Finding You by Lydia Albano is one of those books that is kind of hard to categorize into a genre. Sure, it is easy to say that the audience is young adult. However, the society and world in this book are fictional. There’s no magic though. The technology is not clearly laid out – there’s both carriages and cars. Regardless of genre, this release from Swoon Reads kept me interested from beginning to end.
Essentially Lydia Albano’s Finding You opens up with main character Isla waving off her childhood friend Tam as he goes away to basic camp for the military. Isla realizes that she deeply loves Tam. Unfortunately for her, some hands come up behind her and drag her off, kidnapping her. It is then a journey through Industria and she ends up with a group of other girls at this sadistic aristocrat’s home. Isla finds hope in her locket that Tam gave her, initially believing he will come to save her. Reality comes at you kind of fast and so it is up to her to save the girls from a terrible fate and the worst of violations.
Isla really exhibits a lot of growth in this book. When we first start, she’s kind of naive and timid. She experiences adventure and bravery only through books. Now, thrust into a real and scary situation where others are depending on her, it’s like she sprouts this hidden well of courage. However, I also liked that she continued to have faith and hope in her love for Tam. Then it is like she is a girl on a mission. I am 100% all about that, especially as she gets revenge.
Although Finding You is a book from the Swoon Reads imprint, I felt like romance was not the main drive behind this book. Yes, Tam and Isla have feelings for each other. However, they do not really have a lot of page time together. Actually, most of the scenes with Tam are just flashbacks from Isla’s memory. Then when Tam does show up, it is not totally swoonworthy. Despite all that, I rooted for those two kids.
For the most part, Finding You is a decent read. I think there are scenes with Isla and the girls that are particularly hard to stomach — as they are held captive by Curram. This book does not shy away from the horrors of human trafficking. It’s hard to read about these girls being seen as commodities, property. I am glad though that this book is not unrelenting. We get some relief from the horrors we are presented with, which made it so I could actually finish this book and easily move on to the next one.
Other reviews of Finding You by Lydia Albano:
- Book Lady’s Reviews – “I didn’t manage to connect with the characters completely“
- Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf – “an incredibly strong debut“
- The Page Unbound – “isn’t for the faint of heart“
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