13 Jun Book Review: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi
After the emotional crescendo of Ignite Me, I dove into Restore Me expecting a breather—a moment for Juliette and Warner to bask in their hard-won peace. Instead, I was met with a maelstrom of political intrigue, personal revelations, and the harrowing weight of leadership. Reading this on a quiet Sunday morning, coffee in hand, I found myself reflecting on times when I, too, felt thrust into roles I wasn’t prepared for, navigating uncharted territories with only instinct as my guide.
‘Shatter Me’ series
What’s it about?
Restore Me picks up just weeks after Juliette Ferrars has been crowned Supreme Commander of North America. She now stands at the helm of a post-Reestablishment society, tasked with rebuilding a world that never saw her as anything more than a weapon. But governing turns out to be far more complex than overthrowing an evil regime. Juliette is expected to make decisions for an entire continent when all she’s ever known is captivity, trauma, and survival.
Warner, now her partner in both politics and life, is grappling with his own demons. He’s still reeling from the death of his father, the infamous Supreme Commander Anderson, while harboring secrets from Juliette that could fracture their fragile trust. Their once-thriving relationship begins to falter under the weight of withheld truths and growing responsibilities. Warner’s cool demeanor masks a spiraling emotional state that threatens to undo everything they’ve built.
As Juliette tries to solidify her leadership, she decides to host a symposium—a summit inviting the other global Supreme Commanders. Only one responds: the Supreme Commander of Oceania, who sends his children, Haider and Nazeera Ibrahim, in his stead. Haider is sharp-tongued and calculated, while Nazeera is a mystery wrapped in charm. She arrives veiled, self-possessed, and hiding more than just her abilities. She’s the first new character in a while who can match Juliette’s presence beat for beat.
Things begin to unravel quickly. Juliette discovers secret files that expose horrifying truths about her past: she was part of a government experiment, her powers monitored from childhood, and more chillingly, she has a sister—Emmaline—who is still alive and imprisoned by the Reestablishment. Juliette’s entire identity begins to crack under the weight of this revelation. She isn’t who she thought she was, and the people she trusted most have been lying to her.
Meanwhile, political tensions escalate. The other nations don’t recognize Juliette’s rule. There’s dissent even within her own ranks. And while she struggles to build a new world, her enemies are already planning to take it away.
The book builds to a harrowing crescendo: during a high-profile public event, Juliette is ambushed in what appears to be a betrayal from within her closest circle. The book ends on a literal bang—Juliette is shot, and chaos erupts. The last thing readers are left with is a question: can she survive, and if she does, who will she become next?
What This Chick Thinks
A Raw Look at Leadership
What I loved most about Restore Me is that it doesn’t romanticize power. Juliette might be the leader of a nation, but she’s still a 17-year-old girl trying to figure out who she is. The way Mafi explores that tension—between public responsibility and private pain—is some of her best work yet. Juliette is finally being asked not just to fight but to govern, and the cracks show beautifully.
Warner’s Inner Spiral
I was surprised by how much Warner stepped back emotionally in this book—but it made sense. He’s used to control, used to secrets. And now he’s being asked to be open and vulnerable in ways that terrify him. Watching him self-sabotage while still trying to protect Juliette is heartbreaking. It’s frustrating, yes, but it’s human.
Enter Nazeera, Stage Left
Nazeera is an absolute highlight. Smart, stylish, and clearly hiding a ton of depth, she’s exactly what this series needed—a new foil, a new mystery, and someone who challenges Juliette in a non-romantic way. The dynamic between them is instantly compelling.
Emotional Overload Done Right
There’s a lot of crying, a lot of yelling, a lot of feelings—but somehow, it works. Mafi’s prose still dances the line between poetic and dramatic, but it suits the emotional intensity. The drama is earned. We’re in the fallout zone now, and every character feels like they’re walking through rubble.
Final Thoughts
Restore Me is less about action and more about aftermath. It’s about what happens after the revolution, when you have to do the boring, brutal work of ruling. It’s slower-paced than the earlier books, but that’s the point. It’s introspective, intense, and absolutely vital to Juliette’s evolution. A series that started with a girl afraid to speak now gives us a young woman who might just rewrite the world.
Rating: 8.5/10
Try it if you like:
- Scythe by Neal Shusterman – A dystopian future governed by moral ambiguity and high-stakes decision-making.
- Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen – Features a young, reluctant female ruler learning to lead while surrounded by threats.
- Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian – Another tale of a girl raised in captivity who must rise to power and reclaim her identity.
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