I couldn't put this book down. It was well thought out and explores a lot of topics: morality, identity, family, changes to society and more. The narrative was realistic and constructed in a way that leaves the reader eager to turn the page. I empathized with the main character and her struggles. Brown makes even the most flawed characters human and shows the reader how complex both love and family can be. I highly recommend it!

Janelle Brown’s What Kind of Paradise is a haunting, propulsive coming-of-age novel that explores the tension between isolation and connection, truth and belief, and the perils of blind trust. It’s one of those books that grabs hold early and doesn’t let go—I tore through the pages, desperate to know what would become of Jane, the deeply compelling protagonist.

Raised in near-total isolation in a remote Montana cabin during the mid-1990s, Jane’s world is small, harsh, and tightly controlled by her enigmatic father. He shuns modernity, preaching that technology is a corrupting force. Jane is homeschooled with nineteenth-century philosophy and taught to believe that her mother died in a tragic car accident. The only truth she knows is what her father chooses to tell her—and even that begins to unravel.

As Jane edges into adolescence, she starts to question the life she’s been given. When her father returns from a trip with an IBM computer—an odd contradiction to everything he’s ever warned her about—it opens a tiny window to the outside world. Through early Internet chat rooms, she begins a friendship with Lionel, a tech worker in San Francisco, and slowly realizes how much of life she’s been shielded from. But just as she starts to stretch toward freedom, her father takes her on a secretive trip that sets off a chain of events that will forever change her understanding of her family, her past, and the world.

This story is layered with themes of abandonment, naivety, technological awakening, and betrayal. Jane’s journey is both heartbreaking and gripping—watching her navigate a completely foreign world with no social experience or sense of who she truly is felt raw and real. The emotional weight she carries, paired with her innocence, makes her one of the most unforgettable characters I’ve read this year.

The plot moves at a breathless pace, and the mystery surrounding her father and her mother’s past kept me fully hooked. What Kind of Paradise is sharp, character-driven, and emotionally complex. It’s about the lies we tell to protect, the truths we need to survive, and the perilous journey toward freedom and identity.

Highly recommend—this one is easily making my Top 10 of the year.

Jane is raised by her father in an isolated cabin in the Montana wilderness. He homeschools her and teaches her to be ready in case "they" come. Things happen, so Jane makes her way to San Francisco and has to learn how to function around people, technology, society. I liked the backwoods survival aspect and Jane's learning to cope with the rest of the world. But I thought Jane herself was too gullible and showed a remarkable lack of curiosity and initiative, at least until circumstances forced her to act.

But I found the book to be gripping and suspenseful overall.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this! I would describe this as a historical fiction x coming of age x slow burn mystery. It definitely held my attention and I couldn’t help but root for Jane/Esme.

After her mom dies in a car crash, Jane is raised in isolation by her dad in a Thoreau-like utopia. But as she moves through her teen years she begins to have more questions about the outside world. However, she remains devoted to her dad, and in doing so become an unwitting accomplice to her dad's horrific crime. When she escapes him and starts looking for answers about her mom, she finds way more than she ever expected, including some clues to who she really is.

Wow I loved this book. Brown's writing is so pretty and despite the slow burn of a story, I could not put it down. I loved how human Jane felt with her devotion to her dad, admitted naivety, but also her strength to get away and to make the choices she did in the end. I like how the story wrapped up cleanly, but not in a predictable way.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In my humble opinion 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗘 is Janelle Brown’s best book to date. I couldn’t put it down! This is the story of Jane, a 17-year old who has spent the vast majority of her life living in an isolated, bare-bones Montana cabin with just her father. He is her only parent, her teacher, her world. Jane rarely has contact with anyone but him. Yet as she grows older, Jane questions more and more. She sees some things she’s been taught don’t quite add up and she begins her own stealth investigations.⁣
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That’s the first half of the book. The second half takes place in San Francisco and that’s all I’m going to tell you. Read it to find out more, but 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 read the publisher’s blurb. It gives a lot away. I liked the elements of surprise reading it would have spoiled. ⁣
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As many of you know, I’m not always a fan of thrillers, but this is one of those wonderful exceptions. I think it worked beautifully for a bunch of reasons. Jane is a very likeable character. I couldn’t help but root for her. The Montana and San Francisco settings are both ones I love and know well. From the glamor to the grit, Brown got them exactly right. The story’s 1990’s era is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and again, Brown nailed it. While a lot happened in the story, I never felt lost or confused and the pace was fast. I liked that Brown kept me on my toes! Did I ever need to roll my eyes? I don’t think so. This was a believable thriller, and even better, it was a thriller with heart. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦 is a 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 book to add to your beach bag this summer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Saul and Jane Williams live in a small cabin in the Montana countryside near Bozeman. The story picks up in the mid to late 1990's when Jane is 17. Her father moves them when she was 4 years old and this has been her life since. Saul is a mensa level genius who obtained three degrees while attending Harvard University. He could have been so successful, but he sees problems with the development of coming technology and in his mind the ruin of mankind or society. He becomes a Luddite. He home schools Jane in many of the same subjects as he had while attending Harvard and protect her from what he believes is going to happen to society with it going downhill because technology and industry will make a handful people rich and lazy. He tries to bring his message to warn the public by publishing a magazine that has few subscribers and eventually uses the technology he despises to publish a manifesto. Can you say fictional Ted Kaczynski and yes, the author mentions this in notes at the end of the book.

Janes only world has been her father and while she has deep love and trust for him, she has many questions and wants answers, and she starts to push boundaries. She starts to find things her father has stashed in his locked room and these raise questions, like did her mother really die, why the fear of outsiders and the government how they have money to pay for things. After assisting her father in a crime, she makes her break away and ends up in a job that is on the opposite side views of technology and the benefits by the things it will replace, and some believe will make society a better place. But doing this she hides from the authorities while trying to get the answers about herself and her family. This book is a page turner throughout give it a read.

I will be thinking about WHAT KIND OF PARADISE for a long time to come. Loosely inspired by the Unabomber, the book follows Jane, a young woman who lives off the grid in Montana with her father. He is passionate about staying close to nature and avoiding the evils of technology, but as Jane learns more about the world and longs to see more of it than her father’s small cabin, she becomes entangled in his dangerous schemes.

This book was exceptionally well-written—not in a flowery, self-conscious way, but rather a clear, well-paced way. I felt that the setting was so palpable—the time period of the late nineties, the Montana woods, and the bustling world of San Francisco during the dotcom boom. (And I also loved that the characters spent a few pages in Boise.) The main character’s worries and experiences felt so present on the page as she tried to navigate insane experiences while also simply hoping to experience life and joy. I also appreciated the complexity of the characters—the villain of the story can be nurturing. The love interest can be both self-interested and self-sacrificing. These characters felt like real people in a wild situation, dealing with the fallout in messy ways.

I think WHAT KIND OF PARADISE offers a lot for discussion. The role of technology and how it is both a help and hindrance in our lives is often present in my mind—how much screen time should I allow my kids? How do I stay present in my own life when I’m so easily sucked in by my phone (and so chronically online)? What are the implications of AI for me as a creative? The book suggests technology vs the natural world is not an either/or problem but something more complex, and I think it’s something most of us grapple with every day.

Jane grows up off the grid in Montana with her intellectual, Luddite, "Unabomber"-type father, but when she turns 18, she discovers secrets about her childhood and her father that make her question her entire upbringing. This sends her on a search for the truth in San Francisco at the beginning of the dot.com tech boom.

Jane is a sympathetic main character, book smart, but naive about the larger world she knows nothing about. You will be rooting for her to succeed and find out the truth. This would have been a five-star read, but I wanted a little more detail about Jane's later years.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane is not your normal teenager, she's been brought up in isolation with mainly her father as her only contact with the outside world. Her views and beliefs are shaped by him and his indoctrination. Until one day, disaster strikes and she is presented with the opportunity to break free.

What Kind of Paradise isn't your normal mystery/thriller. More of a commentary on family dynamics, self-discovery, coming of age during the 1990's when technology is seeing fast advancements.

I thought the novel was well written and engaging. I thought the plot was intriguing and well planned. I was anticipating more of a fast-paced suspense but more of a slow burn literary mystery. The pacing was weird in spots, at times the pages flew by but then it would slow, mainly around the techie stuff. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel. I rooted for Jane. Would make for a great novel to discuss at you next book club meeting.

I was provided an advanced digital copy. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Wow, I chose to read this book just because of the cover and synopsis! When I first started reading, I felt like I was immediately pulled into the story. One thing I realized right away is that I really love the writing style. I was instantly hooked. The writing is so clean and just really good. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I gave a high rating just because of this.

Then, the story itself is also super interesting. (I’ll try not to give spoilers.) So, this is about Jane and her dad who live in Montana, staying away from everyone else because ... well, her dad is going to be (or already? Who knows *shrugs*) involved in crime. But Jane and her dad are not the usual duaghter and father you see in other book. They’re so different from any character I’ve read before. Even though they’re isolated, Jane is smart because her dad is also smart and yeah he’s the one who teaches her. Honestly, I didn’t always understand the stuff they were talking about (and that’s why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5), but this book is seriously brilliant. It mixes crime with new topics I’ve never read about before. Psst, her dad has a really weird way of thinking compared to other people.

One more thing I liked. I’m usually not someone who reads historical fiction, because ... I don’t really like it? But this time I actually felt really comfortable reading it, and the historical part felt really strong. You can really feel the vibe of the time, when technology was still very new and many people didn’t know how to use it just yet. And of course, somehow that’s also connected to Jane and her dad! I won’t spoil anything!

But yeah, this book is really good. I really recommend it. If you’re interested in the cover or the synopsis, don’t hesitate to pick this book for your next read.

Whew, that was good. Constantly on the edge of my seat. It was fast paced but also full of details, I never felt like I was missing anything. The only part I didn’t like was the mother situation and the lack of closure there, but otherwise a 5 star story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown is a moody, atmospheric mystery about a teenage girl living off the grid in rural Montana with her father. Their quiet, isolated life starts to unravel when she uncovers secrets about who they really are and why they’ve been hiding. The slow-burn tension and haunting setting totally pulled me in.
I loved the raw, complicated father-daughter relationship and the way the truth unfolds piece by piece. Brown captures the loneliness and beauty of remote living so well, and the emotional weight behind the mystery gave the story real depth.
It dragged a little in the middle, which is why I didn’t give it five stars. That said, once the pieces began to fall into place, I was fully invested. This is a thoughtful, compelling, provocative read that lingers long after the last page. If you enjoy domestic suspense with a literary edge, What Kind of Paradise is definitely worth your time.
A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest

This story is worthy of all the stars; it’s a unique, unexpected narrative and the intentionality in Brown’s storytelling is stellar! Not only has Brown invented a creative premise, she has also perfected the measure of detail needed to envision her characters as they interact and the events as they unfold.

This book was part Where the Crawdads Sing, part Glass Castle, and part Unabomber. Opening in current day, this is the tale of Jane and her father who live off-grid in rural Montana. While Jane knows her fathers view are unorthodox, she watches as they become extreme. I loved Pretty Little Things and this one was as good. Definitely recommended.

Really enjoyed this one! The slow burn mystery kept me intrigued, our main character was dynamic and appealing, the late 90s setting was fun and nostalgic, and the technology commentary was interesting and timely!

I would say 4.5 stars bc I'm not sure that I could recommend it universally, but it was such an engaging read. Domestic terrorism formed by a hermetic man living in the wilderness of Montana with his daughter. Saul William's futile attempt to escape the development of AI and the evils of monetized IP. His daughter, Jane, is a captivating audience for him propaganda. He homeschools her with specialities in philosophy, science, and math. How does a full-time father and staunch luddite make a living, you ask? Read to discover more!

What a riveting journey with wonderful characters. Computer technology and AI is an issue we should all be concerned about as it becomes more pervasive. It pollutes and distorts reality.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

Jane is a teenage girl living with her father in a cabin in the woods of Montana in the mid-1990s. She doesn't remember her mother, and she has very little contact with anyone outside the isolated world her father has created for her. As Jane starts to approach adulthood, she becomes more interested in what else is out there and eventually, her father allows her to accompany him on one of his trips away from the cabin. That's when Jane's life changes forever.

I went into this read not knowing much about the story, but knowing that I've enjoyed other books by Janelle Brown. What a wild story! I could not put the book down. And the commentary on AI was really interesting as it becomes more prevalent in our everyday lives 20-30 years later.

Jane has grown up in isolation out in the woods with her father. As she enters her teens she begins to question their way of life and the secrets her father may be keeping. When she finally flees this secluded way of life she ends up in San Francisco during it's technology golden age. I wanted to love this one as I really enjoyed her last book Pretty Things. I seem to be in the minority for not connecting to it. While it was well written and an interesting premise, the story and characters didn't grab me. I personally am not huge on survivalist type themes and that could have played a big part in my disinterest. The story itself was unique enough that Janelle Brown will continue to stay on my must read list for future works.

This one touches on the themes of family dysfunction, technology vs society, isolation, coming of age, and mystery elements.

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown completely sucked me in right from the first chapter. The premise was so unique — we follow 17-year-old Jane, who’s been living way out in the middle of nowhere Montana with her dad. It’s the 90s, when technology is taking off everywhere else, but Jane’s dad is fully anti-government, anti-technology, and busy writing his manifesto while keeping them hidden from the world. But when he starts disappearing for longer stretches of time, Jane starts uncovering things that make her question everything she’s ever been told.

What follows is a rollercoaster full of family secrets, shocking twists, and so many layers I wasn’t expecting. It’s the perfect mix of coming-of-age, family drama, and thriller — once I started, I truly could not put it down. I kept thinking about it every time I had to step away and couldn’t wait to see how it would all unravel. I loved the 90s setting, the off-the-grid vibe, and how the story slowly peeled back the layers. This one will definitely be a top recommendation to friends and family — highly addictive, super bingeable, and so well written!