I’m not sure what I read. This was like an odd episode of black mirror with commentary on social and environmental issues. J appreciated the format, the play on words and the “episodes”.

3.5 ⭐
Quite honestly it took two tries to finish this book, but in the end I was glad to have powered through. I found out quickly that this is not my usual genre of choice, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I enjoyed this strikingly original debut novel.

"Plastic" blends sharp satire with heartfelt storytelling. Set in a future where people have replaced their bodies with plastic ones, the story cleverly explores identity, love, and what it truly means to be human. The world building is imaginative yet eerily reflective of our own. A bold, thought-provoking read that’s as entertaining as it is insightful.

In short, I would describe this as a true "Barbenheimer" moment--a strange mix of the grim consequence of nuclear war and the eccentric, rose-colored world that they choose to see themselves in as they dissociate from reality.

Thank you Net Galley & Pantheon for both the physical and electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review!

One of the most unique books I’ve read in AWHILE.

I won’t lie, I was a bit confused the whole way through. I tried to explain the concept to a friend while reading and I couldn’t quite sum it up. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I do think PLASTIC has a distinct and smart point of view, but I think I only *got it* about 3/4 of the way through.

It took me almost the whole book to figure out the interstitials and how they related. Overall, I’m glad I read it because it really made my brain work but ultimately, the story wasn’t for me.

Thank you Pantheon for the ARC!

I unfortunately could not get into this book no matter how hard I tried. The writing was extremely flat, I felt no connection to the characters, and was extremely disappointed. I appreciate the concept was very fresh and interesting.

Thank you net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review!

The story was quite intriguing and thought provoking, but scared me a bit and I thought the storyline was out of this world. The writing felt kind of flat too.

"Plastic" by Scott Guild is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of modern life and environmental consciousness. Guild's narrative weaves together a compelling storyline with rich character development, exploring themes of consumerism, identity, and the impact of plastic on our world. The prose is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a vivid landscape that mirrors the chaos and beauty of contemporary society. As the characters navigate their personal struggles, the underlying message about sustainability and our relationship with material goods resonates powerfully. "Plastic" is both an engaging read and a wake-up call, making it a must-read for those interested in literature that reflects real-world issues.

"**Plastic**" by Scott Guild is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that skillfully blends suspense with social commentary. Guild's sharp prose and well-crafted characters create a compelling narrative that explores themes of identity and consumerism. The book's fresh perspective and engaging plot make it a standout read.

Maybe the reason I didn't like this one very much is because it made me so uncomfortable? There were parts that literally scared me for the future of humanity, and parts that just made me roll my eyes because of its outlandishnish. I hope this isn't the future we're setting up for because it looks real miserable!

This started off really promising, but overall, while I understood the connections and ins and outs of allegory, I didn't think it executed well. It was an amazingly written book, but lost me halfway through.

Plastic was a fun and absorbing read from Scott Guild. I appreciated his insight into the characters and couldn't put it down. I'd read more from this author.

I published my review on this book months ago but it seems it hasn't been uploaded. It's been quite a while since I've read this book but I remember really loving it!

In the book plastic by Scott Gill we meet Aaron her sister is missing her dad has recently died from Brad Pitt disease… Which I still don’t know what that is and they have environmental terrorist who have become violent she also recently lost the love of her life and has been dating from an app on Friday nights to avoid loneliness. Meeting Jacob however puts an in to that she also is a big fan of a Netflix type show call nuclear family where the lead star is in love with a waffle boy who is an actual waffle and a boy. There’s also musical scenes in the book and lots of other stuff. My point is this book was OK I didn’t like how they spoke it sounded like they were all from The same land the Cookie Monster comes from a really would love to say I love this book but I did not I don’t know why they were plastic I don’t know what Brad Pitts diseases I don’t know how nuclear family ended I just didn’t like the book that much, I also couldn’t put the Barbie type people and such a terrible situation And take it seriously but they are those who love the book but then again they were people who drink the Kool-Aid as well. I want to thank the publisher for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Plastic sounded like a really interesting, new premise for a book. It did a good job of making (literal) hollow, plastic characters develop in a way that made the relationships something to be invested in. I wasn't a *huge* fan of switching back and forth between Erin and Nuclear Family, but it wasn't that big a deal. The biggest issue I had was the broken dialogue. Again, I understand the reasoning for it. But it got exhausting to read after a little while.

huh! i can confidently say i’ve never read anything like this.. it’s satirical social commentary that was pretty funny but at times a little too on the nose..

written like a play of a tv show but it’s a book!?

I was really intrigued by the concept of this story and the world/concept is very interesting but the wiring was a miss for me. The dialogue of the characters is so hard to read. I understand it's a bold stylistic choice but for me it didn't pay off. The stilted and simplistic speech patterns really too me out of the story as I tried to make sure I was accurately deciphering what the characters meant and it ultimately made this feel like work.

Maybe it would be better in audio.

"Plastic" by Scott Guild is a brilliantly original debut novel that seamlessly weaves surreal humor with profound insights into our current climate of gun violence and environmental decay. In this imaginative tale, we follow Erin, a plastic girl navigating a plastic world where Smartbodies offer an escape from reality's harsh truths. When a terror attack disrupts her routine, Erin finds solace in Jacob, a blind figurine, and together they embark on a journey through virtual landscapes. As they confront their own traumas, Erin's hidden past threatens to shatter their newfound connection. With its blend of dystopian satire and heartfelt exploration, Guild's novel offers a uniquely inventive perspective on the fragility and resilience of modern society.

This book is difficult to categorize, blending elements of dystopian fiction with surreal humor and a unique ecoterrorism twist. If I had to pin it down, I would call it "dystopian Barbie" Characters range from sentient waffles to a plastic Jesus that comes alive, and the narrative delves into themes of war, terrorism, surveillance, and drug use. The characters grapple with severe trauma, yet the novel still finds humor in their interactions and societal dynamics. Framed as TV show episodes, complete with camera angles and musical numbers, each chapter adds to the eccentricity of the story. The dialogue is unconventional, resembling a futuristic form of texting/baby talk. Despite its unconventional approach, "Plastic" tackles significant topics such as eco-terrorism, technology, climate change, grief, and trauma, making it a memorable and thought-provoking read.

I don’t know how to describe this book. Like at all, even a little bit. Some characters are waffles. Waffles that are alive and behave as humans. There’s a plastic Jesus that comes to life. Furry cubes kill themselves a lot. Virtual reality beyond all imagination now. And that’s just barely scratching the surface. War, terrorism, surveillance state, drugs. This book will unsettle you. It will be impossible to put down and also impossible to keep reading without wondering what is going on, why, if you understand it or even if that matters.

I DNFed at 50% and skimmed the last chapter to see what the ending looked like. I was captured right away by the plastic war stricken world, the smartbodies virtual reality, and the Nuclear Family sitcom. I was waiting for Erin to have a mission and for these three worlds to mesh together but if it ever does it would have to be after the half way point, which I just don't see happening. The imagining of future technologies, religions, and customs made the read fun but I don't think the author intended for the story to have a fun message. It is like the book "Who Moved My Cheese", a story about a mouse searching in new places of the maze for his cheese while the other mice stick to their old route, which ends up being a metaphor on business practices. Plastic is a metaphor on global warming, on nuclear war, and other similar political issues. I was hoping for something with more of a hero's journey plot.

She is a Barbie girl, living in plastic world...in the cloud... Cannot do that without putting her VR goggles. Is it how we are going to be soon? Is this Simpsons of the books telling us what will happen when we are laughing at it now? Why eco-conscious people would turn lethal methods to spread their message? Will we become that oblivious?

I don't know if I should be uncomfortable reading this book or laugh out loud. I feel bad for Erin. I don't see anything about her life that would crack me up. She is just like any other lonely person looking for solace in something. I feel bad for Fiona. She got pulled into a cause without really realizing consequences of it. She is not so different than her sister in naïveté. Everyone in this book is living a type of broken life whether it's physical or emotional.

Yet... it's still funny: the way they speak, the way they interact, how they rate each other, how they are still classist. It's a quite interesting take on apocalyptic dystopia. I hope when ours is here, we won't be the shells of people that we see here.

Currently experiencing an emotional hangover — I never thought I would have so many feelings reading about plastic people!

This book is so many things — Original. Thought-provoking. Sad. Funny. Absurd. Mysterious.

To properly set the scene for this, I’m going to need you to temporarily suspend disbelief…

In ‘Plastic’ by Scott Guild, we are in a dystopia where instead of humans, everyone is plastic [think Barbie movie minus the light-heartness]. People can transport themselves to other virtual worlds through Smartbodies, suffer from illnesses called Brad Pitt disease, are under intense government surveillance/oppression, and are facing constant eco-terrorist attacks.

The story centers on Erin as she experiences a terror attack at work. Responding to a Good Samaritan act of service, she meets Jacob, legally blind, who realizes his mother has been killed in the attack. This traumatic meeting plants the seeds for their connection but Erin faces difficulty opening up as she has many secrets about her past including her connection to these terrorist attacks.

“Oh God, I pray, don’t let the rage consume me. Don’t let it smother the love that I have left.”

This story will require your focus but it is worth the pay-off. I had my doubts if I would be able to fully connect to this story but the level of detachment you feel from the characters physically [cause they are plastic] and their language [which is chipped and a bit robotic] is compensated in the emotional connections.

I loved the split between Erin’s life and the chapters that were scenes from the TV sitcom where Erin escapes. This distant world felt very familiar, making me sad and laugh and self-reflect. They find ways to survive grief, anxiety, and fear. They cope with their traumas by escaping through TV, medication, and alcohol. Many suffer in silence not wanting to burden others.

The serious topics don’t force you to conclude any specific opinions which I appreciated. Just a mirror into a world, that is not too far from the one we’re living in.

Memorable debut! Thank you, Pantheon for the gifted copy! You will now find me staring into a wall.