Book Review: Awaken

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.
 
 
**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 2/5 stars


There was something that irked me about this book and I don't know if I've really figured out what it is just yet. These are my thoughts so far, though:


DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.










IT'S NOT TOO LATE...








TURN BACK NOW (or not)...







**SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS**


Maybe it's the way Maddie is constantly talking about how much she loves Justin, but Justin is like, I'M SORRY—WE JUST CAN'T BE TOGETHER, then glares at her menacingly from dark eyes. Oooh, scary! Apparently, to her, that makes him even sexier.

To me, I’d take the hint that the dude wants to be left the fuck alone.

Even during the ending he tells her they can’t be together. I mean, he basically used Maddie since she's the daughter of the guy who created the Digital School, and Justin is part of the Rowdy Rebels Club, or whatever they want to label themselves, who stir the pot when it comes to protesting digital technologies. They believe in nature and earth and everything that is real, not projected onto screens or pre-cooked, or fabricated into fake trees and grass. Basically, they’re hippies in the year 2060.

I just don’t get it. I think I would’ve been okay had Justin told Maddie he wanted to stay in touch with her, not pull a PEACE OUT, BI***, and burn rubber.

And the ending? I don’t get the seagull simile AT ALL. Why does that mean everything’s going to be better? That’s like me looking at an empty bag of Doritos in the street and saying, OMFG MY DAY IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT NOW.