Front Lines by @MichaelGrantBks {Review}

Front Lines by Michael Grant
(Soldier Girl, #1)
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; 576 pages
Rating:

Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Code Name Verity, New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant unleashes an epic, genre-bending, and transformative new series that reimagines World War II with girl soldiers fighting on the front lines.

World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families—to go to war.

These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.

I've been trying to write a review for this book since I put it down. I can't. I'm trying but the words fail me. This book was everything I didn't know I needed in a book. I wasn't sure what to expect but I just knew I had to read it because of Hannah from The Irish Banana Review kept gushing about it.

I know I instantly felt attracted (though, that's not the word I'm really looking for) to Rio and her storyline. She was instantly likeable and maybe it's because she was introduced first or maybe because of her personality - I really couldn't tell you but I craved her chapters over Rainy or Frangie. I also loved the romance mixed in to her storyline (y'all know I'm a sucker for romance). 

I'm a big fan of Code Name Verity so, as the description says, this should be something I'd enjoy. I loved this more than that book. 

It's a big book; I'm not going to lie but by the time you get to the end, you wish it wasn't over already. I'm actually terribly sadden I have to wait for more. This is far outside my box of books I normally read but every once in awhile, stepping outside that box is always nice and refreshing. You never know what gems you might find. I found one with this book. Maybe I should step outside my box more often . . .

Maybe I'll trying writing a more detailed review but I don't think I'd be successful. This might just have to do it for me. 

Buy this book. Rent it from the library. Borrow it from a friend. I don't care. Just read it (and please, no illegal downloads - that's just rude).