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booksmellers's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
3.5?/5 stars
This book had a promising start, it lost me for a bit in the middle, then brought me back for the last quarter. This story has an interesting premise and characters but it has some technical issues that impacted my reading experience. My main problem is that I often felt separated from the action. I think this is partially because Jen chose to write from the dad's perspective throughout the whole book. I really liked his voice in the beginning, but when Gwen leaves home, it creates problems.(After she leaves, instead of seeing her directly we hear about her time at college through letters and through her dad putting a bug on her??? Did not love that.) I think it would've made way more sense to see Gwen's parents' perspectives in Part 1 and 2, and then switch to Gwen's point of view in Part 3, then return to Grant in Part 4.
Additionally, I didn't feel completely sold on the world building. There seemed to be some missing pieces. That being said, there were definitely some compelling aspects of it---for example, the idea that AI in someone's brain would copy their thoughts and create an AI version of that person: terrifying ---I'd be interested to read more about this dystopian America.
I'd still recommend for fans of sci-fi and dystopia. The book isn't as intense as some other dystopias I've read, but still check content warnings!
This book had a promising start, it lost me for a bit in the middle, then brought me back for the last quarter. This story has an interesting premise and characters but it has some technical issues that impacted my reading experience. My main problem is that I often felt separated from the action. I think this is partially because Jen chose to write from the dad's perspective throughout the whole book. I really liked his voice in the beginning, but when Gwen leaves home, it creates problems.
Additionally, I didn't feel completely sold on the world building. There seemed to be some missing pieces. That being said, there were definitely some compelling aspects of it---
I'd still recommend for fans of sci-fi and dystopia. The book isn't as intense as some other dystopias I've read, but still check content warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Dementia, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Rape, and Classism
shermansays's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Stalking
gladiolus17's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had mixed feelings about this book. There were a lot of positives. Overall, I liked the storyline, the world-building, and characters.
Oddly, I liked the house as a character. It was annoying, but also sort of sweet in the end.
I also don’t have any interest in baseball, but I enjoyed the development Gwen had in the sport, and also found myself enjoying the scenes about the baseball games and training.
I feel like AutoAmerica is a plausible future for America, as well as the separation of citizens. The world-building didn’t feel too tacky, and was explained in a realistic way.
One of the things that didn’t jive with me was Grant as the narrator. It isn’t a new concept where the main character can be someone other than the narrator (see: The Great Gatsby), but it did have its limitations as a story craft choice. It felt like the author overreached those limitations when Grant bugged his daughter, almost like the story needed a way to get into Gwen’s inner thoughts and bugging her was the only way to do it. However, Grant bugging his daughter made him less sympathetic in my eyes and made me angry about the invasion of privacy. I felt like Grant was set up to be a good father, so this went contrary to my expectations.
The other thing that bothered me was a personal one, tied with my values. Gwen was in a predatory relationship with a man in power above her. Woody, the guy, was her baseball coach, and over a decade older than her 18 years. He also did not make any action when one of his previous baseball team members he was coaching was raped. (He was guilty over his inaction, though.)
Grant and Eleanor are sympathetic with him. Particularly Grant, when he almost seems to try to cheer up Woody when he tries to take Gwen back, Grant saying, “she can be stubborn.” In the end, Gwen seems to cave, (accepting to see Woody and allowing him to do a goofy couple thing). This made me feel the story was making out that Woody was supposed to be forgiven.
For me, predatory relationships and not taking responsibility for the team members you are coaching are irredeemable. Overall, this colored the rest of my view of the book.
Oddly, I liked the house as a character. It was annoying, but also sort of sweet in the end.
I also don’t have any interest in baseball, but I enjoyed the development Gwen had in the sport, and also found myself enjoying the scenes about the baseball games and training.
I feel like AutoAmerica is a plausible future for America, as well as the separation of citizens. The world-building didn’t feel too tacky, and was explained in a realistic way.
One of the things that didn’t jive with me was Grant as the narrator. It isn’t a new concept where the main character can be someone other than the narrator (see: The Great Gatsby), but it did have its limitations as a story craft choice. It felt like the author overreached those limitations when Grant bugged his daughter, almost like the story needed a way to get into Gwen’s inner thoughts and bugging her was the only way to do it. However, Grant bugging his daughter made him less sympathetic in my eyes and made me angry about the invasion of privacy. I felt like Grant was set up to be a good father, so this went contrary to my expectations.
The other thing that bothered me was a personal one, tied with my values. Gwen was in a predatory relationship with a man in power above her. Woody, the guy, was her baseball coach, and over a decade older than her 18 years. He also did not make any action when one of his previous baseball team members he was coaching was raped. (He was guilty over his inaction, though.)
Grant and Eleanor are sympathetic with him. Particularly Grant, when he almost seems to try to cheer up Woody when he tries to take Gwen back, Grant saying, “she can be stubborn.” In the end, Gwen seems to cave, (accepting to see Woody and allowing him to do a goofy couple thing). This made me feel the story was making out that Woody was supposed to be forgiven.
For me, predatory relationships and not taking responsibility for the team members you are coaching are irredeemable. Overall, this colored the rest of my view of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
jmbz38's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment
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