While the basic plot was nothing new or innovative, I liked the characters that were associated with it, and how they were formed. However, this was a very cute standalone that I enjoyed reading. The relationship between John and Julia seemed natural, and I liked how it started and then progressed. It didn't fall into the "first they hated each other now they love each other" trope, and I appreciated that. I wanted to see more of Liv honestly. I feel like her character could have been explored and fleshed out more, just to make it more convincing that she and Julia seemed to love each other like sisters. Until the end, it seems like they almost resent each other.

An unusual book. The relationship between Julia and John felt like a kind of experiment. There was no real sense of passion between them, even in the scenes where they are intimate. Julia's skill allows us to see John's thoughts, but it's a limited focus.
From the information given I was hoping we'd get more of an insight into the group and their skills. Julia's mother is an interesting character and I wonder whether we'll see more of her.

This was a typical YA love story, and no I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that I enjoy reading that sort of book. (I'll try not to include any spoilers!!)

Julia's relationship with her dad annoyed me. I instantly didn't like Novak, I thought Julia was too gullible believing him as it seemed really obvious that he had ulterior motives, I was suspicious of him pretty much all the way through the book, so I was glad when she finally started to question his actions. Whereas, Victoria, her step mum I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, guess I just wanted to see the good in her and I was hoping she wasn't as bad as she seemed.
I thought Angus and the lost boys were awesome I loved how reckless n carefree they seemed to be, I'd definitely want to be in their group!!! I was glad when Angus made a stand against Novak, I think that ultimately helped Julia make her choice at the end too.
Personally, the beginning seemed a little too slow for me, I think it really got going about 1/3 way through, after that I was gripped, I liked how Julia seemed to grow as a person from then onwards and her relationship with John improved (John deserves a lot of credit for what his character went through during the book)
I loved the ending it was just brilliant!!! Marit Weisenberg must have known that it would make me want more, I'm so impatient and can't wait for the sequel, however, I do want Liv to start making her own choices instead of just going along with what her parents expect her to do. Overall I think this was a brilliant debut novel and one I will definitely be recommending to my friends.

Weisenberg, Marit Select, 352 pages. Charlesbridge, 2017. $18. Langauge: R (100+ swears, 23 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex, body words); Violence: PG-13 (some blood).

Julia Jaynes has the perfect life and the perfect family – even though she is the odd one out. She and some of the other teens have been put to the side, however, supposedly to stop the questions from the community in which they live. After her beautiful insider sister causes a huge scene at the local pool, however, Julia is blamed and is ostracized even more – forced to go to the local high school. There she struggles to keep her secrets from everyone around her, even her own family, as she is attracted to normal. Julia goes back and forth between loyalty to family and her strong feelings for John – confusing both of them repeatedly – until the day when she finally has to make a choice that will last forever.

Weisenberg set up a yo-yo case of cold feet and confusion. Julia’s constant flip-flopping on every issue became frustrating. I can’t see a boy of any age putting up with her dizzying machinations. The supposed magic powers of the group didn’t seem interesting or important enough to warrant the urgent secrecy of the family group, either. The cover will probably draw fans of Matched and Divergent, but I would wait until it is available in paperback.

HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Why am I always so confused by peoples reviews? I enjoyed this book so much. It's not your normal YA book which I really like because sometimes you read enough of the same genre and you get burnt out but this was a little sci fi mixed in and it was just what I needed

4.5 stars. I really loved this story. Despite Juliet having 'abilities' she was a very relatable and likeable character.
I love the instant connection she had with John (and no, it was definitely not insta-love), and the growth and development of their friendship.
I was gripped with the story from the start, and with that ending, I'm hanging for the second book!

I was intrigued by this book when i read the description and requested it, but it just lost me to the point that I did not finish this book. I have read some fantastice books thanks to Net Galley but for me this just didn't cut it. I could never really connect with the characters and they did not make sense to me

Select is destined to be the next but much better “Twilight”. There are no vampires just humans of a different race who are highly evolved with spectacular talents.
Julia’s is no ordinary girl nor are her family and friends. Julia’s is however lead to believe that she is less than the others within her group. Her father is the “leader” and when she is caught showing off her talents she is punished. Her punishment is to be taken out of her comfort zone and to attend public school but she mustn’t showcase her talents or draw any attention to herself.
Julia’s runs into John at her public school – John whom she had interacted with before and who is suspicious of her and her friends. John and Julia are drawn to one another and despite not being allowed to date outside her circle she finds herself falling for him and him for her.
This book with a lovely cover is full of interesting characters. It starts off a bit slow and you might find yourself confused initially but then … it starts to unravel and everything makes sense. I love the take on a super evolved human race who are still quite “normal”. This is a refreshing and fun new YA novel that will leave you anxious for book 2.

4.5/5

An eARC of this book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the synopsis I knew I had to at least try this book. I got it sometime after I requested it, but I took a while to start reading it. The reason being that I lost interest after reading the synopsis again. So I began the book not really wanting to.

Up to the 12th chapter my opinion changed at least three times. Began with an "I don't really care" went to a "this is annoyingly amusing and interesting" and at the end of the 11th chapter it was a " I want more. Is there going to be a second book ?God this is really a good book". By the way, chapter 12 is about 36% of the book. And yes, I began my review without finishing it.

This is a really interesting story, seeing as it is about a civilization that was hunted down and managed to survive. Almost feels like a story about supernatural beings that are hiding in plain sight. It is amazing how the story was told, I couldn't really understand what they were, but I knew it was going to be an unexpected thing.

Did I know that I would end up reading this book and be wishing for a sequel not even in the middle of the story? Nope. Do I regret reading this book? No. I'm just not amused by how the main character Julia is someone so self-conscious and a person that demeans themselves. And if you read the book and is not completely mad and irritated by Novak, you are an insensitive and crazy-stupid person.

One thing that I really liked other then their "powers" and the way the story was told was the ending. Some things about the end really pissed me off, but the last couple of paragraphs were the best way to end a book and make people hope for a sequel.

It wouldn't be a good story if the book didn't have their own personality, so the way the book made me feel was a really good thing. But really, Novak was a piece of shit, scary MotherF. I recommend this book, and hope you like it as much as I did. There was nothing wrong with the way the story was told, the writing, or the plot. I just wasn't amused by some characteristics of the characters, therefore the -0.5.

Of course, like any good story, there were some cliché situations, and the romance was a good thing, it was cute and well thought, nothing sweet and mellow. I am sure that if this book becomes really famous, or simply there are the ones that really liked it, there will be two teams in this love story, and conflicting opinions on this book.

actually really liked this book, it surprised me. I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. It was very dramatic, there was always something that was happening, which is probably why it kept my attention

This book held my interest but seemed a lot like a reverse Twilight - normal human discovers the super-humans' secrets and so on. Quick and fun enough read, but no healthy relationships and a main character who is content to hide who she is for the first 98% of the book.

I will start by saying that the beginning of the book had me confused and I had no idea what was going on for a while but once I figured it out I really got into the story and didn't want to stop reading. It got really interesting right away tho so it didn't lack action, it just confused me for a bit.
I loved some of the characters but Angus and Liv were definitely not my fave. John was definitely my favorite! Julia grew on me, I didn't like her very much for a while but then I understood why she did the things she did and behaved the way she did. I liked the story even though it kinda makes you think of a cult where there is a leader and the followers, these "tribe" definitely behaved like they were a cult most of the time. I definitely loved that the kids could do the things they did and was mad at her dad for the things he did. No spoilers at all from me, you will need to read this awesome book in order to find out what I am talking about.
Will definitely read the next book, I need more of this awesome story!
This is a book I will recommend to friends.

I did quite this. It didn't really break new ground for me in YA sci-fi and in a way this book is at a disadvantage because many of its themes are similar to S J Kincaid's The Diabolic which I read first and found to be the superior book.
It didn't feel like much happened and I wasn't that invested in the characters. That said the prose was an end in itself and it definitely had that page turning quality. I'd recommend it to those looking for YA sci fi.

I adore the cover and the synopsis really drew me in, but I read this book with a dawning sense of horror.
The premise is simple. We have a highly evolved species - not human (?) - who have been persecuted in the past. They have special powers and live among humans but intend at some point to create their own paradise away from humanity's polluting ways. The heroine, Julia, is a member of this race and John, our hero, is a paltry human, but one who doesn't smell bad (?!?).
The 'king' has separated the teens of the (dying because no children are being born) race into two groups, one of which is favoured and 'taught' the special powers.

There were so many threads in this story, each lightly glanced upon but never really leading anywhere: pollution, global warming, making money from other's misery, separting the teens, family... I could go on.

So, the premise is sound, if told in a very confusing way. The horror factor? It all reminds me of Hitler's Arian theory. The 'Puras' - yes, that's what they are called - are white, blond-haired, blue-eyed and superior in intellect. They even went to a special school. And those who weren't of their race smelt bad to them.
I doubt the author intended to go down that route, but once the comparison was made in my head I couldn't dislodge it and it ruined the story for me.

The romance - it was up and down. Julia (who dyes her hair black - uh, why? Not really explained well) is used to make a point to the other kids and sent to regular school where she has to dumb down her superior intellect to fit in. She liked him, didn't want to like him, got jealous, flirted, went cold, hugged him, ran away, was cold, was hot, then cold, then hot...

The author took 'show not tell' into areas that left me floundering, trying to work out what the heck was supposed to be happening. I'm hoping the editor will sort this out... and the racist tones.

<strong>WrensReads Review:</strong>

<img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/2rclwu0.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>

I was just so bored. The characters don't really have enough dimension for my liking, the character has random burst of emotions that don't really flow, and the ending really didn't make a full circle.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1961907344" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.twitter.com/wrensreads" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wrensreads/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>

I made a wish and it was granted, in more way than one! This book had me hooked from the start, even though I did begin slightly confused and wondering if I had missed something. However, upon further reading everything all began to make sense. I was pulled into this world where people who were more than just human existed. And I loved every moment of it.

There was the super human abilities, the romance, the teenage problems that we all know too well, and two very different sisters. I really couldn't stop reading it once I had started, I sure hope that there are more great things to come! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

select (Marit Weisenberg)

Title: select

Author: Marit Weisenberg

Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen

Publication Date: October 3, 2017 (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 9781580898065

Source: NetGalley

This was a book I stumbled across that had a fascinating premise and I was excited to have me wish granted. A group of biologically different humans lives in Austin, TX. Julia, is one of these "select" people but has always had trouble fitting in. Forced to keep a low profile and told to hide her gifts, she makes a mistake and finds herself forced to go to ::gasp:: a public high school with "normal" humans. What will she do?

Apparently she will have insta-lust and waffle a lot. Now this was a fast read and only took a couple of hours. I did finish it, which was good. But seriously for a group of special people trying to hide their gifts, they seem to go out of their way to flaunt themselves. The leader (Julia's dad) is a billionaire investor. The whole group lives in mansions, wears designer clothes, and drives expensive cars. I have known teens who drive BMWs and such. They do NOT blend.

The other kids in the "select" group are daredevils and troublemakers and yet none of them have ever been caught or truly punished. Mommy and Daddy just get the lawyers to bail them out. So the premise that Julia blows their cover and has to be punished seemed unbelievable. And Julia being forced to go to public school for punishment did not lead to anything other than fodder for the insta-love relationship. Julia skates through school with no real consequences for anything really. Though she learns to control her powers by using them in stupid ways. Bland.

The relationship itself was kinda creepy and self-serving, especially in the beginning. Julia and John have instant chemistry but her method of learning about him is to read his mind without permission and then use that knowledge to encourage him. Just because she is bored. I would rather they had a better relationship than one built on lies and some flashes of exposed leg. Oh add in some non-appealing pseudo love triangle junk and shake not stir.

Even the powers of Julia and the "select" left something to be desired. Instead of rooting for them, all of the people in her family group felt like a cult. The powers, like telekinesis or enhanced stamina, were barely used at all and when they were, it felt more like whiny magic people throwing temper tantrums. If that is what it meant to be one of the "select" then I will gladly pass.

I would have loved for this to have been a deeper look into different branches of human evolution living alongside each other. I would have loved the "select" to have used their intelligence and powers for something other than money and solitude. I would have loved for all of the characters to have more depth. I would have loved for Julia's golden cage to have actually been appealing so that she had a better reason for her inner conflict.

Overall the premise did not live up to its promise. Sigh.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Charlesbridge Teen!

Side note: Some mateys disagree with me. Check out this review by the leisure diaries!

The publisher's website has this to say about the novel:

“It had always been a fact of life that we were biologically different—better—and that it had to be kept secret.”

Seventeen-year-old Julia Jaynes has the perfect life. She’s beautiful, freakishly athletic, and extremely smart. That’s because she comes from a race of highly-evolved humans living in the heart of Austin, Texas.

In order to protect their anonymity and preserve their elite society, Julia’s powerful father forces her to suppress her abilities. When she accidentally demonstrates her super human prowess in public, she’s banished to the one place meant to make her feel inferior: public high school. Thrust into the confusion and humiliation of a normal high school, Julia is just trying to keep her head down when John Ford strolls into her life. An outsider and tennis jock, John is immediately attractive to Julia as a curiosity. She can even read his mind. But as Julia's newfound powers over John grow, so do her feelings.

When she discovers her father has been hiding dangerous secrets, for the first time in her life, Julia begins to question her restrictive upbringing. Caught between the prejudices of her manipulative father and the allure of an outsider’s life, Julia must decide how she will define herself—and who she will betray.

To visit the author’s Facebook page go to:

Marit Weisenberg - Author

To buy the novel please visit:

select - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

I really enjoyed this book. I love Julia and johns story and cant wait to read more ...please give me more!!!

Select by Marit Wiesenberg
Select… it’s been a few days now, and I am still struggling with all the words for this story. Out of all the beautiful poetical words I got nothing but one word. Seriously the one word that describes my experience is WEIRD! This book is weird, and I do like me some weird… but this is so … weird. In a strongly good way. I know weird right.

I don’t even know how to explain this book, like I really enjoyed it because I read it all in one day. Select has that twilight feel, kind of maybe a love triangle but not really. Well kind of im unsure to be honest I was just going with the flow. Kind of like this review to everyone it’s just going to look weird, but to me till make perfect sense, and I think for everyone to understand this story and to understand the weirdness of this review and the story again you should buy yourself a copy!

I like LOVE the cover, and when it comes available I wants, nope I needs it on my book shelf!

Julia has special abilities, her whole family really does well her whole group…cult…peoples did. Honestly her dads a douche her stepmom is a b*tch and her sister is no better, her dad runs the show and something bad happens and they single out Julie more than they already have and send her to like the other side, like where the normal people go to school I guess but they don’t know that there are special gifted humans like Julie out there, apart from the hot dude John!

John is awesome, I really like his character. I like all the characters apart from the mean humans. Julie and John are meant to be,but they cannot be together but that doesn't last and if Julies cult people find out that they are together it will just be bad for everyone involved.
I can see this review is already long and so very weird, gah! I do try I promise that if you pick it up you should like it if you enjoy the twilight or like anything Young adulty. I found the writing had this great flow and kept me interested and invested in everything that was happening.

So many twist and turns and OMG moments, it was a pacing back and forwards type of setting, wondering holy cow batman is this happening! I think this book is mainly about the choices you must make for yourself and how they could impact on others and how you accept who you are, and deciding is what you want for yourself is the right choice like if you were at a crossroad would you go left or right…

Marit has written a very good book that will I think attract a lot of readers, I am looking forward to more, but I hope she doesn’t ruin what has already happened with Julie and John!
I found it to be believable, and what I thought I wouldn’t enjoy there was no insta love and I love me some insta fluff there was none of that. Select read at a good pace and I loved the plot of it all.
Solid 4 out of 5 stars