Delirium
by Lauren Oliver
Published in the UK in February 2011 (Hardback) and August 2011 (paperback)

Set in a world where love is considered a disease and the population are cured of it when they reach adulthood, Lena is counting down the days until she is cured and will forget the pain of her mother’s suicide.  That is until Alex comes along and everything changes.

I have to admit I’ve been waiting for this book to come out in paperback ever since I read the plot summary.  I adore dystopian fiction and I loved the idea of a world in which love is a curable disease.  Yes, the idea itself was fairly brilliant, but the way it was executed really was something.  Lena is a superb main character and to see her understand the beauty of love is truly heart-warming.

I was so gripped that about two thirds of the way through I had to put the book down for a few days because I just could not conceive of a way it would end well (unless the author was a real wimp and thankfully she isn’t) and I wasn’t sure I could face it.  This book will get to you in the heart-aching kind of way that makes you think you’ve read a truly great piece of fiction.  Read it, read it now.  Probably my favourite book of the year.