Review of Antisocial by Jillian Blake
This Review of Antisocial by Jillian Blake will give you the scoop on this book on my list of 2010s YA books like Pretty Little Liars.
Antisocial by Jillian Blake
To be published on May 16, 2017 by Delacorte
I received an eARC for review from publisher. I read this book in 2017.
Why is Antisocial on my list of Books Like Pretty Little Liars
- Prep school setting
- Mystery student hacked others’ phones
- Anonymous leaks of personal messages and photos
- Dark secrets are exposed and lives are shattered!!! lol
Review of Antisocial by Jillian Blake
This is a book about students at a tony private high school being terrorized by a teenage hacktivist who has infiltrated their phones and is spilling all their darkest secrets. (Hello, Pretty Little Liars!)
The book’s protagonist, Anna, also suffers from social anxiety. I thought it was interesting that the story was told through that lens — from the point of view of someone to whom social interaction in general and social media in particular feels fraught with peril. The depiction of social anxiety in the story felt a bit uneven. Yes, Anna was seeing a therapist and taking medication, but at times her anxiety felt more like a convenient plot device meant to up the stakes.
I also felt that at times the book relied on stale stereotypes of high school life. The way Anna describes all the groups in her school feels ripped from Clueless circa 1995: jocks, cheerleaders, drama kids, student council, techies, etc. There’s also an inherent pitfall in using texting slang — or any kind of slang — which is that even before the book is published, the words feel out of date.
As the story opens, Anna has crossed social lines by dating a popular basketball player. The two have already broken up, but she’s not completely over him. Then she secretly hooks up with a friend of hers, an event that gave the book a slightly triangle-y feel. Yes, she and the new guy have a lot in common, but she also worries that he’s a rebound fling.
When the book finally got going, it got much more interesting. As mentioned above, someone starts hacking the students’ phones and spilling their darkest secrets. This causes Anna’s social anxiety to ratchet up at a time when her romantic life is complicated. She has two best friends and the hacking also puts a huge strain on their relationship.
In the end, this was a fun page-turner — give it a try if you are looking for books like Pretty Little Liars!
You have kids so do you think the same HS stereotypes still exist? When I'm out driving in the morning I see all the kids at the bus stop split up into their little groups.
Of course, most are off with earbuds using their phone not talking to anyone. This would have been me if I had a cellphone back then lol
For What It's Worth
I think the groups are more fluid. Or the kids like to think they are!
I think today's high school kids are more fluid. Maybe not 100% fluid, but more fluid then they were when I went to school in the late 90's. While there still is separation (not everyone is going to like everyone) it's not as "groupy" as I remember it being.
Also, I'm pretty sure that 10 years everyone, everywhere will have one ear bud in because that's all I see at school. No idea how they will function in the real world without their music!
Great review Jen! 🙂
You're a teacher so glad you agree with my anthropological assesment!
PLL has never really been my thing so I don't know if this book would be up my alley. :/
I didn't read the books but watched the show. Enjoyed the first few seasons then thought it got dragged out WAY too much!
This sounds like a lot of fun but I can see it really harping on stereotypes. Have you read One of Us is Lying? I'm listening to it now and it sounds pretty similar.
This sounds fun if a little stereotypical, but stories like this when secrets are revealed are always interesting. I might want to read this one actually.
This sounds really fun. Plus, I'm a fan of PLL (guilty pleasure!) so I think I'd enjoy it. Great review!
Megan @ http://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/
It sounds like a fun kind of read, but a bit too overdramatic and stereotypical for me, personally. I am glad you could enjoy this one for the most part though!
Ha, definitely sounds like PLL – and Gossip Girl! But I think I would find the stereotypes annoying, am pretty selective about my YA contemps these days. Glad you enjoyed though!