The Remedy

Apparently the previous reviewer and I did not read the same book. This book was ridiculous (in a bad way).

It shouldn't be too hard to suspend disbelief with sci fi/speculative fiction/whatever you want to call it, but I couldn't.

The premise was absurd: teens doing hard-core role play as the dead child of whatever family they've been assigned to, so the parents can gain "closure" (in a couple of days). But the parents are supposed to alternately believe the "closer" is their kid but also realize they are not. Further absurdity ensues in that the closer is in danger of literally forgetting who s/he is from this immersion into the dead person's life for a couple of days. Please. The author tries to get us to buy this premise--this extreme danger to the closure by making up a bunch of rules the closers have to follow (e.g., one assignment a month) and telling us of others who have completely forgotten who they are, and constantly shoving it down the reader's throat to try to convince us. But I wasn't buying it.

I enjoyed the author's previous books, and this one was well written with an interesting storyline, characters, good audio narrator, so I kept listening. But always in the back of my mind was the thought of many different things that the author could have done to make this book work, which led to thoughts of "Uh, didn't her beta readers think this was silly? Didn't her editor say, 'well, why don't you try X instead?'"

Not sure why I'm bashing this one so hard when I really should have tried to save people from Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch, because that one was one of the worst I've ever listened to--to the point I had contempt for the author for writing such tripe and the publisher for publishing it and didn't want to spend another 30 minutes suffering by writing down all the reasons to avoid that wretched book.

Now that I've read all three, this is really still swirling in my head! I couldn't put it down and really wish it wasn't over!!

I loved it! Not only did I love the story but the narration as well. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to.

perfect. kept me listening. a great book for my kids and I to share. thank you

This was a great book! Kept me intrigued the entire time. It was different than the average teenage fiction story being published today. I highly suggest it.

I bought this prequel to The Program series on a pre-sale and anxiously awaited its release. What is always hard with a new book in a series is comparing it to other well loved books which is somewhat unfair. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it. As the author has said, this book is the "same world" as The Program but a different story. It was new and different with a very intriguing plot that stands alone nicely. The author really understands the teenaged voice without alienating an adult audience. There were many nods towards the future story, so I spent a lot of time thinking, "OH! So that is why..." which was lots of fun. The most fun was the patented Suzanne Young "turn everything you think you know on its head" twist. Delicious!

The hard part now is waiting for the next book in the series. Write faster, Suzanne Young!

While the premise is shocking and hard to completely wrap my head around, I would say this is the strongest story of her series. It progresses well, draws you in both mind and feelings. The interplay is intriguing and stimulating. This story occurs prior to the others in the series and has twists and turns and gut wrenching parts all woven together well.

Yes the premise is a bit hard to completely imagine or buy. Well the surface premise that is. Can't believe I didn't see the twists at the end a bit more. :-/ The intellectual side of me is grappling with the reality of this as a therapy and if it would be harmful. At least harmful to the closer, it would seem so.

Another interesting component is the idea of the closers place in the world. Where do they belong? Hmmm...

I loved ot. a very different book then what's out there today and the ending is perfect. I would have never guessed the turn this book took. can't wait to read the next one!!!

I Love Love LOVE this book!! I hope there is going to be another one to tie up all the rest of the stuff!! The Remedy, The Program, The Treatment OH & WE CAN'T FORGET REALM'S STORY!! THEY ALL ARE EPIC!! Suzanne Young is SUCH AN AMAZING AUTHOR!! Her book Covers Rock, Her You Tube Videos promoting her books are EPIC, Her Posters RULE!! I COULD RAVE FOR DAYS ABOUT HER & HER BOOKS!! I own the ebooks, the audible books AS WELL AS THE PAPERBACK/HARDBACK BOOKS that's how much of a FAN I AM!! I WISH I COULD GET SOME OF HER POSTERS & SWAG maybe SOMEDAY I'll be able to meet her!! DREAMS ARE POSSIBLE!!