start to a YA trilogy and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel and gaining those answers to the questions I now already have!
The Rating
4 1/2 / 5 stars
I just read this one and I really enjoyed it too. Eva was my favourite of the two, she just seemed to have more life in her, and tried desperately to put others before herself. I didn't warm to Addie at all, no matter how hard I tried. She just seemed far too selfish, especially when compared to Hally. I'm really excited to see where this series continues. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hollie! Yeah Addie did nothing for me . . . I just wanted her to wake up and see how hard this whole thing was on Eva.
DeleteI really liked this one and can't wait to see how Kat Zhang plays out the logistics on the love interest side of things ... makes it ummm interesting lol. Eva was my favourite too, Addie was a selfish brat :)
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting. Addie was such a brat. Eva . . . I really felt for her.
DeleteGreat review! I can't wait to read this one and I'm glad it didn't disappoint because what a great concept! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! It's a really great concept. Can't wait to read the sequel.
DeleteI'm so on the fence on whether or not to pick this one up! I've heard way too many mixed things about this book. However, I totally trust your opinion, and this premise sounds way too cool to pass up. I'm really glad you loved Eva, but perhaps the author intended readers to hate Addison? I'm curious to see how the romance is going to play out, with the same body but different souls and all. Thanks for the brilliant review, Erin! I think I'll still give this one a go. :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard mixed things too and I guess it all depends on what you like to read. But definitely have a crack at this book! It's quite a page turner.
DeleteThanks Jen!
I'm glad you liked this one, Erin! I read it a few months ago and absolutely adored it. If I remember correctly, Eva was my favorite character, too. I felt so incredibly awful for her, and I found the entire novel to be so powerful because of her perspective. I agree that the world-building was a bit lacking, too, but in the grand scope of things, it wasn't too huge of an issue considering how much I enjoyed everything else. Great review, Erin!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm glad I liked this one too. I KNOW! I felt so sorry for Eva . . . her voice was so raw and powerful like you said . . . I just wanted her to have her own life and body. I can't wait to read the sequel now.
DeleteI'm really glad you liked this! It's such an unusual story; not everyone seemed to connect with it, but I know I did. Nicely reviewed. :)
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
Thanks Wendy! I'm glad you liked it despite what others thought of it. I thought it was well executed.
DeleteGreat review. I haven't heard much about this for a few months. The tie in to The Host sounds intriguing...in good and bad ways. At least it sounds like there's enough originality that this stands on its own.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison! It definitely stands on its own and while it does have the same vibe as The Host but . . . it was still very enjoyable.
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