Stitch by Samantha Durante

Stitch by Samantha Durante  (1 in Stitch Trilogy) 3.5 STARS

Synopsis :Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.
Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.
Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

Overall-
Okay, this one was really a struggle, in more than one way. I had seen such good reviews on Goodreads, that when the book finally went on sale (free) for a week I snatched it up! I was really excited to start reading it too. But once I started, I just couldnt get into it. I stuck it out though, the reviews promised it got good, I just had to stay with it. What they didnt tell me is that I had to read 50% of the book before it got good! I know from other books lately that there is a lot of build up that all plays in to final chapters of the book. their purpose is to ensure the reader gets a full picture, weaving the different points into the story for later use. Ms. Durante did a great job of this and I was blown away with the second half of the book, Im so glad I stuck it out!!! I loved how the different pieces of the story came back later, and felt so real. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy! I cant wait to see whats in store for Alessa and Isaac now!

Cover- Somewhat Intriguing...
Rating PG
Characters: Alessa, Isaac 
Page Turner: towards the end 
Series Cont.? yes 
Book Boyfriend: Isaac
Genre: Dystopian, sci-fi, futuristic 
Sex Scenes:Nope
Setting- College town 

Dave Franco as Isaac

Plot- It was clear to me though from the beginning that something was amiss. Things just werent fitting together for me. Alessas descriptions of certain things felt out of place or abnormal, and the book felt like it was dragging. This was clue number 1 that it was all a set up. I knew from reading other similar books that this was the authors set up for the next two books and that things would eventually pick up. And boy did they! I was so impressed with the authors ability to weave the different pieces of the story together, plugging certain information from Alessa's beginning journey into the later story. I really liked the flashback pieces too. At first they didnt make sense, but as I started getting deeper into the story I realized that they were more flashbacks than dreams. These served more of a purpose for the reader I think, for the reader to start picking up on the pieces and putting them together, just like Alessa, which I think is quite impressive for the author to be able to do.

There were times that I wanted to throw the book down in anguish and annoyance, and at times I felt like the characters were being dumb. But it all worked out in the end, in a way that I enjoyed. I will say though, I was slightly confused with the wall thing, and getting out. But I dont want to spoil it for anyone who is reading this and hasnt read the book. So, while I admit I didnt feel much for Alessa at first, but the author surprised me towards the end, and I really fell for the love story and the characters really drew me in, I couldnt put the book down once I was in on the secret, and I cant wait for the rest of the series!!!

Alessa- Willa Holland

Characters-
Alessa- In the beginning I found Alessa annoying, and boring. But once the secret came out I really started to like her, she came out of this funk, the dream state I felt like she was in, and her personality really started to shine through, her strength and tenacity became evident. Alessa was quiet and peaceful at first, but then she became quite the leader and really showed her strength. I was really impressed with the turnaround! She was fiesty and loyal, but she was also smart, her personality reminds me of tris from Divergent, she is a lover, a fighter and has a loyal and passionate heart. I look forward to her next adventure!

Isaac- For the most part, I feel like Im just getting to know Isaac and havent really figured him out yet. From what  have gathered he seems like a good guy, a loving and caring friend and brother, and loyal to his friends and family. Im not sure if hes a fighter or not yet, but I suspect he is and that well see more of it in the next book. Im led to believe that the 2nd book will be similar to Article 5, so Im looking forward to that and Im looking forward to getting to know Isaac better in the next book. I felt like his role in this book was a little too simple, with not enough complexity and layers, but Im certain that his role will become larger in the next and that we will get to know him better.

What I didnt Like...
It was slow, and dragged throughout the first half of the book.
I wanted more love.
I wanted more of their interaction and their story, or just Isaac in general!
The age of everyone, they are like 25!
The escape/wall was really confusing to me.
Part of me wishes that the first novel would have been the love story and that this one could be the second novel, over coming the stitch and this false reality...