Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver ( Delirium #1 )

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium #1
Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 1st 2011
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari
Buy it: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Summary from Goodreads;
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
Rating:
***** 5 stars, recommend to everyone
Thoughts:
The ending...

The plot in Delirium was truly unique. I found myself absorbed in the idea of love being a disease in this world that I couldn't put the book down. I wish I'd gotten more background on how the government came to identify it as a disease and how the procedure of the cure works. At the top of each chapter, there's an excerpt from "The Book Of Shh", and other documents which gives you a tad of more depth into the story though.
Lena was not the most relatable character I've read about but I could follow along at most points. Lena is used to following the rules; she'll turn eighteen and be rid of the cure. Only problem? She meets Alex. From the second Alex was introduced, I was swooning.

Oliver's description and my mind made him into someone who is worthy enough to be mentioned as one of my favorite male characters. Lena's best friend is introduced in the beginning but her role and person sort of dwindles into the back and you don't really see her anymore towards the middle. Then she pops back into the story towards the very end. I just wished she'd had a more stable point in the story.
The romance was so adorable and romantic but I wished there had been more depth to it and more descriptions of some of their moments together. Although Lauren's description of Alex's eyes made me melt and swoon which made up for it. I will definitely be picking up a copy of the sequel, Pandemonium because the ending was just so gahh! I need to find out what happens after that wicked cliffhanger!
I recommend this to anyone who's looking for a novel with a fresh, unique idea and characters that will have you swooning and rooting for them.
First sentence:

"It has been sixty-four years since the president and the consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure."

Quotes:

"Oh, I'm not nervous," I tell her. "Trust me. I can't wait."

Only seven more days."  - Page 384

"Then he does the absolutely, positively unthinkable.

He winks at me." - Page 38

Trailer: I think this trailer is brilliant, not only does it give you an idea of what you're about to read but also has background music which goes along with the title..and story.