Altered by Jennifer Rush

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 336
Series: Altered #1
Review Source: Finished copy for review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

My Thoughts:
To be honest my first thought when I read about this book was “a book full of hot boys? yes please!” (which actually sounds kind of pervy considering they’re teen boys... hmm). Add in genetic alterations, government conspiracy, and some romance and I was totally sold on this book. Thankfully I can say that ‘Altered’ did not disappoint. It was exciting and kept me flipping the pages as the boys and Anna tried to find clues and solve riddles in order to find answers and, ultimately, safety.

I loved how each of the guys had distinct personalities and different types of relationships with Anna. I also loved how the boys related to each other; they were tight like brothers, despite being physically separated for so long. The romance in the book between Anna and Sam didn’t end up being my favourite (it seemed sudden once you realize some of the character motivations), but it was still sweet, and I look forward to seeing more of these characters together.

There’s a killer twist closer to the end of the book that I actually didn’t see coming. I love it when a book can surprise me, because so often I seem to guess the “twists and turns” -- I think it’s a hazard from reading so much. However, I feel like even if you did manage to figure it out it still wouldn’t ruin the story: it would just make it more interesting to see when the characters will figure it out or have it revealed. There are so many different secrets and mysteries in the book that it was a real pleasure to try and unravel them all.

‘Altered’ is all about conspiracy and secrets and trying to survive. The book is completely action-packed with the main characters being on the run and having to fight for that survival. Overall it was exactly what I was looking for at the time, and I really enjoyed it.

The Cover:
Gorgeous!! Even better in person, too.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Altered by Jennifer Rush on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.