Review: Anomaly

Author Tonya Kuper

Format e-ARC

Print Length 400 pages

Publisher Entangled Teen

Published Nov. 25, 2014

Reality is only an illusion.

Except for those who can control it… 

Worst. Birthday. Ever. 

My first boyfriend dumped me—happy birthday, Josie!—my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening…

Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it.

When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead…

My Opinion

Josie is not having a good day. She is missing her daddy, her momma is stern and her boyfriend is now an ex. To top it off she finds out she is an anomaly. There are those in this world who belong to the Oculi. Oculi either push reality (create from observation) or retract (erase matter with a thought). Josie finds out that she is an Anomaly- she can do both. 

Reid is a stranger to Josie, yet she feels a connection to him. He knows so much about her though one can’t help but wonder why. The mystery is solved about half-way through the book as to why he knows her secrets. One thinks that Reid is training Josie for the Consortium but in fact he is training her for the resistance. The resistance thinks that the Consortium is corrupt and trying to take over. As an anomaly Josie is given a special task- one that she must complete or else all Oculi could be at risk.

Josie is an interesting heroine- she kinda reminded me of Bones from Bones, the tv show. At times she is awkward, yet she rocks with all things science. Josie has to face her fears before she can complete the mission. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Reid tries to remain impartial to what is happening between them and just train her. Yet when the going gets tough his emotions get in the way. I felt at times he was trying too hard to be just what she needed, while avoiding the emotional side of things. Eventually the emotions catch up with them. This is where the fireworks begin to sparkle.

The pop culture references sprinkled throughout the book were a nice addition. With a cliffhanger ending Anomaly, cannot help but leave the reader wanting more. 

My Rating 4 stars out of 5

Favorite Quote “Well,” he whispered, drawing me toward his side, “ some things, some people, are worth making sacrifices for.”

Other People 

Santos- Reid's partner and bestie

Mom- stern woman, but why

Hannah- Josie’s bestie