Figment

by Elizabeth Woods

Zoe’s parents have never liked her boyfriend, Davis. But would they lie to get rid of him? Would they say, “Davis is dead,” even if they knew it wasn’t true? In Elizabeth Woods’s breath-taking thriller Figment, seventeen-year-old Zoe will do anything to be with her boyfriend, Davis. And he’ll do anything to be with her—even fly to London, where her parents have whisked her away for the summer. But for Zoe and Davis to stay together, they must be careful. Her parents will stop at nothing to keep them apart, and Zoe realizes they might not be the only ones. As the lies start to spin out of control, Zoe doesn’t know who she can trust. Even Davis has his secrets. But most terrifying of all, Zoe starts to worry her own mind is playing tricks on her. . . . Both an irresistible romance and a nail-biting thriller, Figment delivers a new twist on forbidden love, in a world where the truth is as unpredictable as love itself.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2012

About the author

Choker is Elizabeth Woods' debut novel. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Reviews

[S.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have a story of a girl who refuses to give up on Davis, her juvenile delinquent of a boyfriend, at the same time trying to make sense and come to terms with fragments of the truth revealed through her nightmares of the accident which separated them. In the meantime, she meets another boy named Oliver who is someone her parents approve of, but whom she will not give up Davis for. To say the least, my first impressions of this book were not good - I did not understand Zoe’s obsession with Davis or the cold treatment she gave her parents despite them making so many sacrifices for her.

However, as my reading progressed, I was drawn in by the author’s writing ability, both in style and execution. It’s simply written, yet still engaging. The author not also weaved in the nightmare sequences from time to time without confusing the reader, but did so in a way that captures interest in increasing doses and keeps the reader guessing until the end. And throughout it all, the storytelling remained tight and the narration clear and vivid.

I picked this book for reading because my elder daughter asked me to recommend her good teenage books. It’s certainly worth recommending. Exact rating : 3.5

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. The parts that are concentrated on Zoe's relationship with Davis, with her intense longing for him, and with the conflict between her and her parents over him are really good. The subplot with Davis's less savory activities did absolutely nothing for me.

[kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @20%

I won’t lie. I was skeptical about this book given that there are so few reviews and ratings for something published in 2012, and none of them are five stars. That being said, I couldn't finish it. I wanted to like it because of the plot and the first chapter reeled me in ... but then it lost me. It felt like it was dragging and slow to the point where I didn't care to finish it so I didn't.