Today has been wonderfully relaxing. Ryan and I have had a lot going on lately and many big decisions were made this weekend that have been mentally draining. (Stay tuned for a big announcement on the blog this week!) It felt great to just kick back, enjoy the sunshine in our backyard and read our book together.
We actually ended up finishing the book today!
I would highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games, or to readers who gravitate toward suspenseful books that make you think. I love trying to predict twists and turns in books, and Divergent had plenty of twists to keep me entertained.
The book takes place in futuristic Chicago (thought there aren’t flying saucers or anything weird) where society has divided itself into five distinct factions based on strong personality traits such as selflessness, honesty and bravery. Every 16-year-old in the society must choose a faction to join on Choosing Day where they will remain forever (with or without their family).
The heroine of the novel, Tris, is likable and strong yet vulnerable and flawed, in an endearing and wonderful way. She struggles with choosing a faction and throughout the book discovers flaws within the society as a whole. Romantic interests, friendships and rivalries form, making the book more than just action-packed. Ryan and I read this book together as we did with The Hunger Games and it appealed to both of us and had us both wanting to read more. It’s a definite page-turner and a fast, easy read. A perfect summertime book! Though we didn’t realize it when we started reading Divergent, it is the first in a series of books, only the others are not published yet. Now we’re both feeling anxious, waiting for the next one in the series to come out in the summer of 2012!
Other PBF book reviews:
- The Art of Racing in the Rain
- Water for Elephants
- The Hunger Games Series
- The Help (<—A must read!)
And now we need another book!
Dinner
Dinner tonight was easy and delicious. Something about the Fourth of July screams grillin’ and BBQ pulled pork and since we did the whole BBQ thing yesterday, crock pot pulled pork won out this evening!
Served with roasted green beans and Bush’s baked beans (love these!), this meal reminded me of summertime dinners outside with my family.
Time for dessert! 
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I read a review of the Hunger Games recently and must get my hands on it!
Happy Fourth 🙂
yes, you must! the whole series is really, really good!
That book sounds really interesting!!! Thanks for reviewing it! 😀
Happy July 4th!!!!
Interesting, I haven’t heard of this one. I’m usually out of the loop when it comes to book series, but I just finally tried The Hunger Games and I LOVED it. I was so glad that the rest of the series was immediately available so I could keep reading right through!
I’ll put this one on my Good Reads shelf, but I might wait a bit until the release of book 2 is closer…I like the instant gratification of having the sequel at the ready!
i know! we just wrapped it up this afternoon and were SO bummed that we have to wait a year for the next one. ehhh.
Ooo, great review; thank you! I’ve been looking for a new book to read.
I’ve heard great things about “The Help,” too, and it’s glad to have some reaffirmation!
I loved the Hunger Games (thanks for your reviews) so I will be sure to pick this one up.
BIG announcements?!? Yay!! I am hoping you found a place to live (bye bye bye mice<N'Sync, anyone?)
Happy 4th American friend 🙂
I hadn’t heard of this book but now I really want to read it after your review! I loved the hunger games!
That sounds like a cool hybrid of Hunger Games and The Giver! As an English teacher, it sounds like I’d be a fan. Thanks for the rec!
I’ve heard such good things about The Hunger Games. I’m going to have to get it after I finish The Help.
Your book sounds super intriguing as well – too many good books to read!!
Glad you got to kick back and relax today – seems like you deserved it!
Thats so fun you guys read together!! It looks like a good book ill have to look for it:)
So cute that you guys read together! 🙂 Excited for this news!
Yeah for dessert! haha 🙂 looks like a really cool book! I will have to read it!
Are you going to buy a house? Is that your announcement? 😀
That book sounds a lot like ‘The Giver’….. A classic. Have you read it?
Gotta love baked beans. I, too, had Bush’s tonight 🙂 Gotta love the 4th!
I finished reading this book not too long ago and absolutely loved it. It really reminded me of The Hunger Games as well, which I also loved. It actually looks like we’ve been reading a lot of the same books lately! I adored Water for Elephants and The Help, and now I’m reading Room, by Emma Donoghue, which is also fantastic and I suggest picking it up if you haven’t read it 😀
Thanks for the info on Divergent….I loved the Hunger Games series so Ill be reading Divergent in the near future!
If I could recommend a book, I’d tell you to read “Unbroken”. It’s fantastic…so hard to put down! My husband and I read it, and I recently passed it on to my dad. Such an amazing story!
I LOVE your blog!
When I dropped by TJs today, they had baked beans as part of the sample. I was so glad I got some. It set the mood for the rest of the day – including the cookout tonight!
That book sounds great! Thanks for the recommendation:) hope you take the rest of your evening easy And enjoy relaxation!
Looks yummy! And I’m very curious what the announcement is going to be! 🙂
I’m planning on reading the hunger games this summer! Divergent sounds great too :).
Julie, I love that you read together outloud with Ryan. I read to Sean, but I’m going to propose that he starts reading to me too! Tx for this.
Excited for your big announcement!
I canNOT wait to try that book!!! I am so excited to read Hunger Games this summahhh
Love the book reviews! I’m reading Water for Elephants now, then on to The Hunger Games! Can’t wait to hear the annoucement!
I bought my son the hunger games, he loves it! I am going to read it too!!
Hope you guys had a beautiful 4th!
I’m betting a new house or Ryan is quitting his job to start a fitness-themed website?
You two are always keeping me guessing.
So many exciting things going on for you two!
I can’t wait to hear what’s up! 🙂
I keep hearing that the Hunger Games is so good. I’m not a huge book reader, but maybe I should check it out! Glad you’re having a good weekend. Can’t wait to hear the announcement.
I loved the Hunger Games so I’m checking out this book when I”m finished with the current series I am reading: Uglies — you might like it too, it reminds me of Hunger Games in many ways.
I love brown beans! They are so tastey and filling. I especially love them in maple syrup.
I really, really need to read more! I have so many books to read and I’m just too lazy to start. I need to kick myself in the butt right over to that bookshelf and just start one!
We had pulled pork, green beans, and baked beans for dinner last week, you’re right, so perfect for summer!
That book sounds so so good! I have been devouring books lately! I just finished all of the Emily Giffin books and just finished the book Room by Emma Donahughe (ine one day – SO good!) this weekend. I’m now reading memoirs of a Geisha because I never read it!
I didn’t get any BBQ this year and now I’m seriously regretting that!
the book reminds me a little of Brave New World. i recommend reading it if you haven’t. it’s definitely thought-provoking!
I just started reading The Hunger Games the other day. I’m liking it so far! Divergent sounds like a great book too. I’ll have to remember to pick up a copy!
You’re buying a house, aren’t you? 🙂
Ooooo!! Thanks for the book suggestions! I’m dying to get my hands on the Help, but I hadn’t heard of Divergent!
It’s so adorable that you read books together. I hope that one day, when I find the man I’m going to marry (umm when I’m 80?), we can do the same 🙂
Try Girl With A Dragon Tattooo < —it is suspensful! I bet you're all buying a home….. ??? 😉
Love the dinner idea!
I absolutely LOVED this book! I cannot wait until the series comes out. Dystopian novels are really big in YA, apparently some other really good ones that have come highly recommended to me are “Wither” by Laurie DeStefano, “Matched” by Ally Condie, “The Maze Runner” by James Dashner, and “Incarceron” by Catherine Fisher. “Delirum” by Lauren Oliver is also really popular but I wasn’t the biggest fan of it.
If you are looking for something light, “Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins is one of the cutest YA romances I have read. There are tons of raving reviews about it and it has a really high rating on Goodreads. Definitely check it out if you get a chance!
Moving states to North Carolina perhaps??
I loved the Hunger Games series, so I can’t wait to check out this one!
Hmmm…big announcement? Can’t wait to hear 😉
Very festive looking meal! 🙂
Can’t wait to hear the big announcement!
Your meal looks very 4th of July-ish. 🙂 Yum!
Excited to hear your big announcement!
I definitely need to try that book… and Hunger Games. I’m hearing SUCH good things about this series!
How much of a lifesaver is the crock pot? I love slow-cooked pulled pork and pulled chicken.
I’m so glad you talked about this book! I read it right after reading The Hunger Games as was also surprised by how much I enjoyed it 🙂 I’m anxiously awaiting next summer for the next book to come out =] ps I’m currently reading The Help and am loving every minute of it!
Sounds like a great book! I love summer reads!
I have a question about the book, beautiful Julie! Is it appropriate for a thirteen year old? My daughter loved The Hunger Games and if this doesn’t have stuff that I would rather she not read until she’s, oh, about thirty or so I’d like to pick this up for her. 🙂
hi angie! it’s a great book, but it does mention sex VERY briefly- though no sexual relations actually occur other than kissing. as far as the suspense/action level, i think that’s 100 percent okay for a 13-year-old. if she could handle the hunger games, this book is less intense, in my opinion!
Awesome. Thanks for the review!
I love the Hunger games. If you need a new book to read Graceling was awesome!
Thanks for the recommendation! I loved Hunger Games, so I will give this a try 🙂 I just started reading Tina Fey’s Bossypants and was legit laughing out loud on the train this morning!