This review is a very very long time coming. This one wasn’t really what I expected at first so I put it down and have only just ending up coming back to it. I have not read many Dystopian novels, especially ones in the YA Category. I wanted to love this book but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It was easy to read and I am sure it will appeal to other audiences.

A really great teen dystopian fantasy. Teddy is a 17 year old girl that lives in a world where creativity is banned and those caught at sanitised.......and never seen again. So no singing no dancing no freedom of expression and certainly no drawing which Teddy has been doing in secret all her life. When she turned 17 she was given a job and a life partner, Jamie.
Due to an incident Teddy ends up under the city and finds a whole other world of clans, groups of people who have rebelled against life in the City. Jamie is part of this as is her mother she finds out to her surprise. When Teddy has the clan leader taken away for theft she finds herself the new leader and 3 weeks to prove herself before she can be taken out by someone wanting to be the leader. Trying to prove herself and stay alive are Teddy’s main priorities but she also needs to find a way to lead the clan and get them all on her side.
It’s an entertaining read and one that I feel comfortable recommending as it isn’t full of bad language or sex and violence. Can’t wait for the next instalment

#selfless #netgalley

Cj Reads Reviews
My Books
Browse ▾
Community ▾

Cj Reads Reviews rated a book it was amazing
less than a minute ago
self/less by Aviva
self/less (self/less, #1)
by Aviva (Goodreads Author)
Read
Read in November 2021
Imagine a world where you are like everyone else, and if you get caught doing something you shouldn't be, expect to be sanitised.

I absolutely enjoyed reading self/less by Aviva, and what a kick off it was for a new YA Dystopia Trilogy. Personally, for me I think this is a new series everyone needs to read.

It was vivid, imaginative, adventurous, and I felt like I was there; aboveground and underground. There were characters I loved like Teddy, Jamie and surprisingly Michelle. However one of the characters, Kit, at the start of the book I liked, but as the story progressed she became impulsive, and controlling, it got to the point where I found her down right annoying and I felt like I couldn't trust her either.

I do hope this book/series becomes a movie because I think it has the potential.

My thanks for this book is a going to be a little bit different for this review.

Firstly thank you to @ihavenoshelfcontrol @macmillanaus for the physical copy of the book in a competition I won.

Secondly, thankyou to @netgalley and @macmillanaus for the ebook copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Thirdly, huge thankyou to @thisisaviva for writing a spectacular book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had been seeing this cover pop up everywhere and was intrigued so requested it. I had never heard of Aviva and also didn’t realise they were Australian. This book sits firmly in dystopian SFF genre.

The story follows Teddy, born into a society where your job and partner are chosen for you and any form of artistic expression is banned. The government has basically sucked all the fun out of living and people are “sanitised” for not following the rules. Before her partner ceremony happens, Teddy is sucked into the world of the Underground where society exists outside of the government’s control. This begins a very wild ride. Be warned, this book is not a stand alone and the ending leaves you wanting more.

I can’t believe this novel ended where it did and now I have to wait until 2022 for the next instalment. While such a cliffhanger ending left me with lots of unanswered questions and gaps which need filling I’m so invested in the main character’s, Teddy, journey that I’m eagerly awaiting book 2. This is YA speculative fiction that packs a punch and keeps you guessing. You’ll love and hate people in the story and ask yourself many questions about the value of life without creativity and autonomy. Well worth a read.

Self/less was a really entertaining and easy read. I finished this book in under a day. Anyone who enjoys dystopian books will love this. I really enjoyed the first part of the book when Teddy was living in the world where self-expression was banned and her struggles with this.

I was excited when I finished this book to see that a sequel will be coming.

One of my favourite parts of reading this book was discovering Aviva's music as well..