Survival show is very hunger games meets x factor, I think that it will be a great book for teens.
The first part of the book was very slow and we got to see a bit of Taryns background however I feel that the middle to end was very fast paste and didnt match the beginning of the book in terms of speed. I would of loved to have seen a bit more back story from some of the other characters but other than that I thought it was a very good book and definitely something I would of loved to read when I was a teen.

3.5 Stars

This book is the definition of the hunger games X the Voice/American idol! It was a roller coaster of will she won’t she survive, in a competition where elimination means death. There are many parallels to the hunger games, however survival show is its own story that just also reflects on the control that those in power have over a population, especially children/young adults. Dawson has written another fantastic book that also delves into what friendship means to an individual, and the lengths we will go to in order to protect others from harm. The queer elements are subtle in a way that many queer stories aren’t, and I love how unbothered everyone is (unlike our society fighting over our/queer rights). As a fan of Dawson’s previous work, I was not disappointed!

Taryn Beck needs medication for her brother, and the only way to get it is by entering a reality TV show called “Starmaker”. But this isn’t your average talent show, it’s literally life or death. Win, and you get luxury, fame, and everything you could ever want. Lose… and you lose your life.

The concept hooked me straight away. I love a good dystopian, so I went in excited, and it definitely delivered on that high-stakes, survival vibe.

That said, the start was a little slow, and I found myself a bit confused with some of the setup early on. Once it got going though, it really pulled me in.

Taryn is such a likeable main character. You genuinely want her to win, and her motivation makes everything feel more real and urgent.

I do think this will really hit for YA readers, it’s fast, dramatic, and has that addictive “just one more chapter” energy once it picks up.

Overall, a strong dystopian with a brutal premise and a main character you can’t help but root for.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is this generation‘s hunger games!

Welcome to the dystopian future where global warming has caused the sea levels to rise and massive evacuations and refugees to find a new homes. With an ever-growing population, the governments form Project population which incentivise people to “retire” and get a payout to give to their families.

Introducing Starmaker a reality TV show that crosses the hunger games with popstar dream Academy having a survivor series show where 10 girls enter and five girls make the band the other five bands, give their lives to Project population.

This book is full of drama, heartbreak and will keep you guessing until the very end.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this book.

I was in a pretty big reading slump which made picking up this book kind of hard, but once I did boy was it hard to put it down!!

Imagine you mix Popstar Academy with Black Mirror, you’d find something almost like Survival Show.

Survival Show follows Taryn Beck, a flood refugee from the Republic of Scotland whose younger brother is in dire need of medication. Her dad sees the only way for his son to survive is to donate his life to “Project Population” and get the payout( aka paying people to undergo euthanasia). But Taryn has another plan. Use her voice to get onto Starmaker, the most popular girl group survival show on the airways.

This book I think proves dystopian literature is starting to be less like a scary, far-away future and lean closer towards being a pretty damn accurate reflection of society. So be warned and read with caution, this book might sound a lot like your socials feed rather than a fictitious story!

My only tiny issue with this book was that sometimes it over explained situations and emotions but I can let that slide as it is YA.

Survival Show has solidified itself as a new favourite YA dystopia in my rotation of recommendations! A must read when it releases on the 28th of April!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!