I wanted to love this book. I cannot express how much I wanted to LOVE this book. I remember seeing this on NetGalley, reading the blurb, and immediately thinking about Nerve (I really enjoyed both the book and movie). I was so excited for this book, and there were parts of it that I truly did enjoy, but there were also parts that I just could not dig. At all.

Little bit of backstory on this book: we begin the novel following Jackie, as she learns that two students at her school have gone missing, Peter and Kat. Shortly after she discovers a mysterious app on her phone called Capsule, which tells her that if she plays the game and gets through the levels, she can save Peter and Kat.

Okay I'm going to talk about the good first, which is basically the first 60% of this book. I thought that it started off really intriguing, I really enjoyed Jackie's character, and I enjoyed getting to meet Peter and Kat. I also really liked some of the side characters that we encounter, such as Jay (he and Jackie were definitely my favorite characters). It definitely gave me a lot of Nerve vibes which I loved. Getting to watch the trio figure out how to get to different locations and find the different capsules was a lot of fun! Plus the memories that each capsule revealed were intriguing and helped boost the story forward. I thought that the blooming friendship between the three was adorable, and I really liked their teamwork.

And then it felt like everything changed. The most drastic change being Peter and Kat. Suddenly, I really disliked them. Suddenly, they started treating Jackie like shit. Suddenly there was a romance that had not real building blocks or foreshadowing? (I still honestly have no clue how that happened). The entire ending of the story I just couldn't help but feel bad for Jackie. The first part of this book was so much fun, and then it just got so harsh and sad and not as fun. I missed the happy, fun, and adventurous vibes from the beginning of the book.

There was also another aspect of this book that really displeased me, but it does contain spoilers, so if you would like to remain spoiler free please skip this paragraph. It felt like most of the story got wrapped up. Jackie and Jay were close again, Jackie met Eugene, Peter and Kat came back, but we never really learn what happened with capsule itself. I really really wish that we learned who or what was behind capsule. Even if it was just a small hint (such as the lady at the RV telling Jackie she knew that she had a big decision to make, or even an epilogue of capsule popping up on another person's phone). It felt like capsule just kind of up and dissipated without much resolution, and that felt odd considering that the majority of this story was about capsule and finishing the game.

I think that this book had a lot of promise, and started off really really well, but those unresolved questions and just the way that Peter and Kat changed in how they viewed each other and how they treated Jackie just, they left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Thank you NetGalley and Lost Island Press for the eARC for review!

____

2 kids on opposite ends of the social ladder go missing, and the rumours fly - Peter killed Kat. They ran away together. They were abducted. But when a mysterious app shows up on Jackie's phone with instructions to "save" the missing teens and erase the day, Jackie, Kat, and Peter must work together to win the game.


This book was surprisingly gripping. I'll admit, it took me a bit to get into (mostly because I was busy, not because the beginning was slow), but once I did, it took me on quite the journey.

The characters were the highlight for sure. What you see is definitely not what you get with Peter, Kat, and Jackie. The unlikely friendship that forms was lovely, and each of their personal struggles was complex and deeply-rooted. I also loved Jay, Jackie's brother, and the role he ends up playing in the novel. Something about estranged sibling relationships always gets me right in the gut.

Capsule is definitely a cool concept. I loved the idea of this fully immersive, magical, nonsensical game that only our main characters know about. I'm still deciding how I feel about the mystery surrounding it, but the more I ruminate, the more I think the novel ended perfectly. Not everything needs a perfect explanation or some sort of sci-fi plausibility. The fact that not every question is answered works really well for the structure of the book.

The writing was great (though I didn't feel necessarily that each character has a very distinct voice, given all their chapters were written in 3rd person). The memories were riveting, the underlying mystery of Kat's sister was an unexpected treat (though, yes, I saw the big reveal coming) and it was generally a very exciting book. Fun, even, despite the serious content.

A solid sci-fi read for anyone interested in something a little different!

I loved this so much! The concept was really easy to grasp and the story was so fluently written that I couldn’t help but be engrossed in it.

‘Capsule’ follows Jackie, an avid gamer, as she’s taken back in time to be the character in a game as she had to relive the events that led up to two of her classmates’ disappearances in an attempt to save their lives.

But despite this being about living in a video game, it managed to explore some deep/emotional topics like grief, guilt & family relations; without ever becoming too depressing.

I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. It was written with a lot of tact and emotion and it was clear that the author hadn't just tried to let the video game plot carry the story. I really liked how through all the memories and experiences they go through together, you get to discover who Peter and Kat really are and what caused them to change. The friendship that they formed with Jackie was a really strong and unique friendship and it was quite heartbreaking that they had to start again at the end. I also really liked the addition of Eugene, he may not have seemed important to the plot but he added a lot to Jackie's backstory and her journey. However, I did think that Isabella could have been written a bit better, as to me she seemed a bit shallow and one-sided, though she did only appear for a short amount of time in the book. Overall, if you enjoy stories about the build-up and destruction of relationships set in a realistic teenage lifestyle then you'll definitely enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Capsule by Mel Torrefranca is a young adult fantasy novel where three people are drawn into a 'game' that no one else can see. They need to complete the game in order to save lives however, many secrets come out along the way.

I enjoyed this book, I wasn't sure about it at first but I liked the way it flowed and how the characters grew throughout the book.

I would recommend to Young Adult fans who enjoy a bit of fantasy.

This is a unique YA mystery/thriller, that surprised me with how well written it was. The plot involves a teenage girl that is prompted by a strange app to rescue some real classmates that have recently disappeared. Nobody else seems to be able to see the app, and soon she embarks on a strange quest...

The story is structured so that certain things might not make sense when they are first introduced, but the author does a good job of tying everything together, so that by the end the reader understands what was happening. The characters seem very realistic, and the interactions they have also seem to be believable.

This book was a better than I thought it was going to be, as I personally don't read much Young Adult fiction. It was easy to read, and I personally liked the text formatting changes for internal dialogue, although I could understand if some found it to be hard on the eyes. I personally would've preferred if the author had gone in a different direction with the ending, but overall I thought the plot was solid and well planned. There were some fun moments, but also serious, darker ones. There were also some nice life lessons about priorities, and learning to make real friends.

I received and reviewed the novel Capsule by Mel Torrefranca. #Capsule #NetGalley.

Peter Moon and Kat Pike are two unassuming students at Brookwood High School. That is until they go missing.

Jackie Mendoza is the third student involved in this time travelling sci\fi thriller. She is a video game addict lured into an app that has forced itself onto her phone. But only she can see it. And only she can save the other students.

I can't believe this was written by a teenager. Its is very well written and trots along at a good pace. With solid world building in addition to character and plot development.

It definitely made me want to keep reading and find out if Jackie could save the day.

I would recommend this novel for ages 12+. Great read and keep up the great work. 4.5 stars.

Book Trigger Warnings: death, family grief, car accident, bullying, drowning;

This novel follows the story of Jackie, a high-school student, who one day finds a mysterious app called Capsule downloaded on her phone. She discovers that it's actually a game which, if she wins, will help her save two of her colleagues, Peter and Kat, who have been missing for the past couple of days.

Jackie has no idea how the game ended up on her phone and the most interesting thing is that no one else can see it and no information can be found about it on the internet.

Since she is a game addict and doesn't have any friends, she decides to accept the challenge offered by Capsule.

As she will struggle to complete the levels, Jackie will discover deep buried secrets that both Peter and Kat have been holding, but she will also discover the importance of true friendship and how some games are not about winning but more about enjoying the journey.

The first quarter of the book went a little bit slow because it took me a while to become invested in the characters' story but once it happened the rest of the novel was a fast paced read.

I loved that it was written in the third person’s POV, the narrator offering a perspective over what each of the characters was thinking so that we can understand them better.

I liked that the characters were very complex and each of the three of them was battling something unique but they were still willing to help each other.

I believe that this novel sends a powerful message towards its readers reminding us about the importance of friendship, grief and forgiveness.

It was such a unique and exciting story, I really enjoyed it!

Jackie Mendoza is 16-years-old & her life revolves around her computer & playing games online. When two students from her school, Brookwood High go missing on the same night, Jackie doesn't take much notice until a strange app uploads itself onto her phone. Try as she might, Jackie can't delete the app & no-one else can see it, & Jackie realises she is meant to play a game which involves the two students who disappeared.

I really liked the premise of this book, & for the most part it worked really well. I was hooked right from the start, but personally, I found it felt a little laboured towards the end. The two missing students, Peter Moon & Kat Pike, are difficult to like for most of the book but Jackie is a great character. I also found the message of not using technology to hide from your problems & avoid making personal connections a bit heavy handed at times, after all there are those of us who due to personal circumstances, rely on technology to be connected to the outside world. Having said that, it was an entertaining read with one or two serious themes & I would recommend it to other YA readers, & it earns a well deserved 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Lost Island Press/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This book has 2 tropes I absolutely love: a game and "we cannot stand each other, but we have to work together". So I knew I was going to eat this up. 🤩
The contemporary pop culture references kind of took me out of the story, but that is a subjective thing. I believe the writing had already set the tone of the society, so the references were not really necessary. 🤷‍♀️

I found this book to be gripping, enthralling and exciting. I was flipping the pages non-stop and losing track of time. And that is the ultimate goal of book, is it not? 😍

If you like games, emotional scenes, and fast-paced stories, this one is for you! 💙💙

SUMMARY
Jackie prefers games, not people. However even she can't miss the fact that two of her classmates, Peter and Kat have gone missing. After a mysterious app named Capsule appears on her phone she finds herself caught in a dangerous game that might possibly save Peter and Kat, or destroy them all. 

WHY SHOULD I READ THIS? 
This book isn't a slow burn but a steady one, which I appreciated. Sometimes authors take forever to build then rush to finish. This is not the case in Capsule. 

I liked that the author didn't go off on tangents that weren't directly related to the main story. Although initially the "levels" and the connected memories seem random, they come together in a neat way, where all questions are answered at the end. 

TW: This story does involve the death of loved ones. Death is a hard topic at any age, and I liked the progression of the characters as they were forced to face their difficult past and acknowledge it. To me, this was portrayed in a realistic, age appropriate way.

The concept of Capsule as a "game" was an interesting twist, because it forced the characters to engage with hard truths and work through them. These conversations were engaging and could be helpful for readers with similar history. 

I really liked how the relationship developed between the three main characters. They were an unlikely group in a highly improbable situation. But in reality they had more in common than they thought. The ups and downs, the fights and laughter was very engaging and kept me reading. 


FINAL THOUGHTS
Starting off I was skeptical. Hasn't this story been told a million times over? But honestly, I was pleasantly surprised as the story progressed and shook at some of the reveals and the plot twists. As I mentioned before, the story kept moving forward at a good pace and was able to keep my interest until the very satisfying end. The concept of the novel is great, and there are lots of opportunity for a second book.

Wow! I absolutely loved this way more than I anticipated and it brought way more to the table than expected as well. A wonderful Scifi thriller mixed with layers of mystery, and life lessons. I found myself eager to read on and see what would happen next. The events of the world really changed the characters and it was interesting to see how their views changed/how they adapted over time.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Lost Island Press for making this book readily available for our reading pleasure!

Potential triggers for this novel may include: death, brief suicide implications, and car accidents.

Capsule introduces us to our protagonist Jackie Mendoza, a girl obsessed with video games living in the shadow of her older brother Jay. She has no friends in real life, only her one online friend, and she is very okay with that. After the disappearance of two of her classmates, a strange app downloads itself onto her phone and instructs her that she must play the game in order to save them.

I originally decided to pick up this novel as the cover was super eye-catching, the description was amazing, and the mystery, thriller, sci-fi/fantasy, and YA genre tags seemed right up my alley.

I absolutely adored the plot! It was so original and I loved how there were elements of magical realism (where there's magic in an otherwise normal universe). I also loved how not everything was revealed at once or so explicitly. It allowed and even required readers to make inferences and theories based on what they had seen so far. It overall just made the reading experience ten times more fun. It also ties up really nicely and I didn't feel like there were any holes left over. Also the plot twist!! I did NOT expect that at all. It was amazing.

Also, I LOVED LOVED LOVED the characters!! So many things about them were just *chefs kiss.* First of all, I liked that the female characters weren't just expected to be unselfish and unforgiving considering the circumstances they've gone through. I also liked that they were allowed to learn from their flaws without being demonized. Additionally, I enjoyed that all of them felt very teenager-ey. They bickered and talked just like most young adults and teenagers that I know in real life, including people that I am friends with. I also enjoyed their different representations of depression - numbness, isolation, and avoidance. I felt myself being able to relate to them and understand their motives quite easy with how well this all was portrayed, which made it easy to root for them the farther the story went along.

The one thing that I didn't like (and ultimately led me to knock my rating down from 5 stars to 4) was the end. For one thing, I feel like the introduction to Eugene felt very out of left field and awkward. I certainly would not have forgiven him as easily as Jackie did, but maybe that's just me. I also didn't like, without giving too much away, that the ending felt like it rendered the entire book useless and undid all of the development that they went through. Sure, Jackie carried the lessons with her and will hopefully use it to make things right again, but I just felt like everything wrapped up so nicely that the last chapter completely ruined.

However, I absolutely loved this novel and can safely say that it's going on my favorite shelves. This is a great story for anyone who likes magical realism; wants a read that is fast and mind-grabbing; and enjoys the found family trope or characters addressing their own mental illnesses and traumas to heal.

What would you do if your daily pastime (gaming, VR) had a new app that threatened to erase your missing classmates? This is a classic sci-fi book with some new twists that kept me on the edge of my seat

From a gamer`s perspective, this is like a game that you have been waiting for for so long. And
now that you have it within your grasp, you savor every moment and sets one goal and that is to
beat the game! But in this novel there is more that is at risk, Beating the game named Capsule
means saving two lives!

Three High school students that don`t get along needs to cooperate to beat the game and saves
the lives of the two. Peter and Kat went missing both of them do not have any connection to
each other. They are completely at the opposite end of their high school life. Peter runs a blog
that reveals the true identity of the students in their school and this makes everyone hates him.
While Kat is a quite popular and stone-cold teenager who does not care about others. And
lastly, there is Jackie who wishes she is playing games enjoying with her online friends but she
is stuck at this game named Capsule that just mysteriously appeared on her phone. And now
she needs to play it to save the lives of Peter and Kat for they can disappear permanently if they
won`t beat the game that is intertwined with their reality.

This is not just a story of those three teens making it out of the game. There is more to it, there
is more to tell from those three great characters and I think that is what makes this novel better
than others. Even the little details such as the chapter`s name were really like in a game. They
are called levels and like how it is in a game it gets harder every time but when you reached its
end you will get a reward.

This was such a good read. It was too fun. A book composed not just a good twisty story but
also with its good characters. And I hope there is more or a sequel that discloses who is behind
all of this.

Capsule

[Blurb Goes Here]

Capsule is the story of a gamer girl, a teenager that completely ignores the world around her, but that suddenly is thrown into chaos when two classmates go missing. She really doesn't give a rats ass about her missing classmates. Unfortunately for her a mysterious app, one she can't delete from her smart phone, challenges her to find them before time's up.

The author seems to try and give you a life lesson: the main characters in the story are an Instagram wanna-be model, a gamer girl with the one online friend, and a blogger who keeps writing crap about his classmates. They all suddenly find real friendship outside the confines of their games and social networks.

Still, the adventure, is a really good one. It's imaginative and fast paced, you root for the heroes and find unexpected things about their past, the reasons they became what they are.

I wasn't expecting much more than a teen adventure. I was so wrong. Give Capsule a try, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

3.5/5 stars.

Capsule is a brilliant thrilling novel that is hard to put down. The novel follows Jackie who finds a mysterious app on her phone following the disappearances of two of her classmates, and suddenly finds herself back in time before their disappearance working against the clock to stop whatever fate that awaits them. It's got a fast-paced plot and interesting protagonists - they're not entirely likeable, but they're not supposed to be. Peter, Jackie, and Kat are all outsiders that find themselves stuck together to solve this mystery and follow the rules of Capsule to finish the game. Some of their interactions irked me as it seemed repetitive with their fights and really doubling down on the issues that they had, but overall I enjoyed reading their character growth even if it did feel more show than tell.

Overall a really good thriller novel that will keep you on your toes.

A gripping story about three teenagers and an app that changed their lives. I would highly recommend this book to any YA genre lovers out there. Very well written.

This was so much more than I expected. A teen sci fi thriller mixed with life lessons, a mystery with complex layers and unexpected connections. I was totally drawn in and eager to see how it would progress and essentially end. The characters each had flaws and it was fascinating to see how each event in the story changed the way they saw the world. There was a good balance between action and introspection.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book really pulls you in. At first, it's exciting that they're playing a game and sort of confusing because we don't know why these people were chosen. The levels seem easy to complete, but it's deceptive. The author did a great job of luring you in and making you invested in these characters. I wanted to read this whole thing at once, it flows well and has some crazy ups and downs.

The game seems simple, go to the location of the capsule and see the memory. How difficult is that? When you have three very different people playing and secrets are exposed, the game starts getting intense. The way Jackie, Peter, and Kat interact is so interesting and I liked seeing their layers peeled away to see what's underneath. This showed that what you see isn't always the truth and how one event can have far reaching consequences.

I'm really into these real life game books and I hope to read more. I'll be checking out other books from this author as well, highly recommend this story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Lost Island Press and NetGalley for the copy