Wide Awake (Review)

*Welcome everyone to the Wide Awake Blog Tour!! Below is my review of this fantastic novel!*

*presented by: yanovelreader*

Wide Awake

By: Shelly Crane

Release Date: March 22nd, 2013

Genre(s): YA Contemporary Romance

My Review: (4.5/5 stars*)

Wide Awake had me the second I seen it was written by Shelly Crane. As a huge fan of her Significance series I was instantly clamoring to get my hands on this novel. Wide Awake didn't disappoint it has everything you look for in a good YA novel—a strong main character, a cute romance, full of heartbreak, love, and loss. I won't say it is her best work but it's certainly up there and many people will love it. It's hardly predictable and is compelling right from the start. It has a strong-willed main character who realizes the many mistakes she's made and she tries to set them right which is no easy task. I wholeheartedly liked the theme of reinventing oneself; it spoke to me on so many levels. The romance is paced perfectly and felt very real and natural as opposed to some novels where it's all or nothing—this has a key blend. Both the internal and external conflicts were relatable and not over the top. There are many little twists the story takes and it's a gripping ride. Wide Awake is a wonderfully poignant young adult novel.

Emma's character goes through a traumatic experience and loses everything that she once was but gains an even better version of herself. The new her is compassionate, driven, hopeful, and courageous. The girl she was before the accident was shallow and everything she isn't anymore. I absolutely loved watching her overcome all the problems she has thrown her way. Mason is the ideal guy, down-to-earth, funny, patient, caring and the right fit for Emma. Not-to-mention he's super gorgeous with tattoos and has a surprising side job. They both need each other in a lot of ways and I enjoyed the development of their relationship—it was beautiful.

After narrowly escaping death after a hit and run accident that leaves Emma Walker in a coma for 6 months she unexpectedly wakes up. But what she wakes up to is complete confusion, she doesn't know where she is, how she got there, or who the people wearing surprised expressions are sitting by her bedside, and most importantly who she is. What they tell her leaves her speechless—they're her parents—total strangers determined to make her remember a life she has no account of. The only person she feels at ease with is her physical therapist Mason, the only one who doesn't make her feel like she has to be anyone but herself. Emma is faced with the horrible reality of who she used to be—and that includes her ex-boyfriend, and best friends who are all eager to get her back to the way she was before the accident. Amnesia is a fickle thing but it may just give her a whole new outlook on life—a second chance.

The writing is great, the story flowed good, and the characters are written well. Their is a lot of wisdom that can be taken away from this story as it is very insightful. Every emotion poured into the words is felt by the reader—there were a couple times I came so close to tears. If a book evokes that much of an emotional response than it is truly something special. It was cute, funny, and at times heart-wrenching. I didn't want the reading journey to end. I'm incredibly happy that their will be a sequel titled Wide Open about Mason's younger brother. I'm excited to read his story and am hoping to see some more of Emma and Mason! Overall nothing bad can be said other than I wish there was more of everything!

Synopsis: 

A girl.
A coma.
A life she can't remember.

When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.

Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR | B&N | SHELFARI !