Full disclosure. Not having read a blurb or synopsis, I bought this book sight unseen, with very little information about it. I was literally driving during work one day, half-listening to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast (Season 26, Episode 5, June 19, for those of you who are curious) when the author, Aisling Rawle, was being interviewed. I perked up when they mentioned the editors couldn’t look up for hours once they started reading. Then came the kicker: Rawle is only 25, and this is her debut novel!
I don’t know about you all, but that was all I needed to hear. I bought it that evening. In hardback. Which, if you know me, is rare. I’m a paperback girl, and I usually prefer to buy secondhand. For this book I made an exception.
Now, here’s my attempt at a spoiler-free review:
I could not put this book down.
Let me say that again: I. Could. Not. Put. This. Book. Down.
And the real surprise? I didn’t even like the premise. I’ve never been into reality TV, so a story about a group of beautiful twenty-somethings living in a house and competing for prizes? Not my thing. Normally, I’d move on to a different book.
But this book? This book pulled me in. The main character Lily annoyed me to no end with her desire to win expensive prizes. She came across as shallow, and I kept asking myself: Will she change? I won’t spoil that answer for you.
But what really had me captivated—and what, I think, leaves the door open for a sequel—is the mystery surrounding what’s happening outside the compound. What’s the real story with the wars? What does it mean that some of these characters might not be around in 15–20 years? Those little dystopian breadcrumbs? That’s the story I want next.
Please, Ms. Rawle—give us that book.