2.5 ✨✨

Man I really wanted to love this one because the blurb sounded so interesting.

The things I enjoyed:

The way technology is used to prevent bullying.
Conversations around policing language.
Our queer characters.
Anxiety rep
ADHD rep

Things I didn’t like:

I never felt the connected between Lu and Sebastian.
Everything felt very surface level to me.
Things were wrapped up too quickly at the end.

I wish I would have loved this more!

Thank you NetGalley && Penguin for the ARC!

The story centers on Sebas, a seventeen-year-old who relocates to New Gault to care for his estranged mother. There, he’s introduced to TECH, a school program designed to prevent bullying by regulating how students speak. Think enforced speech codes, zero tolerance for conflict, and mandatory scripts. At first, it feels like dystopia with a gentle smile—but beneath the surface is a fierce conversation about the cost of policing language, especially for those still finding their voice.