Book Review- Perfect Ruin

I just finished reading Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting

too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

I have been in such a reading slump lately.  I haven't been excited to pick up the books I've been reading.  And I couldn't really get into anything.  Until I picked up Perfect Ruin.  This book got my out of my slump, and quickly!

I absolutely love this story.  I loved the plot and the characters.  I loved the writing.  Just a great all-around book.

The plot is completely original.  A whole city up in the clouds.  The people who live in the city know about the ground but aren't allowed to try to get there.  In fact, those that do try, are called "Jumpers" and are almost disgraced.  It was so neat to read about this world and it's rules.  The whole idea of being betrothed seems archaic yet in this world there's something romantic about it.  How this person is perfect for you and you've known it since birth.

And then I loved all the characters.  Morgan is the perfect main character.  She's got her own dreams and notions yet down to earth.  (I just realized that might not be the perfect analogy for this book..lol).  And her best friend is the perfect sidekick.  Pen who is always there for her and strong yet slightly naïve when it comes to their world.  Basil is the perfect guy.  He is completely in tune with Morgan.  He knows her feelings and is completely there for her, even when others wouldn't be.

There were a couple of turns in this book but nothing drastic.  It just flowed so well and made me want not want to put the book down.  The ending leaves me wanting to know what is going to happen next--I don't want to wait.  This is definitely my favorite book of the year!!

I gave this book a rating of 4.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 50
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 29
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 39

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.