A review by sarahbringhurstfamilia
Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

2.0

I don't attend my local library's book club, but sometimes I snag books off their list, like this one. I binge-read it in one sitting, because I had an evening to myself and decided to spend it in the bath with a book. Obviously, it was kind of an interesting premise, or I wouldn't have picked up the book in the first place. Who doesn't remember being a little intrigued or creeped out when they realized that Google was serving them ads for stuff they'd been thinking about, or Netflix had figured out which movies they would like based on their viewing profile? People young enough to be in the demograph for which this book is intended, that's who, I guess.

I really did enjoy the first half, because it had the potential to develop some depth. But in the end it didn't really deliver. Too many laughably simplistic and predictable plot twists. There was one totally Fifty Shades moment where she's having an utterly improbable conversation with the CEO of a major tech company that made me laugh out loud. The whole thing came off as a bit too obvious parable on the dangers of allowing algorithms to make choices for you (and having your nose stuck in your phone all the time--but what else is new?). So, a bit of an eyeroll.