4.5*

Project A.I.D.E.N. was a really compelling read. It was an interesting take on the world of artificial intelligence, kind of The Terminator for the high school set.
Aiden was such an endearing character, you couldn't help but get attached to him and want all good things to happen for him. I found myself completely engaged as he and Elana went on the run, hoping that everything would work out for the best!
It was a little stressful waiting to see how things played out, but overall this was a pretty quick, easy read.

Adventure surrounding an A.I. gains a refreshing twist, while seeping in tension and a touch of romance.

Aiden would like nothing better than to have the chance to finally leave the room he's called home ever since a nearly deadly car accident several years before. The institute has done everything they could to save his life and more. He never forgets anything, is practically invincible, strong and fast. And he's a nice guy. Now, if only he could pass the last test, they'll finally let them go. Or will they?

This is an easy, quick read, which kept me in the pages until the very end. I read it in one sitting and didn't have even the slightest inkling of an urge to put it down. It was so quick and easy that I really was surprised, when I looked back and realized that it was over 200 pages and not much shorter. So, I'd have to say it was a good, entertaining read. But of course, I have to say more than that, don't I?

It's pretty clear from the title and cover that this one swirls around the theme of artificial intelligence, and it does so with a couple refreshing twists, which keep it from turning cliche. Aiden is a super, nice character with tons of simple charm and a very good heart. The heroine is just as kind and nice, and finds herself in over her head, trying to make the best decisions possible. Both are easy to root for the entire way through.

Something happens on every page, and while some twists are easy to see coming, others take by a bit of surprise. There were moments, where the actions of the main characters seemed a bit dumb, but all in all everything flowed well and was understandable. The story holds some depth but, at the same time, stays a bit light and a little too quick to the resolution. I did think it was a bit short for the subject matter and wanted to see a bit more chase and development, but, on the other hand, it was a lovely read to throw into a few hours. So, I can't really criticize it, either.

The romance is sweet, straight forward, and warms the heart. The ending does bring a bit of uncertainty and create just the right amount of tension to make sure it's not clear if things will work out or not...and I'm not going to say, which way it went because that'd ruin everything.

This is an enjoyable, quick read, which adds just the right amount of food for thought without going overly deep. I can recommend it to light science fiction fans, who enjoy a bit of tension, action, and tons of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

So this book is interesting. It is realistic sci-fi, that is set in kind of the future but clearly also the present? Maybe this is the norm for sci-fi, and I just really don’t read a lot of sci-fi, so I am possibly just a very bad person to review this book. I read a lot of fantasy, and I can say this isn’t fantasy, so if that is what you are looking for, this is not it.

This book follows Project A.I.D.E.N., or Aiden as he knows himself, and Elena, in alternating points of view, over the course of a couple days. Literally this book covers less than a week’s time, I was keeping track. Aiden finds out that he is going to be “terminated” and so he flees what he thinks is a highly complex medical facility run by the government, where he encounters Elena, who assists him with running. Cue chaos. All my other comments are spoiler-y so they be the following paragraphs, read at your own risk.

——SPOILER——

Ok so while this does have a HEA/HFN, this romance gives me serious Romeo and Juliet vibes. Both of these kids are 17-18 and they fall hard for each other in the 24 hours of knowing each other during a high crisis time. I mean I understand adrenalin messing with your serotonin and dopamine but still. The fact that everything seemed like it took place in today’s world except for the fact that the cellular devices they talked on were called CompPads was jarring. I am not going to question if the military base seemed too futuristic, because it is a military base and those can always seem crazy in books, but nothing outside of the base seemed different than 2022 except for cell phones.

With that, the book felt like it was jumping a lot. I felt like scenes were moving really fast and there was conversation happening off screen that I was missing. I could chalk it up to the fact that I have an eARC copy and so some of it was truly missing from my copy, but I think that was just how it was written. Also, the climactic ending felt super rushed. I wasn’t surprised by any of the revelations, as I had figured all of it out pages before, and I don’t know if that was due to it being foreshadowed really well or if it was predictable or if I am just really good at figuring things out. I do appreciate that this book is objectively pretty short, meaning it did not take me very long to read it at all, so that could have been part of why it felt so rushed as well – it was trying to stay under a certain word/page count.

——END OF SPOILER——

All and all, it was an interesting dip into sci-fi, since I have only read a handful of books in this genre, and it was a YA book no less. I don’t know if I will pick it up again to re-read it but I definitely know there is an audience out there that will absolutely adore this book. I look forward to people who love this genre getting their hands on it because I know they will find it to be a good time.

Project A.I.D.E.N by:Lindsey Frydman
5/5⭐️

Ya, mildly futuristic, A.I

On her way to fix her car, Elena hits a boy with her car. Turns out he’s on the run from the government.

This was a short read, which means that it’s fast paced. The romance melds well with the plot.

There’s some mild discussion about ethics in respect to artificial intelligence.

Essentially, terminator with some romance.

I have absolutely no fault with this book.
This was a very quick and enjoyable read. I don’t typically read just YA but this sucked me in till the very end.
Project Aiden has:
AI
Romance
Sci-fi
Rebellious teenager
Smidge of violence
A small twist

This really was a great story, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Project A.I.D.E.N is a fun adventure, swirling with sweet romance. I'm fan of sci-fi. futuristic YA books and this books did not disappoint! The dual perspectives from both Elena and Aiden was perfect in building up this world with AIs and also presenting their feelings as they tumble through this journey together. There's a lot of growth on both sides and plenty of plot twists to keep you on your toes. Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Project A.I.D.E.N. by Lindsey Frydman, 166 pages. Entangled Publishing, 2022. $5.
Language: R (98 swears, 20 “f” + British swears); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Aiden (18yo) can’t remember anything before the accident, but he can remember everything he has heard and seen since then, among other enhanced abilities. But now the people who have been rehabilitating Aiden since the accident decide to eliminate him, so Aiden runs away – right into a car. Elena (17yo) thought she had enough to worry about with convincing her dad to let her be a mechanic, and then she hit a boy with her precious car.
Aiden and Elena’s story is set in a futuristic America with hints of better technology, but, for the most part, the scifi stuff is a side note to two teenagers on the run. There are several inconsistencies throughout the story, but they don’t get in the way of the story if readers don’t want them to. Uncovering the truth of Project A.I.D.E.N. with the main characters is lively, even if the execution of the story could use some polishing.
Aiden is depicted on the cover as White, and there is nothing in the text to contradict that. Elena is described as having “porcelain skin.” The mature content rating is for mentions of marijuana and underage drinking, innuendo, and an intense make out scene. The violence rating is for gun use and mentions of murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I normally am not a fan of science fiction but I am trying to expand my reading repertoire and Project A.I.D.E.N. did not disappoint. The action sequences as well as the interaction between Elena and Aiden were very balanced and it has a bit of everything, enough to keep the romance, adventure and science fiction lovers engaged.

3.75 stars

This was very fun.
It was both interesting and fun.
I read someone describing this as terminator but with romance and it was but also wasn't.
I love the sci-fi part of this and the scientific bits of it. I absolutely ADORED those bits.
The romance was super sweet and I was surprised by how invested I got with Elena and Aiden's relationship.
Overall this was a quick fun and fantastic read.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

If Maximum Ride met the Terminator who also met a Sarah Dessen novel, this would be the outcome.

“If I destroy her life, too, the regret will swallow me whole.”
~Project A.I.D.E.N.

First things first, Project A.I.D.E.N. was very predictable, but it wasn't a bad predictable. For the most part, I think Frydman probably wanted you to be able to guess the plot. I mean the whole evil dad thing was pretty obvious from the get-go.

This fast-pacing confusing story alternates between the two main characters, Elena and Aiden, point of view and takes you on their journey. I don’t know exactly how I feel about either character. I neither loved or hated them and at times, I found them hilarious but then it would start describing how the other person looks so beautiful.

If you are an anti-insta love person, this is most definitely not for you. Elena and Aiden fall in love with each other pretty much instantly, like the trope. She hits him with her car and immediately finds him attractive and doesn’t freak out, which most people would find weird. There are plenty of paragraphs which are just them describing the other in each other’s POV.

Probably after reading all of that, you are wondering why I gave this four stars. Well despite what I might have said up there, I actually did enjoy this novel. I found the writing hilarious and the characters were fun. Elena was probably my favorite because she wasn’t the “I’m not like other girls” trope and she was able to stand up for herself. Plus there was one twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

I would probably read Project A.I.D.E.N. again if I had the chance because it was a different book then what I have seen around and it was pretty interesting.

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy for review.

‘Project A.I.D.E.N.’ is a fast-paced, fully immersive experience that could easily be adapted to the screen. Set in the not-so-distant future, this book will give you a healthy dose of adrenaline, and the fluttery feeling of first love.

When Elena hits Aiden with her car, she doesn’t even have time to think about the reasons why he is miraculously uninjured. Because Aiden begs her to drive him away from the place he just escaped. Now on the run, Elena and Aiden become unlikely partners-in-crime, trying to figure out who wants Aiden gone, and why.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this story was its pace. Author Lindsey Frydman doesn’t waste an inordinate amount of time world building or doing anything else superfluous. Instead, Frydman drops readers right into this world and hits the ground running.

I also liked how the chemistry between Elena and Aiden develops slowly, yet surely, even as the events around them are moving at a fast clip. This is the kind of book you can sit down and just tear through, and it was something I could definitely see being made into a movie.

I really enjoyed this book, and think that it’s a great read for YA-aged readers and adults alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a fun quick read, this is it. A little excitement, a little romance, a tidy “happily ever after”; a “feel good” story with a little adventure along the way. At times, the writing can get a tad wordy, but overall a great YA read

Wow, just wow. I don't think I was mentally prepared for this as I just welcomed a baby in early April but I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what happened. Well done by the author.

Project AIDEN is an intense mixture of YA Sci-Fi and Romance with a lot of action. The plot was incredibly fast-paced, maybe a bit too much at times, but there wasn't a lull in the story at all. If you're looking for something different to read that will keep you on your toes, definitely recommend this one!

The story opens with Aiden in AIR, the facility that created him, and jumps between his and Elena's points of view each chapter. Many secrets and twists are uncovered through the story and while completely unrealistic at times (I mean, Aiden is a hot robot...), Aiden and Elena both tugged at my heartstrings. They were well-written and well-rounded characters, though there wasn't a lot of depth to them, there was just enough to enjoy the adventure.


Thank you Entangled Teen for the e-ARC to read and honestly review!

Great YA novel..

Aiden is a compelling character that makes you xant know mpre about him.

Action story that grabs you and doesn't let you go.
Very inspiring story.

Higly recommend.

Elena hits a boy with her car one day, and is accidentally drawn into a situation that she couldn't possibly have anticipated, with a boy she's falling for despite him not being quite what he seems.

Project Aiden is a fast book, which unfortunately feels a bit rushed. Things happen and are resolved again very quickly so there isn't really enough time to become invested. Similarly, the romance is practically insta-love, which I personally don't like very much! However, it's an interesting story and I enjoyed it fine.

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

This book was really good definitely a fast read would definitely recommend for others to read as well

-Project A.I.D.E.N- by: Lindsey Frydman

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis:
Until the moment I met him, I’d never done anything wrong. Like, seriously, anything. Until that summery afternoon when an exceptionally cute boy with unnatural green eyes—like emerald flames—stepped out in front of my car. And I hit him.
Only the boy didn’t die. There isn’t a mark on him. And now Aiden is begging me to drive him somewhere, anywhere. Because he’s being hunted, and the people chasing him will only stop when he’s dead. I know I should just keep driving, but there’s something vulnerable in his voice, in his crooked smile, that makes me want to help him…even if it means leaving “good” behind.
And “leaving good” feels a whole lot like being alive. More alive than I’ve ever felt.
Now I’m risking everything—my safety, my relationship with my dad, even my freedom—for a guy I just met. It’s not Stockholm Syndrome or even Hot Hijacker Syndrome. Something tells me Aiden’s different, really different, and it’s not just his eyes, his strength, or his preternatural smarts. Or that when he kisses me, everything else just disappears.
It’s like he’s the perfect guy.
And he might just be hiding the perfect secret.

Review:
This book was just as amazing as I thought it was going to be! I love how it shows perspective from both Aiden and Elena, which I was not expecting going into it. I love both of the main characters and the growth they experience throughout the book, and the futuristic aspect of this world. I appreciate when there are flashbacks, they are shown with italics. I really like how Elena wants to be a mechanic for her future career, which you don’t see too often in young adult books. There were also plenty of moments where there were plot twists that I did not expect or thought would happen. Overall, I definitely recommend picking up this book!

Rating: 5 Stars

This was a decent story, but I had several issues with it, starting with the insta love. I suppose teenagers are easily swept off their feet, or it feels that way when you’re young, but come on.. the whole book spans just 2 days. She’s basically hijacked, but she quickly goes from being scared to having feelings for him??? Sure… Then there’s the science behind everything (how the facility runs, the business transaction, the liability issues)- it was too unbelievable. I know it’s fiction, but it needs to feel realistic enough, and this was too far fetched with little explanation. The characters could’ve been better fleshed out. So yeah, this book had potential but had too any issues to be an enjoyable read.

This book was very cute. I enjoyed reading it a lot. Aiden was a lot of fun to get to know and see his character grow. Absolutely obsessed with this book.