Maggie Stiefvater

In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in LINGER, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

Linger

As Grace hides the vast depth of her love for Sam from her parents and Sam struggles to release his werewolf past and claim a human future, a new wolf named Cole wins Isabel's heart but his own past threatens to destroy the whole pack.

sash.

chloe rae

Ok so that was CRAZY?! I’ve read this book before and I don’t remember ANY of that! How did I stop reading this series after this book?! I’m so invested! Man, that was great. I love where the characters are going; I love the twists and turns. Maggie’s writing is just so stunning and vivid. I can’t wait to see where Grace and Sam’s journey goes next!

Annika Arguemore

I won't say that I like this better than the first one, not because it wasn't properly written or that it lacked something or anything like that but because all the things I dreaded most that would happen, hoping that it wouldn't, had happened in a span of, what, like 50+ concise chapters.

A lot of events have unfolded in the sophomore book of the Shiver trilogy. It came in contrast with the serene and laid-back novel that was the humble beginning of this trilogy. Cole's introduction came to me as somewhat abrupt but later on did I find out that his character was essential to the story. A new tandem was also introduced. I can't say I ship them but... I guess it's a little too soon for that.

The prospect of Olivia kind of bugged me. She should have been in focus more. It would have been nice to know how she was adjusting to her lupine lifestyle. It would have been nicer if this story involved her more, not to overwhelm or sidetrack the reader but to give the reader a break from the emotional turmoil Sam and Grace had/are become/becoming. Her part in the book could have been a momentary reprieve from that and it would've been nice and I think Ms. Stiefvater would have pulled it off if she did this. But oh well, what's done is done and this idea of mine can now only be deemed producible as fan fiction. 

All in all, this book wasn't so bad.

Melissa Palmer

Love this series. This book was a great read.

Lauren Grey

Oh my goodness, I have no words!! I haven’t been this hooked on a book series in a long time. I just have this need to find out how it ends. I wasn’t able to get the last book the other day, so I have to wait, but I am dying to know! I am so attached to the characters and the storyline. I haven’t read a book that fast in awhile, but I just can’t get enough. Incredible!

What I liked:

It was such a nice surprise to find that Isabel was transformed into more of a main character. She wasn’t my favorite in the first book, but I really liked how she grew and changed through the death of her brother. As the story continues, you get more of an inside look at her life and why she is the way she is… I just really feel for her now; she is so sad and tries to be so tough. One of her better qualities is that she has more attitude than she knows what to do with; it is amusing. “When I say panini here, everyone says bless you.”

The new budding friendship between Isabel and Grace was so refreshing and fun. They have started to bond, if you will, through the events at the end of the last book and I love seeing realistic growth in characters. I really liked how close they get and how real they are with each other. Grace to Isabel-”That’s positively morbid- even for you.” “Bite me,” I [Isabel] replied. “You need therapy.” But she said it lightly.

The fact that Sam is a musician is a bit cliche, but it works for his character. I wasn’t super impressed by that aspect in the first book, but I really liked his lyrics throughout this novel. Specifically:

“Is it still a secret if nobody cares/if having the knowledge in no way impairs/your living – and feeling – the way that you breathe/knowing the things that you know about me -”

“One thousand ways to say good-bye/One thousand ways to cry/One thousand ways to hang your hat before you go outside/I say good-bye good-bye good-bye/I shout it out so loud/’Cause the next time that I find my voice I might not remember how.”

Although Rachel is a minor character who doesn’t appear that much, I really like her, because I can relate to her. She is just so out-there, spunky, and original. I find her funny as well with her always referring to Sam as The Boy. “Kissing in front of the loveless is an act of cruelty.”

OMG, can I just say that Cole and Isabel are just perfect!!!!! I have totally and completely fallen in love with their relationship. Even though they are an official thing, I just find myself anticipating the next time they interact. With him trying to be the cool, confident guy and her trying to be the tough-as-nail girl equals to the best conversations. I just think they even each other out and I can’t wait to see what is in the future for them.

I wasn’t expecting to like Cole from the beginning of the novel or from the synopsis on the back, but after a couple chapters I wanted to find out more about him. I am extremely interested in more of his past with his band and his father, but I am sure more of that is to come. I find him as literary crush material as well. I have a thing for emotionally challenged guys. “…a totally swoonworthy, but jerkish werewolf…”

What I disliked:

This is extremely minor, but I am a firm believer that picking a college based on a boy/girl is ridiculous and I felt that whenever that was brought up, it slightly encouraged this notion. This aspect just made it seem slightly Twilight-esque; which so far I had liked the series due to the fact it was pretty different from Twilight.

The parents, of both Grace and Isabel and Sam and Cole. Pretty much all of the parents in this series were dysfunctional and ridiculous. Girl in the Pages brought up the fact that Stiefvater writes a realistic view of teenagers and their parents and I do agree, but gee Grace’s parents need to let up. I completely agree with Grace’s viewpoint- they have been absentee until this point… get a grip.

What I thought overall:

Again, oh my goodness! I am just so impressed by this series. I didn’t think I would like it, because it was about werewolves, but it is about so much more. It is written so fluidly and has characters that I either swoon over or relate to. So good. Can’t wait to read the last book. Do I recommend reading it? Yes

becky oh

ok. I actually regret reading this book. I loved the first book, shiver because it was romantic and a bit of twist of the werewolves I knew. but i didn't get this feel, that i had to keep reading because, I mean, if u haven't read shiver, don't read this review. has spoilers!!!!
as i was saying, they SLEEP together, like . . . WHAT???? and now, in linger, it made it worse. I actually hate this book if i have to say because i knew it was going to end badly, with sam and grace and the newly character's POVs and . . . i regret reading this. 
if u want to read this book, go ahead but I seriously hated it. I just . . . it dosen't feel right, there's something in my heart that somethings missing in my book heart and . . . it's not a feeling I like after i read this book.
don't read it, you'll hate it.

Briar's Reviews

I adore Maggie Stiefvater and her Shiver novels! I was anxious for this book ever since I got my hands on Shiver, and I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the story telling, but at the same time I was addicted and could not put the book down.

Unlike Shiver, I felt that Linger did not have a good paced story. The story itself did help move the plot and was well planned out, but it felt very slow. I didn't feel like the story moved all that much until the last six chapters of the novel. 

The introduction of the new character Cole was a nice change in point of view: a rockstar who wanted to be a wolf but hasn't told his new friends of his identity. It was a wonderful addition to the novel and I applaud Maggie for coming up with him! I hope his character is continued to be brought up in the sequels and is used further as a plot moving device.

I give this novel four out of five stars because I wanted the plot to continue moving and not feel slow and forced. This series is a great one and has great ideas and themes behind the plot, but if it moves slow I feel like the sequels won't matter as much (especially if the readers can't get through the book).

Still, Maggie is an amazing author and I will read the next novel (and any other novels she makes). Linger is not the best in the series, but it still worth while reading.

Four out of five stars!

Like I said for the first one, this book achieves what it set out to achieve— to be a Team Jacob alternative in a market that craved it. What this book also achieves is that sense of urgency about being a teen, where every little thing is life or death, where first love is conflated with forever love, where the concept of escapism is preferable to real life (news flash, that third part never stops, it just becomes more unobtainable.)

I do feel like Olivia dropped out of everyone’s priority somewhat suddenly. I would have expected Grace to be more concerned for her best friend / jealous & fixated on Olivia achieving what she (Grace) craved.

The intense cliffhanger ending means OF COURSE I’m picking up book 3.

TW: suicidal thoughts and threats, drug use, animal death, parental abuse (in flashbacks), medical trauma/blood

Liz Griffin

Like I said for the first one, this book achieves what it set out to achieve— to be a Team Jacob alternative in a market that craved it. What this book also achieves is that sense of urgency about being a teen, where every little thing is life or death, where first love is conflated with forever love, where the concept of escapism is preferable to real life (news flash, that third part never stops, it just becomes more unobtainable.)

I do feel like Olivia dropped out of everyone’s priority somewhat suddenly. I would have expected Grace to be more concerned for her best friend / jealous & fixated on Olivia achieving what she (Grace) craved.

The intense cliffhanger ending means OF COURSE I’m picking up book 3.

TW: suicidal thoughts and threats, drug use, animal death, parental abuse (in flashbacks), medical trauma/blood

Actual rating: 4.5

Oh my God...I have no words this was amazing! The ending had me freaking out it was so tense, ahhh I'm so scared for book 3.  

The story was so good, usually 2nd books in series are all boring, but I kept reading and reading waiting to see what happened. The plot builds so well and I absolutely loved Cole! His character is amazing and I loved his POV chapters. 

Honestly these books the different POVs work so well, like you can really tell who you're reading from and they all work so good within the story! I'm usually not a fan when there's more than 2 POVs but 4 actually worked so great, I'm so falling in love with Maggie's writing. 

This was almost a 5 star again like the first book but there was just a bit of unneeded romance that I could live without so yeah /-\ It was great though! I need everyone to read this series like rn...I'm gonna go start book 3...

The #1 bestselling SHIVER, LINGER and FOREVER trilogy rejacketed for a new generation of fans. In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in LINGER, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

Addie 🌻

Didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one, but it was still good

Emily Orlando

Still like Twight, only this time it was better.

Ofelia

Il riassunto di questo libro è: mi interessa sapere di Beck, Ulrik e Paul e non me ne frega quasi niente del quartetto dei protagonisti. Ergo questo libro non sta funzionando con me se trovo i personaggi che la scrittrice vuole farmi amare incredibilmente noiosi e stereotipati mentre mi attacco ai secondari.

Natasha Musa

I absolutely loved the first book Shiver but Linger didn't really cut it for me. Sam & Grace is still in love and Sam is so mushy in this series. I like that the book has extended Isabel's character from the first book and I absolutely love Cole as the new addition in the pack. Overall, just an okay read. Will definitely pick up the third book to find out what happened to Grace and how Isabel & Cole will be doing. Okay, I think I've read to much YA books... gotta pick up something other than YA next.

Dee B. 

It was haunting, and gripping and... poor Grace

It was lovely! Much more intense than Shiver, I adore each character and their growth so far. I'm really curious to see how they'll grow further...

Tameka Young

Freaking fantabulous! Loved every sentence! I was really into the introduction of Cole and Isabel's POV. Great second book, can't wait for the third and final installment!

Jo Young

** spoiler alert **
           Linger is such an amazing book. The characters are so vibrant and lifelike. I mostly loved that Isabel had her own chapters, and I really liked the growing friendship/relationship between Isabel and Cole. With what happened to Grace at the end was so surprising, I really thought she was getting meningitis. Also Sam's choice to not get turned back to a wolf from Cole was also surprising. But I loved the fact that he was sort of staying human for her, that if he turned back to a wolf, he wouldn't be able to find a cure, a proper long term one this time. But also his staying human was agonizing for him, to not be with her. So it was both for him and for her. I can't wait to read Forever, I think it's going to be amazing.

As Grace hides her deep love for Sam from her parents and Sam struggles to release his werewolf past and claim a human future, a new wolf named Cole wins Isabel's heart, but his own past threatens to destroy the whole pack.

Alexa Jade

Tamara Al-Qaisi-Coleman

As a second installment of the series I liked it better than the first book. We are introduced to more characters and the problems they face are more hard-hitting. I completely agree with the romantic pairings and look forward to continuing the series!

Jessica Guht

** spoiler alert **
           Honestly I couldn't even make it through the first chapter. I felt as though Shiver ended so well and could have been a stand alone book, and then this book opens with Grace being called to the wolves and all this tension between Sam and Isabel that hadn't been there before, and I knew I wouldn't be happy with this book. I'm just going to not read the rest of the series and pretend that Shiver was the only book.

Emily Ruth Carter

I really enjoyed this book. The things I really liked about the feet installment held true in this book as well. I particularly liked the readers for the audiobook. I enjoyed hearing the story through 4 different perspectives and appreciated that they didn't go over the same moments 4 times, but often picked up where the last narrator left off, sometimes with a little overlap. I appreciated that the myth is still developing even for the characters. No one has it completely figured out. Keeps the reader on her toes!

Amy Grieve

Sam and Grace are finally together, but how long will that last? With Grace's parents, who are finally showing an interest in her, saying that they don't approve of Sam and Grace's relationship, and Grace trying to hide her sudden discomfort in her own skin from everyone. The new wolf, Cole, is also causing a stir as he tries to cope with his own problems and tries to find comfort in his new wolf skin. And as Isabel tries to cope with the loss of her brother, Jack, she finds herself feeling drawn towards Cole...

After reading the first book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series,  Shiver , I had really high expectations for,  Linger, . And I am so glad to say that Maggie Stiefvater did not let me down.Linger had me hooked from the very first page. 

I thought having four different narratives would be confusing and take away from the plot, but having Cole, Isabel, Sam and Grace's perspective gave the story more depth, actually adding to story. Linger was also more slow-paced than Shiver, which gave me a chance to really get to know the characters more.

Elizabeth Garza

DNF @ 30%

I really wanted to like this book but I was not looking forward to listening to it when I thinking to myself, "What am I going to listen to on my morning commute today?" 

The narrators were okay, but I kept thinking that these book reminded me of Twilight (can't really put my finger on what the why is of that thought) and just weren't as good (yes, I liked the Twilight books). 

So, meh.

Rachel Wingler

Do I know where this story is going? No. Is this probably how I felt reading TRC? Yes. Is Cole just Gansey if he’d been hyperfixated on becoming famous instead of on Dead Welsh Kings? Yes.  