Hunting Lila (Lila, #1)

Sep 01, 2011 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-suspense, paranormal, young-adult-fiction, cliffhanger, read-in-2011, pure-entertainment, did-not-see-that-coming, romance, given-away, series-lost-interest

What is there to say about Hunting Lila? It is an interesting mix of paranormal, science fiction and romance (focusing heavily on the latter), featuring an exciting cast of side characters and a (sometimes a little bratty) heroine with a (rather cool) superpower she doesn't dare tell anyone about. Let's say X-Men meets romantic comedy.

I did like Hunting Lila, especially the second half, enough to be interested in reading the sequel. I did not love it, though, for several reasons.

First off, the s...more What is there to say about Hunting Lila? It is an interesting mix of paranormal, science fiction and romance (focusing heavily on the latter), featuring an exciting cast of side characters and a (sometimes a little bratty) heroine with a (rather cool) superpower she doesn't dare tell anyone about. Let's say X-Men meets romantic comedy.

I did like Hunting Lila, especially the second half, enough to be interested in reading the sequel. I did not love it, though, for several reasons.

First off, the standard "We can't tell you because it's too dangerous for you". No, thank you. I just can't stand it. Especially when it turns into "I will tell you a little bit so that you are even more curious, but I just can't tell you everything, sorry". Gaaah! It makes me want to bang my head against a wall.

Then, Lila herself. Sometimes, she had an affinity to sulk a little too much, to come across as a spoiled brat. She wasn't angry without reason, and I understood her frustration when not being told the truth, but some of the decisions she made just weren't that … thought through. They made her seem young for her seventeen years. Still, I felt with her and I can't say her faults made me dislike her in any way. They made me roll my eyes sometimes, but then a few pages later, I would be furious on her behalf.

Another thing – the romance. Okay, Alex is hot. He is swoonworthy (seriously, I think this was the first book I ever read that actually used the word swoonworthy itself to describe a character). He has a great chest. He has amazing blue eyes. Was it mentioned that he's hot?? Yes? Okay, just to make it clear: He is hot.
Eh, yes. Thank you. I got it. Not that I have anything against hot male characters in books, but please, I would like to see for myself. I do not want to be told every five pages. Lila and Alex definitely had chemistry, and I just love their kind of love story, but that killed the thing for me in parts. Also, slight evidence of "It is not right for us to be together" syndrome. But he got over it pretty quickly ;). All in all, as I might add, the book was a just bit too heavy on physical description. And of course everyone was beautiful. Tsk. What else.

You notice that I have quite some things to complain about. Still, I was thoroughly entertained. I loved some of the side characters introduced towards the end, and I was definitely glued to the pages during the fast-paced last third of the book. This book is not particularly deep, but it was positively a lot of fun to read.

Random thoughts: For those of you who have read it, do you remember that one scene fairly at the beginning when Lila wakes up, goes down to the kitchen and finds Alex there? They make tea. She puts the kettle on the stove. They talk. They decide to got to bed. The kettle is never mentioned again. Am I just too blind to notice what happened to their tea? If not, I'm glad the house didn't burn down.(less)

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Aug 27, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, review-copy, scb-read, romance-awww, supernatural, series, favourite-of-2011, favourites, read-in-2011, swoon-worthy-read

Even before I had finished my review I have already done a book boyfriend post on Alex! Please click on link if you want a visual of Alex :) http://irresistiblereads.blogspot.com...

Favourite Quote: He bent his head and in a voice that Jack couldn't hear, said, "When you came down the stairs and fell into me, that was the moment.'" Then his lips pressed against mine.

Wow! Hunting Lila is such an awesome read. It is a fast paced, entertaining, intensely readable story that is completely addictive.

A...more Even before I had finished my review I have already done a book boyfriend post on Alex! Please click on link if you want a visual of Alex :) http://irresistiblereads.blogspot.com...

Favourite Quote: He bent his head and in a voice that Jack couldn't hear, said, "When you came down the stairs and fell into me, that was the moment.'" Then his lips pressed against mine.

Wow! Hunting Lila is such an awesome read. It is a fast paced, entertaining, intensely readable story that is completely addictive.

Alderson has some dazzling story telling skills. I was completely absorbed in this tale and was unable to put it down until the last page. It has a fantastic mix of supernatural powers, suspense, mystery, action and romance. While the supernatural theme in Hunting Lila has an familiar yet enjoyable feel I thought the military element added an interesting element. Hunting Lila also has an upper YA feel too which makes it great read for those of us who are no longer a young adult but still love our YA.

Lila has a genuine and strong narrative makes her instantly likeable. Easy to relate too especially when it comes to her love life (who hasn't crushed on someone older or someone they have know for years?) and she is also a lot of fun. Then we have Alex. Protective, smart and caring (and it doesn't hurt that he is gorgeous too). There is also a well rounded bunch of secondary characters that I am looking forward to getting to know better in the next installment.

The romance is Hunting Lila was perfect. I was swooning at that dreamy and slightly sexy romance within the first couple of chapters. Lila and Alex had believable and sizzling chemistry together with a relationship that moved at the right pace.

Oh and what an ending! Alderson throws us an unexpected twist that leaves me craving book #2 now despite it not being a cliffhanger ending.

Overall, Hunting Lilia is an engaging and passionate read. I suggest you run out and grab a copy of this impressive debut immediately. (less)

36 likes · like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Arlene by: Street Corner Bookers - Group Read

Shelves: street-corner-pick, read-2011, ya-paranormal, young-adult

Fast paced and completely out of control!!

Wow, now that’s what I call entertainment! Sarah Alderson spared no expense in delivering an explosive story filled with tons of action, constant intrigue and a strong cast of characters, some of which have a few supernatural powers up their sleeve. What more can you ask for? Hunting Lila felt like a wild adventure on the brink of spiraling out of control at every turn of the page. Definitely entertaining!

In this book we meet Lila who has a secret she’s...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Nomes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, faves-of-2011, i-own, love-the-premise, paranormal-stuff, pure-escapism, riding-the-older-ya-vibe, swoon-worthy-crushes, uk-ya, kindle

Hunting Lila was a little bit like watching a teen movie: a fun blend of romance and soft-thriller-action. I'm labeling it as a popcorn munchie type movie[book]: a little bit swoony, smiley, action-y and definitely addictive. It even features some twist-y turn-y plot revelations in the end, adding some unpredictability and a bit of oomph to the climax.

I actually pretty much read this all in one go. It completely suited my mood at the time. I read a fair few adult thrillers and while Hunting Lila...more

24 likes · like · see review

Oct 12, 2011 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, moments-of-great-frustration, my-flat-army, ya, reviewed-in-2011, own-a-dtb, i-have-superpowers

Lila’s mother was brutally murdered when Lila was only 12 years old. Her father, stricken with grief, left her brother to live with his best friend Alex in the United States, but dragged Lila with him to London. While away from her brother and Alex, with whom she’s been in love for as long as she can remember, Lila discovers that she possesses a unique talent – psychokinesis. She is able to keep her ability secret until one day, in a dark London alley, two teenagers try to mug her and she uses i...more Lila’s mother was brutally murdered when Lila was only 12 years old. Her father, stricken with grief, left her brother to live with his best friend Alex in the United States, but dragged Lila with him to London. While away from her brother and Alex, with whom she’s been in love for as long as she can remember, Lila discovers that she possesses a unique talent – psychokinesis. She is able to keep her ability secret until one day, in a dark London alley, two teenagers try to mug her and she uses it to defend herself. Not knowing what to do and where to hide, Lila gets on the first plane to California, where she hopes to find safety with her brother, and of course, with Alex. But her brother and Alex aren’t exactly normal 22-year-olds. They are both US Marines, working for the highly-trained, top-secret Unit. As soon as their enemies find out that Lila is Jack’s sister, she finds herself in even more danger than before.

Hunting Lila is deliciously shallow. Not a single thing in it made me think twice, helped me broaden my horizons, or any of that other nonsense we usually expect from books. :D But I was literally unable to put it down whole day yesterday. I did all my daily chores using just one hand, all the while holding my e-reader in the other. (view spoiler)

Usually, I don’t much care for characters who get far too obsessed with a boy, to the point of losing all sense and making idiotic choices. Somehow, with Lila, it didn’t bother me as much. Perhaps it was because the whole thing was spiced up with so much well-written action. Perhaps it was because Alex truly is swoon-worthy. Perhaps I don’t even care about the reason. As a character, Lila is instantly likeable. I wouldn’t say that she’s too bright, but she’s not annoyingly stupid either. I was able to really relate to her from the very beginning, and I ended up caring about all the characters, even some I never expected to.

This is one of those stories where all the houses are nice, all the characters are pretty, and true love really does conquer all, but it also packs a few surprises and smartly-written dialogues. It’s a book I’ll definitely reread when I’m too tired to focus on anything demanding. I also can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
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Sep 09, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-lit, fantasy

3.5 stars

This is what I can tell you about Hunting Lila:
don't go into it with too many profound, life-changing expectations. A dialogue concerning the two chief World systems it is not.
What you should expect is a lot of fun, in the form of a lot of action à la X-men, a good deal of mystery, a paranormal element, some forevah and evah love and a swoonworthy guy.

When somebody murdered her mother five years earlier under unclear circumstances, Lila and her father moved back to England, his home c...more 3.5 stars

This is what I can tell you about Hunting Lila:
don't go into it with too many profound, life-changing expectations. A dialogue concerning the two chief World systems it is not.
What you should expect is a lot of fun, in the form of a lot of action à la X-men, a good deal of mystery, a paranormal element, some forevah and evah love and a swoonworthy guy.

When somebody murdered her mother five years earlier under unclear circumstances, Lila and her father moved back to England, his home country, leaving behind Lila's brother, Jack, but most of all Jack's best friend, Lila's crush of all crushes, Alex.
Lila is now 17 and gifted with some "abilities" which she barely controls. After an attempted mugging risks to turn into tragedy, Lila finally loses it and takes the first plane back to California, to her brother Jack and Alex.
But from the frying pan, Lila jumps straight into the fire.
In a whirlwind of action, Alex, black ops, Alex, kidnappings, Alex, guys with "abilities" and... well, Alex, Lila will uncover the stunning truth about her mysterious gift and the secret behind her mother's death.

So... Alex.
As I was saying, I really liked this book, it's a lot of fun. But to say that this girl is plagued by raging teen hormones would be a serious understatement. By half book, I was kind of smiling benignly at Lila for spending 99.9% of her time, while in absurdly dangerous situations, lusting after Alex. They're trying to kill you girl, get a grip, for chrissake. He's hot, I agree, but she describes his eyes with stroboscopic effects.
Also, I thought Lila was very puerile to be 17. She really did not sound like a girl that age but much more immature. A tad whiny and with serious concentration issues.

Still, this is a book I'd recommend because you will find it hard to put down, fast-paced and funny. The perfect read to kick back on your couch after a long day of work and relax, for a few hours of thoughtless, unadulterated fun.

Will surely pick up the next book, I want to see how she keeps up the romance.
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Sep 04, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, uk, own, 2011-reads, favorites

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Reasons you should read Hunting Lila:

- It's way different than the usual paranormal! Your first indication should be the lovely cover, which doesn't feature the cliché ~~moody-looking~~ girl wearing a prom dress ~~in the middle of the woods~~. ;) And how can you not be lured in by the cover? Those red heels are HOT!

- American characters speaking fancy British words like mum (for mom) and vest (for undershirt) and using what we Americans like to call mil...more

15 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-or-paranormal, fantasy-or-pn-favourites, romance, paranormal

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as a book that manages to live up to the hype. I had high expectations for this book – like, really high - as practically everyone I had spoken to had nothing but good things to say about this book. For several weeks now I had been slowly recognising the thick buzz emanating off this book and it had me eager enough to buy myself a copy. All I regret now is not having read it sooner. Hunting Lila more than met my expectations and delivered the mesmerizing story...more

29 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2011 Trinity rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-i-love, favourite, intense, e-book, sawoon, young-adult, swim-fan, paranormal, 2011, awesome-sauce, lets-hear-it-for-the-boys, up-all-night

Dear Sarah Alderson
Would it be weird if I told you I'd like to move into your head so I can hang out with Lila & Alex more?
Yeah...that's a bit weird.

I loved this book. I don't think everyone will. BUT if you are looking for a really fun, action packed, swooning read then pick up this book, DO IT.

Lila was a great protag, I related to her hopeless crushing all too well. She was a tad annoying at times but I forgave her cos that's what best friends do. So the deal is that she can move things Al...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Ariana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: x, paranormal, series

This book was so damn cute.
I know that the author's intentions were never for me to find this story just 'cute', but without taking in account all the paranormal activity and mystery, the book is more or less about this girl, Lila (one of the most innocent characters - as far back as I can remember reading about), trying to run from herself, from her past, in the same time running to the only people she can trust with her life: her brother and his awesome, good-looking, red-motorcycle-driver bes...more

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Leanna (Daisy Chain Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

A fast paced electrifying debut, Sarah Alderson’s Hunting Lila sizzles right from the very first page with non-stop action and a seriously hot romance that will take your breath away. I couldn’t get enough of this one, and I guarantee that if you love gripping page-turners with feisty heroines and seriously hot guys, then you will adore this book!

Read the full review on my blog: http://daisychainbookreviews.blogspot...

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Aa'Ishah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, reviewed

3.5 stars

You know how people say they're going to try not to go into a book with high expectations? People like me, that is. Well, it's easier said than done. And it almost always ends in disappointment. Hunting Lila is a perfect example of this. I was so psyched to be holding this after all the high ratings and amazing reviews I'd read, particularly by some trusted GR friends. Sadly, I found this book lacking.

Lila is a telekinetic. After a mugging reveals the ability she's been trying to hide f...more 3.5 stars

You know how people say they're going to try not to go into a book with high expectations? People like me, that is. Well, it's easier said than done. And it almost always ends in disappointment. Hunting Lila is a perfect example of this. I was so psyched to be holding this after all the high ratings and amazing reviews I'd read, particularly by some trusted GR friends. Sadly, I found this book lacking.

Lila is a telekinetic. After a mugging reveals the ability she's been trying to hide for years, she flees to California where her brother Jack and his best friend Alex are. Having barely enough time to recover from the mugging, she learns that they have been looking for the people who murdered her mother. More than that, they've found them. And now Lila herself is being hunted. In a series of twists and turns, and a lot of running, she soon discovers that appearances are not always reliable.

Alderson wastes no time in cutting straight to the action, burning an impression on us from the very first page. The thing about that is that you expect it to be consistent, but the opening was impressive nevertheless. Few books get straight to the point so quickly, even fewer do it successfully. Soon after, however, I was instead struck by how the writing didn't seem to flow. I hoped this would improve and to be fair, it did - to an extent. Transitions were another thing I don't think the author was particularly successful at; events, actions, places or pieces of information would suddenly jump from one to another with no bridge between them.

I can't say I felt a huge connection to Lila. When she wasn't thinking about Alex, who she was in love with, she focused on the task at hand, which was definitely a plus point. Granted, she spent a lot of time trying to distance herself from and minimalise her part in situations, but she was determined to find out the truth about what was going on. I liked that persistence; it made her a stronger character. And eventually, she stopped running. She realised that she was a part of this fight and that the best thing she could do was accept that responsibility. I definitely liked seeing that change in her.

But that was the problem - she spent too much time thinking about Alex. Whenever something happened, or something important came up, she was too easily distracted by thoughts of him. Quite frankly, I found it very annoying. She could be quite childish about him, and made some assumptions that were both ridiculous and obviously wrong. Her obsession got in the way of letting the reader know more about her - like what it was like coming back to America and seeing her brother years later; like reflecting on her mother's murder. Important information like that was rushed, which meant we only really got to see one side of her in depth, and therefore hard to connect to. However, the relationship between Lila and Alex was unhurried and sweet; while I wasn't swooning, I liked that he was gentle and respected Lila enough to tell her the truth. His behaviour towards her, and their subsequent relationship, were realistic, making it all the more believable. I loved, too, the bond between Lila and Jack.

One of the great things about this book was how unpredictable it was. As I was reading it, I thought I knew who the good guys were and who the bad guys were, and that I had a fairly reasonable grip on what was going on - only to find out that I, like our three main characters, had got it completely wrong. I have to say, the last 60 pages were probably my favourite section of the book. It had action, emotion and surprise, all of which completely drew me in. I loved the tension that was created, and the opening made for the sequel. The ending is where I started to see character development and to feel more of a connection to the characters - all of them.

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped I would, it remained an engaging read nevertheless. I felt no great enthusiasm for Lila, but I didn't hate her either. The plot line itself was great, and the fact that it wasn't predictable meant that I was actually kept on the edge of my seat at times. All the elements that I felt were disappointing built up to an end which made me more than happy, and it definitely has me wanting to read the second one.

This review is also posted on my blog.(less)

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Sep 22, 2011 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, own, kindle, ya-paranormal-romance

I felt his other hand sear hot against my cheek. He bent his head, and in a voice that Jack couldn’t hear, said, “When you came down the stairs, and fell into me, that was the moment.” Then his lips pressed against mine.

Can I rate this book a 10? I loved this book, honestly, I loved it. This is one of them books that seriously takes you by surprise and blows you away. I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant when I first heard about it but after seeing so many awesome reviews, I knew this was a book I...more I felt his other hand sear hot against my cheek. He bent his head, and in a voice that Jack couldn’t hear, said, “When you came down the stairs, and fell into me, that was the moment.” Then his lips pressed against mine.

Can I rate this book a 10? I loved this book, honestly, I loved it. This is one of them books that seriously takes you by surprise and blows you away. I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant when I first heard about it but after seeing so many awesome reviews, I knew this was a book I wanted to try. And yep, if you can’t already tell I was definitely not disappointed.

Hunting Lila is Sarah Alderson’s debut novel and let me tell you, it doesn’t feel like a debt novel. Sarah’s style of writing is easy to follow, exciting and very interesting. She knows how to deliver great characters, she knows how to deliver an explosive storyline and build up the suspense, and of course, she knows how to deliver a romance that will leave you breathless. All of these things make this book, one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Our main character Lila is a great protagonist. We first see her in London, being mugged by teenage boys and unfournately because of her situation she is about to use her gifts to stop the boys, but she soon stops when she realises she could actually hurt them. This then leads her to jumping on a plane to visit her brother and his best friend Alex. Lila keeps her gifts a secret from both Jack and Alex but most of all she’s been keeping another secret…..she’s been in love with Alex for years. While trying to keep her secrets safe, Lila can’t help but start questioning what her brother and Alex are really up too. And when she finally gets her answers, she sure is unsure of who she can trust.

Lila is a lovable character, one that you feel very connected with throughout this book. He love for Alex is undeniable and helps her get through the hard days. It’s safe to say Alex is her rock throughout this book, even in times of doubt he’s still the first person she will turn too. Now, Alex is….well….let’s just say, he sure is going to be a hit with the female readers. I adored him! He first comes across of as the big brother type, very protected of Lila and that’s how he tries to keep things between them. But again that undeniable attraction between them is unavoidable and that then leads to a loving and tender relationship between the character, and it’s one that will make your heart melt. Yep, I totally fell for Alex! I love him.

The story has a very strong plot that leaves readers questioning what’s real and what’s not. There are unexpected twists and turns that jump out at you and leave you dying to know more. There are scenes that will make you heart break but then there’s scenes that will have you jumping for joy but most of all, the ending. The ending will leave you dying to know more because Sarah Alderson throws in a huge twist, that I honestly didn’t see coming. I was left a little speechless.

Overall, Hunting Lila is an awesome book and the fact that I actually devoured this book within 24 hours because of how good it was, I now urge you guys to……GO AND BUY THIS BOOK!! It’s not one you want to miss out on and I can’t wait for August 2012, when I can get my hands on book 2.
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Nov 01, 2011 Eunice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: damn-gorgeous-males, death-tragedy-suicide, favourites, obsessed-with, paranormal, ya-romance, young-adult

5 of 5 stars

This book is freaking cool! Like really really cool. It's like I got hold of an advance-tech, sophisticated gadget, a newly invented video game, or a high-end, atomic bomb-proof car! Yeah, that kind of cool! If you get what I mean. Oh well, anyway, this book is not like any ordinary young-adult novel. With its parapsychology and pseudoscience science concept, this book definitely went beyond just being awesome. :DD

I got totally hooked up by this book. Everything was just so cool and...more 5 of 5 stars

This book is freaking cool! Like really really cool. It's like I got hold of an advance-tech, sophisticated gadget, a newly invented video game, or a high-end, atomic bomb-proof car! Yeah, that kind of cool! If you get what I mean. Oh well, anyway, this book is not like any ordinary young-adult novel. With its parapsychology and pseudoscience science concept, this book definitely went beyond just being awesome. :DD

I got totally hooked up by this book. Everything was just so cool and exciting. The concept was great and really interesting, the parapsychology thing really got me. I was so excited with everything and with the abilities of the characters. All the characters are so lovable! (Well, except for Rachel) LOL. I just love them all especially Lila, Suki and Nate. And of course Alex! (Fangirling strikes in!)

Lila was so adorable, she's strong, funny and really cute! She knows about her ability and she kind of accepts it but also knows that she's always not in control of it and that it could be dangerous. Her thoughts were really funny and her reactions were really cute (especially when its about Alex) and I can't help myself but grin and laugh at that. I loved her relationship with his brother, Jack. He's totally overprotected to her but not really the irritating type. They were so close and really care for each other. I find it really sweet whenever Jack said he love her little sister (not the sister-complex type, just a real brother-sister relationship)Haha! And then there's Alex.(Fangirling striking in again!) His brother's best friend, whom she has been in love her whole life. Their age gap was a bit big, 4 of 5 years? But it doesn't really matter once you start reading this and met him and found out that he's seriously swoon-worthy! LOL. The last part was totally...*swoons*! And I just totally love how their relationship developed.

And the twist about Demos group was cool. I found myself loving all of them once the revelation kicked in. Especially Nate and Suki. Really funny and cute, and not to mention their abilities are kick ass! Haha.

And yes, the last part was a total action and I just so loved it. Really cool and and entertaining, its like I was watching a real action-filled movie. The characters are all magnificent and they all seemed like a bad ass movie-stars. LOL. >:DD

I applaud Alderson for doing such a great and smart job. A story you would definitely crave for more! Enjoyed it very much. Perfect 5 stars for this book! :))

This review is also posted at Book Overdose (less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

With memorable characters, a sweet romance and an exhilarating plot - Hunting Lila is a fantastic read. The cover is what drew me to read this novel at first. It's unique, sexy and mysterious. Once I read the premise that described a girl with special abilities and lots of excitement. I knew I had no choice but to read it.

Going into this, with the incredible reviews and feedback it's been getting, I had high hopes. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. Lila has a great plot that swept me...more With memorable characters, a sweet romance and an exhilarating plot - Hunting Lila is a fantastic read. The cover is what drew me to read this novel at first. It's unique, sexy and mysterious. Once I read the premise that described a girl with special abilities and lots of excitement. I knew I had no choice but to read it.

Going into this, with the incredible reviews and feedback it's been getting, I had high hopes. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. Lila has a great plot that swept me in from the start. We meet Lila right away during a mugging, trying not to stab a guy in the eye with a hovering knife… that she's controlling. See, Lila can move objects with her mind. She doesn't know why or how, but she's been able to for the last three years. This mugging incident makes her flee to California to go stay with her brother and, most importantly, see Alex again - her brother's best friend who she's been secretly in love with her whole life.

Lila is a wonderful character. I adored her from the get-go. She's stubborn, feisty, unsure of why she has this ability and with a huge - but completely adorable - crush on her brother's best friend. What goes through her mind when she sees, or even just thinks about, Alex is incredibly sweet and often amusing. She contemplates every detail and perceives every reaction - it's pretty entertaining. Her feelings really feel genuine, though. It's not hard to imagine being as irrational as she, with a crush like hers. A crush she's had her whole life. It was absolutely romantic. And Alex, I loved him! He's sexy, charming, protective, has a big heart - just dang perfect!

I did notice a few similarities with Hunting Lila and the TV series, Heroes. The conspiracy behind the agency, the abilities, the power hungry villain trying to round up all the abilities for himself, the mind piercing "weapon" they use against the ones with abilities. So the idea behind the book is not something I haven't stumbled upon before. However, Hunting Lila does have a unique plot, fun mysteries and unexpected twists. Just when I thought I had it all figured out… BAM, another bomb was dropped. I was really impressed by the complexity of it all. I have really high hopes for the sequel, Losing Lila, which promises to be action packed and full of adrenaline.(less)

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Sep 07, 2011 Reynje rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011, young-adult

Part #1 – In Which I “Get It”

Hunting Lila is a frenetic, light-hearted mash up of teen romance and comic-book action, with a backbeat of mystery and suspense.

Narrated by seventeen year old Lila, who has been keeping her power of telekinesis a secret, the plot is set in motion by a mugging on the streets of London. Lila takes off for California, to the safety of her brother and long-time crush, Alex. As it turns out, they have been keeping secrets of their own, and Lila is plunged into a world o...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gorgeous-covers, favourites, boys-i-wish-were-real, best-of-2011, best-of-2012, 5-star, pure-awesomeness, adorable-favourites, authors-i-want-to-meet, reviewed

**AN ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE!!**

Every once in a while you read a book that swipes you off your feet and takes you on an action-packed, perfectly romantic, and totally heart-pounding ride that you never want to get off of — that's exactly what Hunting Lila was like! I loved everything about it!

From the very first page, Sarah Alderson sucks you into a super-cool world with various types of psychics like Lila. The way she describes things makes you feel like you're actually a part of the book, which m...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Sarah (saz101) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-releases, young-adult, paranormal

I love books like this. Ones that are exciting. And Hunting Lila is a debut every bit as exciting as its gun-fights and getaways. Sarah Alderson blends intrigue, superhuman powers and fast-paced action with romance, teenage longing and a pinch of heartbreak like a seasoned-master.

Seventeen year old Lila Loveday has a rather singular talent... one she’ll keep hidden at all costs. After narrowly avoiding a mugging by telekinetically wresting a knife from her attackers, she flees London to the safe...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-the-hype

I’ll admit it – I wound up liking Hunting Lila against my better judgment. Alderson’s novel is one filled with heart-pounding action, creativity, vibrant characters, plot twists, a thrilling pace, and a plot that nicely holds the whole story together, yet I could not bring myself to love it. While I admired the originality behind the story and can’t wait to see what will happen in the sequel, my issues with the main character wound up trumping over most of the positives, leaving me unable to...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Jasprit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: out-2011, readalong, favourites, read-in-2012, won, literary-crushes, ya, romance, paranormal

Initial thoughts;

What just happened? I'm actually left slightly stunned. What a phenomenal book. I absolutely adored ~~alex~~ this book. I need Losing Lila now.

After just reading the first few pages of Hunting Lila I had a gut feeling that this would be a 5 star book. Just like Fated I fell in love with this book in the first few pages. Lila after a near mugging uses her ability; she doesn’t know how but she can move objects with her mind (telekinesis) to scare her muggers, not being able to cope w...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: major-plot-twist

The story starts when 17-year-old Lila has recourse to her telekinetic ability when she is mugged. She decides to leave her country to move in with Jack, her brother who lives in South California. South California, where Alex - the guy Lila has always been in love with - lives.

Okay. To be honest, I surprised myself when I gave this book 5 stars.

It started off quite badly for me. Or maybe was I blinded by how much clichéd I thought the characters' descriptions were? I mean, all of the main chara...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Mandee rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: s-s, ya-lit, review-on-the-blog, annoying-main-character, paranormal, eye-roller, usa, the-worst

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson is set for the most part in Southern California. Lila is seventeen years old and lives with her father. Her mother was murdered five years ago and her dad whisked her off to live in London, leaving behind her older brother, Jack, and his best friend, Alex, also Lila’s long-term crush. She’s also been hiding her telekinetic powers, something that developed a few years ago but after an attempted mugging in which she uses her mind to hold a knife to one of her attacke...more Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson is set for the most part in Southern California. Lila is seventeen years old and lives with her father. Her mother was murdered five years ago and her dad whisked her off to live in London, leaving behind her older brother, Jack, and his best friend, Alex, also Lila’s long-term crush. She’s also been hiding her telekinetic powers, something that developed a few years ago but after an attempted mugging in which she uses her mind to hold a knife to one of her attackers, she decides to hop on a plane and visit Jack and Alex. Jack and Alex have been keeping secrets too, they’re actually tracking the man who murdered their mother and he too has powers like Lila’s.

Before starting Hunting Lila I’d heard a lot about it and I mean A LOT. There are many reviews on Goodreads and some of my favourite bloggers gave it glowing reviews. I was so eager to read it but I have to say it fell short for me.

Lila is obsessed with Alex and is still sad about her mother’s death. She’s frustrated by her father as he’s always on business trips and she doesn’t seem to have any friends. I didn’t feel like there was much depth to her character at all but at first I felt sorry for her as she still has nightmares about her mother’s murder and she seems lonely but pretty soon her only thoughts were about Alex and it was then that she began to annoy me and her constant lip-biting sealed the deal. Lila is so infatuated with Alex, he is all she thinks about. She replays all of the moments they’ve had in her head over and over again. Small gestures and days when he was there for her are all very important to Lila and she’s convinced she loves him. I can understand that little things like that can often mean a lot to some people and Lila kept a mental note of them and makes them into something more in her head. Once she gets to SoCal, she’s nervous about seeing Alex for the first time in years and worries about her appearance. Then she sees him and from then on we are treated to many descriptions of how hot he is and whatever he’s wearing. And on that note, almost everyone in this book is stunningly attractive, but of course Lila is completely unaware of how pretty she apparently is.

I realise that teenage girls do obsess and dream about boys all the time; it’s not that it’s unusual it’s how far Lila was willing to go just to be near Alex. She often thought of ways she could fall over or hurt herself, just so he would catch or hold her. She also hates another woman, Alex’s boss, purely because she’s attractive and she assumes there is something going on between them. Lila is not honest with herself about the way she acts and that’s what annoyed me. Earlier this year I read Night Beach, another book involving a teen obsessed with a guy. The difference is the way it was handled, Abbie was fully aware that she was being a bit crazy and she certainly didn’t allow her life to revolve around her crush, she had other things to think about, not so for poor old Lila who prefers to focus solely on her fantasies.

And that brings me to Alex, for me his character lacked depth just like Lila’s. I understand that he was nice to her when they were growing up and he’s apparently hot but that’s about it. I don’t understand her obsession and love for him because we don’t get to know him other than what he does for a living and the fact that he likes to ride motor bikes.

When something finally happens between them, Lila wants to put the world on hold and DTR. Never mind that they’re on the run, never mind that it was only a kiss and a morning breath-scented one at that. I guess I can’t judge her too harshly, this is probably the first time she’s had any sort of affection from a boy and she’s been obsessing about this moment for years but I still found it immature and ridiculous.

I spent most of the book thinking the plot was pretty thin. Jack and Alex work for The Unit, they’re apparently tracking down Lila’s mum’s killer. I found myself wondering why the military would approach two teens and offer them all their resources to catch one murderer? Why are the bad guys considered so bad? They have a variety of mind powers, but they’re hardly immortal or unstoppable and they didn’t warrant the attention they were getting. Then towards the end a few more bits of information clicked into place and it's revealed that the main plot is a cover for the truth, it made more sense and that saved me from absolutely disliking this book. I’d like to talk more about what happens when the truth is revealed but I’d be including spoilers so I’ll just say it was interesting to get to know a bunch of characters for who they really are not who they’ve been made out to be all along.

I didn't mind the writing style but the constant similes became quite distracting, I found myself stopping to picture them - there was one about someone giving a look like lightning strikes and I had to stop and picture lightning shooting out of his eyes before I could continue reading. The same goes for the one about a scalpel piercing a boil, on the very first page.

I'm always disappointed when I dislike a book, such as in the case of Hunting Lila, but I have to be honest because it just didn't work for me although I had really high hopes before reading it. Hunting Lila is a well-paced novel with some mystery, action and a couple of twists as well as the love/obsession between a young girl and her crush.(less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

From the first paragraph written above, you can see how this book grabs your attention straight away. I have to say the whole first chapter really packed a punch and I was completely smitten for the rest of the book.
Lila has an amazing power, she can move things with her mind. Unfortunately for Lila, she isn't always in control of this power and it actually leads to her midnight flit to America when she nearly gouges out a mugger's eye without realising it. In the beginning, Lila comes across a...more From the first paragraph written above, you can see how this book grabs your attention straight away. I have to say the whole first chapter really packed a punch and I was completely smitten for the rest of the book.
Lila has an amazing power, she can move things with her mind. Unfortunately for Lila, she isn't always in control of this power and it actually leads to her midnight flit to America when she nearly gouges out a mugger's eye without realising it. In the beginning, Lila comes across as a rather young and innocent teenager who only seems to think about what she wants. As the book progresses, you watch her change as she realises just what her whole family is actually involved in and the danger she now finds herself in. She seems to instantly be blown into adulthood as realisations reveal themselves one after another as the book progresses.

The best bit about this book has to be the rather swoon some relationship between Alex and Lila. There is no instant love in this book. This one has been on a slow burner for years. Lila has lusted after Alex since she was very young. She has this idealistic view of how their romance will pan out, but is thwarted by her interpretation of Alex's behaviour towards her. It is so natural how the two of them finally start to see things from the same angle. There is a rather hot scene in a motel room, that was just gorgeous and left you shouting at the book 'FINALLY!' Sarah also provides us with some extremely hot male characters in UNIFORM! I will say no more.

I loved the way Jack, Lila's brother reacted to the blossoming relationship. Typically, he was not impressed that his best friend had betrayed his trust by hitting on his sister and you could see how the sparks flew between them as they each fought for what they believed in.

This book is intense from the beginning to the end and as more snippets of information about the past come to light, you find yourself like Alice in Wonderland, slipping rather quickly through the rabbit hole and unable to find a way out until you discover the truth.

As a young adult book, there was quite a bit of maturity about the story. It would definitely be one that I would recommend to the older teenage market and I am pretty sure that the older female generation will love it too.

For a debut novel, this book really blew me away. The intensity, the simmering love story that hits boiling point and the revelations that I would never have guessed,just add to a book that wows you with each turning page. Sarah Alderson can make you jump from hating a character to loving them with just the turn of a page. This book should be on everybody's summer reading list. This is one that will require your complete attention, as you will find it difficult to put down, so do make sure you have a few hours to spare before embarking on this fast paced journey.

I am so excited by this book and the fact that I have found a new author to love. Sarah has another book coming out in January called Fated and I will definitely be first in line to buy a copy. (less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Brodie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, favorites

You know those books that you finish and then instantly want to go back and reread all over again? Hunting Lila is just that and then some! I was hooked from the very first page. It's not often you kick start a story with the protagonist using telekinesis to hold a knife to the tip of someones eye. This book is all kinds of badass. Don't worry though, Lila isn't psycho, she's defending herself from the jerks trying to mug her. That one incident sets in motion Lila's page-turning adventure that w...more You know those books that you finish and then instantly want to go back and reread all over again? Hunting Lila is just that and then some! I was hooked from the very first page. It's not often you kick start a story with the protagonist using telekinesis to hold a knife to the tip of someones eye. This book is all kinds of badass. Don't worry though, Lila isn't psycho, she's defending herself from the jerks trying to mug her. That one incident sets in motion Lila's page-turning adventure that will suck you in with it's fantastic action, way cool superpowers and deliciously seductive romance.

Straight after the mugging incident, Lila makes a run for it. She jumps on a plane out of the country and heads to Southern California where her brother, Jack, and his best friend Alex are living. Both boys work for a top secret organisation known as The Unit. There's something mysterious going on with the case they're working on. Surely the constant supervision by stalkery SUV cars and high-tech security system on the house aren't standard? Granted, they work a dangerous job, but Lila senses something more going on here and she's determined to find out what. Mystery, danger, twists, action and superpowers litter the pages and you're left begging for more.

Alex has been her brother's best friend since childhood and Lila's been in love with him for just as long. It's been three years since she last saw him and now suddenly she's thrust herself back into his world and oh, her emotions are so pitch perfect. The war that rages within her mind any time they're close together, she can't control her thoughts when she's around him and it's so much fun to read. She knows she's a lost cause, she accepts it, admits it's bad. But you honestly can't fault her, because hello, have you met the guy? Her feelings are totally justified! I loved the relationship developed at a comfortable pace, you become wrapped up in their budding romance, waiting, waiting, waiting for the moment when Alex will admit to the feelings that surely he reciprocates, right?! You just want a kiss! A declaration of mutual love, a hot steamy scene between the pair! And isn't that what we love? A tantalising romance and Sarah delivers just that.

Hunting Lila was such a refreshing read. The atmosphere, the setting, the romance, the pacing, the characters and the plot... Sarah twisted it all together to form something that felt so new and utterly addictive. I honestly would not have been able to put this book down had I tried. Which I most certainly did not because it kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what would happen next to these characters I grew so invested in and their pulse-racing journey, narrated by such a likable protagonist. Sarah Alderson is officially on my list of favourite authors. I think I'd instantly buy anything new she comes out with. I cannot wait to get my hands on Hunting Lila's sequel and of course, her awesome new series, Fated, which comes out next year! The wait for both of these books is already torturous.

Also: This book seriously needs to be made into a movie. Because I think it would translate ridiculously awesome to the big screen.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jessica by: My awesome bookers

Shelves: 01-hall-of-fame, 0-faves, 05-literary-crush-worthy, 09-corner-bookclub, 24-ebooks

Guys, I’m so, so sorry! I knew that I wouldn’t have the time for reading this the upcoming weekend, neither next week and I was stuck at the airport and had this on my Kindle and somehow I couldn’t resist and so I decided to take a peek – and ended up devouring it within a few hours. I won’t say anything else but I freakin’ loved this! I really hope you guys will enjoy it as much as I did. Sorry again, bookers.

15 likes · like · see review

Apr 07, 2013 Ceres rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

GROS.COUP.DE.COEUR!
Ce livre est vraiment génial! Je ne savais pas à quoi m'attendre et ce fut une superbe surprise! Je ne sais pas par où commencer tant cette histoire est prenante: action, suspens, amour, humour, bref un mélange parfait qui vous entraine à tourner les pages avidemment!
J'ai adoré les personnages: tous les personnages mais surtout Lila et Alex (oh misère Alex!!)! Ils m'ont fait passer par toutes les émotions! J'ai tellement aimé que j'ai directe acheté le tome 2!

Review complète:...more

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Mar 03, 2013 jess♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, thought-provoking-books, young-adult, fav-book-boyfriends, smokin-chemistry, tattooed-guys, paranormal-romance, best-reads-of-2013, cutie-couples, i-own, kick-ass-protagonist, loved-it, perfect-romance, true-love, brother-s-best-friend, badass-heroine

*5 supernatural stars*

Lila has a secret. A secret that she's not willing to share with anyone. No, it's not that she's been hopelessly in love with her brother's best friend Alex for 12 years, although she hasn't exactly publicised that either. It's that she is a telekinetic: a person who is able to manipulate objects without physical contact.

description

When she nearly renders a mugger blind by using her powers she decides to take matters into her own hands. Before her father has the chance to return home,...more

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May 19, 2013 Tabatha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: favorites, owned, 5-star-books

I'll eventually upload this review to my blog..

(view spoiler)

So, what's to like about Hunting Lila? Every. Single. Thing. Or at least, that's how I feel.

I've read this twice now, and my opinion hasn't changed. Only thing that's changed is the fact that the first time I read it? I didn't think there was going to be a second Lila book. All I can say? Thank God for Goodreads <3 Now? I. Just. Can't. Wait!

And although I'll admit that, yes the main character, Lila, was a...more

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May 31, 2012 Amy (Turn the Page) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought Hunting Lila purely because I hadn't read a single negative review. Even the Goodreads ratings are overwhelming positive, which is pretty rare. After reading it for myself, I'm not at all surprised it's so popular, Hunting Lila is a fun, flirty read and looks like it could become a great series.

Hunting Lila is a paranormal book, but it is so far removed from what I, and I think a lot of people, have come to think of as typical paranormal YA (Twilight, Hush Hush, Fallen etc). There's no...more I bought Hunting Lila purely because I hadn't read a single negative review. Even the Goodreads ratings are overwhelming positive, which is pretty rare. After reading it for myself, I'm not at all surprised it's so popular, Hunting Lila is a fun, flirty read and looks like it could become a great series.

Hunting Lila is a paranormal book, but it is so far removed from what I, and I think a lot of people, have come to think of as typical paranormal YA (Twilight, Hush Hush, Fallen etc). There's no brooding vampires or depressed angels, no destined, forbidden romance and, best of all, no major amounts of angst.

Instead, Hunting Lila has a bit of an X-Men vibe going on. Lila is telekinetic and has no idea how to control her powers. Frightened of her own abilities and that she might hurt someone, Lila flees to her brother's where she hopes to outrun her problems and her old life. Far from being safe, however, it seems Lila might have just run to the one place where she is in the most danger and soon she doesn't know who she can trust.

Alderson's narrative flows nicely and makes for a gripping read. I wasn't thrilled with the first third of the book, despite a great opening chapter, but the mystery surrounding Lila's abilities had me hooked enough that I wanted to know more. Once the action kicks in, I wasn't able to put Hunting Lila down.

It took me a long time to warm up to Lila. I'm afraid I found her swooning over Alex over-the-top, cloying and embarrassing. I was cringing every time she was around the poor guy. Lila is an immature protagonist (not necessarily a criticism) and while it's probably a rather (depressingly), accurate portrayal of a young, naive girl head over heels in love, her borderline obsessiveness really put me off. The first part of Hunting Lila is pretty much a long internal monologue about how 'hot' Alex and it isn't until the actually story line picks up that this book comes into its own.

Lila is often childish and a little spoilt. I didn't dislike her, I think she could potentially become a strong female character, but I did wish she had more personality beyond her infatuation for her brother's best friend. The whole 'I'll pretend to trip so he'll catch me' mentality didn't endear me to her. She makes some pretty stupid decisions but I did enjoy a couple of her scenes right towards the end of the book. I'm hoping she'll grow up and gain some perspective and maturity in the coming books and really come into her own as she learns to control her power.

The romance in this book is very 'swoonworthy'. Alderson definitely knows how to please her readers! Naturally, I liked Alex. I'm sure almost every female reader liked Alex. He is ridiculously attractive, a marine and still a sweetie. I could have done without the overblown macho protectiveness towards Lila at times (I don't think Alex and Jake do Lila any favors by treating her so much like a child), but I'm sure a lot of readers will love it. And even though I found Lila's crush exasperating, it's completely understandable why she is so besotted. I probably would be too. Once it evened out some, I liked the romance in Hunting Lila far more.

Hunting Lila is well thought-out, revealing just enough to keep the reader guessing, and a side from the slightly shaky start that focuses too much on developing the romance, the pacing is spot on. There are several unexpected plot twists (with a particularly great one right at the end), setting up an exciting story-line for the next book.

I would have liked to have seen more scenes between Lila and her brother but I thought the moments we did get between them were perfect, particularly Jack's reaction to Lila's secret. I enjoyed the close friendship between Alex and Jack as well and wouldn't mind their relationship being built on and explored further in the second book.

Alderson really knows how to write some engaging characters and I was actually very upset over the fate of one whom I had literally just met a few pages previously. I'm looking forward to getting to know Demos and Suki and the others a lot better in Losing Lila. It's going to be interesting watching certain characters forced to work together despite their mutual dislike and distrust and I actually can't wait to see where Alderson takes us next.

Hunting Lila needed to get to the main action of the story a bit quicker and I would have liked the crazy teenager crush toned down (there's only so many times you can repeatedly hear how 'hot' a character is before you've reached your limit) but Alderson makes up for it with a fast-paced, addictive story, with an intense romance and some potentially fantastic characters. Lila's attitude may have been a little annoying, coming from a slightly older reader's perspective, but I do think she was a pretty realistic teenager and I'm really looking forward to seeing her character progression throughout the series. This is a thrilling debut and gets a high rating out of me despite the odd complaint, simply because I just enjoyed it so damn much.(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, cant-put-these-down, favourites

Wow. This book was a surprise. The last time I read something this action packed was the day I realized I could never get into this kind of books. But then I started reading and the first few pages got me hooked.

Have you ever read a book that made your heart pound from beginning to end? I swear there were parts in the book where my heart was going to beat out of my chest. It wasn’t just the action that got my ticker thumping but the romance in this made my toes curl. They were so awkward at fir...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Hunting Lila - the Movie	14	132	Apr 10, 2013 08:20am
Favourite Character?	3	12	Mar 21, 2013 09:56am
Kindle VS Nook	1	8	Feb 06, 2013 08:55am
Favourite ?	4	8	Jan 19, 2013 07:16am
What was your favourite scene?	1	9	Dec 21, 2012 09:21am
The (Not-So) Aust...: Hunting Lila - December Read Discussion	1	8	Dec 19, 2012 01:36am
what song ?	4	5	Dec 17, 2012 08:53am

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