Please Stand By

by Emily Rennie

'Don't forget, lovely listeners... if there's nothing to feel, then there's nothing to fear!'

Number one fan, Eva Jeong, adores her daily routine. She wakes up bright and early, texts her twin sister, and watches The Lifetime Lila Show on her black-and-white television in her little pink bungalow. She's perfectly happy. 

Charming television host, Lila, is a beacon of hope for the British public. Nobody else can look after an entire nation with such charm and grace from morning to night!

Except the idyllic life Eva cares for so deeply will soon be disrupted by a simple knock on the door. Lila's warm, welcoming smile suddenly doesn't feel as safe as it did before. 

What is everyone hiding from Eva - and what is Eva hiding from?

Genres: Horror, Adult, Dystopia, LGBT, Fiction

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

Emily Rennie is a London-based writer, producer, and performer. She has a Masters in Creative Producing from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and a BA in English & American Literature and Drama from the University of Kent. From the honest one-woman play about chronic illness, ‘Can I Call You Back?’ at Theatre Peckham, to being long-listed for the Funny Women Comedy Writing Award for the TV pilot ‘I’m Not That Weird’, Emily enjoys writing across a wide array of media.
When not writing, Emily is making new theatre with her Co-Producer Phoebe White over at Rennie and White Productions, giving a platform for up-and-coming writers, directors, actors and other creatives. She also makes silly comedies with Big Licks Theatre Company, where her play, 'That’s A Bit of Sheer-luck! A Sherlock Holmes Parody’ had a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run.
Emily can be found on Twitter (she refuses to call it X) @EmilyRennie3 and Instagram @emilyrennie1

Reviews

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I didn't see any of the twists coming, loved the way it was written. I didn't want to put it down

[Paige Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!

[Megneto♓️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant read! 👏 5 🌟 🌟
This book gave me fallout vibes and I did not expect all of the twists. I would love a second book to this to find out a bit more! Maybe what happened afterwards? (I don't want to give any spoilers away 😂)

[Katherine Tricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read a book quite like this not only in relation to the plot line, but the way in which information is revealed. I was hooked from start to finish.

This book deserves so much hype. I will be recommending it to everyone.

[Charlotte ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly brilliant debut. A wonderfully constructed plot, with jaw-dropping twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat and begging for more. Her characters are so masterfully formed and the reader starts to feel as if they know them. I fell in love with this book from the first few chapters and am astonished at how well Emily illustrates this world. What a fantastic first novel…I can’t wait to read more of her work!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a book to get you out of a reading rut, this is it! Fast-paced, original. Its been a good while since I haven’t been able to guess the twists in the story.

[Lily Marson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would catapult you out of a reading slump- it's so fast-paced

This book was gifted to me by Emily, this is an honest review.

Please Stand By is a twisty dystopian novel set in the near future during the aftermath of WW3, with themes of found family, queer love and grief.

I thought the twists wouldn't get me but that last one had my jaw on the floor!

I highly recommend reading this book.

[Natasha Hensel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book and the plot kept me hooked the entire way through. My favourite thing about this book was the description of OCD and as somebody that has dealt with this for 13 years now, I finally have a character I can relate to. So thank you Emily for making that a part of your story; you have no idea how much it means to me.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a super fast-paced and engaging dystopian read. While the writing really impressed me, it still read as a self-published debut and wasn’t the most polished at times.

The worldbuilding was vague and underdeveloped. Some things were completely derelict and destroyed but there was still electricty, running water, and supermarkets so it's not clear who is keeping things running if everyone is shut inside. The lack of detail about the war itself was maybe accurate from a child's point of view, but even meeting the rebels not much more became clear which made it hard to understand how society got to the point of bombing cities off the map.

The character's cultural backgrounds were also a bit sketchy, the MC's Korean heritage consisted of reminiscing on her mother's topokki which is street food moreso than home cooking, and Val's Spanish was gramatically incorrect more often than not.

That being said it was a lot of fun to read, super entertaining and definitely keeps you hooked. People will really enjoy the queer representaion, the exploration of OCD, and the found family vibes.

[Nicole Creighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I honestly couldn’t put it down because I was desperate to know what happens next. I loved how the reader learns more about the world along with the protagonist, and how we also have the POV of other characters to really flesh out the world-building. The stakes are high and the story is fast-paced without being confusing or rushed, which really made me want to keep going to find out what happens. There’s also unexpected twists that keep you on your toes! I can’t recommend this novel enough.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lessons in Chemistry but on drugs. An astonishingly gripping self-published debut novel!

Eva Jeong's life is all happy and bright – what could be better than sitting in your pink house, in your pink clothes, watching your favourite 'The Lifetime Lila Show' on TV every single day? Except in the outside world, things are much different. On the fateful day that Eva leaves her TV and steps outside, she gets dragged into the newly ruined real world and is forced to face a gruelling reality.

This was a very pleasant, mysterious, adventurous novel, and I've come away feeling like I've made friends with the characters. We enter the world as Eva, the unreliable narrator we all needed, who hasn't a clue about her real life, and slowly but surely start to remember everything before The Lifetime Lila Show. Eva is then joined – or rather ripped from her life as she knows it – by Val, Tabby and Darryl, which is when her true adventure begins. I loved the romance subplot in this, and intertwined with the dread for what would undoubtedly come next, I couldn't stop myself from reading the entire second half in one sitting. Filled with delicious twists and turns and a final blow to everything you ✨think✨ you know, this is a very promising start to Rennie's career as a writer, and I would recommend this to other budding cosy mystery readers!

🎁 Thank you Emily for sending me a copy!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Stand By is a great book with an engaging story and interesting, complex characters. It’s set in Britain in the aftermath of a (fictional) war, and written from the perspective of Eva Jeong, whose lack of memory of the events creates suspense and mystery throughout. The main characters are well fleshed out throughout the book, and Rennie makes good use of flashbacks to develop our understanding of both the characters and the events that led to the present situation. The narrative takes the reader on a journey both physically and emotionally as Eva inadvertently becomes a part of a group of rebels whose mission is to disrupt the broadcast of her favourite programme, The Lifetime Lila Show.

The book is accessible to a wide range of ages and has a good balance of authentic emotion and comedic moments throughout. I was invested in the story from beginning to end and am looking forward to reading
more from this author!

[Mette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an incredible story this was. And a Debut Novel, no less? I hope Emily will write another (many) book some day. I do believe she has just made it into my auto-buy authors list.

The story was great, really interesting take on a dystopian world. It kept me wanting to go back to the book to read on. It was full of enigma, twists and turns along the way. So enjoyable from start to finish. A solid 4.5 stars.

Congratulations to Emily on an amazing debut novel. 👏

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

JUST FINISHED OH MY GOD
The whole way through it’s was “this is so good!”
I literally couldn’t put it down. The bit with the blue suit I re read it 3 times in disbelief, that was so clever! Just by mentioning Daryl once towards the start!
I loved the whole concept of the book with is being a modern war but also apocalyptic not quite out of it yet and the brainwashing oh my god that was so good.
you’re a genius ❤️📺

[Heather Biondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER random find on Hoopla that was AMAZING! Serious Fallout vibes. I could not put this book down, and was genuinely surprised by the twists (which is rare for me). Even when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It was like an epic apocalyptic movie in my head the whole time. Imagery was spot on and the characters were so well developed. Also loved the girl hero squad, because women are tough as shit and do what needs to get done.

[Claire Derbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW !! One of the best debut novels I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. This book had me hooked from the first page and the way the author wrote it kept me wanting more. The twists in the book had me shocked throughout. Highly recommended

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is unlike anything I have ever read before!! It was fantastically thrilling and exactly what I needed in my search of fresh brand new ideas for fiction. I’m calling it this is getting an on screen adaptation.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5✨ but this deserves rounding up.

I LOVED this book! Firstly, the dialogue is 10/10!! I couldn’t predict the twists and I loved the overall vibe. Each character was so unique with super interesting backstories.

Overall, go read it!

It just left me wanting MORE so sequel plz x

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more stars I would! This is the best book I’ve read this year so far! The storyline had been hooked from the first chapter! I loved every page!

[Lily-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down, one of the best books I've read this year

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fear this is CRIMINALLY under hyped? Why is there only 100 reviews for this? I was hooked from the start!! The plot is completely unique and all the characters were just perfect🙂‍↔️💗🌷✨

[Ugne Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

• ★★★★★ (5) •

Loved it! The concept is really interesting, and oof what a twist at the end?! Each character is unique from the other and so fun to follow. Honestly would love a sequel!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab storyline, character development and twists along the way. I loved every page!

[Jonathan Doughty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could sit here and say I automatically give a book five stars because I've met the author in real life during my uni days, but that simply isn't the case. One of the most enjoyable pieces of fiction I've picked up in a long while.

This one resonates with me emotionally, and I found myself in tears on more than one occasion toward the end. While the story can be somewhat frightening, simply because a heap of it feels all-too-plausible in the near-future, there's a hope embedded in the pages.

When you read a book, you're really experiencing an exhaustive glimpse into someone's heart and mind, and it simply makes me happy that there are people out there who express a love for humanity with words. Even in the darkest of times, even when we're angry, confused, lost, broken - human beings really come together in this story.

There's so much love, and it's not a stagnant, linear, textbook love; it's real love, with ebb and flow, with little scratches and quirks, but it is nonetheless unconditional and palpable.

I love the smart writing and humor that ties everything together as well. It's not one big serious venture, there's a lot of wit going on.

The core message of the story, at least to me, is this: it's okay to not be okay.

Obviously, you can get what you sense out of it, too, and the author undoubtedly has multiple themes working at once, but that's my most memorable and powerful takeaway.

Amid the suffering and destruction that bedevils our world, people want to forget, they want to be distracted, they want to think about something else, they want to feel better. It's a natural desire, and as someone who is familiar with anxiety and depression, I understand it.

We can't live lies, though. We can't run away from those difficult and traumatic moments forever. It's impossible to bury our struggles and memories deep down, hoping that'll solve our woes. Healing happens when we confront what we've been so afraid to confront, when we don't isolate ourselves, when we talk about it, when we embrace it and feel it, when we seek help.

All of the characters process their experiences differently, like we do in real life, though they are all seeking that sense of peace, that sense of hope and a reason to live when it feels like the reasons are fading away.

There's no set timeframe or pathway, and I like seeing that. If you feel like you've been stuck in bed too long, you're not alone. If you feel like you haven't opened up like others yet, you're not alone.

Heal in your own time, in your own way. There's nothing to be guilty or discouraged about.

You're not perfect. You never will be, and you're in luck, because no one else will be either. When we help each other grow, though, we become something even better than perfection. We become ourselves.

Even if we think it would be better to stop thinking, to stop feeling, to surrender ourselves in some sort of mindless, subservient existence, it wouldn't be life anymore. Our choices and our circumstances, good and bad, make us who we are. There's no point if we stop, if we deprive ourselves of being vulnerable, brave, and free again.

So we wake up and try again, even if it's hard; especially because it's hard.

I am now going to talk about some SPOILERS, so STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW if you haven't looked at the book yet!

When Eva's family finally got relocated to an official home, but they said "Birmingham" - I remembered some little passing sentence earlier in the book mentioning Birmingham had been reduced to rubble, and I was like "fuuuuuucccckkkkkk" - this is not going to be good. Had me so nervous.

I didn't see the Darryl twist coming until just before, and it's a good one because I can absolutely see why he would take that path, though it was horrific. "Then you're braver than me" - he wanted to numb himself from the pain, and I empathize with that, even though he ultimately made some very bad choices. He's still responsible for those choices, he accepted responsibility for those choices, and he ended up providing some very helpful information, but I really do love it when antagonists aren't black and white, 100% good or 100% bad. That simply isn't realistic, it's why Studio Ghibli films kick ass. Everyone in this book is multi-layered.

I loved Lila's journey, too! She could've been the mastermind, she could've been some wild story of her own, some sort of major player in the politics of the world; but no, she's also just another person, feeling the same pain.

I cried at various points and I can remember some distinctly right now:

1 - Ali's death. The sisterly bond was so profound, and my heart broke for Eva, the way she was blaming herself and feeling like a coward. It makes her life and behavior at the very beginning of the book that much more tragic and that much more real. The texts on her phone not being delivered can also wrap into this.
2 - Tabby & Eva's walk where they open up about everything, their "raw and true" kiss. It's just so healthy and vulnerable, it's organic. They're angry and they do say some things out of anger, but they realize it's not truly directed at each other. "Let's talk about all of them...They deserve to be celebrated...They deserve to be remembered."
3 - When Eva's mum is alive and speaks to her on the radio. That's everything.
4 - Lila's entire backstory.

Plus more, I'm sure.

I'm glad there's a Jonathan in the book who was really sweet and loving, but damn, he got fucked up.

I'm glad there are beautiful depictions of LGBTQ+ couples that almost certainly wouldn't be accepted in the society The Lifetime Lila Show conjured. The "Creatives" don't seem that creative, and to me, they symbolize an effort to create a false peace by ensuring uniformity and order like a mega-white homogenized 1950s sitcom. When people are denied being who they are, it never leads to the desired outcome of happiness for all. There cannot be peace without justice.

I'm glad there are several individuals with non-European ancestry who are presented as 100% of the British Isles. The UK & surrounding entities can be even more racist and xenophobic than America at times, and it's important to show the world being English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Cornish, or anything else shouldn't conjure just one image or one color in someone's head. Get used to it, get out of your bubble and realize there are cultures beyond your own with the same value.

Writing a book isn't easy at all, and writing a good book is even more daunting. Congrats on doing something so many only ever dream of accomplishing. If I wrote a book half as long and half as decent, I'd be pretty happy. It's truly wonderful. Mary Shelley wishes she could write shit like this.

(I love you, Mary, plz don't be mad)

In the acknowledgements, the author mentions tons of supportive people, including her partner in crime with whom she works on tons of exciting projects. While I am mostly making this judgment from knowing them through their social media, Emily & Phoebe are delightful, radiant, brilliant, amazing people and you should definitely support their future endeavors - shout-out to Rennie & White Productions.

[Andy Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I express just how much I loved this book? It's easy to read, it keeps you hooked, and it's by far one of the most original books I've read in a while, if not ever. It keeps you wondering how someone could have the imagination and the precision to write something so original. I liked the characters' developments, especially the MC, where you can see her changing throughout the book, growing, remembering, becoming more mature, more aware. The plot twists, I didn't see them coming, and I was pleasantly surprised. There wasn't any missing information, everything fell into place quite nicely.

It's crazy that this book doesn't have the hype that it deserves, and oly has a bunch of reviews and reads, considering how good it is! I'll be recommending this to everyone I know!

[Meliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this books suffers from clearly being MEANT to be a trilogy in the style of something like the hunger games but instead its forced to be one single book so all the plot points are crammed into this one book so the world building is basically nonexistent and the only thing keeping it together are the character dynamics.
the idea of a lesbian having her first gay crush on the propaganda spokeswoman she's forced to watch every day is genius but its not really an angle we get to focus on much because we have to get out of this town and get on a boat and destroy the studio where this propaganda is being made because it literally mind controls people.
so yeah ill give it a 2.5 because I like the concept and the characters but the execution was a bit disappointing.

[Casey Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was really predictable but very entertaining. i loved the writing style, it was very easy to read and engaging but sadly, i did guess everything that happened. i loved the premise of this but there wasn’t too many dystopian vibes for me. eva is a really great narrator and whilst i didn’t trust her to begin with, she quickly became likeable. the ending was a bit boring, and i wanted more for the characters and the world.

[Lawrence Harp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a serial reader; Rennie's twisty-turny 1st-person narrative of Hope, Trauma and Emotional Repression was incredibly readable and was truly shocking at several points I didn't see coming!
I loved the characters; especially the unhinged Eva as our Protagonist through whose eyes the story unfolds. She's fiesty, hilarious and totally untrustworthy.
Loved it!

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great debut novel from Emily Rennie!
Please Stand By was a fantastic YA novel that had me enthralled from the very beginning. In addition to the plot line being very engaging and fast paced, Rennie created a strong cast of diverse female characters that felt incredibly real and human.
I can't wait to read whatever she writes next!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a rollercoaster of personal development with diverse characters at the centre of it. There were twists and turns that kept me hooked all the way through. A brilliant debut novel. I would love to see a sequel to this.