NetGalley Review: Zenn Diagram

I received an e-arc of this book from netgalley and this is my honest review.

Original Release Date:

April 4th, 2017

Date I Read The Book:

October 2016

My Star Rating:

5 Stars

Chronology:

Standalone contemporary

Official Summary:

Eva Walker is a seventeen-year-old math genius. And if that doesn’t do wonders for her popularity, there’s another thing that makes it even worse: when she touches another person or anything that belongs to them — from clothes to textbooks to cell phones — she sees a vision of their emotions. She can read a person’s fears and anxieties, their secrets and loves … and what they have yet to learn about calculus. This is helpful for her work as a math tutor, but it means she can never get close to people. Eva avoids touching anyone and everyone. People think it’s because she’s a clean freak — with the emphasis on freak — but it’s all she can do to protect herself from other people’s issues.

Then one day a new student walks into Eva’s life. His jacket gives off so much emotional trauma that she falls to the floor. Eva is instantly drawn to Zenn, a handsome and soulful artist who also has a troubled home life, and her feelings only grow when she realizes that she can touch Zenn’s skin without having visions. But when she discovers the history that links them, the truth threatens to tear the two apart.

Zenn Diagram, Wendy Brant’s sparkling debut novel, offers an irresistible combination of math and romance, with just a hint of the paranormal. Readers will swoon over Zenn and connect instantly with Eva, the most fully drawn prodigy in teen fiction today.

My Review: (Vague Spoilers)

I am a huge fan of prodigy stories, I’m pretty sure it stems from my love for JJ Abrams Star Trek version of Chekov. Pretty sure.

I loved this book, I read it in about two days instead of doing AP Chem and Calc homework (I still got it done don’t worry).

Certain parts of the story are a bit predictable, but not in a bad way, in the way most contemporaries end up being predictable. I loved the way all the characters were portrayed though, none were 2 dimensional or used as a plot device, all had depth, and lives outside of our protagonist’s existence and I loved the way her gift was used to show that.

I also particularly loved her family, especially the quadruplets (Quints was one of my favorite movies as a kid, it reminded me a bit of that). I loved her parents and her family history, and the way it mentioned her family’s focus on religion without ramming it down the audience’s throat. The background relationship of Josh and Charlotte was also great.

I also felt like I could relate to Eva more than I could to most contemporary protagonists. I don’t really go to parties, and I too, am immensely stressed about college applications and scholarships, and I loved the way that was portrayed in the background of this story, like YES, realistic life in YA! Also, minus most of the trauma and romance, Eva’s general awkwardness is so me. Her cup of tea discussion? Totally something I would probably do, considering I have spent many a breakfast/lunch in school discussing foster care, health care, various legal statutes, and vaccinations with my friends. For fun. I am that kind of person.

If you are also that kind of person, or if a cutesy, off the beaten path, contemporary appeals to you, I’d recommend this book.

It was a bit different than I expected, but I loved it.

Read If You Like:

• The Love That Split The World
• Because You’ll Never Meet Me
• Learning To Swear In America