A review by emequalsme
Poster Girl by Veronica Roth

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Enjoyable, quick read. At times this book can be a bit derivative. There are not a lot of new ideas here, and most of the characters we’ve seen before: the independent, stubborn young woman surviving in solitude by growing vegetables and fixing old radios; the father figure-esque neighbor who has become her constant companion in their dystopian open air prison of old project apartment buildings; the young man who was once a childhood friend that betrayed her and she now hates/has sexual tension with; the sexy, unpleasant, mysterious underground tech woman Sonya is forced to team up with despite their open hostility towards each other, etc. 

The tech described in the story isn’t very far fetched, especially now that AI is becoming more mainstream. The main character, Sonya, goes through some development that is engaging and interesting enough. The “twist” about 3/4 of the way through isn’t mind blowing or earth shattering, but, still, a clever enough revelation that speaks to how our perception of our parents and upbringing as children changes as we develop a more worldly understanding in young adulthood. I would say the weakest aspect of the book is the ending — it feels super rushed, somewhat anti-climactic. There’s a weird subplot about a guerrilla group, the “Analog Army,” that is a thread through most of the first half or so, and the author attempts a sort of half tie-in to the twist at the end of the book that fizzles out and falls flat. 

BUT, still a good book. Not intellectual but a fun way to spend your time when you want an easy escape into what could easily be the aftermath of the near-future. 
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