4.5 Star Review for Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

This is the second book I've read by Katie Kacvinsky and I love her writing... she thinks outside the box and it's really refreshing not to read the same words being regurgitated on the page over and over again in these Young Adult (YA) books...

This has a very dystopian feel to it... and it's hard not to compare it to the world we live in now... although extreme, it seems like this is the route we're heading towards... how many of us are okay with being completely unplugged?
It's set 50 years in the future where, because of all of the crime, violence and terrorism in the world, the government have developed a computer system where society barely has to leave their homes, everything is done online and people are discouraged to communicate with each other face-to-face. Children are made to attend Digital School from their homes until the age of 18. There are programmes for everything... take virtual walks along the beach, if you want to chat with a contact you can see a hologram instead of meeting in person, take virtual classes like self defence etc. There are zip-shuttles and trains instead of cars. And because of the shortage of trees on the planet it's all fake plastic ones and plastic paper...

Maddie is the daughter of the founder and developer of Digital School... the story comes from her POV and as a character I liked her but she does get a little frustrating at times...
Justin is the son of extreme radicals who are fighting against a digital life... he was pretty hard to read, I liked him a lot but I didn't fall in love with him straight away...
A star crossed lovers story, but it's not all cliché and predictable... they meet in an online study group and Justin persuades Maddie to come to a face-to-face one, and that's when the adventure begins....
Maddie never really knows how Justin feels about her until later in the book because he tries to keep himself at a distance, she's always had a rebellious side, but she's been on probation and grounded for the last two years and it's Justin's words and actions that 'Awaken' her out of her digital slumber... he's very focused and intent on bringing the DS system down and I thought it was pretty obvious why his group pursued her, so I was kind of taken aback that she hadn't figured it out and got so upset when it was revealed...

Maddie's parents are an odd coupling, it's hard to imagine why they would be together at all since they're so different... Her dad is the villain of the story and so far he's not even likeable... her mother is a different kettle of fish... she encourages and embraces non-digital things...
Justin's parents are cool and you can see why he's so passionate about their cause.

It's well written, a few typos, but overall it's the content that gets you hooked... it's more fantasy themed and both the romance and storyline was slow off the mark, but it was interesting and intriguing.
This could be enjoyed by a young teen audience as there are no sexual scenes or use of inappropriate language, they (finally after bated breath) make out a lot in the last quarter of the book but it goes no further than touching waists and necks and skin ogling!
It doesn't exactly leave you on a cliff-hanger but it does leave you wanting more, the ending confused me a bit... I'm looking forward to the next book in the series Middle Ground... I have it waiting on my kindle and I can't wait to see what happens...

 

 

The Blurb

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin.

Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

   Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

   In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space...

 

 

 

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Review of 'At Any Price' by Brenna Aubrey

Loved this 4 Star read...

 

I picked up this book because at the time it was on sale, and sometimes you just fancy reading a nice, light and predictable romance where you don't get too emotionally involved... surprisingly this wasn't that book...
This is not your typical 'girl sells virginity to millionaire, meets guy and they fall head over heels with each other, so it's not really classed as prostitution is it - conscience clear - happily ever after' story... it's emotional, witty and engaging.

The writing was very good, I noticed no typos or grammar faux pas. It was easy to read and had me up way past my bedtime wanting more...

There are sexual situations throughout the book but it's all done pretty tastefully... I'd say it was suitable for a Young Adult audience, although I probably wouldn't let my daughter read it until she was at least 18 ha!

 

I'm not really into gaming but I have a lot of friends who are, plus I am a self professed nerd, so I liked the whole geek/gaming theme from the start.

I worked out who Adam was straight away, there were no surprises when he revealed his secret later on... and he's also a hot geek, definite book boyfriend material for nerdgirls like moi!

It tells from Mia's 1st person POV but you get a lot of emotion from Adam too... both of the lead characters are pretty messed up because of their past, and Mia is going through a pretty tough time presently with her mother... hence the auction.

 

I have to say that I did find it quite frustrating at times... Mia changed her mind about a lot of the decisions she had made, and there were a few times where both her and Adam kept secrets that could have been told, whether it be to each other or other characters in the story... and this is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5.

 

This wasn't your typical Contemporary Romance story and it was great to read a new version of something that has been done before, it's a three book series but it ends on a good note and there's no cliffy at the end... I already have the next one to go and I'm hoping that it will continue to be as good as last one...

 

This is still free on Amazon.co.uk at the moment so don't take me at my word... get yourself reading! Then come and tell me what you think ;)

 

 

 

The Blurb

 

When Mia Strong, popular gaming blogger, auctions off her virginity online, she knows she'll make waves. But what she will not be making is a love connection. Her rules are set in stone: One night. No further contact.

It's a desperate step, but it's the only way she can go to medical school and pay her mother's mounting hospital bills.

Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first millions at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside.

She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.

 

 Click HERE to see this book at Amazon.co.uk