This is such a highly predictable book.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s that I read too much (though I do). It’s just that there’s literally nothing new here. Every time you read this and say “by the end of the book she’s going to” I can tell you that YES she will.

The romance is okay (and predictable).

The drama is okay (and predictable).

The ending is okay (and predictable.)

I read for entertainment, yes, but part of that entertainment is being enthralled and surprised.

I mean…I literally got to the point where I was predicting what would happen in the book on Twitter to other book friends.

This book has been written before…and before and before and before…

3 Stars. It’s acceptable and probably good if you’ve never read a clone book before.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

The Similars is the first book in a brand-new series from Rebecca Hanover, featuring a group of teenagers who just happen to be clones. It's set in an upper-class boarding school, which made it an obvious choice for me to pick up, since boarding school books are my catnip.

Sixteen-year-old Emmaline is still reeling from her best friend Oliver's apparent suicide. It's hard for her to imagine her life without him in it, especially when she returns to Darkwood Academy for her junior year of high school. Memories of Oliver are everywhere, and it seems impossible her grief will ever lessen.

And then, the Similars descend on Darkwood. They are exact DNA replicas of six of Darkwood's students, and the entire student body seems incapable of talking about anything else. Cloning is illegal, so how is it possible that six of them are attending one of the country's most prestigious boarding schools? Who created them, and why?

Emmaline couldn't care less about the Similars, until she comes face-to-face with Levi, a boy who looks exactly like Oliver. She does her best to steer clear of all of them, but as time passes, she finds herself strangely fixated on these six mysterious students. She's desperate to discover what prompted Oliver to take his own life, and she can't shake the suspicion that Levi's existence might have something to do with it.

Before long, Emmaline's attempts to uncover the truth place her directly in the path of a group of very powerful and dangerous people who will do whatever they deem necessary to keep their secrets hidden. Fortunately, Levi and the other Similars band together to help Emmaline bring the truth to light, and she begins to think she might have a chance of defeating her influential enemies. But when she learns a deeply hidden truth about her own birth, Emmaline realizes there's more going on at Darkwood than she bargained for.

The Similars is a highly-charged story filled with danger, intrigue, and a slow-burn romance. It's set in a world that's not all that different from our own, making it easy to become completely immersed in the story. Ms. Hanover does a great job describing the subtle differences between her world and ours without resorting to info-dumping, and I freely admit to having to pause every so often to remind myself that I was reading about a fictitious time and place.

I didn't care much for Emmaline's character at the beginning of the story, but as I continued to read, I discovered her hidden depths. She does come off as a bit spoiled from time to time, but I was able to forgive her and move on. Her life hasn't always been easy, so it wasn't difficult for me to have patience with some of her more annoying behaviors. Plus, she undergoes a huge amount of growth, and I look forward to seeing how she'll behave in book two.

The ending of the book was a little hard to take seriously. I can't say too much about it without ruining the whole thing, so I'll just warn you that the actions of the villain are kind of over the top. They are supposed to be very dangerous people, but they occasionally felt like the stereotypical bad guys who inhabit most bad movies.

The Similars definitely has its problems, but it's still a strong start to what promises to be an excellent series. I adored the setting and the worldbuilding, and most of the characters are quite relatable. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm super excited for the second book to be released. I'm just hoping the author doesn't make me wait too long.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
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I received a galley of this to review for my school. It is a unique new YA. I enjoyed it as something different from most of the YA I read. A novel concept and I think my students will enjoy it.

This is a fascinating concept. You go back to school for your junior year and there are six new students that are replicas of current students -- with the exception that one of the new kids looks just like your deceased best friend. I appreciated the exploration of life with clones, but the attempts to metaphorically link this to the immigration crisis did not work for me. I found the last 1/3 of the book was a bit disjointed and don't know if I would invest in further editions in this series. I just don't care enough about Emmaline and Levi after reading this first book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this upcoming YA title.

On reflection after reading, the story line felt refreshing and new but as I read it became slightly predictable. I liked Rebecca’s writing style and her ideas, I just needed more depth to her characters. Without giving anything away this was a dystopian story with a twist which really did pique my interest in the beginning, so much potential with intriguing premise but sadly losing my interest somewhat, ending with an abrupt cliffhanger. Even so would I still be interested in finding out what happened next? Yes. I think I would be.

Emmaline "Emma" Chance's world as been upended. Her best friend Oliver committed suicide over the summer. As she returns to her boarding school, their boarding school, for the year, there's a welcome distraction. They've dubbed themselves the "Similars," six clones of students who attend the school. Their existence had been a secret prior to the summer and now they'll be joining their originals as students of the prestigious Darkwood Academy. Some of the most prominent students at Darkwood have a Similar, including the deceased Oliver. Emmaline nearly can't handle seeing Oliver's face on another person. Tension rises between the Similars and the students of the school, but Emma tries her best to give them a chance, let them live a life they've never had. But maybe something about them is a little off, something Emma can't quite put her finger on. As she becomes closer to the Similars, secrets, about them, about the school, about her, start to reveal themselves. Emma doesn't know who to trust, what to believe, or what to do, but with way more than her class rank on the line, she tries to solve the mysteries of the Similars and maybe herself.

This was a quick, thrilling read. I'm somewhat versed in clone literature, Never Let Me Go and all that, so some of the points, politics, and conflicting ideas on cloning brought up by this story are not new to me. In those terms, this book didn't have too much new to offer, except maybe for a younger audience. But the plot was pretty strong and the characters were compelling. The book is not without it's faults. There were a few moments of "hmm, that's awfully convenient" and the ending felt a bit rushed to me, but overall I was totally gripped. There were points where I had so many theories flying around in my head, I had no idea where the story might lead. I'm excited to see that this is going to be a series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for lending my this book in exchange of an honest review.

I was so excited to read this early copy of the book, the premise sounded so interesting. I enjoyed the first part a lot, it was engaging and I truly couldn't stop reading it, but the second part(or more like the last 3 or 4 chapters) were a bit rushed, and not as engaging, I liked the surprise or twist but I am not much of a fan of cliffhangers. Anyways, it was a good and entertaining read. I would recommend it. Enjoy!

It's "Orphan Black" meets "Pretty Little Liars". Like most YA novels, it's a quick read. Unlike most YA novels, it's a fun one as well! Engaging characters, a unique story, and interesting twists keep this one a page turner. I think this one will do well!

DNF at 70%.

The Similars had a really cool premise: 6 clones of 6 outstanding students at a highly competitive boarding school start as juniors at said boarding school (their "originals" are mostly seniors - the cloning was done without consent of the parents). And the mystery surrounding the clones was really cool. But then the plot went in about 8 different directions and there clearly wasn't time to properly service them all. For example, the main character's best remaining friend is nearly murdered, and that's basically a footnote. She'll think about it every few chapters or so...and that's about it. There's just way too much going on in this book: secret societies, hazing, murder, suicide, horrible adults, drugs and oh yeah, the aforementioned cloning. Because our main character is just reacting (usually poorly and/or stupidly) to the crazy things happening, we don't really get to know her. I thought I'd be able to tough it out, but as more and more plot elements were introduced, I realized I just couldn't make myself care.

All of that said, there is definitely an audience for this book. Younger teens who are into fast-paced dystopian novels with little character development will love this one. Hand it to fans of Michael Vey, Divergent or The Testing series. Otherwise, try Mur Lafferty's Six Wakes for a better sci-fi mystery with dystopian elements and clones.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advance copy, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. The Similars will be released on 01 Jan.

Clones, dark secrets, shocking truths, acts of revenge, and a budding romance - The Similars has it all.  After reading the first three words in the description, I knew this novel was for me.

The first half of this book teased me with hints of dark truths, mysteries, and hidden agendas - I couldn't put it down.  Emma's situation is heartbreaking at times, and she has a lot on her plate, but her drive and determination to get to the root of everything is admirable.  The girl gets things done.  Along with the boarding school goings on is a political angle.  What are clones' rights?  Should they be treated as human beings and afforded the same privileges?  Are they a threat?  Things to ponder.

The second half seems to veer off the rails just a tad.  The first half is well-planned and creates a believable world - but the second didn't seem as carefully thought out, and plot developments come from every direction, many of them predictable.  I'm not a fan of love triangles, and by no means is romance the central focus of this story, but there's a hint of the most unique triangle I've come across.  I'll have to wait for the next book to see if it pans out.  

Overall, this is an intriguing book that held my attention from the first page, and I fully intend on continuing with the series.  If you're a fan of layers upon layers of secrets, sci-fi, thrillers, and mystery, add The Similars to your TBR.

So at the beginning I felt very intrigued in this book. From the get go we are immersed in Emma's grief. And it feels raw and tangible. Then the clones are introduced. And this is where my interest soared. But unfortunately it went downhill from there. While I know this will be a series, and I may like the second one better, on a whole I was lacking some character development. I wanted to know more about the clones, more about the relationships between them and their genetic source.

So what's the deal?

There was a distinct sense of conspiracy going on before page one which I immediately loved. The Similars almost mashes this decade long boarding school drama, meets cloning, meets politics, meets love story. And I think that's where it ultimately lost me. I was striving to get a hand hold in the story, the world, the tension. But it kept flitting between all these different hats. And at the end of the night it was just me, in my apartment, and a room full of colorful, but not memorable hats.

I really enjoyed this! The intrigue made me want to keep reading and the characters were likeable enough, although there are a few times when I felt like Emma was prone to making questionable decisions. I fully intend on reading the sequel and can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Imagine going back to school after your best friend just committed suicide only to find a guy there that looks exactly like him. That is what happen to Emma on her first day back at the Darkwood Academy, were the clone kids have been accepted as students for their last two years of high school. And then you get sucked into this wonderful book and all its twists and turns and suspense, I really don't want to go much into it but there are surprises around several corners. This book is really good and will have you up past your bedtime reading it is that good, it will suck you in and not let you go until you are done and can breathe again.


Will appear on blog Jan 1st

It’s a new school year at the prestigious Darkwood Academy. An elite boarding school in Vermont, Darkwood educates students from the country’s best and brightest families. However, this year’s return to school is tainted by some unexpected developments. All the school’s abuzz because six new students are joking the ranks - six students who are exact copies of Darkwood students. Yes, six clones are enrolling at Darkwood.

Emma Chance is not getting caught up in all of the clone drama because she is mourning the loss of her best friend, Oliver. Oliver died over the summer, and he and Emma were not on good terms at the time of his death. Imagine Emma’s shock when one of the six clones turns out to be Oliver’s exact DNA copy. Her best friend is back alive ... except he is really not Oliver. His name is Levi, and his presence at Darkwood is tortuous to Emma.

As can be imagined, the clones, dubbed The Similars, are not a welcome addition to Darkwood by many. Already a media sensation, The Similars are all anyone can talk about. Who are they exactly? What do they want? And why are they here? As the secrets of The Similars are revealed, Darkwood Academy, its students, and Emma especially, find their world turned upside down.

The Similars, a first novel in a series by the same name, by debut author Rebecca Hanover is a tightly woven mystery story with a pinch of sci-fi and a dash of romance thrown in. Atmospheric and slightly creepy, The Similars combines an evocative setting with an ominous plot. In all, the elements work together to create an engaging mystery for YA readers.

Laid out at an intensifying pace, The Similars slowly builds in suspense as clues are revealed about the clones and their true purpose at Darkwood. For detail-oriented readers, the signs and signals are there for solving the case of The Similars, but for those who don’t feel like reading that closely, this is still a fun, plot-driven read.

As an adult reader, I would like to give The Similars 3 stars, just because I found myself bored and disengaged at times with the plot and characters; however, I think that the intended audience will appreciate the mystery at the heart of the novel. Besides, the book is well-written with the right mix of dialogue and description, making this a 4 star read for young adults.

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The concept for The Similars sounded super compelling as I have recently become a bigger fan of sci-fi. The topic of clones and all the controversy surrounding them seemed like it would make for a great read.
Sadly, the book was not very interesting. I found that I couldn't read it in one sitting and I often hit what felt like dry patches throughout the book.

In the beginning, I had a lot of hope for the story. Honestly, the first couple of chapters were done well. The story kept me captivated and engaged.

I knew that Emmaline (the MC) would come face-to-face with the clone of her dead best friend within the first couple of pages. I was excited to see her reactions to him and their interactions throughout the book. And let me tell you, I love how much of a spitfire she is! Especially as told through the first person perspective.

I also felt as if Hanover had some excellent world building. Cloning and the technology that is introduced in the first couple of chapters felt real. In some sci-fi books, the technology doesn't seem real. The tech always seems like too far a stretch for imagination. But in The Similars, I found myself nodding along, completely fine with the concepts brought up. I think that this might have been because it was introduced as a lab accident and that it was a shock to the whole world, not just to the reader.
This surprise creation of clones was able to add mystery and depth to the story. One, it sets up the second half of the story, where more is learned about the clones. Two, it was interesting to see the clone and their original interacting and how their personalities differed. And three, I like reading about the morality of cloning and how it affects the world.

*I know that this is entirely off track, but I lived for the class discussions about cloning. The students debated if the clones deserve US citizenship, if there need to be more laws, if it is even ethical to clone someone, if it is a violation of the person that got cloned. Some thought-provoking questions were proposed, and I loved the discussion surrounding them.

One of the more intriguing parts about the book was the mystery. I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery and danger that the book had. Yet, this mystery and uncertainty weren't necessarily super suspenseful or nerve-racking. I loved the sneaking around at night and all of the shadiness of the school. The Tens's motives were so questionable, and I was all there for it!

However, as the book continued, it became more and more unoriginal and harder to believe. The technology gets more difficult to believe and to follow along with. There is a scene in the very end where a new piece of technology is introduced. The tech is quickly added, and I wasn't able to fully understand its capabilities. At the end as well, another plot twist is added, and that's when my hope for the book somewhat died. And it wasn't even an original plot twist! I saw it coming from half a book away. What makes me so disappointed is that in the beginning, the book looked so promising! I had so much hope for it!

I also had a problem with the story path that the book took in the second half of the book. In the first half, the book focused on the clones in the school and the general school life, now with the clones. While I liked it, it was at times, a bit dull. But in the second half, I feel like I was trying to follow three different plot lines at a time. I believe that Hanover was attempting to have these three plot lines give more interest and suspense to the reader. And they did end up converging into each other in the end, but it was not done cleanly. The three plots were confusing, and while I can see how they will help the future books, it was very distracting in the first book.

In this ending scene, a lot happened. Quite honestly, I think it was too much information thrown at the reader at one time. This is where the three plot lines came together which caused chaos. The timing was fast-paced, and there were surprises after surprises. Looking back at the ending and the book, it seems like all three were needed to get to the end. However, I think another reason could have been procured in place of the reason for travel.

In conclusion, The Similars wasn't a bad book. The beginning was outstanding if a bit slow, and unfortunately, the ending was not as good. For the most part, the cloning technology and the other technologies were easy to understand. I was able to believe that something like that could exist and it didn't take me out of the story. I loved the clones and the ethics discussion surrounding them. In the end, though, the storyline broke into three different parts, later joining together. The ending was confusing and so many parts, and information was thrown at me. It was hard to understand, and the new technology that was introduced was hard to see as possible. I don't know if I would highly recommend this book, but I do think that for a good majority, the book is written well.

I was extremely excited for this book! It was hyped at BookCon along with a few others, including Girls of Paper and Fire (which I love). The problem is... while the premise seems super unique, as soon as I started reading I had this sinking "Oh, god, is this going to be a ridiculously stereotypical YA?" feeling. The feeling didn't go away the longer I read; in fact, it only got worse, with stereotypical plot points and character traits. This book had SO MUCH potential, but it just fell flat for me.

I was really enjoying this book until I got ¾ of the way in. Then the story got a little bit too unbelievable. The story is an interesting one, there are a group of clones who go to attend the same school as the teens that their DNA came from. I liked the characters, felt like there was plenty of intrigue and enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery. But then. Then the characters began to act in ways that I just didn’t find to be believable for the characters that the author had created. Once that happened, I just couldn’t let myself escape into the story. The story also got a little more out there towards the end. Overall, I liked the writing and the characters, the setting was well done and the clone aspect was interesting so I’m still giving it three stars despite my feelings about the ending.

The premise of this story sounded unique and I was eager to get my hands on it. And for the first half or so of the book I was thoroughly enjoying it. With the sci-fi, mystery mix and a dash of romance, this seemed the beginning of a good YA series. But then things began to turn and I found myself rolling my eyes as The Similars fell into familiar YA traps: predictable twists and teens who can outsmart adults. I really struggled with the last 10-15% of the book. I think teens will enjoy this but I feel adults will share my sentiments more.

This book! Wow! The Similars had me hooked from the very first page. It was a gripping, thrilling, and entertaining read from beginning to end. I love to read YA novels of this type, and this book certainly did not disappoint!

Imagine going to school, or anywhere for the matter, and seeing exact look-alikes of people that you know… imagine ever further if you had a look-alike of yourself? Such an intriguing concept for sure! Would you be able to tell the original person apart from the exact look-alike?

I enjoyed reading about Emmaline’s experiences with the 6 similars that attended her school and the whole idea surrounding why there were 6 similars to begin with. What was their purpose in the world? Would they have the opportunity to be welcomed in society like every other human being, or would they be shunned from society for being “clones” and treated as such?

I felt bad for Emmaline, especially after the tragic loss of her best friend Oliver and then coming face to face with his exact look-alike similar named Levi. It was like seeing Oliver all over again, except it wasn’t. Not really. Levi might look like Oliver, but he wouldn’t have Oliver’s memories, personality traits, mannerisms, etc that made Oliver…well, Oliver.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this book, once I started it I couldn't put it down. I couldn't imagine suddenly having a clone, I thought it was a good premise and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I was able to predict some things but not everything so that was a plus! I also think it could be a great way to start conversations in school on morals, ethics, and biology.