If you thought getting into university was stressful, woah, take a step back and try this book.
It’s basically about a contest where the winner of the death-defying-maze-of-monsters gets a scholarship to university and also PTSD. (Isn’t that lovely!? Packaged deal!) I totally enjoyed myself with this one! The author is beyond lovely on instagram and has reached out and said such encouraging things to me during my debut year when I was losing hair (writing is hard, folks). I was super excited to read my first book from her!
It was such an empowering adventure. Did not disappoint!
Thanks to the author + Harpercollins for the ARC!
➸ I love the apt parallels to today’s world too.
It’s a story that really has its fingertips on the heartbeat of society’s discussions today and I love that. It’s set in a world with a 1900s vibe and there’s magic, ballgowns, plagues, classism and ghouls. The current view of females is “go have babies” and “leave the thinking to the men”…and it makes you just shake with with rage. The book is here to hit us with discussions on what feminism truly is! And I love how it discused that it’s VALID for women to want (a) eduction and careers, but also (b) babies and being a homemaker too!! The point of feminism is: you get to choose, you have power over your body and your aspirations, and there is no “one way” to be female. Yesss for a book that brings that home — and also mixes in MAGIC.
➸ Rhen is our STEM girl who is the actual loveliest.
My heart is so full and warm with love for the fact we have two main girls who are so different and so brilliant. Rhen is into science and cutting up corpses. She’s also dyslexic, impulsive (like 2 seconds after a decisions she’ll hack off all her hair to fake being a boy) and sharp-witted and craves a world full of opportunities. Then there’s her cousin, Seleni, who is soft and a little giddy about her boy crushes and is intelligent and forthright and takes risks and loves frills. They’re contrast was made even more amazing by how they supported each other and were badass in their own ways. 10/10 for epic female friendships!
(Also hilarious note: I spent the longest time thinking this book was called “To The Best Boys” not To Best The Boys…because I’m also slightly dyslexic. And then I open it up and is Rhen dyslexic lmaoooo. Relate.)
➸ so let’s talk about these boys we need to best
Because ugh, mate, do we need to best them. Again, we’re not left with caricatures. It gives us the total scope of boys, with (1) the privileged snob jerks who treat women like property, (2) the old men so solid in their warped beliefs that they can’t see beyond their own classism, (3) the softly anxious boys who want to please their fathers…but also want change, (4) the cute dorky boys here for a good time and so chilllll, and (5) the soft careful heartfelt boys who work hard and think for themselves.
So Vincent and Germain & Co fit into category #1 and I’d be ok if they fell into the sea. I loved Beryll who is so posh and ridiculous but also sweet!!! And Will and Sam were DORKS I LOVE THEM. And Lute? Lute is a gift to this broken world. He’s the poor fisherman boy, supporting his single-mum and disabled brother (absolutely loved the disability rep!), and he’s so heartfelt and kind!! His and Rhen’s romance is here to make your heart do floppy things.
➸ now for university scholarships and ptsd
Ok this was amazing. It is like Caraval x The Maze Runner. We have this old rich man who runs this contest every year — the winner takes a scholarship to a university. It’s “for boys” but Rhen and Seleni dress up as boys to get in. The contest is stresssssful. Mazes. Locked rooms. Puzzles. Inventions. Hallucinations. Poisons…
There’s backstabbing and danger and the magic and wildness is amazing.
Also am a big fan of the fact the relationships were already set up (waiting for a little nudge) so there was no rushed 1-day romances. And I found the “disguised as boys” trope realistically done because who the heck is peering at everyone’s faces when tHE MAZE WALLS MIGHT EAT YOU. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It’s a plot with the potential for some annoying tropes: and it did none of them!!!!! Yes!!!!
➸ it’s so easy to be absorbed by the story!
I’d been finding it hard to focus lately…but this? I flew through it and lost time. I love that feeling while reading! The writing is engaging and Rhen’s voice is dynamic and she’s such a winning character with her intense passions for finding a plague cure and her anxiety over taking control of her own future.
this is truly a story of feminism and love. It embraces all types of women and their strengths and vulnerabilities. It’s about girls forging paths so that others can follow. it balances the sweetness of romantic and family love…all set in a world of ghouls and mazes and tests. Here is a book for girls taking charge of their fate and totally besting those boys.
Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. Every year, the poorer residents look to see that their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.
In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.
With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone’s ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the maze.
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➸ SIMILAR TITLES TO TRY…
I’ve been dying to read this book. Along with “The Boy Who Steals Houses” this is one of the two books I HAVE to get this year. Love your review!
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Clearly the best kind of books are having THE BOY in the titles 😌 😂ah haha, but eep, I’m honoured mine is on your must-read list for this year!! You lovely thing!
hahaha, I didn’t even notice that similarity ;D Must be a thing ;D
Huh. I’ve seen this around the interwebs a bit lately, but I kind of just ignored it because of the title. (It sounds like a cheesy contemporary, not gonna lie.) But apparently I have to read it now, so oh well. xD
Oh haha, yeah it’s not a contemporary! More like an early 1900s-fantasy?
I am beyond excited for this!!!! Everything just sounds perfect to me about it!!!
Come to think of it the only dyslexia rep I’ve read is Percy Jackson and I’m not sure 100% sure if that counts since it’s got a magical reason and not technically real dyslexia. Also when people say “feminist book” I’m not always sure what that means, does the book have to be about women in a patriarchal society seizing power and freedom (like Grace & Fury) or can it be a book that features well thought out, complex, diverse female characters without any sexism (like The Lunar Chronicles), because both are good. I know this one is the former but not sure what to recommend to people when they ask
Yeah I’ve always wondered how to feel about the Percy Jackson dyslexia rep because I’m not really a fan of disabilities being turned into “it’s ok!! you’re actually ~magical~”…but then he wrote it FOR his dyslexic son so it’s not like he had no experience. So I don’t know.😂 I know nothing.
I think when I just think of feminist books, I’m thinking of ones that actively are taking down the patriarchy. But that’s not to say a book isn’t feminist if it isn’t about it. I would consider my books to be feminist! I don’t dismantle the patriarchy in them, but I always try to write worlds were girls are never put in corners or boxes. So it’s a good thing to point out…I should’ve been clearer with my question!
Oh, I read this one and I liked it very much! I’m glad it was the same for you.
I think there’s a lot to say about it and my first big and nice surprise, when I picked it up, is that it was a fantasy. For some reasons I heard that it was a dystopic book. And also, can we appreciate the start with corpeses?
I loved how it was written and also was well built in tersm of worldbuilding?
My only doubt about the whole thing is that I had some vibes towards the end, because I felt the discourse was very cis in certain terms? A thing that was said rubbed me wrongly.
I’m kinda sad there wasn’t more exploring Holm’s identity and personality! Because it was a really interesting figure in terms of gender. (but I can totally be wrong since I’m cis).
Omg I know right? What a beginning 😂 just here for a bit of a shock haha. I loved that Rhen was always so curious and wasn’t afraid of her own intelligence. She never dumbed herself down and I LOVE her for it.
(And also I do agree that it was very very cis-centric and there were a few comments made that just indicated zero recognition of the queer community. I don’t think it was ever harmful, just needed to be inclusive.)
Ugh! I have an arc of this and cant wait to get to it!!!!!! You just upped the hype level even higher!!!! Bah! 💕
I hope you end up enjoying it too!!💛
Oh very much. Assuming I’m not still dying of if whatever illness I’ve caught thr review will be up Thursday. I was afraid to read yours. But after I write mine I definitely want to. I might even link back to it so readers can read both reviews if that is ok with you?
Oh no…I hope you feel better soon! And that’s totally fine to link to mine if you want. 💛
YES I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Will and Sam were SO GOOD. And LUUUUTE. 😍😍😍 Everyone was so amazing and realistic as soon as they appeared into the story and ASKDFJALSKFDA IT WAS SO GOOD.
The girls were so thoroughly awesome too! I just LOVED them.💛
Ahhh I’m going to read this one bc I have a digital arc of it, and I’m so glad that you said it’s really easy to read through because I’ve been really craving really fast-paced addictive books recently!! Also, the cover is actually gorgeousss. The author’s instagram is so aesthetic!!
Her IG is just gorgeous eep, so talented at so many things 😍
Yay yay yay, I am so glad you liked this too! Lute IS a gift to this world, I agree completely. I loved Rhen too, her voice was great. Now I am trying to think of good feminist books to rec but I am having trouble! Walk on Earth a Stranger is a great comparison title though, I agree! (And on a totally unrelated note, seeing The Surface Breaks reminds me that we’re very overdue for a Louise O’Neill book, just saying.) Also I agree that Mary is SO lovely- I met her last year and she was so genuinely kind and nice, I am really glad she has been so supportive of you!!
aww that’s so lucky you got to met Mary!! She’s been so kind to me while I fuddle through being an author so like !!! I’m so grateful for her 💛💛
Uhm,.. this isn’t called To The Best Boys? I am Confused. I totally thought that it was and did not realise it was not until you pointed it out in our review lol. So I join you in this confusion of titles!!
I saw this one on NetGalley but ended up passing because of whatever makes me pass on a book when I’m thinking about reading it. You make it sound so good and interesting, though! Maybe I need to reassess my decision because I am here for girls supporting each other and lovely relationships!! I like all of those things.
So glad you liked this one, Cait 😀
I’m actually so relieved now that I’m not the only one who read it backwards.😂I think I had the Lara Jean titles in my head?? And honestly I would be down for a book only to the BEST boys, like…all two of them that probably exist on planet earth. 😂
OOH THIS SOUNDS SO AMAZING!! I love it when books feature girls who are into STEM – YAY!
Yessss! There’s not enough either! I mean, I am hopeless at anything in the science part but still 😂 I can appreciate it from a distance.
So. Thanks, Cait, for adding YET ANOTHER book to my TBR. Great.
In all seriousness though, this looks DIVINE. All the heart eyes 😍😍😍😍😍
You are MOST WELCOME. I am here to make TBRs suffer. 😌
I’m reading this right now!!! It (tied with Romanov) is my first ARC to ever get … so yay!!! Mary Weber is the SWEETEST. I think that I’ve read all of her other books? Her characters are always super badass.
Aaaanyways, I’m adoring Lute and Seleni thus far and I cannoooooot wait to continue it! The book is just flying! So glad to see that you enjoyed it and the rep was good. 🙂
omg congrats on your first ARC!!! SO EXCITING. Mary is just wonderful afjdkslad the actual kindest person. (Her and Nadine!!) And I hope you adore the ending of this one too. The whole thing is just excellent.