Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Title: Glitch

Author: Heather Anastasiu

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: 8.7.12

Pages: 308

Genre: Dystopian

Series: Yes (Glitch #1)

Source: Finished copy from publisher

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

Review:

Glitch is an entertaining and thrilling debut from Heather Anastasiu. While I will admit the plot sound vaguely familiar as far as dystopians go (controlled society where people start to realize they have emotions), what sets this apart is Anastasiu’s imaginative descriptions and relatable characters.

Watching Zoe “wake up” and start to react to the world around her was fascinating and downright fun. I loved her confusion and excitement. I loved watching her newfound ability as a telekinetic come about and the way she starts to perceive and respond to situation. I was holding my breath as she struggled to maintain her façade as ‘normal’ while glitching.

I definitely preferred Adrien to Max from the jump. There was something about Max I just didn’t trust, and I found myself rooting for Zoe and Adrien almost the entire book. I’m not a huge fan of triangles and waiting to see how they play out—when introduced to two guys in a novel, I pick one and rarely jump ship throughout a series. I picked Adrien and something tells me I made a good call.

While it would be easy to overlook Glitch among shelves filled with dystopians and science fiction, I implore you not to. This gem of a novel was a fast read, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Grab this book if you want something delicious to sink into.

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