Choose a girl … to own forever.
A couple of weeks ago, I read online about Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill. The story i caught my attention right away, and after my test week I immediately ran out and bought it. Although it was much heavier than I’d anticipated, it was definitely worth the hassle, and today I’m going to tell you about it in my first online book review ever.
Only Ever Yours takes place in a dystopia where a large part of the continents has been flooded, leaving only a small society on each continent (now: zone) after they escape the floods like Noah did in the Bible. Unfortunately, the trouble doesn’t end there: the women that are left don’t want to conceive baby girls, and prevent this from happening to such an extent, that they cannot carry female babies anymore. To save the human race from extinction, the eves are created: modelled women, designed to be perfect. Every year, three times as many eves are designed as there are Inheritants (sons) born. The eves go to the School until their 17th design-date. On the day they turn 17, the Ceremony takes place, and they are each selected to be in one of the thirds: companion, concubine or chastity. Most eves want to become a companion, but only one third of them can be…
The story follows one of the eves, freida, as she struggles through her final year. Through her eyes, you experience the pressure to be perfect first-hand, and it’s terrifying. Even though it’s scary how much her situation resembles our world, it’s also what makes this book so interesting. In a way, this book is a modern satire – but not quite. It does criticize our society, but this is definitely not a funny book. On the contrary, this book is really serious and occasionally quite nasty. If you’re easily triggered, this might not be the book for you. If, however, you can stomach even a little bit – read it. It’s not life-changing, but it’s eye-opening, and sometimes that’s all you need for a good read.
Ruby in the Sky 
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