A high stakes, fast paced dystopian that definitely reminded me of Divergent whilst holding true to it's originality in relation to the concept of the overall story. The plot was fast paced and held my interest until the very end and I really resonated with all the characters. A fun, intense read.
Thankyou to Net galley and the publisher for an arc.

I was intrigued by the theme of this Young Adult dystopian novel, where in the near future women control society and guns are outlawed. The gender identity, personal freedom, government surveillance threads will likely provide fodder for “enthusiastic” discussions. In reality, though, the debut novel, while ambitious and heartfelt, covered a wide range of topics and points of view and that made it hard to follow one focus. It had major elements of teen romance that weren’t disclosed in the description. Also, to NetGalley and the publisher, I was disappointed that both the Kindle and NetGalley Shelf ARCs announced “SAMPLE” only on the title page, and provided an inadequate 3-chapter nibble to tempt the reader. I discovered only days before the archive date that the complete installment is previewed on the NetGalley Reader. However, this method works clumsily on a cell phone and frustrates this reader.
Thank you, though, for introducing readers to this author and title.

'Privilege' is a dystopian YA being told in a double POV. The story is similar to the Uglies plot, with the main girl, who believes in the dystopian system that she lives in, having to go to the rebels' hideout to report back home.

The girl's POV was interesting, and I loved how she recognized the flaws of the system, but she also saw everything that was wrong in the outside world. The boy's POV, on the other hand, was not my favourite, as he, probably deliberately, was being demeaning towards women. I also loved the small artist community that was trying to save the main girl.

The love story was kind of instant for the guy, which isn't my cup of tea, but, again, the girl's point of view was smoother and better paced.

The action was interesting and entertaining, but the political field, though, was somewhat murky. The ending was, moreover, rushed, but it left a lot of room for the second book.

Finally, the writing was enjoyable.

'Privilege' is a dystopian YA novel that evokes many books of the golden era of dystopian fiction, such as Uglies, Divergent, and even Delirium. Hence, the premise is something familiar and feels kind of nostalgic. The characters seem interesting and relatable as well and there are hints of probable new relationship dynamics and even huge secrets to be uncovered. But, since I've only read the first chapters, I can't really say if the plot will pay off, though I enjoyed what I've read so far and what I predict might come.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and Storygraph.

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝟚 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤

DNF at 80%
I started this book not quite sure what to expect, and I'm really glad I didn't have extremely high expectations. The concept seemed good, and I'm sure it could have been a really good book, but there was a lot that I didn't like about it, which I will get into later in this review.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕
౨ৎ 𝘈 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴
౨ৎ 𝘓𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 (𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘨𝘣𝘵𝘲/𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘦𝘵𝘤)
౨ৎ 𝘈𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬
౨ৎ 𝘋𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘖𝘝

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𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼

⤷ Amity- she was... okay. I don't quite know what to think of her

⤷ Vale- I kind of hate him, to be honest. He seems too obsessed with how Amity looks and doesn't care about her personality at all, and I just don't like him


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𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓭

⤷ The concept- While it wasn't amazing, it had potential to be good

⤷ Some parts of it were really good- I didn't hate it, and there were enjoyable moments in it


𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮

⤷ It was kind of boring- I just found the pacing slow, with no plot twists or action, and I really felt like I had to push through a lot of it

⤷ It copied multiple other books- The plot seemed like an exact copy of Uglies. The world was very different, but it starts with the main character, and she's loyal to the government. There's a rebel group. The government sends her out to spy on the rebel group. She meets a boy and falls in love. I didn't finish it, but I'm definitely assuming that it'll have a similar ending as well. Also, the world may be different in some ways, but it seems like a mix between the world in The Giver, and the faction Amity in Divergent. The main character is even named Amity!! Also, the cover is very very similar to The Hunger Games.

⤷ The romance- Time for a (short) rant! It felt a lot like an insta love, and quite rushed, but they didn't kiss until about 75% in?? They didn't actually meet until pretty far in, and it was a lot of them staring at eachother. Vale only seemed to care about her looks, and there was no real chemistry between them in my opinion. This leads us to another point:

⤷ The skirt scene- So this scene tried really hard to be romantic, it really did, but it failed. They were about to go to a party, and Amity asked Vale if her skirt looked good. He didn't reply, because he was to busy STARING AT HER LEGS?!? Sorry, that is just a bit weird to me. Then, he walks up to her, and pulls her skirt down a few inches so it shows a bit of skin on her stomach. I honestly don't find that romantic. It also tries to be romantic with him putting a seatbelt on her because she hasn't been in a car before...

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Overall, I would not recommend it, and I just could not finish it, no matter how hard I tried. I felt a reading slump approaching, so I decided the best option would be to DNF it. That being said, if you are okay with something slower paced, you may still enjoy it, but it was really just not for me. The beginning was actually pretty good, but it continued to get worse throughout the book. I am reallyh sorry for DNFing this, but I feel like it was the best option.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Privilege” by Megan Wobus is a razor-sharp, compulsively readable debut that perfectly captures the intoxicating, dangerous allure of ambition, secrets, and the hunger for belonging.

From the opening pages, I was hooked. Wobus drops us into an elite, glittering world of power and prestige where appearances are everything and vulnerability is a liability. The novel peels back the shiny surface of privilege to reveal the corruption, manipulation, and moral compromises that lie underneath. What unfolds is both a psychological thriller and a keenly observed character study—dark, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down.

The prose is fluid and immersive, striking that rare balance between being readable and richly layered. Wobus writes with the confidence of a seasoned storyteller, blending tension, sharp dialogue, and vivid description into a narrative that builds momentum with every chapter. The pacing is flawless: slow burns of suspicion give way to jaw-dropping revelations, and just when you think you know where the story is heading, it takes a turn that leaves you reeling.

The characters are where this novel truly shines. They are messy, ambitious, and achingly human. Some are instantly magnetic, others deeply unlikeable, but all are written with such nuance that you can’t look away. Each character is wrestling with their own version of privilege—whether clinging to it, exploiting it, or desperately trying to escape its grip. That tension creates a constant hum of unease, making the book not just suspenseful, but thematically rich.

Beneath the twists and dark glamour, the book asks unsettling questions: Who gets to fail without consequence? Who pays the price when privilege is abused? And how far will people go to preserve the image of success? These questions linger long after the final page, making the book as impactful as it is entertaining.

What I loved most is how Wobus doesn’t shy away from moral ambiguity. No one in this story is purely innocent or purely guilty. Instead, she forces us to confront the shades of gray in human behavior, especially in environments where image and influence hold more power than truth. It’s a daring choice that elevates the novel beyond a simple thriller into something much more resonant.

By the end, I felt both unsettled and deeply satisfied. Privilege is sharp, tense, and haunting, with a final act that sticks in your head long after you’ve closed the book.

This is one of those rare novels that is both wildly entertaining and intellectually provocative. Megan Wobus has written a debut that feels urgent, fearless, and impossible to forget. I’ll be thinking about this story—and these characters—for a long time.

2.5 stars. Would have been a very neat book if characters were better written. It's dystopian romance, while not being advertised as such when I signed up for ARC of it.

I really liked the Dystopia of this book, very interesting possible future. I would love the world with no weapons. Main reason I will read the next book is to learn a bit more of how it all came to be as it is and how it really is compared to perspective of two characters we meet.

Vale was very annoying to read. He thinks like a 13/14 year old, not like he is 18. I could contribute that to the way he was raised, but I am unsure it was meant to be so. Him falling in love with Amity was very juvenile and not fun to read. His whole character is pretty much him falling in love with her.

Amity is a bit better, though her parts about falling in love with Vale were equally badly written. There was too much of it.

The book starts with premise of Amity saving her friend and I expected that journey will shatter her perspective of the world and show that rest of it is not as bad as she was raised to believe. While the book does achieve this, second half is a lot less about this and more of Amity and Vale falling in love. Practically every chapter Vale is main POV is 70-90% his taught about Amity. Amity's go from 0-10% in first half, to about 40-50% in second half, making her POV a bit more fun to read.

The book is slow and at the same time fast, not much happens. I really wish it went more in direction of how society is and not at all or very little into romance. I would not even mind the romance so much if it was better written.

I hope next book will improve in character part and they will get more depth.

I loved this book! Amity's mother is an officer in a new perfect society run by women where there is no violence and where men are programmed to be docile. Amity has reached the age when she can take the oath to be officially a member of the society, and she hopes to enter the leadership class with her mother. As soon as she has taken that oath, and before she has had the appropriate training, she is sent to spy on a group of rebels where she finds two of her boyhood friends. She is not completely comfortable with the rebels, but while she is there, she begins to feel that her perfect society at home may have some drawbacks. I can't wait for the next book, and have purchased this book for my school library. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.

I love a good dystopian book, and this one did not disappoint. A strong female lead who is thrust into a role she never wanted and ends up in a situation she might not be able to come back from. Amity was like able but naive. Vale was an interesting character but I didn't find myself liking him. I am excited for the rest of the trilogy to come out to see where the story goes.

Oooh, alright, wow. I was hooked after the first chapter. The concept of this world - a world where women are in charge and violence isn't a thing - is so intriguing, I kind of love it. It feels like Divergent meets an inverse of The Handmaid's Tale. The story did slow down a bit after the initial explosive start, with not too much happening in the middle, but the ending had such a great cliffhanger! Very interested to see where this series goes. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

In a future world where women rule and any form of weapons or aggression is not allowed. The peaceful society (PC) is the way of the future and children are brought up to understand and follow the rules, they wear tattletale trackers that will tell on them if they show any aggression or don’t follow the rules, upon high school graduation they either take the oath to accept the PC way of life or if they don’t take the oath they get sent far away to places that are not under the PC rules. Amity wants nothing than to take the oath and follow in her mother’s footsteps and be one of the elite officers in Maryland. Amity’s best friend, a boy, is not going to take the oath and wants to join the resistance in Alaska. When oath day comes a lot of surprises happen and hopefully the three are ready for what comes next, yes three as one more becomes twisted in this vine.
Oh my gosh this booked grabbed me and sucked me in and I was way up passed my bedtime several nights. This book starts a bit slowed as it gives you the information to understand this society, but after that watch out things really get going. The plot is good and if you are a fan of YA dystopian books this is for you. I love the characters and I really could not pick a favorite because at times you are rooting for each of them. I really liked this book and really hate I have to wait until December for the next book, Prisoner.

This was a really good book! I found the characters lovable and the plot was well written and interesting. I would definitely recommend to others!

3.75 stars ⭐️ I love a dystopian story! Privilege brought a fresh new take on a dystopian society where the women have control and there is no gun violence. I do wish there was a little bit more action but I can’t wait for Book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Megan Wobus for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Wobus, Megan. Privilege. Peaceful Society Books, 2025. 979-8-3493-7668-9. $14.99. 296 p. Grades 8+.
As a young woman born into post-Integration Baltimore, Amity is eager to take the Oath and join the ranks of the HighClear officers, just like her mother. In the Peaceful Society, women protect order and security, and Amity believes deeply in her purpose—until a chance encounter with her childhood friend Zeph changes everything. Zeph has rejected the Oath and plans to escape to Anchorage, a place rumored to offer men freedom from the restrictive expectations of the Peaceful Society. Concerned for Zeph’s safety and loyal to her cause, Amity accepts an undercover mission to infiltrate the Forge, a rebel group of men, by befriending the leader’s son, Vale. But life outside the Society proves more complex than she expected, especially as she begins to question what she has always believed—and how she feels about Vale.
THOUGHTS: Privilege is a dystopian novel that takes on themes of gender roles, surveillance, and personal freedom. Though the plot follows familiar genre patterns, readers who enjoy fast-paced, society-based adventures like The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner will find appeal here. Recommended as a secondary purchase for libraries with strong interest in dystopian fiction.
Grades 8+
Science Fiction
Tags: Dystopia, Gender Roles, Government Control, Resistance, Freedom, Romance, Undercover Missions, Feminist Themes

An absolutely wonderful read ❤️ It was a little slower paced than I was hoping for, but overall it held my attention and I devoured it within a couple of days. I would highly, highly recommend. It felt like a unique blend of a reverse Handmaids Tale and Divergent. I am a big Dystopian fan and this scratches that itch in the best way possible.

I do wish there was a little more “action”, but I’m hopeful that the next installment in the series has even more. The world building was beautiful and I can’t wait to explore the PS more.

The love store was lacking for me and felt very surface level, almost insta-love, but not enough to deter me from reading more. I’m excited to continue the series this winter!

Privilege by Megan Wobus is written very much in the stye of the early 2000's dystopian novels. It has echoes of the ideas and setting throughout the book. The characters felt like the standard character types from the novels, but with a little bit more personal diversity with a nonbinary and openly LGBTQ+ characters. I enjoyed learning about them, but often felt that they were not grounded enough to feel real. Despite that, I did feel invested enough in them that I continued reading and wanted to know more. I am also looking forward to the next book in the series to see where the story will end up.

My main issue with Privilege was the setting of 2035. Because it is a year that almost all of us will live to see, it was hard for me to entirely buy into the concept of the Peaceful Society, Forge, AI controlled Midwest, and the other areas Amity traveled through. Some of the theory around the societies also felt a bit heavy handed at times that reduced the sense of urgency that I probably should have felt from it. The concepts were good and I could see what Wobus was trying to do, but I am not sure if it ever managed to reach that point. Maybe with the second book it will all come together to create a story that feels a bit more grounded.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I am a big dystopian reader and I was looking forward to starting a new series with new characters and a new premise. Privilege certainly did not disappoint! I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment of this series. This book has the potential to become a huge dystopian fan favourite. It did remind me of Divergent in parts but certainly not a copy. I loved getting to know the characters esp Vale and Ami and I cannot wait to see what happens next. 5 stars.

To start, this book needs trigger warnings. Especially regarding Parkland. Using Parkland as a plot point was quite jarring and completely took me out of the story.

Privilege takes place 10 years in the future in an alternate reality where guns have been outlawed, women are in power, and everyone mediates and has strong emotion regulation. Sounds great right? Well the poor men are pissed they’re second class citizens and form violent rebel groups. They want men in charge. They treat women like trash and don’t allow them to be anything but timid play things. Half the book is from the perspective of Vale, who’s high up in a rebel group. He said with full sincerity “it’s not a problem when men get angry, it’s just human nature.” The other half of the book is from Amity’s perspective, a girl who’s got a great life, and leaves the community to infiltrate a rebel group.

Are you seeing the problem with this society yet? No? Me neither. I think this book is trying to get me to feel bad for the men and root for their equality, but I literally don’t care about men whining.

And the characters fell quite flat for me. It was insta lust between a smart and kind girl and a guy with anger issues who wants men in power. I do not support Amity’s choice in toxic men, nor did I even feel much of a connection.

I’m so very sorry to be so harsh, but trust me, this was me being nice.

Ah, how I love a good dystopian story.❤️

I believe that in this first book, the author wanted to show us both extremes of power, whether it's in the hands of men or women. Maybe in the next books, we'll see this society move toward something more balanced.

The author's writing is solid: fluid, light, and easy to follow. However, I struggled to connect with the characters. I didn’t really feel their pain, doubts, or inner conflicts. Things felt a bit superficial to me, including the dialogue. Since this is the first book in a trilogy and more of an introduction, I’m hopeful that the next two books will dive deeper into the characters and their development.

I’m also curious to see where the attraction between the main characters comes from whether there’s a deeper foundation to it or if it’s more of a “love at second sight” situation.

Overall, I think this story has a lot of potential, and I truly hope the author explores the characters’ growth and self-discovery as the trilogy unfolds.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a sample for review.

I really like the idea of this book, especially since dystopian books are the genre that made me love reading. However, the writing style made it difficult for me to get into the book since it felt like the sentences didn't flow quite right, and as a result I wasn't really able to immerse myself into it. Additionally, the descriptions of items and people felt distracting and a bit disruptive in a way. When writing, a common statement is "show don't tell" and the entire time I felt like I was being told what was happening instead of being shown. I'm curious about what would happen, but at the same time I tragically don't think the writing style works for me.

Privilege by Megan Wobus is a young adult dystopian romance novel that delves into serious topics that are very relevant to today's world, such as gender divide and gun violence. With its vivid imagery and palpable tension between the two love interests, Privilege captivates readers and holds their attention until the very last page, even leaving them craving for more. While the writing style did not click for me, I was still immersed in the utopian/dystopian setting and felt very connected to the characters. I am looking forward to the upcoming installments in the Peaceful Society series, and cannot wait to see where Wobus takes this story next.

This review will also be posted on Goodreads.