angelbecc's review
4.0
The story centers around two 16 year old girls (best friends) that are fugitives after being framed for a bomb explosion at their school. One of the girls, Rory, writes in real time about the events that lead up to the incident and who she suspects are framing her and her best friend and why. Rory also writes about real time events that occur over 48 hours while on the run. The book highlights many sensitive topics such as rape and the me too movement, pedophilia, racism, white privilege, black lives matter, immigration, abortion and pro life/choice, and religion.
The book kept me hooked from start to finish. I love that the writing took place in real time but included flash backs of what lead up to this event. There was very minimal “fluff” writing. Also, the author was able to capture a lot of real life issues without the book becoming overwhelming or seeming forced.
4 stars as the ending was abrupt and left more to be desired. I wish the author would have elaborated on what happened next? Rory had many assumptions, a lot of which were never explained.
Overall good read.
The book kept me hooked from start to finish. I love that the writing took place in real time but included flash backs of what lead up to this event. There was very minimal “fluff” writing. Also, the author was able to capture a lot of real life issues without the book becoming overwhelming or seeming forced.
4 stars as the ending was abrupt and left more to be desired. I wish the author would have elaborated on what happened next? Rory had many assumptions, a lot of which were never explained.
Overall good read.
popthebutterfly's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
becandbooks's review
There may be a solid story in here. But I could not get past the writing style.
Told from the perspective of a teenager, the Gossip Girl/Kardashian-esque attitude of the main characters was grinding to read. The narration of this story-telling technique was just as bad, if not worse.
Thank you to Libro.FM and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever.
Told from the perspective of a teenager, the Gossip Girl/Kardashian-esque attitude of the main characters was grinding to read. The narration of this story-telling technique was just as bad, if not worse.
Thank you to Libro.FM and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audiobook. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever.
sabrina_mtl's review
5.0
WOW! Found this gem in a free bookshelf in the middle of nowhere, and it sounded somewhat interesting. Needed 5 days from start to finish. What a great compelling not-so-futuristic story. Very realistic and current coming of age.
Could be a real blog post, published today. Which makes it even more scary and fantastic. Love it all the way!
Without giving anything away.. it's been a very very long time since I sat up in disbelieve when I ended a book. All thumbs up!
Could be a real blog post, published today. Which makes it even more scary and fantastic. Love it all the way!
Without giving anything away.. it's been a very very long time since I sat up in disbelieve when I ended a book. All thumbs up!
jenmceditor's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve not been this gutted by a book in a very long time. Ran across it quite by accident in my favourite bookstore and am not sorry I did.
juniperbranches's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
‘We’re not the spawn of Satan you're loading your Walmart rifles to hunt.’ (A quote which applies to the queer people being criminalizes across the world as well)
This was absolutely incredible. Set in the not so distant future in the ultra wealthy, ultra conservative, and ultra Christian neighbourhood of Calabasas we are introduced to sixteen year old Rory Anne Miller, self professed atheist, and her gang of friends. The story opens are Rory and her best friend are fleeing a bombing at their purity ball, an event which they are quickly set up to take the fall for.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, and Rory might just be my favourite fictional character I’ve met recently. Her voice is strong, inclusive, and refuses to be silenced amid gossip, rumours and accusations. This was a 5 star read for me and I know for a fact that this book will be living in my head for the next few weeks. 5/5 👰🏻♀️🩸🕯️
This was absolutely incredible. Set in the not so distant future in the ultra wealthy, ultra conservative, and ultra Christian neighbourhood of Calabasas we are introduced to sixteen year old Rory Anne Miller, self professed atheist, and her gang of friends. The story opens are Rory and her best friend are fleeing a bombing at their purity ball, an event which they are quickly set up to take the fall for.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, and Rory might just be my favourite fictional character I’ve met recently. Her voice is strong, inclusive, and refuses to be silenced amid gossip, rumours and accusations. This was a 5 star read for me and I know for a fact that this book will be living in my head for the next few weeks. 5/5 👰🏻♀️🩸🕯️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Sexual assault
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Trafficking
brookepelley's review against another edition
3.0
this was a tough read for me. i found myself getting bored during the flashbacks, but at the end things really kick off. i almost put it down a couple times, but i was glad to finish it as the ending gave me chills.
highly recommend if you are looking for a novel that will gut punch you in the end
highly recommend if you are looking for a novel that will gut punch you in the end
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Body shaming, Cancer, Bullying, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Classism, Fatphobia, Deportation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Religious bigotry