Unruly: A Coming-of-Age Dystopian of Secrets and Sisters

by Becca Mann

In the rigid world of Ignis, your Pair isn’t just your match—it’s your duty.

Identical twins Charlotte and Zandra Galvin have spent their lives walking opposite paths. Charlotte, the golden girl and “Highest Pointer” of their regimented society, is guaranteed a prestigious Pairing—genetically matched to ensure humanity’s survival. Zandra, free-spirited and restless, faces a far grimmer fate: a forced assignment to a stranger, or worse—a one-way trip to Unruly, the dangerous island where society’s outcasts are banished.

But when the pressure of perfection becomes unbearable, Charlotte does the unthinkable—she switches places with Zandra without warning, fleeing to Unruly in a desperate bid for freedom. Now trapped in a world she was raised to fear, Charlotte must navigate brutal trials, shifting alliances, and secrets she’s been too afraid to face—even within herself.

Back in Ignis, Zandra is thrust into Charlotte’s pristine life, where she must deceive the very architects of the Pairing system, outwit the powerful elite, and survive suitors who will stop at nothing to claim her. As both twins struggle to uphold the lie, the truth inches dangerously close to exposure. And if they’re discovered, they won’t just lose their futures—they’ll be imprisoned on Unruly forever.

Perfect for fans of Uglies, The Hunger Games, and Divergent, Unruly is a gripping young adult dystopian about identity, love, and the price of freedom—because sometimes, the only way to win is by breaking every rule.

450 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2025

About the author

Becca Mann is a writer and athlete. A 7x USA Swimming National Team member, Becca is a 2x USA National Champion and was the youngest person ever to place in the Top 10 in 4 events at a single Olympic Trials. She has represented Team USA at 4 World Championships and is also the only person to have consecutively swum the triangle between the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Becca graduated with a BFA in Writing for Screen and Television at the University of Southern California, and you can now find her in Los Angeles skateboarding down The Strand or hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Reviews

[Yolanda Vickor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner. I read it in one weekend. I was really surprised by some of the plot twists and did not see them coming. I read so much I was surprised. Nothing like a good book that you can't figure out! I really wish the sequel was out though because I was left on a cliff hanger.

The bond between Charlotte and Zandra adds emotional depth, anchoring the dystopian plot in something deeply human. The novel doesn't shy away from hard questions about privilege, punishment, and what it means to resist a truly broken system.

**Soon to be a movie

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Unique and captivating plot line. A can’t put down novel!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best YA dystopian I’ve read in a long time

[Brian Bakerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING! It’s about a girl who’s appeared to have done everything “right” her whole life, and what happens when she finally snaps. And another girl who realizes she’s always been the family scapegoat. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of secrets, and a messed-up system. It’s also got twins pretending to be each other. I couldn’t stop reading.

[Tim Hochradel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unruly totally caught me off guard — in the best way. This isn’t usually my genre, but I was hooked from the start and finished it in two days. The tension keeps building, and the plot twists genuinely surprised me.

What I loved most was how different each character was, yet I still found pieces of myself in all of them. It made the story feel real and emotionally grounded.

If you’re on the fence, give it a shot. It’s gripping, smart, and way more relatable than I expected. Highly recommend.

[Peri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and addicting!

[Trent Lockheed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless, razor-sharp, and emotionally explosive—Unruly is a masterpiece of modern YA dystopian fiction.
Becca Mann didn’t just write a good book—she detonated the genre and rebuilt it from scratch. Unruly is the kind of novel that grabs you by the collar on page one and refuses to let go, forcing you to reckon with everything from personal identity to systemic power, all while delivering a propulsive, high-stakes narrative that never sacrifices emotional truth for spectacle.
At the center are Charlotte and Zandra—twin sisters trapped in a society obsessed with order, image, and obedience. Charlotte is the golden girl, the face of the regime, flawless by design but quietly cracking under pressure. Zandra is the outcast, the twin shoved to the shadows, whose raw, unfiltered voice becomes the soul of the story. Watching their paths diverge, intersect, and ultimately collide is nothing short of riveting. This isn’t just a sibling rivalry—this is a slow-burn revolution from the inside out, as told through the most intimate and complex relationship of all: sisterhood.
Mann’s writing is fierce. Every sentence lands like a punch or a whisper in your ear. The world she’s built is horrifyingly controlled, yet painfully recognizable—a mirror held up to our own obsessions with perfection, surveillance, and curated identity. But what makes this novel unforgettable is how personal it is. Behind the rebellion, the politics, and the action is a beating heart of loneliness, longing, and the desperate, beautiful chaos of becoming who you really are.
This is not just another YA dystopian. It’s layered, literary, and wildly original. If you love morally grey characters, emotionally charged plotlines, and stories that challenge you to think as much as they make you feel—Unruly will blow you away.
No exaggeration—this is one of the most important books I’ve read in years. I’ll be handing it to every teen I know, and more than a few adults, too.

[Michael Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

me: i’m just gonna read one chapter and go to bed
also me: accidentally joins a dystopian society with emotionally damaged twins at 4am.
this book is crazy. chaotic, stressful, addictive. I want book 2 immediately.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting read from Becca Mann, you will not be able to put the book down and will lose track of time!

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best thing I have read! The tale of Charlotte and Zandra will have you flipping through pages faster than you ever have before. The way Becca Mann crafted this story is beyond what the typical imagination could dream up! I can’t recommend this book enough for young adults, teens, or anyone who wants to sit on their couch and disappear into the captivating world of Unruly!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte and Zandra feel so real — I swear I was rooting for them (and yelling at them) the whole way through. I finished it in two days because I had to know what would happen next. Really really good!!

[Wendy Eiteljorg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately I did really want to finish the book to know what happened, but I cannot honestly recommend it. There are some interesting bits, although not enough for the number of pages and the many specific events and in-world particulars. (Also a number of missing or wrong words in the text.)

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: obsessed.

[Lindseyytarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this was fantastic. The world-building, the characters, the emotions, the entertainment value... Really can't wait for book 2.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unruly is The Hunger Games meets Freaky Friday meets Uglies, but better. There wasn't a part that dragged and I cannot wait for Book 2!

[Presley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best coming-of-age book I've read in a decade. Not only for women/sisters or fans of dystopia - there's truly something for everybody in this story!!

[person · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one, reminded me of the dystopians of the early 2010s!