An interesting book, I enjoyed it mostly because of the concept of touching somebody to find out their emotions. I will definitely be recommending this book to YA readers!

I recieved this book from Netgalley to read for an honest review. This book was somewhere between a 4.5 through a 5 star for me. Maybe even a 4.8.

I really liked the plot of the book. I'm not a math student by any means, but the plot was unique enough to immediately suck me in. A math nerd and an art student was a cute plotline! But wait, there's more. The math student can't touch people and she wants to find out why she has fractals or whatever they're called. I try to not give too much of the story line away, but the story line between these two characters made it a super cute read. It had me at the math jokes in the beginning of the book. The book also gets more intense later on, but again, I don't want to give away anything. I'd recommend this book to high schoolers and above, not to the middle schooler level. I also liked the other characters of the book as well.

There are two slight problems I had with this book though that made it not be quite a five star read for me. (They are only slight spoilers.) When the girl's best friend got a boyfriend, I didn't like the attitude the girl had. At one point of the book, she thought something like, "Oh, look at that! My best friend actually remembered to text me even though she has a new boyfriend and got all popular all of a sudden." I really didn't like that attitude at all because it teaches girls that it's ok to not be happy for their best friends when they do finally have that somebody special in their life. If they were really your best friend you should be happy for them and not try to push them away and act like that. I get that it's fiction and not everybody will see it like that though.

The other slight problem I had with this book was when the girl sacrified something important towards her future for a guy...it ended up being all right in the end, but when she first made the sacrifice I did want to smack her a little bit for doing that. (Again, don't want to give away many spoilers.)

I still really liked the book in the end though and thought it was a really cute read. It's definitely for people who like to read contemporary YA book. The author's style reminded me of Sarah Dessen's books, and I like her books as well. It was very close to a five star read for me.

While I did not exactly love doing math as a student, I like looking at equations, graphs and diagrams, and enjoy trying to solve mysteries. When I saw that the cover implied those + wordplay, well, then = yes to the power of 100.

Onto the characters, they are easy to like and relate to. I found the cast pretty special and diverse, and I picked up on the author’s best interest to bend some stereotypes such as on geniuses, artists, athletes, pastors, Christian families, big families, adoptive parents, troubled parents and the perfect all-American teen couple, among others.

Eva and Zenn’s voices stand out, and I appreciate how they are represented as funny, sarcastic, insightful, spiteful, hopeful and reckless all at the same time—multidimensional just like real people. I may not have squealed over them that much, but looking back, their romance is just right, perfectly paced to stay attuned with the rest that was going on in the story.

Speaking of the book as a whole, I enjoyed how engaging it is enough to make me have read it to the end in one sitting. It explores a lot of universal issues that both YA and adults can mull over and make sense of.

However, some parts were predictable and there were a few things here and there that made me flinch a little, although they are nothing unbearable. There also remained a few issues that went unresolved, and I felt like the author could have extended the story to address these instead of relying on an epilogue to sew everything together.

All in all, 'Zenn' Diagram by Wendy Brant promises math, paranormal and romance, but this book covers more than just diagrams, special abilities and swoons—it also brings you lessons in art, science, spirituality and life.

DNF

Mini review:

I received this E-ARC via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I had heard about this book through some friends' reviews. I decided to request it. Unfortunately I didn't like it.

I could not stand the MC. Her voice was annoying and she was so proud of herself. I have heard that she improves but I didn't care enough to see that.

I don't know whether I would recommend it. It's up to you.

Can we just agree that the Mathematical references in this book were just the bomb?

I got this from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, and my take is that it's a cute love story between Eva and Zenn, because when Math and Art collide you're bound to solve some mysteries.

What a cute, new YA romance with a little magical twist! Let me also say that I almost didn't read this because I am NOT a math person at ALL, but don't let that discourage you from reading this book! Its still great!!

Eva is a senior in high school living with her aunt and uncle (whom she calls Mom and Dad, because she was orphaned as an infant) and the 4 E's (her quad cousin/siblings). Gearing up to go to college, Eva is completing her applications and searching for scholarships and logging tutoring hours to put on her list of extracurriculars. But Eva is also special--one touch of a person or object and she can see its "fractal," telling her the person's emotions in one giant rush.

I really liked that this book had great characters--a fun best girlfriend, Charlotte, who we see stray to the world of popularity and then come back to the math savvy Eva. Zenn, who is a new kid in school, is full of secrets and surprises, who actually is a hard worker and who is an all-around great character. Both Eva's and Zenn's family (what we saw and found out about of them) were well-built. And Eva herself was an interesting and unique character!

This is a great great YA novel. To be a math geek is ok, to have (adoptive) parents who care, and close friends. A touch of the supernatural, a lot about relationships and forgiveness. It's the book this week I couldn't put down.

I was so annoyed with the main character's BS about not being like other girls, and seemingly mocking them, that i couldn't finish the book. Bummed. but that is my most hated trope!

Unfortunately cannot review this one due to not being able to access the file.

* I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Very sweet contemporary YA! Eva is a math genius who gets fractals when she touches anybody so avoids contact with people, even though this makes her come off as odd in her high school. While tutoring a new boy she is interested in, Zenn, she realizes she can touch him. Zenn was a great love interest for Eva, very likeable. I loved how they became friends quickly but slowly interested in each other.

I liked reading about Eva's backstory and I'm always a fan of books involving big families!! I did not predict the twist but thought it was great!

Would definitely recommend this as a great, clean YA novel, very enjoyable!!

This one really surprised me! I knew from the blurb that I'd enjoy this but I didn't know that I would enjoy this as much as I did. I really loved this one! I love the special "gift" Eva has...it was so different from anything I have read before AND then ZENN! He is wonderful. And the TWIST! Normally, I see the twists coming but I really didn't expect this one. Loved this book!

Love a good Love story! Sad that they couldn't be together.

First off, I would like to thank Kids Can Press for the ARC I received. I had gotten an E-ARC off of NetGalley but it was messed up and Kids Can Press offered to send me an ARC so I could still read it and give a honest review of it which was so nice of them. All thoughts on this book are my own.

I really loved the concept of this book, although admittedly the fact that Eva couldn’t touch anybody without getting a vision until Zenn comes along and he is the exception to this was kind of a cliché. Its something we see both in Twilight and in Shatter Me. I’m not saying that this is a bad thing just that it was a little predictable.

Now a couple of things I really liked about this book. I really liked how much it related to math, while I’m not the biggest fan of math it was just nerdy enough to work. I love how both Eva and Zenn relate to “fractals”, what with her seeing them and him painting them. I also loved how Eva’s and Zenn’s stories where connected. It was honestly not a connection that I saw coming.

I didn’t like the concept of sacrificing everything as a romantic gesture to each other, especially since they just recently met. I understand that they both felt they were doing it for the right reasons but still it threw me off.

I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

I went into this book with low expectations but this book definitely exceeded it. There were definitely ups and downs but the characters grew on me and in the end, I loved it!

Eva gets fractals when she touches anybody, due to this she maintains her distance from everybody until she meets Zenn. He is the only person she can touch. They are both different and a lot alike. The two starts to grow closer not knowing the secret that ties them together. When the truth gets revealed, it may shatter any hope of the possibility of a future they had hoped together.

The plot was refreshing and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Eva is different from everybody, whenever she touches anyone she gets a glimpse into their lives in the form of fractals. I didn't exactly know what exactly that was and I have to say, it definitely made this book more interesting. Due to the fractals, she gets major headaches sometimes among other things and because of that she mostly kept everybody at a distance. But I enjoyed the fact that she definitely used her fractals to her advantage as well, by learning where her student's problem lay in maths during her tutoring sessions. (Oh, how much I wish I was even a little bit good in maths like her...)

One of the things I didn't enjoy about this book was that nothing much practically happens in the first part of the book, we get to see the full of Zenn way later on. The second half of the book was way more interesting than the first half which made the first half a bit of a drag on.

Nonetheless, I pretty much loved the characters. Eva was definitely an interesting and Zenn was equally swoon-worthy. I loved how much they cared for each other and another thing which was refreshing was that they talked about the difficulties and problems that came into their way maturely. I kind of saw the plot twist coming which was a bummer. Anyway, their friendship developed slowly into something more which I absolutely loved and their chemistry was awesome! The ending was kind of cheesy but it left me satisfied.

Overall, Zenn Diagram was an enjoyable read. The plot was executed neatly and I fell in love with the characters. The romance between Zenn and Eva was absolutely amazing! The writing was smooth and easy to read though the pace was a little faster in the latter half of the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

What more can I say than this?: I absolutely loved and adored Zenn Diagram! In fact, it has made its way into my #1 read of 2017 so far this year! I have been reading a lot of thriller and suspense books lately, so it was a welcome change of pace when I started Zenn Diagram which is YA (Young Adult).

Eva is a loner in school by choice. She has a unique ‘gift’ (or is it a curse?) She can touch someone or something and then gets these visions and fractals (a repeating pattern that becomes clearer over time.) She tutors fellow students in Math because through these visions she can see where students are having their difficulties by simply touching their calculator. She also learns issues and secrets that she may not want to know. Needless to say she avoids touching others at all costs…. Until she meets Zenn, a boy in school that she begins to tutor.

Zenn Diagram is Wendy Brant’s first novel and it is a brilliant debut! I did not want to put it down. The characters are fully developed and you can’t help but adore both Eva and Zenn. Eva is smart and feisty, yet also lonely and frustrated. You really see through her how it can be not being able to touch someone. Her ‘aversion to touching’ has made her classmates believe she is a ‘germaphobe’, which puts her in that category of one the ‘weird kids’ in school.

Zenn is a hardworking guy and also very adorable. At first Eva isn’t sure what to think of him when she accidentally touches his jacket and gets an unpleasant fractal. Over time the relationship grows and a romance progresses. They are delightful together! It is a sweet romance that you can’t help but eat up and want more of. The issue of how can a romance occur if you can’t touch the other person is brought up. A conversation with Eva and some friends takes place involving consent in regard to physical contact, which seems to be becoming a more mainstream topic now. In that conversation there is a great analogy involving tea. Even though I don’t drink tea, you won’t think of it in the same way again. You want things to work out as Eva and Zenn are perfect for each other at this stage in their lives.

Zenn Diagram is more than just a sweet teenage romance. There are things in both Eva and Zenn’s lives that are far from perfect. There are things we don’t know about both of them at first and then Wendy Brant goes and pulls a twist from out of nowhere that I would have never suspected! It was exceptional! From that reveal there is a change of direction with the novel. When the novel was over I wanted more.

This is a brilliant first novel and I look forward to what Wendy Brant will bring us next!

Zenn Diagram is very highly recommended!

**I received an e-arc through NetGalley and a physical arc from Kids Can Press. Thank you so much for my copies!


**Note to Parents: Zenn Diagram is filled with ‘teenagers being teenagers’ and we see all the teen angst that occurs with teen relationships. In addition to the intimacy issues addressed there is language, but I feel neither is worse than what teenagers hear at school or see on television. There is no teen drinking or drug use in Zenn Diagram. There is language throughout the novel and yes the F-word is used. If you are worried about that then please read (and love) this book before giving to your kids. On my arc copy it recommends the book for ages 14-18, which I would agree with.

A very accomplished debut novel for young adults. Twists and turns. Multidimensional characters. It all adds up to an engrossing read.

Eva's voice is perfectly realistic and the situations, even those that are more unusual, still feel normal and possible. A great choice for readers who want romance, but prefer it to be grounded.

I absolutely adore this book! It was fun, well written, and the relationship between Zenn and Eva was pure bliss. It was a fast read, but mostly because I just couldn't put it down. This is not a typical genre for me either, but I was drawn to the math geek meets artist angle. I was also drawn to the fact that eva was the math geek, not Zenn given his name and everything.

I really like Eva, she was smart and witty and has an interesting talent. It would be really hard to see people's emotions and issues whenever you touch them. This really shapes Eva's character especially at the beginning of the story. As her relationship with Zenn grows, it becomes less of an issue. Although the summary says she is instantly drawn to Zenn, I think it is more that she finds him attractive, but the emotions she gets off his jacket makes her very wary of him. So there is a little insta-love in this book, but they really do work through the beginnings of a relationship, getting to know each other and such before the attraction grows into love.

I loved Zenn, he is definitely my kind of guy. Funny, artistic and doesn't really care what others think about him. He is so kind and gentle with Eva, especially when he finds out about her ability. He is also wonderful when it comes to their shared history, and how he wants to make things right. I think it would have been interesting to see some of the story from his point of view, but I also liked that he is something a mystery too. Hearing his side of the story might have given away the shared history too soon to the reader, so ok, I'm good.

So a great read, especially if you are looking for a smart, fun romance with a slight paranormal twist and a dark shared history between the characters.

I honestly didn't expect this book to be my cup of tea. I haven't read paranormal romance in a while. But it was really sweet, with its dialogue and the characters who delivered it. While might have been predictable at times, I was still invested in the story and what was going on in Eva's life. I'll admit, at first, the backstory was kind of confusing. But as the story progressed, and more was revealed, Eva's backstory became clear. I actually liked how that was laid out more than if there was just a lot of exposition at the beginning. Although there were a few things that needed explaining by the end of the novel...

While I did enjoy reading Eva's POV altogether, sometimes I wish I could get someone else's perspective. She can be really unintentionally judgy at times, which rubbed me the wrong way. It might be because she distances herself from people, so she never really gets to know them, but an idea of them. It was still a bit jarring at times to read about all these stereotypes about teenagers, girls and guys. But I notice that while Eva does live by these stereotypes, it doesn't mean that other characters have to adhere by them as well. Which is a relief, I might add! The secondary characters aren't just background noise in Eva's story, but actually bring their own issues to the table and become more fleshed out because of it.

As for Eva and Zenn's romance, even I did have my own qualms about it, I did enjoy reading how they met to every little development in their relationship. I thought they were a really good fit for each other! It's just that the ending doesn't address my main problem with their relationship, so I'm not as keen on it as I would have been otherwise...

So, that's my take on Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant. If you're searching for a nice and fluffy read, then look no further!

I really loved Eva. I loved her voice and the story telling. I liked how Eva's nerdy-ness (after the first chapter) was embedded in the story and not brought up every four seconds. I like that she didn’t immediately tell us Libby’s name was actually Elizabeth and that each of the quadruplet’s therefore had an E name. The story telling was so natural. A few times she felt out of character, but then she's a teenager and teenagers [read: humans] don't exactly make levelheaded personality based decisions every second, especially if they are going through something like Eva was.

In one of the texting conversations between Eva and Charlotte, Charlotte sent the question mark in a second text. That is so realistic and that's the sort of thing that makes me want to give a book five thousand stars. That's what I'm saying, that even though the story itself might not have been realistic the writing was.

It’s always easier to accept crazy soap opera plot lines when the characters themselves, and therefore the author, understand the craziness. There is a line to this, but Brant didn't cross it.

I have a protective nature towards religion--even if it's not mine--and I hate stories about religious leaders’ rebellious children who disagree with the lifestyle/religion. But somehow…Wendy Brant did this tastefully. Even though it doesn’t sound like something you could possibly do tastefully. I think it was because she didn't make Eva's dad uppity or self righteous.

The epilogue was perfect, even if the last chapter wrapped up a bit too quickly.

But...you knew there would be a but.

I absolutely hate the I-can't-have-a-relationship-because-of-this-reason-but-wait-I-actually-can trope. The exception. Plus...no one seemed to think this ability is that weird. I mean, there's synesthesia but it's not really comparable. And no reason was given in Zenn Diagram. I always seem to get past this and love the story anyway [read: Shatter Me] but it annoys me. So much. So much that I didn't even really describe this complaint very well.

The beginning was a little slow and the end was a little rushed. The side characters and even Zenn were a little cliché, excepting Josh who I thought was interesting. We had the, again, cliché protagonist who isn't like the other girls and isn't interested in the same things. There were lots of stereotypical minor characters that helped support this.

Well, my thoughts on this book are all over the place, so I'll end with this calligraphy worthy quote:
“I like the library.”
“Obviously.”
“I do. I like it better than I like most people.”