Book Review: Out of Control by Sarah Alderson

Out of Control
Author: Sarah Alderson
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: May 22nd 2014
Review Source: Author

When 17 year old Liva witnesses a brutal murder she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness, she’s a target.

Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there’s a long way to fall.

Sarah Alderson has done it again! Out of Control had my mind reeling, jaw dropping and loving the blossoming romance. I loved every second of it. Time flew by when I was reading this. One minute I was at 3% and the next it was 97%, I had to double take because I couldn’t believe how fast time had gone by!

Liva (Olivia), a girl traumatized as a murder witness, meets Jay who’s also at the police station, though his reasons are vastly different to hers. She’s a witness to a murder; he’s getting done for grand theft auto. Then dangerous circumstances bring them together and the find themselves running for their lives, and not fully understanding why.

The action gets your heart pumping- even if action isn't your thing- and routing for Liva and Jay. Speaking of Liva.. bad ass female, anyone? She sure can kick ass. What I loved about her is she start off as being portrayed as this innocent, naïve girl but blossoms into a independent, smart, looks-can-be-deceiving woman. What does that tell you? Don’t judge a book by its cover, people! And Jay, I loved his humour. More than once I found myself smiling away at what he’d said. Typical double meaning/dirty minded teenager.

As the story gets on things start to unravel, things start clicking into place. If there’s one thing Sarah’s good at, it’s the plot twists. Never, in any of her books, do I expect what I get. I gasp (and curse a little) with a “did not expect that one coming” when all is revealed. My heart broke a little for Olivia, then swelled for Jay. But the ending was perfect. This is definitely one of my 2014 favourites!