🍹 MARGARITA READS – Panic by Lauren Oliver

A sip of adrenaline, fear, and grit that burns like a shot taken on a dare under a fading summer sky.

👻 Side Note:

Hi Readers,

I owe you all an apology. It’s been a while since my last post, and I feel like I completely disappeared. Life got hectic with work trips, family gatherings, and all the little things that fill up a season. But things are finally settling down, and I’m really looking forward to reconnecting and writing again.

Just a little side note, Panic was one of my summer reads. I’d seen the TV show about two years ago, so I decided to bring the book along on my flights to Minnesota. I ended up finishing it pretty quickly.

I’ll be catching up and writing posts for the other books I read over the summer, too. Not all of them, because trust me, there were many.

🎯 First Sip

I picked this one up after watching the show because I was curious how the book compared. I saw the movie trailer during COVID, and it didn’t really explain the premise. When my sister filled me in on part of the story, I was instantly hooked. It took me back to high school, when the senior class played Water Assassins, a game with rules, competition, water guns, and targets.

I never played per se, but I helped friends find targets. I was the quiet, shy girl, so no one bothered keeping their activities secret around me. I remember hearing that a junior girl in my ceramics class had the winning jackpot hidden somewhere. I’m not sure if that was true or why a junior was in charge of the money. Maybe they wanted someone neutral. Targets were randomized, and there was no play inside school or during classes, but as soon as school ended, all was fair in water guns and targets.

The difference between our game and the one in Panic is huge. In Panic, there is danger, high stakes, and a hunger to win because of the circumstances the players are living in. Water Assassins was all about having fun, pulling off senior pranks, and creating memories. Yes, there might have been money involved, but even if that rumor were true, no one would sabotage, backstab, or do something dangerous to get it.

What hooked me was the mix of fear and determination running through the characters. I loved Heather because she cares about her sister. She is a bit impulsive. Dodge, in both the book and the TV show, is trying to find out what happened to his sister after the accident, and I appreciate his determination. Minor spoiler: Watching the show first made the Ray and Heather pairing feel like a letdown in the book, so be aware that there are many changes between the book and the show, though the essence is still there.

Reading Panic made me think about how far people will go to change their lives and what courage looks like when things get hard. It masterfully blurs the line between a survival story and a coming-of-age story.

🍸 Sip or Skip?

This book feels like a tequila shot with salt and lime on a hot summer afternoon. It’s gritty, fast-paced, a little wild, and hard to forget.

It’s a high-stakes thriller with emotional depth and a few raw edges that make it hit harder.

My verdict: 🥂 Sip-worthy, especially if you like stories that mix danger, adrenaline, and a touch of heart. I’d call this one🌶️Spicy — the kind of read that keeps your pulse up.

🧩 How did it taste for you?🖤 Sweet | 🌶️Spicy | 🍋 Tart | 🧊 Chill | 💦 Too watered down

🧠 Margarita Moments

The magic of Panic isn’t really about the stunts or dares. It’s about the courage underneath it all. It takes its time, but once the game gets serious, you’re fully in.

Heather begins as a character who feels invisible and uncertain, but she evolves into someone who owns her fear and fights for something greater.

Dodge isn’t your typical revenge-driven character either. He’s careful, wounded, and determined. His anger pushes him forward, but it’s also what he has to learn to let go of it.

I loved the coming-of-age aspects of this book, such as Heather's heartbreak, the friendship between her and Natalie, and the anticipation of what the future holds.

💬 Reader Question: Did your town ever play a game similar to Panic, perhaps not with the same dangerous high stakes?

🎶 Pair It With...

🎵 Song: “Choke” by Royal & the Serpent - it captures the adrenaline of anticipation and the mix of fear and power. And this song was actually used in the TV show

🎬Movie: Nerve (2016) -Anonymous “judges,” escalating dares, and the intoxicating rush of being watched and stalked through your phone.

🍒 Best Garnish

“You can’t feel alive unless you’re willing to risk your life.”

That line stuck with me. It captures what Panic is really about being scared and having the courage to stick through it.

🦉 Final Thought

Panic is a bold, fast, and emotional mix of thriller and drama. It lingers, peeling back layers the longer you sit with it.

It’s not just a story about a dangerous game but about facing your fears and choosing to want more than survival. A little messy, a little hopeful, and completely gripping.

✔️Closing Tab...

Every book is a different kind of drink: some sweet, some sharp, some that leave a burn. This one? A rush that makes your heart race and your hands sweat, but you still want another round.

I’m not sure what will end up in my glass next, but come back for the next round. Here’s to stories that stick with you like salt on the rim and words that buzz long after the last page. 🥂

**Oh, and good news! You can now comment on my posts without having to sign up for a Wix account! Just a quick reminder to be kind and respectful. If not, I’ll have to delete comments that cross the line.