Review: Beautifully written, Compelling and Emotional
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2012
Wow, Wake was absolutely fantastic.  This incredibly engaging and totally addicting book kept me reading long into the early morning hours.  It is a beautifully written, compelling, emotional and sometimes humorous story of two very damaged souls who fall in love in the midst of illness and tragedy.Jem Harper is in cancer remission.  He has been at this school since his cancer was first discovered and has no friends.  He is lonely and miserable, tired and sick.  He is no longer the popular, gorgeous and friendly guy he once was at his old school.  Willa Kirk comes back to her old town and is suffering from a tragic past of her own.  Her sister died of cancer and she is angry, hostile and feels responsible for her death.  Jem and Willa become frenemies then friends and eventually lovers as they bond over their mutual loss; Jem's loss of his former healthy self and Willa over the loss of her sister.  Willa takes care of Jem by feeding him and loving him physically and emotionally.  She often tries to convince him to love himself for who he is now as she does and to see himself as beautiful.  Jem tries to help Willa to forgive herself and to move on from the death of her sister. He has some issues with how she handled things with her sister, but knows she is a good person and wants her to realize it too.This touching love story will leave you emotionally exhausted and rooting for Jem and Willa to be together despite the odds against them.  I highly recommend this incredible story about survival, love, sacrifice and giving oneself over completely to another.