A dystopian coming of age story with strong Handmaid's Tale vibes. So there are definitely trigger warnings for reader's here but I think if you've read or watched The Handmaid's Tale you can handle this material. The more dystopian books I read the more I see books & stories like this as cautionary tales for the future.
A world where girls in New America require chaperones at all times. Not only are you not allowed to be with a boy alone you can't even be alone with yourself, personally that's when I get my best reading done when I'm alone. I could not live in this New America that's for sure a great read but I'm rather glad it's just a story.
Dystopian fiction fans will truly enjoy this one!!!

I struggled through this a bit. I liked the concept- it was very The Village-ish. It did come off a little dull and anti-climatic at the ending.

great book and I enjoyed the characters growth. Loved the friends and how this all worked out. I enjoyed the characters journey to finding oneself and others. I hope to read more by this author again.

I thought this was an interesting YA Dystopian read! Overall, I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

A little slow and a lack of explanation, which might explain why the ending felt like it came our of nowhere and made no sense. However, I did like the exploration of the dangers of giving one group absolute power over another, a particularly timely topic in this country.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

Handmaid's Tale for teens. Stella is a 17 yo teen. In New America, wealthy teens have Chaperone's following them. Stella's beloved chaperone Sister Helen dies and a new one is sent and she helps Stella open her eyes.

I love dystopian books but this one fell a bit flat for me.

Stella is a high schooler living in New America. Created after a split from the US (Old America) it is an ultra conservative society. Girls under the age of 18 may not talk with boys, cannot be touched by a male, even their father, and have classes like Gynelogical Health in high school. They may not answer in class if they happen to be in one of the few classes that are coed. Women must marry when they are grown and have babies, the State encourages it. Once girls reach puberty, they must be accompanied by their own chaperone and go no where by themselves. Even in their own homes, the chaperone lives with the family and teaches the girls what is needed. If families cannot afford a chaperone, they go to a government boarding school. Stella’s father is CEO at one of the wealthiest companies in New America. Constables keep the order and make certain everyone is following the rules. Books are banned that the government decides could be subversive or expose young people to ideas they should not be aware of. Stella cannot understand her mother’s coldness toward her and becomes very close to her chaperone, Sister Helen, until she dies suddenly. Eventually a new chaperone, Sister Laura arrives. She changes Stella’s life. Thought provoking, fast paced, cautionary tale. Living in Florida, this book would be banned in schools for the 14-18 year olds it is targeted for. Our governor would object to many of the topics in the book and there has been a huge banning of books in the school system. This book reminds us once again how quickly rights can be taken away. Frightening because this is happening. Remarkable because it reminds us there always is a way, even if it requires sacrifice.

I really wanted to like this book, but it started to drag and nothing really happened until quite far in. Not the book for me!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

The Chaperone is a debut novel for M Hendrix. The story is a thought provoking, deeply emotional, and very realistic coming of age story set in a Dystopian time where “New America” is run by a group called The Minutemen. In this world, women are to be seen and not heard. Once girls hit puberty, they are assigned a Chaperone if their family can afford one, or sent to government school until they graduate and either get married, go to college, or enroll to become a Chaperone. This story will incite many emotions and keep you on the edge of your seat. I would love to see a sequel so we can continue Stella’s journey to expose New America for what it is, but at the same time the ending felt resolved.

I can’t wait to see what else M. Hendrix writes in their author career, as this was truly a beautiful debut! Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books & NetGalley for allowing me to review this book

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

I was really excited to receive this arc from the publisher through NetGalley. The premise is amazing, Handmaid’s tale for a younger audience. It has a very slow build, despite there being a suspicious death early on it didn’t really seem like much was happening to start with. And then the ending was rather sudden.

I liked the premise of the book and the short chapters. There were parts that seemed too much like Handmaid's Tale and the ending happened so abruptly, so that is why I have ended up with a 3 star rating. I'd still recommend others to read it though!

Thanks to NetGally and the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an advanced copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS Fire via NetGalley.

In the controlled society of New America, Stella follows strict rules and lives under constant supervision. After her chaperone, Sister Helen, passes away, Stella is assigned a new chaperone, Sister Laura, who behaves differently and exposes Stella to forbidden experiences. As Stella spends more time with Sister Laura, she begins to question the purpose and effectiveness of the rules imposed by the Constables. Challenged by newfound freedom and unsettling truths about New America, Stella embarks on a perilous journey across the former United States, risking everything to fight against the oppressive world she knows.

This story was a rollercoaster of unsettling and thought-provoking moments that left me both intrigued and unnerved. It struck a chord with the issues we face in today's society, making it incredibly relevant. The mere possibility that events depicted in the story could actually unfold is utterly terrifying.

While the story had its merits, I couldn't help but feel that it had the potential to be even better. It left me wanting a more extensive narrative. Certain aspects felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me craving a more comprehensive understanding of the story's intricacies.

I definitely would not like New America. This book shows what can happen if men suppress women and hold too much power.

This book is a dystopia fiction, but the chaperone role reminds me of young women needing a chaperone when out with young men in the 17th and 18th centuries. The part about this world that made me the most sad was that education didn't really mean much for girls in that society.

I was rooting for Stella the whole time to understanding how oppressive the rules were. Her chaperones breaking the rules added some entertainment in how ridiculous things really were.

I don't read a lot of dystopia fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Change can come one woman at a time!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

At the start, I thought that this was going to be a sort of run-of-the-mill dystopian, similar to some of the early 2010s fare I used to adore. But wow, I got so much more! The Chaperone was incredibly thought provoking, very engaging, and provided a ton of important social commentary, and I simply could not put it down. And I read it in Europe, so the fact that I was itching to get back to this book says a lot!

Stella lives in New America. New America is The Worst™. And frankly, it is very plausible. It is actually what I figure will eventually happen to the country- it will kind of have to split off, because the oppressors and the people who enjoy basic freedoms won't be able to sustain this tension much longer. And, I prefer separation to war, especially since we are the side who doesn't feel the need to arm ourselves to the teeth. I digress. Stella has only known life in New America. She is told that her being a woman makes her "less than", that her dad is in control of her life, and since she began menstruating, must be watched by, you guessed it, a chaperone. Her whole trajectory in life will either be wife/mother, or chaperone. They don't even teach girls real subjects in school. It's all very gross.

Here's the (happy) catch: Not everyone in New America, not even the seemingly "devout" chaperones, is cool with this garbage. But Stella, whose family has been not only part of the New America cause, but leaders of the cause, cannot even wrap her head around it. Until her chaperone dies under mysterious circumstances, and a new chaperone begins to open her eyes to the world around her.

I don't want to give too much away, since it really is the heart of the story, but Stella's transformation and growth is beautiful. And frankly, it gave me hope. That maybe even the most brainwashed folks can claw their way out, you know? Stella has to learn so much, not just about the real world around her, but her own beliefs and values, as well as the true nature of the members of her family. I could not put this book down, I was so engaged in the story of both Stella, and this world. The book ends well, but it also certainly lends itself to a sequel, which I would be clamoring for. May I clamor now? Thanks. I need to read more about this world, it is so fascinating, and while the author does a great job building it, I also think there is so much more that we could discover. Someone, green light this stat.

Bottom Line: I had a feeling this would be my kind of book, but it blew my already high expectations out of the water.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I had high hopes for the Chaperone, and it delivered.

I am starting to tire of dystopia style books, but this was different. I think that is because it doesn't feel impossible in this social climate.

It can easily be compared to a Handsmaid Tale mixed with the nightly news
I already ordered it for my 17 year old niece,
Great book that will hopefully open some eyes.

Well, this was really good. It's a very fast-paced read, certainly a page-turner. I must point out it has very short chapters—115 (!!!) to be precise—and that's something that made me want to keep reading nonstop.
The story includes a lot of elements featured in other dystopias, and it amazingly manages to give those elements a very unique treatment—although you can't name a dystopia where the MC doesn't make a public statement pretending to support the bad guys who rule the country, and this one's not the exception.
I really liked Stella's journey and how she grew as a character. I also found Sister Laura's story very interesting, and would've loved reading more about her.
The novel as a whole manages to deliver a really powerful message about women's rights and the need to keep fighting for them, which I think is really important in today's world.
If you love dystopian stories, you'll want to check this one out.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has potential but I just don't think it was for me. I made it about 40% through the book before DNFing. It was an interesting and important premise, a future American where women and girls don't have autonomy and have to live by strict rules "to keep them safe", but one I feel like has been done before. There wasn't really a unique spin or approach to the topic that kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading. I would recommend this book for young girls who maybe haven't read something like this before or aren't at the reading level for more adult books on this topic. The writing was well done and I found the characters to be engaging.

This is a thought provoking, deeply emotional, and very realistic coming of age story set in a Dystopian time where “New America” is run by a group called The Minutemen. In this world, women are to be seen and not heard. Once girls hit puberty, they are assigned a Chaperone if their family can afford one, or sent to government school until they graduate and either get married, go to college, or enroll to become a Chaperone. This story will incite many emotions and keep you on the edge of your seat. I would love to see a sequel so we can continue Stella’s journey to expose New America for what it is, but at the same time the ending felt resolved.

I can’t wait to see what else M. Hendrix writes in their author career, as this was truly a beautiful debut!

This YA dystopian is a coming of age story with a twist! It was gripping and fast paced, I devoured it over the weekend! I really enjoyed the characters, Stella was strong and determined, she knew her own mind even after being brought up to be subservient. Sister Laura was also a great character standing up in little ways to help the girls she was charged with! The mention of banned books really struck a chord as there is a lot of that mirrored in reality in America even today and the premise that women are seen as only good for being wives and mother's, although dystopian and to the extreme in this story, was once how our society was does make me reflect on how times have changed for the better!

I couldn't put this down, I wanted more and I hope there will be a second book to follow Stella and her journey to bring down New America!

This story does give off Handmaid's Tale vibes, so if you enjoyed that you will enjoy this 🤷🏻

Stella Graham has been told her entire life how dangerous it is to be a girl. Girls in New America are disappearing or being kidnapped every day. For this reason, when a girl becomes a woman, they are assigned a chaperone—a woman that is her constant companion and helps guide her—if their family can afford it. Families not as fortunate have no choice but to send their daughters to a government school to keep them away from men. Slowly throughout the story and with the help of her chaperone, Stella begins to realize that things are not as they seem in New America.

M. Hendrix does some of the best dystopian world-building I’ve ever read. I could not get enough of Stella and New America. The author did an amazing job of taking serious issues and stigmas that females deal with daily and making it into a dystopian novel. I would love a sequel to this book because I just cannot get enough of New America. Clear your schedule to read this one because you won’t be able to put it down. If you love dystopian books, this book is for you. 5/5 stars.