Mila 2.0 [Hardcover]

4.5 Stars

'Mila 2.0' was an edgy science fiction novel that far exceeded my expectations. It follows Mila as she and her mother have to relocate to the small town in Minnesota after the fire that killed her father. She's having some trouble adjusting to the change, but finally makes a connection with a cute new guy when things go terribly wrong. After a car accident one day after school, Mila discovers the dark secret her mother has been keeping from her: she isn't really a girl at all but an android developed to blend in with teenage girls without detection. The woman she thought was her mother is really one of the scientists who helped create her and her father - along with his death - and the rest of Mila's memories were all implanted into her. Now the government has found their hiding spot and they will stop at nothing until Mila is back at the compound and her mother is punished for stealing her. Even though Mila's world is crashing down around her and the android functions that were suppressed are now coming out - she still can't shake the gut feeling that she's more than just a robot. She's a girl with real feelings and emotions. She needs to keep her mother and herself safe at all costs - even if it means using becoming more android than human.

This was a truly unique and fantastically imagined science fiction novel. I didn't think I would be able to connect with a main character who was a robot - but I instantly liked Mila. She was full of pain over her father's death and she was dealing with so many typical teen problems - a new school, making friends, crushing on a guy, etc. When she found out the truth about herself, I was just as confused and crushed as she was. I felt like I was riding on the same emotional roller coaster with her - experiencing each up and down in her life right alongside her. She was a really strong female lead that didn't give up and showed great amounts of courage and growth. I'm eager to see how she will grow further in the next book. The plot was fast paced and I literally couldn't put the book down. It was full of action, adventure, fantasy and even a bit of romance. There were so many different genres being blended that it's hard to label this novel as just one kind. I liked that it mixed so many different concepts and ideas into one thrilling book. The writing was exceptional and shows that the author has true talent. There was a part at the end of the book that I really hated (those of you who have read the book know what I'm referring to), but other than that - I thought it was a captivating and adrenaline filled novel. I am already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series so I can see where Mila and the story goes from here. I highly recommend this book for fans of well written novels of all genres. This was a thrilling first book in what promises to be a truly fantastic series!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Mila 2.0 is a fascinating read. Elements of loss, sci-fi and teenage angst all combine to make a smash-hit that you are bound to love. I was enthralled by Mila's story. Mila isn't hard to connect with at all. She's feeling a sense of loss both emotionally and mentally. She literally can't remember parts of her past. Her voice is quite unique and I found myself really drawn into it. What a fabulous character!

Speaking of narrative voices..Debra's writing was awesome. She presents the story well, with intense scenes, emotional scenes, and that occasionally scene in the middle. Something I love about reading YA is connecting to the characters that are my age. Feeling and connecting with emotions that I have on a regular basis. In Mila, we've got the full palette of teenage emotion and it feels totally balanced. Brava Debra! It was very fun to read, with her wit and humor woven in. Gotta love that stuff.

A Hunter. What can I say. Gotta love a hunk who gets you. The romance was pretty awesome. And they totally have some chemistry right from the start. I will say that it was kinda predictable. But it's still adorable nontheless. So, all in all. Love it. Great combo of expression and writing. Emotions abound and there's quite a bit of action. Thumbs up!

Content: Mild (Some mile instances of language)

This is one action-packed, non-stop book. I swear every other page felt like we were on the run from something, or hiding, or fighting - and the pages that weren't were filled with the delicious tension of waiting for it to happen because you knew it was inevitable. The beginning does start out a little slow, but power through guys! Trust me that it will pick up, because we have to see the human side to Mila to understand just how difficult it is for her to come to terms that she's actually not one. And even though I do say it's 80% action and movement to 20% romance, the best part is how balanced this entire novel felt. Sure, you're speeding at a million miles a second, but I never felt rushed. I never felt like we were missing important details, and what was given to us is perfect.

I really loved all of Mila's Android capabilities, too - they're so much fun! I loved how she discovered or was told each one, and the part they all played. It was so creative, and her flaw of emotions were brilliant to see. There is one part that I'm not going to spoil, but let's just say we get to see what she's supposed to be versus how she's "too human," and it is fantastic. Such a great additional element to this story.

There's really not much else I can say about Mila 2.0, except this is an amazing debut from an equally amazing writer. You're immediately drawn in, and even though it is a hefty word count (almost 500 pages!), you won't even notice it. You fly through the pages because there's a certain ease to Debra's writing that just connects to you. Seriously, reading this is like watching a movie! There are so many fantastic scenes that have a great tension or emotion or feeling to it, and I can't recommend it enough.

And ok, like I could really do a review without talking about the love interests/boys (even if they are only 20% of the story)! They're not too big of a deal, but the scenes they are in? So good. I can easily fall in love with both of the boys that show up here, especially Lucas. He's got that nerdy scientist hot thing going - at least in my head, anyway haha. Their scenes are short, but meaningful, and I cannot wait to see what part they play in the rest of the trilogy.