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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I thought this was an excellent sequel to The Program. It was exciting and heart wrenching and even had me crying at times. I wish she had dragged it out to another book, to have explained them going through the takedown and actually have had a rebellion. The fall of the Program wasn't as thoroughly explained as I was hoping. The ending felt rushed and I just wanted some resolution instead of the ending Young wrote. But nevertheless, the book was still fantastic.
Just as great as book one!!!! I’m completely addicted to these characters!!! Not only are they strong and so cute together, but Sloane and James are just good characters in general. I loved reading their adventures and I’m so sad it’s over.
One thing I really liked was how protective James was at the beginning of the book and throughout the whole thing. They may not have known their past, but Sloane and James still somehow found each other twice. It was so beautiful reading their story!!!
There’s just so much I want to say, but I can’t for risk of spoiling the book. Let’s just say that I’ll be happy once book club finally comes. Then I can finally discuss just how much I love this series with someone.
I’ll see you all next review! And please, READ THIS SERIES. IT’S SOOOOO GOOOOD!!!!!!!!!
One thing I really liked was how protective James was at the beginning of the book and throughout the whole thing. They may not have known their past, but Sloane and James still somehow found each other twice. It was so beautiful reading their story!!!
There’s just so much I want to say, but I can’t for risk of spoiling the book. Let’s just say that I’ll be happy once book club finally comes. Then I can finally discuss just how much I love this series with someone.
I’ll see you all next review! And please, READ THIS SERIES. IT’S SOOOOO GOOOOD!!!!!!!!!
TW: suicide, depression, rape, sexual assault, abuse
I’m going to copy my review of the first book below for some context, but I’ll just had this about the finale novel: I really appreciated that Sloan, the main character, is completely unspecial. She isn’t the daughter of the Program’s founder, she doesn’t have a unique genetic make up that makes the Program fail, she doesn’t have a particular set of skills that make her able to fight off handlers, etc. There is zero special about this girl - she just tries her best to be understanding and put pieces together, and she’s got a couple people who love her and they fight with her. Sloan could be anybody, and while that’s a little boring, it also feels a lot more realistic than other heroines of the dystopian YA genre.
Review of first book:
Despite a trigger warning for everything horrible, this book was one I couldn’t put down. In a near future dystopia, suicide has become a contagious epidemic killing 1 and 3 teens, and the only answer is The Program - a rehab regiment that wipes the “infected” memories away. Recommending it is a lot like recommending The Hunger Games: you feel a bit like a monster as you do it. “This book about the state brutalizing teenagers? Taking their childhoods, mutilating them, driving them to kill themselves? What a fun read!” It’s got, I think, a relatable portrayal of “high functioning depression” which is worthwhile in itself, but honestly, the writing style just drew me in and I had to know what happened despite hating the concept of this book.
I’m going to copy my review of the first book below for some context, but I’ll just had this about the finale novel: I really appreciated that Sloan, the main character, is completely unspecial. She isn’t the daughter of the Program’s founder, she doesn’t have a unique genetic make up that makes the Program fail, she doesn’t have a particular set of skills that make her able to fight off handlers, etc. There is zero special about this girl - she just tries her best to be understanding and put pieces together, and she’s got a couple people who love her and they fight with her. Sloan could be anybody, and while that’s a little boring, it also feels a lot more realistic than other heroines of the dystopian YA genre.
Review of first book:
Despite a trigger warning for everything horrible, this book was one I couldn’t put down. In a near future dystopia, suicide has become a contagious epidemic killing 1 and 3 teens, and the only answer is The Program - a rehab regiment that wipes the “infected” memories away. Recommending it is a lot like recommending The Hunger Games: you feel a bit like a monster as you do it. “This book about the state brutalizing teenagers? Taking their childhoods, mutilating them, driving them to kill themselves? What a fun read!” It’s got, I think, a relatable portrayal of “high functioning depression” which is worthwhile in itself, but honestly, the writing style just drew me in and I had to know what happened despite hating the concept of this book.
I was a little disappointed in this sequel. In my opinion, it lost so much of what made the first one good.
I felt the plot was rushed. Everything was happening too fast and didn’t seem planned out well. The writing also seemed different. Not as good. More choppy sentences and not as in depth.
The characters were also more shallow. It was all about relationships and less about mental health awareness. The author totally lost me on the mental health aspect of the book. It didn’t even seem to be a theme anymore.
Realm is a bad guy. I don’t like him and it shouldn’t even be debated if his actions are good. He used his own mental health to emotionally manipulate Sloane into thinking he’s a good guy. He’s not.
It was still good at times, but overall a disappointment from the first one.
I felt the plot was rushed. Everything was happening too fast and didn’t seem planned out well. The writing also seemed different. Not as good. More choppy sentences and not as in depth.
The characters were also more shallow. It was all about relationships and less about mental health awareness. The author totally lost me on the mental health aspect of the book. It didn’t even seem to be a theme anymore.
Realm is a bad guy. I don’t like him and it shouldn’t even be debated if his actions are good. He used his own mental health to emotionally manipulate Sloane into thinking he’s a good guy. He’s not.
It was still good at times, but overall a disappointment from the first one.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Honestly, if I could I would give it 1.5 stars. It made me so angry because absolutely nothing happens until part 3. It was slow, boring, and frustrating. The first two parts nothing happened but all the characters were acting like they were in car chases and bar fights. I wish. Part 3 is where the entire story happens. If I skipped to part 3 I would have missed something that could be told in 1 paragraph to catch me up.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i liked this book!! it was really interesting and you definitely felt like you were on the edge of your seat when reading it. The plot was intense and action filled, and the way the book developed was cool.
Awesome ending! Awesome. I loved Dallas. The moment she knocked James off his ass, loll. Even more than Sloane. Actually, when Sloane got mad at Dallas, I got mad at Sloane...oof...Realm, that jerk, some psychopath he was. I wonder how he even got his hands on Rogers treatment, but ok. Cool twist. Kellan, oh boy, he came at the right places, at the right time, like a frkn god.
Evelyn Valentine....oof
Evelyn=Fours mom who faked her death
+
Valentine=Clarys dad who faked his death
=Evelyn valentine=scientist who fakes her death, n later commits suicide...
ooof
Roger deserved a horrible death...but ok, they didn't mention that. Cas, oh Cas, i'm sad for you...N Lacey, uff...hope she goes back to her rebellious style....which seems unlikely...but ok. Asa, good guy, good.
I liked the series tho...but i'm gonna read some fantasy now....cant go so long without it...cuz the rest of the books aren't related to the first two so good.
:)
Evelyn Valentine....oof
Evelyn=Fours mom who faked her death
+
Valentine=Clarys dad who faked his death
=Evelyn valentine=scientist who fakes her death, n later commits suicide...
ooof
Roger deserved a horrible death...but ok, they didn't mention that. Cas, oh Cas, i'm sad for you...N Lacey, uff...hope she goes back to her rebellious style....which seems unlikely...but ok. Asa, good guy, good.
I liked the series tho...but i'm gonna read some fantasy now....cant go so long without it...cuz the rest of the books aren't related to the first two so good.
:)
Love that this wasn't a three series book, kinda nice to have one wrap up in two. And it did a good job of tying up all loose ends.