A new Dystopian, Sci-fi thriller series from Suzanne Young

I'm a sucker for any setting featuring a private boarding school or academy. This story is set in an elite all-girls school called, "Innovations Academy".  There is much more going on than meets the eye. Report cards measure beauty, compliance, poise, decorum and an attitude of obedience. You get the picture.

Every student is beautiful and has a "sponsor", the professors are creepy and the head of staff is called "the guardian" and is downright sinister.

Philomena becomes aware that some of her friends behavior is "off" and she fears that someone is playing games with their lives. She stops taking her nightly brightly colored vitamins and suddenly becomes "aware" of things going on behind the doors of Innovations Academy.

I found it suspenseful, with a few shocking (somewhat predictable) events and I was cheering for Mena and the girls all the way! Definitely in for Book 2 in this YA series.

When I added this to my TBR I had no idea what it was about. I more into the cover than anything. Luckily, this book was super good and I found myself falling for it on page one. Although there were some things I didn't care for, for the most part I did enjoy this book and I can't wait until more people can read it.
Innovations Academy helps show girls the way they should act.The boarding school keeps tabs on them to make good decisions and to obey what their Guardians say. But suddenly things begin to happen and Mena realizes what's actually happening in her school. The girls work together to see all that they can actually do.
For the most part I did like this book, but there were some things I didn't care for. The number one thing was the repetitiveness. The entire Part One of the book was basically the same thing happening over and over in different ways. I know it was done to put fear into the reader and to establish that something was off, but it just got to be too much at times. By the time I was on page 300 I wanted something more from the book. Normally I would have DNF'ed a book like this, but I powered through.
The other thing I didn't care for were the characters. I hated everyone EXCEPT the girls. If nothing else, remember that you can't trust anyone in this book. And I mean no one. I kept thinking that the only terrible people were the obvious ones, but the ending will leave you reeling.
This book also made me really uncomfortable. It literally made me side-eye every guy I saw. I'm sure it was written to make people uncomfortable, but I think pairing it with the same thing happening over and over....
As for what I did like, once things got started, they really got going. Unfortunately the ending came too soon! The next book in this series is going to be INSANE. I can't lie, I was hoping what I'm expecting to be in the next book was in this one, but I can understand trying to keep us holding on. The wait for book 2 is going to suck.
I had a lot of feelings about this book and I didn't really know where to start. But after sitting here and typing them out, I put them to paper (my blog?) the best I could. I'm not sure it makes sense, but I tried. This is the first book by Young that I've read and I was not disappointed!


Real rating 3.5

Mena is a student at the elite Innovations Academy - where only the top girls are accepted as students and then are trained to be perfect companions - agreeable, beautiful, obedient. Their every need is taken care of - down to ensuring they never have a single scar on their flawless skin.

But Mena slowly starts to realize that things may not be as perfect as they seem. And we are learning along with her in this atmospheric and creepy tale. It is better to go into this without knowing much more and let yourself be swept up in it along with Mena and her classmates.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I could NOT put this book down! I kid you not, I stayed up til 2am to finish it, and it has been a long while since I found a book to be so gripping that I sacrificed significant sleep for it.

Girls with Sharp Sticks is a YA thriller about a group of girls attending a private finishing school where something is not right. This is a book about patriarchy, sexism, toxic masculinity, and rape culture. The people who run the school offer a terrifying vision of training the perfect woman to exist only to serve the desires and whims of wealthy, powerful men. I loved everything about this book- from the page-turning twists and turns to the dark-but-important topicality. One thing that I thought this book did incredibly well was to deconstruct the idea that pretty girls are "asking for it" or should take things as "compliments" by recognizing that these things are really about power and control, not love or lust.

This is a book that goes some dark places, so be aware that throughout it there are major content warnings for a number of things including sexual harassment and assault, violence, intimidation, manipulation, forced consumption of drugs, and lots of gender-based shaming and disparagement. There are definitely a number of quite disturbing scenes, but I think they effectively demonstrate the disgusting realities of gender discrimination and domination.

And in case anyone things this is just a man-hating book, let me assure you that is not the case. There is a male teen character who is kind, respectful, and egalitarian, which significantly contrasts with the powerful and controlling men in the book who seek to dominate women. It offers a vision of what a healthy masculinity might look like, while juxtaposing that with toxic masculinity that has been enabled and taken to extremes.

Two of the female side characters in the book are in a secret relationship with each other, so another thing this effectively demonstrates is how destructive the enforcement of traditional gender roles under male control can be. What happens when queer women are intended for non-optional marriage to a male partner?

So, suffice to say, I absolutely loved this book! It is a beautifully paced page-turner that is truly chilling, but it also does some amazing work on behalf of feminism and the #metoo movement. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When I initially saw that this book was regarded as Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale, my interest was piqued because, let’s be honest, both of those dystopian societies are dark and sadistic. With that being said, I do get a bit skeptical going into a book with these sorts of expectations, so I was a bit cautious/apprehensive. Girls with Sharp Sticks absolutely lived up to this comparison!

The story opens with meeting the girls who attend the Innovations Academy; a prestigious reforming school for girls are taught the “essentials” to become obedient submissive wives, homemakers, caregivers, etc. The girls are not allowed to question males in society. Their coursework never allows them to engage in critical thinking because that is not becoming of a lady. If the girls do anything that is deemed disrespectful to any of the males at the academy, the are scheduled for readjustment.

One of the best parts of this book is getting to know Philomena and the rest of the girls at the academy because they will do absolutely anything for one another. There is none of the cattiness and fighting that is sometimes portrayed in all-girls schools. Instead, the girls have this unbreakable bond with one another and are prepared to do anything to protect each other no matter the consequences that inevitably follow.

One thing that I do want to highlight with this book is that there are several scenes that are difficult to read because of what these girls endure. The male professors and staff treat these girls as if they are theirs for the taking whenever it pleases them. I want to raise awareness to it, so that people aren’t completely blindsided.

Overall, this book is incredible. It’s a haunting tale full of twists and turns. The story constantly reminds readers that girls are not merely inanimate objects that can be brainwashed to obey their male counterparts. Eventually, someone always break the cycle.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Teen for an eARC of this book. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 stars

I always adore Suzanne Young's writing because her books are imaginative, dark, and always completely unique.

When I saw Girls With Sharp Sticks I knew that I needed it and most of all, I knew that I was in for quite the treat and quite the ride.

Girls With Sharp Sticks is like the school for Stepford Wives. Where they are grown and cultivated and...well brainwashed. It was horrifyingly fascinating and I couldn't get enough of it with, after each chapter, things started to get clearer about exactly what the Academy was and what they were doing.

I swayed back and forth between being sick about what I was actually reading and being completely enthralled that such a thing was being taught and that worst of all, the girls didn't know any better.

This story. I really don't even know where to begin other than it was pure genius mixed in with some sci fi angles, ruthlessness, and pure delight. It truly kept me so entertained, turning the pages in both revulsion and in pure fascination. I couldn't get enough.

I am so excited for the next book. I am not ready to say goodbye to this terrifying world Young created nor the head strong girls that ruled this book. The girl power was simply amazing and I adored it.

This was such a unique book! I really enjoyed it and the characters.
Going into this I didn't know it was a serie and now I'm excited to know what will happen next
3/5 stars

Truth - I was skeptical about this book because of the cover, but then I saw the author's name and read the blurb, which has a Stepford Wives feel.  Friends, I couldn't put this book down.

The description is maddening enough for women, but trust me - your blood pressure will reach new heights once you read about the way these girls are treated.  At 400 pages, it's long, but it certainly didn't feel like it.  I wanted to finish it in one sitting - it's that compelling, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  Some of the interactions between the men and the students will make your skin crawl, but the friendships between the girls are strong, wonderful, and will make you wish for that kind of bond.  Everyone deserves friends like these.

This is a dark, twisty novel, and some scenes are tough to read.  But it's also empowering when the girls realize their world is skewed very much in the bizarre and unnatural direction, and then decide to regain control.  I'm anxious to see what happens next.    

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.  I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for approving me to read this title. However, I was unable to do so. Your titles aren’t able to be send to kindle. After finding an app to read this, I realized that entire pages of text we gone. I believe it’s the chapter pages... it doesn’t show that text on every time page. I really liked what I’ve read, but I dont want to read more knowing text is missing. Thank you for the chance to read this title.

Love this book turns out is a dystopian YA book about young girls who are raised to be obedient, serving and manageable. Sounds familiar doesn't it? Yep I thought so too. I've read a few books about this subject but wait for it... There is a twist and I can say i did not see that twisty little bit of info.
Love the cover but I understand where the title comes from but really maybe think that one over again. My first thought was, hey it's a murder mystery about a girls knitting club that goes psycho and sneaks up on people and piths them with there knitting needles, hence sharp sticks. Now someone needs to write that book.

Wow.. this was a fun one!!!

Let's just start off by admiring that awesome cover! My goodness.... I hit that request button a little bit based off that. This was such an addicting, creepy, and engrossing read!

This book was nothing that I expected in all honesty but in a GREAT way. This book deserves a raw 5 stars alone for the creativity! I am very impressed with Suzanne's style and am eager to read the sequel to this book!

Girls with Sharp Sticks is an experience that you don't want to miss. It's nothing as it appears trust me on that.

The first half of the book I was thinking this isn't for me.. but it slowly weaves together nicely. Just hold out until the end and you will be wowed... I promise you that.

The only minor issues I had with this one... I had to read the arc on my computer since the publisher didn't grant via kindle. It was super hard to read on my computer and feel like I need to pick this one up again when it publishes.... could have missed some minor details here.

Overall, this was a run ride!!

4 stars for Sharp Sticks!!!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Published to Goodreads: 3/3/19
Publication date: 3/19/19

Girls With Sharp Sticks reads like a boarding school for female teenagers who will grow up to be handmaids in another book. At least until it doesn't.

Mena and her friends attend an elite boarding school where they are groomed to be perfect females, pliant and subservient with just enough personality to hold an interesting dinner conversation. The male professors and doctors make sure of that by any means necessary including a mysterious behavior modification treatment that no one can remember after it happens to them. These girls are going to be the epitome of perfection- at least from the lens of the predatory male gaze they are being groomed under.

That is, until they aren't.

This book had me holding my breath pretty much the whole way through. It's wonderful to see such a great premise fully actualized.

GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS has an eye-catching cover and an intriguing synopsis. I was drawn in by the promise of dark secrets, a seething underbelly covered up by a too perfect academy. Though the synopsis doesn’t give much away as to the genre of the novel, I was expecting dystopian or science fiction rather than straight contemporary. I wasn’t disappointed.

However, Mena is a frustrating point-of-view character. She’s passive and naive for about twenty-five percent of GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS. She keeps the reader at a distance, summarizing events rather than letting the reader fully experience them. Mena ignores hints about what is actually going on at her academy until one-hundred pages in. Because of the slow pacing, I was aware of the truth of the academy well before Mena. Her revelations are only news to her.

Once GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS shines the light on its dark truths, the pacing picks up and the characters shine. The last two-hundred pages sped by as the title finally came into play. The contrived beginning sets up the academy and characters, but it was frustrating that it took more than a hundred pages to get to the first real reveal. I almost put the book down, but I’m glad I powered through.

4.5 stars!

What do I say about this book other than that I loved it? Well here's my best shot!

Girls with Sharp Sticks is a young adult book focused on the lives of several girls living in an elite boarding school. They are taught to uphold the highest standards of behavior and grace, striving for perfection in all things. But things aren't what they seem to be at Innovations Academy. And the girls must band together to discover the truth.

I truly don't want to give anything away with this book because it's a great journey of discovery from start to finish as the story unravels. I adored the girls at Innovations Academy. Despite the pressure to be perfect, they all exhibited their own human elements that made them likable and relatable.

The only reason it didn't receive 5 stars from me is that it seemed just a tad too long. There were a few points in the middle where I felt like there was a lull or I felt like the story was dragged out just a littleeeeee too much. Just a tiny bit of editing would have gone a long way for me here.

I had no idea when I started this book that it would be the first in a series. And now I cannot wait to read the sequel. The last 100 pages really hooked me, and the book ended on a wonderful cliffhanger that will keep any reader coming back to find out what happens next. I also adored the way Suzanne Young announced the name of the sequel at the end of the book (super clever touch!).

Girls with Sharp Sticks reminded me of a cross between Vox and The Hunger Games/The Maze Runner. It had that same young adult feel with a mistreated group organizing an uprising against their oppressors. After I was done reading Girls with Sharp Sticks, I could see the way in which the author used this first book in the series to set up future books. It was definitely more of a background set up type of book so I cannot wait to see what the second book holds as I think it may be more action packed now that the groundwork has been laid.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Suzanne Young, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the opportunity to review.-

https://bibwithblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/sharpen-sticks-and-get-ready-for-girls.html

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC I was given in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Girls with Sharp Sticks, the razor sharp, fiercely clever new book by author Suzanne Young, is the kind of book you will hate to put down. Be warned, though: once you read its final pages and do put it down, you still won't be free from the thrall of this book.

Philomena Rhodes is beautiful. All the girls at the academy are beautiful, poised, perfect--and when they aren't, their behavior is swiftly corrected by the men who rule them with iron fists. What happens when these perfect little girls start to question their own autonomy (or lack thereof)? what happens when you try to keep power from girls?

Girls with Sharp Sticks is a dystopian novel with a definite feminist twist, but don't let that stop you from getting your copy (not that it should, but I won't get preachy on that): the plot is so heart poundingly gripping that you won't be left with a lesson or moral lingering over your head. Instead, you'll be left with philosophical questions about the very nature of humanity. Without giving spoilers, after reading this book, it's definitely my belief that humanity is less black and white than we assume it is.

Do you know what I loved most about this book? It inspired me to ask questions that are so relevant to the direction technology is steering us. As I reached the conclusion, I held my breath as I waited to see where the book was going to take me, but I also texted my husband to ask him to enter into hypothetical situations with me that were completely inspired by the text. there's so much fodder for interesting discussion, so many things to think about. I really enjoyed getting lost in the academy, but I have a feeling that Philomena will be able to leave this world behind more easily than I will.

5/5: This book is a must read. Do not miss it.

One ofthe most thrilling, subversive, and unsettking novels I've read in a long time. I am in love. Full review to come.

Girls with Sharp Sticks is not what it seems; don't be fooled by it's odd title and the preppy all-girls academy summary. It totally left me speechless. Being constantly unpredictable, it was absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. I feel like I should be giving this book 5 stars on the creativity alone, it was incredibly surreal. I enjoyed Mena’s character growth so much!

eARC provided by Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I'm going to admit I had a hard time figuring out my thoughts on this one! I was so engrossed the whole time and flew through this in just a few days. It was a wild wild ride. However, some of the delivery and plot devices were just a little too convenient and on the nose for me. I think this is a solid 3.75 for me!

Girls with Sharp Sticks follows our main character Mena as she navigates school at Innovations Academy, a prestigious all-girls boarding school that doesn't teach your more traditional topics. But there's something dark lurking underneath the pretty facade that these girls believe and that their school tries to achieve.

One of the things I loved most about this story was the female friendships. Just the level of love and belief they had for one another as well as the constant support they showed each other was just so so good to see on the page here!

I also loved how Young manages to keep you guessing throughout the book. Some things I was able to guess, but there were plenty of other things that truly took me by surprise as they were revealed. In that too, this story has several layers of understanding to it that match with the plot layers that we learn in the book. This was so well done! Also, Young does the believable sexism and this story of this school that's revealed... wow was that believable in today's world!

One of the things I mentioned that I didn't love were some of the convenience plot devices, especially towards the end. While I liked the ending for the most part, I felt like some things just wrapped up a bit too seamlessly. While it still left you asking questions, I felt that with the kinds of things that I love in books - this was just not quite messy enough, if that makes sense!

Overall, I really, really enjoyed myself while reading this. While I have my own problems with it, I hope others pick it up because oh BOY do I have things to talk about.

Also... can I have a sequel now?

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC. I’ll be honest. I had zero expectations going into this one. I’ve never read Suzanne Young’s work before, but the cover was stunning. Also publishers have been doing this odd marketing scheme to relate new YA releases to popular books and tv shows which has turned out to be a complete and utter let down 99% of the time. Somehow I missed the reference to this being Handmaid’s Tale meets West World until midway through the book, after I had already determined it had a creepy Hamdmaid’s Tale vibe (and I’ve never watched Westworld, so that reference did nothing for me.)

Onto the book itself. I was gripped by the end of chapter one and tore through the book, dying to know how it would all unravel. Our main character, Philomena, attends an elite academy along another girls her age. They are all held to strict physical, social, and emotional norms, such as weight, body shape, hair & makeup, diet, and how they respond to their professors. The owner and professors of the all-girl academy are male, and treat them as objects instead of humans. You can see the rising themes here which are disturbing to say the least.

The world-building was done beautifully and the characters were deep and I became emotionally vested in their journey. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the relationship between the girls at the school. Suzanne avoided stereotypical cliches of mean girls at a boarding school and instead went with a fresh stance of girls empower girls, lift one another up, and love each other unconditionally. The pacing of the story line was on point, and there were multiple scenes I found myself tearing through the pages and feeling like I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing all the intense emotions.

While there were a few minor issues with the POV writing, it didn’t distract from the story overall. I highly recommend this one!

Cannot get this book to download. Really wanted to read it, but even reaching out I was unable to download. I will try in a couple weeks and review accordingly if I can get it to download!