I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This is a well-written, engaging first book in a new YA series. Twin sisters born into a dystopian America where there is a one child per family policy. Keeping the twins a secret is an all consuming challenge; secret tunnels, false fingerprints, recounting the day to each other so they can each go out on different days. I originally picked this up because it reminded me of the film "What Happened to Monday" in which septuplets are kept secret in a world where one child is the law. In "The Rule of One," when their family secret is discovered, the girls must go on the run, looking for a safe place. The world building is all right but at times I had questions about how things were possible, the characters are well developed, and the ending was unexpected, but overall it has a plot that I've seen before where it was more intricate and interestingly executed.

I do not provide literary reviews but I create "fiction food" inspired by the book. I was given a Netgalley copy of the book by the publicist/author/ magazine publisher to create fiction food (photo + recipes) for use in marketing.


https://issuu.com/curiositales/docs/2019_january_curiositales_magazine (page 30-31)

I was greatly surprised about how much I liked this novel. I have been in a young adult reading journey this time of year. And I can’t believe how underrated this novel has been. The bookstagram world has been very unfair with this novel, I feel it should’ve had more attention. I connected with Mira and Ava from the very beginning. Also loved the utopic USA created. I am already reading Rule of Many because I can’t wait how the story goes.

The Rule of One by Ashley and Leslie Saunders is a very interesting story. This is the first book in a new ya sci fi dystopian series. Due to the shortage of food and supplies in the US, the government began enforcing the Rule of One, that no family should have more than one child in order to curb the population. But there is a very powerful man that did not head by this rule His wife had twins. Ava and Mira take terns sharing a life. Only one is allowed to be out in the world at a time. This book is so fast paced and amazing. I was drawn in right away and the story kept going. I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. I can't wait to dive into the next one.

This dystopia fast paced novel is two Katniss Everdeens for the price of one. You root for both Mira and Ava as they escape oppression and unwittingly find themselves the ice to break the camel's back of the revolution. I hope there will be a sequel!

A well written dystopia that follows identical twins as they try to survive in an America that operates a one child policy. I really enjoyed this novel but found it slowed down after a fast paced beginning. Would recommend!

This book was AH-MAY-ZING! I LOVED it!!!

I was planning to write a review of thsi book, but all I was worried about after finishing it was seeing what happened next, so instead of writing a review, I immediately started reading the sequel, The Rule of Many.

These books were AWESOME! I would have read the first book in a day, if I didn't have to adult so much (ugh). I still zoomed through it in like 2 days.

Until I read this book, I did not realize how long it has been since I last read a dystopian book. For a while, that's all I read, but lately, I've been reading mostly YA Fantasy. This was a great book to get back into the genre!

I didn't realize that this book was written by twins until after I got done reading both books and started writing this review. That makes it so much cooler!

I don't have anything negative at all to say about this book! It was awesome, and you should go read it right now!

The only thing that I am upset about is that book #3 is not out yet, and I don't know how long I will have to wait for it. It is not listed on GoodReads or their website, so it will probably be a while. I will definitely be watching for it, though!

Thank you to the Saunders twins, the publishers, and Xpresso Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for the release of The Rule of Many!

Too reminiscent of What Happened to Monday which ruined my enjoyment somewhat. The writing was sound, but I struggled to invest in the characters.

2.5 stars.

Twins fascinate me, especially identical twins raised together: identical nature and nurture. But I do still feel like they should be distinct narrators to some degree, which Ava and Mira really weren't — so the narrative is pretty homogenous. I had trouble sympathizing with either since they were pretty judgmental of everyone around them, quick to cast blame and jump to conclusions. Some of their observations and remarks just don't make logical sense to me, and there are several plot holes that I hope will be addressed in the next book.

That said, the worldbuilding is fascinating, and I bet I would've loved this book as a teenage fan of YA dystopia. The stakes are high, the characters are vivid and humanly flawed, and the story is easy to follow.

My Thoughts:
Recently, I found out that Kindle Unlimited has a feature that also lets the user listen to audiobooks of select titles on Audible for no additional cost. I thought that this would be a great way to get through my existing TBR, so I've been trying to utilize it. The first book I chose to read this way was The Rule of One. I thought that the book was okay.

My main issue with The Rule of One was that it dragged in spots. I think that it could have been about 50 pages shorter, and still been a great book. It seemed like there was a lot of filler in the middle of the book. It made the book quite boring to listen to at times, and made it so that the full connection with the characters that I look forward to in every book I read just wasn't there.

Other than that, I did enjoy The Rule of One. I like the way the plot was written. It reminded me of a book that I read when I was a child by Margaret Peterson Haddix, which brought back a lot of welcome nostalgia. Even though the book brought back nostalgia, it had it's own unique spin on the one child storyline as well. I really liked the tropes that it implemented. I also liked the fact that there was no romance in the book whatsoever. That was very refreshing to see in a young adult novel. I wish more books would do that.

Other than a few issues with the pacing, I really did enjoy reading The Rule of One. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Rule of Many, especially after that crazy abrupt ending of the first book. I was shocked at the cliffhanger in the end, and need to know what happens next. I plan on picking up the next book as soon as I can.

I give The Rule of One: 3.5/5.

The Rule of One was a short fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I found myself yelling at the book and the characters as the plot surprised me with twist after twist. This is quite the suspenseful read and I warn you now that you might have a hard time setting it down.

Ah, YA dystopia. Is there anything like it? Remember those heady days of Divergent and The Hunger Games, The Testing and Maze Runner…it’s a genre I never tire of, especially now as the world seems to be heading in a more awful direction.

So when I spotted this, I had to give it a try.

Ava has a secret. In a world where everything is heavily monitored and controlled, a place where only one child is allowed, she has a twin, Mira. They pretend to be one person, taking turns going to school and to functions. At the end of each day they must tell each other everything that happened so they won’t be found out.

But one day, Ava can’t bear the thought of a stuffy dinner and begs Mira to take her place. Everything seems to be going fine until Mira is in the greenhouse with the grandson of their dinner guest, the Govenor of Texas. The grandson knows or suspects that Ava isn’t always Ava and spooked, Mira decides not to tell her family what happened. Big mistake. Their lives are upended with a sudden raid in the middle of the night and only sheer luck, prevents Mira from being discovered. Their father gives them instructions and a map and sends his daughters away, knowing that now nothing will be the same. Suddenly, the twins are fugitives on a long journey across America, heading to an unknown destination.

This book wasn’t perfect but I did enjoy it. The twins are great characters and I especially like Mira, who is looking for her own identity after having spent so long as ‘Ava.’ I’m looking forward to the next book, where the twins take on their corrupt government. Most of this book was leading up to a rebellion, with allies met along the way and the girls just trying to survive after their lives have been upended. Occasionally it felt a bit like there was very little direction or movement in the plot and all of the really exciting events will happen in the next book. The writing wasn't the best I've ever read but it worked well enough. And as this book was written by twins, it was really interesting to see how that translated into the sisters' strong bond in this book.

All in all, a fun read. 3 stars but I’m hopeful for the next one (which I've just spotted on Goodreads as being called 'The Rule of Many'!!) and will very likely pick it up to see where Ava and Mira go next.

Well I don't like to give spoilers in reviews so this will be brief. Dystopia is not always my favorite trope to read but I still had high hopes for this book. But I found the first half of this book to be really hard for me to get through. Some parts of the book just didn't make sense to me and I had to suspend disbelief a little more than I wanted to. It seemed to get a little better in the second half of the book or maybe I was just resolved to accept things that I didn't understand at that point. I will say that the book is well written but aside from the two lead characters I just found the other characters flat and a bit lifeless.

The Rule of One by Ashley Saunders and Leslie Saunders, 258 pages. Skyscape, 2018. $17.

Language: R (49 swears, 2 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (assault); Violence: PG-13(deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

For 18 years twins Ava and Mira have shared a single life, trading off a day at a time. When their secret is exposed, they must run for their lives to the border, leaving their father behind. If they can escape the Rule of One they have a chance at a life. And while they just want to live, they also may be that needed spark.

Students who love post-apocalyptic books will totally go for this. The second book will have a weightier burden to bear, as this one was all action and danger – but now the work of the rebellion will begin.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Review originally published on Forever Young Adult on 10/24/18.

BOOK REPORT for The Rule of One (The Rule of One #1) by Ashley and Leslie Saunders

Cover Story: Glitch in the Matrix
BFF Charm: Maybe x2
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Parallels
Factor: Series Starter
Anti-Bonus Factor: Awful Grownups
Relationship Status: See Ya ‘Round

Cover Story: Glitch in the Matrix

As someone who grew up in the 90s, it’s hard for me to see lines of code/computer glitches like on this cover and not think of The Matrix. (Or maybe it’s just me?) It definitely says “science fiction,” even though The Rule of One leans more dystopian than straight scifi.

Also: Hummingbirds don’t have red eyes, do they? I’m unsettled.

The Deal:

Ava Goodwin is the daughter of the head of the Texas Family Planning Division, a man responsible for upholding the United States’ strict one child per family law. Ava’s a diligent student and a model citizen, and no one would suspect her or her family of being anything other than patriots.

But Ava and her father are hiding a huge secret: Ava has a twin sister, Mira. The two girls each spend half their life pretending to be the one Goodwin daughter. They think they have everything figured out, and that they’re above suspicion, but Halton, the grandson of the Texas governor, has been watching—too closely.

BFF Charm: Maybe x2



As part of keeping their secret safe, Ava and Mira don’t have friends. But if they did, I’m not quite sure I’d be able to break into their tight circle of two. Especially since I likely couldn’t keep my mouth shut about how much I hated their father’s politics and the crappy company he keeps (i.e., the horrid Governor of Texas).

Swoonworthy Scale: 0

While in their normal lives, Ava and Mira can’t take the chance on getting too close to anyone. And after Halton exposes them, life gets far too complicated to even take a breath, much less find time for some swoon.

Talky Talk: Parallels

The Rule of One is one of those scary near-future novels that feels way too real, way too much like a future that could actually come to pass. Politicians who come to power through over-promising and hold onto their power through scare tactics. Environmental disasters due to climate change. Constant surveillance through CCTV, drones, and identity microchips embedded in everyone’s wrists. Abuse of the poor and “un-American.” (People outside of the system in The Rule of One are referred to as “Gluts.”) It’s a story that should frighten, but the plot just misses the mark. The Saunders’ writing is a little formulaic, and I feel like I’ve read this book before. Maybe I’m just desensitized to these ideas? That’s scarier than the book!

Factor: Series Starter



The Rule of One is the first in a new series. The ending is actually a good one—no horrible cliffhanger here!—but there’s obviously more story to tell.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Awful Grownups



Ava and Mira’s father, although he finds himself in a precarious position, is a decent man. His boss, however—the Governor of Texas—is the worst kind of politician, and has characteristics that are exaggerated (in some cases, only slightly) versions of those of the real-life politicians of today. He’s a true villain, and made all the more frightening in his realism.

Relationship Status: See Ya ‘Round

Our first date was good, Book, but not great. I’m sort of interested to see where your story leads you, but if I happen to find out a ways after the fact, I’m not going to be that disappointed. I do wish you the best, though.

Amazing...That is all! Read this book, you won't regret it! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

I originally started The Rule of One back when I was first approved for it at the beginning of fall but I just was in a weird reading slump and I eventually gave up. From the description of The Rule of One is sounds a lot like the Netflix movie What Happened to Monday which I really enjoyed and had the same concept: the government is controlling population by limiting families to only having one child.

Ava and Mira are twins in the United States of America and because of that they illegal. "One child, one nation." The phrases that haunts them everyday. Alternating day by day the girls play the role of Ava Goodwin the eighteen year old daughter of the man in charge on the one child policy. After one fateful incident everything Ava and Mira spent eighteen years working on and hiding is unraveling and their only option is to run.

I really enjoyed the idea behind The Rule of One. With climate change at its height and the United States in an uproar the one child act seems like the perfect solution to over population, but really it is just another from of oppressing an already oppressed society. But no body plans what happens in the cases of multiples. I found the world to be interesting and I was eager to learn more. I do wish certain things were more clarified and made clearer but I am hoping that that will change in the following book.

I liked Ava and Mira's characters but I feel like there where times I couldn't decipher which POV I was reading from. It began to bleed together. I am not sure if this was purposely done because they are suppose to be exactly the same person and huge chunk of the book is them discovering what makes them unique and their own person.

I did feel bad for Mira at times because she was the "second twin" which is basically the unwanted one. If their mother was caught by the government while she was pregnant she would have been forced to keep Ava and give up Mira. Giving up Mira would have meant Mira would have lived in a labor camp and lived a short painful life. We watch as Mira's guilt eats at her through out the novel and how they guilt fuels her in different ways. Though I liked Ava there was times that I found her rather cold and not sympathetic to her sister. I found her to be self absorbed at times and not putting herself in Mira's shoes. Ava was the twin who was wanted, she had the microchip that made them Ava Goodwin. She got everything that Mira couldn't.

I did find The Rule of One interesting and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but there was a 20% chunk of the book where I feel like nothing interesting happened. It felt more like filler then parts needed for the plot. This book was rather short too, less than 300 pages so 20% was a rather decent chunk.

Overall I did enjoy The Rule of One and am looking forward to see how the ending of this book is going to play out in the sequel that releases in May.

I really loved the concept and overall idea of this book. I love dystopian societies. The idea that each family is limited to one kid is insane and so interesting. I enjoyed reading this book. The characters in this book were good, but not amazing. I did enjoy seeing the twins becoming different people and evolving over the course of the book. I do wish a lot more happened in this book. It didn't really get started until more towards the end of the book. I am interested to see what happens next and to see how everything resolves. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this. The two perspectives were a bit hard to distiguish at times though. I also would have preffered a bit more world-building. Overall would still recomend and I am excited for the sequel.