how we rise / REVIEW

welcome to the next stop of the blog tour for HOW WE RISE by Brooke Riley. i read an ARC and was blown away by this incredible story. 

before i get to my review of this incredible book, here's some info about the lovely author & her story! 

- h o w  w e  r i s e -

blurb

When the truth gets you killed… will you still Rise?

Raegan MacArthur is content with her simple life. But lately, her life hasn’t been all that simple. She can’t drown out the screams in the night coming from the military base up the road. And she can’t ignore the truth behind them.

Peter Daniels thought moving back to Texas with his mom for senior year was a good thing. A chance to reconnect with old friends and finally feel at home again. But his life now can never be the same as it was six years ago.

Signs of government overreach are everywhere, and an unknown- yet familiar- enemy lurks in the shadows, watching their every move. The government is clamping down tighter and tighter on anyone who resists their ways. Raegan and Peter have to make the hardest decision they've ever faced: will they go quietly to save their lives… or will they rise?  

Brooke Riley has been seriously writing novels since she was fifteen, the thrill of creating new worlds and broken humans with a greater purpose is something that inspired her to begin writing in the first place. Before then, she hated writing but loved books and literature. She's always been drawn to new worlds and fascinating books. Not limiting herself to one genre, you will find she writes in dystopian one day, contemporary another day, and even historical the day after that.

When she's not writing, Brooke is probably thinking of some random idea for a new novel that's come to her in the most inconvenient of times, and how soon she can make a Pinterest board and Spotify playlist for it.  

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and here's my disorganized, rambling review. basically just me spewing all my thoughts on this amazing book, and why y'all should read it. 

r e v i e w

disclaimer - i was given an ARC by the author, but was not compelled to give a favorable review. all opinions expressed are my own :) 

HOW WE RISE is an inspiring, emotional book that completely broke me. i read the last few chapters so fast that i had to go back and reread immediately after finishing it. and the last page. y'all. <spoiler> BROOKE HOW COULD YOU END THE BOOK WITH THATTTT. just saying, raegan better not be dead. *glares* <end spoiler>

when i finished HOW WE RISE, i just sat and stared at my computer screen. then i got up and refilled my water bottle. and sat back down and fought the urge to immediately reread the book. i have to admit, i wasn't completely hooked during the first part, but by the middle section - when Certain Things happened, i couldn't read it fast enough. 

a short list of reasons why you should read HOW WE RISE:

x Peter. i want a peter in my life, guys. just, he's such an amazing, thoughtful character, always conscious of when Raegan needs a pep talk or encouragement. 

x fRieNdSHipS. also ships. because everyone knows that Raegan + Peter belong together. just sayin.

x a. great. representation. of. homeschooling. << YES. i love how homeschooling is presented in this book, and Brooke accurately depicts Raegan's struggle to fit into public school. 

x also, a pastor's kid that isn't portrayed negatively or stereotypically. 

x Evan. love him and hate him at the same time. he's not a typical villain by any means, and i look forward to seeing what happens next for him.

x the setting! it's super interesting since it's set in dystopian America, but just a few years in the future. which, imo, makes it more eerie and disturbing. 

despite a few minor quibbles, i thoroughly enjoyed Brooke Riley's HOW WE RISE, and i look forward to reading the sequels! hopefully soon, as i still haven't recovered from that cliffhanger. 0_0 

very excited to participate in the blog tour, and let me know if y'all have read this lovely book! 

x x

a l l i s o n