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cleverbean's review
3.0
----- maybe some minor spoilers ahead but not anything significant -----
there were parts of this book that were good but then other parts were just not great.
First of all, I think having 6 main characters was unnecessary and excessive and it made it hard to keep track of everyone and remember who each individual was, especially at the beginning. This also made it take a long time to get to the actual plot, since it took a long time to introduce everyone, establish their backstory, and reveal what their personal problem was. Some of those problems weren't even resolved by the end of the book, like how Bex still didn't actually want to be a doctor and she hadn't stood up to her parents.
I was a little confused on what the main plot was actually supposed to be, like it started out being about solving the riddle, which ended up leading the characters together, then it was hacking the rating system for one person and then that was about it. The last third of the book was rushed and it left me unsatisfied with a lot of questions, like: who gave everyone the notes and how did they do it? why was the school newspaper stopped? maybe if there was a sequel I wouldn't feel like there were a lot of plot holes, but I don't think there is going to be one.
The answer given in the epilogue to all the questions the six characters have is really vague, pretty much just, "the less you know, the better."
Although I was unsatisfied with the plot, there were some really cute and funny moments with the characters that made me giggle a bit.
overall, the book is worth reading but I think it's far from the best
there were parts of this book that were good but then other parts were just not great.
First of all, I think having 6 main characters was unnecessary and excessive and it made it hard to keep track of everyone and remember who each individual was, especially at the beginning. This also made it take a long time to get to the actual plot, since it took a long time to introduce everyone, establish their backstory, and reveal what their personal problem was. Some of those problems weren't even resolved by the end of the book, like how Bex still didn't actually want to be a doctor and she hadn't stood up to her parents.
I was a little confused on what the main plot was actually supposed to be, like it started out being about solving the riddle, which ended up leading the characters together, then it was hacking the rating system for one person and then that was about it. The last third of the book was rushed and it left me unsatisfied with a lot of questions, like: who gave everyone the notes and how did they do it? why was the school newspaper stopped? maybe if there was a sequel I wouldn't feel like there were a lot of plot holes, but I don't think there is going to be one.
The answer given in the epilogue to all the questions the six characters have is really vague, pretty much just, "the less you know, the better."
Although I was unsatisfied with the plot, there were some really cute and funny moments with the characters that made me giggle a bit.
overall, the book is worth reading but I think it's far from the best
hollielee's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
menniemenace's review
2.0
This was sub-par. It's not bad but also definitely not good. It had zero exposition or world-building. The title, cover, and synopsis all suggest a rating-system story, but the book has like 2% rating-related stuff and 98% stereotypes.
It has a dyslexic, abused, mean but actually kind jock. There are two overachievers with mean parents, and characterless outcasts. They also randomly become friends and happen to do stuff the book doesn't cover but are actually major plot points.
It's not good. Really not good.
It has a dyslexic, abused, mean but actually kind jock. There are two overachievers with mean parents, and characterless outcasts. They also randomly become friends and happen to do stuff the book doesn't cover but are actually major plot points.
It's not good. Really not good.
bubblepricks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I really like this author- her books feature diverse characters, cute romances that don’t get wildly inappropriate for teens (I sometimes feel weird reading abt teen characters exploring their sexuality when it crosses a certain line- like they’re kids I don’t wanna know), & fun plots.
I wish the narrator for this particular book was kinder with his representation of “teen girl” voices. They come off almost as satire or mocking. Ultimately doesn’t have a huge adverse effect on the listening experience though.
I wish the narrator for this particular book was kinder with his representation of “teen girl” voices. They come off almost as satire or mocking. Ultimately doesn’t have a huge adverse effect on the listening experience though.
nina___790's review
3.0
I expected this book to be longer. I felt as if the story was cut short, the author could easily have continued the story but the book just finished. It was a bit anti-climatic but i still thought it was quite a good book as it had a good plot and good characters.
yourlocalducknamer's review
2.0
**mild spoilers**
This book was so confusing, I wanted to throw myself off of a cliff while reading it at the pool.
And some people were concerned because I was talking to myself.
This book is water damaged now, but I don't really care because it's a book fair book and not a B&N book.
Anyway, into the review.
This school is set on ratings, and the higher your rating, the more successful you are in life.
Bex. A perfectionist. Incredibly high rating, one of, if not, the highest the school has ever had. Her parents are helicopter-like and controlling, and she barely has a free period.
Noah. Incredibly introverted, loves taking photos on his old-timey camera. He's adopted, but doesn't know. He's also a nerd. Has a crush on, and kissed, Javi. He had a bisexual awakening.
Hana. She's starving herself so she can get fit enough for figure skating. Will probably, if not already, be developing an eating disorder. Could possibly start breaking bones when falling. She's so thin that you can almost see through her.
Chase. Dyslexic, and lost his baseball scholarship to the school because his rating got too low. His father is abusive. I honestly thought that he played football for half of the book.
Javi. He's a professional gamer, and
he's the only person in his family to make money. He has a crush on Noah, and is gay. He also kissed Noah.
And Tasmin. A tarot reading fortune teller that likes to skip class. Her rating is super low.
This book was trying too hard to be a pride book, in my opinion. Like, we had the gay, the bi, and the straights, but... it was trying too hard.
It also mentioned that it was snowing? It was September-October.
Like, here. Have an example. You know when you have this outfit, and it looks like... really low effort, but you put a lot of effort into it? That's what this book was for me.
The plot also didn't really start picking up until page 200, and even then, it was slow. Actually, that was a lie. Out of 320 pages, the plot picked up at page 261. A slow burn, as one of the lifeguards called it.
This book also ruined mac and cheese for me, it described putting a serving spoon in a pan of mac and cheese as "an obscene squelch."
The ending, oh god. Disappointing. Incredibly rushed and disappointing.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for multiple reasons. Don't waste your money. And if you already did, get the book water damaged like I did. Make it feel pain like the pain it caused me while reading it.
This book was so confusing, I wanted to throw myself off of a cliff while reading it at the pool.
And some people were concerned because I was talking to myself.
This book is water damaged now, but I don't really care because it's a book fair book and not a B&N book.
Anyway, into the review.
This school is set on ratings, and the higher your rating, the more successful you are in life.
Bex. A perfectionist. Incredibly high rating, one of, if not, the highest the school has ever had. Her parents are helicopter-like and controlling, and she barely has a free period.
Noah. Incredibly introverted, loves taking photos on his old-timey camera. He's adopted, but doesn't know. He's also a nerd. Has a crush on, and kissed, Javi. He had a bisexual awakening.
Hana. She's starving herself so she can get fit enough for figure skating. Will probably, if not already, be developing an eating disorder. Could possibly start breaking bones when falling. She's so thin that you can almost see through her.
Chase. Dyslexic, and lost his baseball scholarship to the school because his rating got too low. His father is abusive. I honestly thought that he played football for half of the book.
Javi. He's a professional gamer, and
he's the only person in his family to make money. He has a crush on Noah, and is gay. He also kissed Noah.
And Tasmin. A tarot reading fortune teller that likes to skip class. Her rating is super low.
This book was trying too hard to be a pride book, in my opinion. Like, we had the gay, the bi, and the straights, but... it was trying too hard.
It also mentioned that it was snowing? It was September-October.
Like, here. Have an example. You know when you have this outfit, and it looks like... really low effort, but you put a lot of effort into it? That's what this book was for me.
The plot also didn't really start picking up until page 200, and even then, it was slow. Actually, that was a lie. Out of 320 pages, the plot picked up at page 261. A slow burn, as one of the lifeguards called it.
This book also ruined mac and cheese for me, it described putting a serving spoon in a pan of mac and cheese as "an obscene squelch."
The ending, oh god. Disappointing. Incredibly rushed and disappointing.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for multiple reasons. Don't waste your money. And if you already did, get the book water damaged like I did. Make it feel pain like the pain it caused me while reading it.
becandbooks's review
2.0
Trigger warnings:
The concept of blurring social media ranking with real life is nothing new - I knew this going into this story. But not only did I find nothing new added to this interesting concept, Rated is just a poorly woven story.
The characters are two-dimensional, the worldbuilding is incredibly basic, and the plot was dull despite how much more the author could have pushed it. The story consists of several overlapping plotlines with so much potential - but unfortunately, neither of them are utilised in a way that is gripping or overly thought-provoking.
Spoiler
disordered eating and food thoughts, domestic violence, parental abuse and neglect, parental abandonementThe concept of blurring social media ranking with real life is nothing new - I knew this going into this story. But not only did I find nothing new added to this interesting concept, Rated is just a poorly woven story.
The characters are two-dimensional, the worldbuilding is incredibly basic, and the plot was dull despite how much more the author could have pushed it. The story consists of several overlapping plotlines with so much potential - but unfortunately, neither of them are utilised in a way that is gripping or overly thought-provoking.
Note: Thank you to Libro.FM for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever.
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Happy reading! ❤
sc104906's review
3.0
I received an eARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In this dystopian future, your rating means everything. Grades, behavior scores, detentions, performance at work, interactions with friends, all comprise a person’s rating, which then determines what hospitals, homes and jobs a person can hold. While most do not question this state of the world, a jarring act of vandalism pushes several students from various ratings to begin to question the system itself. They are required to work together to take on the unjust rating system.
I enjoyed this novel. The setting and world building were not complete and it was difficult to understand the entire context of the rating system. I did respond to several of the characters and their romantic entanglements. It was a fluffy dystopian novel and I would continue to read in this world.
In this dystopian future, your rating means everything. Grades, behavior scores, detentions, performance at work, interactions with friends, all comprise a person’s rating, which then determines what hospitals, homes and jobs a person can hold. While most do not question this state of the world, a jarring act of vandalism pushes several students from various ratings to begin to question the system itself. They are required to work together to take on the unjust rating system.
I enjoyed this novel. The setting and world building were not complete and it was difficult to understand the entire context of the rating system. I did respond to several of the characters and their romantic entanglements. It was a fluffy dystopian novel and I would continue to read in this world.