Plus One by Elizabeth Fama Review + Giveaway

Plus One by Elizabeth Fama
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 373 pages

Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

I'm starting out with the obvious. This cover. Oh my gosh, this cover is so awesome. If I wouldn't have already had this book or had this book on my radar already, this cover would've sealed the deal. What this cover did for me was want to read it faster so I knew if I wanted to order the hardcover. The result? Yes, I want to order the hardcover.

Now there are a few things with this book that made me take a star away but I will explain that later on (some of it might be hidden because it may be a tad on the spoiler side). But the concept of this book really is what grabbed me. The idea of only be allowed outside during the day if you were a Ray or only at night if you were a Smudge. Night folk were frowned upon while Day folk were basically praised. It's the difference of...well...night and day.

I absolutely loved the two main characters; Smudge Sol and Ray D'Arcy. They are polar opposites and not because they're allowed outside during different hours of the day but she's a student and factory worker whose brother was arrest two years ago and her guardian, Grandfather Poppu is dying, with only days left to read while D'Arcy is a Medical Apprentice with a very bright future in the medical field. I want to be friends with Sol, I seriously do. I have never seen any character, in any book I've read, that hasn't been as straight forward as her and not been the 'asshole' character. Oh man, I busted out laughing a few times with her bluntness on things. So the opposite of me so it's definitely refreshing reading something like that. D'Arcy gave off one vibe in the beginning of the book but that changed rather quickly.

There wasn't a whole lot of romance until almost three quarters of the way through the book. While I thought that would bother me, it never did because you kept waiting for this moment to come and it kept you on your toes, you know? But what romance there was, oh my, did it burn through the pages it was that sizzling. Yes. That sexy. Totally worth the wait, I think.

One thing that I think really changed the tone of the book was the flashback chapters. I really, really enjoyed those and when they stopped, I feel like it just took away from the flow. That was one thing I didn't but the other huge thing was the ending. *highlight to view spoiler* I'm just left with a little bit too much hanging with this being a standalone. If this was a first book in a series, I could definitely understand it but I don't know - I was just left scratching my head a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm one who doesn't understand 'bad' endings, where maybe not all the main characters walk away happily ever after but they always feel like an ending. This just didn't. *end spoiler*

While this book was full of an interesting story, a world that will make you scratch your head (not in a bad way), adventure, danger, loss, betrayal, romance and an unlikely friendship it had it's moments where it was lacking. There was so much more positive in this book than any of the negative I may have mentioned so it's definitely worth reading. If I can go and buy a final copy of this book after already reading the book, you know it's worth a read.

Thank you so much to Macmillan for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review (this book was picked up at ALAMW).

I am giving my ARC to one lucky US reader. This giveaway is open until March 31 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. May the odds be ever in your favor!

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