This book was keeping me constantly on my toes, with so many twists and betrayals that were perfectly executed. I loved the addition of the ‘before’ chapters with Elenor, they added on to the world building and how dark the earth in this story had become. I’m very exited to continue this series!

So this was an interesting story. I was hooked, lined and Sinker with this book. A dystopian,action packed, fast paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you publisher, shalini boland and Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

I struggled to finish this unfortunately. The characters felt very vapid and empty, there wasn't enough world building to give me a good sense of where the characters were, the plot felt sluggish, and the alternating POVs felt very disconnected (normally I enjoy dual POV stories but these two were very disjointed).

I really like the premise of this trilogy and the ideas set out within the pages. However I found it hard to engage with the protagonist and the writing style was quite stiff.
That being said, I think readers on the younger side of YA will thoroughly enjoy this trilogy.

I dnf'ed this book. I'm giving it 2 stars because I do like the idea and the plot, but something about the writing style just makes it difficult for me to get through this one. I was not engaged and didn't relate to the character. It started too slowly for me (I know, I know, major event for the character at the beginning, but for me, it didn't jumpstart things.) I would be willing to give it another go, but for right now, it's a no go.

Three and a half
This was an interesting read for me as although it's clearly aimed at someone younger than me I liked the ideas in place here. Yes its a dystopian future and yes this book was written before the recent pandemic but it actually charts a similar event and as well as the apparent plague thats secondary in a world gone mad due to terrorism. Yes this obviously struck me as ironic and even a little too near the mark !
We essentially get two perspectives one from Riley which is post apocalyptic and Eleanor who tells of events before the big changes. How they connect wasn't too difficult to work out but the actual mystery surrounding Rileys man hunt was quite a revelation. Some things were perhaps preposterous but I cannot deny I was entertained. Yes Riley and Luc are just extremely naive which might irritate older readers but as there is more to come from their journey to adulthood I very much recommend this and the English settings made it feel fresh and for this reader atmospheric.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

To be totally honest I DNF’ed at 25% after a few week of trying to get through it and putting it down after a chapter or 2.

I did think Eleanor’s POV was interesting, I don’t particularly think the writing style is that bad but Riley just frustrate me so so much and doesn’t interest me at all that I can’t get myself to finish it.
It seems to me she and Luc are just doing a series of stupid decisions. What are they gonna do with her sister’s killer? How in the world do they think they’ll find him even? They barely know what he looks like or what his name is. She also knows seemingly nothing about life outside of the perimeter, why on earth would you go there then? Do your research at least??

I just don’t understand any of their choices.
And honestly I cannot be bothered to find out sorry.

A stunning series, I was so pleased to get advance copies of the three books in the series. I read right through, losing a few days in the process. A very satisfying series. Loved it.

3☆

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the arc! All opinions are my own.

I loved the premise of this story, but the execution just fell flat for me. The book is set in a dystopian future, but I feel like the novel does a poor job of fully explaining the world and how it operates. There is also no build up to the events of the journey that Riley and Luc go on. Everything just kind of happens suddenly back to back and then they escape their troubles just as fast as they got into them with no consequences or anything of value added to the story.

One thing that really stuck out to me was the dialogue. It felt kind of unrealistic. I can't really even explain what about it bothered me, but it was written in a way that no teenagers (or other people) would ever talk in.

I did like the 'before' chapters and their narration. Rileys narrating was a bit scattered and she never added anything of substance in my opinion. I feel like even though this was in 1st person, I could not connect with Riley nor Luc at all and that also lessened my enjoyment. They did not learn anything or have any character growth that you would expect from a journey like this.

All in all, I feel like nothing really happened and this book purely focused on building a background for the rest of the series. I think this could be enjoyable to younger readers or readers who tend to just read for the vibes and not look too much into detail.

This was an interesting one- thank you to NetGalley and Shalini Boland for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my thoughts on the story.

The internal logic of the premise is sound, though I wish there was a bit more explanation as to how in a functionally post-apocalyptic world some of these compounds were gaining access to these advanced technologies through a barter system. Same goes for the use of "silver bits" as currency- I get that in a societal collapse standard currency would be useless, but where is the silver coming from and what value does it hold? Additionally, I'm sure there's a commentary to be made somewhere about the privilege necessary to live in a pristine compound with no understanding of what the outside world is like, and while this book grazed it, it didn't get as in-depth to it as I would have liked.

I felt like the entire plotline with the cult felt superfluous to the story being told. It didn't even develop the characters or show any further nuance about their ability to act under pressure that we didn't already know. They entered the compound, immediately found out that they were tricked, and made their escape with no meaningful resistance. The same thing was rehashed instantly with the next military compound they went to, so it became somewhat repetitive. I thought initially that this would be to introduce a greater antagonist for the future, but the cult leader seemed to be mortally wounded (unless?) so I don't know that that will pan out.

I liked the use of two perspectives to give a before and after to show how society got to this point, but I didn't love that in the final quarter of the book Eleanor was basically just used to lore dump everything that Riley didn't know yet. I think the receiving of that information could have been broken up between the two perspectives to make the delivery punchier.

I may seek out the next book in this series at another time, but as for now I'm still on the fence.

“The future is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities where life goes on as normal. If you’re inside you’re lucky. If you’re outside, life expectancy takes a nose dive.
Riley is fortunate to have been born on the right side of the fence. But her life of privilege comes crashing down when someone breaks through and murders her sister.
She forsakes her own safety to go in search of the killer. Luc decides to go with her otherwise she’ll be dead before she’s past the security gate. But what awaits her outside is more unbelievable than she ever expected.
Cut to the present day, where Eleanor's world is falling apart. This time next year, civilisation won't be quite so civilised..”

Action packed, fast paced read that hooked me from the start. Riley is in search of the man who is believed to have murdered her sister and the journey her and Luc go on to try and find him is intense and has many heart pounding moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I’m excited to see where the story goes in the next book and I really enjoyed Shalini Boland’s writing so world love to check out some of her other books especially her thrillers!

Thank you to @netgalley @secondskybooks and @shaboland for the copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

2.5 stars

Outside By Shalini Boland is the first in a YA dystopian series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Second Sky and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information
World-wide terrorist attacks have changed the world.  There is no government, and the military are no longer in charge.   In England, compounds spring up, some with high-security.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Riley Culpepper lives in a high-security compound built by her father.  She and her younger sister Skye have never known anything beyond the walls of The Perimeter.  The Outside is unknown, but rumours of violence and endless miles of rugged terrain abound..

When a man breaches the security of the neighbour's fence, Skye ends up dead.  Initially, they thought the neighbour's son Luc was responsible, but Luc was their friend, and he would never harm them.   Soon the name of an electrician, Ron Chambers, becomes the prime suspect, but he has escaped.  Riley's mom start drinking, and her dad is devastated.

Riley and Luc decide to find Skye's murderer.  They set off in the middle of the night, and Riley soon realizes that the rumours of the Outside world were true.  The roads are rough, and most of the people they encounter mean them harm.

Meanwhile, Riley realizes that she has feelings for Luc, and he for her.  But she refuses to accept those feelings, because Skye was the one with the crush on Luc.

When their trip is brought to an abrupt end, Riley learns more about her family than she wanted to know, and is still on the hunt for her sister's killer.


My Opinions:
Well,  I really wanted to love this book (especially since I already have Books 2 and 3).

Unfortunately, I couldn't relate to any of the characters.  This was NOT because the book is directed at the YA crowd.  I couldn't respect Eleanor's decisions, and both Skye ad Riley acted like the spoiled children that they were, but more so.  Riley's decisions were as stupid as their mothers.  I kept saying "idiot" in my mind.  I mean if you pack all this ammo, food and clothing, etc, you would think you'd wear something more on your feet than fli-flops to hunt down a killer.  Okay, that is just one example.  I can come up with a lot more.

The story jumped back and forth between two perspectives, and it took me longer than it should have to be able to connect them.  After I figured that out, the twist was a given.

The actual plot was quite good, and some of the adventures that Luc and Riley got caught up in were interesting, It was also a fairly fast read.

I am hoping that Book 2 shows some improvement.

An unexpected dystopian murder mystery that follows two characters through a world that has been destroyed by terrorists. Join the main character and her forbidden love interest as they trek across the dangerous lands outside their compound seeking justice.

They encounter modern outlaws, deceiving friends, and page after page of adventure. Read along and uncover the lies that were told, stories that were covered up, and how it all affects those they love.

Watch as two seemingly separate stories come together forming the ultimate plot twist in this page turning series.

Im gonna be honest these kind of books are usually not my style and when I saw this one I was afraid it would be the same. HOWEVER it was definitely an interesting read and I can see how the reviews were raving for it. I will say though that I was not a fan of the main girl and she just seemed spoiled and entitled and kind of whiney? Maybe as the books progress we will see more character growth and development from her. Thank you so much netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early and thank you to author for letting me be one of the select few!

Outside (Book 1) is a dystopian novel that sadly could - in some aspects - come true in the near future. In a world where inequality is increasing fast, this piece of fiction doesn't entirely seem speculative.

Seventeen-year-old Riley's privileged existence comes crashing down when her 15-year-old sister, Skye, is murdered. In a society where the haves and have-nots are safely kept apart by perimeter security fences that ensure those who are on the right side do not have to deal with the unpleasantnesses of life. Living inside, Riley's family could not have imagined that someone would come through from the other side and kill her sister.

Determined to find the man who did it, Riley does the unthinkable. She breaks all the rules by heading Outside, accompanied only by her teenage neighbour Luc, whom Skye once had a crush on.

But in a Britain where terrorist attacks have led to fairly secure lives within the perimeter fences and utter chaos beyond, how can two 17-year-olds hope to survive? And what will they find out about themselves, each other, and The Outside in the process?

This is a little different from the typical dystopian YA novel. It falls short on the world building aspect, but delivers an interesting story with a romance born of proximity, mutual reliance and danger, and a strong female MC. Well worth checking out if you enjoy this genre.

Book Review 📚
Outside by Shalini Boland - 4/5 ⭐

There's so many up and down reviews about this book, so firstly I'd like to say - regardless of whether you love it or hate it, it's your opinion and your entitled to it but there's no reason to disregard or even belittle someone else who has a different opinion! With that being said, I LOVED this book. Such a different and unusual take on a post-apocolyptic world.

There is so much detail in the plot and story with a cross over of storylines. Riley, our MC, is strong yet weak and brave yet scared. Boland does a terrific job of putting Riley's character in to words that give you such a visual. Boland has such terrific writing that you can visualise everything as it happens, including the characters.

There were nonstop twists and turns throughout the book and I was playing a guessing game the entire way through. 9 times out of 10 I was wrong and completely misjudged but isn't that part of the fun?! It's such a fun, exciting and fast paced read that it's hard to put down! It's easily read in a couple of days if not 1!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

A post-apocalyptic YA novel that features two narrators, Outside is an interesting take on the genre. Boland takes care to include the necessary explanations throughout the book to build a world in which communities become more insular and Perimeters are constructed. There is opportunity to make this premise more riveting that is missed; it feels as though either 1) more time should be spent examining how it's even possible to live like that and the advantages/disadvantages society now faces being in these enclosed systems, or, more realistically, 2) less time should be spent altogether trying to flesh out the world-building if it only raises distracting questions. Riley's narration at times exacerbates the issue, such as when she mentions five-star hotels, movies, and the like, which do not seem to make logical sense for someone who grew up entirely within a Perimeter (in a world that has no entertainment industry or luxury vacations) to know about. As the primary plot point of this novel is actually more about Riley's family and unlocking the mysteries within her family history, it would actually be reasonable if this novel chose to forego the extensive post-apocalyptic world-building and instead focus in on the plot development, with any incidental world-building being sufficient.

Boland's third-person narration is stronger than her first-person; unfortunately, the book is almost entirely written in first-person, which diminishes the reading experience. Riley's narration is scatter-brained and gives the impression of her being an annoying, vapid character, which is likely not an effect that was intended, and diminishes the credibility of the entire novel. Riley would rather spend four paragraphs repeating that she is "panicking" without satisfactorily explaining to the reader why she is panicking (quantity is not quality), while in a different chapter spending not even half a sentence making a possibly life-changing decision with no lead-up, analysis, etc. Riley's shallow thoughts should not be given so much space in the writing, and instead more time and thought should be spent showing her analyzing the situations around her and providing valuable insight to other characters and/or the reader.

A better distribution of writing space also applies to the action in the story. At each obstacle faced, it is almost frustrating how easily they slip out of various ambushes, betrayals, and hostage situations and continue on the more boring parts of their journey, driving an AV and contemplating romance. Building up these obstacles and making them each more of a multi-step process to overcome can really bring them to their full potential. Some of the plot twists could have exponentially improved the novel by imparting a genuinely immersive sense of adventure. As the time spent discussing the various interesting obstacles and people Riley and Luc encounter in their adventure are disappointingly short, the bloat from Riley's aforementioned two-dimensional narration takes over and diminishes the exciting nature of what they face outside their Perimeter, leaving the novel falling more flat than it should have.

Overall, Outside has a lot of promise; with adjustments to the narration style (primarily trimming the bloat) and more attention towards developing the adventure and mystery aspects, the novel would be immediately better.

Oh, I don’t understand all the rave reviews for this book I’ve found in other sites.
Unputdownable? I put it down several times before reaching the breaking point. She acts like an entitled, spoiled brat who keeps droning on an on about what she deems her mother’s betrayal for leaving for her parents’ place. They are all grieving, each one has a different way to cope and she, the brat, choose to put distance between herself and her mother.
The brat and her neighbor decides to leave the walled in place where they live in their search for the suspected killer or her sister.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this copy

Years ago, terrorist attacks decimated the planet, wiping out many and leaving others fighting for survival. Now, the perimeter is the safest place to be….. or so one thought

Riley had a good life inside her perimeter with her parents and younger sister, Skye. Until Skye is killed at her crush’s house.

Riley doesn’t trust the army, so she enlists Luc’s help to find Chanbers, the suspected killer who’d taken off as soon as he was released.

But along the way, they meet Fred and Jessie, who showed them nothing but kindness and hospitality. They lost their kids years ago from their farm, and Luc and Riley agree to help them, informing them about James Grey, who’s a supposed child snapper. What they didn’t expect, however, was that Fred and Jessie were working with James Grey and would leave them at his ‘prison’.

They manage to escape, just barely, and are back on their journey, but more complications arise. The threat of raids looms after their first encounter, and they strive to make it to another village in the Nick of time, fearing Grey and his guards would follow to try and take them back.

They end up at an army barracks, hoping to meet the major Luc’s dad and him had met, but they’re met with an entirely different one, and according to another soldier, one who wants to use Luc as retaliation against his father. The two flee yet again with a soldier named Denzil.

But that trip ends badly and yet again, they are alone and Denzil leaves to cover their tracks. The two of them end up in a compound and that’s where the town mayor and his wife call their parents.

At her grandparents house, Riley finds out about her mother’s complicated life. Riley’s biological father is the man she’s been hunting, suspected of killing her sister. And not only that, but her mom and Connor (her biological father) have been involved in an affair for a while and her mom suggested drilling a hole into the perimeter wall so Connor could get in. It’s that hole that caused Skye’s death. An outsider by the name Jamie entered the perimeter and slept in the pool house, where Skye was showering, and in a panic, he strangled and pushed her. Then, a shard of glass pierced her in the throat.

This book was full of turns and thrilling adventures. Riley would do anything to find out what happened to Skye, even going outside of her safe perimeter and experiencing the outside world, which is more dangerous than she ever thought.

This book really grasped at my heartstrings. 5/5

Incredibly fast paced from the beginning which I actually love in a book… Brilliantly written and I found myself continuously opening the book because I wanted to find out what would happen next. Awesome read!