Retro has a unique concept and important lesson, that being highlighting the dangers of social media. It shows us how we can survive without digital technology and that we can actually have fun while doing so. I really liked the idea of it and found the suspense and mystery to be really engaging, however, the main character seemed a little too flat, almost stereotypical, and the ending really ruined it for me. While I know that teenagers want to be the heroes of their own stories, I felt that this was a pretty unrealistic way to put it, hence why my rating fell down to 3 stars. The plot, however, is certainly engaging and enlightening.

This book creatively illustrates the dangers of social media and the importance of strong friendships. It is the perfect mix of mystery, humor, and fun. I especially love the playlist embedded into the novel. I can't wait to add this to our high school library and share it with our teenagers.

First of all the messaging of this book is lovely. The idea that you need to step back from technology and learn to enjoy living in the present, is great.

The execution and plot of this book left something to be desired. First of all I struggle to see this as a mystery/thriller since it seems obvious what’s happening. Second of of all, I just didn’t like it. There were some fun one liners and there were other times where it felt like it was trying too hard to be funny. The mystery is not a mystery at all and you could read this without realizing there’s anything mysterious happening for more than half the book.

I heard about RETRO at YALLFest and was intrigued by the authors' description of the story and the reason why they wrote it the way they did. They wanted to focus on shorter chapters linking it to a playlist while addressing the current generation's reliance on technology. The shorter chapters were to appeal to the more reluctant readers, knowing that the story itself would pull them in and the chapter length would not deter them from enjoying the book.

As a middle school librarian, this was very appealing to me. We are always looking for engaging books, and even better if they appeal to our reluctant and voracious readers. I was also intrigued by a story that involved teens willingly giving up technology. The adoption of all things "retro," which were, essentially, everything from my childhood (LOL), was a fun blast from the past. The playlist "chapters" really pulled me into the story as well.

I soon realized that I would be hesitant recommending this book to middle schoolers. I feel it is more geared towards high school students, so I am recommending that our high school library purchase it instead. 3.5 stars

I truly wanted to like this book; however, I kept being pulled out of the action. The voice felt forced and stilted, and I found myself wishing for more as I read. Even though the concept was really interesting, scenes felt smashed together and I had a challenging time staying motivated to remain reading. While I feel that some of my students would enjoy this book, it won’t be one I widely recommend.

After Luna is involved with a cyberbullying event that went out of hand, she implores the social media app involved, Limbo, to change their ways. What happens instead is they announce they are sponsoring a Retro challenge where students agree to go technology free for a year with the chance to win a full ride. Luna knows this is her chance to achieve her dreams, so she immediately signs up. At first things seem great, but soon people start going missing and clearly something sinister is at play.

What I liked about this book: such a unique concept! The characters were great, especially Mimi, Darnell, and Kilo. The progression of events was also good - like the buildup with the events with Samantha all made sense leading up to the challenge.

What I didn't like about this book: one of the biggest problems I had reading this was that so many chapters ended on a dramatic cliffhanger in terms of language. Like "we didn't realize that something even worse was waiting around the corner." I understand trying to play up the drama, but it was so repetitive, it got cheesy and overplayed. I also feel like there was so much teasing of the end with the interludes from Luna that the actual captivity part felt rushed.

Overall, a unique concept that is a pretty good YA book. If you can get past the constant overt foreshadowing, then this will be even more enjoyable!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When cyberbullying nearly leads to a student's death, the app where the bullying had occurred, Limbo, offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to the students at El Dorado High: to join the "retro challenge" and potentially win a full scholarship to the college of their choosing. All they have to do is avoid modern technology for the entire school year. Sounds too good to be true, right? So, of course, strange things start happening and students begin to disappear. Can Luna and her friends solve this mystery before it's too late?
The first thing I loved about this YA thriller was that the chapter titles were all retro pop songs. It was so fun to get to each chapter and feel the nostalgia. I also really enjoyed the friendships and the fun setting. I did feel that the red herrings were a bit much; towards the end, suspicion kept getting passed from character to character and then immediately explained away. But overall, I had fun reading this one. It's both timely and full of nostalgia.

Ok, so I DNFed this one 'cause I couldn't quite swallow the premise, but I'm still rating it because I definitely plan on recommending it! This is one of those books that I think teens will love, but that isn't totally adult friendly (well, not for this adult, anyway). I read about 20% and couldn't stop picking holes in it, so I stopped reading it, but again, I think actual teenagers will really like it and there's some great messaging about social media.

There are so many good things about this book!

• The topic of social media and bullying is relevant and realistic. This will resonate with young people today. Because of the social media challenge, high school is completely flipped on its head! What an idea. I can only imagine what would happen if every school had such a challenge!
• Each chapter title is a song from before the 2000s! I was grooving to some great songs I haven’t listened to in a while. I think the songs did a great job adding to the atmosphere of the story and gave it extra flavor! The authors also mentioned Brittany Spears and Lindsay Lohan! Loved these references as an older person. These people and songs were part of my childhood.
• Also, the chapters are short and quick paced. I find myself dragging at times when books stretch out chapters too long, or don’t leave space.
• The main characters are diverse, yet they learn to celebrate and unite despite being different.
• The main characters have flaws but realistically redeeming qualities. They have character arcs and change and grow throughout the story.
• I love how it discusses real teenage problems—social media, bulimia (in boys!!), suicide, bullying, divorce—and showed hope. Sometimes these issues are there just for shock value, but i felt everything contributed to the characters, story, and ultimate themes.
• I laughed a lot. The characters were quirky individuals who I could laugh alongside because they felt real and fleshed out.
• And I cried. There were some moments where I was punched in the gut. Oof.
• I love how the characters took responsibility for their actions, came clean, and made a real change.
• The main character speaks Spanish and talks proudly about her Mexican heritage!
• Honestly, I knew whodunit, however, there were enough smaller twists to keep it interesting. Along with an action-packed story where chapter one was actually towards the end and the rest of the story explained and filled in the holes—it kept me engaged and wondering what was going on and kept me reading.
• The ending was a bit brief and a little too easy maybe, but I still thought it was bad-a**. Endings are super hard to get right, and I still rate this five stars regardless.

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Some of my favorite quotes:
“Like my mom always says, the sexiest thing you can wear are your values.” - Mimi

“We always talk about how lethal the click of a gun can be, but no one ever talks about the click of the smartphone.”

“Sometimes when I say I’m fine it means I want someone to look into my eyes, give me a big hug, and whisper softly into my ear, I made enchiladas.”

“Because we aren’t just friends, we’re familia.”

This was an amazing YA thriller, with a perfect blend of mystery and intrigue, romance, and the importance of friendship. There was a lot of humor in this book (some more mature but still leaning on the PG-13 side). Luna’s wit and banter cracked me up. Also, I love Luna and her friends, and I really hope the authors collaborate again to write a sequel/spin-off.

Retro is one of those books that you can pick up and read in one sitting losing track of time and surroundings as you are immersed in the thrilling nature of this young adult entry.

The story follows Luna Iglesias, a high school aged protagonist who finds herself at the center of a major social media scandal on the application, Limbo. Looking for resolution to her mistake, Luna reaches out to Limbo who shows up at El Dorado High School with an opportunity for students to “Go Retro” and live a full school year without modern technology for a chance at a full-ride scholarship to the college of the student’s choice. Sounds great, right?!

What Luna and her Retro Challenge friends soon realize is how technologically inflicted their lives truly are as they take on the challenges of Limbo in hopes of fulfilling dreams that may not have been realized before they took on the challenge. What makes the novel even more intense is the fact that retros are going missing and Luna and her friends must act quickly or they, too, may disappear.

One of the major strengths of this book is the inclusion of diverse characters living within the shadows of modern technology and social media. There were many times when a character would stop and reflect on how their interactions are affected by their “followers” or “friends” leaving readers asking how influenced their own lives are by applications like Limbo. Many characters realize that their past plays a pivotal role in their future as their own mistakes must be actualized and reconciled before they can move forward with their own lives. This provides a realistic aspect to the novel and the decisions that have to be made affect the characters in a way that may provide solace for some readers of the book.

By the end of the novel, Luna and the cast of retros must band together to figure out who is taking them out one-by-one which provides a sense of camaraderie pulling in elements of teenager lifestyles and actions. The overarching plot of the story takes a dark turn not dissimilar to many young adult thrillers published and teenage-viewed television series’ released in the past few years. With this comes several scenarios that may be difficult to some readers of the novel especially those who have battled with mental illness, body dysmorphia, abuse, isolation, and other forms of trauma in their life.

Luna is a lovable protagonist, and I feel that readers will adventure through this book with care for her, her family, and her friends. There are times when I could not stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen next as well as times I needed to pause and take in what just happened to reflect on how it translates for teenagers living in modern society. There are intense situations that reflect some of the challenges that young adults face in the modern world and the story does not always reconcile these moments with the reader/subject. References to a suicide attempt, intimacy between characters, and underaged drinking/drug use would make me careful about recommending this book to just anyone.

Overall, I enjoyed Retro and am grateful for Sofía Lapuente and Jarrod Shusterman for writing a novel that challenges the culture of modern teenagers. As I was telling my wife, this book reads like it was written for a young adult audience as well as a 30-something audience with the awesome playlist, 90s-00s references, and connections to trends in fashion and media. Retro is a thrilling adventure that will leave you reflecting on your own life choices with social media and technology. Maybe we should all “Go Retro!” for a little while at least.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

This book was amazing and nothing like I expected. There are a few typos in the book, but it doesn’t take away from the wonders of the book. I was constantly on edge, and laughing at the things the author put into this book that were funny little remarks and things like that. I also really appreciate the queer representation in here. This book is fabulous, and everyone should read it. If you like thrillers and comedies, this one’s for you.

Offer: reward money to anyone who can successfully live without modern technology for a year.

The catch?? All is well and fine until people start disappearing, and a fight to live off the grid, becomes a fight for your life.

Overall this book is just what you expect from a Middle Grade/YA crossover. It's full of fun and cheesy pop-culture references, the cast of characters is eccentric, and though the plot and "big reveal" became a bit predictable, it still fit with the overall story, and came at the perfect moment.

Retro is set to be published on January 24, 2023. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, NetGalley and the authors for the Advanced Reader's Copy. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

I loved the concept of this, but unfortunately, the execution wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the writing or with any of the characters.

The beginning bit was interesting as we learned about the background for and the setup of the "Retro" challenge, but I lost interest during the middle section. It did pick up a bit towards the end as we got to more of the mystery and thriller parts of the book, but by that point, I just wasn't that invested in the plot or characters.

Younger readers might like this more than I did.

2.5

I absolutely loved the cast of characters in this. The story was so interesting it was something I've never read anything like before. I was rooting for our main character the whole time and overall loved the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

I really like the premise of this book - a challenge to live without technology that turns into a bit of a thriller? Yes please! However, the plot was a bit of a mess and the challenge made absolutely zero sense. I was so confused by the time we reached the real mystery and drama that I wasn't actually interested in it.

Everything about this reads like adults trying to write teenagers without ever meeting one. It was very cringey, and meant there wasn't a single character that I was even remotely interested in. Unfortunately, the whole book was a swing and a miss for me!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Thanks to NetGalley for an E-arc of this book in exchange for a honest review..

What. A. Book! I loved everything about this story and how it shows the dark side of technology while still showing that technology isn’t all bad. Definitely had some Riverdale vibes and everything about the story made me want to keep reading…so much so that I read it in one day. The playlist Sofia and Jarrod put together for it is just pure icing on the cake and really made the reading experience even better. I’ll definitely be grabbing copies for my middle grade students!

I really enjoyed Retro. I loved all the references to the time in which I grew up and loved that the chapter titles were song titles!
This book takes on our obsessiveness with technology and our reliance on it. When cyber bullying gets out of hand a Luna's school students are offered a chance to participate in a challenge to live technology free. The challenge is also a way for the tech giant LIMBO to save face as their platform was where the bullying occurred. But as the challenge goes on students start disappearing and Luna starts to question what is really going on and what is really behind the challenge.
I think Retro is incredibly timely in that cyber bullying and technology use (or overuse) is so prevalent especially among teens. This book handles the topics well and shows that big tech companies often have total disregard for the negative effects of their product on their users!

A great book for middle grade and YA readers who are addicted to TikTok. This story starts with a lighthearted, fun competition that slowly turns sinister. I enjoyed this book and it kept me entertained all the way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read a cheesy book that really straddles Middle Grade and YA? Are you obsessed with Tiktok? Do you like a book that will beat you over the head with pop culture references and platitudes but can’t string together a plot?

Pre-reading:
A stunning cover. Get on my bookshelf.

Thick of it:
I hate this book immediately.

It's always weirdly disorienting to my narcissistic ass when book characters have my name.

It is deeply offensive to compare school shooting victims to victims of social media bullying. Phone clicks are not gunshots. Bullying can be stopped and worked through. Shot is dead.

Doctors “doing their hardest” 👀

This book is so Tiktok heavy it’s going to date itself nearly instantaneously.

She’s afraid of showering.

This book is why people hate “snowflake liberal millennials.”

So much pick-me emo energy.

You’re allowed to wear crop tops to school? (Apparently yes.)

A heart proportional to boobs-what?!?

This book is so cringe. Not in a good way at all.

Yeah, because no one has multiple phones.

Who signed this child’s permission slip to get a massive chest tattoo? (Lol extra no one.)

Tinder has an age requirement. These are children. They can’t be on there.

Wow, glitter. How scary.

Don’t drag Smash Mouth into this. They’ve suffered enough.

What…what does pasta have to do with airplanes?

I think working with kids makes you a mandated reporter.

The metaphors in this book make me want to die. In the bad way, not in the funny haha way.

That’s right, no opinionated girls.

Red is not the best skittles flavor. Def purple, blue, or pink.

I fully googled Daft Punk like that’s not old, but 22 years 🙃

Idk if talking about high schoolers on pornhub is exactly kosher.

Why were you in the school at night though?

This mouse and lion quote makes no sense.

Leave Smash Mouth out of this omg.

BTK anyone?

This socks line is the only quip I’ve enjoyed this whole book.

YA continues to fixate on Harry Potter. Yawn.

I…I also enjoy the blanket quip. Sue me.

Are they gonna make Vince have an eating disorder or? (yes.)

Your vagina isn’t the part that pees.

Not a Furby omg. Things of nightmares.

The way all of us girls are fixated on corsets as the sexiest tops. But also she’s a baby. No corsets.

I put eyeliner on without opening my mouth.

I don’t know who Miranda is. (I still don’t.)

Cauliflower is delicious.

So much privilege in this book.

I actually did know that fact about the silver screen, but I forget where I learned it. Maybe a podcast or another one of these random reads.

I did not know about the cow fat.

Why would you just not find out who it is?

Honestly, I don’t remember who Ruby is. (Lowkey still don’t.)

Why does every character with anxiety need to be told that they’re brave or a superhero for dealing with it by their love interests? It’s not brave to function. It’s do or die, and the universe does not care which one you pick.

No, sorry hold on. How do you just move on from dead animals in a clearing in the woods? Like, call the police or an animal control officer to get rid of them. Also what the fuck.

Teenagers talking about role-playing in bed makes me uncomfy.

No, take the Tesla, you idiot.

This girl put stinky eggs in her pocket.

This man just fake-proposed with a donut.

“As a woman”-absolutely not.

Hooking up during a house party while you’re being filmed-no.

If she’s getting texts, then you have her location.

Also, for all the platitudes and fucking life messages this book supposedly has, little miffed that they didn’t talk condoms or birth control.

The setting for this scene reminds me of the junkyard in Life is Strange.

Friends do not tell each other everything.

Yeah, I don’t think your mother would be cool giving a ride to the girl who posted the video that made her daughter kill herself.

It would literally be illegal to handcuff underage children together and make them share bathrooms. HR.

An artichoke bouquet.

How would you have not seen that before now? It’s been like a week.

Oh my god, not the Clinton reference.

You know, I will say this book is fully committed to the cringe. It never lets up.

That doesn’t rhyme.

There’s no way they should be allowed to have gold diggers as their mascot.

They literally told you they were gonna record everything. You signed contracts without lawyers.

Why would these grown adults care that she’s blowing a whistle? That doesn’t stop anyone. Oh my god, I hate this book.

I still don’t understand what this company is trying to accomplish with a few teenagers. Nothing makes sense lol.

I’m sure the mall has a massive insurance policy and will be fine. (It is.)

It’s not his fault what his parents do for a living. This is idiotic.

Syntonizing is a brand new word to me.

The world would not give a single shit. Just walk out the door.

Anyway, here’s Wonderwall.

Are we not supposed to know Fineman was Andy? Lowkey, I have no recollection of Fineman ever being mentioned-I just assumed he was the one with the company. I can’t keep track of people in this book.

Post-reading:
This book is a hot mess of pop culture references. The narrative voice skews so young, I would almost classify this as Middle Grade if it weren’t for the references to sex. Let’s be real, the competition and “villain” make zero sense. Doesn’t even really try to. So if you take out that whisper of a plot, you really just have an author listing off damaged high schooler stereotypes. And for what? There are no real stakes or drama to it. Everyone has a tragic backstory. This is fiction. We done been knew. And when your characters only act to tick diversity boxes, it becomes impossible to remember or keep track of them so there’s no real emotional weight to anything. It comes off as preachy, and insensitive, and like a fat wad of tokenism. Representation isn’t a list. Characters have to be bigger than their backstories. It reads like every other fake woke book, and is just annoying, and I’m truly not sure who the intended audience for this book is. Current high schoolers? Will not give a shit. My age-twenty somethings? Already way too old. Middle schoolers? Probably a smidge inappropriate. It almost reads like 13 Reasons Why fanfiction. This book exists outside of money, and law enforcement, and real-world consequences, and that feels a bit irresponsible when you’re addressing suicide, and drug use, and eating disorders.

Who should read this:
Immature readers obsessed with Tiktok or books with pop culture references

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke-what should be the standard for snarky high school narrator competes in a competition.
* Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson-quirky characters with a nonsensical plot
* Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon-cringe narrator and heavy on pop culture references.
* Crush in the Cascades by Lisa S. Gayle-weird reality show rom-com
* Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett-quirky ya rom-com