REVIEW: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

The novels follow the story of Lila, a 17-year-old with the power of telekinesis, and Alex, her brother’s best friend and long-time love interest. When a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila runs away to Southern California, where Alex and her brother are working for a secret organisation called The Unit and searching for the men who killed Lila’s mother five years before. Lila unwittingly becomes embroiled in the hunt and a suspenseful murder mystery ensues.

Oh how much did I absolutely adore this book?! It isn't published until August, but after reading an early review of this book I was desperate to both get my hands on a copy and to read it. Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson is SUCH an exciting read filled with action and romance and so many plot twists that I was nearly left breathless at times!

After the death of Lila's mother, Lila is forced to move to London with her distant father. She is seperated from the two constants in her life - her older brother, Jack and Jack's best friend, Alex. So when Lila is the victim of a mugging whilst in London, and things take a worrying turn, the first thing Lila thinks to do is rush off to sunny LA for a visit with Jack and Alex in order to get her head straight.

I think Lila's telekinesis (moving things with her mind), is really quite cool, but I love how Alderson injects some seriousness into the situation and not making it overblown or very romanticised. Lila isn't able to control this skill and very nearly takes someone's eye out and she is left visibly shaked by her percieved consequences. I really loved Lila right from the beginning. I loved this moral struggle she has with the telekinesis. She's rather impulsive and stubborn and rash. She's also funny and likeable and I was on her side from the beginning.

After the mugging, Lila really questions herself and her ability. In California, she vows to give up the telekinesis cold-turkey. But what she finds in LA, is a lot more complex than she could ever have imagined. Her brother, Jack and his best friend Alex are marines working in a special Unit involved in some aspect of the murder of Jack and Lila's mother years before. But even so, that doesn't quite explain the paranoia Jack has of keeping Lila safe at all times, with a constant watch on her. Lila doesn't seem to mind, when her minder ends up being Alex, the boy she's loved since forever. I love that I was never quite sure what would be happening next in the story, as Lila questions the things going on around her and uncovers some hard truths about what the Unit is really investigating and who is behind the murder of her mother. The mystery aspect of Hunting Lila was done so well, I was left guessing so many times and can honestly say I didn't see it all coming! The surprise and the twistiness of the plot made everything that much exciting and fun to uncover.

And I really loved this thing between Lila and Alex. Alex is such a swoonworthy character (being a hot Marine who is loyal and who rides a motorcycle) and he just ends up looking hotter and hotter, especially as learn of the Lila's childhood memories that have been the cause of her very strong feelings for him. This build-up between them even though Lila is convinced it is all one-sided, had me all tied-up in emotions. I really wanted Lila to just say something already!

This book was so much fun to read, it was impossible for me to put down and I was on the edge of my seat on this roller-coaster ride of a book. I started it in the late afternoon and ending up staying up well past my bedtime in order to finish because I needed to know what would happen. It was the perfect blend of mystery, romance and thrilling action sequences and I can highly recommend this book!