In the current climate of the country where women are fast losing our rights and our autonomy, this is a hard read. We spend a lot of time in the full misogyny of their world and it’s sufficating. I finished the book to breathe. I’m not interested in following up with the other two books.

After reading The Treatment by Young, I had completely written her off. The premise of this book interested me though, so I gave her another chance. She’s definitely improved, but the book is honestly sort similar. An totalitarian government/business is controlling young minds to be happy and compliant…whatever. If she has a lane, that’s fine.
   This book has good themes. Sisterhood, feminism, agency, all good. They’re not subtly delivered at all, but the setting doesn’t really allow for subtly when the whole concept is a school designed to breed female subservience. The romance plotline was barely present and unnecessary, you could replace Jackson with a house plant and the story would be the same. It also cheapens the message: it’s all about female empowerment but they need outside help from a man?
  Overall this book was a fast read that didn’t require much thought, it was entertaining and I finished it in two sittings. Won’t be picking up the sequels, this could have easily been a stand-alone.
  Overall, an okay book. Enjoyable, nothing revolutionary. The Handmaids Tale, but make it teen thriller! Read it if you want to, you’ll probably like it. But if you want nuance and feminism  in a similar world, just pick up Margaret Atwood.