Scan barcode
golden_lily's review against another edition
4.0
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
I’m really glad I gave this series a second chance.
I liked Also Known As, (really!) but my main issue with it was a lack of actual espionage. There was a botched job at the newspaper owner’s house and the big conclusion, but for the most part the first book is about interpersonal relationships. Friendship, romance, letting your teen leave the nest...typical high school stuff. And I thought it suffered for that.
Have no fear, Going Rogue never once sets foot inside a school. The relationships from book one are carried over: Maggie’s still dating Jesse, still bffs with Roux, still trying to find a kid/coworker balance with her parents, but the actual spy work has been ramped way up.
Maggie’s retired from spying to finish high school, but the whole family’s dragged back in when it turns out that the rogue spy from the last book may not have been the only agent to turn. The Collective accuses Maggie’s parents of using their hacker/linguistic, (that’s what dad does!,) skills to steal some ridiculously valuable gold coins. Rather than sit back and let the family be burned, Mags teams up with Angelo to clear the family name.
You can guess how that plan goes.
I really liked seeing Maggie do something this time around. Not just safecracking, but casing, researching, and lifting evidence. She still has too much of a tendency to talk about her job in public, but this time she notices shadowy figures, destroys SIM cards, and just generally acts like a spy with a decade plus of training. Very exciting.
Beyond the actual heist parts, the characters really make the novel. Roux and Jesse are officially part of the team, because we can’t just let civvies run around and tell all of our secrets. Roux remains delightfully exuberant and is thrilled to be included, though the new vulnerability she shows is special and very well written. Jesse, too, is struggling in this book, but never falls into the douchebag role that a lot of other YA boyfriends do.
Additionally, the relocation to Paris gives the book a chance to introduce three other teenage spies, Ryo, Élodie, and Ames. All three were fun additions, though Ryo and Élodie could have stood more characterization. I’m afraid I’m still not clear on their “clean up Paris” scheme. Their inclusion lets us see both how the Collective recruits spies and dumps them when they're done.
Going Rogue is a fun, fast paced adventure that was not only extremely enjoyable, but surprisingly tense. The new city and expanded backstories help flesh out the world building. The climax is very satisfying, showing both the full depth of the corruption and the heroes' strengths. It may end a little bittersweet, but the series is left open to grow in any number of ways, just like Angelo’s phoenix.
I’m really glad I gave this series a second chance.
I liked Also Known As, (really!) but my main issue with it was a lack of actual espionage. There was a botched job at the newspaper owner’s house and the big conclusion, but for the most part the first book is about interpersonal relationships. Friendship, romance, letting your teen leave the nest...typical high school stuff. And I thought it suffered for that.
Have no fear, Going Rogue never once sets foot inside a school. The relationships from book one are carried over: Maggie’s still dating Jesse, still bffs with Roux, still trying to find a kid/coworker balance with her parents, but the actual spy work has been ramped way up.
Maggie’s retired from spying to finish high school, but the whole family’s dragged back in when it turns out that the rogue spy from the last book may not have been the only agent to turn. The Collective accuses Maggie’s parents of using their hacker/linguistic, (that’s what dad does!,) skills to steal some ridiculously valuable gold coins. Rather than sit back and let the family be burned, Mags teams up with Angelo to clear the family name.
You can guess how that plan goes.
I really liked seeing Maggie do something this time around. Not just safecracking, but casing, researching, and lifting evidence. She still has too much of a tendency to talk about her job in public, but this time she notices shadowy figures, destroys SIM cards, and just generally acts like a spy with a decade plus of training. Very exciting.
Beyond the actual heist parts, the characters really make the novel. Roux and Jesse are officially part of the team, because we can’t just let civvies run around and tell all of our secrets. Roux remains delightfully exuberant and is thrilled to be included, though the new vulnerability she shows is special and very well written. Jesse, too, is struggling in this book, but never falls into the douchebag role that a lot of other YA boyfriends do.
Additionally, the relocation to Paris gives the book a chance to introduce three other teenage spies, Ryo, Élodie, and Ames. All three were fun additions, though Ryo and Élodie could have stood more characterization. I’m afraid I’m still not clear on their “clean up Paris” scheme. Their inclusion lets us see both how the Collective recruits spies and dumps them when they're done.
Going Rogue is a fun, fast paced adventure that was not only extremely enjoyable, but surprisingly tense. The new city and expanded backstories help flesh out the world building. The climax is very satisfying, showing both the full depth of the corruption and the heroes' strengths. It may end a little bittersweet, but the series is left open to grow in any number of ways, just like Angelo’s phoenix.
allibruns's review against another edition
4.0
I found that this started flat. Maggie wasn't as funny and sarcastic and the fights that she got in with Jessie and Roux seemed forced. Then the second half of this book happened. It was tense, funny, sweet and satisfying all at the same time.
I really hope Robin Benway continues this series.
I really hope Robin Benway continues this series.
istraka1701's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, don't feel qualified for a long review since I read this so long ago. However, the fact that I still remember it fondly should say everything!
Spies are fun. Maggie, Jesse, and Roux are cool. This book was honestly better than the first in my opinion!
Links :)
https://www.instagram.com/thesundayreads/
https://www.pinterest.com/izzystraka/
Spies are fun. Maggie, Jesse, and Roux are cool. This book was honestly better than the first in my opinion!
Links :)
https://www.instagram.com/thesundayreads/
https://www.pinterest.com/izzystraka/
cjyu's review against another edition
5.0
More exciting than Also Known As, and the relationship focuses beyond the romance. And the fact that Roux keeps mentioning the time she broke Colton's nose. :)
maggiemaggio's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
Robin Benway is the master of writing smart, thoughtful books that you don’t even realize are smart or thoughtful because you’re having so much fun reading them. It’s been well established that I loved Also Known As, 50% because it’s a great book and 50% because the main character’s name is Maggie and I’m happy to say that I loved Going Rogue just as much, if not more, then I loved Also Known As.
Because I didn’t think Also Known As needed a sequel I was slightly worried going into this, but I should have just trusted Robin. In this second book in the series The Collective has gone off script and Maggie, her parents, and Angelo must go rogue. Maggie must also break out from under her parents’ careful watch and start to take on missions of her own and unfortunately Roux and Jesse get dragged into all of the craziness that ensues.
In my review of Also Known As I wrote: “Do I think a 16-year-old could really be a safecracker working with some of the top spies in the world? No. Do I think this book had a lot of absurd things happen? Absolutely. Did it matter? No.” And I still feel the exact same way. Reading about a 17-year-old breaking into a criminal mastermind’s home just doesn’t seem real to me, but the story is so fun and the characters are so great that it just doesn’t matter.
Let’s get to where I think Robin Benway really excels and that’s at blending the serious with the fun. Everything about this book is fun. Even when Maggie is in tough situations she’s still her smart, sarcastic self and that makes reading these books such a joy. But there’s also a lot of seriousness and relatable situations hidden among all the good times. When this book starts Maggie and Jesse have been dating for a little over a year and while things seemed to mostly have been good, as Maggie gets drawn back into the spy world things get tough for them. Maggie must keep secrets from Jesse and Jesse, even though he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on, is worried for Maggie’s safety and wants to protect her (in the least misogynistic way possible). Essentially these problems are variations of problems lots of people face in relationships; sometimes you have to keep secrets from those you love and sometimes you have to let people take risks and live their lives even when you want to protect them.
The same can be said for Maggie’s relationship with her parents. I absolutely love the parent-kid dynamic that they have in both books, but in this book Maggie needs to strike out on her own and put some space between herself and her parents. Not only because she’s entering her senior year of high school and getting ready to leave for college, but also because she’s working with Angelo as part of their “going rogue” on things her parents can’t know about. Even though the mission with Angelo is such a crazy thing it really struck me how Maggie’s need to assert her own independence and live her own life is just like what so many other teenagers go through.
After the perfect blend of fun and serious my favorite part of this book was obviously Angelo and Roux. So often I can’t stand supporting characters and best friends, but Angelo and Roux are something special. I loved that we got to see more of Angelo in this book and more of Angelo at work. And Roux is just amazing, I don’t think she was quite as wacky in this book, but she has some amazing moments. I mean, who else would have a Faberge egg hidden in their sock drawer?
Bottom Line: This book is so perfect for so many people. If you like fun, read this book. If you like contemporary YA novels, read this book. If you like spies, read this book. Robin Benway’s books are something truly special and if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading one of her books yet I encourage you go fix that mistake ASAP.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
Robin Benway is the master of writing smart, thoughtful books that you don’t even realize are smart or thoughtful because you’re having so much fun reading them. It’s been well established that I loved Also Known As, 50% because it’s a great book and 50% because the main character’s name is Maggie and I’m happy to say that I loved Going Rogue just as much, if not more, then I loved Also Known As.
Because I didn’t think Also Known As needed a sequel I was slightly worried going into this, but I should have just trusted Robin. In this second book in the series The Collective has gone off script and Maggie, her parents, and Angelo must go rogue. Maggie must also break out from under her parents’ careful watch and start to take on missions of her own and unfortunately Roux and Jesse get dragged into all of the craziness that ensues.
In my review of Also Known As I wrote: “Do I think a 16-year-old could really be a safecracker working with some of the top spies in the world? No. Do I think this book had a lot of absurd things happen? Absolutely. Did it matter? No.” And I still feel the exact same way. Reading about a 17-year-old breaking into a criminal mastermind’s home just doesn’t seem real to me, but the story is so fun and the characters are so great that it just doesn’t matter.
Let’s get to where I think Robin Benway really excels and that’s at blending the serious with the fun. Everything about this book is fun. Even when Maggie is in tough situations she’s still her smart, sarcastic self and that makes reading these books such a joy. But there’s also a lot of seriousness and relatable situations hidden among all the good times. When this book starts Maggie and Jesse have been dating for a little over a year and while things seemed to mostly have been good, as Maggie gets drawn back into the spy world things get tough for them. Maggie must keep secrets from Jesse and Jesse, even though he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on, is worried for Maggie’s safety and wants to protect her (in the least misogynistic way possible). Essentially these problems are variations of problems lots of people face in relationships; sometimes you have to keep secrets from those you love and sometimes you have to let people take risks and live their lives even when you want to protect them.
The same can be said for Maggie’s relationship with her parents. I absolutely love the parent-kid dynamic that they have in both books, but in this book Maggie needs to strike out on her own and put some space between herself and her parents. Not only because she’s entering her senior year of high school and getting ready to leave for college, but also because she’s working with Angelo as part of their “going rogue” on things her parents can’t know about. Even though the mission with Angelo is such a crazy thing it really struck me how Maggie’s need to assert her own independence and live her own life is just like what so many other teenagers go through.
After the perfect blend of fun and serious my favorite part of this book was obviously Angelo and Roux. So often I can’t stand supporting characters and best friends, but Angelo and Roux are something special. I loved that we got to see more of Angelo in this book and more of Angelo at work. And Roux is just amazing, I don’t think she was quite as wacky in this book, but she has some amazing moments. I mean, who else would have a Faberge egg hidden in their sock drawer?
Bottom Line: This book is so perfect for so many people. If you like fun, read this book. If you like contemporary YA novels, read this book. If you like spies, read this book. Robin Benway’s books are something truly special and if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading one of her books yet I encourage you go fix that mistake ASAP.
I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
4.0
Maggie returns to her spy adventures in this second installment of the Also Known As series. And, yes, there is plenty of Angelo in this book too!!
Once I settled into Maggie’s voice in the first book, I quickly fell in love with the story and the characters. Make no mistake though, this series is all about the characters for me! Yes, Maggie is great – and kick-ass – but it is Angelo and Roux that really have captured my heart and made me reach for the second book.
Not much of a mystery in this story but definitely lots of hold-your-breath moments. This is a worthy read-alike for fans of Heist Society by Ally Carter. Oh, to have been a teenage spy … now that is drama for which I would return to being a teenager!!
Once I settled into Maggie’s voice in the first book, I quickly fell in love with the story and the characters. Make no mistake though, this series is all about the characters for me! Yes, Maggie is great – and kick-ass – but it is Angelo and Roux that really have captured my heart and made me reach for the second book.
Not much of a mystery in this story but definitely lots of hold-your-breath moments. This is a worthy read-alike for fans of Heist Society by Ally Carter. Oh, to have been a teenage spy … now that is drama for which I would return to being a teenager!!
poorashleu's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at yadultreview
So I was pretty happy with the first book. Loved and adored. Because I thought it was a stand alone. I wanted more but I accepted my fate of it being a stand alone. AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT BENWAY WAS WRITING ANOTHER AND IT WAS GLORIOUS. BECAUSE ALL THE FEEEEEEELS.
Going Rogue did not disappoint. I loved and adored this book so much. This book picks up right after the first book, Also Known As, you’re back with Maggie who is currently bored out of her mind. She has a solid relationship with her parents, and Roux and of course Jessie. But she’s bored. She’s not used to being a “normal” high school. I mean, her parents were practicing spies and she’s an expert locksmith. SAT practice isn’t really the same as breaking into dangerous places with her parents.
This book shows tremendous growth in Maggie though. She learns that it is hard to be a true friend while maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend and with her parents. There are a lot more moving pieces to life than Maggie really thinks there are. Although her and her parents are spies, she really deals with normal every day things. That could be meeting the boyfriends parents for a dinner, to having a fight with a BFF because Roux fears that Maggie is going to leave her from said boredom. It is a heartbreaking emotional scene because Roux has a shit ass home life, a horrible school life and her best friend is her anchor at the moment when everything else drives her crazy. Roux is a highlight to the story for me. Although everyone is truly a highlight for me, the Roux storyline really got me. Angelo, Maggie’s honorary Uncle, and Maggie are truly what helps center her when everything else in her life.
Although this is a second novel, the action did not slow down. If anything there was more action and more familiar guilt, which is something everyone understands, spy or not. Maggie also found out that Roux and Jessie are her family now. She spends so much of this novel trying to keep them out of the new spy caper, but she couldn’t because they are her family.
This book keeps us in New York City, where once again I felt like I was in actual NYC, but also Paris, in a safehouse. Benway excels at drama and the high speed of a spy novel that leaves me hanging for more, yet content that if this is the end, the little family I’ve grown to love will be okay.
So I was pretty happy with the first book. Loved and adored. Because I thought it was a stand alone. I wanted more but I accepted my fate of it being a stand alone. AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT BENWAY WAS WRITING ANOTHER AND IT WAS GLORIOUS. BECAUSE ALL THE FEEEEEEELS.
Going Rogue did not disappoint. I loved and adored this book so much. This book picks up right after the first book, Also Known As, you’re back with Maggie who is currently bored out of her mind. She has a solid relationship with her parents, and Roux and of course Jessie. But she’s bored. She’s not used to being a “normal” high school. I mean, her parents were practicing spies and she’s an expert locksmith. SAT practice isn’t really the same as breaking into dangerous places with her parents.
This book shows tremendous growth in Maggie though. She learns that it is hard to be a true friend while maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend and with her parents. There are a lot more moving pieces to life than Maggie really thinks there are. Although her and her parents are spies, she really deals with normal every day things. That could be meeting the boyfriends parents for a dinner, to having a fight with a BFF because Roux fears that Maggie is going to leave her from said boredom. It is a heartbreaking emotional scene because Roux has a shit ass home life, a horrible school life and her best friend is her anchor at the moment when everything else drives her crazy. Roux is a highlight to the story for me. Although everyone is truly a highlight for me, the Roux storyline really got me. Angelo, Maggie’s honorary Uncle, and Maggie are truly what helps center her when everything else in her life.
Although this is a second novel, the action did not slow down. If anything there was more action and more familiar guilt, which is something everyone understands, spy or not. Maggie also found out that Roux and Jessie are her family now. She spends so much of this novel trying to keep them out of the new spy caper, but she couldn’t because they are her family.
This book keeps us in New York City, where once again I felt like I was in actual NYC, but also Paris, in a safehouse. Benway excels at drama and the high speed of a spy novel that leaves me hanging for more, yet content that if this is the end, the little family I’ve grown to love will be okay.
madhatter360's review against another edition
3.0
Overall it was a fun read. I definitely didn't see the ending coming. I spent the whole book wondering if there would be a twist ending with Angelo also turning out to be evil. Never so glad to be wrong.
monarchbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0