Rebecca Hanover

Ms. Hanover’s debut novel about clones is, simply put, fantastic. The Similars is everything I love about reading. The story is engaging; I could not stop reading it everything I predicted ending up not coming true. The characters may be archetypes, but I still felt a full range of emotions over Emma’s struggles. I loved the friction caused by the clones, and I appreciate that the students did not wholeheartedly accept them. It is an element of the story that feels accurate, especially show more given the ethics surrounding cloning that scientists continue to debate. Nothing about the story felt contrived or as if it was checking the boxes. The Similars is fresh and exciting with an ending that will blow your mind. I can’t wait for the sequel! show less

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher/author for an advanced copy in exchange for review.
My reaction when reaching the last page? What the actual FUCK?!? I then ran to be sure there would, indeed, be future books. I need to know what happens to the Similars... all of them.

*TRIGGER WARNING* Suicide: the book starts with the line "I don't actively want to die. Not all the time." And the first few pages focus on suicide, but it's not graphic or throughout the book.

Emma is a smart, talented, show more kind girl who has had a rough summer. She is not a super special snowflake (which is refreshing). She goes to school with a lot of other smart, talented kids. This year, six new students are attending. They are pretty special. They are clones, who prefer to be called Similars. One has the face of her best friend, who died over the summer. Then, things really get interesting.

This book was... so freaking awesome! It took me some time to get through it, but it was not the fault of the book. Holidays and some personal issues kept me from being able to properly concentrate on it. I finally made myself sit and finish it, and I'm so glad I did. I went in expecting a Science Fiction novel and what I got was a mystery with SciFi elements. It's full of twists that had me second guessing everything I thought I knew from previous chapters. I had sneaking suspicions for some things that turned out to be true (at least partially) and others I was dead wrong about.

The characters are interesting. The MC is not annoying, or stupid, or selfish (ok, a little selfish, but so is every other 16 year old). I wish we could have gotten to know all the Similars as well as we get to know Levi, Maude, and Pippa, but the ones we really get to know are well written and you kind of feel for them. There are quite a few political points in the book that can easily be related to most civil rights movements currently, or in recent history. The politics are important, but not the main focus. Over all, it was a book I didn't know I needed. I honestly cannot wait for the rest of the series. show less

I have not read any YA fiction in a while, but description of THE SIMILARS caught my eye. I think this will do very well with teens, as it has a similar feel as some other popular YA books that I have read in the past.

This is a near-future story, with self-driving cars and wearable personal assistants (with personalities!) that distinguish it from the present-day world. The story centers around a boarding school where 6 clones are in attendance. Cloning is not legal in this society, but show more somehow 6 were made before the research and experiments were abandoned for ethical reasons. When they reached a certain age, the clones, who had grown up in obscurity on a British island, were presented to the families of the original children from whom the clones were made. It was decided that the clones would attend the the same school with their originals, but there is a gag order on letting the world know about them.

Oliver, one of the originals, commits suicide the summer before the school semester begins, and his best friend, Emmaline, has a difficult time, understandably, seeing Levi, the clone of Oliver, when she starts back to school. But there is more going on than meets the eye with these clones, and their original counterparts. There is some stereotypical mean-girl drama, and some standard relationship melodrama as the story progresses, but for a debut novel, I was impressed with the creativity, the writing, and the characters. I immediately told our teen librarian to be sure to order copies for her collection. I was given access to an early digital galley from the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, which is always appreciated. show less

*I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I really enjoyed this read. I thought it was the prefect mix between realistic science fiction and thriller. I also thought this book handle topics like clones and prejudice and it was a super compelling read. I also was invested in the various mysteries that were presented in this novel. I found this to be a super fast pace read overall. I did like the focus on friendship and mysteries. I also thought the end of the book show more was fast pace adventure and really enjoyed it. I also liked the focused on the science in the novel.

I thought this book also handled grief and the the ending twists were super shocking and def. need to read book 2. show less