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ansl's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ster voor dit boek. Leest snel, soms een paar irritaties en nogal voorspelbaar maar wel een leuke manier om je tijd mee door te brengen.
Iets wat ik eigenlijk vervelend vond aan dit boek is dat het echt om de twee hoofdpersonages gaat: Rory en North, al de andere personages worden telkens maar heel kort vermeld en je kan daar eigenlijk totaal geen band mee maken. (Eigenlijk kan je ook niet echt een band maken met de hoofdpersonages zelf, want ze doen niet echt veel extra's buiten het hoofdverhaal om, maarja).
De romantiek in dit boek is eigenlijk maar raar, het gaat heel erg snel en ik gaf er totaal niks om.
Maar uiteindelijk het grote verhaal (een app die beslissingen voor je neemt waardoor je zelf niks meer moet bepalen) is best wel interessant. Als je het boek leest dan besef je ook wel hoe fout dat allemaal is.
Iets wat ik eigenlijk vervelend vond aan dit boek is dat het echt om de twee hoofdpersonages gaat: Rory en North, al de andere personages worden telkens maar heel kort vermeld en je kan daar eigenlijk totaal geen band mee maken. (Eigenlijk kan je ook niet echt een band maken met de hoofdpersonages zelf, want ze doen niet echt veel extra's buiten het hoofdverhaal om, maarja).
De romantiek in dit boek is eigenlijk maar raar, het gaat heel erg snel en ik gaf er totaal niks om.
Maar uiteindelijk het grote verhaal (een app die beslissingen voor je neemt waardoor je zelf niks meer moet bepalen) is best wel interessant. Als je het boek leest dan besef je ook wel hoe fout dat allemaal is.
vidhi26p's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best science fiction novels that also satires our society today. It's a scary novel that portrays the direction our society might be headed in. There are plot twists around every corner and this book is most definitely a page turner.
justicepirate's review against another edition
5.0
I have to say, the way that the storyline worked throughout everything, I didn't really know what was going to happen, and therefore I liked this. I felt like there was enough mystery throughout it, not too much romance throughout it, and more of a fat plot with a lot of well planned details to back each up. I am very impressed by this story.
Rory (Aurora) is sixteen and is going to go to a private school that her mom went to. Her mom died giving birth to her, so she really doesn't know that much about her mom. Rory lives in a time in the future (the 2030s) where a computer app called LUX on hand held devices make decisions for people. Her best friend doesn't seem to really like using it, but she doesn't know how she could ever function without asking LUX for help. Her best friend has something called "The Doubt" that he listens to instead within himself, which a lot of people look down on. She doesn't mind her friend having it and he doesn't mind that she consults her LUX so often. Now in going to school, she'll be without her best friend, but might find out much more about herself than she ever imagined.
Truly wonderful!!! I have been wanting to read this since it came out and am glad I finally did!!
Rory (Aurora) is sixteen and is going to go to a private school that her mom went to. Her mom died giving birth to her, so she really doesn't know that much about her mom. Rory lives in a time in the future (the 2030s) where a computer app called LUX on hand held devices make decisions for people. Her best friend doesn't seem to really like using it, but she doesn't know how she could ever function without asking LUX for help. Her best friend has something called "The Doubt" that he listens to instead within himself, which a lot of people look down on. She doesn't mind her friend having it and he doesn't mind that she consults her LUX so often. Now in going to school, she'll be without her best friend, but might find out much more about herself than she ever imagined.
Truly wonderful!!! I have been wanting to read this since it came out and am glad I finally did!!
captkaty's review against another edition
4.0
Set about 15 years in the future, in a world where everyone's addicted to an app, Lux, that makes decisions big and small for you. What should you have for lunch? When should you leave for work? Should you date that person? Lux's answers ensure that you'll be living your best life.
Rory's a high-achieving student who loves Lux like everyone else. She's thrilled to be admitted to Theden, a prestigious prep school whose graduates are guaranteed success in everything they do afterward. But I don't think it's too spoilery to say that not everything is what it seems.
In a lot of ways, this was a pretty standard YA dystopia (two male love interests? Check! conspiracies galore? Check!), but even though I've largely grown tired of the genre, I found this one really enjoyable. I'm a sucker for any book set at an elite school, and Lauren Miller kept the plot chugging along nicely. It's a thinly veiled criticism about the illusion of connectedness we have with our smartphones and social media, but how we often lack genuine connection. I think you could have some great, smart discussions with teens about this one.
Rory's a high-achieving student who loves Lux like everyone else. She's thrilled to be admitted to Theden, a prestigious prep school whose graduates are guaranteed success in everything they do afterward. But I don't think it's too spoilery to say that not everything is what it seems.
In a lot of ways, this was a pretty standard YA dystopia (two male love interests? Check! conspiracies galore? Check!), but even though I've largely grown tired of the genre, I found this one really enjoyable. I'm a sucker for any book set at an elite school, and Lauren Miller kept the plot chugging along nicely. It's a thinly veiled criticism about the illusion of connectedness we have with our smartphones and social media, but how we often lack genuine connection. I think you could have some great, smart discussions with teens about this one.
baileynd's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, I'd like to say that the cover and the title don't do this book justice. They make it seem like this is just a romance novel posing as a YA dystopian, and while there is the tiniest bit of truth in that, it still doesn't encapsulate all that this contains.
I was caught off guard by this book right from the start, mainly because I only knew the very general premise of an app that basically dictated people's lives. When I read the first couple of pages, I honestly felt like it was Gilmore Girls in book form. In fact, it would be practically impossible to make me believe that the start of this book was inspired by anything else. A really intelligent teenage girl gets accepted to a highly elite private high school—that's the exact premise of the pilot of Gilmore Girls. This made me both dread and anticipate the book. Anticipate because Gilmore Girls, and dread because it was already showing a lack of originality.
The latter was rectified in a plot that was relatively unpredictable, but the similarities to Gilmore Girls did not by any means end with the beginning. I'm not going to go into much more detail for fear of becoming repetitive, but originality was definitely an issue with this book.
The romance was also a downside to the book as it felt rushed and contrived. Rory had spent maybe an hour or two with North before she began to feel butterflies in her stomach every time she saw him. It just wasn't convincing, and neither was Rory's dismissal of Lux.
She starts off relying on the app for everything, but all of the sudden, a boy says that he thinks it's a bad thing and she completely changes her mind. It just seems unrealistic to me that she would let go so easily. I know that she does struggle with "the Doubt," but I feel as if there should have been a stronger urge for her to hold onto Lux since she had been using it for so long. Perhaps this wouldn't have been as big of an issue had Beck not been in the book. He rejected Lux since he was born, and yet his objection to it has little to no effect on Rory's opinions. It just doesn't make sense.
Now, none of that is to say that I gave it pity stars. This was, in fact, a highly enjoyable book that was rather difficult to put down at times. I have to admit that I didn't see many of the twists coming. The only reason I predicted the big evil plan of Gnosis was because it was similar to that of the villain in the Kingsman movie (again with the lack of originality).
This review is predominantly critically; I am fully aware of that. However, I have to say that it's more because the book as a whole was good, but it wasn't great. It's far easier for me to pick out the flaws than the highlights when there wasn't anything truly extraordinary in it.
I will give credit where credit is due and say that Lauren Miller did a good job in writing an entertaining book. I'm usually not one for stand alones, but I did really like this book. She also did a good job at making a statement about today's society with implications of how the world could develop if we don't learn to put the electronics down from time to time.
Was it my favorite book? No, but I would say that this—despite its imperfections—is definitely worth a read.
I was caught off guard by this book right from the start, mainly because I only knew the very general premise of an app that basically dictated people's lives. When I read the first couple of pages, I honestly felt like it was Gilmore Girls in book form. In fact, it would be practically impossible to make me believe that the start of this book was inspired by anything else. A really intelligent teenage girl gets accepted to a highly elite private high school—that's the exact premise of the pilot of Gilmore Girls. This made me both dread and anticipate the book. Anticipate because Gilmore Girls, and dread because it was already showing a lack of originality.
The latter was rectified in a plot that was relatively unpredictable, but the similarities to Gilmore Girls did not by any means end with the beginning. I'm not going to go into much more detail for fear of becoming repetitive, but originality was definitely an issue with this book.
The romance was also a downside to the book as it felt rushed and contrived. Rory had spent maybe an hour or two with North before she began to feel butterflies in her stomach every time she saw him. It just wasn't convincing, and neither was Rory's dismissal of Lux.
She starts off relying on the app for everything, but all of the sudden, a boy says that he thinks it's a bad thing and she completely changes her mind. It just seems unrealistic to me that she would let go so easily. I know that she does struggle with "the Doubt," but I feel as if there should have been a stronger urge for her to hold onto Lux since she had been using it for so long. Perhaps this wouldn't have been as big of an issue had Beck not been in the book. He rejected Lux since he was born, and yet his objection to it has little to no effect on Rory's opinions. It just doesn't make sense.
Now, none of that is to say that I gave it pity stars. This was, in fact, a highly enjoyable book that was rather difficult to put down at times. I have to admit that I didn't see many of the twists coming. The only reason I predicted the big evil plan of Gnosis was because it was similar to that of the villain in the Kingsman movie (again with the lack of originality).
This review is predominantly critically; I am fully aware of that. However, I have to say that it's more because the book as a whole was good, but it wasn't great. It's far easier for me to pick out the flaws than the highlights when there wasn't anything truly extraordinary in it.
I will give credit where credit is due and say that Lauren Miller did a good job in writing an entertaining book. I'm usually not one for stand alones, but I did really like this book. She also did a good job at making a statement about today's society with implications of how the world could develop if we don't learn to put the electronics down from time to time.
Was it my favorite book? No, but I would say that this—despite its imperfections—is definitely worth a read.
writeralicia's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it!
Dr. Tarsus has strong similarities to a character in a well-known series:. As soon as I noticed that, some parts of the story became predictable. But it didn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of this book. Give me more Lauren Miller!
Dr. Tarsus has strong similarities to a character in a well-known series:
Spoiler
Severus Snape from Harry Potterafretts's review against another edition
2.0
You know how in Harry Potter J.K. Rowling gives you all of that extra time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione where they're just walking around, talking, and doing normal things? She gives you the opportunity to REALLY get to know her characters so much that you feel like they're close friends or family members? Everything they do makes sense because they're your pals. Why did Harry do that? Because he's Harry and that's what he does!
This book is the opposite of that.
While reading it, I was vaguely aware that it was a great idea for a story. That's what kept me reading- the book is pretty long. But it was like I was a new kid at school, hanging out with a group of friends that has known each other for years, and someone is telling a "hilarious" story about something that one of them did. I'm vaguely aware that it's entertaining, but since I don't know anyone, I'm pretty much just smiling and laughing because I know I'm supposed to- not because I genuinely get it.
That's the issue with this book- it's solely story driven. It's not relationship driven. AT ALL. There were plenty of times were I sat there WTF-ing because a major relationship plot point came out of nowhere.
The relationship between North and Rory is the most bland, underdeveloped one I've ever read about. That's saying something because I've read a lot of books. There was zero reason for North to love Rory other than his skills were crucial to the plot. There was no reason to trust the roommate, Hershey, really, but Rory and North did.
This book was generally entertaining, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It was like watching a really exciting episode of show you've never seen before in it's 9th season. So much has had to happen to get to that point, but I didn't see any of it so I'm confused as to why it's all going down like this.
This book is the opposite of that.
While reading it, I was vaguely aware that it was a great idea for a story. That's what kept me reading- the book is pretty long. But it was like I was a new kid at school, hanging out with a group of friends that has known each other for years, and someone is telling a "hilarious" story about something that one of them did. I'm vaguely aware that it's entertaining, but since I don't know anyone, I'm pretty much just smiling and laughing because I know I'm supposed to- not because I genuinely get it.
That's the issue with this book- it's solely story driven. It's not relationship driven. AT ALL. There were plenty of times were I sat there WTF-ing because a major relationship plot point came out of nowhere.
The relationship between North and Rory is the most bland, underdeveloped one I've ever read about. That's saying something because I've read a lot of books. There was zero reason for North to love Rory other than his skills were crucial to the plot. There was no reason to trust the roommate, Hershey, really, but Rory and North did.
This book was generally entertaining, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It was like watching a really exciting episode of show you've never seen before in it's 9th season. So much has had to happen to get to that point, but I didn't see any of it so I'm confused as to why it's all going down like this.
devonadelle's review against another edition
5.0
Within the first 20 pages of the book, I was impacted enough by the subject matter to turn off my phone — a small reaction, but a reaction nonetheless. The story that Ms. Lauren Miller has crafted is one that speaks volumes on our growing connectedness as a society, our increasingly unhealthy obsession with advancing technology. I loved this book so much that I’m considering running out to the bookstore and buying it (I read a library copy) just so I can swoon about it to everyone I know and try to push it on them. This is the best social commentary I have seen in a YA novel in…months? years? I can’t even say for sure.
I’m on the verge of wishing this book had been slated for an adult sci-fi label, purely because it has a very special “bigger on the inside” (pardon the Doctor Who reference) story that could have been expounded upon further. The mystery that Rory first uncovers grows and grows as she gathers information and therefore the story really dives into some heavy topics like a twisted family mystery and a biotech scandal. Those two facets alone made me somewhat obsessed with the book and then add on the characters (I’m in love with Rory, North, and Hershey) and…well, I’m utterly obsessed.
Aside from the above, I enjoyed that Free to Fall takes place in our known world and not too far into the future. The familiarity made the story very easy to fall into and the advancements in technology that had been made in the 16 years between now (2014) and the story’s 2030 were very believable and realistic.
Young Adult fiction has been getting slammed right and left recently, and yet Free to Fall is a brilliant story that goes somewhere I have yet to experience in any other book: the social commentary is obvious, it is unapologetic, it is frighteningly true. It’s only 2014 in real life compared to the book’s 2030, and yet already we have toddlers who can’t read books or magazines properly because they think they can just swipe their finger across the page to go to the next, like on a tablet. Ten-year-olds (even some almost-sixty-year-olds I know) don’t communicate at family dinners because their faces are glued to their iPhones/other smartphones.
I have no complaints, only a note: I wasn’t expecting the ending to be what it was, but I really like what Ms. Miller decided to do. 10/10!!!
I’m on the verge of wishing this book had been slated for an adult sci-fi label, purely because it has a very special “bigger on the inside” (pardon the Doctor Who reference) story that could have been expounded upon further. The mystery that Rory first uncovers grows and grows as she gathers information and therefore the story really dives into some heavy topics like a twisted family mystery and a biotech scandal. Those two facets alone made me somewhat obsessed with the book and then add on the characters (I’m in love with Rory, North, and Hershey) and…well, I’m utterly obsessed.
Aside from the above, I enjoyed that Free to Fall takes place in our known world and not too far into the future. The familiarity made the story very easy to fall into and the advancements in technology that had been made in the 16 years between now (2014) and the story’s 2030 were very believable and realistic.
Young Adult fiction has been getting slammed right and left recently, and yet Free to Fall is a brilliant story that goes somewhere I have yet to experience in any other book: the social commentary is obvious, it is unapologetic, it is frighteningly true. It’s only 2014 in real life compared to the book’s 2030, and yet already we have toddlers who can’t read books or magazines properly because they think they can just swipe their finger across the page to go to the next, like on a tablet. Ten-year-olds (even some almost-sixty-year-olds I know) don’t communicate at family dinners because their faces are glued to their iPhones/other smartphones.
I have no complaints, only a note: I wasn’t expecting the ending to be what it was, but I really like what Ms. Miller decided to do. 10/10!!!