Altered

by Tam Doyle

Seventeen-year-old Elodie Michaels lives in a world where reproductive rights are controlled by the government and teen pregnancy is illegal…but no one ever told her. Raised by her mother in a small island community just outside of the government’s reach, Elodie is content to live a shielded life until her world comes crashing down when her mother and boyfriend are killed fighting a cause she didn’t know existed.
Soon their deaths begin to reveal the truth to Elodie and she flees the island to live with the father she believed to be dead--the same father who runs the government agency her mother died trying to stop. Now, Elodie is thrust into a world where bodies are altered under the law, people have their rights taken away, and you must not question the system. Befriended by Riley, a neighbor swept up in the drama of teen life, and Riley’s brother Luke, whose kindness softens the edges of her grief, Elodie begins to accept her new fate until it is revealed by her desperate stepmother that she arrived carrying a secret.
Coerced into a dangerous scheme by her stepmother, Elodie’s life spins out of control as lies start to unfold and she is forced into a decision—stay and keep allowing others to control her life…or make a perilous escape for the chance to hold on to all that she loves.

322 pages, Paperback

Published March 29, 2025

Reviews

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altered by Tam Doyle. Thanks to the author for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elodie is seventeen and about to learn the truth about the world she’s been sheltered from. Reproductive rights are controlled by the government and family’s crafted.

I couldn’t put this one down once I started it. It’s written from a teenage girls perspective, which gives a real young adult feel but the voice matures as the character does, which was done very well. This was such an easy read despite the heavy and sensitive topics. I loved how the history and situation are easily described and it’s not portion fed to us throughout the story. It makes it easy digestible so the reader can focus on the dramas of the story. It is also strong social commentary about the trust me put in leaders and the compromises that we make for “freedom”. An important lesson with today’s America.. look closely at everything; the devil’s in the details.

“No one knew how to fix anything. Our rights were being taken away; the economy was suffering. People were dying.”

Altered is available now.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a little biased because the author is my mom, but when I say i devoured this book and have been waiting ages to share my thoughts on goodreads I mean it, I kept forgetting that I knew the author and wasn’t reading some goodreads bestseller. My review is 100% genuine, and I can’t wait to reread my official copy once it is delivered this week

altered gave me the same feeling i got sitting in my bed in middle school reading the hunger games and divergent, it is a bingeable thought provoking novel with complex characters and a main character who is learning to fight for herself after losing her entire support system, a must read if you are a fan of coming of age novels, dystopian fiction or just want a book that will suck you in instantly

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altered by Tam Doyle is basically what happens when your chill island life turns into a dystopian dumpster fire overnight. Elodie thought she had it rough being a normal teen... then boom — dead mom, dead boyfriend, dead dreams, and a government that’s like, "Surprise! We own your body now." Yeah. Fun times.

Elodie’s whole life is one giant "wait, WHAT?!" moment after another. From running off to live with her supposedly deaddad (who, by the way, is in charge of the whole messed-up system) to getting dragged into even more shady drama thanks to her stepmom, this girl cannot catch a break. Honestly, if crying was a sport, she’d have a gold medal.

The world-building here is a nightmare — but, like, in the best way. Forced body mods? Government mind games? Teens who literally can't have babies or live their lives? Sounds insane, but also suspiciously not that far-fetched. Tam Doyle really said, "Let's hit your anxiety where it hurts."

Oh, and shoutout to Riley and Luke, the accidental therapy duo we all need. Riley’s the chaotic BFF, Luke’s the soft boy who makes you believe life might not suck that much — until the plot twists start wrecking everyone's lives again. (Seriously, trust no one. Not even your stepmom.)

Long story short: Altered is the chaotic, emotional dystopian ride you didn't know you needed. It’ll stress you out, break your heart, and still have you begging for more. 10/10 would spiral into existential dread again.

[Deanna Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. It is a very well written book with the right amount of suspense and intrigue. I feel it’s a very important book to read right now as well. I hope there are more books by this author in the future!

[Cammie Purtell · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD. The characters, the plot twists, the storyline… I just couldn’t get enough!!

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this gets made into a movie, also I am officially claiming to be the first fan

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, kept me on my toes and rooting for Elodie.

[Maggie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an easy book to pick up and read. It dove right into the story and quickly became intriguing.

[Stephanie]

Loved it!!

[Mae Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far outside of my normal genre reads, I was surprised to see I couldn’t put this book down !