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Nepo
In the rain-drenched Los Angeles of 2233, Shayan “Shy” Soraya lives under the shadow of a legend—because he’s a clone of one. Although the world envies his status as a “nepo baby,” Shy feels suffocated by the life that’s been scripted for him. Yet the spotlight only grows harsher when a viral video captures him fending off armed kidnappers.
Hailed as a hero by the city’s elite, Shy breaks his talent agency’s strict rules and befriends Agustín, a teen from the slums, home to the city’s oppressed and largely neurodivergent working class. Their shared determination to uncover who orchestrated the attack pulls them into a conspiracy more dangerous than either could have imagined.
As Shy’s bond with Agustín deepens, unsettling parallels between their lives begin to emerge. Could Shy also be neurodivergent, something Hollywood would never allow? Wrestling with his identity, he realizes the secret he has buried may have already put him in far greater peril than he ever knew.
With time running out, Shy and Agustín must expose the truth before the system swallows them both.
A neuropunk thriller about stardom, identity, and the cost of becoming who you truly are.
Hailed as a hero by the city’s elite, Shy breaks his talent agency’s strict rules and befriends Agustín, a teen from the slums, home to the city’s oppressed and largely neurodivergent working class. Their shared determination to uncover who orchestrated the attack pulls them into a conspiracy more dangerous than either could have imagined.
As Shy’s bond with Agustín deepens, unsettling parallels between their lives begin to emerge. Could Shy also be neurodivergent, something Hollywood would never allow? Wrestling with his identity, he realizes the secret he has buried may have already put him in far greater peril than he ever knew.
With time running out, Shy and Agustín must expose the truth before the system swallows them both.
A neuropunk thriller about stardom, identity, and the cost of becoming who you truly are.
Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2025
24 people want to read
About the author
Essy Knopf
5 books3 followersEssy Knopf is a neurodivergent author whose writing is deeply rooted in his experiences as an autistic ADHDer. He explores diverse identities and challenges conventional societal norms by blending personal insight with incisive social critique. His work invites readers to rethink their perspectives on the issues that shape our world.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 28, 2025
First of all, I thought the cover looked great. This is a dystopian future, YA novel. The main character, Shayan is a clone of a movie star. He still makes public appearances but is simply an earlier version of a celebrity. Beginning with a strange event that leads to an attack on Shayan and his body guard and a near-brush with someone who looks like another clone... the story evokes into a mix of mystery and sci-fi.
I liked the book, although I thought it was a bit slow to get going. Things don't really pick up until about a quarter of the way in. What I appreciated was that the world building was revealing and creative without being cumbersome to read. Sometimes, I find I get a bit winded by detail abut that didn't happen here.
While some things were resolved at the end of this Novel, it reads as though there will be a sequel. I hope there is.
I liked the book, although I thought it was a bit slow to get going. Things don't really pick up until about a quarter of the way in. What I appreciated was that the world building was revealing and creative without being cumbersome to read. Sometimes, I find I get a bit winded by detail abut that didn't happen here.
While some things were resolved at the end of this Novel, it reads as though there will be a sequel. I hope there is.
November 22, 2025
I enjoyed reading Nepo but admit I was a little confused. It's said that Nepo's are clones of celebrities, but then slum-born, regular humans, have the chance to become Nepo's so my question is are they clones, or is plastic surgery used? A big thank you to Essy who actually reached out to me about this question and explained - in rare occurrences humans have the opportunity to become clones and join the ranks of Nepo.
I liked the representation of ADHD and autism, in the form of endi's. I agree with another reviewer that the ending fell a bit flat but otherwise it was a decent read. Again big thank you to Essy who explained that book two takes place right after the events of book one so I will be waiting, patiently, for book two to be released. I'm excited to see where the story leads.
I liked the representation of ADHD and autism, in the form of endi's. I agree with another reviewer that the ending fell a bit flat but otherwise it was a decent read. Again big thank you to Essy who explained that book two takes place right after the events of book one so I will be waiting, patiently, for book two to be released. I'm excited to see where the story leads.
April 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Endi Books for the ARC in exchange for a review!
This was a fun and fast paced book with great representation! I found the premise of the book interesting and unique, and I liked reading about the world and how everything worked. The main character, Shy, had great development throughout the book. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, especially Justis.
I wish more was touched upon regarding the serious topics of the book. I did find that the ending of the book fell a bit flat compared to what was building up throughout the book. I feel that if the book was a bit longer, the author could have tied things up a bit better. I hope there is a sequel in order to expand on the ideas of the first book and to also further develop the relationship between Shy and Agustin.
This was a fun and fast paced book with great representation! I found the premise of the book interesting and unique, and I liked reading about the world and how everything worked. The main character, Shy, had great development throughout the book. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, especially Justis.
I wish more was touched upon regarding the serious topics of the book. I did find that the ending of the book fell a bit flat compared to what was building up throughout the book. I feel that if the book was a bit longer, the author could have tied things up a bit better. I hope there is a sequel in order to expand on the ideas of the first book and to also further develop the relationship between Shy and Agustin.
April 15, 2025
QUEER YA Meets SCI-FI Meets ALEX RIDER Meets GLEE
I ADORED falling into the highly original rabbit hole that is NEPO and meeting Shayan and company.
To start, the writing is not simply competent but masterful. It does not read like it comes from a first-time writer. The author has an obvious gift for language, dialogue, pacing, and plotting. There are as many twists and turns here as in the pilot episode of "Alias," a fictional work that, like NEPO, was groundbreaking and perfectly married spy drama with the personal life of the protagonist.
The world building here is insane! The first chapter sets up a dystopian future where the protagonist is not only a clone of a film star but also a high schooler who is questioning his identity, his world, and what he's been told. He exhibits behaviors consistent with neurodiversity, is a foster child, a drama kid, an unexpected hero. He is confused in new situations and with new people. His friends tease him but have his back. His frenemy gets anxious that he is her first kiss. These details speak to the realities of growing up in any time.
The author, however, shatters your YA lit expectations with a kidnapping plot that pivots the narrative into sci-fi action-thriller territory. Not only this, the book interrogates celebrity culture; sequelitis; ruthless PR tactics; gentrification; the conflicts between classes, youth and authority figures, digital and analog. It's clear the writer not only understands his audience but challenges them.
For me, the heart of NEPO is a beautiful coming out story that blossoms in two directions. First, we get hints of formerly asexual Shy's developing attraction to Agustín which I hope gets explored in book 2. (I totally ship them and imagine the cutest and awkwardest of first dates.) What makes the book stand out among YA lit, though, is Shy's coming to terms with his neurodivergent/endi ("ND"...get it?) identity. In our current world that finds countless ways to make one feel "other," what a gift it is for readers to see themselves in the main character's struggle and to have that "difference" drive the story and to be accepted and valued as a strength.
My one quibble is that so much of NEPO's plot relies on unseen hacktivists liberating information which often makes it seem like Shy is away from the action and waiting for updates when it would be more compelling to have him drive it. He has his "Mission Impossible" moments, though, and a colorful circle of friends to support him along the adventure. Regarding the latter, each supporting character feels fully fleshed and I had a fun time assigning voices to them/"casting" them in my head.
Three-fourths of the way through I got sad believing the story would wrap up and I'd have to say goodbye to these characters and the world they inhabit. There is a wealth of complex ideas, relationship development, conspiracy in play for a series of novels. And then that cliffhanger!!! Getting the truth out about the SS murder plot is only the beginning of waking up the slumborn and enclavers to whom is truly controlling the narrative.
To Essy Knopf: please honor us with a sequel soon!
You would absolutely connect with this book if you enjoy fiction by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Becky Albertalli, Alexis Hall, TJ Klune, David Levithan, Rick Riordan, Eliot Shrefer, Adam Silvera, and Chuck Tingle.
I ADORED falling into the highly original rabbit hole that is NEPO and meeting Shayan and company.
To start, the writing is not simply competent but masterful. It does not read like it comes from a first-time writer. The author has an obvious gift for language, dialogue, pacing, and plotting. There are as many twists and turns here as in the pilot episode of "Alias," a fictional work that, like NEPO, was groundbreaking and perfectly married spy drama with the personal life of the protagonist.
The world building here is insane! The first chapter sets up a dystopian future where the protagonist is not only a clone of a film star but also a high schooler who is questioning his identity, his world, and what he's been told. He exhibits behaviors consistent with neurodiversity, is a foster child, a drama kid, an unexpected hero. He is confused in new situations and with new people. His friends tease him but have his back. His frenemy gets anxious that he is her first kiss. These details speak to the realities of growing up in any time.
The author, however, shatters your YA lit expectations with a kidnapping plot that pivots the narrative into sci-fi action-thriller territory. Not only this, the book interrogates celebrity culture; sequelitis; ruthless PR tactics; gentrification; the conflicts between classes, youth and authority figures, digital and analog. It's clear the writer not only understands his audience but challenges them.
For me, the heart of NEPO is a beautiful coming out story that blossoms in two directions. First, we get hints of formerly asexual Shy's developing attraction to Agustín which I hope gets explored in book 2. (I totally ship them and imagine the cutest and awkwardest of first dates.) What makes the book stand out among YA lit, though, is Shy's coming to terms with his neurodivergent/endi ("ND"...get it?) identity. In our current world that finds countless ways to make one feel "other," what a gift it is for readers to see themselves in the main character's struggle and to have that "difference" drive the story and to be accepted and valued as a strength.
My one quibble is that so much of NEPO's plot relies on unseen hacktivists liberating information which often makes it seem like Shy is away from the action and waiting for updates when it would be more compelling to have him drive it. He has his "Mission Impossible" moments, though, and a colorful circle of friends to support him along the adventure. Regarding the latter, each supporting character feels fully fleshed and I had a fun time assigning voices to them/"casting" them in my head.
Three-fourths of the way through I got sad believing the story would wrap up and I'd have to say goodbye to these characters and the world they inhabit. There is a wealth of complex ideas, relationship development, conspiracy in play for a series of novels. And then that cliffhanger!!! Getting the truth out about the SS murder plot is only the beginning of waking up the slumborn and enclavers to whom is truly controlling the narrative.
To Essy Knopf: please honor us with a sequel soon!
You would absolutely connect with this book if you enjoy fiction by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Becky Albertalli, Alexis Hall, TJ Klune, David Levithan, Rick Riordan, Eliot Shrefer, Adam Silvera, and Chuck Tingle.
December 3, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Endi Books for the ARC!~~
This was a good read for the most part, but it also fell flat in other aspects.
The concept of nepos and the dystopian future where celebrities' clones are monetized and commodified exclusively for and by Hollywood is an interesting concept, and Knopf really goes deep into his exploration of this. I really liked how well thought out the worldbuilding is, especially when depicting the extraordinarily inhumane ways studios treat the nepos and force them to repress any individuality that strays from the original human they were cloned from. The details about the climate changed Los Angeles were interesting, too, where it constantly stormed due to the severe impacts of global warming. The only thing I felt was off was the fact it took place in the 23rd century, because all this book showed felt more grounded around out time than to people living two hundred plus years into the future. Though, this slight issue might be more of a bother to me than anything substantial, really.
The characters had their moments, but, other than Shy and Justis, I never got super invested into anyone else. Shy's friend group had pages dedication to them bantering, but the flow of it all felt unnatural. It felt like I should know these people already when I just met them. Additionally, it takes about a third into the book before Shy and Agustín start talking properly, and although I did enjoy their interactions for the most part, it fell flat at the end? There is heavily implied romantic tension there, but it doesn't really follow through (Which I can understand, given what both boys had endured by that point. Jumping into a romance after all that trauma wouldn't have felt right). Even with the character arcs and story beats being resolved for the most part, I really feel like there's something more Knopf is planning for these characters and this world, and I kinda hope to see that.
All in all, I liked reading this and would like to dive more into this world and characters more if there are plans to do so, but I still wish I could love what was done in this book more than the potential I see in it.
This was a good read for the most part, but it also fell flat in other aspects.
The concept of nepos and the dystopian future where celebrities' clones are monetized and commodified exclusively for and by Hollywood is an interesting concept, and Knopf really goes deep into his exploration of this. I really liked how well thought out the worldbuilding is, especially when depicting the extraordinarily inhumane ways studios treat the nepos and force them to repress any individuality that strays from the original human they were cloned from. The details about the climate changed Los Angeles were interesting, too, where it constantly stormed due to the severe impacts of global warming. The only thing I felt was off was the fact it took place in the 23rd century, because all this book showed felt more grounded around out time than to people living two hundred plus years into the future. Though, this slight issue might be more of a bother to me than anything substantial, really.
The characters had their moments, but, other than Shy and Justis, I never got super invested into anyone else. Shy's friend group had pages dedication to them bantering, but the flow of it all felt unnatural. It felt like I should know these people already when I just met them. Additionally, it takes about a third into the book before Shy and Agustín start talking properly, and although I did enjoy their interactions for the most part, it fell flat at the end? There is heavily implied romantic tension there, but it doesn't really follow through (Which I can understand, given what both boys had endured by that point. Jumping into a romance after all that trauma wouldn't have felt right). Even with the character arcs and story beats being resolved for the most part, I really feel like there's something more Knopf is planning for these characters and this world, and I kinda hope to see that.
All in all, I liked reading this and would like to dive more into this world and characters more if there are plans to do so, but I still wish I could love what was done in this book more than the potential I see in it.
April 21, 2025
Aimed at a YA auduence, the story opens in a dystopian Los Angeles, where people are divided between 'slumborn' and 'enclavers' - or the very, very poor and the wealthy who control their world. In this Hollywood, the stars are Nepo people, clones of existing stars at different ages. Shayan Soraya - Shy - (the fifth of his type) is a 16 year old star who has always felt different. Early in the story, Shy is almost a victim of 'neposnatchers' but is initially saved by his bodyguard, Justis, whom he then saves by stopping one of the snatchers from shooting him. The attempted kidnapping results with all the neposnatchers dead. The rest of the story revolves around this incident, and Shy's & Justis' attempts to get to the bottom of the attack. They are aided in this effort by the brother of one of the dead neposnatchers, Augustin, a slumborn who knew his brother had been forced to attack Shy. Their efforts include hacking systems (lots of systems being hacked), theft, and quite a bit of subterfuge on the part of Shy, Justis, and especially Augustin. Subterfuge only matched by the forces who control the entire Hollywood set-up, and especially the nepos. Together, the three uncover a conspiracy among the different entities aimed at increasing profits at the cost of the lives of some of the characters, including, of course, Shy. A subplot of the story involves LBGTQ+ feelings amongst the teens, and it's handled very well, & realistically. The world-building is well done, & all other characters are clearly drawn: I found the world, its people & the plot intriguing and interesting. The book ends at a point where a sequel is absolutely required to complete the story. I look forward to reading! I'd give it 4.5 stars; it would have earned 5, except the reader must accept the almost uncanny abilities of the hackers to get at highly sensitive data.
March 21, 2025
First, I want to thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
If you love YA and want a fast-paced book packed with action and a ton of likeable and humerous characters, you will love this!
I was incredibly excited to read this and I really did enjoy my time. However, sadly, this didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The characters were very fun and they all had their own personalities. I just wish they would have gotten introduced properly. With every new character we met, it felt like we were already supposed to know who this person is but we never really got told, instead had to figure the character out all by ourselves.
I really appreciated the incredibly casual diversity of this book and its characters - from sexuality over gender to disability, just as much as race. A lot of other authors could take something away from this.
The world is very intriguing and I love the truly original concept of it. The scifi take on a future Hollywood kept me hooked and the idea really was great and impressive.
My biggest issue was the fact that while the plot actually touches very serious and important topics such as racism and classism, the writing itsef did not reflect that. Writing wise, the book aswell as the characters didn't take themselves seriously. Everything was a joke, even life threatening situations. While it definitely was entertaining, it hindred the plot and made it feel less deep and impacting than it was seemingly meant to be. Sadly, all of this led to the book feeling rather anticlimatic instead of thrilling, lacking some much needed tension.
This is still a very enjoyable read and I think it's especially fitted for younger audiences who will not mind that every detail is very on the nose and that the social critism is very much directly handed to you.
If you love YA and want a fast-paced book packed with action and a ton of likeable and humerous characters, you will love this!
I was incredibly excited to read this and I really did enjoy my time. However, sadly, this didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The characters were very fun and they all had their own personalities. I just wish they would have gotten introduced properly. With every new character we met, it felt like we were already supposed to know who this person is but we never really got told, instead had to figure the character out all by ourselves.
I really appreciated the incredibly casual diversity of this book and its characters - from sexuality over gender to disability, just as much as race. A lot of other authors could take something away from this.
The world is very intriguing and I love the truly original concept of it. The scifi take on a future Hollywood kept me hooked and the idea really was great and impressive.
My biggest issue was the fact that while the plot actually touches very serious and important topics such as racism and classism, the writing itsef did not reflect that. Writing wise, the book aswell as the characters didn't take themselves seriously. Everything was a joke, even life threatening situations. While it definitely was entertaining, it hindred the plot and made it feel less deep and impacting than it was seemingly meant to be. Sadly, all of this led to the book feeling rather anticlimatic instead of thrilling, lacking some much needed tension.
This is still a very enjoyable read and I think it's especially fitted for younger audiences who will not mind that every detail is very on the nose and that the social critism is very much directly handed to you.
May 13, 2025
A lot of very interesting concepts touched on in this futuristic, dystopian YA novel.
Here we follow a teen clone of a celebrity, made to replay again and again in the footsteps of his initial iteration for the fans, and most importantly for the profit of the corporation that owns him.
This novel comments on humanity, freedom of choice, capitalism taken to extremes, class systems, equality, neurodivergence... and so much more. Most chapters evoke multiple huge concepts or ideas that could be studied (and should be studied!) by teenagers and for that I applaud it.
Sadly, it doesn't go into a lot of depth on any of the big topics, and I really think it could have been soooo much more powerful if it had focused on a couple of points, instead of putting them all in this work. This doesn't feel like a one-shot, but the beginning of a series, so I think it could have taken a little more time and dig in more depth.
But this is a small criticism. I would have loved the book as a teen, focusing on the investigation and the action. And entertainment that makes you think is the best!
Here we follow a teen clone of a celebrity, made to replay again and again in the footsteps of his initial iteration for the fans, and most importantly for the profit of the corporation that owns him.
This novel comments on humanity, freedom of choice, capitalism taken to extremes, class systems, equality, neurodivergence... and so much more. Most chapters evoke multiple huge concepts or ideas that could be studied (and should be studied!) by teenagers and for that I applaud it.
Sadly, it doesn't go into a lot of depth on any of the big topics, and I really think it could have been soooo much more powerful if it had focused on a couple of points, instead of putting them all in this work. This doesn't feel like a one-shot, but the beginning of a series, so I think it could have taken a little more time and dig in more depth.
But this is a small criticism. I would have loved the book as a teen, focusing on the investigation and the action. And entertainment that makes you think is the best!
August 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
First of all I really appreciated the neurodivergent representation in this book. I thought that was extremely well done.
I also appreciated the author not going for the enemies to lovers trope (not that I am against it, but it would have been too cliche in this book).
I felt the beginning was a bit drawn out and I was not sure I vibed with the whole “Nepo” concept but the story then picked up nicely. It was actually about so much more, it had family relationships, class division, neurodivergence, teenager issues and High School life.
I’m not even sure there is anything for me to complain about. However, if I was being extremely picky, I would just point out that as far as I’m aware there is no such thing as a Nigerian language. I looked up the word used in the book and if I remember it correctly it was Igbo. It’s always these tiny things that stick with me.
Still I feel this does not reflect badly on the book overall. I think the author is trying to convey a lot of important messages with the book and I am overall very impressed.
First of all I really appreciated the neurodivergent representation in this book. I thought that was extremely well done.
I also appreciated the author not going for the enemies to lovers trope (not that I am against it, but it would have been too cliche in this book).
I felt the beginning was a bit drawn out and I was not sure I vibed with the whole “Nepo” concept but the story then picked up nicely. It was actually about so much more, it had family relationships, class division, neurodivergence, teenager issues and High School life.
I’m not even sure there is anything for me to complain about. However, if I was being extremely picky, I would just point out that as far as I’m aware there is no such thing as a Nigerian language. I looked up the word used in the book and if I remember it correctly it was Igbo. It’s always these tiny things that stick with me.
Still I feel this does not reflect badly on the book overall. I think the author is trying to convey a lot of important messages with the book and I am overall very impressed.
March 23, 2025
The story takes place in a future Hollywood where movie studios bring back old film stars by cloning them. These clones, called "Nepos," are expected to live the same lives as their originals. The story follows the sixteen years old Shayan Soraya in his fifth version, who struggles with the pressure to be someone he never chose to be. Along the way, he faces challenges in his work, personal life, the bigger system controlling him, and political turmoil.
This YA novel creates masterfully an uneasy feeling because many of its ideas could potentially come to live in the real world.
It talks about powerful companies that take advantage of people, the loss of personal identity, and the big gap between rich and poor. The story is fast-paced and exciting, making it hard to stop reading. "Nepo" pulls you in and keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
This YA novel creates masterfully an uneasy feeling because many of its ideas could potentially come to live in the real world.
It talks about powerful companies that take advantage of people, the loss of personal identity, and the big gap between rich and poor. The story is fast-paced and exciting, making it hard to stop reading. "Nepo" pulls you in and keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 18, 2025
This dystopian young adult novel initially caught my eye because the main character is a clone. One of my favorite YA books of all time, The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, also featured a clone as the main character in a dystopian future world. I was eager to see what this author did with the concept.
There was a lot of world building in this story and the author did a great job with this. The concept for the way the clones are used was unique and intriguing.
This was quite an adventure from beginning to end, and I really loved Shayna and Agustin’s characters.
The ending of the story was set up perfectly for a sequel, which I hope happens, because I’d love to see what happens next in the world these boys live in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.
There was a lot of world building in this story and the author did a great job with this. The concept for the way the clones are used was unique and intriguing.
This was quite an adventure from beginning to end, and I really loved Shayna and Agustin’s characters.
The ending of the story was set up perfectly for a sequel, which I hope happens, because I’d love to see what happens next in the world these boys live in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.
March 23, 2025
Nepo by Essy Knopf was a fun read. It was well-paced and kept my interest. What’s ready nice is that it wasn’t a demanding read by which I mean wasn’t difficult to get through as some sci-fi dystopian futuristic books can be. Didn’t involve intense understanding of the world-building as it reflected our own in a fun mirror kinda way. It made it interesting to see how the author tied our world (2025) into their futuristic one. It’s kind of uncanny to see what is modern today be spoken of as if it is the past. The connections were fun to see how one thing could then mean something different at a later time in the future. Overall, a great book I’d recommend as a fun read!
Thank you @netgallery for the read in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you @netgallery for the read in exchange for an honest review!
April 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Essy Knopf for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Nepo is a delightfully fast paced story about being neurodivergent. I loved how genuine Shayan’s journey of self discovery was. The way he would recognize his traits in other people who were openly endis and feel both comforted and panicked really resonated with me. Also, I’m going to be so honest, it took me way too long to realize endi was just ND (short for neurodivergent) spelled out. This probably should have been obvious cause people do the same thing with NB/enby for nonbinary (which I am), but alas… I didn’t put the pieces together until the very end.
Additionally, I adored the actual plot and worldbuilding. It’s just such a phenomenally fascinating idea that was executed really well. I do think this book is very recognizably YA, a lot of the themes are very approachable and probably won't be new concepts to most adults. However, I think it’s great to see these topics like classism, and ableism be discussed more seriously in YA, especially in a way that would be easy for YA audiences to understand.
The ending is relatively open (which is my personal preference, but I know it’s not everyone’s). It feels conclusive, but there are enough plotlines left open that it makes me wonder if the author wanted to leave the opportunity for a sequel while also ensuring Nepo worked as a standalone. While I am an avid standalone lover, I adored these characters and this world, so I would be thrilled if there ends up being a sequel in the future.
Nepo is a delightfully fast paced story about being neurodivergent. I loved how genuine Shayan’s journey of self discovery was. The way he would recognize his traits in other people who were openly endis and feel both comforted and panicked really resonated with me. Also, I’m going to be so honest, it took me way too long to realize endi was just ND (short for neurodivergent) spelled out. This probably should have been obvious cause people do the same thing with NB/enby for nonbinary (which I am), but alas… I didn’t put the pieces together until the very end.
Additionally, I adored the actual plot and worldbuilding. It’s just such a phenomenally fascinating idea that was executed really well. I do think this book is very recognizably YA, a lot of the themes are very approachable and probably won't be new concepts to most adults. However, I think it’s great to see these topics like classism, and ableism be discussed more seriously in YA, especially in a way that would be easy for YA audiences to understand.
The ending is relatively open (which is my personal preference, but I know it’s not everyone’s). It feels conclusive, but there are enough plotlines left open that it makes me wonder if the author wanted to leave the opportunity for a sequel while also ensuring Nepo worked as a standalone. While I am an avid standalone lover, I adored these characters and this world, so I would be thrilled if there ends up being a sequel in the future.
November 29, 2025
In this book, our two main leads are Shy and Agustin. As the clone of a legend in Hollywood Shy's life has been planned out for him. He breaks the mold and makes friends with Agustin, a neurodivergent teen from the slums. Through his relationship with Agustin, Shy starts questioning if he himself is neurodivergent, knowing that it would put his career in Hollywood in jeopardy.
This book touches on topics such as classism and racism it could have done with some fleshing out. The book had a slow start which made it difficult for me to get into.
Thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for the Arc.
March 23, 2025
An excellent indie YA book, with well-polished writing and engaging characters. The dystopian setting of a near-future LA mirrors the underbelly of our current celebrity culture, and asks hard-hitting questions about identity and inclusivity. The pacing is just right, with action and intrigue mixed with the more delicate moments of character-building. A satisfying read in itself, and a great setup for a sequel: I'll be on the lookout for book 2.
December 11, 2025
This book had a fun, sort of timely futuristic premise. It grabbed my attention in the beginning, but it didn't fully keep it as the story went on. I also felt sort of confused at times, which is probably why I didn't completely connect with the characters or plot. There were a lot of interesting ideas though and I enjoyed some parts, so I can see how other readers could really enjoy this one.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
April 9, 2025
He is the clone of a famous actor but he does not like the limelight. He will meet them and he feels a connection to them. Things get complicated when his boss do not like their friendship. Life will become very interesting so see where it will all lead
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I really enjoyed it
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I really enjoyed it
April 7, 2025
A slow start but a overall fun story to read
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