Born with a unique ability, Claudia has found her life to be filled with rejection, ostracism, and manipulation by all but one person, Dr J. Right after escaping a research facility she has been kept at and experimented on, Dr J. is found dead and the police rules it a suicide.
Needing answers and revenge for the only friend she ever knew, she follows the last clue he has left her and finds herself in Westpoint. Everything changes when instead of vengeance she finds a family. She has to learn what it’s like to live a regular life. And when the high school quarterback is thrown into the mix, being normal feels so strange.
Torn between the urge to avenge Dr J’s death and the chance to belong. Will Claudia learn how to fit in, or will she ultimately yield to the power the facility had worked so hard to nurture?
My review:
Have I told you how much I love this book? Too much!
The first book in the Adapted series, Heat, is an emotional rollercoaster ride that stole my heart somewhere in the middle of the story. Or was it Solomon who stole my heart? It might’ve been both! After getting past a little skipping (and perhaps vague) introduction I loved everything about the characters and the storyline.
Claudia is an orphaned 16 year old. Distrustful. Insecure. Lonely. In her experience, nobody could ever love and want her. Not only because her ability to control heat and make fire makes her different from everyone around her, but because years ago a foster parent told it right into her face. At times it truly brought tears into my eyes at how well I could connect with her experiences with rejection. It was absolutely beautiful seeing her come out of her shell – piece by piece – and finding people she could share her burdens with.
As parts of the book were emotional to me, others were highly amusing. The most enjoyable moments for me were the times Claudia spent among her new friends, especially Solomon. I loved their interactions: ease, understanding, care. Most of all the revelations; most of all the naivety and innocence of which Claudia reacted to the world! I must say, I loved everything about the friendships she made and I loved Solomon!
Solomon – the high school quarterback, desired by every girl in the school – is a total sweetheart. Calm, relaxed and loyal to a fault. Everything about him made me want for more. The ending? My heart just melted away into a puddle of slur and dripped to the floor. All. Because. Of. Solomon!
Adapted, book one: Heat is exactly the book you’ll need to read next if you want to get lost in a story full of hardships, friendship and love. Because, lost you shall get. If you won’t lose your heart in the process, you will gain an experience not easily forgotten!