I wanted to love this because I love dystopian works, and have enjoyed others by the author- but this just didn’t land fully for me. It felt like the beginnings of something, but it was too short- which was unfortunate bc the world building elements were A+.

**Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

When I saw that one of the "classic" dystopian authors was releasing a new dystopian, I was excited to check it out - and very excited to get an advanced copy! I know that some people still hold Allegiant against Roth, but while it definitely wasn't my favourite series ending, I don't hold any grudges about it. I was excited for an adult dystopian!
This book was kind of a dystopian crossed with a mystery, with a lot of social and political commentary. It had a really good combination of these things, and I did really like the commentary. There were some really interesting things said and discussed between characters, or just commented on by the main character.

The one thing I was kind of excited about, even though it was so small, is that this book is set in the Pacific North West - or I guess what would have been it? - and it mentions places like Portland, Seattle, and even Vancouver! It was kind of exciting to see a Canadian city included - oh the small things that make us happy! I did also really like the writing of the book, and how short it was. Roth was able to pack so much into a shorter novel without missing anything integral to the story.

I did really enjoy the story, but I admit there were just a couple things that made me not give it a higher rating. Even though I loved how short the story was, there were a couple parts that felt almost like filler. We got a lot of background information, or more details on the way the new dystopia works - as one has taken over after a different one - but some of those sections made things drag just a little. I almost wish the pace had been kept up a bit more, especially through certain sections.
I also guessed a couple of the twists. Don't get me wrong! There are some absolutely fantastic twists and reveals throughout the book that I did NOT see coming - two that I could name right away as being fantastic twists in the book! But there were a couple others that felt a little predictable. And the ending, well, I have very mixed feelings on it. While it was the type of ending that I wanted for so many other dystopians I read during the height of that genre, it felt a little lackluster for this story.

But perhaps my biggest reason I couldn't rate this higher is that the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked them to be. I couldn't ever fully get a grasp on Sonya. She didn't feel developed enough for me to really have feelings about her through the story. The same went for Alexander, even the other side characters. I think somehow the ones that were developed were characters who were integral to the story but had such short little moments. It was a strange combination.

Overall though, if you are looking for a plot-focused dystopian that has some great twists and brings you back to the dystopian novels that we used to read - it will deliver on those fronts, in a short novel even!!

Received and EARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Honestly it gave me a lot to think about, but I also felt like it was missing something. I think I was comparing it too much to other dystopian books and it just didn't have enough to make it one of my top books. I still enjoyed reading it.

This was my first Veronica Roth book, so I went into this with absolutely no expectations from her or her writing. I really enjoyed it. Dystopian fiction is not my usual genre, but I had fun visiting a genre I don't read often.

I couldn’t really get into this book even though I love Veronica Roth. I’m going to buy it though and give it another try in the future.

3.75 stars! I didn't think I loved this book after finishing it but in the weeks since, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Maybe because of the ever more terrifying world we live in now. It reads as a YA book so the adult label is misleading. I could have done without the romance and would have rather had more world-building. Overall, very solid and I'm glad I read it!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for the e-arc!

Despite an incredible premise, and a lot of promise with the themes that are presented, the book didn't really go as deep as I would've liked. I would definitely consider reading something else by this author, though, as I did really like the amount of imagination, and the moral dilemmas, that were shown in this novel.

2.75 rounded up to 3

I really love this author and was so excited to get to read this one. It did not disappoint. This is well written, thought provoking and you can really connect with the characters and feel where they are. Highly Recommend

Harper Collins Canada graced me with a copy of Poster Girl to review which I just happened to start on the plane to Seattle. With a trip to the public library planned to see the book spiral in person. Imagine my surprise when I find this book is set in a dystopian Seattle and the main character visits the library!!!

I loved the read too. Poster Girl is set in a world after a revolution. Lots of discussion on government over watch, technology and it’s dangers, and society. I gave it 4 stars because it did get a little slow but the mystery plot did add a lot to it. Lots of Seattle references along the way which added to this particular vacation.

Veronica Roth is BACK and she's done it again! This adult dystopian mystery HITS HARD! I was intrigued, invested, and had no idea where it was going. 10/10, all the stars. 🧡🖤

For lack of giving anything away, I'll just tell you this - go read it. I am already ready to re-read it myself!

This was such a great novel! I love dystopian fiction so once I heard about this book I needed to get my hands on it.

I was captivated by this novel and it really got me thinking. This very unique take on a story is a post-dystopian type novel that makes you think about what comes after.

It was amazing. Dystopian books really freak me out.

Poster Girl gives us a glimpse of a dystopian, near future world. After the rebellion is quashed and those who were a part of it are sequestered (imprisoned) in a secure neighborhood. A mystery unravels as Sonya, the former poster girl for the rebellion, is given an opportunity to secure her freedom if she can locate a missing person. A quick and fun read.

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

Dystopian page-turner. The protagonist was the literal face of the old regime's propaganda posters. The elites were rounded up and imprisoned, but younger ones have been allowed free to start new lives. Our protagonist is just a little to old, so she is given a special mission in exchange for her freedom: to find a child who was taken and reunite her with her family.

Veronica Roth has written another terrific novel. As a lover of her previous books, readers who liked divergent will also enjoy this book. The story unravels in layers and keeps the reader guessing as Sonya digs deeper and deeper into her family's past. This story brings home the idea of who determines what is morally right and wrong, and what happens when the tides shift. Sonya grew up in a system of constant surveillance with rigid standards and morals attached to everything, where you acquired and lost credits based on your actions. Shaped by a regime that falls, where does that leave Sonya and her choices? Imprisoned, the former poster girl for the system gets the opportunity to earn her freedom by locating a missing girl. As the reader, I often cycled between feeling sorry for Sonya and then at the next turn horrified when a former decision she had made was revealed. Roth has a talent for writing characters who are complicated and not so sure cut the hero or villain. I loved reading the ARC and appreciate the opportunity to read it for my honest review. I would highly recommend this book.

Didn't feel not YA to me. Still existed in that world where the coincidences felt too uncanny and the fate of the world seemed highly unlikely to rest on the shoulders of such a blank slate character. But hey, I haven't ever written a book. Veronica Roth has written a bunch of em! And I enjoyed this one!

I had no idea how badly I was craving a dystopian novel until I picked this up.

And while this delivers wonderfully on that front - really cool world building, easy to follow government systems, clear cut protagonists and antagonists - I can't help but feel a little let down by how much this feels like YA, rather than for adults.

The characters are in their late twenties, but the entire atmosphere just feels made for a YA novel. Not sure if that's primarily due to the writing? It feels very much like VR's narrative in ‘Divergent,’ which is fine. But for being an adult sci-fi novel, I just expected something more complex than what this is.

Not a bad book my any means, certainly entertaining enough. I was just hoping for something a little bit more.

I love dystopian fiction, so I was so very intrigued by the premise of this book. It’s certainly a cautionary tale about the role of technology in our society and the evils of totalitarianism. There’s also an engrossing mystery and a very captivating main character. Although this is somewhat of a dark and gritty read, I think it would also be riveting for any young adult readers in your life.

The story centers around Sonya Kantor, now confined to the Aperture, a prison-like apartment complex. She was once the symbol of the previous ruling government as the face of their propaganda posters which bore the ominous slogan, "What's Right is Right". Of course, that meant spying on your neighbors, behaving in a way acceptable to the totalitarian regime, and limited to one child only per family. "Good" behavior was rewarded with "DesCoins".

The old government has now been overthrown and Sonya has lost her family in the uprising. Sonya still has the "Insight" embedded in her eye, which is leftover technology from the old regime. The Insight was a direct link to the government and also provided instant history or descriptions of what the person was looking at. Scary stuff, and not such a reach from our present-day technology.

Sonya is somewhat conflicted about her past, angry and sad at the loss of her family and friends but yet confused about the new world order. She believes she can atone for her family's crimes against humanity by helping her old friend Alexander find a missing child who had been "re-homed" (i.e., stolen) from her birth family. It is difficult for her to move among the populace without being constantly harassed since everyone knows who she is.

"She’s never been aware of her own expressions—on the day of the photo shoot, she thought she looked soft and contemplative, but the result, on the poster, was a cold declaration. What’s right is right, the text mirrored in her expression. Even after over a decade, she’s still startled by the discrepancy between her insides and her outsides, how no one can see the tumult of her."

The author does a wonderful job at world-building, combining real landmarks in the Pacific Northwest with futuristic and imaginative creations such as the Insight and the Elicit. There are many timely issues raised by this story and I enjoyed the mystery element, but I just would have liked a little more character building. Overall an interesting and very creative story.

(Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)

This is an interesting premise- usually dystopian books happen during the fall of an oppressive regime, not after. Sonya Kantor was the literal face of the Delegation, the Poster Girl. When the Delegation fell she was sent to the Aperture, a kind of prison/town for those who helped the Delegation. Her whole family was dead, they died during the uprising, her life in the Aperture was a dismal one. That's how this story felt. Dismal, grey, and disheartening. There was a sliver of hope, but this isn't your typical story.
This was not what I expected, and that was interesting. However, I expected.. more? I almost wanted this to be a novella of a series about the fall of the Delegation and the rise of the Triumvirate, but I know that isn't the point. Definitely had some room for fleshing out plot lines but I think it ended the best way it could have. 3.5 🌟 thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC this title is available now.

After Divergent, this was a quick dive in and I honestly was pleasantly surprised by it. Makes you question a lot of things

Poster Girl takes place somewhere in the future after civilization as we know it has fallen. Sonya was the beautiful girl on the propaganda poster for the previous government— but now she’s imprisoned and the only way she can secure her freedom is to find another missing girl.

I really enjoyed this dystopian mystery. It is a definite page turner, and it’s interesting to contemplate the similarities between this fictional future and our own society.