Book Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Eve by Anna Carey
(Eve, #1)
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins; 318 pages

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

I have been wanting to read EVE for a long time but I just hadn’t gotten around to getting my hands on a copy. Well, that wait has finally ended. I finished this book in record time. I read it within, I’d say four hours. It was so good and I could not put it down. I wasn’t sure how I would like it because some of my friends thought it was ‘OK’ but I’m not sure what they read because it obviously wasn’t this book.

EVE starts out with a letter from Eve’s mother in 2025 and you know it’s not going to be good news after reading it. We find out that Eve was orphaned at the age 5 when her mother died due to the plague, which killed so many of the American’s. (I believe it was 94% of Americans were killed? I know it’s a ridiculous percentage.) She was sent to an all female school where all other orphans are sent and they are raised to believe boys are horrible and that they will help rebuild New America. Eve is crowned valedictorian and they are celebrating the day before graduation. But she finds out something so shocked that it makes her question everything she was raised to believe. She broke a rule for the first time in her life that night to find out what she was told was right.

With the help of a teacher Eve escapes that night and is on the run, hoping to make it to Califia - a safe place for those outside of the walls. She meets up with Arden, who escaped shortly before she did. Arden was the person who told Eve about what was really going to happen after graduation. They are not friends and they never hide the fact they don't care for one another but yet, they find themselves together in this strange, dangerous world and decide to stick together. This is when we meet Caleb; an attractive young man who is an orphan himself. I can't get over one of the first things Eve said to him. Eve, who is an extremely intelligent but only with what she was taught, which was a lot of false information. When thrown out in to the world of the opposite sex, well - there's a lot she doesn't know. And it made for great entertainment on the readers end. I laughed out loud multiple times by things she said or things she didn't know. If you've read the book, I'm sure you know exactly which parts I'm talking about?

Arden, she came around. I didn't like her in the beginning but let me tell you, she absolutely proved herself as a good friend to Eve. I wanted to hug her I loved her so much. I can't wait to see her in the next book (hopefully we'll see her). Benny and Silas are too cute. I just wanted to cuddle them. They broke my heart too. I think, with them, it was the only time in this book that I got a little teary eyed. Adorable little kids. Let's see, who else? Oh, Leif. Well. I will simply say, I hope he joins his twin brother, Asher. I know, that's very cruel of me to say but argh! What a disgusting excuse for a human being! I'm sure we'll be seeing more of him. (Oh joy) And lastly, Caleb, my sweet, smart, strong, sexy...OK, I think you get the point. Caleb is dreamy and exactly the type of guy to prove your entire upbringing wrong. For a short time I thought Arden was interested in him and I wanted to hit her but alas, that proved to not be the case!

I could not put this book down. Regardless of the negative things I heard from some of my friends (or other reviews) I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this book. So much that I now need to go out and buy my own copy (only downside of borrowing books). I am incredible excited for ONCE and I cannot get my hands on my quick enough (especially with the way EVE ended). Do yourself a favor, don't judge this book based on what others say. Go out, read it and form an opinion for yourself. You may find yourself in love with the book, like I am. Never judge a book based on its cover (in a negative light) or based on other opinions. You may regret it.