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Survival Show
Survival Show
American Idol meets The Hunger Games in this campy, dystopian satire about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson.
The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never her voice. Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, free from the Scottish refugee camps where she and her family now live, and free from the responsibility of making ends meet for the sake of her sick brother.
Taryn’s voice is her one ticket out, and that’s why she enters to be a contestant on the world’s most watched television Starmaker, where kids from the New Peace Global Alliance compete for the chance to join an all-singing, all-dancing pop group. Rise to the top, and a life of luxury, stardom, and money awaits.
There’s only one small catch. The lowest ranking face a televised public execution. Starmaker thanks their participants for their noble sacrifice to Project Population.
Taryn’s about to sing for her life.
The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never her voice. Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, free from the Scottish refugee camps where she and her family now live, and free from the responsibility of making ends meet for the sake of her sick brother.
Taryn’s voice is her one ticket out, and that’s why she enters to be a contestant on the world’s most watched television Starmaker, where kids from the New Peace Global Alliance compete for the chance to join an all-singing, all-dancing pop group. Rise to the top, and a life of luxury, stardom, and money awaits.
There’s only one small catch. The lowest ranking face a televised public execution. Starmaker thanks their participants for their noble sacrifice to Project Population.
Taryn’s about to sing for her life.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2026
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June 2, 2026I received this book through NetGalley.
Survival Show had a really fun concept. It gave me American Idol meets Squid Game vibes, but with a YA dystopian style. A singing competition where the stakes are life or death? That setup seemed interesting right away.
I liked the way the story played with fame, and survival. Then the idea of people’s suffering being turned into entertainment was very much, humans would absolutely turn survival into content and call it a show.
The YA dystopian feel was definitely there, and I can see this being fun for readers who like big, dramatic concepts. The premise was a strong part for me.
Where it didn’t fully land was the filler in the middle. With this kind of setup, I wanted and expected the tension to stay higher throughout, but there were some slower parts where not much felt like it was happening to move the story forward. I still found the idea interesting, but I wanted the story to move along.
This was a creative mash up, YA dystopian read with a strong concept. I’d recommend it to readers who like deadly competitions, reality TV satire, media criticism, survival stakes, and YA stories with American Idol meets Squid Game energy.
Survival Show had a really fun concept. It gave me American Idol meets Squid Game vibes, but with a YA dystopian style. A singing competition where the stakes are life or death? That setup seemed interesting right away.
I liked the way the story played with fame, and survival. Then the idea of people’s suffering being turned into entertainment was very much, humans would absolutely turn survival into content and call it a show.
The YA dystopian feel was definitely there, and I can see this being fun for readers who like big, dramatic concepts. The premise was a strong part for me.
Where it didn’t fully land was the filler in the middle. With this kind of setup, I wanted and expected the tension to stay higher throughout, but there were some slower parts where not much felt like it was happening to move the story forward. I still found the idea interesting, but I wanted the story to move along.
This was a creative mash up, YA dystopian read with a strong concept. I’d recommend it to readers who like deadly competitions, reality TV satire, media criticism, survival stakes, and YA stories with American Idol meets Squid Game energy.
April 19, 2026
sooooo much fun
May 3, 2026
When Juno Dawson was asked what her dream YA novel would be she said "The Hunger Games meets the Spice Girls." Survival Show was the novel that Dawson created from this idea, and while I'm not really a fan of either of these this was a great novel.
Juno Dawson brings us a brilliant dystopian world and while some authors of dystopian fiction spend long chapters explaining how society has become Dawson brings it naturally to life through story and dialogue. The characetrs are great, the plot fast paced and it builds up to a tense and satisfying ending.
Being a 61 year old man I may not be the obvious target audience for a YA novel about a teenage band, but I found Survival Show to be the sort of escapism that I love. Let's hope that my daughter enjoys this book as much as I did when I pass it on to her next week.
Juno Dawson brings us a brilliant dystopian world and while some authors of dystopian fiction spend long chapters explaining how society has become Dawson brings it naturally to life through story and dialogue. The characetrs are great, the plot fast paced and it builds up to a tense and satisfying ending.
Being a 61 year old man I may not be the obvious target audience for a YA novel about a teenage band, but I found Survival Show to be the sort of escapism that I love. Let's hope that my daughter enjoys this book as much as I did when I pass it on to her next week.
April 10, 2026
Thank you Simon & Schuster YA for sending me an ARC copy of this book!
Taryn is a 17 year old girl who wants to financially help her family, especially her sick brother, so she signs up for Project Population’s ‘Star Maker’ show, where you train to be a part of a global idol group, where the judges & the public vote for who they want to make the final cut of the group. However, if you’re eliminated from the show, you die as part of the show’s contract with project population.
As soon as i read the premise for this book, i was immediately intrigued and desperate to pick this up. As a huge fan of girl groups, I have a huge interest in girl groups produced from survival shows, like katseye in HXG dream academy, and girlset (formally VCHA) from JYP a2k and more. So the twist of ‘if you’re eliminated you die,’ was just such a genius concept i needed to get my hands on a copy!
The book overall I did enjoy. And I think if you are also interested in girl groups, and celebrity pop culture then you’ll likely enjoy it too!
I liked the structure of this book, how the chapters belong to different sections of the process, like applying, the group challenges etc. it’s clever and mimics how survival shows work, so it works really well and fluidly here!
However, there was just a few areas of this book that bugged me a little bit, that made me knock it down a few stars quite early and throughout.
SPOILERS BELOW!
The book is set in the UK. Despite the dystopia plot, the book is set in a very lightly slightly twisted United Kingdom, Scotland and England. Taryn, the fmc, mentions passing Newcastle and Leeds on her way to London, and as a northern it really took me out of the book. I was thinking, why is it relevant that we need to name these cities? That exist today? When this book feels like dystopian rather than realistic? Also, Taryn mentions never having visited London, doesn’t know what Wembley Stadium is, however knows exactly how to get to Victoria Coach Station to travel home? It just didn’t make sense to me. It would’ve been more believable if the cities were made up but faintly represented London to make it familiar but not extremely on the nose.
Another thing that was too on the nose for me personally, was the direct mention of girl groups alike Katseye, that have very similar experiences to what these characters are going through in this novel. It was a little too close to them, which is likely to excite their audiences when reading this book, but it concerns me a little. If this book is to critique the kpop industry and the music machine, you probably shouldn’t be mentioning multiple real examples of young girls who went through it in your dystopia novel of their experience.
The book definitely picked up the pace once the tv show was in progress and especially towards the end I couldn’t put the book down! Although the ending was a little rushed but still okay! But because of this significant great pacing, it meant the first quarter of the book’s pacing stuck out a little because the build up was slow. Doesn’t necessarily mean it was a bad time, the exposition was definitely essential to understand the motivation for Taryn signing up for the show and understanding why she would risk her life, but it did mean you need patience to stick with the book.
With the characters, I felt like Taryn and Leela’s friendship could’ve had more moments together, because the set up pre-dollhou5e felt like they were going to be ride or die best friends, but during the show it felt quite distant, like Taryn wasn’t really spending much time with anyone but Cade. It felt like the focus was only on one pairing at a time, rather than how Taryn is developing friendships simultaneously. Further, I saw the potential with the Taryn and Cade pairing, but the age difference between them just didn’t have me rooting for them like I wanted to. It is explicitly stated that Taryn is 17, and towards the start it’s unclear how old Cade is, only that he has been an idol since Taryn had posters of him on her walls at 12. but towards the end we discover he’s 21. As someone who turns 21 this year, I’m not even looking at anyone under 20 - and while that is a personal preference, and a 4 year age gap isn’t problematic, i don’t think 17 and 21 together is appropriate, because she’s still a minor and underage. And personally, I feel uncomfortable with the ages of this romantic pairing.
As previously stated, I enjoyed reading this book, I liked the premise, I was hooked, the writing was easy to read and the structure was formatted nicely - despite many of grammar & spelling errors in this copy, so i’d definitely recommend if you’re already interested! Check it out on April 23rd 2026!
Taryn is a 17 year old girl who wants to financially help her family, especially her sick brother, so she signs up for Project Population’s ‘Star Maker’ show, where you train to be a part of a global idol group, where the judges & the public vote for who they want to make the final cut of the group. However, if you’re eliminated from the show, you die as part of the show’s contract with project population.
As soon as i read the premise for this book, i was immediately intrigued and desperate to pick this up. As a huge fan of girl groups, I have a huge interest in girl groups produced from survival shows, like katseye in HXG dream academy, and girlset (formally VCHA) from JYP a2k and more. So the twist of ‘if you’re eliminated you die,’ was just such a genius concept i needed to get my hands on a copy!
The book overall I did enjoy. And I think if you are also interested in girl groups, and celebrity pop culture then you’ll likely enjoy it too!
I liked the structure of this book, how the chapters belong to different sections of the process, like applying, the group challenges etc. it’s clever and mimics how survival shows work, so it works really well and fluidly here!
However, there was just a few areas of this book that bugged me a little bit, that made me knock it down a few stars quite early and throughout.
SPOILERS BELOW!
The book is set in the UK. Despite the dystopia plot, the book is set in a very lightly slightly twisted United Kingdom, Scotland and England. Taryn, the fmc, mentions passing Newcastle and Leeds on her way to London, and as a northern it really took me out of the book. I was thinking, why is it relevant that we need to name these cities? That exist today? When this book feels like dystopian rather than realistic? Also, Taryn mentions never having visited London, doesn’t know what Wembley Stadium is, however knows exactly how to get to Victoria Coach Station to travel home? It just didn’t make sense to me. It would’ve been more believable if the cities were made up but faintly represented London to make it familiar but not extremely on the nose.
Another thing that was too on the nose for me personally, was the direct mention of girl groups alike Katseye, that have very similar experiences to what these characters are going through in this novel. It was a little too close to them, which is likely to excite their audiences when reading this book, but it concerns me a little. If this book is to critique the kpop industry and the music machine, you probably shouldn’t be mentioning multiple real examples of young girls who went through it in your dystopia novel of their experience.
The book definitely picked up the pace once the tv show was in progress and especially towards the end I couldn’t put the book down! Although the ending was a little rushed but still okay! But because of this significant great pacing, it meant the first quarter of the book’s pacing stuck out a little because the build up was slow. Doesn’t necessarily mean it was a bad time, the exposition was definitely essential to understand the motivation for Taryn signing up for the show and understanding why she would risk her life, but it did mean you need patience to stick with the book.
With the characters, I felt like Taryn and Leela’s friendship could’ve had more moments together, because the set up pre-dollhou5e felt like they were going to be ride or die best friends, but during the show it felt quite distant, like Taryn wasn’t really spending much time with anyone but Cade. It felt like the focus was only on one pairing at a time, rather than how Taryn is developing friendships simultaneously. Further, I saw the potential with the Taryn and Cade pairing, but the age difference between them just didn’t have me rooting for them like I wanted to. It is explicitly stated that Taryn is 17, and towards the start it’s unclear how old Cade is, only that he has been an idol since Taryn had posters of him on her walls at 12. but towards the end we discover he’s 21. As someone who turns 21 this year, I’m not even looking at anyone under 20 - and while that is a personal preference, and a 4 year age gap isn’t problematic, i don’t think 17 and 21 together is appropriate, because she’s still a minor and underage. And personally, I feel uncomfortable with the ages of this romantic pairing.
As previously stated, I enjoyed reading this book, I liked the premise, I was hooked, the writing was easy to read and the structure was formatted nicely - despite many of grammar & spelling errors in this copy, so i’d definitely recommend if you’re already interested! Check it out on April 23rd 2026!
July 7, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
i love juno dawson's writing, so going into this i was expecting to have a great time, and i can confidently say that i absolutely did have a great time.
the concept seems a bit silly on the surface (american idol but deadly), but the explanations for its existence actually work quite well within the context of this dystopian post horrific climate change world. i found taryn as a main character to be a good one to follow, and i thought that the plot was fully engaging from start to finish. however, i did not know that this is likely going to be a series, so im both left on a cliffhanger but glad that there's more to come.
**thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC copy**
i love juno dawson's writing, so going into this i was expecting to have a great time, and i can confidently say that i absolutely did have a great time.
the concept seems a bit silly on the surface (american idol but deadly), but the explanations for its existence actually work quite well within the context of this dystopian post horrific climate change world. i found taryn as a main character to be a good one to follow, and i thought that the plot was fully engaging from start to finish. however, i did not know that this is likely going to be a series, so im both left on a cliffhanger but glad that there's more to come.
**thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC copy**
July 29, 2026
I loved everything in this but especially women sticking together. Can’t wait for the sequel!!
April 14, 2026
oh my god this book had me HOOKED
where do i even begin??
i could definitely see the popstar/dream academy inspo (basically that but make it hunger games style) and omg if there’s one thing i’m weak for, it’s some reality tv vibes i love it sm
firstly, i love love loveeee this and when i saw that there was gonna be a sequel in the acknowledgments, i screamed
like it’s been so long since i felt so passionate about a book i finished from an author i’ve never read from (i NEED to pick up her majesty’s royal coven ASAP now omg)
anywaysss
the dystopian aspects was also so good but so jarring?? like it’s set maybe 50ish? 100? years into the future? so the stuff they call “classics” are the things that are trendy today (did i have a ✨moment✨ when they featured kateye’s gnarly as one of the songs? yes. like will that stand the test of time? who knows) and also seeing the us split into red states and blue states i was like okay i see what they’re doing here
and i loved the gameshow aspects (of course) and i LOVED the sisterhood vibes (pls pls plsss i need more of the girl group in the next book like sure i want to see them take down the system but PLS can i guiltily ask for them absolutely rocking it on stage too??)
but also like was the writing a tiny bit funky at times? was taryn a little bit too childish and mary-sue with her voice? yes. but was it entertaining as hell and i basically read it in one sitting WHILE in a reading slump so likeeee
aaaaa anyways omg i cannot waitttt for the sequel (i PRAY a certain someone isn’t dead omgggg SURELY??! i know it would be so cliche but IT WOULD BE THE BESTEST PLOT TWIST PLSSSS JUNO??? BUT ALSOOOO IM ALSO CONSIDERINGGGG THE OTHER OPTION WHICH WOULD BE SO SO GOOD TOO)
thank you sm s&s for the arc!
okay spoilers below bcos i need to yap
.
.
.
[redacting spoilers till post publication]
where do i even begin??
i could definitely see the popstar/dream academy inspo (basically that but make it hunger games style) and omg if there’s one thing i’m weak for, it’s some reality tv vibes i love it sm
firstly, i love love loveeee this and when i saw that there was gonna be a sequel in the acknowledgments, i screamed
like it’s been so long since i felt so passionate about a book i finished from an author i’ve never read from (i NEED to pick up her majesty’s royal coven ASAP now omg)
anywaysss
the dystopian aspects was also so good but so jarring?? like it’s set maybe 50ish? 100? years into the future? so the stuff they call “classics” are the things that are trendy today (did i have a ✨moment✨ when they featured kateye’s gnarly as one of the songs? yes. like will that stand the test of time? who knows) and also seeing the us split into red states and blue states i was like okay i see what they’re doing here
and i loved the gameshow aspects (of course) and i LOVED the sisterhood vibes (pls pls plsss i need more of the girl group in the next book like sure i want to see them take down the system but PLS can i guiltily ask for them absolutely rocking it on stage too??)
but also like was the writing a tiny bit funky at times? was taryn a little bit too childish and mary-sue with her voice? yes. but was it entertaining as hell and i basically read it in one sitting WHILE in a reading slump so likeeee
aaaaa anyways omg i cannot waitttt for the sequel (i PRAY a certain someone isn’t dead omgggg SURELY??! i know it would be so cliche but IT WOULD BE THE BESTEST PLOT TWIST PLSSSS JUNO??? BUT ALSOOOO IM ALSO CONSIDERINGGGG THE OTHER OPTION WHICH WOULD BE SO SO GOOD TOO)
thank you sm s&s for the arc!
okay spoilers below bcos i need to yap
.
.
.
[redacting spoilers till post publication]
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dream academy but make it Hunger Games stakes. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this.
This book takes place roughly 2070, so actually not that long from now. The thought of the world changing THIS MUCH in just 40 years is a bit of a stretch, but I digress. That must’ve been some war and flood I guess? Life isn’t Panem level miserable, but it sounds like only the top 10% are actually doing well. Taryn and her family are firmly at the bottom of the barrel, English refugees living in a refugee camp in Scotland, where the only options for most are the army or Laborforce. With a sick brother who needs a liver transplant, Taryn’s family is desperate enough to consider Project Population, a program that’s now worldwide due to popularity apparently ($500 for every year you’ve been alive, as a way to incentivize the elderly to “retire” to not waste resources). Joining Starmarker is Taryn’s best shot at helping her brother and escaping a miserable life.
Starmaker is a singing competition show for the chance to join a girl group, open to girls aged 14-21, but the lowest voted get publicly executed. Being a good singer isn’t enough to guarantee safety; all the contestants are good singers. The survival show starts at the final ten, where eliminated contestants will be executed via Starmaker’s partnership with Project Population. There’s also other reality shows mentioned like Bride or Die (the bachelor but you die if you don’t get picked I guess?) and Endurance Island. What is it with this government and their obsession with finding excuses to kill people as a form of population control?
There are a large amount of pop culture references, making it feel more YA than most dystopias. They even perform Gnarly by Katseye, for a final evaluation; I kid you not. It’s a bit corny, but that just means this is geared towards a younger audience than me, and I absolutely enjoyed this book regardless. The readability factor is off the charts and I absolutely devoured this. Could not put it down! And don’t get me wrong. Despite the younger audience feel and endless pop culture references, this book is brutal when it comes time to the eliminations. Some parts of this are a hard read.
Also, I’m just glad people are still writing dystopias, because I miss when they were trendy. A dystopia in 2026 is like a shining light in a sea of fantasy novels. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. This book has a Freida McFadden level of readability, largely due to the incredibly imaginative plot. This was a stand out read of this year!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
This book takes place roughly 2070, so actually not that long from now. The thought of the world changing THIS MUCH in just 40 years is a bit of a stretch, but I digress. That must’ve been some war and flood I guess? Life isn’t Panem level miserable, but it sounds like only the top 10% are actually doing well. Taryn and her family are firmly at the bottom of the barrel, English refugees living in a refugee camp in Scotland, where the only options for most are the army or Laborforce. With a sick brother who needs a liver transplant, Taryn’s family is desperate enough to consider Project Population, a program that’s now worldwide due to popularity apparently ($500 for every year you’ve been alive, as a way to incentivize the elderly to “retire” to not waste resources). Joining Starmarker is Taryn’s best shot at helping her brother and escaping a miserable life.
Starmaker is a singing competition show for the chance to join a girl group, open to girls aged 14-21, but the lowest voted get publicly executed. Being a good singer isn’t enough to guarantee safety; all the contestants are good singers. The survival show starts at the final ten, where eliminated contestants will be executed via Starmaker’s partnership with Project Population. There’s also other reality shows mentioned like Bride or Die (the bachelor but you die if you don’t get picked I guess?) and Endurance Island. What is it with this government and their obsession with finding excuses to kill people as a form of population control?
There are a large amount of pop culture references, making it feel more YA than most dystopias. They even perform Gnarly by Katseye, for a final evaluation; I kid you not. It’s a bit corny, but that just means this is geared towards a younger audience than me, and I absolutely enjoyed this book regardless. The readability factor is off the charts and I absolutely devoured this. Could not put it down! And don’t get me wrong. Despite the younger audience feel and endless pop culture references, this book is brutal when it comes time to the eliminations. Some parts of this are a hard read.
Also, I’m just glad people are still writing dystopias, because I miss when they were trendy. A dystopia in 2026 is like a shining light in a sea of fantasy novels. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. This book has a Freida McFadden level of readability, largely due to the incredibly imaginative plot. This was a stand out read of this year!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
May 30, 2026
This was both absolutely terrible and absolutely fantastic. No I will not elaborate.
May 9, 2026
Labelled as The Hunger Games meets the Spice Girls/K-pop, Survival Show is a high stakes Y.A. novel featuring a singing competition that literally ends in death for the unsuccessful participants.
The idea of this one was fun but I just didn't connect with it. The Hunger Games aspect just felt very much like a filter or aesthetic being used - there's a reason the original novels (can't include the spinoffs, still gotta read those 😅) hit so hard, with their strong political message. Here it feels like the message is barely present, as the girls go from worrying about their potential live-broadcasted deaths, to squealing over guest judges and having makeovers. It all felt very surface level.
It was a fun concept, and most of the cast were great, but Survival Show seems much too caught up in the facade of appearing like a quirky dystopian novel to really make a statement.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
The idea of this one was fun but I just didn't connect with it. The Hunger Games aspect just felt very much like a filter or aesthetic being used - there's a reason the original novels (can't include the spinoffs, still gotta read those 😅) hit so hard, with their strong political message. Here it feels like the message is barely present, as the girls go from worrying about their potential live-broadcasted deaths, to squealing over guest judges and having makeovers. It all felt very surface level.
It was a fun concept, and most of the cast were great, but Survival Show seems much too caught up in the facade of appearing like a quirky dystopian novel to really make a statement.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
July 1, 2026
The second I saw this book at Waterstones, I couldn’t help but stop and stare based on the title alone. The tagline of Survival Show says it’s X-Factor meets Hunger Games, but really it’s just Dream Academy. Or Are U Next. Or I-land. Any veteran k-pop fan will be unsurprised by a lot of what is put into this book, because a lot of it (minus the deaths, at least in a literal sense) are shockingly accurate to what actually happens in the industry: idols being forced to resign due to relationship scandals, eating disorders, manufactured drama, performative diversity, faked hiatuses, etc etc. What DID surprise me though was how well Dawson seemed to understand these things, and how she was able to adeptly articulate the dichotomy of not just being an idol, but also a fan of idols. The allure and fun of it, in spite of all the pain. I think above all else, that’s what gravitated me towards this book - there’s an element of cynicism of Dawson’s writing, but it never borders on overly-cynical.
In fact, I’d say it feels realistic considering the confines of the world Survival Show is set in. Because the universe of this novel feels like one of the most topical depictions of a dystopia I’ve seen in recent memory. It is not one that necessarily focuses on all voices being silent, but rather on them being drowned out by the internet, AI and social media. I always tend to roll my eyes when a contemporary novel relies heavily on things that may seem dated. There’s a real danger of cringiness there, a clear indicator that you’re not from the time period you’re writing in. But with this book? The integration felt perfect. In fact, there were so many times I shuddered, because I could see real world billionaires actually employing a lot of these tools. Our world has a real danger of turning into the one in this novel. It could happen a lot sooner than we think, too.
I thought Taryn was a great protagonist. She has a lot of the qualities of the greatest dystopia lead within this genre (Katniss, duh) but she still feels distinct enough in her own right. I love how her perspective really lends itself to skewing our own perception of the world around her. When she's skeptical, we're skeptical. When she falls for the propaganda, we do too. I did enjoy a lot of the side cast, too. Though some deaths were predictable, every character left a mark.
I think the only person I really wasn't vibing with was her love interest. It's not really anything to do with him individually - I actually found him to be very interesting - but the romance between him and Taryn felt pretty contrived, not to mention very…icky? The age gap between the two of them is certainly problematic, and what's worse is that it's never addressed. Sure, you could make the argument that Taryn wouldn't have been aware of that, and that Dawson was trying to make another point about age gaps in the industry. To me, though, that never really happened. I feel like this could've been fixed if they just made him a year or two younger. I don't know…I hope this somehow gets addressed in the sequel, because that knocked this book down significantly for me.
Speaking of which, I am unsure of how I feel about the ending. A lot of it I love, but there's also parts of it that feel like are too happy for the story this book is telling. You could chalk it up to the limitations of the YA genre, but I feel like that's a gross assumption considering how dark this book is capable of getting. But again, I'm so open for the sequel. This book was insanely bingeable for me and I felt incredibly nervous for everyone, including Taryn at times. Survival show anxiety is such a unique experience, and it was a treat to have it captured in such a high stakes form. Thank you to this book for saving my reading slump!
4.25/5
In fact, I’d say it feels realistic considering the confines of the world Survival Show is set in. Because the universe of this novel feels like one of the most topical depictions of a dystopia I’ve seen in recent memory. It is not one that necessarily focuses on all voices being silent, but rather on them being drowned out by the internet, AI and social media. I always tend to roll my eyes when a contemporary novel relies heavily on things that may seem dated. There’s a real danger of cringiness there, a clear indicator that you’re not from the time period you’re writing in. But with this book? The integration felt perfect. In fact, there were so many times I shuddered, because I could see real world billionaires actually employing a lot of these tools. Our world has a real danger of turning into the one in this novel. It could happen a lot sooner than we think, too.
I thought Taryn was a great protagonist. She has a lot of the qualities of the greatest dystopia lead within this genre (Katniss, duh) but she still feels distinct enough in her own right. I love how her perspective really lends itself to skewing our own perception of the world around her. When she's skeptical, we're skeptical. When she falls for the propaganda, we do too. I did enjoy a lot of the side cast, too. Though some deaths were predictable, every character left a mark.
I think the only person I really wasn't vibing with was her love interest. It's not really anything to do with him individually - I actually found him to be very interesting - but the romance between him and Taryn felt pretty contrived, not to mention very…icky? The age gap between the two of them is certainly problematic, and what's worse is that it's never addressed. Sure, you could make the argument that Taryn wouldn't have been aware of that, and that Dawson was trying to make another point about age gaps in the industry. To me, though, that never really happened. I feel like this could've been fixed if they just made him a year or two younger. I don't know…I hope this somehow gets addressed in the sequel, because that knocked this book down significantly for me.
Speaking of which, I am unsure of how I feel about the ending. A lot of it I love, but there's also parts of it that feel like are too happy for the story this book is telling. You could chalk it up to the limitations of the YA genre, but I feel like that's a gross assumption considering how dark this book is capable of getting. But again, I'm so open for the sequel. This book was insanely bingeable for me and I felt incredibly nervous for everyone, including Taryn at times. Survival show anxiety is such a unique experience, and it was a treat to have it captured in such a high stakes form. Thank you to this book for saving my reading slump!
4.25/5
August 5, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
This book was a very interesting concept by combining American Idol with Hunger Games. I loved the dystopian twist but was expecting a bit more betrayal from the characters since they know that if eliminated they will die. I did like how throughout the book I was questioning who I could trust and how I could not. I felt like this was a good thing since it made me sympathize with Tayrn. Tayrn is also an interesting character. I like how ultimately she works against this program but wished that there was more to her motivations or we learn more why she really feels to go against the system. Ultimately this book gave a star academy vibe like how Katseye was formed with a dystopian twist and I liked this interesting and new concept.
This book was a very interesting concept by combining American Idol with Hunger Games. I loved the dystopian twist but was expecting a bit more betrayal from the characters since they know that if eliminated they will die. I did like how throughout the book I was questioning who I could trust and how I could not. I felt like this was a good thing since it made me sympathize with Tayrn. Tayrn is also an interesting character. I like how ultimately she works against this program but wished that there was more to her motivations or we learn more why she really feels to go against the system. Ultimately this book gave a star academy vibe like how Katseye was formed with a dystopian twist and I liked this interesting and new concept.
July 25, 2026
If you market something as _____ meets the Hunger Games, there probably shouldn’t be as many very clear similarities to the Hunger Games as Survival Show has.
At times, it feels like it’s simply scenes from the Hunger Games reworked.
With that being said, it’s still a really gripping novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
At times, it feels like it’s simply scenes from the Hunger Games reworked.
With that being said, it’s still a really gripping novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
April 26, 2026
This was fantastic! I cannot wait for the sequel. It's chilling in how you can see all of this might actually happen.
February 13, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Survival Show is set in a reimagined world after a war and flood. It follows the story of Taryn Beck, a teenager who makes it her mission to provide her brother with life saving medical treatment, by entering the reality TV show “Starmaker” - if Taryn wins, she, along with her 4 band mates, will live a life of luxury, stardom and wealth. But if she’s eliminated, she will lose her life to “Project Population”, an initiative designed to cull the community.
This story is a mix of The Hunger Games and The X Factor which makes for a unique and clever plot which lovers of Dystopian YA novels and KATSEYE will absolutely adore.
I really liked Juno Dawson’s writing style, it was clear and easy to read. I think Dawson also did a really good job at portraying the darker side of the music industry and these competition shows. I particularly loved the Nadine Coyle/Irish PopStars reference “you told us you were born in June, and that you are a Gemini. But you lied about the year that you were born, didn’t you?”
With that being said, in all honesty, this was not the most enjoyable read for me. I do, however, think that my main issues with the book were solely due to my age, and had I been reading this at 16/17 years old, I would have LOVED it.
First of all, I did not fully connect with any of the characters, they felt incredibly young and I actually found them quite frustrating. Again, this could be an age thing, but I found myself wanting to shout at them and tell them “just stop bickering, stop making poor choices, stop selling each other out, and why didn’t you just get out of there when you had the chance!” The death and loss of each other was never a surprise to them, it was fully expected but never taken seriously until it happened.
I also really struggled with the pacing of this book. I felt like the build up to the start of the show went on a little bit too long whereas the results show felt too rushed, and although the writing was good, those moments felt too short for me to fully experience the emotions of the remaining girls and the eliminated contestant.
Things seemed to pick up a bit towards the finale/ending of the book, and I was satisfied with the way it ended. Iappreciated the twist at the end, I genuinely didn’t expect that reveal and I did gasp a little.
Survival Show is set in a reimagined world after a war and flood. It follows the story of Taryn Beck, a teenager who makes it her mission to provide her brother with life saving medical treatment, by entering the reality TV show “Starmaker” - if Taryn wins, she, along with her 4 band mates, will live a life of luxury, stardom and wealth. But if she’s eliminated, she will lose her life to “Project Population”, an initiative designed to cull the community.
This story is a mix of The Hunger Games and The X Factor which makes for a unique and clever plot which lovers of Dystopian YA novels and KATSEYE will absolutely adore.
I really liked Juno Dawson’s writing style, it was clear and easy to read. I think Dawson also did a really good job at portraying the darker side of the music industry and these competition shows. I particularly loved the Nadine Coyle/Irish PopStars reference “you told us you were born in June, and that you are a Gemini. But you lied about the year that you were born, didn’t you?”
With that being said, in all honesty, this was not the most enjoyable read for me. I do, however, think that my main issues with the book were solely due to my age, and had I been reading this at 16/17 years old, I would have LOVED it.
First of all, I did not fully connect with any of the characters, they felt incredibly young and I actually found them quite frustrating. Again, this could be an age thing, but I found myself wanting to shout at them and tell them “just stop bickering, stop making poor choices, stop selling each other out, and why didn’t you just get out of there when you had the chance!” The death and loss of each other was never a surprise to them, it was fully expected but never taken seriously until it happened.
I also really struggled with the pacing of this book. I felt like the build up to the start of the show went on a little bit too long whereas the results show felt too rushed, and although the writing was good, those moments felt too short for me to fully experience the emotions of the remaining girls and the eliminated contestant.
Things seemed to pick up a bit towards the finale/ending of the book, and I was satisfied with the way it ended. Iappreciated the twist at the end, I genuinely didn’t expect that reveal and I did gasp a little.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really loved it. No surprise really as I've been a Juno fan since Hollow Pike. Hunger Games meets X Factor.
April 1, 2026
I was in a pretty big reading slump which made picking up this book kind of hard, but once I did boy was it hard to put it down!!
Imagine you mix Popstar Academy with Black Mirror, you’d find something almost like Survival Show.
Survival Show follows Taryn Beck, a flood refugee from the Republic of Scotland whose younger brother is in dire need of medication. Her dad sees the only way for his son to survive is to donate his life to “Project Population” and get the payout( aka paying people to undergo euthanasia). But Taryn has another plan. Use her voice to get onto Starmaker, the most popular girl group survival show on the airways.
This book I think proves dystopian literature is starting to be less like a scary, far-away future and lean closer towards being a pretty damn accurate reflection of society. So be warned and read with caution, this book might sound a lot like your socials feed rather than a fictitious story!
My only tiny issue with this book was that sometimes it over explained situations and emotions but I can let that slide as it is YA.
Survival Show has solidified itself as a new favourite YA dystopia in my rotation of recommendations! A must read when it releases on the 28th of April!
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Imagine you mix Popstar Academy with Black Mirror, you’d find something almost like Survival Show.
Survival Show follows Taryn Beck, a flood refugee from the Republic of Scotland whose younger brother is in dire need of medication. Her dad sees the only way for his son to survive is to donate his life to “Project Population” and get the payout( aka paying people to undergo euthanasia). But Taryn has another plan. Use her voice to get onto Starmaker, the most popular girl group survival show on the airways.
This book I think proves dystopian literature is starting to be less like a scary, far-away future and lean closer towards being a pretty damn accurate reflection of society. So be warned and read with caution, this book might sound a lot like your socials feed rather than a fictitious story!
My only tiny issue with this book was that sometimes it over explained situations and emotions but I can let that slide as it is YA.
Survival Show has solidified itself as a new favourite YA dystopia in my rotation of recommendations! A must read when it releases on the 28th of April!
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 23, 2026
Such an interesting concept: a talent show taking place in a dystopian world, in which the eliminated contestants are literally eliminated. This book was creative, endlessly entertaining and kept me guessing at all times. Personally, I would have liked more worldbuilding and some more depth in the characters and their relationships. But since this is a YA, I could let it slide and just enjoy all the twists and turns.
Want to Read
February 18, 2026this sounds hilarious actually I am very happy for the teens of 2026
May 4, 2026
This was a fun, easy read! I feel like being compared to the hunger games was a big stretch but it was still entertaining. Good characters, great storyline.
May 16, 2026
Juno Dawson wrote the 'Eurovision in Space' episode of Doctor Who so I am excited about this! A talent show with a twist... when you're eliminated, you're eliminated in every sense of the word. The creative dystopian world felt vaguely familiar, almost as if we let certain politics run its course this is where we're going to end up. The tension and drama ramps up and I have to keep reading to find out what unfolds. It was dark but great!
August 10, 2026
Dream Academy goes Hunger Games lol. this was so silly and fun.
May 26, 2026
how FUN!!! dramatic, campy storyline interweaved with genuinely SAD parts! loved every bit
April 30, 2026
Audiobook 1.7 stars |
When I started listening to this book I was excited but then after I while it felt like AI hade wrote it. It hade almost no emotion and had so many holes in the story.
When I started listening to this book I was excited but then after I while it felt like AI hade wrote it. It hade almost no emotion and had so many holes in the story.
August 12, 2026
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I didn't even read the blurb for this one before I requested it because it's Juno Dawson and I really have loved all the books I've read from her. Then I got approved and read the blurb and thought to myself, Hunger Games and American idol merged? I'm so glad I signed up. I was ready for all the gruesome fun and gory details.
This book, on it's own, is absolutely dystopian. Set in a future where lands have been washed away by the sea, countries have merged and/or been renamed, and most people are hurting just to stay afloat, we meet Taryn Beck. A girl with a fantastic voice who just wants her brother to be ok. She enters Starmaker, a TV show contest where contestants sing and dance their way to the top, or get eliminated, literally. All she wants is to win the whole thing so she can afford the medication her brother needs to survive. But things aren't always what they seem and there's a true sinister plot behind the show and Taryn is determined to bring them all down.
Things I enjoyed from this book:
The premise! I love the idea of an American Idol type show where contestants sing and dance to advance or get put to death. It definitely had a Hunger Games feel to it throughout. While I've read many books that have a Hunger Games type theme, I've not read anything this unique.
The character diversity! For the most part, I found the characters intriguing. I like that Dawson chose so many different people to represent for this story.
The politics! Of course a dystopian novel would not be dystopian without political intrigue and villains who want to always stay on top and keep the little man down. I definitely felt the cast system in this book.
Things that could have been better:
The characters themselves. I liked them enough, most were relatable. But for me they just were not fleshed out as well as they could have been. It was hard for me to keep them straight many times and then when I did remember who they were, there wasn't anything truly unique for most of them to make them stand out.
The progression of the story. I found the pacing off in this book, It wasn't that it was very slow, but there were parts where I felt like I had to push through and didn't feel like they really leant anything to the actual story line.
The world building. When I read a dystopian book, I have to know why it's dystopian. While we are told why to a certain degree, we are not ever shown why. It's like Dawson threw it at us and then said, "you'll just have to believe what I'm writing." I can usually suspend my disbelief and picture the world, but the details and the reasoning for the war that happened making the world the way it is now just wasn't clear to me at all. I struggled to understand why I would care about anything that was happening to Taryn or exactly how her family was in the position they were in due to events of the past. Plus, the timeline was a bit confusing to me. It seemed like this war was pretty recent, that Taryn remembers the time before it all. But she's only 17 and I had a hard time believing this was true.
The romance. Yep, could have done without this. Honestly, there was almost no point to it. And I didn't feel any of the chemistry or emotional attachment needed to really make what happens towards the end (I won't spoil it) even make a difference in Taryn's story. The whole tale could definitely had been told without ever having any romance at all.
Overall, this was a decent story, I found it fun but not amazing. This is my least favorite title I've read from this author (and Her Majesty's Royal Coven got 5 stars from me across the board for all the books). The pacing, world building, and overall character development of this book could have used a bit more tweaking for me. But if you're looking for a fun YA with high stakes and a good amount of drama, pick this one up!
I didn't even read the blurb for this one before I requested it because it's Juno Dawson and I really have loved all the books I've read from her. Then I got approved and read the blurb and thought to myself, Hunger Games and American idol merged? I'm so glad I signed up. I was ready for all the gruesome fun and gory details.
This book, on it's own, is absolutely dystopian. Set in a future where lands have been washed away by the sea, countries have merged and/or been renamed, and most people are hurting just to stay afloat, we meet Taryn Beck. A girl with a fantastic voice who just wants her brother to be ok. She enters Starmaker, a TV show contest where contestants sing and dance their way to the top, or get eliminated, literally. All she wants is to win the whole thing so she can afford the medication her brother needs to survive. But things aren't always what they seem and there's a true sinister plot behind the show and Taryn is determined to bring them all down.
Things I enjoyed from this book:
The premise! I love the idea of an American Idol type show where contestants sing and dance to advance or get put to death. It definitely had a Hunger Games feel to it throughout. While I've read many books that have a Hunger Games type theme, I've not read anything this unique.
The character diversity! For the most part, I found the characters intriguing. I like that Dawson chose so many different people to represent for this story.
The politics! Of course a dystopian novel would not be dystopian without political intrigue and villains who want to always stay on top and keep the little man down. I definitely felt the cast system in this book.
Things that could have been better:
The characters themselves. I liked them enough, most were relatable. But for me they just were not fleshed out as well as they could have been. It was hard for me to keep them straight many times and then when I did remember who they were, there wasn't anything truly unique for most of them to make them stand out.
The progression of the story. I found the pacing off in this book, It wasn't that it was very slow, but there were parts where I felt like I had to push through and didn't feel like they really leant anything to the actual story line.
The world building. When I read a dystopian book, I have to know why it's dystopian. While we are told why to a certain degree, we are not ever shown why. It's like Dawson threw it at us and then said, "you'll just have to believe what I'm writing." I can usually suspend my disbelief and picture the world, but the details and the reasoning for the war that happened making the world the way it is now just wasn't clear to me at all. I struggled to understand why I would care about anything that was happening to Taryn or exactly how her family was in the position they were in due to events of the past. Plus, the timeline was a bit confusing to me. It seemed like this war was pretty recent, that Taryn remembers the time before it all. But she's only 17 and I had a hard time believing this was true.
The romance. Yep, could have done without this. Honestly, there was almost no point to it. And I didn't feel any of the chemistry or emotional attachment needed to really make what happens towards the end (I won't spoil it) even make a difference in Taryn's story. The whole tale could definitely had been told without ever having any romance at all.
Overall, this was a decent story, I found it fun but not amazing. This is my least favorite title I've read from this author (and Her Majesty's Royal Coven got 5 stars from me across the board for all the books). The pacing, world building, and overall character development of this book could have used a bit more tweaking for me. But if you're looking for a fun YA with high stakes and a good amount of drama, pick this one up!
August 11, 2026
Thank you to Simon Teen & NetGalley for the E-Arc!
This book was truly the best mix of The Hunger Games x Dream Academy vibes.
The premise hooked me from the beginning. Imagine a dystopian world where global warming has changed everyone’s lives. Taryn Beck out of pure desperation to save her younger brother Jensen, decides to audition for Survival Show.
Taryn must take her chances with Survival Show. Though the odds are slim, she must make it to the final elimination round in which 10 of the most favourable players must compete for public popularity, the 5 most popular survive and get a record deal as a girl group while the other 5 are forced to give up their lives.
I think was hooked me was not just how intriguing the premise is but rather the characterisation of Taryn. We as readers find ourselves rooting for her when she is confronted with complications. Her intentions were never selfishly for her own personal gain, it was obvious she always had the best intentions at heart for her family and was motivated to win to benefit her family. Her motivation makes her an easy character to feel sympathy for and to cheer her on.
What seemed to intrigue me most was how the author genuinely employed her own knowledge of reality television and kpop idol training to present an almost behind the scenes experience that can be connected to real life. It felt like we were taken through a back door and got to experience the trials and tribunals idols must go through. It was also an interesting take on the music industry with the rise in numerous singers attempting their hand at stardom, while in the book, should they fail to be selected, they could potentially lose their lives.
The exploration of fame and survival in the entertainment industry truly was my favourite aspect. It was such an interesting twist on the reality that we live in where tragedy can be turned into entertainment.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy reality TV, fans of idols who would be interested in learning of the inner workings of their hardcore training, social commentary and a book that captures the vibe of American Idol x Squid Games perfectly.
This book was truly the best mix of The Hunger Games x Dream Academy vibes.
The premise hooked me from the beginning. Imagine a dystopian world where global warming has changed everyone’s lives. Taryn Beck out of pure desperation to save her younger brother Jensen, decides to audition for Survival Show.
Taryn must take her chances with Survival Show. Though the odds are slim, she must make it to the final elimination round in which 10 of the most favourable players must compete for public popularity, the 5 most popular survive and get a record deal as a girl group while the other 5 are forced to give up their lives.
I think was hooked me was not just how intriguing the premise is but rather the characterisation of Taryn. We as readers find ourselves rooting for her when she is confronted with complications. Her intentions were never selfishly for her own personal gain, it was obvious she always had the best intentions at heart for her family and was motivated to win to benefit her family. Her motivation makes her an easy character to feel sympathy for and to cheer her on.
What seemed to intrigue me most was how the author genuinely employed her own knowledge of reality television and kpop idol training to present an almost behind the scenes experience that can be connected to real life. It felt like we were taken through a back door and got to experience the trials and tribunals idols must go through. It was also an interesting take on the music industry with the rise in numerous singers attempting their hand at stardom, while in the book, should they fail to be selected, they could potentially lose their lives.
The exploration of fame and survival in the entertainment industry truly was my favourite aspect. It was such an interesting twist on the reality that we live in where tragedy can be turned into entertainment.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy reality TV, fans of idols who would be interested in learning of the inner workings of their hardcore training, social commentary and a book that captures the vibe of American Idol x Squid Games perfectly.
June 8, 2026
This book is quite gnarly.
Satire built on the Americas next top model reality show area + the K-pop surivial concept set in a dystopian future, was not on my bingo card for new release of the year. But it sure makes for some unhinged entertainment.
If you are not familiar with these two things you would probably wonder what the hell this book is, but it is packed with commentary about reality tv, how far people are willing to go for success and how much of themselves they are willing to give up to achieve it.
The makeover chapter felt like I was back to my childhood watching ANTM where girls were having their hair chopped off, waves sewn in and of course that one girl that comes out looking exactly the same in their before and after.
I was howling laughing when Gnarly by Katseye was mentioned as "A song she remembered from childhood". Did not see that one coming. Especially since the Prelude - World Scout survival show had Debut by Katseye as a performance.
And ahh, not the Swedish girl being the first to be eliminated. Don't give me representation to immediately crush it. Diva we needed you.
I felt nothing for the romance and the plan itself was very shaky at best, I tough we were turning full divergent "escaping the fence" there for a second. But it was quickly reeled in and left me a little she'll shocked.
This book is basically vibes, satire and commentary delivered in a fun and a little crazy package made for the chronically online. The end was chaotic but also so real, there's always intense drama att the end of a survival show, and then it just ends. Only for the next one to be announced and the circle starts anew.
This book is pretty brilliant, but I still can't say that it's amazing, hihi.
Satire built on the Americas next top model reality show area + the K-pop surivial concept set in a dystopian future, was not on my bingo card for new release of the year. But it sure makes for some unhinged entertainment.
If you are not familiar with these two things you would probably wonder what the hell this book is, but it is packed with commentary about reality tv, how far people are willing to go for success and how much of themselves they are willing to give up to achieve it.
The makeover chapter felt like I was back to my childhood watching ANTM where girls were having their hair chopped off, waves sewn in and of course that one girl that comes out looking exactly the same in their before and after.
I was howling laughing when Gnarly by Katseye was mentioned as "A song she remembered from childhood". Did not see that one coming. Especially since the Prelude - World Scout survival show had Debut by Katseye as a performance.
And ahh, not the Swedish girl being the first to be eliminated. Don't give me representation to immediately crush it. Diva we needed you.
I felt nothing for the romance and the plan itself was very shaky at best, I tough we were turning full divergent "escaping the fence" there for a second. But it was quickly reeled in and left me a little she'll shocked.
This book is basically vibes, satire and commentary delivered in a fun and a little crazy package made for the chronically online. The end was chaotic but also so real, there's always intense drama att the end of a survival show, and then it just ends. Only for the next one to be announced and the circle starts anew.
This book is pretty brilliant, but I still can't say that it's amazing, hihi.
June 7, 2026
A reality TV show where getting voted off means death? Safe to say I was intrigued from page one. 🎤💀📖
Survival Show was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me entertained throughout. The concept is great—a reality TV competition where contestants are fighting for a place in the world’s biggest girl band, but elimination comes with the ultimate consequence.
This was very much a YA read, but that was exactly what I was after. It was easy to get into, entertaining from start to finish, and the perfect book when you’re looking for something fast-paced and fun.
I flew through this and was definitely invested in finding out who would survive and who would make it to the end. I enjoyed all the drama, alliances and twists along the way.
I also liked that there was more to the story than just the competition itself. Alongside all the reality TV drama and twists, Dawson explores celebrity culture, society’s obsession with entertainment, and how far people will go for fame and success. It also looks at class and inequality, showing how things like healthcare, opportunities and even your future can depend on where you’re born and how much money you have. At times, it made me think about how easily people become invested in watching other people’s struggles for entertainment. It added another layer to the story and made the stakes feel even higher for the contestants.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a unique premise and plenty of drama. While it wasn’t a standout favourite for me, I’m glad I picked it up and would recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian fiction mixed with reality TV chaos.
Survival Show was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me entertained throughout. The concept is great—a reality TV competition where contestants are fighting for a place in the world’s biggest girl band, but elimination comes with the ultimate consequence.
This was very much a YA read, but that was exactly what I was after. It was easy to get into, entertaining from start to finish, and the perfect book when you’re looking for something fast-paced and fun.
I flew through this and was definitely invested in finding out who would survive and who would make it to the end. I enjoyed all the drama, alliances and twists along the way.
I also liked that there was more to the story than just the competition itself. Alongside all the reality TV drama and twists, Dawson explores celebrity culture, society’s obsession with entertainment, and how far people will go for fame and success. It also looks at class and inequality, showing how things like healthcare, opportunities and even your future can depend on where you’re born and how much money you have. At times, it made me think about how easily people become invested in watching other people’s struggles for entertainment. It added another layer to the story and made the stakes feel even higher for the contestants.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a unique premise and plenty of drama. While it wasn’t a standout favourite for me, I’m glad I picked it up and would recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian fiction mixed with reality TV chaos.
August 4, 2026
This book had such a cool and dark concept with a reality TV competition show at the heart of a dystopian world. Set in a culture that glorifies people who voluntarily give up their lives to Project Population to free up resources for others. And add in a TV show that makes Project Population the fate of anyone who loses, it really does make for an interesting story. At 17, Taryn’s seen every season and knows all the risks, but decides to take the shot anyway. Her family are refugees who had to move to Scotland after her home went underwater. Becoming a pop icon could change everything for them, especially her sick brother. With a voice her mother helped hone, Taryn is willing to do whatever it takes to win Starmaker. And when she learns what’s happening behind the scenes it only motivates her more. This is a book you need on your tbr!
August 11, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
Survival Show by Juno Dawson
Ok I loved this one!! A future where survival shows and reality TV are the struggling masses’ last chance at improving their lives by winning big, but if they fail? Well- eliminations are permanent 🪦
Evil corporations, political hellscapes, climate change…this was a true dystopian 😵💫 The levity added was in the musical references of all my favorite girl groups and boy bands, which I loved! The relationships between the girls was fun to see and the stakes felt high!
Not only was this fun and action packed, but it packed a punch, had great diversity in characters, and tackled serious issues. Thank you Simon Teen for the arc!
Survival Show by Juno Dawson
Ok I loved this one!! A future where survival shows and reality TV are the struggling masses’ last chance at improving their lives by winning big, but if they fail? Well- eliminations are permanent 🪦
Evil corporations, political hellscapes, climate change…this was a true dystopian 😵💫 The levity added was in the musical references of all my favorite girl groups and boy bands, which I loved! The relationships between the girls was fun to see and the stakes felt high!
Not only was this fun and action packed, but it packed a punch, had great diversity in characters, and tackled serious issues. Thank you Simon Teen for the arc!
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