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stress_reader's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Congratulations! We are writing to inform you that you have been selected to participate in the HappyHead Project as part of its inaugural intake..."
"...Attendance is mandatory."
📖 I loved this plot, it had me hooked from the get go (partial quote ⬆️ above - tell me that doesn't leave you needing to know more ASAP). It's interesting and not something I've read much of (really nothing I can think of that I've read that's quite like HappyHead).
I appreciate the bigger themes HappyHead discusses.
✍️🏼 I enjoyed Silver's writing immensely. It flows nice and smoothly, while being descriptive and immersive. I found the dialogue to read as natural. Silver does a great job making the reader feel sufficiently creeped out and on edge. Just enough that it's visceral without being overwhelming.
⏳️ I thought the paving was excellent. The way Silver build the tension up, especially in one scene involving a test - it truly had me nervous.
đź‘Ą I loved (or loved to hate) all of the characters. They're well developed and I enjoyed their personalities. I love and appreciate that the MCs aren't hetero, and that it also shows some characters that are comfortable and open with their sexuality, while others aren't there, yet.
đź’ž I greatly enjoyed the slow burn romance and love that Silver takes the time to show them go from strangers to reluctant allies, then to friends, and finally to maybe more.
⚠️ CW/TW:
đź“š YA versions of Squid Games meets They Both Die at the End.
It does end off on a cliffhanger. I'm excited to read the 2nd book. If you're looking for a book to creep you out a bit and like YA dystopian, give this one a try.
Thank you to @smudgecotton and @Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
"...Attendance is mandatory."
📖 I loved this plot, it had me hooked from the get go (partial quote ⬆️ above - tell me that doesn't leave you needing to know more ASAP). It's interesting and not something I've read much of (really nothing I can think of that I've read that's quite like HappyHead).
I appreciate the bigger themes HappyHead discusses.
✍️🏼 I enjoyed Silver's writing immensely. It flows nice and smoothly, while being descriptive and immersive. I found the dialogue to read as natural. Silver does a great job making the reader feel sufficiently creeped out and on edge. Just enough that it's visceral without being overwhelming.
⏳️ I thought the paving was excellent. The way Silver build the tension up, especially in one scene involving a test - it truly had me nervous.
đź‘Ą I loved (or loved to hate) all of the characters. They're well developed and I enjoyed their personalities. I love and appreciate that the MCs aren't hetero, and that it also shows some characters that are comfortable and open with their sexuality, while others aren't there, yet.
đź’ž I greatly enjoyed the slow burn romance and love that Silver takes the time to show them go from strangers to reluctant allies, then to friends, and finally to maybe more.
⚠️ CW/TW:
đź“š YA versions of Squid Games meets They Both Die at the End.
It does end off on a cliffhanger. I'm excited to read the 2nd book. If you're looking for a book to creep you out a bit and like YA dystopian, give this one a try.
Thank you to @smudgecotton and @Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Blood, Medical content, and Outing
ingridmaria's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
maisiegreen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dystopian in a more realistic context :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
bookb1itch's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think the comparison to "Hunger Games" on the cover led me to expect this book to be darker. Yes, it has a disturbing premise, but not as much as I anticipated. I read it before putting it on our school library shelves, to see whether or not it warranted our equivalent of a 15+ sticker. It doesn't, which pleased me. The 2 main boys are really well written and I am keen to see whether Josh Silver gives them a sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
theunfinishedbookshelf's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Torture, and Outing
mollyhrose's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
So I was goaded into reading this because the cover quoted “the hunger games but better” which I immediately thought was bold.
I was right. This book is not better than the hunger games, but it’s also nothing like the hunger games. It’s like comparing soup and socks - they can both keep you warm, but you can’t say they serve the same function. It’s honestly frustrated me beyond belief and lowered the rating of my review because I went into this thinking it was going to be like the hunger games. Much to my disappointment it wasn’t.
The book itself was fine, it was interesting and well written, but it was disappointing in how things were dealt with and the overall motives and concept of the book.
No one dies, which I suppose is a good thing but like the consequences of the trials they go through are almost skimmed over. They are forced to drink poison at one point and they’re basically fine the next day, like there’s no lingering threat. Especially when some of the kids leave at the end they’re all smiling and happy and just fine??? After everything it feels a little anticlimactic. It’s also annoying bc I just really feel like I could’ve escaped and the main characters were being dumb the whole time with what they planned to do. Like the boat but at the end, they could’ve just dumped Eleanor out and rowed away!!!
I was right. This book is not better than the hunger games, but it’s also nothing like the hunger games. It’s like comparing soup and socks - they can both keep you warm, but you can’t say they serve the same function. It’s honestly frustrated me beyond belief and lowered the rating of my review because I went into this thinking it was going to be like the hunger games. Much to my disappointment it wasn’t.
The book itself was fine, it was interesting and well written, but it was disappointing in how things were dealt with and the overall motives and concept of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Medical content, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood