Book Review: Resilient

Media Type: Ebook
Title: Resilient
Author: Patricia Vanasse
Publisher: Pants On Fire Press
Pages: Paperback; 336
Release Date: 2013
Source: CBB Book Tours
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Content Screening: Mild Violence

HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who enjoy paranormal reads with vivid characters.

Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N

Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier.

Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone.

Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart.

Resilient, told in alternating point of views, is a gripping story of survival and romance, in which two teenagers face the consequences of being anything but normal.

Resilient was, admittedly, kind of a slow burn for me. When I first read the premise I knew that this would be something I’d want to read. Liv and Adam’s story sounded intriguing. Two people with unexplainable powers meeting for the first time? Yes please! It may have taken awhile for me to really feel invested but, once I was, I couldn’t put this down.

Livia doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere. I was a little wary about how sorry she felt for herself, but I soon realized that Livia is actually a very strong character. Despite not understanding her powers, or where they come from, she works hard to have a handle on them. I felt for her, and wanted her to gain that semblance of normal she was seeking. Unfortunately Adam comes into the picture and all that falls away.

Oh, Adam. Here’s a character that I just wasn’t really sure about. The thing about Adam is that he uses his wit and sarcasm to push people away. It’s true that he doesit to keep his powers a secret. However it was tough to instantly fall in love with him. The banter between Adam and Livia at the beginning felt a little stitled honestly. Still, once they started to uncover their similarties, I felt more confident in their relationship.

In terms of plot, Patricia Vanasse does a great job of slowly letting the reader uncover what really makes Livia and Adam so special. When things started to fall into place, I couldn’t stop reading. The ending is a cliffhanger, so maybe we can expect more? All I know is that Resilient ended up being a book I really did enjoy. If there is more, I’ll be eager to get my hands on the rest of Livia and Adam’s story.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.