Nirvana, book 1J.R. Stewart2015

When the real world is emptied of all that you love, how can you keep yourself from dependence on the virtual?

Larissa lives in a world where the real and the virtual intermingle. After the supposed death of her soul mate, Andrew, Larissa is able to find solace by escaping to Nirvana, a virtual world where anything is possible – even visits with Andrew. Although Larissa knows that these meetings are not real, she cannot shake her suspicion that Andrew is indeed alive. When she begins an investigation of the Hexagon, the very institution that she has been taught to trust, Larissa uncovers much more than she ever expected. Her biggest challenge, however, remains determining what is real – and what is virtual.

Nirvana is a fast-paced page-turning young adult novel combining elements of the romance, mystery, and science fiction genres. Part of a three-part series, this book introduces readers to a heroine who refuses to give up on the man she loves, even if it means taking on an entire government to do so. As the lines between the real and virtual worlds begin to blur, Larissa and the reader realize that all is not as it seems, and the complex mystery only deepens.