Tahereh Mafi

Defy Me (Shatter Me)

The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

Defy Me

alexys <3

"Bro, you really need to, like, eat a pizza or something,” he says, slapping me on the shoulder as he leaves. "You have too many abs."

“I love you, Ella," I whisper. "I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don't ever give it back to me."

“Sweetheart, I really need to know if this means yes or no-“ 

“Yes," I cry, slightly hysterical. "Yes. Yes to everything with you. Yes to forever with you. Yes."

And it doesn't feel dangerous to dream that one day, Ella might be mine in every way. My wife. My family. My future.

I hear him sigh. "Damn," he says. "They really messed you up in here, didn't they?"

The reason he had to keep wiping their memories was because it didn't matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions—Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time. 

You don’t know that Aaron has been in love with Ella for the better part of his entire life. They've known each other since childhood. 

"This is Juliette," Mr. Anderson says, and looks me over. "Tragic"-he sighs-“just like her namesake."

"She's scared," the boy says. And even though he's talking to his dad, he's looking at me. "She's really scared."

tinica

This is, after all, what we’re fighting for, isn’t it? 

I press my forehead to the curve of her shoulder, my lips brushing against her skin. “I love you, Ella,” I whisper. “I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don’t ever give it back to

Five minutes ago, the end of the world seemed like the right reason to propose: to take everything I can in this transitory world—and grieve nothing. But suddenly, it feels like this really might be an impulsive decision. Maybe this isn’t the right time, after all.

“Wait—where are we?” Kenji says. “Where are we going to land?” 

“I’m not sure,” she says. “But it looks like we’re somewhere over the general vicinity of sectors 200 through 300.” She looks at Aaron. “Do you have any friends in this region?” 

Aaron shoots her a dark look. “I have friends nowhere.” 

KENJI IS SO FUCKING REAL FOR THAT. TANGLED STAN TILL I DIE.

“But you’ve never seen a single movie?” 

“I didn’t have to. I know enough about pop culture to know which films mattered or made a difference.” 

Kenji shakes his head, looks at me with something like awe. “But you don’t know anything about the best films. You never saw the really good stuff. Hell, you’ve probably never even heard of the good stuff.” 

“Have you ever heard of Blue Streak?” 

I blink at him. “That’s the name of a movie?” 

“Romeo Must Die? Bad Boys? Rush Hour? Rush Hour 2? Rush Hour 3? Actually, Rush Hour 3 wasn’t that great. Tangled?” 

“That last one, I believe, is a cartoon about a girl with very long hair, inspired by the German fairy tale ‘Rapunzel.’” 

Kenji looks like he might be choking. “A cartoon?” he says, outraged. “Tangled is not a cartoon. Tangled is one of the greatest movies of all time. It’s about fighting for freedom and true love.”

“Hi,” she says, her words soft, her hands gentle as she tilts my chin down, toward her mouth. She kisses me, once, her lips full and sweet. It’s a tender kiss, but feeling strikes through me with a sharp, desperate need. “I missed you so much,” she says. “I still can’t believe you’re here.” She kisses me again, this time deeper, hungrier, and my heart beats so fast it roars in my ears. I can hardly hear anything else. I can’t bring myself to speak.  

When we break apart, her eyes are worried. “Aaron,” she says. “Is everything okay?” 

And I realize then, in a moment that terrifies me, that I want this, forever. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to build a future with her. I want to grow old with her. 

Just the sound of his voice has my heart racing in a way that feels dangerous.

Emotion wells in my throat, surprising me. 

“I missed you, Kenji,” I say. “I’m so happy you’re here.” 

“Hey,” Kenji says sharply. “Don’t you dare start crying. If you start crying I’ll start crying and we do not have time to cry right now. We have too much shit to do, okay? We can cry later, at a more convenient time. Okay?”

“No. No. You don’t—” He sighs, looks away. “Paris has never told either of them about their shared history. The reason he had to keep wiping their memories was because it didn’t matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions— Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time.

And then he laughs—a sad, broken laugh. “You don’t understand, you don’t understand, you don’t understand,” he cries, shaking his head. “You think these recent events are everything. You think Aaron fell in love with your friend of several months, a rebel girl named Juliette. You don’t know. You don’t know. You don’t know that Aaron has been in love with Ella for the better part of his entire life. They’ve known each other since childhood.”

She’s looking at me and I feel suddenly off-balance. 

I have to step away from her. “I don’t—” I look at her again. “Are you sure I don’t know you?” 

And she smiles. Smiles at me and my heart shatters. 

“Trust me,” she says. “I’d remember you.”

I want her to look up, to meet my eyes. She doesn’t, and I find it frustrating. 

But when she looks me directly in the eye I feel my heart go suddenly, terrifyingly still. A skipped beat. A moment of death. 

She turns at the sound of my voice and startles when she sees my face. Her eyes widen. And I feel it, right away, when her emotions change. 

She’s attracted to me, and the revelation makes me happy.

dare to turn, to look up at him. And that’s when I notice the third person in the room. 

My breath catches in my throat with an almost audible gasp. A single tear escapes down my cheek and I brush it away, even as I stare at him. I can’t help it—I can’t look away. He has the kind of face I’ve never seen in real life. He’s more handsome than the commander. More beautiful. Still, there’s something unnerving about him, something cold and alien about his face that makes him difficult to look at. He’s almost too perfect. He has a sharp jawline and sharp cheekbones and a sharp, straight nose. Everything about him reminds me of a blade. His face is pale. His eyes are a stunning, clear green, and he has rich, golden hair. And he’s staring at me, his eyes wide with an emotion I can’t decipher. 

Heat floods my face and I avert my eyes, mortified I didn’t look away sooner. 

I hear the commander mutter angrily under his breath. “Unbelievable,” he says. “Always the same.”

This surprised me really pleasantly! The previous book was not amazing and I kinda let my hopes down but this book kept me interested till the end! I really liked it but also I feel like it really affected me. It had some scenes that were the most traumatic ones I have ever read. Really great job done with this book totally recommend it! Also Kenji is so so funny!!!

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕

turtle

had me stressed out the entire time. Between Warner’s heartbreak and all the plot twists, I didn’t know whether to scream or cry. But I’m hooked, even when it hurts 🤸🏻‍♀️

elinabel hidalgo 

i feel like the concept of this book was so good and it was crazy and i loved all of it and it should’ve been 5 stars but something about it really didn’t draw me in as the other ones did for some reason?? no other critics though it was good I just was never enticed to pick it up, besides that all was good

melanie

This is by far the best book in the series to date, and I’m slightly annoyed that it’s taken so long and so many books/ novellas to get to this point. The book has so many new insights into the characters & the reestalishments history that it constantly kept me wanting to know what was happening next! There was so much more politics in this book to give a background to why everything had happened so far which is why I think this book was so much better (not just mopey YA romance with characters who are emotionally immature) 

There were a couple of times when things just went so smoothly that I did think showed again this is a YA book (no mention of how Nazeera just easily escaped with Aaron by flying to the plane, jumping out the plane at 8,000 feet again with no problems and the engines being killed but surprise they land right where Castle and everyone are waiting) 

The story between Aaron and Ella is everything you want in a dystopian romance and I love that it’s got so many layers to it that makes you want to root for them even more. Aaron is just perfect and the birthday chapter just hits different after this book 🥺 

Adam has kind of not been mentioned in this book at all except that he’s not in the new sector with them, I’m not mad about it but have a feeling that he’s going to make a comeback 

Holly Lake

This is by far the best book in the series to date, and I’m slightly annoyed that it’s taken so long and so many books/ novellas to get to this point. The book has so many new insights into the characters & the reestalishments history that it constantly kept me wanting to know what was happening next! There was so much more politics in this book to give a background to why everything had happened so far which is why I think this book was so much better (not just mopey YA romance with characters who are emotionally immature) 

There were a couple of times when things just went so smoothly that I did think showed again this is a YA book (no mention of how Nazeera just easily escaped with Aaron by flying to the plane, jumping out the plane at 8,000 feet again with no problems and the engines being killed but surprise they land right where Castle and everyone are waiting) 

The story between Aaron and Ella is everything you want in a dystopian romance and I love that it’s got so many layers to it that makes you want to root for them even more. Aaron is just perfect and the birthday chapter just hits different after this book 🥺 

Adam has kind of not been mentioned in this book at all except that he’s not in the new sector with them, I’m not mad about it but have a feeling that he’s going to make a comeback 

Elena Lievens

ang 

nany

“I love you, Ella,” I whisper. “I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don't ever give it back to me.” THAT'S IT

Sarah

LOVED LOVE LOVE IT!!!! Everything about this book, the way the secrets were revealed all the never ending banter between Aaron and Kenji, Kenji and Juliette moments had my heart melting😭 my face throughout the book were 🤭😳😭🥹😡

fav book from this series so far tbh! the plots, the character development, their love deepening like it was just everything 

micki

Juliette Ferrars isn't who she thinks she is.Nothing in her world is what it seemed. She thought she'd defeated The Reestablishment. She thought she'd finally taken control of her life, her power, her pain. But a lifetime of lies unravelling before her has changed all that.

georginawarde

Shannon C

i’m quite new to audiobooks and out of the few I have read this is the first one that my face has been stuck in a smile for the last 20 minutes. This couple is everything and all I’ve ever wanted to read in a couple. I have loved them since their first interaction.

4.5*

The adrenaline that I felt in this book is immense, and i love it so much.

Ellie M.

10/10 !! A lot of people have said that Ignite Me is the best book in the series but honestly this one is my favorite. Defy Me is THE ONE for me. This was what made warnette for me, that it’s always been Aaron and Ella before Warner and Juliette ever came to be and I wouldn’t trade the experience of reading this book for the first time for anything. Not to mention Kenji and Nazeera? They’ve literally been saving everyone’s asses since Day 1 and they aren’t appreciated enough. I love how the growth of everyone and how far the plot has gone. It’s so tense and the plot twists never seem to run out.

** spoiler alert **
           they threw him a birthday party 🥹😫 my heart

Helena

** spoiler alert **
           3 1/2 ⭐️

it feels like a complete different series right now but I kinda wanna know how this is going to end.
I loooove warner and I’m not a huge fan of complete chapters of these two just thinking about how much they love each other but the proposal and all was cute.
Best thing was Kenji and Aaron fighting and Kenji talking about movies. which leads me to WHY wouldn’t she write two more pages about the birthday party?????? I wanted see aaron accept the birthday wishes from everyone 🥺
I would have liked to get more insight into emmaline in this book already, the first half didn’t really explain much. And also I miss James 💔


I’m scared now of the ending because I’ve seen the terrible reviews but here we go ✊🏼

LOVEDDD ITTT!! BEST OUT OF THE SERIES SO FAR!!

Lexi 

This book was AMAZING! So many crazy things were revealed... Loving the multiple povs and getting a glimpse of their past memories. And when Delalieu said that they fell in love every time, OMG my heart. So happy to see Warner growing into himself. 

Maggie Hotmer

Juliette and Warner's story continues in the thrilling fifth installment of Tahereh Mafi's New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series. Juliette Ferrars isn't who she thinks she is. Nothing in her world is what it seemed. She thought she'd finally defeated the Reestablishment. She thought she'd finally taken control of her life, her power, and her pain. But Juliette has only just begun to unravel a lifetime of lies, and she finds herself faced with a familiar choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. This time, she's not alone. Stronger, braver, and more resilient than ever, Juliette will fight for life and love with her friends by her side--but first, she has to survive the war being waged against her mind: She has to remember who she was. Narrated by Juliette, Warner, and Kenji Kishimoto, this gripping novel perfectly sets the stage for the highly anticipated forthcoming conclusion to the Shatter Me series.

shru

listen, the second half of this was when i was reading like there was no tomorrow, but the first half, such a drAg

My head exploded! There were so many plot twist i coud'nt stop reading. It was so beautiful, i cant discripe. I also loved Kenji's pov.

Sarah Blutmager

l ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

** spoiler alert **
           my world was constantly getting rocked during this book. chapter after chapter, crazy things were being revealed. juliette was ONCE AGAIN thrown into a world of chaos & she couldn’t have handled it better. 

juliette - or ella - is the bravest person ever. i will never understand how she never breaks. first: the symposium. this girl really believed she had murdered 600 people and her mental health wasn’t destroyed. she was taken by her parents and knew that her friends + warner weren’t safe. she was being tortured and taunted by her mother but she still didn’t stop fighting. j pushed through and managed to escape with the help of emmaline, kenji, and nazeera. 

emmaline’s introduction freaked me out. the way juliette described her genuinely sent shivers down my spine. it was crazy that juliette didn’t ever back away from her! i know they’re sisters and all … but i would’ve been far too scared to even be in the same room as her. ESPECIALLY with knowing how powerful emmaline is. 

one thing i need to talk about is how quick kenji is to come to juliette’s defense. i absolutely adore their friendship and how much he cares about her. he didn’t care that his friends were saying she was dead & he didn’t let that stop him from going to look for her. kenji even questioned castle’s intentions when they were taken to the sanctuary - which definitely stood out to me. k LOVES castle & trusts him .. but i think he loves juliette more. he’s always there for her, just like juliette’s there for him <3

as for aaron & ella’s story … wow.

“you think aaron fell in love with your friend of several months, a rebel girl named juliette. you don't know. you don't know. you don't know that aaron has been in love with ella for the better part of his entire life. they've known each other since childhood.”

"paris has never told either of them about their shared history. the reason he had to keep wiping their memories was because it didn't matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions - aaron always fell in love with her.
every time.”


“do you remember me the way i remember you? because i remember you. i remember you, aaron. i remember everything.”


they were always meant for each other and i’m so happy that they’re gonna get married. i’m so happy that aaron’s going to have someone that’ll love him the way he deserves to be loved :,) defy me was absolutely perfect and i loved everything about it.

Renata

the emotional damage i have been through,after this i am not the same person, wow i cried at least 7 times 
my aaronella/aaronjuliette 😭😭

- “You think Aaron fell in love with your friend of several months, a rebel girl named Juliette. You don't know. You don't know. You don't know that Aaron has been in love with Ella for the better part of his entire life. They've known each other since childhood."

- “The reason he had to keep wiping their memories was because it didn't matter how many times he reset the story or remade the introductions. Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time.”

- “And I realize then, in a moment that terrifies me, that I want this, forever. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to build a future with her. I want to grow old with her. I want to marry her.”

- "Ella," I say. "You're going to be my wife.”

- "I love you, Ella” I whisper. "I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don't ever give it back to me.”

Defy Me (Shatter Me)

Reviews

Highlights