Jane has spent almost her entire life in the middle of nowhere Montana with her father, living off the grid. As she begins to outgrow her life there, she realizes nothing about her life or her father is as it seems.

I could not put this book down. I was not only invested in putting together the pieces of Jane’s life, but also interested in the era it took place in and the implications of the topic on our current climate.

Thank you netgalley and Random House for the arc!

This is a very special book, and one I am eager to tell others about.

Although Brown tend to get a bit lost a bit in her own writing -- the snow on the ground! the beauty of coding! -- even her more flowery sections are satisfying to read and work to steep the reader in Jane/Esme's world (well, her two very different worlds) in ways that prove important to understanding the full context of this story.

Mostly, Brown has a strong handle on what interior voices sound like, and Jane/Esme always rang true to me, both as a very sheltered person and a deeply curious young woman coming of age (what a combo!). You get her, you really understand her, and that's not easy, given the situations she's put in. She feels unique, but totally believable. Most readers will have never met anyone like her, and yet, it's easy to imagine what it would be like to speak with her.

I also appreciate Brown's viewpoint on her often quite heavy subject matter. By showing things through Jane/Esme's eyes, she lets both her lead character and her readers draw their own conclusions. Jane/Esme is often dealing with incredibly weighty questions -- what's family legacy? what's good and what's bad? is violence ever the answer to curing societal ills? what even are societal ills? -- but we're given enough information and perspective to parse it ourselves.

One of the best books of the year so far for me!

“CAN YOU EVER escape legacy? Does it define you, whether you like it or not? Even if you consciously flee it, doesn’t it still circumscribe the shape of who you are, or are not?”

Jane is 17 and finds herself in a dangerously precarious situation. This sparks something in her- a deep need to discover the truth of her life to this point- and to find a path for her future.

How do you make your own way in a completely new world, full of technology and information? Do you leave your past self completely behind? Or is it always a part of you, even when you decidedly depart from everything you’ve ever believed you’ve known?

Such a cool story- enjoyed it, although the pacing was a little unnecessarily slow at times- we knew what was coming though it rolled out very lazily. All in all, a great read- will be a definite hit of the summer! Release date set for June 10th!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the advanced copy!

This is one of those books that is just begging to be made a movie! A young girl living in the middle of nowhere with her father who has sheltered her whole life from the outside world. He comes up with a crazy plan that will put them both in jeopardy. Good one!

This book absolutely blew me away and I knew from the synopsis it was a book I had to read! This reminded me of a cross between “These silent woods” and “Educated” but so much more.

It’s a coming of age story about a teenage girl who was raised in isolation in the woods of Montana. A father who homeschools her and teaches philosophy but restricts her in every other way. He is very anti- government and throughout the story we will begin to see why…

There are so many great underlying themes of this story that are so deep and meaningful. The family we are born into and how that shapes us, choosing our own path in life and how far our loyalty takes us. Also, there’s a strong emphasis on technology and its influence on our lives both positive and negative. I couldn’t put this book down!

This book was phenomenal and is A LOT to unpack! What Kind of Paradise follows Jane, who lives in an isolated cabin in Montana with her father. Her father homeschools her with philosophy rather than traditional learning. As we follow Jane's journey, she begins to question what she's been told by her father about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. When she believes an opportunity to escape arises, she joins her father on a trip to Seattle, not realizing she would become his accomplice to an unthinkable crime. The story then takes another turn as we follow Jane on another new journey as she discovers life outside of the world she's always known. This is a unique coming of age story as Jane adapts to the modern world. This story is captivating and very thought-provoking. I definitely recommend What Kind of Paradise. This Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
This novel hooked me from the beginning. Elements of mystery, complex characters and philosophical dilemmas. This book keeps me turning pages and kept me thinking. I was able to put myself in the shoes of the main character and empathized with every decision she made. Well done

I could not stop reading. Great book!! "What Kind of Paradise" was a suspenseful, what has the father done, who is he or his daughter, innocents of a child growing to adulthood. This novel has a calm, loving, yet why atmosphere as you want to not put it down! Super great storyline that made me want to keep reading.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this novel. In fact, it might be my favourite book by this author. I remember growing up with the growth of the Internet, and it took me back to hear the stories that Brown wove into this suspenseful book. I loved the character development as well as the plot. She makes you think deeply about the line between right and wrong. Definitely check this book out when it’s released in June 2025.

This had major familial cross hairs woven throughout the book and kept me fully engaged from start to finish. This was utterly captivating.

I enjoy novels by Janelle Brown so I was happy to be approved for this ARC. It was a bit slow paced for me and I didn’t really connect with Jane. I liked it, but it didn’t have the suspense i preferred in Pretty Things and I’ll be you.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>What Kind of Paradise</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Growing up in an isolated cabin with her father, teen Jane is homeschooled, well-read, capable, and lonely. From their infrequent trips to Bozeman, Jane knows that others live differently, but it is a world her father, Saul, condemns. He views the growing dependence on technology as a threat to humanity. Jane longs for more and decides she must leave.
Jane fails to recognize her father's growing instability. Her quest for freedom coincides with her father's irrational actions. But, what price is Jane willing and able to pay for a life to call her own?
A great read.

"What Kind of Paradise", author Janelle Brown unravels the story of 17 year-old Jane who's grown up in the isolated woods of Montana in the 1990s with her father Saul. For as long as she can remember, Jane has known her upbringing is different; she's been home-schooled her entire life and living in a small cabin with her father, they have little contact with outside society and people. Despite the difficulties, Jane has looked up to her father for his intelligence (he taught her everything he learned at Harvard!) and care he's shown her, especially since her mother died when she was younger in a car crash.

Their lives take an abrupt turn however when Saul pulls his daughter into one of his mysterious extended trips from home, and Jane unknowingly becomes an accomplice in a shocking crime. Her life is completely upended and Jane is forced to confront the fact that her entire life has been a lie. Fleeing to San Francisco in the midst of the Internet revolution, Jane attempts to create a new life for herself and discover the truth about her own identity, but struggles to cut off the weight of her father's legacy - and his crimes.

From the beginning pages, I was immediately pulled into this novel; as it's written from Jane's first-person perspective, you get to piece together the parts of her life and story with her and understand as a character. Even though the novel is set in a time period already passed, many of the themes it calls out are extremely relevant today, especially given the rapid changes in technology and the ways our lives have changed both for the better and worse because of it. I appreciated as well being able to follow Jane's character development and growth; she begins the novel as a sheltered adolescent but is quickly forced to become independent and make decisions for herself - including ones that have repercussions for many others. And while this is a work of fiction, it's clear that Brown was inspired by the real-life events surrounding Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

Thoroughly a recommended read for when "What Kind of Paradise" is published in June 2025!

3.5⭐️ rounded up
Intriguing premise that is well executed. I’m enjoying all the books that are looking at stories through a less common POV and this story - that is loosely based on the Unabomber - is infinitely more interesting when told through the eyes and memories of a daughter. Lots of fun tidbits from the 1990s, this book is part coming-of-age, part reflection on society in the technological age, and part family drama. Think Educated (by Tara Westover) meets These Silent Woods (by Kimi Cunningham Grant) then add in some murders. A few slow chapters in the middle section, but otherwise a pretty engaging read.

A page-turner from the beginning, this novel is about Jane who is being raised by her beloved father in a remote cabin in Montana, completely off the grid. She loves him unconditionally as he teaches her literature as well as the dangers of technology and the federal government. Often he stages drills if the bad guys come to get them. The reader understands his delusions but Jane is committed to him and desires his approval. Things change as she grows up, however, and begins to see the outside world in brief glimpses. Jane finds out a bit about her mother, who she thought died, and her real identity and understands that her father may not have been honest with her. In an attempt to possibly escape for a new life, Jane accompanies her father on a trip to Seattle and becomes an accomplice to a crime. They part ways and the remainder of the novel follows Jane as she tries to build a new life while still being heavily influenced by her father and upbringing. The story raises many questions about technology, AI, and the balance of both good and bad influences on society. I highly recommend it!

Where to begin? This book is incredible. Jane/Esmes story is so powerful. A child locked in isolation in the woods of Montana, growing up in a cult-like environment under her father’s rule. Growing up with Jane throughout this story was incredibly touching and felt awe inspiring as we watched her navigate struggles. Incredible novel couldn’t recommend enough.

This is a difficult book to review. The plot was very interesting, but the father's many philosophical "lessons" left me cold. I ended up skimming through the book to follow Jane's story. I have read other Janelle Brown books and liked them. Although this book was not my favorite, I still look forward to her next novel.

Thank you, Random House and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. The comments expressed are my own.

This was the first book Ithat I have read from this author. The book was an enjoyable read. The characters were well developed and the storyline kept the reader interested. This is a book which I would recommend to others.

Seventeen year old Jane believes that her mother died in a tragic accident when she was four years of age. Ever since then, she and her dad have lived in a remote part of Montana. Jane is home-schooled and has had no contact with other people except for occasional visits to a nearby small town. Her father is a doomsday philosopher who warns Jane about the dangers associated with technology and its impact on the future of humanity. As the story progresses, it's unclear if dad is a genius, mentally ill, or maybe both.

When dad allows Jane to accompany him on a "secret mission," the story flips on its head. Suddenly Jane is alone in a strange new world and suspected of a crime. She's found evidence that her real name is Esme and that her mother may be living in San Francisco. She makes her way there, hoping she can find the answers she needs.

I loved reading this book. It has an interesting plot, well drawn characters, and a bit of mystery. It also has lots of food for thought. The timeline of the story is interesting because it takes place in the 90's when our computerized world was just getting started. The machines were still desktop and people were shocked to think about the future when a computer would fit in your hand. Internet availability on a personal level was very early on. There was talk of artificial intelligence and what that would mean.

On a personal level, Esme experiences conflicting emotions. Can she trust what her father has taught her? Will her new best friend keep her secret. Can she stay safe? Her life is a teetering balance between hope and fear. Similar to Esme's concerns, the book raises the issues of trust and safety for all of mankind. Technology, how do we evaluate its impact? Will the good outweigh the bad, or vice versa? These questions hit home more than ever today. To quote a thought in the story, "civilization's path is a pendulum that swings both ways, vacillating between hope and despair, success and failure, and all we can do is hang on for dear life."

This book is being released in June and I highly recommend it. Thanks so much Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for letting me read and review this offering.

If you fictionalized and crossed Educated, the Unabomber and the burgeoning tech industry of the early to mid-nineties, I think you would get a similar result to What Kind of Paradise. Jane lives with her father in a cabin in the woods, off the grid. As a child she doesn't question this, but as she grows up, she both questions her father's state of mind and strafes at being stuck in a cabin, increasingly alone as her father wanders off. When her father brings home a laptop and demands that she learn how to code so she can upload his manifesto, a whole new world opens up for Jane. One that sets her on a path to an incident with her father, and a search to figure out who she really is in the heart of Silicon Valley. The circumstances set in place by Brown in the book are incredibly unusual, and yet she does a fantastic job of making it feel plausible. A very intelligent man is increasingly driven to seeing advancing technology as a means of societal destruction, and the starting point of collapsing humanity and a young woman raised within the constructs of the environment he creates for her. Incredibly book smart herself, she's naive to the ways of the world and the society she tries to live in. The reader can see the teetering madness of Saul, Jane's father. He's not wrong that the technology he fears has the potential to be destructive but his self-assuredness that not only his daughter but everyone else would see things his way because he's so much smarter than everyone is delusional. Jane is the perfect balance of determined, naive and conflicted - she knows her father is doing bad things, but how can she possibly turn him in when he's the one person that's consistently existed in her sheltered life. One character that serves a secondary role but adds balance to the story is Lionel. In a world where many people are willing to take advantage of Jane, he is a nerdy programmer that's willing to take her under his wing and help her out without any expectation of getting anything in return. There's points where the book felt really long to me, and there were parts where it was hard to read about Jane trying to navigate her way through the world, but the story is well done. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.