Condie's latest work has yielded some contradictory results. While I enjoyed the concept and related deeply to the protagonist, the more artistic approach to this story might have worked to its detriment. I can honestly say that I didn't see the reality of the book's ending coming.

The thrill of a chase, the urgency, the mystery --- I was deeply engaged in the more exciting elements of the story. However, the rapid transitions in perspective/timeline felt incredibly jarring, rendering the relatability of other characters practically null, as you never got a chance to really engage with them. Additionally, I feel as though the way in which the story itself was approach underestimates some of the complexity and depth of the YA audience.

While this story was fairly enjoyable and engaging, I have been unable to form a more cohesive opinion about it. I want to love it, but I don't know if I can...

One thing I enjoyed in this book was the writing. It was written very well with the prose bung almost verse-like. However, everything else in the story fell flat. The characters were one dimensional and the book overall just didn’t feel that original to me. The story felt not fleshed out enough, like the author only made a half hearted attempt at writing it.

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

Honestly, that’s not how I saw this book going. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but the book as a whole kept me interested!

Thank you NetGalley for granting me an Advanced Readers Copy to review in exchange for an honest review.
I have read other books by Ally Condie, namely the Matched Series which I loved. The Only Girl in Town, I am not sure what she was trying to do. The writing style was weird with the super short chapters. I have no idea what this book was supposed to be about. Was she dreaming, was it real? It was just bizarre and not in a good way at least not to me. I hope other people like it because she is a terrific author, but I was so bored. I would catch myself skimming over parts just trying to get through and not DNF. Sadly one star. #netgalley #theonlygirlintown

I really didn’t understand this book. Feels like nothing really happened and it was kinda boring. Loved the shirt chapters though

** A copy of The Only Girl in Town was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Interesting premise and beautiful/lyrical writing.

I can see what she was going for here and, while certainly not missing the mark entirely, she didn't quite get there. The prose was pretty in places and it moved reasonably well. There are several things I don't understand about the cat.

This novel was a quick read and was nothing like I expected it to be from the premise. I thought the premise of a girl suddenly finding herself completely alone was an intriguing one, and Condie did a great job of building tension as the story progressed. As an adult reading this, I had to let go of any annoyance about the teen angst, because I'm not the target audience. I've learned not to hold that sort of thing against a YA book, because it's not written for a woman in her fifties! I think this was really well done, and the end is going to be divisive. I expected it to go in one direction, and instead it went somewhere that kind of changes the whole experience of reading the book. Ultimately, I think the author succeeded in what she was going for here.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy for an honest review.
This is a young adult book that deals with depression and loneliness. It's written with short chapters alternating between present to the past. I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. It had several twists right until the end The ending was confusing as others have stated so I reread the last few chapters and it became clear what happened to the main character to end up in the present.

Following two different timelines, BEFORE, and NOW, we get to know July. BEFORE, she had her family, and friends. NOW, she's alone, the only person in town, trying to figure out why everyone disappeared, and how she can get them back. Seemingly random clues keep popping up, and may be the key to finding how to get everyone back, and also finding herself again.

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

The Only Girl in Town had an interesting premise and mystery in the summary which made me instantly intrigued. The book in told in one POV which goes back-and-forth between the past and present. The main character is named July and this book starts out when she finds out that she's the only person left in her town and she can't leave. The part of the story from her past starts to fill in the gaps, leading closer to the present, about her life and the current parts of the story are her trying to figure out what happened to everyone. I read the book fairly fast as I wanted to know the answer to the story's big mystery. The ending was not quite what I expected and I still have a few questions, but all-in-all, a solid read.

I didn’t expect this story! This is a YA story about a young girl and her struggles with feeling depressed and lonely and finding yourself again. It was so relatable and I can’t wait to get this for my classroom for students to read. Short chapters create a fast paced vibe.

This is a book by Ally Condie, but a different type of vibe. The chapters are incredibly short and verse-like almost jarring. There is a high emotional stress strung throughout the story. As you get closer and closer to the end what you begin to realize is nothing is as it seems. When July wakes up, everyone she knows and loves is gone.
As she moves throughout her town looking for other survivors she is struck that there are some things she needs to remember that happened before she work up alone. Join July in this poetic story of loneliness as she tries to get to the bottom of this nightmare! #Penguin #TheOnlygirlintown #AllyCondie

I haven’t read anything by Ally Condie in a while, but this pulled me right back in.

Before, July Fielding had friends, family, a boyfriend. After, she was alone. Now, she’s really alone. July wakes up to a deserted town. Everyone and everything is gone. It’s just her and she can’t seem to leave Lithia. When GET TH3M BACK messages spring up all over town and weird objects keep getting left for her, July knows someone else is in town and it’s up to her to get everyone back. But who is it? How can she return everyone? What if it was all her fault that they’re gone in the first place?

This is a beautiful story told between the past and now. It’s about depression, the feeling of loneliness and the path back to yourself. You can’t change how everyone will react or perceive you, you can only choose how you behave in these situations.

I devoured this. The story had twists and turns. I really enjoyed the prose thrown in there. I didn’t know what I was really reading most of the time, but that was okay because the journey to get to the end was something else entirely. At parts I was confused, but I think most of this is to be left to interpretation. I found this to be incredibly relatable as I think many others will as well. “Open the door and let them in”.

I struggled with how to rate this book. On one hand, I can see that the author was trying write something artistic and meaningful. It’s different from her other novels; it’s more metaphysical and emotional than her typical dystopian fare. I felt deeply for the main character July and devoured the book in 3 hours because I had to know how it all ended.

But on the other hand, I had difficulty connecting with the other characters and spent a majority of the novel confused. The super short chapters created a sense of urgency (especially towards the end), but frustrated me after a while. There was rarely a moment to breathe and settle into the world, which is a shame because there was some gorgeous prose interspersed throughout. The genre was not what I expected it to be.

As well, this book deals heavily with depression. The summary describes it as “loneliness”, but it felt like more than that. If you struggle with depression, take care when reading.

This is not bad book, but unfortunately it’s not my cup of tea. I think there will be some polarizing opinions on this (similar to We Were Liars): you’ll either love it or it’s not for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

This book left me in a state of ambivalence; I couldn't quite decide if I liked it or not. The pacing, the short chapters, and the lyrical, poetic, highly emotional, and empowering writing style all intrigued me. The central mystery of a town where everyone, including pets, vanishes into thin air, leaving only 18-year-old July Fielding behind, kept me engaged until the end. It was gripping and riveting, maintaining my interest throughout. However, upon reaching the finish line, I found myself questioning if that was all there was and what the real point of it all was.
One aspect that truly resonated with me was the exploration of the experience of loneliness amidst a crowd. The notion that one can feel detached and estranged despite being surrounded by others is a powerful theme that the author skillfully delved into. The inner turmoil and fear that accompany such a feeling, preventing genuine connections and the ability to embrace relationships and commitments, were portrayed with depth and meaning. The book did an admirable job of shedding light on the notion of not feeling deserving of love and the dark thoughts that can consume one's mind, leading to a sense of inferiority, self-sabotage, and even depression. These introspective themes were approached with thoughtfulness and offered valuable insights.

However, the execution of the teenage characters and their interactions left me somewhat perplexed. Instead of exhibiting emotional maturity and open communication about their feelings, they often displayed immaturity, selfishness, and peculiar behavior throughout the narrative. This made it challenging for me to fully connect with July's inner world and empathize with her struggles. While the intention may have been to portray the complexities of adolescence, it sometimes veered into unrealistic territory, which hindered my engagement with the story.

Despite these reservations, I must commend the book's trajectory and the author's ability to keep readers guessing. The buildup of suspense and the climactic moments were skillfully crafted, leaving me eager to discover how the pieces would come together. Although the final outcomes didn't resonate with me as strongly as the book's overall progression, I appreciated the author's willingness to take risks and deliver a unique reading experience.

Overall, while I ultimately settled on a rating of 3 stars, it is important to recognize the merits of this book. Its thought-provoking exploration of loneliness, the encouragement to let go and embrace the present, and its overall mysterious nature make it a worthwhile read. I am grateful for the opportunity to have engaged with this narrative and to have shared my honest opinions.

Once again, I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ Dutton Books for Young Readers for providing me with the digital reviewer copy. Their continued support enables readers like myself to discover and engage with brilliant books.

This is not at all what I expected but it was everything. It was intense and beautiful and I couldn’t breathe until I finished. She is such a talented writer and this gave me a lot of feelings about things that I will think about for a long time. Love, friendship, loneliness, helplessness, death. I think the story and the ending could be interpreted a few different ways and none of them are wrong.

As a childhood fan of the "Matched" series, I was thrilled to see Ally Condie is back with "The Only Girl in Town". Suspense and incredible storytelling - a must read for all YA fans!

Really good, loved the idea and the execution of it. I was immediately gripped by the story, as the situation of the protagonist was really eerie and puzzling. The writing style was surprising and original. It was an incredibly quick read too. Recommended!