Actual rating: 3.5 
 For the most part, I enjoyed Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy, so I was eager to see what she was writing next. Panic seemed like it would be right up my alley - a contemporary filled with high stakes and tension. 
 Someone in the town of Carp, New York created the game of Panic simply as something to do during the summer. High school seniors are eligible to play and compete against each other for tens of thousands of dollars that everyone contributes to during the school year. Of course, with this much money at stake, the atmosphere during a summer in Carp should be very tense. That's what I expected the most of this book and that's what I'm happy to say was delivered. Heather and Dodge, whose point of view alternate in chapters, are both playing for something and their motivations are strong. This is the kind of book where I keep expecting things to happen, whether it be good or bad. There were several events that shook up every character, but for the most part, the tension waits for the most dramatic of moments to unleash itself. 
 Probably the one downside is that I didn't necessarily connect strongly with any of the characters. If there were any, I'd say Heather made the strongest case. At the beginning of Panic, Heather was fresh off a break up with a boy she thought she loved and wasn't really sure what she was doing playing the game. Her development into a smart, strong-willed young woman was very enjoyable to read about and I'm glad she was able to figure out who she wanted to be as a person. 
 The other main characters were Dodge, Natalie and Bishop. Dodge's motivation for the game was one I could understand but not really something I could connect with, and at times he seemed kind of off. Natalie straight up annoyed me. Bishop was definitely a strong runner up to Heather, as he was really sweet and his friendship with her was one I loved. 
 Overall, Panic is a fun book. You know crazy things are going to happen but no idea as to what they could possibly be. The characters weren't the strongest aspect for me but I feel like the game itself made up for it.