Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic

by Lauren Oliver

Soon to be a major Amazon Prime Video series.

An utterly gripping thriller from bestselling author Lauren Oliver.

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them - and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

In this gritty, spellbinding novel, bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping narrative of friendship, courage, survival, and hope.

Reviewed by Joséphine on

2 of 5 stars

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Ebook rating: 2 stars
Audiobook rating: 2.5 stars

Initial thoughts: Panic was a very average book. I'm a little disappointed about that. I've wanted to read it for the past two years but kept shoving to the back of my mind in favour of other books. When I got hold of the audiobook via Overdrive last week, I thought it's finally time to get down to it. All this while I had managed to avoid spoilers. Had I know that this revolved around a game for graduating students to win a pot of money, I wouldn't have bothered.

Reading Gotcha! by Shelley Hrdlitschka a few years ago sufficed. Different game but same aim — win money in the face of inherent danger. These kinds of things have foolishness written all over it, so my patience wore rather thin.

Alternating between the audiobook and the ebook at least allowed me to read according to my mood. When I wanted things to be over as fast as possible, I went for the ebook. But when I was otherwise occupied, I listened to the audiobook, which offered a more enjoyable experience thanks to the narrators.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 April, 2016: Finished reading
  • 29 April, 2016: Reviewed