This book was such a fun ride! There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. I fell in love with all of these characters and I really can't wait to see where this series goes, especially after that ending! Once again Jay Kristoff turns science fiction into poetry. There are so many lines in this book that were brutal yet beautiful.

I am a huge fan of Jay Kristoff's writing through the co-written series: the Illuminae Files, but I had never read a book that he had written by himself - until now. Lifelike is a young adult science fiction story that immediately gave me Anastasia vibes. If you're not familiar with that story, you might not recognize the signs immediately but by about halfway through the book the author spells it out pretty plainly for you that this is a fun, space opera retelling of Anastasia.

The characters in this book were so unique and even the supporting characters felt developed, perhaps more so than our two 'leads'. This post-apocalyptic world feels familiar, but has the unique touches and details that Kristoff brings to his books that makes them immersive. Eve was born in a world where meat comes from cans and spending too much time outside without protective gear would be guaranteed to give you cancer. While I enjoyed her character, I felt that her plot was predictable as I picked up on the fact that it was an Anastasia retelling almost immediately so there wasn't a lot that came as a surprise to me. That being said, I still enjoyed the story even though it was predictable.

My two favourite characters in this book were the supporting characters, Lemon Fresh and Cricket. Cricket is the sassiest, most royal little robot - but don't let him catch you calling him little. You'll have a brawl on your hands. Lemon was also incredibly loyal, quite confident about herself and brought levity to most situations. I felt that I got to know her as a character more than our love interest, Ezekiel. I loved Ezekiel, but when actually thinking about his characterization I understand that he could have been more developed than he was. That being said, I loved getting to dive into his motivations and familial relationships.

Kristoff did a fantastic job in setting up two very varied points of view that make the reader question what side they're on. Early on in the story, we learn that humans have been creating robots for years. Each is coded to follow the three laws, which are basically that they cannot harm and must protect humans, they must obey humans unless it would cause them harm, and must protect their own existence unless that would threaten a human.

In the realm of robots, there is a hierarchy of types and Lifelikes were at the top. They were created to be the next evolution of humanity, coded with the ability to learn and grow, stronger than a human and designed to be indistinguishable from their living counterparts. We are faced with the question of what makes something a living creature? What is a soul? The robots are subjugated and treated like slaves, but the humans think it's okay because they aren't actually alive. But Lifelikes can learn and love, so what separates them from humanity? You cannot firmly place yourself on the side of the robots or the humans in this eye-opening novel - whose message is just as important in today's world as it is in the context of this story.

Despite the predictability, I had such a fun time reading this book and cannot wait to see where Kristoff takes the story next. I would highly recommend this series to fans of science fiction or retellings, as it hits the right notes for both genres.

I'm not the biggest sci-fi reader but loved the idea of this so gave it a try. I loved the humor and the story world was interesting but didn't I connect with the characters as much as I would have liked.

I can see why there are so many mixed reviews. Some people loved it, some people even disliked it. I sit right in the middle with this book. I can definitely see where people enjoyed the book and I can see the problems people had.

I would like to start off with this comparison that the book had. Romeo and Juliet, Mad-Max, X-Men and Blade Runner. I personally never saw much of these comparisons at all. There may have been bits and pieces, but it wasn’t big enough to give these comparisons. There were definitely other things that the book could have been compared to is all I’m saying. You might just want to keep an open mind on the comparisons.

Other than the Illuminae series, I never read any of the other books written by Jay Kristoff. I recently got some interest in reading his Nevernight Chronicles series and I wanted to see his own writing style when given the chance. Now that I finally got a chance to see his writing style in Lifel1k3, I have to say that although it was interesting, I certainly hope it was better in the Nevernight Chronicles. He still packed an interesting story nevertheless.

Lemon was a favorite character of mine. She was extremely funny throughout the story and definitely added a layer into the story. Lemon seemed to be an important character, but her development goes at a slow rate but it is definitely worth reading. There is just something about Lemon that tells me if she was not in the story, I would probably not even like the story at all.

I was ready to give up the book and call it a day near the ending. Somehow, it was like Kristoff knew this was happening because the ending was amazing. It suddenly grabbed my attention and told me that I would want to read the next book in the series to see the sudden development I just witnessed.

I am not sure how to explain whether or not this book is for someone. If you are someone who is a big fan of Kristoff and like stories with robots that have powers (and that looks like humans), then this is definitely the story for you. This could be an excellent summer read, but probably keep an open mind and expect some few mixed reactions.

Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of LikeL1K3. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Eve will do whatever it takes to get medicine for her grandpa, including brawling via the robot gladiator that she has spent months rehabilitating. Too bad the bout in the WarDome does not go as Eve expects...

When Eve and her best friend Lemon come upon a crash site, with an android named Ezekiel at the helm, the life that Eve knows gets blown apart.

Reading this novel reminded me of science fiction movies and novels of the past, but not in a good way. Although the book flowed well and had complete characters, the author pushed the idea of an alternative life too far. Perhaps the modern society was taught the past through oral tradition, which would explain the misspellings of many otherwise recognizable names of places, but it was actually a turn off in my opinion. I would have rather the society be in a completely different place entirely, with a more original story line. For readers who are not as familiar with science fiction, I would recommend this novel, but it was not the book for me.

4.5 Stars
The introduction is gripping and starts out with an amazing hook! I loved the action, writing, and characters! There were so many unexpected moments in this book...I needed more science fiction from Kristoff after The Illuminae Files ended.

I'm not a big sci-fi fan but the world and the depth of characters Kristoff creates is amazing in the epic post-apocalyptic adventure. I really like a strong lead like Eve, she was hardcore. And Cricket. OMG. I loved Cricket.

Jay Kristoff is officially in my top 3 authors of all time. I will read anything and everything that he writes without question! I honestly don't even know how to begin reviewing Lifel1k3. There is so much awesomeness going on in this book, after I finally got a copy from the publisher I could hardly put it down. The writing is fantastic, the characters are all amazing, and the plot takes you on a whirlwind ride from start to finish!

The Characters
Lemon Fresh is my new favorite character! The level of sass and sarcasm is through the roof, yet somehow contained in a tiny girl with cherry red hair. Eve, Lemon, Cricket, Kaiser, and Zeke are such a fun band of misfits to follow on the whirlwind misadventure that is this story. I could rave on about all the characters forever, but I'll just stop here with saying how much I loved them all!

The World
I don't know how Jay comes up with such fantastic worlds, but without fail I'm blown away by the vibrant settings of his stories. This year, I've finally come to admit that sci-fi is my favorite genre, beating out fantasy by a pretty big margin. The story starts out in a robot gladiator-style battle to the death. From there, we follow Eve through the junkyard and on to her adventures. I loved all of the settings and descriptions. The Leviathan, which gave me similar vibes to the god city in Emma Newman's Planetfall, was one of my favorites, and the Glass was awesome too. Just read it! The world alone is completely engrossing and will sweep you away!

The Plot
As always, the story in Lifel1k3 is so full, overflowing with plot and side plots, Easter eggs, and tidbits that you just know are going to be important in future books. From start to finish, it's a wild ride that doesn't stop moving. Eve and her crew hardly get a moment to breathe as they race to the end, as pretty much everything that could possibly go wrong does. And holy plot twists. There were so many twists scattered throughout and I did not see most of them coming, at least not until just a few pages before. I'm so worried for all the characters and really, really need the next book asap!

Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to get the next one in the series. I need to know what is going to happen. That ending was just cruel. If you're looking for a good sci-fi that will keep you enthralled from start to finish, definitely pick up this book. You need it in your life!

LifeL1k3 is an engaging novel full of incredible writing, violence, action, romance, and strong world-building. Told in third person, and sometimes in alternate views, readers are taken to a new world full of possibilities that perhaps one day may actually come true. With how technology keeps advancing, it isn't far-fetched to think that one days humans will live among robots as this author wrote; made to be better than us but forced to be our servants, until they realize their potential and attempt to take humanity over...

Mixed with the perfect amount of slang and poetic prose, I was easily immersed in the story of humans battling robots for money, a special line of robots breaking the rules and harming humans, a girl who fights in those battles to save her sick grandpa. Almost every chapter, if not all, has a scene with action and violence, a fight that keeps readers on the edge of their seat for the outcome, the winner. The thrill sets your heart thumping and your breath stalling, because the author expertly weaves these scenes to create an image in your mind like a movie; your eyes following every move with bated breath as if you are there in the crowd, roaring for the victor. These scenes were definitely my favorites when reading! Not to say that the rest of the book was bad, because in fact I adore this book and the brilliantly written world the author sets us in, however action/violence has and always will, be my true love in all books.

As for the characters, they were good. I love how natural their slang comes off in the writing, their style and choice of words. It was easy to follow and honestly, it kept me entertained with every new word or sentence that is so different but also similar to how we speak now. I will admit however, that I found Lemon and Eve to be similar. At times, I would question which one was speaking. Maybe it's because they are best friends and obviously think alike, maybe it's just that one of them was imitating the other to fit in? I'm not really sure; it was easy enough to overlook however, since it didn't happen constantly.

Eve is our MC and the one who fight in robot battles to earn money. She fixed up her own bot with the skills she learned from her grandpa, and she is very passionate about her work. I loved how much pride she took in her creations, and how tough she seemed. She didn't sit and cry about life. She stood up and found herself some options, and then did her best to do one of them. She was constantly thrown for a loop and stomped on, but she always got back up and fought harder the next time. After the ending we got, I definitely need to know what the heck happens to her in the next book!

Lemon is Eve's best friend, the one who is always by her side when trouble finds her, and when she falls and gets back up. Lemon is tough, but soft. She grew up in Dregs and has been on her own for most of her life, having to fend for herself; until she met Eve. Even though her life has been incredibly tough, she still trusts and loves and supports those she is attached to. She shows us multiple times in the novel just how far she is willing to go for her best friend, and just how hard she will fight for those she loves. She is honestly one of my all time favorite characters.

I just want to quickly mention Kaiser and Cricket, the two robots that were made to protect Eve. They will forever be in my heart and I adore them. Though they were programmed to protect and serve, they both were so loyal and were like best friends throughout the book. I hope to see them again in the next book!

As far as romance goes, it wasn't bad. The flashbacks from their past help readers get a feel for their emotions so that we know them better as a couple, but also how much they struggle currently to regain that closeness. I admire the female counterpart, because even though she remembered loving him, and part of her still does, she fought those feelings until she got to know him better. Years change people, and she didn't gain her strength or lose any because of him. I adore how strong she is. As for him, it was easy to see how much he cared, but at the same time I feel like he just wanted to rush things. Which makes sense when you read the book, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So all in all, it was good but not necessarily long lasting in my mind, especially after the end of the novel.

In the end, I question why something so scarily possible intrigues me so much, and why I adore this book as it shows readers just how much damage and death could come from our own creations. In truth, though we could create robots that look like us, talk and think and act like us, but with stronger abilities and intelligence, it is still fantasy at this time, so I enjoyed it as a work of fiction and not a warning. I assume that was the author's intent.

Overall, this is an amazing book that I will love forever despite a few issues I had. Filled to the brim with incredible world-building and characters I won't forget, this is a book I definitely recommend!

LIFELiK3 is a clever mashup of Pinocchio and the Anastasia legend with kiss-ass girls in mechs and robots!

Sigh... I tried to read this multiple times and it just didn't grab me. Which is a pity because I think Jay is one of the coolest people alive. I liked the premise but I just couldn't get into it.

This story was great! Kept me guessing till the end. I really enjoyed it except for the made-up slang, it was to much and at times for me at least took away from the story.

Reviewing on Amazon and Goodreads

Hey, book dragons!! So I just finished Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff and oh my goodness. I fell in love with Jays writing when I read Illuminea files and I am so glad I picked up this book. It was a book full of world-building, character development and a plot that was fantastic. But before I get too far ahead of myself. Let me give you the summary for this amazing book. 

This book with it passing and characters were amazing. However, I find that the true strength of this novel is in the characters relationships. Eve, Lemon and Cricket and even the boy who isn't a boy Ezekiel. I fell in love with these characters and their stories. How each grows into someone I can't wait to meet again in the next book. The love and loyalty of the friendships in this story. I feel that this friendship between Lemon and Eve were the building blocks of this story. 

I will say that you should go into this story blind than anything. The world will take you a bit to get used to, the language they use but once you get there it's hard to put this story down. 

The ending was perfection. And like I've said I can't wait for the next book. Jay Kristoff is an amazing writer who can take 26 letters and make them into words that will blow your mind. 

But all in all, LifeL1k3 was a fun read that was original, excellent plot and characters. It had me holding my breath several times. 


I could go about this book but I'll save you the time and get right down to it. 
Buy the book, you won't regret it. 

Till next time here in the nook!

Four and a half stars: A heck of ride! Fantastic world building, unique and interesting characters, plenty of actions and stuff that makes you think!

The last couple of years have been tough for Eve, yet she continues to fight on. Two years ago, Eve lived a very different life, one of wealth and privilege, but then her family was murdered and Eve nearly died herself. Now she lives with her grandfather, and she spends her time building robots to compete in the gladiator ring so she can pay the bills. Luckily, Eve has her best friend, Lemon Fresh, her trusty robot companion Cricket, who also serves as her robotic conscience, and her robot dog, Kaiser, to help her along the way. Then a fight in the ring goes terrible wrong and Eve finds herself hunted. As she flees, Eve discovers a wrecked ship with a beautiful android boy inside named Ezekiel who claims she is Anna. What can’t Eve remember?

What I Liked:
*Jay Kristoff always manages to impress me. His latest offering: Lifelike is not to be missed. This one has kick butt characters, outstanding world building and contemplative parts. Something for everyone. For me, this book was kind of a mash up of Mad Max and West World. If you like robots, futuristic dystopian worlds and lots of action, this is one to read.
*The best part of the book for me was the friendships. Who needs romance when you have friends like Lemon Fresh, Cricket and Kaiser the cyber dog? I loved the way the characters had each other’s back through thick and thin. Lemon Fresh and Eve’s bond was amazing. Loved it!
There is sort of a romance, it’s hard to explain, but I enjoyed it. Don’t expect a swoon worthy romance full of butterflies and kisses, the romance in this one is so much more complex and interesting.
*I loved that I spent a great deal of time contemplating the android condition especially when it came to robots and life and their rights. It is a complicated issue for sure.
*The world building was freaking amazing. I loved being transported into this freaky apocalyptic world with robots, ruin and mayhem. Mr. Kristoff has one hell of an imagination, and the whole thing with the creatures in the ocean was mind blowing. Read this for the creative world building.
*If you want action, this one has it. There are plenty of battle scenes, some chase scenes and plenty of stuff gets blown up.
*Talk about some major twists and turns. There are some mind blowing things at the end that left *me completely scratching my head, especially that final scene. What the hell!!??? I need more stat!
I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Erin Spencer. Ms. Spencer was amazing. Her robot voices were wonderful. Highly recommend the audiobook!
And The Not So Much:
*The end was such a brutal slap in the face. I was shocked. I want to know more.
*There was a lot of slang and such that may be off putting to adult readers, but don’t let it stop you.
*There was a point in the story where Anna needed to be slapped because she was totally irritating me with her rage over being betrayed. She needed to grow up.
*Even though I liked the sort of romance, I was never invested in it. Hard to explain.

Lifelike was an edge of your seat type read that kept me riveted. I loved the characters,
the action, the outstanding world building and the twisty plot. Mr. Kristoff has proven over and over that he is a force to be reckoned with, and if you have not tried one of his books yet, you need to reevaluate your choices. Read this!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

High-octane sci fi with two besties and a robot dog.

Eve and LemonFresh are “bestests” in a high-tech post-apocalyptic world. They live with Eve’s grandpa in a trash wasteland, surrounded by the discarded dregs of what was once civilization, getting by on grandpa’s mad tech skills and Eve’s bot fights in the War Dome. Until those bot fights almost get her killed. When a giant robot corners her, she throws out one terrified hand and screams.

And the bot falls down dead, its circuits fried from the inside.

It’s called “manifesting”—when a latent mutation emerges—and it’s the mark of death. The crazed Brotherhood is determined to wipe all human mutation off the planet. And Eve’s just manifested on live video feed, broadcast throughout the corp territories.

So begins a nonstop chase across a dystopian landscape that evokes Mad-Maxian imagery, with a besties friendship worthy of Betty and Veronica. (Yeah, Mad Max meets Riverdale. We went there.) But there’s a lot more to it than just high-octane adventure. The inclusion of sentient robots leads into a much deeper story, raising profound questions about compassion and diversity and what it really means to be human.

That’s what we loved most about Lifelike. It’s an interesting story. In the midst of all the action and fighting and running, it still makes you think.

About how we treat technology, and, ultimately, how we treat each other.

I NEED MORE. That ending, though.

Lifelike, at its core, is a story about humanity. It's wrapped in science-fiction and a post-apocalyptic world. Action-packed and fast-paced, you do not want to miss this one, folks. You will question everything you think you know about Alexa and Siri. You will wonder what those AIs might become. And you can easily see the world Kristoff has built being prophetic instead of fictional.

I adored Evie as a character. She's strong and courageous and snarky and intelligent. She fights for those she loves and she rolls with the punches.

Lemon is the best friend everyone needs in their life. And she's a beautifully imperfect human soul.

Ezekiel is the lifelike robot that is just short of human. And as you meet it, you will catch yourself deciding it is actually a he. And it isn't a robot. And humans played God and kinda succeeded. Except for the fact that the hubris got the best of them, and the lifelikes rose up.

And then Cricket. Oh, Cricket. You see yourself as a servant because that was all you were ever programmed to see. And I think I loved you best of all.

It's just... beautiful. It's insightful and intelligent and will make you question what actually is it that makes us humans? Souls? Maybe. But you even meet a liflike with faith in God.

Just do yourself a favor and pick this one up for the weekend. It's out now!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jay Kristoff, and Random House Children's for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I've fallen for a book. Normally when I find something that hooks me it's a fluffy YA or romance, so this was a great surprise. I haven't read any of Jay's other books, but I'm definitely in for this series, I know that!

LIFEL1K3 starts with Eve, our main character, gambling all her money away on bot fighting.Only she's the one who has built the bot and is fighting in it. Her friends, Cricket and Lemon try to help her, but Eve still loses. Just as she's about to get crushed, something miraculous happens. The bot crumples with just a scream and an outstretched hand from Eve.

Now, she's on everyone's hit list. As she and Lemon scavenger a helicopter wreck and find the pilot with it's arm ripped off that also happens to be a "lifelike", the danger just gets thicker. When the lifelike turns out to be a friend, that knows Eve's grandfather (who has just been kidnapped by another lifelike), and the home that she knew is destroyed everything starts to unravel.

As you learn more about Eve's past and her family, you start to understand a little of the life that she knows and of the life she can't remember. Eve's past is a big, sticky, bloody mess and Ezekiel holds many of the pieces.

But he doesn't hold them all.

Guys. This story is full of twists and turns. I feel like I can't even put a synopsis into words myself. With every chapter I learned something knew about Eve, Ezekiel, and literally every other character. This story is like an onion, peeling away each layer to get down deep.

The ending left me shocked, a little upset, and absolutely wanting more. I can't wait to see how Eve's story plays out.

This was the first Jay Kristoff novel I've ever read and let me tell you... it will not be the last! LifeL1k3 was full of action and excitement from the very first page and it didn't let up until the last sentence. The characters were intriguing, the world building was fantastic, and the pace of the novel was spot on. As I was reading the novel, I kept getting Mad Max vibes, which I later found out was how other readers perceived the novel as well. It was full of grit and action and gave me flashbacks to crazy car chases across a desert.

Now don't let the Mad Max description make you too close minded... there were also robots, androids, puppy robots (internal squealing) and a few romance scenes that will leave you wondering where Kristoff will take your heart next. There were even a few times where I just wanted to hug my best friend and tell her I love her. Kristoff had a way of running your heart through the ringer during some intense fight scenes, and then doing it all over again with more serious portions of the novel.

If you're looking for an action packed YA novel, look no further. Kristoff truly delivers with LifeL1k3 and I couldn't be more impressed with his ability to mix a world of action and complex characters so beautifully. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of all genres! You will not be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

This. Book.

The action starts on page one and never stops. Shiz hits the fan, and then the fan blows up, and then a bomb drops on the decimated remains of the fan, and then the earth opens up and sends everything STRAIGHT TO HELL.

And that's just the first quarter of the book!

Absolutely thrilling, fast-paced, gut-wrenching book. Once again, a phenomenal story from Kristoff.

The setting was so imaginative and unique. I love how he throws in the slang of the era but also makes it easy to understand. His characters are always so real and deep. Lemon Fresh and Kaiser are faves. Kristoff has quickly become an auto-buy author for me and Lifel1k3 did NOT disappoint. Highly recommend!

Lifel1k3 is one of those rare books that I wanted to reread as soon as I turned the last page. As usual, Kristoff’s world-building and plotting are fantastic. However, the true strength of this novel lies in the characters.

From Eve to Lemon Fresh to Cricket, the characters were absolutely brilliant. I fell in love with Eve and Lemon Fresh’s courage, strength, and loyalty at the beginning. Their character development was so much fun to watch. I loved how much of the story was grounded in the friendship between those two girls.

I’d recommend going into this one as blind as possible. Just prepare for a wild ride. And yes, there is romance. The language and terms took me a bit to get used to but once I did, I couldn’t put Lifel1k3 down. That ending was absolute flawless, Kristoff hit every note perfectly.

Lifel1k3 was a fun, refreshing, and original read with excellent characters, pulse-pounding action, and a tightly-woven plot full of twists and turns. Jay Kristoff has created something truly remarkable with this book and I cannot wait to see what’s in store next from one of my favorite authors.