Soulmates - Holly Bourne

Title: Soulmates - Holly Bourne
Publisher: Usbourne Publishing
Series: N/A
Service: Own
Release Date: 01/09/2013
Pages: 544
Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★

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Every so often, two people are who are the perfect matches for each other. Soulmates. But while the odds of this happening are about as likely as being struck by lightning, when these people do meet and fall in love… thunderstorms, lightning strikes and lashings of rain are only the beginning of their problems.

Enter Poppy, the 17 year old cynic with a serious addiction to banana milk, and Noah, the heart-throb guitarist; residents of mediocre Middletown, sometime students, and… soulmates.

After a chance meeting at a local band night, Poppy and Noah find themselves swept up in a whirlwind romance unlike anything they've ever experienced before. But with a secret international agency preparing to separate them, a trail of destruction rumbling in their wake, (and a looming psychology coursework deadline), they are left with an impossible choice between the end of the world, or a life without love...

Give me one word…

Why do you say that?

'Soulmates' by Holly Bourne is an interesting book with some intriguing concepts. Delving into the relationship of two teenagers, Poppy and Noah, whilst looking into the science of it all, I thought this would be my type of book. 

Poppy is a seventeen year old cynic. She has flat out decided that the male species is pretty useless and uninteresting and will hold off until she becomes nineteen. I fully accepted this but felt there was no real reason behind her cynicism and so I struggled to click with Poppy right at the start. However I did love Bourne's description of Poppy's panic attacks. As someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks I felt that it was true and it gave another dimension to the character as well.

As the book goes on and Poppy meets Noah she begins to soften. A love at first sight that she refuses herself and I am thankful she did. It stay true to her character that regardless of how strong her feeling were for him she was not about to swoon into his arms the first time he asks her on a date. One thing I adored about this book was Poppy's character growth. Surrounded by a supportive group of friends (perhaps, minus Ruth) she changes gradually and became more likeable in my opinion. 

Noah is a guitarist who first sees and meets Poppy at a band night and falls for her there and then. He can come across quite cocky but it was very interesting to see bouts of vulnerability and insecurity from him once he starts a relationship with Poppy. I almost wish Bourne had written some chapters from his point of view. 

I enjoyed the majority of this book. The growth of two teenagers as they enter a relationship. The general good feelings about reading about two people so in love. And the input that every feels the need to have when they know that their friend/family is in a relationship.

However I had some issues with the twist in this story. I love a good plot twist especially if it involves science but this just felt a little rushed to me. What was explained was good but I wanted more detail and more back story on Dr Anita Beaumont and Rain. It was a good concept but I was disappointed by the execution of it.

Overall I had some mixed feeling with this book. I'm looking forward to the release of Holly Bourne's next book to see if I will find it more fulfilling.

Memorable Quote

And I know we're only seventeen and we're supposed to be kissing the frogs before we get to the prince and all that bollocks, but boys are just such… hard work.