ARC Review: The Living By: Matt de la Pena

 Title: The Living
Author: Matt de la Pena
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shelves: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure
Recommended for Fans Of: Kathy Reichs, Michael Grant, Suzanne Young
Source: Random House Children's Books
Format: Physical copy
Publication Date: 11/12/13

Synopsis: Shy took the summer job as a worker on the Paradise luxury cruise ship for money, food, and girls. He didn't expect to be faced with the largest and most devastating natural disaster that has ever hit the Pacific Ocean, and the west coast, home to Shy's loving family. In the midst of the shocking aftermath of the tsunami that tore down the cruise liner, Shy is stranded in the middle of the ocean with the only other known survivor, a privileged girl named Addie. As the days go on, their hope of surviving diminishes slowly as Shy begins to wonder just what being one of the few survivors could really mean.

Review: First, a huge thank you to Matt de la Pena and Lauren Donovan at Random House for providing me with this copy to review! The Living is such a roller coaster ride with so many twists and turns! Throughout the buildup to the big devastation, I was kept entertained by Shy's story and the many problems he and his crew mates were facing. Then adding to the conflicts Shy already had to deal with, Mother Nature bears down on the world with a disastrous earthquake and tsunami. Now Shy has to face these monumental occurrences. I loved the use of multiple plot lines, and it made Shy seem like a very well developed character.

I've also mentioned in my past reviews that I really love novels with multiple elements, and The Living is no exception. Romance, medical thriller, and survival play a big part in both the plot and Shy's character. Concerning plot, Matt de la Pena is definitely a master at plot twists. This phenomenal author will have you caught off-guard as you read his well placed and exhilarating twists and turns. 

The Living is a series and after reading the first book, I am really curious to see where the story goes next! There are so many possibilities and I'm really hoping The Hunted (out Fall 2014) will be just as good as the first book.

Conclusion: Everyone should add The Living to their TBR shelves! It is definitely a well-written and compelling story that will leave you speechless.

xoxo,

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