Book Title: Everything About YouI got my copy signed at the London MCM ComicCon, and Heather Child was so lovely, I will buy all of her future books simply because of that interaction!
Author: Heather Child
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Source: I own a copy
What did I think?Plot: Freya has a new virtual assistant. It knows what she likes, knows what she wants and knows whose voice she most needs to hear: her missing sister’s.
It adopts her sister’s personality, recreating her through a life lived online. But this virtual version of her knows things it shouldn’t be possible to know.
It’s almost as if the missing girl is still out there somewhere, feeding fresh updates into the cloud. But that’s impossible. Isn’t it?
3.5 Stars.
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the premise. A virtual assistant taking on the personality and speaking with the voice of a dead relative. How chilling, and very Black Mirror. I can understand the appeal. You get to talk to that person as if they were still alive. Totally something I'd see myself do, and then suffer.
The problem with Everything About You is that the mystery is mediocre. The sci-fi premise is brilliant, and those aspects of the book are the ones I enjoyed the most. But the mystery? Predictable, sadly.
The book is written in third person, and there's something about the prose I really enjoyed. The characters are all well developed and the world building is thrilling and chilling at the same time. The author takes time to develop and explore the relationship between the two sisters and the hope Freya feels every time she thinks she's getting closer.
This is a great debut and I can't wait to see what Child's next book will be about.
I recommend this to all Black Mirror fans, and readers who like near future books that focus on exploring the benefits and dangers of technology.
The premise of this sounds so good, and in an age where our technology is getting "smarter" every day, pretty timely. Too bad the mystery wasn't so great, though!
ReplyDeleteI think the book is still worth it, though!
DeleteDo you think from the writing standpoint, if the author build the suspense better, it would help with the mystery problem? Great reveiw by the way!
ReplyDeleteI don't actually think the mystery should have been all that important to the story...the suspense is nicely built actually, I just felt let down by the reveal at the end.
DeleteOkay, the premise is super original and crazy intriguing. I mean, the virtual assistant taking on the missing sister’s personality? Whoa. Too bad the mystery aspect didn’t really deliver but it still sounds like a truly interesting read.
ReplyDeleteTanya @ Girl Plus Books
Http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
I like the sound of this one! Do you think the strengths of the story overcome the mystery-lacking aspect?
ReplyDelete