The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
2.0
In the future girls are evaluated based on their looks, entered into The Registry and sold to the highest bidder. Population is brainwashed that this is a perfect order and girls are taught that their only purpose in life is to please their husbands. Young and very beautiful Mia finds out by accident that the things she was told all her life might not be true. Shaken and scared, Mia runs away with her best friend Whitney. While they are trying not get caught by government agents, Mia and Whitney encounter an array of characters that will help them to get to freedom aka. Mexico.
As soon as I read the summary I was immediately attracted to The Registry. In a dystopian setting it promised to cover some meaningful topics like: being judged based just on your looks and forced marriages. While I was not expecting The Registry to be as dramatic and emotional as [b:A Thousand Splendid Suns|128029|A Thousand Splendid Suns|Khaled Hosseini|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345958969s/128029.jpg|3271379] by Khaled Hosseini, I still hoped that it will be better than other ya novels with similar topic (like [b:Delirium|11614718|Delirium (Delirium, #1)|Lauren Oliver|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327890411s/11614718.jpg|10342808] or [b:Matched|7735333|Matched (Matched, #1)|Ally Condie|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367706191s/7735333.jpg|9631645]) and that it will bring something new to this topic. Shannon Stoker may have tried to convey these messages but they were drowned for me with a multiple of problems.
World building was completely unbelievable. I could not believe that society in USA would degrade this much. This book would be much more believable if it was set in some secluded country with traditional culture. Also, there is no technological advance whatsoever, although it's set 150 years in the future. It is mentioned that government only allows her agents to use new technologies, but only things I noticed high-profile government agents were using helicopters and tablets that can do voice recordings.
Although, The Registry is advertised as new adult, it's so ya even some chapter narrated by 28-year-old villain didn't make it more mature. Characters should be 18 years old, but because they are ignorant of the world most of the time they feel much younger. Especially Mia, who tries to convinces us how she's not all looks and how she is smart. All I could see was a spoiled brat who run away from home just because she found out she's not going to get her way. And she dragged her perfectly content friend along, so she won't be alone. On her travel, Mia uses everyone to advance and leaves them without much regret. And her cause is not very noble, she does not try to change anything, she just tries to save her ass.
There is slow developing love story who seemed like the only good feature for recommending The Registry. That is, until some random handsome dude appeared on 80% and kissed Mia and she decided - why shouldn't she have fun. Seriously, only thing that this book was missing was love triangle to add to the pile of this I do not like.
In The End...
With too many holes in world building and not enough technological advancement to make me believe this is happening in the future, The Registry failed my dystopian test. I never believed for a moment something like this would happen in USA. Add to the mix immature selfish heroine, love triangle romance and it turns out the only original and interesting thing in a book is a main villain with a quirky sense of fashion.
The Registry may appeal to a younger audience who is only now getting into dystopian genre and who are not demanding when world building is in question, but more mature dystopian fans should probably look for something else.
My rating: 2 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
As soon as I read the summary I was immediately attracted to The Registry. In a dystopian setting it promised to cover some meaningful topics like: being judged based just on your looks and forced marriages. While I was not expecting The Registry to be as dramatic and emotional as [b:A Thousand Splendid Suns|128029|A Thousand Splendid Suns|Khaled Hosseini|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345958969s/128029.jpg|3271379] by Khaled Hosseini, I still hoped that it will be better than other ya novels with similar topic (like [b:Delirium|11614718|Delirium (Delirium, #1)|Lauren Oliver|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327890411s/11614718.jpg|10342808] or [b:Matched|7735333|Matched (Matched, #1)|Ally Condie|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367706191s/7735333.jpg|9631645]) and that it will bring something new to this topic. Shannon Stoker may have tried to convey these messages but they were drowned for me with a multiple of problems.
World building was completely unbelievable. I could not believe that society in USA would degrade this much. This book would be much more believable if it was set in some secluded country with traditional culture. Also, there is no technological advance whatsoever, although it's set 150 years in the future. It is mentioned that government only allows her agents to use new technologies, but only things I noticed high-profile government agents were using helicopters and tablets that can do voice recordings.
Although, The Registry is advertised as new adult, it's so ya even some chapter narrated by 28-year-old villain didn't make it more mature. Characters should be 18 years old, but because they are ignorant of the world most of the time they feel much younger. Especially Mia, who tries to convinces us how she's not all looks and how she is smart. All I could see was a spoiled brat who run away from home just because she found out she's not going to get her way. And she dragged her perfectly content friend along, so she won't be alone. On her travel, Mia uses everyone to advance and leaves them without much regret. And her cause is not very noble, she does not try to change anything, she just tries to save her ass.
There is slow developing love story who seemed like the only good feature for recommending The Registry. That is, until some random handsome dude appeared on 80% and kissed Mia and she decided - why shouldn't she have fun. Seriously, only thing that this book was missing was love triangle to add to the pile of this I do not like.
In The End...
With too many holes in world building and not enough technological advancement to make me believe this is happening in the future, The Registry failed my dystopian test. I never believed for a moment something like this would happen in USA. Add to the mix immature selfish heroine, love triangle romance and it turns out the only original and interesting thing in a book is a main villain with a quirky sense of fashion.
The Registry may appeal to a younger audience who is only now getting into dystopian genre and who are not demanding when world building is in question, but more mature dystopian fans should probably look for something else.
My rating: 2 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I started this book and was immediately sucked in. I told a friend it was "book crack", which is what we call books like Twilight and 50 Shades that are poorly written, but oddly compelling. This was exactly that. For about 120 pages.
Set in a future America where the female population has dwindled enough that daughters are commodities. They are sheltered and groomed, taught domestic skills and personal beauty rituals that rival those of the Floating World of ancient Japan. At the age if 18 they are assessed, appraised and "registered" for sale. Pretty awful, right. Even more so when the main character's newly-married sister escapes her husband, screaming of abuse and begging her parents to save her. Instead of rescuing her they send her back with the instruction to, basically, behave and obey. Oh, and to shut up. She ends up dead a week later.
Think the girls have it bad? Boys have it worse. All men are required to enlist and serve in the armed forces at the age of 18. It is strongly implied that America is at war with pretty much the rest of the world. Also implied, is that many, many young enlistees do not make it back to the states to buy their brides. Because boys can't be sold, they are often turned over to the state to raise in infancy, resulting in unemotional, violent, and just plain messed up men. THESE are the men that get to buy young girls.
The set up was amazing. Loved it. It reminded me of so many other dytopias I have loved. [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185], [b:The Luxe|1254951|The Luxe (Luxe, #1)|Anna Godbersen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323438343s/1254951.jpg|1243729], even some historical fiction like [b:Memoirs of a Geisha|930|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388367666s/930.jpg|1558965], but it very quickly descended into melodrama. There are not one, but two love interests. The "villain" was over the top ridiculous, and stories like these always leave me wondering if one person's freedom is worth so many deaths.
I raced through the first 100 pages or so, but the last half was a bit of a slog. It's the first in a series, but I don't think I will read the rest.
Set in a future America where the female population has dwindled enough that daughters are commodities. They are sheltered and groomed, taught domestic skills and personal beauty rituals that rival those of the Floating World of ancient Japan. At the age if 18 they are assessed, appraised and "registered" for sale. Pretty awful, right. Even more so when the main character's newly-married sister escapes her husband, screaming of abuse and begging her parents to save her. Instead of rescuing her they send her back with the instruction to, basically, behave and obey. Oh, and to shut up. She ends up dead a week later.
Think the girls have it bad? Boys have it worse. All men are required to enlist and serve in the armed forces at the age of 18. It is strongly implied that America is at war with pretty much the rest of the world. Also implied, is that many, many young enlistees do not make it back to the states to buy their brides. Because boys can't be sold, they are often turned over to the state to raise in infancy, resulting in unemotional, violent, and just plain messed up men. THESE are the men that get to buy young girls.
The set up was amazing. Loved it. It reminded me of so many other dytopias I have loved. [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185], [b:The Luxe|1254951|The Luxe (Luxe, #1)|Anna Godbersen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323438343s/1254951.jpg|1243729], even some historical fiction like [b:Memoirs of a Geisha|930|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388367666s/930.jpg|1558965], but it very quickly descended into melodrama. There are not one, but two love interests. The "villain" was over the top ridiculous, and stories like these always leave me wondering if one person's freedom is worth so many deaths.
I raced through the first 100 pages or so, but the last half was a bit of a slog. It's the first in a series, but I don't think I will read the rest.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
1.0
Unfortunate Handmaid's Tale rip-off. With helicopters and bad writing.
katiethepenguin's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
heatherthedoula's review against another edition
4.0
Very quick read. Dystopia genre, had some good suspense and action.
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
I gave it 3.5 stars
Mia had no reservations about taking her place on the registry and marrying the highest bidder. Then her sister showed up one night to tell her what the registry is really about. When the time comes she does everything possible to make the guy that wants her give up and when that doesn't work she runs away.
THE REGISTRY is set in a world where girls are coveted. If you have a boy they are usually sent away because they will not bring their parents riches. Girls are raised for the registry and the better looking they are the higher the price a man will pay for them. It is just the way it is and no girl knows any different. Mia grew up waiting for the day when she could be put on the registry for her husband to find her. Andrew's dream has been to join the military, rise in the ranks and finally bid on a wife when the time came. He grew up in a home with other boys and has traveled working for varies people. It is almost time for him to report for duty so he takes off for some last-minute traveling when a couple of 'boys' drive by and he catches a ride. He finds out right away that the boys are not boys and he is in a lot of trouble if he is caught with them.
This book is crazy, in a good way. Could you imagine being auctioned off like a piece of meat and looking forward to it? Crazy, but that is what America has turned into in Shannon Stoker's world. Mia wants nothing to do with it and although she starts off as a bit bratty and self involved she quickly turns into someone I enjoyed following. The supporting characters could be a bit annoying at times but they all had their revealing qualities. Andrew really turned out to be an excellent person that I wanted to see with Mia. There was many ups and downs with their escape and there were a lot of ups and downs with feelings but it all came together for a great read.
The villains are villainous. The love interests are sexy. The love triangle? I didn't like that so much and could have done without it. Book 2 should be interesting.
Mia had no reservations about taking her place on the registry and marrying the highest bidder. Then her sister showed up one night to tell her what the registry is really about. When the time comes she does everything possible to make the guy that wants her give up and when that doesn't work she runs away.
THE REGISTRY is set in a world where girls are coveted. If you have a boy they are usually sent away because they will not bring their parents riches. Girls are raised for the registry and the better looking they are the higher the price a man will pay for them. It is just the way it is and no girl knows any different. Mia grew up waiting for the day when she could be put on the registry for her husband to find her. Andrew's dream has been to join the military, rise in the ranks and finally bid on a wife when the time came. He grew up in a home with other boys and has traveled working for varies people. It is almost time for him to report for duty so he takes off for some last-minute traveling when a couple of 'boys' drive by and he catches a ride. He finds out right away that the boys are not boys and he is in a lot of trouble if he is caught with them.
This book is crazy, in a good way. Could you imagine being auctioned off like a piece of meat and looking forward to it? Crazy, but that is what America has turned into in Shannon Stoker's world. Mia wants nothing to do with it and although she starts off as a bit bratty and self involved she quickly turns into someone I enjoyed following. The supporting characters could be a bit annoying at times but they all had their revealing qualities. Andrew really turned out to be an excellent person that I wanted to see with Mia. There was many ups and downs with their escape and there were a lot of ups and downs with feelings but it all came together for a great read.
The villains are villainous. The love interests are sexy. The love triangle? I didn't like that so much and could have done without it. Book 2 should be interesting.
treehuggeranonymous's review against another edition
2.0
On the one hand it's kind of refreshing to have a lead character that isn't exceptional (Mia is very pretty but otherwise not particularly clever or observant, and very susceptible), but it turns out that such a character isn't particularly interesting. I think the only reason I was rooting for her success is because the things she was up against were so stereotypically bad that I had no choice. The villain is just archetypical psychopath - the author couldn't have spelt it out more if they'd flashed back to him torturing animals in his youth - and the social norms she's working against are literally described as slavery in the second chapter.
It's kind of an interesting world and I like the way that it is revealed in excerpts at the start of each chapter from the girls guide to the registry. But it's also chocked full of cliches and such two-dimensional uncompelling characters. Not to mention the cringingly obvious set-up for the final chapter.
I'll probably read the next book if I come across it, but I won't be too bothered if I don't.
It's kind of an interesting world and I like the way that it is revealed in excerpts at the start of each chapter from the girls guide to the registry. But it's also chocked full of cliches and such two-dimensional uncompelling characters. Not to mention the cringingly obvious set-up for the final chapter.
I'll probably read the next book if I come across it, but I won't be too bothered if I don't.
randomreader41's review against another edition
4.0
Great intro into this dystopian world. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
tatumebby's review against another edition
1.0
you know its really odd, this is the third time I read it i think. I disliked it the first time but the premise was interesting enough that I decided to reread it and continue on with the series. This was the third time, I remember liking it enough and the premise was still interesting me but this could not have possibly been executed any worse.
1) Mia is dumb and unlikeable
2) Grant is the worst possible villain ever
3) Andrew is a dick to her literally all of the time yet she still likes him
4) RIP Whitney, jk i didnt acre about her either
5) The writing style was horrendous
I don't know, this deserves to stay in my middle school phase, it is not something i recommend picking up at all, you would be better off reading um literally anything else
Next time I decide to do a reread from something from middle school I'll choose like Throne of Glass or The Program
1) Mia is dumb and unlikeable
2) Grant is the worst possible villain ever
3) Andrew is a dick to her literally all of the time yet she still likes him
4) RIP Whitney, jk i didnt acre about her either
5) The writing style was horrendous
I don't know, this deserves to stay in my middle school phase, it is not something i recommend picking up at all, you would be better off reading um literally anything else
Next time I decide to do a reread from something from middle school I'll choose like Throne of Glass or The Program