Review: Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

Title: Plus One
Author: Elizabeth Fama
Publication: April 8th 2014,  Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Format: ARC Paperback
Source: Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again! (Thanks so much Dianne!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

SYNOPSIS:

It takes guts to deliberately mutilate your hand while operating a blister-pack sealing machine, but all I had going for me was guts.

Sol Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller in an America rigidly divided between people who wake, live, and work during the hours of darkness and those known as Rays who live and work during daylight. Impulsive, passionate, and brave, Sol deliberately injures herself in order to gain admission to a hospital, where she plans to kidnap her newborn niece—a Ray—in order to bring the baby to visit her dying grandfather. By violating the day-night curfew, Sol is committing a serious crime, and when the kidnap attempt goes awry it starts a chain of events that will put Sol in mortal danger, uncover a government conspiracy to manipulate the Smudge population, and throw her together with D'Arcy Benoît, the Ray medical apprentice who first treats her, then helps her outrun the authorities—and with whom she is fated to fall impossibly and irrevocably in love.

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 compelling, rapid-fire romantic adventure story.

Misfit Review:

I was hesitant to read Plus One at first to be honest. I had quite a number of physicals that I wanted to dive into but I think the universe did its task and dragged me to the wondrous beauty that is this novel! GOOD JOB UNIVERSE!

“Four houndred billion suns spiraling through space together. Our solar system just one grain on that galactic carousel. The carousel itself a speck in the cosmos. And here I am in this small clearing, on the surface of the heart, as transient and unnoticed to the universe as the dry blades of grass that are poking into my shirt. It's too much to comprehend up there, too enormous, and I'm so small when it's on top of me. It frightens me, like I'm being crushed.”

Plus One is the type of novel that you would appreciate especially if you are the hopeless romantic/ believer in the star-crossed lovers theme coz this story's got that for you! Sol Le Coeur, a Smudge, sneaks out during the day in order to kidnap her niece for her Poppu (grandfather) to see. I was gripped to the idea of a heist. Sol injures herself in order to get medical attention from the Rays and meets D'Arcy Benoit and it is almost as if the universe brought them for this moment because it would change both their lives. Again, GOOD JOB UNIVERSE!

I really loved how this story was thought out. From the terminologies such as Smudge, Rays and Nomas; an almost dystopian world that conforms itself to these norms, our protagonists try to defy it. The conflict in itself with the back story of certain aspects which I do not want to spoil, will attract you. For one, the revelations will ultimately surprise you. 

“Believe me I don't want to set the world on fire I just want to start a flame in your heart”

The characters are refreshing, fun and all so amazing! Sol, being the main character, is someone whom I got attached with because of her strength, charm, wit and beauty. Most female protagonists are so whiny and   just really annoying. I found Sol to be level headed in her own way but also feisty when the situation asked for it. She's also very emotional but tries to hide it. She is the most vulnerable around Poppu, whose character I loved as well. 

D'Arcy is simply handsome, loyal and charismatic. I just fell for him from the moment that he talked to Sol, until the very end of the book. What I specifically like about D'arcy is his way of handling situations with bravery and also restraint. He thinks with his head though when it comes to Sol, he could sometimes turn brash. 

"Oh god. I love your non sequiturs"

The romance provided by these two offered us an escape from the dispute that is prominent in the novel. When they found out that they are more connected to each other than they deemed to be, that moment was just one of the turning points of the novel. However, there were parts that felt dragged and unnecessary, I just fell in love with their chemistry and even had to put down the book for my heart's safety.

Elizabeth Fama allowed the story to breathe through these characters that she presented. She was also able to bring us a world that feels so familiar yet also untouched. Binding together political issues with discrimination and love reminded me of a somehow Romeo and Juliet taste but Elizabeth remained original and especially with that ending that I did not expect at all. Beautifully written, Plus One is the type of book that would hook you with its plot line and stunning delivery. You will not regret reading it. Let the universe lead you to this awesome novel.

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Elizabeth Fama is the author of Plus One (FSG, 2014), Monstrous Beauty (FSG, 2012), a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection and Odyssey Award honor winner, and Overboard (Cricket Books, 2002), an ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, Inc.

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Tuned in for more reviews very soon! Check out past reviews as well over at the review archives link :) Thank you Misfit Booknerds!