The Book of Ivy

The Book of Ivy

by Amy Engel

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Publication Date: November 4th, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
ISBN: 9781622664658

Available to purchase:
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After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.
Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him… (via Goodreads)

 My thoughts on The Book of Ivy are quite simple: I loved it.

It's been awhile since I have picked up a straight young adult dystopian book and I have to say that the experience was refreshing. This book is a testament to the idea that less can be WAY more. There is nothing complicated or overly complex about the book and honestly, it is part of what made is so enjoyable.

Amy Engel was able to capture something familiar yet enticing with her balance between politics and romance. The Book of Ivy, at it's core, is a romance between two teens on the opposite sides of a political war. You have Ivy, who is the daughter of a gilted would-be leader, who is determined to bring his family back to power. Then there is Bishop, the privileged and seemingly spoiled son of the president of Westfall, Mr. Lattimer. But there is a lot more to both teens story than meets the eye.

So on the joining of their families through their arranged marriage, we see them in a new position, away from both influences and forced to face the truth that both families may have lied and that they might not be what the other was expecting.

I found the romance in this book SO ADDICTING. It was a slow burn that had me turning pages, unable to put it down. I HAD to know what happened next between Ivy and Bishop and just when I thought I knew what would happen, I would be thrown off-guard.

It's a fast-paced read that will have you begging for more. And that ending?!

4.5 out of 5 stars!