This is an interesting YA book about a society obsessed and functioning on their definitions of perfection and the main character becomes flawed by an act of flawedness by definitions of that society.
Then when she is wrongly treated, she meets the rebellion.
The plot and the characterisation were 3 stars for me.
The writing and the premise, although not very original, but dealt from an authentic angle as described in the blurb, were more of a 4 stars.
I would recommend this to YA readers and younger adults.
I will not review this publicly because I do not wish the steer away the book’s target audience from it.
Plus, I am looking forward to the second book as the world has now been established, the potential plot of it will appeal to me more and Celestine will likely have a more complex arc.

Flawed is one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished the last page. Cecelia Ahern, known for her contemporary novels, takes a step into YA dystopian fiction, and she does it incredibly well.

The story follows Celestine North, a girl who has always followed the rules in a society that demands absolute perfection. But when she makes a split-second decision to help someone society deems “Flawed,” her world is turned upside down. Suddenly, she’s facing consequences she never imagined—consequences that force her to question everything she once believed in.

Celestine is a fascinating protagonist. She’s not the typical fearless rebel we often see in dystopian fiction. Instead, she’s a mix of strong and uncertain, brave and naive, which makes her feel incredibly real. Her journey isn’t just about fighting injustice—it’s about learning to think for herself in a world that discourages independent thought.

Ahern’s writing is gripping, and there are moments in this book that are genuinely hard to read—not because they’re bad, but because they’re so powerful. There’s one scene in particular that left me feeling shaken, angry, and completely absorbed in the story. The idea of branding people as “Flawed” is disturbing, and the way society justifies its cruelty feels eerily relevant to real-world issues.

If I had one minor complaint, it would be that the first half takes a little time to pick up, and some elements feel familiar if you’ve read other dystopian books. But once the story gains momentum, it’s impossible to put down. And while there’s a hint of romance, it never overshadows the bigger themes of justice, identity, and the cost of standing up for what’s right.

The ending leaves you on edge, making it clear that Celestine’s story is far from over. If you’re looking for a compelling, thought-provoking dystopian novel with real emotional weight, Flawed is definitely worth reading.

Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this month… I loved every minute…

I read (devoured) this book and its sequel when they first came out and loved them. Weirdly, they are now more relevant to our real world than before. Love these books so much.

I first read this book when it was initially released, so I was excited to re-read it and its sequel via Netgalley.

The story follows Celestine North, a 17-year-old girl living a perfect life in a perfect world, until one incident causes her life to become flawed. It is a compelling story of social differences, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it.

My personal favorite character is actually her mother, who, despite being a perfect model, is definitely a perfect mother, flaws and all