A review by aklibrarychick
The Innocence Treatment by Ari B. Goelman

4.0

Of course I wanted to finish this ARC before publication date, but I didn't manage it. Just finished it a few minutes ago, so I am writing this while it is fresh in my mind.

Lauren has suffered since birth from "innocence," the inability to discern between honesty and falsehood, or to detect social intricacies such as jokes and sarcasm. She believes every word anyone says to her, which can of course be detrimental to her. So she lives a very sheltered and protected, but seemingly a very happy life.

The story picks up shortly after an experimental medical treatment alters her condition and leaves her able to begin understanding the finer points of social interaction. Her life changes for the worse as she begins to understand the problems inherent in this post-political collapse America, and begins to realize that for her entire life, her friends have viewed her mostly as a favorite pet.

This book is compellingly readable. Short chapters alternating between Lauren's journals, her sister's recollections, and a psychologist's case study notes keep the story moving quickly. As each chapter ended I wanted to keep reading, to find out what happened as more and more of the ugliness of the world revealed itself to her. Her complicated relationship with the handsome Sasha, who she knows is an undercover agent assigned to follow her, brings additional depth to the story, as Lauren experiences attraction for the first time.

Despite how much I enjoyed the story, Lauren is not a terribly likable girl. Even though I have sympathy for her, it's hard to get past her anger and her understandable disillusionment. Even so, it's a great story, and by the end, you feel that Lauren has come full circle and truly grown into her real self. Highly recommended for YA sci-fi fans.