Unfortunately this book wasn't for me and I only read half of it before I finally realized this. The crafting of the story was excellent, with characters of depth (especially the fascinatingly unique main character). It was also plotted in a way that was very logical and easy to follow, while building suspense. The actual content of economics and revenge simply wasn't for me, but I'm glad to have tried it out and I will definitely recommend it to anyone who might like it!

An amazing read packed full of action and feels like an action movie in literary form. Unputdownable with twists at every page turn---also, the writing is very authentic and each character has a strong voice. LOVED IT!

Calculated was a really cool book. It centers around Josephine, a teen math prodigy from Seattle who is just graduating with a PHD and has a prestigious and secretive position lined up in China. However, she never makes it there and stuff gets wild. The chapters go between timelines, and we learn in one that Josephine is now named Double 8 and is a prisoner forced to help a gangster with business deals. The one ray of hope in her captivity is her fellow prisoner, Red, who tries to teach her life lessons and helps her learn Chinese.

This story was one of the rare ones that contains many lessons, but is not heavy handed. It asks the question: what if every horrible thing that happened to you was actually preparing you for your destiny? The tidbits about Chinese culture and customs really added to the story as well.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ebook!

This was a really fast read, that seems like it would make an excellent movie (possibly starring scar jo). Of course, everything tied up really neatly at the end, and there will be a sequel. It felt like you were lowkey leaning into some stereotypes... I could not tell this was based on the count of monte cristo. I don't think this one is for me.a

Series Info/Source: I thought this was a stand alone book but it must be the start to a series based on the ending. I got this as an eGalley from NetGalley to review.

Story (4/5): I enjoyed this book. It's about a young girl (15ys old) who is a math/economic prodigy and gets kidnapped to work for a Chinese crime ring. She ends up being in a unique position to help save the world economy. Initially the book bounces between her childhood past and her past in the crime ring. Then it switches to her present day self and her past in the crime ring. There are a lot of fun twists and turns and I always enjoy reading about prodigies and the way they see the world!

This did get a bit slow mid-book but most of the story is very fast-paced. This looks like it's going to be the first book in a series which I did not realize when I picked this up. I wish publishers/authors would be more up front about that. While the book resolves the main issues presented, it leaves the reader on a huge cliffhanger to kick off the next book.

Characters (5/5): I absolutely loved the characters in this book, they are all complex and have so many secrets. Even the side characters are interesting and well done. Jo goes on such a ride through this story and watching her use her skills as a math/econ prodigy was absolutely fascinating. I loved her mentor Red and really enjoyed Kai as well.

Setting (5/5): I loved the setting in Shanghai, China. I have never been to Shanghai and am enjoying traveling to new and exatic places in my books since I can’t do so in real life right now. The insight into how some things work in China and some of the tunnels and other lesser known areas was fascinating and I really loved it.

Writing Style (5/5): I loved the way the book was set up and how we bounce from past to present until the story starts to come together. This was easy to read, incredibly hard to put down, and action packed. There were so many fun twists and turns and they never felt contrived or unbelievable. I thought this was incredibly well done and can’t wait to read more from McBee in the future.

My Summary (4.5/5): Overall, despite a slow section mid-book, I really loved this. I love reading about prodigies, and really enjoyed how well done the characters were and the exotic setting. The twisty plot keeps you engaged and thinking, but is written in such a way that the book is effortless to read. I absolutely loved this and am actually happy it is a series, even though I wish that it had been marketed upfront as a series. Recommended to those who enjoy fast-paced twisty turny plots and relatable characters; comparing this to the Count of Monte Cristo is very accurate it really has a similar feel to that story at some points.

17 year old Double 8, Jo, Octavia or Phoenix, a mathematical genius, thanks to a loved one's betrayal, is imprisoned in Shanghai and forced to use her gift to make criminals money. Red, who was in there with her, arranged for Chan a billionaire to free her. As long as she works for him to save his company, and she will get paid handsomely! Her freedom will help her get revenge and start over.

Captivating from the get-go and so intriguing as you piece together how she got where she was and what her intentions are. Both her past and her present are equally engrossing. Wonderful descriptions, that involve all the senses, some quirky, some just beautiful to think of or read.

A revenge scenario is as good as its villain and this one is exceptional. Dangerous, delusional and smart, a deadly combination, Madame makes my blood boil. But what if along with her revenge she can extinguish an even bigger threat? Does she delay her revenge plans? Is the greater good more important than what she wants?

Love that is shows how the protagonist perceives the world with numbers, as her mind calculates everything, even people and how events will unfold around her! She has been through a lot and that is realistically depicted in her mannerisms, the ways she reacts to people, her difficulty in trusting anyone. She is a good person caught up in bad situation are bad situation.

I absolutely adored the character of Red, his kindness and his teachings. So many life lessons in his words. Highly quotable words. Is there coincidence or is there destiny as the character of Red keeps saying and makes you wonder. Also, you may swoon a little over Kai. It's admiration and maybe insta-love you will feel for Kai and may get a little mad at the protagonist because of him. Even though we understand why she cannot trust anyone.

As the book says 'We are created for love and we die without it'. This is a story about inner strength, faith against all odds, doing what is right, the difference between revenge and justice, and finally redemption.

The only thing that bothered me was for such an intricate and exciting plan, and such a build-up, I wish parts of it had not been executed so quickly. I need more 'oomph'

Thrilling, brilliant, intelligent and utterly unforgettable, with a jaw-dropping revelation that will make your heart lurch, and a tear-jerking finale. And that last scene... please tell me there will be a sequel.

3.5/5 stars

Calculated was a very interesting and intriguing book. The main character was very complex but felt distant. I was expecting there to be more action and tension but overall it was pretty compelling and I am looking forward to the next book!

Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible, and McKenna Grace's Gifted mix together in this YA book. I already intrigued the first time I read the synopsis after the cover reveal.

The main character for me is likable. I was wondering how it feels like to be a genius, after reading this from Jo's perspective, it doesn't feel good. She can't stop seeing things without calculating everything in her everyday life. The way people walk, the size of a room, time, distance, everything. But despite her gift, she keeps it humble. She's brave even when she was only 15 the time she was kidnapped.

The setting in Shanghai brings a fresh take. So far the spy action theme I read always set in Europe. “Two hot buns, brown sauce for dipping, walnut milk tea, and of course, duck. Barbequed to perfection.” Totally makes me want to have Peking duck for dinner ngl. I was wondering why to pick this particular country. As the story progress, this book tight a lot with the world economy, so it all makes sense. Also, China has a lot of idiom and life lessons that the author put in the book, which I love.

And because it's YA, of course, there is a little romance. Which I also like. I just don't get the instant attraction she feels toward Kai. But still cute whatsoever. Kai is such a sweet boy.

The pacing, in the beginning, is pretty slow for my liking but as we get into the action, I can't stop reading it. I don't understand one bit about the global crash thing but have no problem with that and still enjoying it. I like the family aspect too.

Hate the open ending. I need a sequel if possible! Overall a solid debut!

Okay, I'll confess that this novel's intriguing, poignant opening nearly put me in tears. After that, I had trouble connecting with much of the first quarter of the book, as I didn't have a graspable sense of a "what" and "why" to make the scenes meaningful to me.

However, I'm quite familiar with the biblical story this novel retells in part. Once I recognized that, and the "what" and "why" started to become more apparent, the heroine's journey began to click for me. Ah!

Now, because the book has the ingredients for a thriller, I would've liked the story to move at a faster clip. My interest waned at times through the slower pace and stretches of description and reflection. Also, as commonly happens with fiction largely narrated in present tense, the heroine often slips in and out of the wrong tenses while she's narrating her story. (Granted, those slips may be corrected in the final version.)

Overall, the complex, inspiring plot here makes way for the profound at many turns, and this novel should hold appeal for both adult and young adult audiences. I'm keeping my eyes open for the next novel.
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I received an advance reading copy of this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

I loved this book! It checked all the boxes for me:
Intriguing setting and interesting plot
Characters I want to get to know
Themes of love and redemption
Clean read without swearing
Mild thread of romance

The story was interesting and compelling, and I am really looking forward to reading the sequel when it is released because I want to read more about these characters!

This book goes back and forth from Jo’s past and her present, and I was fully invested in each section. I wanted to know how Jo got to where she was and where she was going to go in the future; the author did a great job of balancing the sections and letting the reader know what he/she needed to know at the appropriate times.

From the beginning of the story to the end, I was enthralled and reading as fast as I could to get answers. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It took me time to read it and made sure to finish it, however it wasn’t spending I would read again.

Jo is a math prodigy with a bright future, until everything goes wrong and she loses everything.

Based on The Count of Monte Christo, Calculated is a fast paced and intriguing book full of mystery and crime. Some of the economics went above my head, but I was still able to understand enough to enjoy the book. The time jumps were a little confusing to begin with, but they soon began to make sense as I settled into the book.

Some chapters are a little slow, but overall I thought it was pretty good and kept me engaged throughout.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A remarkable YA debut that is at once thrilling, heart-pounding, and ultimately hopeful.

I went into this book with curiosity and anticipation. The blurb didn’t categorize it easily, and the mention of a retelling made me hesitantly hopeful. Now, after having finished this story, I can say this blew away all my expectations.

The main character is absolutely compelling and undergoes one of the greatest character journeys I’ve read recently. The exploration of her gifting, is specifically intriguing and well done. In addition, the plot is absolutely packed with action, relationship development, and the perfect amount of backstory. I particularly appreciated the way the author wove philosophical ideas into this thriller, which developed much deeper themes in this story.

Based on what I’ve read from the author, this is the first in a trilogy. If so, it does an excellent job of being completed as an individual story, while leaving many questions to answer in future books.

Overall, a fiercely original and hopeful story.

I really wanted to love this one but I had a hard time relating to the main character. To me if I can’t connect to the main character it’s a deal breaker. The idea behind this book was interesting but sadly it just wasn’t for me.

Calculated was a very enjoyable read.
Nova does a nice job balancing the dual timelines and tension. I was super curious about learning all of Jo’s story and how everything fit together.
I also liked how Jo is a math prodigy. While I’m not good at math, it was neat to see a character like that. And Nova did a great job of making sure we knew about Jo’s number without them being overwhelming.
The climax did feel a little small, but it was understandable because of Jo’s position.
I haven’t read/watched either The Count of Monte Cristo or Mission Impossible, so I can’t say how Calculated matches those. It did in some ways though remind me of the story of Joseph. I won’t explain how though. Spoilers after all! But I enjoyed that aspect of it.
Also, the ending perfectly sets up so many things so the next book in the series!
The plot of Calculated does deal with rescuing trafficked girls. Nova deals with all of it gently, and it’s never talked about in detail.
Cautions: one instance of “coarse” language; mentions of trafficking; several instances of brief kissing; brief violence.

This whirlwind of a book was genius; I wouldn’t be surprised if Nova McBee was a prodigy herself. The fast paced plot kept me reading and the beautiful writing style was a pleasure to read. It was, essentially, an almost perfect book, and I don’t use that phrase lightly.

Phoenix was a solid main character, and I liked that she retained her goodness even after all of the trauma she went through. Red, another important character, was also really inspirational. And don’t get my started on Kai, Yu Tai, and Rafael, because I could go on about them all day. I hope we get to see more of them in the future.

Calculed wrapped up nicely, which I appreciated. There is definitely potential for a sequel, which I will absolutely read and review if given the chance. McBee has a true gift for writing, and I sincerely believe that people who pick up this book and give it a chance won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley, opinions are my own.

Some books are hard to review, because I love them and don’t know how to put into words all the reasons why…especially without accidentally spoiling anything! Calculated by Nova McBee is one of those books.

This book was gripping and intense but also full of heart. I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve had trouble finishing the books that I’ve tried to read these past few months. In fact, I’ve put down nearly all of them except for re-reads or heartwarming middle grade books, but Calculated pulled me in from the first chapter and kept me reading until the very end.

I love that it touches on the very real, and important topic of human trafficking, but without being overly graphic or pain-filled in the way it deals with it.

I also love that while the main character is an extraordinary prodigy with an almost magical gift for numbers, she’s still immensely real and relatable, and her voice is engaging. I loved seeing how all the threads of her story came together. While there were some bits that I saw coming, I enjoyed seeing the way that they played out, and this ending was quite satisfying. That said, it also left me anxious to get my hands on book two so I can find out what happens next.

This was a solid five star read for me, and one of my favorite books this year! Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review, and to Nova McBee for gifting me a physical copy (as well as a few beautiful handcrafted goodies, so delightful).

I haven’t read The Count of Monte Cristo, but I sure loved the movie. When I saw it was a comp title for this book, I couldn’t pass it up.

The first several chapters alternate between past and present. Jo in the past is portrayed as an excited prodigy eager to begin her first job in China. Present Jo is a jaded, bitter young woman who is imprisoned, forced to use her gift for illegal activities, and was betrayed by her family. I couldn’t wait to see what she’d experienced to alter her life so completely. It soon becomes obvious she’s not only incredibly intelligent and determined, but is also a survivor.

Because of her gift, Jo bases everything on numbers – they don’t lie and they make sense to her. But she soon learns there’s more to life than numbers, ideas that aren’t as concrete such as forgiveness, love, and finding your purpose. How perhaps there are no coincidences and fate puts you exactly where you’re needed and can make a difference in the world. Revenge isn’t everything.

With the setting in Shanghai, I felt as if I got to experience a bit of the city and Chinese culture while reading this book. I also appreciated how the author didn’t try to dumb-down any of the complex financial and mathematical details even though I might not have understood them. The plot is incredibly intricate, full of action, and well-paced. The last several chapters were like watching perfectly placed dominoes topple one after the other. Some plot points may have fallen into place a bit too easily, but I still enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised to learn there will be a sequel. I’ll absolutely be adding it to my list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jo, a girl of many names, was kidnapped by a very famous criminal. Jo has a unique ability--she sees the world in numbers. She's forced to use her ability to make money for criminals. Hating her gift, Jo is miserable until she meets Red, a fellow prisoner who helps her see the world differently. When an opportunity to be free appears, Jo takes it and finds herself faced with even larger problems that will impact the entire world. She's the only one with a chance at solving these problems--but even she can't do everything by herself.

This book was pretty interesting! It takes place in Shanghai, China which was pretty cool! Jo is an interesting character and her gift is fascinating as well. There is a lot going on in this book--Jo's mission for Chan, Jo's personal goals, etc. The different POVs from the past through the present told the story in an intriguing way. However, a lot of this book is spent in the narrator's head. The story mostly is told through the thoughts of the narrator. That makes sense due to the nature of Jo's gift, but the lack of action made it hard for me to stay interested. Towards the end, the action does pick up and it was enjoyable! I thought this book was going to be a stand alone, and I was surprised when some stuff at the end suddenly made a sequel seem necessary. I thought the plot was wrapped up rather nicely, and I thought it would make a great stand alone book. Hopefully the sequel is just as intriguing as this book was!

Ultimately, this book has a lot of good concepts and the author is an incredible writer! I really enjoyed the fact this book takes place in China. I think a lot of readers would love Jo and her story!

I was expecting something really original but I’m really picky when it comes to books with a main character being used for her/his/their special ability (I love this trope) and this one didn’t deliver as much as I wanted.
The way it was told bothered me as well: the pace wasn’t as exciting and thrilling as I thought it would be (too descriptive or a lot of talking instead of action scenes) and tension was lacking.
I found it too political for my taste but it is for sure a well-detailed story.
On the positive side, Jo is a complex and interesting character - she’s a brave and loving person as well as a genius - and I felt for her regarding her shattered past. Her journey is memorable and I must say that the ending intrigued me. Moreover, the story happens in Shanghai which was really refreshing (and I’ve learned a couple of things).
In conclusion, an enjoyable story with a surprising main character but the execution wasn’t the best in my opinion. I’m sure people will love it though!