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2.5 stars

It's very possible that I've outgrown this series as a reader. When Shatter Me first came out, I really enjoyed the unique writing style, and as the series progressed, I liked watching Juliette grow as a character - and how Tahereh Mafi surprised me with how the plot progressed. But Restore Me? It was just...dull.

It's always risky continuing a series, and I think Mafi might have fallen prey to mistakes I've seen pop up recently (most notably with Pierce Brown's Iron Gold, which was *super* boring). Sadly, what follows the revolution just isn't as interesting as the revolution itself. So that was fault #1 with this book, I think. Juliette and crew are having to rebuild North America after they've successfully overthrown a dictator, and political maneuverings (or lack thereof) just isn't as compelling.

Also, related: there is just NO WAY that any adult (especially a rebel leader like Castle) would ever allow a 17-year-old semi-sane girl with PTSD to lead an entire government. I was pleased that that was addressed a little bit (view spoiler)[with the different supreme leaders seeing Juliette as an experiment (hide spoiler)], but that still doesn't explain how any of the rebels would be pleased with Juliette as leader. I mean, the girl is barely keeping her life together. No one should expect her to lead a COUNTRY.

And along this line, I understand that Mafi wanted to introduce tension with (view spoiler)[Juliette and Warner's break-up (hide spoiler)], but it really felt contrived. I can believe that Juliette would be angry with Warner, but THAT angry? Almost none of that was his fault, and even Kenji wasn't that surprised. Juliette just seemed to overreact in a way that didn't make her sympathetic, but rather, made me want to shake her.

Okay, and I've gotta say it: Warner and Juliette's relationship isn't healthy. Maybe this will be addressed in a follow-up? I feel like the way they're co-dependent is believable, given their abusive backgrounds, but it's certainly not ideal. I'd really like to see Warner grow as a person on his own, without her help. He desperately needs it. Also, maybe his abusive from Anderson was a little too...much? Like, I'm not sure he would even be able to function as a person, let alone as a competent administrator, given the background Mafi gives him. I just felt more and more sorry for him the whole book, which I think backfires a little in that it makes Juliette less sympathetic.

Whew! Okay, so in the few highlights:

1. Kenji. Always. Saying everything we're all thinking as readers.

2. Surprisingly, Adam! I laughed a little at how emotionally healthy he was in this book, and I'm hoping his interactions with Warner were foreshadowing of Warner's future development.

...that's it?

Mafi still writes well, but I found the melodrama tiresome this time around. I just want all the characters to see a freakin therapist, because lawd, not a single one of them is coping with their issues except Adam, bless him.

I still see myself reading the next book, because I'm invested in Warner at this point dadgum it. But I'll need a good, long break from the #feelings until then.