Review: The Originals by Cat Patrick

The Originals

Author: Cat Patrick

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life... Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

My Thoughts: So after reading Revived by Cat Patrick and loving it, I knew I had to read more of her writing. So when I was The Originals pop up to request for review, I had to request it. There was no way I could pass it up. Especially after reading the synopsis. I hadn't read anything similar to what this plot was promising me before, and it sounded so interesting. Well, I wasn't at all disappointed. Right away, when I started reading it, I knew that things weren't going to be able to last the way they were going. Three girls living one life? Not going to go well, especially since they are all teenagers. They are just about ready for college, so what is going to happen then? Do they continue how they are going? Living one life or what?

The Originals is told from Lizzie's PoV. She is happy to begin with, until their mom changes around their schedule and she meets a boy that she really likes. So they beg their mom to let them start dating and she agrees, but they must all date one boy and it's not the one Lizzie wants. So her life becomes miserable, she wants to be with Sean, but has to pretend she is dating this person she hates but her sister likes. This is just where the trouble starts, when Lizzie begins to realise that her life isn't as good as she had thought, that their mom isn't telling them everything. She wants to find out what's going on and wants to be happy. She wants to be one person.

All I can say is that Cat Patrick did a great job pulling this story off. There were so many ways that it could have gone but she picked a way that I wasn't at all expecting. I think that's one of the things that I really enjoyed about this books, I couldn't predict it. I was the same with Revived and I really like that about her writing. I still need to read Forgotten, it's going to have to go higher on my TBR. I could barely put this book down! It's definitely unique and .. original!

* A copy was provided by the publisher for review*

Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

Revived

Author: Cat Patrick

Publication Date: May 8th 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger -- and more sinister -- than she ever imagined

My Thoughts: Hmm, a sci fi. Well at least that's what I'm categorizing it under, what else could it be with a drug that brings you back from the dead? This books was a very nice change from all of the dystopia I have been reading lately and I really enjoyed it. It did take a little bit to get into though, I think it was around 80 pages in where I suddenly couldn't put it down. Also, Revived has made me cry more than any other book I have read lately. There was a good 30 pages where I was almost consistently crying. It might have even upgraded to chin wobbling sobbing. I had to put the book down to compose myself. This is a good thing, because that lets me know that I was really into the story and connecting with the characters. So hats off to Cat Patrick for making me have a good cry. That's the sign of a well written book right there. I also love the cover! The colour is really great and I love how she is peaking out. It definitely stood out to me and made me look more closely at the book.