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A review by gabbyreads
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
5.0
“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans.” - Stephen Hawking
Wow I really like how the book began with a quote like that. It immediately creates suspense. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. I actually started reading this book almost a year ago but I started getting confused by the different perspectives and gave up and marked it as a "dnf". Then, I kept seeing people giving it amazing reviews and then I heard it was becoming a movie and there was so much hype surrounding this book I thought I needed to give it a second chance. And I am so glad I did. Overall in this book we get four perspectives total: Cassie, Ben, Sammy, and Evan. (Even though we only get one chapter form Evan but it still counts.) The thing that really threw me off when I first read this book is that there is no warning when the perspective changes, and it does not tell you till nearly the end of the entire part who's point of view you are reading from. This really bothered me the first time around. However, the second time reading this book I was expecting it and it didn't bother me as much. In fact, it was easy to start picking up on the different vices because they are very distinct and different.
I loved Cassie as the main protagonist. She was the perfect balance of sassy and caring when she needed to be, and her number one priority was family, which made it easy to relate to her because I would be the same. I would be afraid to shoot a gun, as she is in the beginning of this novel, and I would have difficulty trusting people, as she is. It was refreshing to see such a relatable character in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi cause we don't see that very often. At times, this book kind of reminded me of Divergent, The Program, and The Darkest Minds. Divergent, because of the "ranks" in the military and how they were trying to be the toughest one, it reminded me of The Program because of Camp Haven and how they would claim it's "so safe" and give them drugs that had something to do with memories, just like The Program. And then it reminded me of the The Darkest Minds because of the colors they are assigned and how each color represents a certain thing, just like in that book.
I really enjoyed Evan and Cassie's relationship and I honestly think they are adorable. I had this gut feeling that something was off about Evan the entire book but it didn't stop me from adoring him. There was just something about his character that seemed so genuine and sweet. He easily became one of my favorite male characters ever. I was not a very big fan of Ben, however. His chapters were just really long and boring and he came off a little bit conceited at times. I don't know, maybe it was just me reading him wrong, but I didn't care for him all that much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book so much more than I originally expected to. It just goes to show you that all books you thought you didn't like are worth giving a second chance. Can't wait to see the movie and how they go about bringing this book to life.
SPOILERS BELOW
If I'm being honest the ending kind of upset me a little because there is little to no mention of Evan and his well being, and it ends with Ben and Cassie talking about the babies, and he doesn't even remember, which is kind of sad for Cassie but I don't think she cares all that much cause she's so entranced by Ben. I feel like there is definitely going to be a love triangle happening in The Infinite Sea and I am not looking forward to that. Ben can just go and be with Ringer or something but I don't want a Ben and Cassie romance because her and Evan are so cute. I knew right away that Evan was an alien just by the way he was acting. I did however find it surprising when he was talking about how he was "absorbed" into the human Evan Walker, so it's not like he's 100% alien, which is cool. I loved the concept of the Camp Haven army being the 5th wave. That was so intense when Ringer just looked at Ben and was like "Ben don't you get it? We are the 5th wave" and I was like omg alksjdklajs. I knew right away that Nugget was Sam, and when Ben and Cassie were both racing through Camp Haven to save Sam I was dying it was so intense! I was so excited to see Cassie's reaction to seeing Ben again and it couldn't have been better. That scene was just so flawless. And I love how Evan kind of teased her about Ben right in front of him haha! I also love the scene where Evan gets shot in the legs and the ass and she has to strip him of his clothing and she's like freaking out, it was so cute. I just really loved this book and I can't wait to read The Infinite Sea! This is definitely one of my favorite books of 2014.
Wow I really like how the book began with a quote like that. It immediately creates suspense. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. I actually started reading this book almost a year ago but I started getting confused by the different perspectives and gave up and marked it as a "dnf". Then, I kept seeing people giving it amazing reviews and then I heard it was becoming a movie and there was so much hype surrounding this book I thought I needed to give it a second chance. And I am so glad I did. Overall in this book we get four perspectives total: Cassie, Ben, Sammy, and Evan. (Even though we only get one chapter form Evan but it still counts.) The thing that really threw me off when I first read this book is that there is no warning when the perspective changes, and it does not tell you till nearly the end of the entire part who's point of view you are reading from. This really bothered me the first time around. However, the second time reading this book I was expecting it and it didn't bother me as much. In fact, it was easy to start picking up on the different vices because they are very distinct and different.
I loved Cassie as the main protagonist. She was the perfect balance of sassy and caring when she needed to be, and her number one priority was family, which made it easy to relate to her because I would be the same. I would be afraid to shoot a gun, as she is in the beginning of this novel, and I would have difficulty trusting people, as she is. It was refreshing to see such a relatable character in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi cause we don't see that very often. At times, this book kind of reminded me of Divergent, The Program, and The Darkest Minds. Divergent, because of the "ranks" in the military and how they were trying to be the toughest one, it reminded me of The Program because of Camp Haven and how they would claim it's "so safe" and give them drugs that had something to do with memories, just like The Program. And then it reminded me of the The Darkest Minds because of the colors they are assigned and how each color represents a certain thing, just like in that book.
I really enjoyed Evan and Cassie's relationship and I honestly think they are adorable. I had this gut feeling that something was off about Evan the entire book but it didn't stop me from adoring him. There was just something about his character that seemed so genuine and sweet. He easily became one of my favorite male characters ever. I was not a very big fan of Ben, however. His chapters were just really long and boring and he came off a little bit conceited at times. I don't know, maybe it was just me reading him wrong, but I didn't care for him all that much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book so much more than I originally expected to. It just goes to show you that all books you thought you didn't like are worth giving a second chance. Can't wait to see the movie and how they go about bringing this book to life.
SPOILERS BELOW
If I'm being honest the ending kind of upset me a little because there is little to no mention of Evan and his well being, and it ends with Ben and Cassie talking about the babies, and he doesn't even remember, which is kind of sad for Cassie but I don't think she cares all that much cause she's so entranced by Ben. I feel like there is definitely going to be a love triangle happening in The Infinite Sea and I am not looking forward to that. Ben can just go and be with Ringer or something but I don't want a Ben and Cassie romance because her and Evan are so cute. I knew right away that Evan was an alien just by the way he was acting. I did however find it surprising when he was talking about how he was "absorbed" into the human Evan Walker, so it's not like he's 100% alien, which is cool. I loved the concept of the Camp Haven army being the 5th wave. That was so intense when Ringer just looked at Ben and was like "Ben don't you get it? We are the 5th wave" and I was like omg alksjdklajs. I knew right away that Nugget was Sam, and when Ben and Cassie were both racing through Camp Haven to save Sam I was dying it was so intense! I was so excited to see Cassie's reaction to seeing Ben again and it couldn't have been better. That scene was just so flawless. And I love how Evan kind of teased her about Ben right in front of him haha! I also love the scene where Evan gets shot in the legs and the ass and she has to strip him of his clothing and she's like freaking out, it was so cute. I just really loved this book and I can't wait to read The Infinite Sea! This is definitely one of my favorite books of 2014.