Review - Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Title: Vanishing Girls

Author: Lauren Oliver

Pages: 357

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release date: 12th March 2015

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

 Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and bookbridgr*

 3/5 stars

Dara and Nicole (Nick) Warren are sisters and inseparable. At least they were until a car accident leaves Dara scarred and their relationship in tatters.

When Dara disappears on her birthday, Nick is sure that her disappearance is somehow linked to the missing girl Madeline Snow.

Will Nick find Dara?

Will her memories of the night of the accident return?

Vanishing Girls was an enjoyable read.

I liked the writing style and found it easy to follow. The plot was good but it didn't grip me. There was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. The mystery elements were intriguing.

Nick was a likeable protagonist and I felt sorry for her. I found Dara less likeable but I did feel sorry for her too.

I found the idea that two sisters who looked so similar could be so different very interesting - I have a sister who is eight years younger than me but despite the age gap we have practically identical interests.

It was sad that Nick and Dara grew apart and were jealous of each other - Dara saw Nick as a goody-two-shoes who everyone thought was perfect, and Nick saw Dara as everyone's favourite because she was prettier and more likeable.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.

Review - Panic by Lauren Oliver

Title: Panic

Author: Lauren Oliver

Release date: 6th March 2014

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Blurb from Goodreads:

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand 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.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Lauren Oliver*

3/5 stars

Every year the graduating seniors in the town of Carp play a game called Panic. 

Panic is legendary and very dangerous with a large payout for the winner.

Heather hadn't planned to play Panic but Dodge did and he wants revenge.

This was my first Lauren Oliver book and I have to say I was slightly disappointed as I thought I would like it more. 

It took me a while to connect with the characters and there were times when I thought the pace was slow. 

I didn't like Nat at all - she was whiny and used people to get what she wanted. 

The various rounds of Panic were very dangerous and it was worrying that people wanted to play it (even though the prize money was why they played it). 

Overall this was an okay read that only just scrapes three stars from me.