Predestined

by Rebecca Danzenbaker

From the author of Soulmatch comes a dystopian romantic thriller where a risk-averse teen trusts the future-predicting AI to identify potential threats, but it completely misses the mysterious rebel intent on upending her world.

Gloria St. John’s life is 88 .3% predictable. It’s a great score. She makes smart choices, avoids unnecessary risks, and grumbles about the country’s oppressive predictability system while simultaneously reaping the rewards. That is, until her Futurecast app, the one that predicts her next twenty-four hours, alerts Gloria that she’ll suddenly vanish tomorrow morning. But that’s impossible. Must be a glitch, right? Right?

Turns out the “glitch” is linked to a mysterious rebel, Elwood, who knows far more than he should about Gloria, the predictability AI, and its developer—Gloria’s dad. Driven by growing resentment of her father’s control, Gloria agrees to meet Elwood in exchange for answers, but Elwood hasn’t come to help Gloria. He’s here to destroy her.

Gloria’s race against the clock to save herself and her loved ones unexpectedly turns up the truth about her mother’s unsolved murder. Soon she’s rethinking not only her past but her every step, especially since Futurecast insists she won’t survive the night.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 19, 2027

About the author

Given Rebecca Danzenbaker’s lifelong love of reading, it’s quite possible her author career was predestined. But what a gift it is not knowing what the future holds. The fun lies in the journey, discovering what new adventure awaits. She carries that credo through the always-challenging but oh-so-rewarding writing process as well.

PREDESTINED is Rebecca’s second published novel. Her first, SOULMATCH, was an American Booksellers Association Indie Next pick, received the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard award, and secured a spot on Amazon Editors’ Best Books of 2025. When she’s not planning plot twists, she’s daydreaming about her next vacation.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

HECK YEAH!

Loved Soulmatch! So excited for this one!

Need ARC immediately!

| IG | TikTok |

[Rebecca Danzenbaker]

My second dystopian romance is making its way into the world! Writing stories where smart girls find ways to root out and dismantle corruption makes me feel so dang POWERFUL! I hope that's how you feel while reading my books.

PREDESTINED is 100% human authored, and yes, it's about the dangers of AI, but it's about so much more...
"Remember who the real enemy is." - Suzanne Collins, CATCHING FIRE

Visit my site for a PREDESTINED playlist. And please support your local libraries and independent bookstores!

[Danielle Kaitlin (daniallreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What YOU Should Read Wednesday!!

Thank you @rebeccadanzenbaker + @simonteen for the #gifted copy of "Predestined" [Pub Day: January 19, 2027]

💭 Thoughts: If you loved the episode of Black Mirror called "Nose Dive," any of the books from John Marrs "Dark Future" series, and The Pines by Blake Crouch...Predestined is all those vibes if they all had a young adult baby.

I devoured this book. It made me think A LOT about life!

The idea of predictability, the small joys in life & living freely are all themes that make this book perfection.

I truly have so many more thoughts about this story. The little things Rebecca dropped throughout the plot. The way I wanted to throw the book because this woman left me shocked.

And...Rebecca successfully created the most evil character & when you meet them in January...phew...buckle up.

Just trust me when I say dystopian fiction lovers need to check out this book & today is the perfect moment because "Predestined" just landed on NetGalley to request!!

🪶 Read if you love:
▫️ Black Mirror episode called "Nose Dive"
▫️ Dystopian
▫️ Futuristic rating system
▫️ The freedom to be yourself
▫️ A "safer" society
▫️ Books that make you think
▫️ Dual POV (his chapters will have you losing it)
▫️ Misery by Stephen King (*eyeballs*)
▫️ Stories that will keep you up past your bedtime
▫️ Enemies to Lovers
▫️ Morally Grey

[Kendra · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Predestined was an absolute mind f* that really gets you thinking about today’s world and how this society shown in this story is something that makes you wonder if this could actually happen in our world.. I mean it’s kind of already there if you think about it 🤷🏻‍♀️ once you read this story you’ll know what I mean!

I really enjoyed this story as it gave all the dystopian vibes with a futuristic rating system app, an AI predictability system that can determine what the next 24 hours will be like or daily schedules, medical data, and literally an itinerary for yourself. It was absolutely wild! It acts like a second skin on your wrist as a cuff where it shows your rating system.

We also have a hint of thriller and suspense moments while we are dealing with Gloria’s mothers unresolved murder case, and also her dad being the CEO of this AI system that’s supposed to make you feel safe in this society.

You start to question and theorize in each chapter as we have secrets that go far deeper than we know and Gloria will get to the bottom of her father’s creation. This pred is supposed to save lives.. or does it?? 👀

Thank you so much Simon teen for the early galley! I devoured this book!

[Amy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Predestined takes our reliance on technology and twists it into a dystopian nightmare where every action, thought, or word you say can be used against you in a society controlled by your predictability score. Watched over by a sentient AI, the system rates you constantly with a monitor you can't take off, predicts your next day and penalizes you if you don't follow-through with those predictions, and forces you to cut off people whose lower predictability scores would affect yours negatively.

It's also a very interesting PoV as we follow Gloria, the daughter of the CEO of the company in charge of the entire pred system and its AI as she figures out her purpose within the confines of this system. After a meeting with a boy who lives outside the system (a "plog" or person living off-grid), her entire life changes trajectory and makes her question what she's believed her entire life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Gloria's journey to its conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Rebecca Danzenbaker, and the publisher Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for giving me an eARC to read and review!

[Savana · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I absolutely eat up Rebecca Dazenbaker's writing. If you are looking for a YA dystopian, this is the book for you.

What if everything in the world was based on how predictable you were? College acceptance, jobs, even restaurants can turn you away if your predictability score is too low. Predestined follows Gloria, the daughter of the founder of TrAIngle, the company responsible for creating pred scores. When her best friend's pred score drops too low to attend college, Gloria will do anything to help her, even if that means going against her controlling father. When her heroism leads her to a PLOG (person living off grid), she will have to make some very difficult decisions.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. It was thrilling, fast-paced, and packed with adventure. I did knock off a half-star rating due to a gap in the plot towards the end of the book; however, I would still highly recommend this read!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sonica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping, suspense filled read that explores the dangers of technology.

The premise is intriguing, especially the idea of a society where peoples's lives are governed by predictions and calculated risks. What makes the story compelling is how it explores free will versus fate.

This book is a perfect read for fans of dystopian fiction and romantic suspense.

[Melissa Poett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mind-bending look into a chilling dystopian future that will keep you guessing until the end.

[Julie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Mark Danzenbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technology advancements generally benefit society, but there are always issues and unintended consequences.  This is the dystopian story of how an AI predicability system meant to benefit the world, and adopted by the government, could go too far and negatively impact us.  

Is predictability better? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Build a system around it? Clear benefits, but also plenty of downsides (i.e., losing a job or scholarship because you are allegedly not predictable enough). The world-building makes you feel the repression.

It is also a story as old as time where tight grips on power can spiral out of control, both in the world and in our relationships. But, there are always those that rise above. Not always easy or a straight line, but that’s our main characters.  I loved seeing their struggles play out.

The story also felt like it could happen, well … now. Not so far in the future. Reminded me of the this-could-be-now feeling I got when reading Handmaid’s Tale.

Disclaimer: I am the author’s husband, so take it all with a grain of salt.  That said, I know you’ll love it like I did!