Shiver

I’m always on the hunt for well-written young adult novels, and this one took my breath away. The writing is downright lyrical, each sentence polished to dazzling perfection.

The love story grabbed me from the start and stayed with me for days after I finished the book. Ms. Stiefvater is a master at evoking emotion—I was moved to tears by some of the plot developments and the characters’ reactions to them. The story is enhanced by an alternating point of view, which draws readers into the heads of both protagonists.

I’ve heard this book described as “the werewolf version of… show more.

This is a beautifully written story that has stuck with me for more than a decade. It says a lot about a story when you only read it once (or twice, maybe) but specific details about it pop up in your mind years down the road. One of the reasons I loved it so much is because it’s a paranormal story that reminded me how desperately fragile we are as humans, and how lucky. We don’t live in packs, but we do live in family groups (whether our family is related to us or not) and those people are often… show more.

Shiver was one of the first shifter romance books I ever read and it’s on a very short list of books that made me cry. (I’m not a crier normally.) Maggie’s writing is beautiful and the way she paints a story through imagery that evokes such strong emotion is rare. A great story leaves a lasting impression because it makes us feel. Shiver has been in my top 5 favorites since I read it 10 years ago and I’m sure it will be for years to come.