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The Commons World #1
The Commons
Not yet published
Expected 17 Sep 26You must learn to think, act, and look like everyone else or face death.
Fitting in at school just went to a whole other level.
What do you do when all your thoughts are being measured to make sure you are a common copy of everyone? What do you do when you are graded on how common you are? Your future depends on your ability to conform.
Enrolled in a 22nd-century elite school where being common is celebrated, eighteen-year-old prodigy―Shantavia Lerogaski―is seen as a threat because she is too intelligent. When her sister goes missing, she must sacrifice everything, including her intelligence, to discover the shocking truth about The Commons and save her sister before it is too late.
Despite being valedictorian, Shantavia was supposed to take a gap year, living a peaceful life free from expectations. Now, her sister has gone missing from the elite college that controls the entire world―The Commons. Now, she must find a way to enroll.
Upon arrival at the highly technologized and guarded school, Shantavia begins a series of six inhumane, deathly tests in the six study zones of The Commons. If she does not complete these tests, she will be eliminated. But eliminated to where? She doesn’t know; in fact, no student does.
Things get even more complicated when Shantavia’s fate falls into the hands of the most formidable and powerful Patron, Pesh.
She is unsure if he is a friend or foe so she must fight her dangerous attraction to him—and question everyone, including her closest friends, or risk losing everything.
Can anyone be trusted in such a system? Can Shantavia even trust herself? Will she fall for Pesh? Will she fall for someone else even more ruthless? Will he be her ruin? Or will she find a way to expose The Commons and save everyone that’s dear to her?
Enemies, lovers, betrayals, suspense, and a dash of wit and steamy tension. Enter into the highly addictive and wildly imaginative world of The Commons, where the only way to survive is to be Common.
Fitting in at school just went to a whole other level.
What do you do when all your thoughts are being measured to make sure you are a common copy of everyone? What do you do when you are graded on how common you are? Your future depends on your ability to conform.
Enrolled in a 22nd-century elite school where being common is celebrated, eighteen-year-old prodigy―Shantavia Lerogaski―is seen as a threat because she is too intelligent. When her sister goes missing, she must sacrifice everything, including her intelligence, to discover the shocking truth about The Commons and save her sister before it is too late.
Despite being valedictorian, Shantavia was supposed to take a gap year, living a peaceful life free from expectations. Now, her sister has gone missing from the elite college that controls the entire world―The Commons. Now, she must find a way to enroll.
Upon arrival at the highly technologized and guarded school, Shantavia begins a series of six inhumane, deathly tests in the six study zones of The Commons. If she does not complete these tests, she will be eliminated. But eliminated to where? She doesn’t know; in fact, no student does.
Things get even more complicated when Shantavia’s fate falls into the hands of the most formidable and powerful Patron, Pesh.
She is unsure if he is a friend or foe so she must fight her dangerous attraction to him—and question everyone, including her closest friends, or risk losing everything.
Can anyone be trusted in such a system? Can Shantavia even trust herself? Will she fall for Pesh? Will she fall for someone else even more ruthless? Will he be her ruin? Or will she find a way to expose The Commons and save everyone that’s dear to her?
Enemies, lovers, betrayals, suspense, and a dash of wit and steamy tension. Enter into the highly addictive and wildly imaginative world of The Commons, where the only way to survive is to be Common.
Hardcover
Expected publication September 17, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Ihim
1 book187 followers𝓡𝓮𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓬𝓪 𝓘𝓱𝓲𝓶
Rebecca Ihim is a young Writer-Director with theatrical released films, films streaming on Prime Video, Comcast, Apple TV, and more. Her content has garnered over 60 million views on TikTok and has surged up to “Most Popular” on streaming platforms across Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Thriller for several weeks. Born in Nigeria, raised in Scotland, and now based in the U.S., Rebecca holds a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.
She is the Founding Executive Director of DEEP Films Entertainment, a movie production company focused on creating meaningful and impactful films for young adults.
In fiction, she writes across high, low, and epic fantasy, science fiction and dystopian, romance, thriller, and literary fiction—following whatever character God blesses her with. Her work spans YA and adult audiences.
To stay updated with her works, follow Rebecca online ⬇
Website: www.rebeccaihim.com
Instagram: instagram.com/rebeccaihim/
Rebecca Ihim is a young Writer-Director with theatrical released films, films streaming on Prime Video, Comcast, Apple TV, and more. Her content has garnered over 60 million views on TikTok and has surged up to “Most Popular” on streaming platforms across Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Thriller for several weeks. Born in Nigeria, raised in Scotland, and now based in the U.S., Rebecca holds a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.
She is the Founding Executive Director of DEEP Films Entertainment, a movie production company focused on creating meaningful and impactful films for young adults.
In fiction, she writes across high, low, and epic fantasy, science fiction and dystopian, romance, thriller, and literary fiction—following whatever character God blesses her with. Her work spans YA and adult audiences.
To stay updated with her works, follow Rebecca online ⬇
Website: www.rebeccaihim.com
Instagram: instagram.com/rebeccaihim/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 27, 2026
“Because the truth is it is us the system is afraid of, for we are the tragedy of The Commons.”
CUT THE CHECK!!!! This is EVERYTHING. I had the BEST time reading this book!
THE COMMON WORLD SERIES ABOUT TO TAKE OVER EVERYTHING GET READY
╰┈➤ SHANTAVIA LEROGASKI, THIS IS ALSO OUR: GOLDEN GIRL, TAVIA
❝ I cannot forget why I am here. I cannot let myself conform to the system. I must be alert. At all times.❞
This is just one of her many amazing lines. Our FMC is a FORCE A FIERCE WARRIOR A FIGHTER AND NOTHING STOPS SHANTAVIA, not even The Commons and that’s something.
Despite being valedictorian, Shantavia was supposed to take a gap year but then her sister went missing! Arghhhh I don’t want to cry bahhhh this story is so emotional! I felt so bad for Shantavia and everything she and ____ went through, this girl was having to go through so much, having to be so alone, and do everything herself and try to survive and conquer an entire system and still be herself. She was so focused and smart and tried to stay sane in this crazy shocking world. Her ability to stay sane was shocking even when everything was trying to crush her. I was so proud of her as she did such a good job in The Commons.
“I promised myself whether I faced death or bondage I would find my sister and that is exactly what I plan to do.❞
Most of the books I’ve read recently have felt so slowwww and boring and repetitive.
Granted, reading The Commons felt like I was a teenager again reading Maze Runner or The Hunger Games. But it was also NOTHING LIKE THOSE. Nothing, it’s almost like reading something strangely different you feel like your eyes have been opened and you’re about to freak out constantly because anything could happen at any time.
The pace in this book is so fast you feel like you’re in the maze runner, but at school. I meannnnnn who doesn’t want to have a heart attack with hot Patrons who despise you and who you don’t know if you trust or not but that same hot Patron keeps finding you in secret spots and almost touching your finger and acting like he doesn’t care and protecting you and being so MYSTERIOUS and what if he finds you in another hallway? What then??????????
What if things get steamyyyyy
So many question marks. This man is a walking question mark! And our girl Tavia wants all the answers.
Excuse me let me go giggle
AHHHH WHO DOESNT WANT THATTTT
If you haven’t already guessed, this book is set in a DARK ACADEMIA COLLEGE where science feels like magic and the science elements felt smart but Shantavia our FMC was smarter.
And that’s how I like it. Give me a smart FMC all day who is trying to get the job done and not get distracted by any boy and noise. Ohhh but does she get distracted????
The school sort of feels like Harry Potter meets Divergent but more luxurious & terrifying! More elite, more adult ish but still somewhere in between.
Is there spice ? Haaaa there’s not a straightforward answer for this as the question itself is a spoiler but it feels as though there is. Do with that what you will. I just know it was hot and one drawn out slow burn that gave me trust issues and the kissing scenes EXCUSE ME? What are thoseeeee?????
How did I not know I needed whatever that was in my life? How? I WANT MORE
I just want to be “part of that world!” I want to be part of The Commons World! Which brings me to my next point.
WORLD-BUILDING
This part was the simplest and yet most impressive part of reading this book, everything was organized and simple to understand. The school is divided into six zones and there are four types of Patrons. We don’t learn about other Patrons as much, but the earth Patrons— HOT HOT HOT WELLLL ONLY ONE — PESH and anotherrr maybeeeee IDK??
They’re all attractive they claim but they’re just so MEAN. But not Pesh tho, he’s our baby, enemies whattt? Well
He’s my baby now.
The 6 Zones in The Commons are:
* Cognitive - You want this!!! Plus PESH I REPEAT PESH Actually PATRON PESH.
* Oratory - A certain Patron here intrigues me PERSONALLY.
* Math & Science - the ____ hallway THE ____ HALLWAY. I repeat THE ____ HALLWAY was one of my favorite scenes of all time.
* Meaning - The plot twist of this test still gives me trust issues.
* Observation - I don’t remember. I get this and meaning mixed up anyways wasn’t my focus but I remember it was fun for sure
* Nature - The combat scene YESSSSSSS
The Commons is an EXTREMELY FAST PACED PLOT that will keep YOU OBSESSED. Before you know it, the book is over. And I wish I had slowed down like some people suggested. Because now what do I do HUHHHH???
The plot of this book is the main focus. The romance is secondary so if you’re looking for a romance book, this isn’t it. That being said:
THE ROMANCE
The slow burn Oooooffff
When Pesh gave her that ____ ____
My reaction:
TAKE IT HONEYYYYY
If you wondering why so many ____ I’m trying my best not to leave spoilers.
“You have my heart. Of course you owe me and I will forever be indebted to you, should you ever give it back.”
PESHHHHHHHHHH I WOULD NEVER DREAM OF GIVING IT BACK TAKE MY HEART NOWWW
OH I FORGOT, YOU ALREADY HAVE IT
THEN…. This author tried to play with me because what was that plot twist! After all that!
That plot twist! How dare you! I wanted to throw the book. One second it’s this, then it’s THAT!!!! Why!! NO WARNING!!!
This author and her plot twists!! Are you trying to kill me or WHATTTTTTT WAS THAT
ANYWAYS I GOT OVER IT.
❝ 300 years and a day remember me. 300 years and a day, come back to me.❞
EXCUSE ME THESE LINES WILL DESTROY ME
THEN THAT HAPPENED!!!!
PESH AND SHANTAVIA MY CUTIES
THEY ARE SO SWEET! These two are my everything.
Pesh’s LINES are WOW WOW WOW
I cannot understate how much his words will live on in my brain forever
Forever altered my brain chemistry
I think about these lines daily
HOW CAN I GET THIS BOY HE IS A DREAM
I would paste all of his lines if I could. Will be back to paste my favorite quotes.
THE FOUND FAMILY
Yeppeeeeee yessss they are barely all trying to survive so it’s go go go! I felt like I was the one trying to survive the entire time.
Anyways the ending. I’m gonna go cry now!!!
The book is so inspirational and meaningful and hopeful at the same time.
The ending had me feeling:
FINALLY TO ANY COMMONERS LISTENING OUT THERE: you NEED to go into The Commons as blind as possible.
I’m so serious.
don’t read too many summaries.
Please don’t look up spoilers.
don’t even trust reviews (including mine lowkey 😭 just go in)
I PROMISE it will enhance the experience TENFOLD. THREE HUNDRED FOLD YEEEPEEE
ALL you need to know is this:
- it will be faster than a cheetah, our FMC is trying to escape out of the crazy school so she doesn’t have time to even enjoy a meal, or stare at a HOT PATRON. Ahhhh but she does, point is, the clock is running and so will you be running around your room trying to figure out the next clue.
- you will be in shock after finishing this book
- you will think about it after finishing and be mind blown
- you will probably sit in silence for a few minutes processing your life
- this will be your new favorite book forever, at least it is mine, waiting for book 2 with all these tricks deep keeps playing on me is gonna be my greatest downfall, somebody hold me back and SEND HELP. SOS. My zone is Oratory if anyone cares and I wonder what book 2 will bring for my zone members. MAKE HASTE REBECCA. OK BYE. Oh thank you to the publisher and Rebecca for the ARC in exchange for my honest rambling.
CUT THE CHECK!!!! This is EVERYTHING. I had the BEST time reading this book!
THE COMMON WORLD SERIES ABOUT TO TAKE OVER EVERYTHING GET READY
╰┈➤ SHANTAVIA LEROGASKI, THIS IS ALSO OUR: GOLDEN GIRL, TAVIA
❝ I cannot forget why I am here. I cannot let myself conform to the system. I must be alert. At all times.❞
This is just one of her many amazing lines. Our FMC is a FORCE A FIERCE WARRIOR A FIGHTER AND NOTHING STOPS SHANTAVIA, not even The Commons and that’s something.
Despite being valedictorian, Shantavia was supposed to take a gap year but then her sister went missing! Arghhhh I don’t want to cry bahhhh this story is so emotional! I felt so bad for Shantavia and everything she and ____ went through, this girl was having to go through so much, having to be so alone, and do everything herself and try to survive and conquer an entire system and still be herself. She was so focused and smart and tried to stay sane in this crazy shocking world. Her ability to stay sane was shocking even when everything was trying to crush her. I was so proud of her as she did such a good job in The Commons.
“I promised myself whether I faced death or bondage I would find my sister and that is exactly what I plan to do.❞
Most of the books I’ve read recently have felt so slowwww and boring and repetitive.
Granted, reading The Commons felt like I was a teenager again reading Maze Runner or The Hunger Games. But it was also NOTHING LIKE THOSE. Nothing, it’s almost like reading something strangely different you feel like your eyes have been opened and you’re about to freak out constantly because anything could happen at any time.
The pace in this book is so fast you feel like you’re in the maze runner, but at school. I meannnnnn who doesn’t want to have a heart attack with hot Patrons who despise you and who you don’t know if you trust or not but that same hot Patron keeps finding you in secret spots and almost touching your finger and acting like he doesn’t care and protecting you and being so MYSTERIOUS and what if he finds you in another hallway? What then??????????
What if things get steamyyyyy
So many question marks. This man is a walking question mark! And our girl Tavia wants all the answers.
Excuse me let me go giggle
AHHHH WHO DOESNT WANT THATTTT
If you haven’t already guessed, this book is set in a DARK ACADEMIA COLLEGE where science feels like magic and the science elements felt smart but Shantavia our FMC was smarter.
And that’s how I like it. Give me a smart FMC all day who is trying to get the job done and not get distracted by any boy and noise. Ohhh but does she get distracted????
The school sort of feels like Harry Potter meets Divergent but more luxurious & terrifying! More elite, more adult ish but still somewhere in between.
Is there spice ? Haaaa there’s not a straightforward answer for this as the question itself is a spoiler but it feels as though there is. Do with that what you will. I just know it was hot and one drawn out slow burn that gave me trust issues and the kissing scenes EXCUSE ME? What are thoseeeee?????
How did I not know I needed whatever that was in my life? How? I WANT MORE
I just want to be “part of that world!” I want to be part of The Commons World! Which brings me to my next point.
WORLD-BUILDING
This part was the simplest and yet most impressive part of reading this book, everything was organized and simple to understand. The school is divided into six zones and there are four types of Patrons. We don’t learn about other Patrons as much, but the earth Patrons— HOT HOT HOT WELLLL ONLY ONE — PESH and anotherrr maybeeeee IDK??
They’re all attractive they claim but they’re just so MEAN. But not Pesh tho, he’s our baby, enemies whattt? Well
He’s my baby now.
The 6 Zones in The Commons are:
* Cognitive - You want this!!! Plus PESH I REPEAT PESH Actually PATRON PESH.
* Oratory - A certain Patron here intrigues me PERSONALLY.
* Math & Science - the ____ hallway THE ____ HALLWAY. I repeat THE ____ HALLWAY was one of my favorite scenes of all time.
* Meaning - The plot twist of this test still gives me trust issues.
* Observation - I don’t remember. I get this and meaning mixed up anyways wasn’t my focus but I remember it was fun for sure
* Nature - The combat scene YESSSSSSS
The Commons is an EXTREMELY FAST PACED PLOT that will keep YOU OBSESSED. Before you know it, the book is over. And I wish I had slowed down like some people suggested. Because now what do I do HUHHHH???
The plot of this book is the main focus. The romance is secondary so if you’re looking for a romance book, this isn’t it. That being said:
THE ROMANCE
The slow burn Oooooffff
When Pesh gave her that ____ ____
My reaction:
TAKE IT HONEYYYYY
If you wondering why so many ____ I’m trying my best not to leave spoilers.
“You have my heart. Of course you owe me and I will forever be indebted to you, should you ever give it back.”
PESHHHHHHHHHH I WOULD NEVER DREAM OF GIVING IT BACK TAKE MY HEART NOWWW
OH I FORGOT, YOU ALREADY HAVE IT
THEN…. This author tried to play with me because what was that plot twist! After all that!
That plot twist! How dare you! I wanted to throw the book. One second it’s this, then it’s THAT!!!! Why!! NO WARNING!!!
This author and her plot twists!! Are you trying to kill me or WHATTTTTTT WAS THAT
ANYWAYS I GOT OVER IT.
❝ 300 years and a day remember me. 300 years and a day, come back to me.❞
EXCUSE ME THESE LINES WILL DESTROY ME
THEN THAT HAPPENED!!!!
PESH AND SHANTAVIA MY CUTIES
THEY ARE SO SWEET! These two are my everything.
Pesh’s LINES are WOW WOW WOW
I cannot understate how much his words will live on in my brain forever
Forever altered my brain chemistry
I think about these lines daily
HOW CAN I GET THIS BOY HE IS A DREAM
I would paste all of his lines if I could. Will be back to paste my favorite quotes.
THE FOUND FAMILY
Yeppeeeeee yessss they are barely all trying to survive so it’s go go go! I felt like I was the one trying to survive the entire time.
Anyways the ending. I’m gonna go cry now!!!
The book is so inspirational and meaningful and hopeful at the same time.
The ending had me feeling:
FINALLY TO ANY COMMONERS LISTENING OUT THERE: you NEED to go into The Commons as blind as possible.
I’m so serious.
don’t read too many summaries.
Please don’t look up spoilers.
don’t even trust reviews (including mine lowkey 😭 just go in)
I PROMISE it will enhance the experience TENFOLD. THREE HUNDRED FOLD YEEEPEEE
ALL you need to know is this:
- it will be faster than a cheetah, our FMC is trying to escape out of the crazy school so she doesn’t have time to even enjoy a meal, or stare at a HOT PATRON. Ahhhh but she does, point is, the clock is running and so will you be running around your room trying to figure out the next clue.
- you will be in shock after finishing this book
- you will think about it after finishing and be mind blown
- you will probably sit in silence for a few minutes processing your life
- this will be your new favorite book forever, at least it is mine, waiting for book 2 with all these tricks deep keeps playing on me is gonna be my greatest downfall, somebody hold me back and SEND HELP. SOS. My zone is Oratory if anyone cares and I wonder what book 2 will bring for my zone members. MAKE HASTE REBECCA. OK BYE. Oh thank you to the publisher and Rebecca for the ARC in exchange for my honest rambling.
May 23, 2026
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹────୨ৎ────
❝ Shantavia Lerogaski. There are no glitches in The Commons.❞
THE COMMONS⏾
(verb) to fall in love with the moon again and again at the speed of lightning.
OH I’m off to a great start here (so many puns)
˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚
if you’re not catching my sarcasm, don’t worry, you’ll love Tavia’s. let me give you a few quotes from her to warm us up and a few words to describe our baby girl.
❀ WORDS: ❀
* Sarcastic bad b***
* Curious (curiosity never killed the cat but it just might TAVIA)
* Suspicious of EVERYTHING (this girl is suspicious of even herself, her mind, her thoughts) are you catching my grift, this book is a BLOODY MIND GAME.
* SMARTEST HUMAN ON EARTH (INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY YES YES YES)
* Naively innocent like the most squashy stuffed animal (where can I get this pure innocence this girl has? )
* Courageous, resilient, kind, gentle, strong, brave, I could go on but let me try to write a review of my new comfort book.
mark my words/ this will be the next big dystopian series.
⤷ ˗ QUOTES⤷ 𓍢ִ໋❀❤︎
i haven’t been this excited to write a review in a hot second and i would suggest you don’t even read my review because this book is best read as a mystery however if you must read it ❤︎ let me warm you up, let me give you a quote to show you how elite this book is:
❝The deeds of the Common Wealth cannot be understood by the un-commonized mind. The coins of the Common Wealth must not fund an uncircumcised currency.❞
WHO DOES THIS BOOK THINK IT IS???
my new obsession. yes. absolutely. I’M SAT.
when you go into this world, you must be ready to leave who you were before, and become who it makes you. draw the line in the sand people.
oh here’s another one just when you think you might have a brain for this smarty pants book.
❝ I repeat this in my head utilizing the transitive law in geometry: (If A = C and C = B, then B = A. Then, for this Cognitive Test, Me = Commons and Commons = Levon, so Levon = Me).❞
UMMMM WHAT? so…. i’m gonna believe you right there Tavia. i actually am a stem girly adjacent so this book was so fun such a guilty pleasure eeeek but how did this girl come up with these stuff i have no clue she’s so smart i’m speechless
𓍢ִ໋❀❤︎╰┈➤ SONG ⁀➴ ♡▶︎• ၊၊||၊|။||||။|• 0:100000
ANYTHING BY HANS ZIMMER ON FULL BLAST OR THE NEW DUNE SOUND TRACK
⁀➴ ♡
❝If you go, I’m going. If you stay, I’m staying. I’d never leave you. Because I plan on knowing you for a very long time.❞
it was giving ⁀➴
wowww i read this with music on full blast i am in awe wow. this is my everything. The Commons has become my everything and in the writing style of this author, my end and my beginning, how much more can i scream.
how did i miss the experience of reading something so eye opening, something REVOLUTIONARY, something so beautiful and unapologetically raw and real, and layered and fun, how? something that made me giggle and be mortified and emotional and intellectually stimulated this much all simultaneously.
where did the time go? where has this book been my entire life?
apparently already written and i’m annoyed that it was written and only now thought it should be released.
this is hands down the most shocking and unpredictable book i have ever read.
THANK YOU REBECCA IHIM FOR BRINGING THIS MASTERPIECE INTO MY LIFE I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL!
IF YOU DO NOT READ IN THIS GENRE YOU MUST GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY.
IF YOU READ IN THIS GENRE YOU MUST GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY.
the book is actually a bit of everything, every genre.
THE COMMONS WORLD. WOW WHAT A WORLD.
this world was my favorite. i was so invested! i want to know how everything works and how everything came to be. the mystery is actually killing me because i need to be in the knowwww. i need to understand everything just like Shantavia, i want to know every secret.
WOWWWW WORLD BUILDING. the world of this book is the most ORIGINAL THING YOU WILL EVERR READ.
⁀➴ SLOWBURN meets FORBIDDEN LOVE meets GOD-TIER YEARNING meets NO NONSENSE ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE.
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
this isn’t some fake pretentious enemies story, this is some real life heart breaking scary story. they are not enemies of their own choosing but of simply a reality and they’re not bickering and fake fighting, this is a mystery, there is a serious problem.
▶︎ Pesh is a Patron in The Commons.
▶︎ The Commons is the enemy (scary stuff)
▶︎ The Commons has Shantavia’s sister, Levon (or so she strongly believes and is very afraid of)
▶︎ Shantavia has to pretend to be one of the elites in order to find her sister.
▶︎ She has to pretend like she’s always wanted to come to The Commons. She has to try to trick Pesh and the entire institution, smart girl I tell you. And yet she doesn’t even realize how powerful she is.
but Pesh is not her only enemy, in fact 99.9 percent of people surrounding Shantavia are her enemies. all the Patrons are her enemy. the school is her enemy. the world is her enemy. even her parents are sort of her enemy (I think maybe i’m reaching) even herself is her enemy. The entire institution is not to be trusted. If you’re catching my drift, THIS IS ONE HELL OF A BOOK. Shantavia effectively has no real friends at the start. minus a few old friends (cough cough)
in fact even the friendships seem to be enemies to friends like (cough cough, at least I think it will be, this is a theory of mine)
⁀➴
WOOOO SIDE CHARACTERS
THE MYSTERY OF ONE OR TWO OF THESE SIDE CHARACTERS HAUNTS ME.
I DO NOT KNOW WHO I CAN TRUST
PLEASE TELL ME WHO I CAN TRUST BEFORE I FALL IN LOVE.
DARN IT IM ALREADY IN LOVE WITH A FEW too many
some come in for a few chapters and I instantly know that they are on some rule the world kind aura ▶︎ like these kids in this school are actually those who will run the world and some already do. It’s so interesting! And INTRIGUING.
▶︎ THIS WILL BE THE MOST INTRIGUING UNPREDICTABLE BOOK YOU HAVE EVER READ BUCKLE UP MY FELLOW COMMONERS ⁀➴ ♡
OMG I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I CAN USE COMMONERS FOR EVERYTHING 🫶🏻
NEW PERSONALITY UNLOCKED 🔓
the found family that eventually happened was so satisfying and beautiful. and the mystery of these side characters leave me DESPERATE ⁀➴
IM ON THE FLOOR BEGGING YOU PLEASE
ROMEO ROMEO ♡
the slow burn and forbidden love is screaming ROMEO TAKE ME SOMEWHERE WE CAN BE ALONE.
because everything is being watched 24/7
it is INSANE
ACTUAL INSANE
these two lovebirds or cough cough enemies cannot get a minute alone
⁀➴ FAST PACED PLOT✦✦ 」
i don’t think you understand what i am saying when i say the plot is so fast there are no filler scenes, no filler thoughts, no breaks, no moment to chill and it drops you right into the world of The Commons so you feel EXACTLY what Shantavia is feeling.
THE ANGST, THE DESPERATION
TIME’S UP
NO ESCAPE
THE TENSION IS BURNING AND THIS GIRL SHANTAVIA, THIS GIRL IS ON FIREEEEE
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE 𓆩❤️🔥𓆪
THIS BOOK IS SO MORTIFYING
ACTION ACTION ACTION
THINK OF THE MOST SATISFYING ACTION MOVIE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN AND INSERT THAT HERE
YOU WILL BE GAGGED 🧯
ᯓ★ THE TESTS 🎯
this is not some high school level tests. these are not some basic things you’ve read before. these tests are all revolutionary. they are all so random and intelligent and unique. WOW JUST WOW. i do not have the wits to even summarize it for you. it is best experienced with no preparation. and wow did SHANTAVIA FACE THESE TESTS WITH HER FULL CHEST
THIS GIRL THREW HER LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYTHING SHE PUT ON THE LINE FOR HER SISTER OH MY LANTAA
SCI-FI: there was a bit of sci fi here. i’m sure some genius would appreciate it. i was there for the plot - PESH AND SHANTAVIA - thank you.
𓆩❤︎➤ SOME Favorite Quotes ᯓ★❤︎
I HAVE HUNDREDS OF HIGHLIGHTS (most i cannot share now. I’m pulling my hair out, this book’s release day cannot come any sooner)
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
here’s some more goodness from pesh being one hot jealous mmc
❝
“What do you have to be jealous of!”
“The common man for breathing the same air as you. The wind for flying past you. The common breeze for exhaling softly against your neck. The sun for shining on your iridescent body. Your common clothes for hugging every line of your divine silhouette. Your shoes for embracing your feet. Your common pen for touching your hands. Your skirt for touching your thighs. And… the universe for daring to think that you won’t be mine.”
“So nothing. Got it. Thanks for the concise explanation.”
❞
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
SHUT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP DID YOU HEAR THATTTTTTT
did you hear those words? When in your ENTIRE LIFE HAS A MAN SAID THIS TO YOU
WHEN HAVE YOU READ SUCH ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL LINES? AM I IN BRIDGERTON 4.0? AM I IN DIVERGENT? HUNGER GAMES? OR WHAT IS THIS, SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP!
this girl claims she’s not good at flirting but do you see the way she clocks this man.
also when she said - “Is he being sarcastic?”
I GIGGLED SHE’S LIKE WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS, MEANWHILE HE RUNS THE ENTIRE WORLD…
oh I love her !
____________
❝ I hope he is all my firsts. My firsts and all my lasts.❞
AHHHHH WHATTT DO YOU MEAN YOU HOPEEE???? THIS LINE SCARES ME FOR TOO MANY REASONS I HAVE TRUST ISSUES… REBECCA I NEED ANSWERS!!
____________
❝
“Capiche,”
“CaPESH!”
❞
AHHHH THE ITALIAN IN ME IS SCREAMING. SHUT UPPPP, WHY IS THIS BOOK ALTERING MY VOCABULARY
not to mention, it’s elevating my vocabularies but still altering it! I NEED TO CALM DOWN
i knew this review would be chaotic, but man are we off to a great start
____________
❝ Pesh’s hands have a mind of its own with an unquenchable hunger that cannot be appeased or satisfied. There are not many things I know in this life but this one thing I do know, Pesh’s hands will screw me if it’s the last thing it does before I leave this life. Its hunger is invigorating and demands to be worshiped. He is ripping through my body, my waist, my thighs—capturing every inch of my curves into his grip, capturing places above my clothes, jabbing his palms into places on my waist, places on my thighs that I didn’t even know I could feel sensations in, places on my back I didn’t even know exist. And his tongue is devouring mine in increasing hunger.❞
OH I NEED TO BREATHE WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE THESE KISSING SCENES???
i’m telling you the YEARNING in this book BEATS EVERY SMUT I HAVE EVER READ BECAUSE WHATTTTT?? I FEEL LIKE IM DROWNING, LIKE IM ABOUT TO DIE!
EVERY KISS SCENE NEEDS TO BE FRAMED IN MY BEDROOM SO MY BOYFRIEND CAN KNOW WHOSE THE DADD —
____________
❝ 300 years and a day remember me.❞
❝ 300 years and a day, come back to me.❞
I MEAN, I CRIED, I BAWLED
____________
❝
“Do you wanna < redacted > how to < redacted > , < redacted > ?”
❞
I ACTUAL SLAMMED THE BOOK. This boy is a tease. Tension is so HOTTTTT. I WISH I COULD SHARE. THIS IS MY FAVORITE QUOTE. Matter of fact everything is my favorite quote in this masterpiece of a book. IF YOU KNOW WHAT IM REFERRING TO PLEASE COMMENT, I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS BOOK.
in that same scene, this line by Shantavia made me scream:
❝
“Are we still talking about > redacted? <
❞
(that was so out of context but you should really stop reading this review and just go read this beautiful book, this book is best read without reading ANY reviews or summaries even, i realize it’s too late now so just turn back and come back later i am warning you)
anyways a few more of my unhinged thoughts for the stubborn:
THERES SO MANY OF PESH’S LINES THAT ARE SPOILERS! I WISH I COULD share BUT you’ll just have to read it for yourself.
and before I move on, here is my favorite line which I cannot share but here is the format:
“ [ THREE WORDS. ] ”
I WAS GAGGED
and in this scene another favorite line came before it:
❝
“I think you have it. You have my attention.”
❞
OOOOOO AND THEN IT BEGAN OOOO WHEN THE ENEMIES BECAME LOVERS IT WAS LIKE CRASH CRASH CRASH AND BURN FOR ME
PATRON PESH, HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME
i don’t want to give too much away so i can’t paste all my favorite quotes here but THIS SCENE IS SINGLEHANDEDLY MY EVERYTHING.
“I can go lower.” (AHHHHH WHAT WHATTT)
the love confessions i am holding myself back from pasting is enormous like so many, pesh is unbeatable
HIS WORDS - IM THROWING UP. BRAIN CHEMISTRY RE WIRED
CUE: MORE INSTRUMENTAL
all the nice things this boy did for her was so sweet and cute and caring, what a softie on the inside this boy is for her.
also the way this girl YEARNS for this boy. OOOFFFF BABY IT IS SO DESPERATE SO HOT OOFFF AND HE IS THE BIGGEST TEASE OF A MAN YOU HAVE EVER READ 𓆩❤️🔥𓆪🧯💣
❦ he will make you beg for it and more oh and it’s so worth it ❦
it makes you want to literally JUMP HIM and BEG FOR IT. JUST READ THE BOOK MAN!
I’m tired of speaking in riddles. i want to talk about this book without fear of spoilers. new dream unlocked.
🌶️ i can’t wait to see where their relationship goes 🌶️ wooo im just a girl :)
____________
THE POWERS THAT BE
❝The Commons creates those who will regulate society. But first, you students must learn how to be regulated. The Commons is the past, the present and the future.❞
the entire concept of “the powers that be” and the history of this school scared me and still haunts me. i need to relax for real. it’s like a modern Harry Potter 2.0 except i actually don’t know what it is.
listen to everything The Commons says but also LISTEN to everything The Commons says. thats my little theory that makes no sense to you. or anyone.
❝ The commodity of life must be preserved for the common good.❞
i was today’s years old stalking this author when i learnt that this book was written in 2019 and i guess it makes sense since that was when dystopian books were written with a focus on the plot and oppressive systems not just romance because this world was so in depth.
SHANTAVIA:
(more of this girl because I can’t stop gushing over her “brilliance”)
❝I cannot die. I must find my sister.❞
from the moment we meet this girl, she’s on a mission to save and find her sister, she’s focused and her sarcasm was one of my favorite parts of her narration.
what can i say FIND YOUR SIBLINGS HUG YOUR SIBLINGS and if you have a sister, it hits so much harder.
the relationship between Shantavia and her sister with all the flashbacks IM GONNA CRY
I CANT say much here about anything actually which SUCKS FOR ME. But I WANT TO THROW FISTSS. I WANT TO FIGHT. I WANT TO THROW UP. I WANT TO CRY.
Shantavia was also a lot of fun to follow, so much fun, ah how i love a cute funny fmc who is kind hearted and loving. this is what a strong feminine girl is, not the fake stubborn pretentious nonsense i’m tired of reading. she went from being a child not wanting to adult to Shakespeare in one minute and i was gagged.
❛I promised myself that whether I faced death or bondage, I would find my sister and that is exactly what I plan to do. And if this is the only way to make it to The Commons, take me to my death, Patron Pesh.❞
i mean my girl is impressive, so courageous and fierce and still so human and relatable.
also this girl is very smart and her banter with Pesh was chefs kiss. she is very quick with it. loved their confrontations and the “interrogation” HOT HOT HOT
i was just waiting to see what she’d say and she did so well.
❛ My eyes dart up. I have to survive. Screw power. I’m fighting for my sister. And that’s more than life and death to me.❜
i mean do you hear this girl? do you see what I’m seeing? have you found a girl on fire like this since the hunger games catching fire. this girl is my new katniss with heightened curiosity and emotions.
here’s another one of her narration and lines about Pesh <3
❛ In the silence, I feel like he is the moon in this dark place I am in. The moon speaks to me in silence, and I speak to him, and he does not blind me with his light. The feelings from my heart set my body aflame, drawing me to his intensity. I no longer realize when I stare or when I draw close. All I long to be is one with the moon and to see the moon cradle me. I am looking up into his glowing eyes as his body covers my view completely.❜
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀WOW ⠀⠀⣾⠉⢳⣰⠋⠙⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡀ ⡀⠘⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠙⠷⠋ WOW
⣰⠟⠉⠙⢦⡀⢀⣾⡟⠉⠳⣆
⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⡿
⠸⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⠃
⠙⢧⡀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⡴⠃⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠙⠶⣄⣀⠴⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀WOW
✦ Okay now here’s a random quote that i find funny for some reason said by a Patron in another one my favorite scenes in the book ˋ°•*⁀➷
❝Brown eyes just stepped into fire.❞
oh i love this scene. i sort of dislike this Patron who said this (SORT OF) but i love love this scene. i wish I could walk a certain hallway in real life. i wish this can happen to me in real life. i have dreams about this constantly. i have no one to relive this with.
♡♡ I AM JUST A GIRLLLLLLLL ♡♡
♡♡ LET ME GIGGLE AND DAYDREAM OF THIS SCENE ALL MY LIFE THANK U ♡♡ DND ✗
SEND ME PESH ✗♡✗♡
i am sad i actually can’t continue b/c i’ve reached the word limit ᝰ.ᐟ thank u rebecca ihim & deep for this MASTERPIECE IM GAGGED. GIVE ME THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹────୨ৎ────
previously: i believe i have found what i've been looking for all my life in the commons and may never stop screaming about my unadulterated borderline unhinged obsession since reading an arc of this. you better be ready for my review because i'm certainly not.
❝ Shantavia Lerogaski. There are no glitches in The Commons.❞
THE COMMONS⏾
(verb) to fall in love with the moon again and again at the speed of lightning.
OH I’m off to a great start here (so many puns)
˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚
if you’re not catching my sarcasm, don’t worry, you’ll love Tavia’s. let me give you a few quotes from her to warm us up and a few words to describe our baby girl.
❀ WORDS: ❀
* Sarcastic bad b***
* Curious (curiosity never killed the cat but it just might TAVIA)
* Suspicious of EVERYTHING (this girl is suspicious of even herself, her mind, her thoughts) are you catching my grift, this book is a BLOODY MIND GAME.
* SMARTEST HUMAN ON EARTH (INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY YES YES YES)
* Naively innocent like the most squashy stuffed animal (where can I get this pure innocence this girl has? )
* Courageous, resilient, kind, gentle, strong, brave, I could go on but let me try to write a review of my new comfort book.
mark my words/ this will be the next big dystopian series.
⤷ ˗ QUOTES⤷ 𓍢ִ໋❀❤︎
i haven’t been this excited to write a review in a hot second and i would suggest you don’t even read my review because this book is best read as a mystery however if you must read it ❤︎ let me warm you up, let me give you a quote to show you how elite this book is:
❝The deeds of the Common Wealth cannot be understood by the un-commonized mind. The coins of the Common Wealth must not fund an uncircumcised currency.❞
WHO DOES THIS BOOK THINK IT IS???
my new obsession. yes. absolutely. I’M SAT.
when you go into this world, you must be ready to leave who you were before, and become who it makes you. draw the line in the sand people.
oh here’s another one just when you think you might have a brain for this smarty pants book.
❝ I repeat this in my head utilizing the transitive law in geometry: (If A = C and C = B, then B = A. Then, for this Cognitive Test, Me = Commons and Commons = Levon, so Levon = Me).❞
UMMMM WHAT? so…. i’m gonna believe you right there Tavia. i actually am a stem girly adjacent so this book was so fun such a guilty pleasure eeeek but how did this girl come up with these stuff i have no clue she’s so smart i’m speechless
𓍢ִ໋❀❤︎╰┈➤ SONG ⁀➴ ♡▶︎• ၊၊||၊|။||||။|• 0:100000
ANYTHING BY HANS ZIMMER ON FULL BLAST OR THE NEW DUNE SOUND TRACK
⁀➴ ♡
❝If you go, I’m going. If you stay, I’m staying. I’d never leave you. Because I plan on knowing you for a very long time.❞
it was giving ⁀➴
wowww i read this with music on full blast i am in awe wow. this is my everything. The Commons has become my everything and in the writing style of this author, my end and my beginning, how much more can i scream.
how did i miss the experience of reading something so eye opening, something REVOLUTIONARY, something so beautiful and unapologetically raw and real, and layered and fun, how? something that made me giggle and be mortified and emotional and intellectually stimulated this much all simultaneously.
where did the time go? where has this book been my entire life?
apparently already written and i’m annoyed that it was written and only now thought it should be released.
this is hands down the most shocking and unpredictable book i have ever read.
THANK YOU REBECCA IHIM FOR BRINGING THIS MASTERPIECE INTO MY LIFE I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL!
IF YOU DO NOT READ IN THIS GENRE YOU MUST GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY.
IF YOU READ IN THIS GENRE YOU MUST GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY.
the book is actually a bit of everything, every genre.
THE COMMONS WORLD. WOW WHAT A WORLD.
this world was my favorite. i was so invested! i want to know how everything works and how everything came to be. the mystery is actually killing me because i need to be in the knowwww. i need to understand everything just like Shantavia, i want to know every secret.
WOWWWW WORLD BUILDING. the world of this book is the most ORIGINAL THING YOU WILL EVERR READ.
⁀➴ SLOWBURN meets FORBIDDEN LOVE meets GOD-TIER YEARNING meets NO NONSENSE ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE.
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
♡░P░E░S░H░♡
this isn’t some fake pretentious enemies story, this is some real life heart breaking scary story. they are not enemies of their own choosing but of simply a reality and they’re not bickering and fake fighting, this is a mystery, there is a serious problem.
▶︎ Pesh is a Patron in The Commons.
▶︎ The Commons is the enemy (scary stuff)
▶︎ The Commons has Shantavia’s sister, Levon (or so she strongly believes and is very afraid of)
▶︎ Shantavia has to pretend to be one of the elites in order to find her sister.
▶︎ She has to pretend like she’s always wanted to come to The Commons. She has to try to trick Pesh and the entire institution, smart girl I tell you. And yet she doesn’t even realize how powerful she is.
but Pesh is not her only enemy, in fact 99.9 percent of people surrounding Shantavia are her enemies. all the Patrons are her enemy. the school is her enemy. the world is her enemy. even her parents are sort of her enemy (I think maybe i’m reaching) even herself is her enemy. The entire institution is not to be trusted. If you’re catching my drift, THIS IS ONE HELL OF A BOOK. Shantavia effectively has no real friends at the start. minus a few old friends (cough cough)
in fact even the friendships seem to be enemies to friends like (cough cough, at least I think it will be, this is a theory of mine)
⁀➴
WOOOO SIDE CHARACTERS
THE MYSTERY OF ONE OR TWO OF THESE SIDE CHARACTERS HAUNTS ME.
I DO NOT KNOW WHO I CAN TRUST
PLEASE TELL ME WHO I CAN TRUST BEFORE I FALL IN LOVE.
DARN IT IM ALREADY IN LOVE WITH A FEW too many
some come in for a few chapters and I instantly know that they are on some rule the world kind aura ▶︎ like these kids in this school are actually those who will run the world and some already do. It’s so interesting! And INTRIGUING.
▶︎ THIS WILL BE THE MOST INTRIGUING UNPREDICTABLE BOOK YOU HAVE EVER READ BUCKLE UP MY FELLOW COMMONERS ⁀➴ ♡
OMG I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I CAN USE COMMONERS FOR EVERYTHING 🫶🏻
NEW PERSONALITY UNLOCKED 🔓
the found family that eventually happened was so satisfying and beautiful. and the mystery of these side characters leave me DESPERATE ⁀➴
IM ON THE FLOOR BEGGING YOU PLEASE
ROMEO ROMEO ♡
the slow burn and forbidden love is screaming ROMEO TAKE ME SOMEWHERE WE CAN BE ALONE.
because everything is being watched 24/7
it is INSANE
ACTUAL INSANE
these two lovebirds or cough cough enemies cannot get a minute alone
⁀➴ FAST PACED PLOT✦✦ 」
i don’t think you understand what i am saying when i say the plot is so fast there are no filler scenes, no filler thoughts, no breaks, no moment to chill and it drops you right into the world of The Commons so you feel EXACTLY what Shantavia is feeling.
THE ANGST, THE DESPERATION
TIME’S UP
NO ESCAPE
THE TENSION IS BURNING AND THIS GIRL SHANTAVIA, THIS GIRL IS ON FIREEEEE
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE 𓆩❤️🔥𓆪
THIS BOOK IS SO MORTIFYING
ACTION ACTION ACTION
THINK OF THE MOST SATISFYING ACTION MOVIE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN AND INSERT THAT HERE
YOU WILL BE GAGGED 🧯
ᯓ★ THE TESTS 🎯
this is not some high school level tests. these are not some basic things you’ve read before. these tests are all revolutionary. they are all so random and intelligent and unique. WOW JUST WOW. i do not have the wits to even summarize it for you. it is best experienced with no preparation. and wow did SHANTAVIA FACE THESE TESTS WITH HER FULL CHEST
THIS GIRL THREW HER LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYTHING SHE PUT ON THE LINE FOR HER SISTER OH MY LANTAA
SCI-FI: there was a bit of sci fi here. i’m sure some genius would appreciate it. i was there for the plot - PESH AND SHANTAVIA - thank you.
𓆩❤︎➤ SOME Favorite Quotes ᯓ★❤︎
I HAVE HUNDREDS OF HIGHLIGHTS (most i cannot share now. I’m pulling my hair out, this book’s release day cannot come any sooner)
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
here’s some more goodness from pesh being one hot jealous mmc
❝
“What do you have to be jealous of!”
“The common man for breathing the same air as you. The wind for flying past you. The common breeze for exhaling softly against your neck. The sun for shining on your iridescent body. Your common clothes for hugging every line of your divine silhouette. Your shoes for embracing your feet. Your common pen for touching your hands. Your skirt for touching your thighs. And… the universe for daring to think that you won’t be mine.”
“So nothing. Got it. Thanks for the concise explanation.”
❞
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
SHUT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP DID YOU HEAR THATTTTTTT
did you hear those words? When in your ENTIRE LIFE HAS A MAN SAID THIS TO YOU
WHEN HAVE YOU READ SUCH ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL LINES? AM I IN BRIDGERTON 4.0? AM I IN DIVERGENT? HUNGER GAMES? OR WHAT IS THIS, SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP!
this girl claims she’s not good at flirting but do you see the way she clocks this man.
also when she said - “Is he being sarcastic?”
I GIGGLED SHE’S LIKE WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS, MEANWHILE HE RUNS THE ENTIRE WORLD…
oh I love her !
____________
❝ I hope he is all my firsts. My firsts and all my lasts.❞
AHHHHH WHATTT DO YOU MEAN YOU HOPEEE???? THIS LINE SCARES ME FOR TOO MANY REASONS I HAVE TRUST ISSUES… REBECCA I NEED ANSWERS!!
____________
❝
“Capiche,”
“CaPESH!”
❞
AHHHH THE ITALIAN IN ME IS SCREAMING. SHUT UPPPP, WHY IS THIS BOOK ALTERING MY VOCABULARY
not to mention, it’s elevating my vocabularies but still altering it! I NEED TO CALM DOWN
i knew this review would be chaotic, but man are we off to a great start
____________
❝ Pesh’s hands have a mind of its own with an unquenchable hunger that cannot be appeased or satisfied. There are not many things I know in this life but this one thing I do know, Pesh’s hands will screw me if it’s the last thing it does before I leave this life. Its hunger is invigorating and demands to be worshiped. He is ripping through my body, my waist, my thighs—capturing every inch of my curves into his grip, capturing places above my clothes, jabbing his palms into places on my waist, places on my thighs that I didn’t even know I could feel sensations in, places on my back I didn’t even know exist. And his tongue is devouring mine in increasing hunger.❞
OH I NEED TO BREATHE WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE THESE KISSING SCENES???
i’m telling you the YEARNING in this book BEATS EVERY SMUT I HAVE EVER READ BECAUSE WHATTTTT?? I FEEL LIKE IM DROWNING, LIKE IM ABOUT TO DIE!
EVERY KISS SCENE NEEDS TO BE FRAMED IN MY BEDROOM SO MY BOYFRIEND CAN KNOW WHOSE THE DADD —
____________
❝ 300 years and a day remember me.❞
❝ 300 years and a day, come back to me.❞
I MEAN, I CRIED, I BAWLED
____________
❝
“Do you wanna < redacted > how to < redacted > , < redacted > ?”
❞
I ACTUAL SLAMMED THE BOOK. This boy is a tease. Tension is so HOTTTTT. I WISH I COULD SHARE. THIS IS MY FAVORITE QUOTE. Matter of fact everything is my favorite quote in this masterpiece of a book. IF YOU KNOW WHAT IM REFERRING TO PLEASE COMMENT, I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS BOOK.
in that same scene, this line by Shantavia made me scream:
❝
“Are we still talking about > redacted? <
❞
(that was so out of context but you should really stop reading this review and just go read this beautiful book, this book is best read without reading ANY reviews or summaries even, i realize it’s too late now so just turn back and come back later i am warning you)
anyways a few more of my unhinged thoughts for the stubborn:
THERES SO MANY OF PESH’S LINES THAT ARE SPOILERS! I WISH I COULD share BUT you’ll just have to read it for yourself.
and before I move on, here is my favorite line which I cannot share but here is the format:
“ [ THREE WORDS. ] ”
I WAS GAGGED
and in this scene another favorite line came before it:
❝
“I think you have it. You have my attention.”
❞
OOOOOO AND THEN IT BEGAN OOOO WHEN THE ENEMIES BECAME LOVERS IT WAS LIKE CRASH CRASH CRASH AND BURN FOR ME
PATRON PESH, HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME
i don’t want to give too much away so i can’t paste all my favorite quotes here but THIS SCENE IS SINGLEHANDEDLY MY EVERYTHING.
“I can go lower.” (AHHHHH WHAT WHATTT)
the love confessions i am holding myself back from pasting is enormous like so many, pesh is unbeatable
HIS WORDS - IM THROWING UP. BRAIN CHEMISTRY RE WIRED
CUE: MORE INSTRUMENTAL
all the nice things this boy did for her was so sweet and cute and caring, what a softie on the inside this boy is for her.
also the way this girl YEARNS for this boy. OOOFFFF BABY IT IS SO DESPERATE SO HOT OOFFF AND HE IS THE BIGGEST TEASE OF A MAN YOU HAVE EVER READ 𓆩❤️🔥𓆪🧯💣
❦ he will make you beg for it and more oh and it’s so worth it ❦
it makes you want to literally JUMP HIM and BEG FOR IT. JUST READ THE BOOK MAN!
I’m tired of speaking in riddles. i want to talk about this book without fear of spoilers. new dream unlocked.
🌶️ i can’t wait to see where their relationship goes 🌶️ wooo im just a girl :)
____________
THE POWERS THAT BE
❝The Commons creates those who will regulate society. But first, you students must learn how to be regulated. The Commons is the past, the present and the future.❞
the entire concept of “the powers that be” and the history of this school scared me and still haunts me. i need to relax for real. it’s like a modern Harry Potter 2.0 except i actually don’t know what it is.
listen to everything The Commons says but also LISTEN to everything The Commons says. thats my little theory that makes no sense to you. or anyone.
❝ The commodity of life must be preserved for the common good.❞
i was today’s years old stalking this author when i learnt that this book was written in 2019 and i guess it makes sense since that was when dystopian books were written with a focus on the plot and oppressive systems not just romance because this world was so in depth.
SHANTAVIA:
(more of this girl because I can’t stop gushing over her “brilliance”)
❝I cannot die. I must find my sister.❞
from the moment we meet this girl, she’s on a mission to save and find her sister, she’s focused and her sarcasm was one of my favorite parts of her narration.
what can i say FIND YOUR SIBLINGS HUG YOUR SIBLINGS and if you have a sister, it hits so much harder.
the relationship between Shantavia and her sister with all the flashbacks IM GONNA CRY
I CANT say much here about anything actually which SUCKS FOR ME. But I WANT TO THROW FISTSS. I WANT TO FIGHT. I WANT TO THROW UP. I WANT TO CRY.
Shantavia was also a lot of fun to follow, so much fun, ah how i love a cute funny fmc who is kind hearted and loving. this is what a strong feminine girl is, not the fake stubborn pretentious nonsense i’m tired of reading. she went from being a child not wanting to adult to Shakespeare in one minute and i was gagged.
❛I promised myself that whether I faced death or bondage, I would find my sister and that is exactly what I plan to do. And if this is the only way to make it to The Commons, take me to my death, Patron Pesh.❞
i mean my girl is impressive, so courageous and fierce and still so human and relatable.
also this girl is very smart and her banter with Pesh was chefs kiss. she is very quick with it. loved their confrontations and the “interrogation” HOT HOT HOT
i was just waiting to see what she’d say and she did so well.
❛ My eyes dart up. I have to survive. Screw power. I’m fighting for my sister. And that’s more than life and death to me.❜
i mean do you hear this girl? do you see what I’m seeing? have you found a girl on fire like this since the hunger games catching fire. this girl is my new katniss with heightened curiosity and emotions.
here’s another one of her narration and lines about Pesh <3
❛ In the silence, I feel like he is the moon in this dark place I am in. The moon speaks to me in silence, and I speak to him, and he does not blind me with his light. The feelings from my heart set my body aflame, drawing me to his intensity. I no longer realize when I stare or when I draw close. All I long to be is one with the moon and to see the moon cradle me. I am looking up into his glowing eyes as his body covers my view completely.❜
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀WOW ⠀⠀⣾⠉⢳⣰⠋⠙⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡀ ⡀⠘⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠙⠷⠋ WOW
⣰⠟⠉⠙⢦⡀⢀⣾⡟⠉⠳⣆
⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⡿
⠸⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⠃
⠙⢧⡀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⡴⠃⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠙⠶⣄⣀⠴⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀WOW
✦ Okay now here’s a random quote that i find funny for some reason said by a Patron in another one my favorite scenes in the book ˋ°•*⁀➷
❝Brown eyes just stepped into fire.❞
oh i love this scene. i sort of dislike this Patron who said this (SORT OF) but i love love this scene. i wish I could walk a certain hallway in real life. i wish this can happen to me in real life. i have dreams about this constantly. i have no one to relive this with.
♡♡ I AM JUST A GIRLLLLLLLL ♡♡
♡♡ LET ME GIGGLE AND DAYDREAM OF THIS SCENE ALL MY LIFE THANK U ♡♡ DND ✗
SEND ME PESH ✗♡✗♡
i am sad i actually can’t continue b/c i’ve reached the word limit ᝰ.ᐟ thank u rebecca ihim & deep for this MASTERPIECE IM GAGGED. GIVE ME THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹────୨ৎ────
previously: i believe i have found what i've been looking for all my life in the commons and may never stop screaming about my unadulterated borderline unhinged obsession since reading an arc of this. you better be ready for my review because i'm certainly not.
April 19, 2026
To say that I am obsessed with The Commons would be a massive understatement! This book is absolutely perfect and has left me completely shook.
The story follows our main character, Shantavia, who decides to apply to an elite college called The Commons. Her older sister attended the year before, but suddenly, all communication has been cut off. The school claims her sister is simply on a study abroad program, but Shantavia doesn't believe them. She alters her entire life's course to attend the school and uncover what really happened to her sister.
Once she arrives and the in-person testing process begins, we start to realize something very strange is going on. Shantavia is passing tests in ways she probably shouldn't and getting noticed by people she definitely shouldn't!
What I Loved:
- The central rule of The Commons is a brilliant, mind-bending paradox. To survive, you have to be absolutely perfect, but you also have to be common. You need to be average, yet somehow perform above average to blend in perfectly with everyone around you. If your brain is hurting just reading that, welcome to The Commons!
- The cast is incredibly intriguing! There is a character introduced a bit later on who quickly became an absolute favorite of mine because they are so incredibly authentic, themselves, and lovable. I also can't wait to learn more about the characters we meet at the very beginning as the series continues.
- The world-building in this book is beautiful. I have so many questions and I just need to know more about how this world works! Plus, the pure yearning in this book? Top tier.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
I loved every single second of this book. I desperately need to know when Book 2 is coming out because I am dying to know what happens next.
The story follows our main character, Shantavia, who decides to apply to an elite college called The Commons. Her older sister attended the year before, but suddenly, all communication has been cut off. The school claims her sister is simply on a study abroad program, but Shantavia doesn't believe them. She alters her entire life's course to attend the school and uncover what really happened to her sister.
Once she arrives and the in-person testing process begins, we start to realize something very strange is going on. Shantavia is passing tests in ways she probably shouldn't and getting noticed by people she definitely shouldn't!
What I Loved:
- The central rule of The Commons is a brilliant, mind-bending paradox. To survive, you have to be absolutely perfect, but you also have to be common. You need to be average, yet somehow perform above average to blend in perfectly with everyone around you. If your brain is hurting just reading that, welcome to The Commons!
- The cast is incredibly intriguing! There is a character introduced a bit later on who quickly became an absolute favorite of mine because they are so incredibly authentic, themselves, and lovable. I also can't wait to learn more about the characters we meet at the very beginning as the series continues.
- The world-building in this book is beautiful. I have so many questions and I just need to know more about how this world works! Plus, the pure yearning in this book? Top tier.
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
I loved every single second of this book. I desperately need to know when Book 2 is coming out because I am dying to know what happens next.
May 27, 2026
“Don’t miss me. Okay!” (REDACTED) commands.
“Okay, whatever you say.” I hold my tears back.’
(-̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥᷄_-̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥᷅ )
NOOOOOO DONT TELL ME THATTTTT! I MISS YOU BEFORE I EVER EVEN MET YOU, IM CRYING THIS WAS MY HARDEST GOODBYE TO A BOOK IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Such a beautiful story of love and sacrifice and grief and fighting for a better future. At the heart of this story is this sister relationship. The flashbacks broke my heart and made my stomach boil as the feeling of dread just kept getting worse with each page.
I CANNOT HOLD MY TEARS BACKKKKKK THIS BOOK HAS RUINED ME.
”Make new friends okay?”
NO NO NO DO NOT TELL ME TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS NOOOOOO I WILL NOT. I WANT NO OTHER BOOK BUT THE COMMONS I WAS SO EMOTIONAL READING THIS BOOK.
”Deal.”
”Deal.”
(｡•́︿•̀｡)
“As your big sister, I’ve taught you to be brave and strong. And to never give up, not even in my absence, so don’t disappoint me.”
I’m crying, don’t talk to me.
(--_--)
You know that first feeling of leaving home of not having anyone, this book reminds you of that universal feeling and your heart doesn’t want to go on. It reminds you of being a child again. But like a child in an elevated world.
Everyday I see this book in my dreams since reading. I am so in love with these characters. Oh how I love them!
→ WORLD-BUILDING 〙〙〙
I am still in shock ╰། ◉ ◯ ◉ །╯
The world building is WOW, in fact it is so wow (∵) I do not even feel worthy to break it down. It is so clear and in depth and detailed. You simply have to experience it for yourself but it is so immersive. When they said a whole new world, they were not playing. This isn’t just a dystopian book, there’s a lot of world building and fantasy like elements that make it robust.
I am just so happy that I get to experience this world. It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I honestly feel chosen and lucky.
(๑*◡*๑)٩(❛ัᴗ❛ั⁎)ೄ
THE COMMONS WORLD
This book is set in a DYSTOPIAN SCHOOL***
It is NOT set in a dystopian ***world*** (at least that has not been revealed and in fact for me to tell you if it is a dystopian world or not would be a spoiler and there seems to be a lot of mystery going on here that I am dying to know)
If ever you think you can clock this book or predict it, it will clock you and throw you for a loop.
→ ROMANCE
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · PATRON PESH ─ ·ʚɞ·
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BOW HERE.
GO AHEAD BOWWWWW BABIES.
WELCOME TO THIS STAR OF THE STORY. Or should I say, moon.
(。ˇ ⊖ˇ）
(Because I need to talk about him 😭 I’m so obsessed)
It’s no news by now that the MMC’s lines are dreamy AF, that’s when he actually decides to speak. Because most of the time he’s being a mysterious Patron and we are told that he doesn’t even like “speaking to humans”. And yet to Tavia, he says a whole lot (when he wants to)
Here are some of his masterpiece of a line Ⴀ͡კႠ͡
“ The way the panels of fabric fold on others is simply design, but on you, it is simply divine. It is a reflection of the way every breath in me folds at the sight of you. ”
What is this boy on. Like what are these words.
The lines in this book are both so original and random and new and lyrical and almost like a fantasy dialect that is both so modern and chill but with a romantic old money yearning type situation-ship. This will make sense when you read it.
PESH
When this boy is not yearning or being ultra mysterious, he also just says casual things that are hilarious like…
“I’m bored. Your impression on me has expired.”
( · ❛ ֊ ❛)
He’s… bored what the - this was my girls exact reaction.
( · ❛ ֊ ❛)
Pesh, calm down I know you’re hot, I know you rule the world and you got billions (SCREAM) and your aura and intelligence is unbeatable, but please have mercy on us poor people, my poor Tavia, this man is just so HOT AND MYSTERIOUS and hilarious like what do you mean you’re bored was I not interesting enough or what the 😭
PESH is as the book says often “INTOXICATING”
The romance is very intoxicating!!
The vocabulary in this book is BEAUTIFUL. JAW DROPPING. MAJESTIC, SO MAJESTIC I WANT TO BOW AHHH I HAD TO MAKE THAT INSIDE JOKES FOR MY COMMONERS. AHHHHHHH TAKE ME TO THIS WORLD.
I don’t even know what you call this or if it ever existed but BRING BACK THIS KIND OF WRITING PLEASE, what a breath of fresh air. This book was so lovable and original. Not like anything I’ve read before. And yet so chill at the same time. I can’t explain the feeling of being a child at play when horror strikes. It was just fun and I really never knew what to expect both in the writing and in the story. What a fun adventure.
˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵
THIS BOY. THIS MAN. THIS PATRON.
THIS MAN IS MAJESTIC.
Actually, he is the GREATEST. PATRON. TO. HAVE. EVER. LIVED. (at this prime age of 22)
From the moment he comes in with HIS GOLDEN EYES and HIS SHADOWED HAIR (I still am in awe low key, wondering what he even looks like, this man looks ethereal to say the least, no art will ever do this man justice ever) and the way he is described when he came in, with “constellations” and all sorts of impressive language, I felt the air leave my lungs visibly. I felt the wind blow against my hair and my room light up with “THUNDER” AHHHHH (nothing everything’s fine, just ignore that)
THE FAMOUS PATRON PESH.
He is so wealthy and hot and cool and “ripped AF” and HIS MOUTH, THIS MAN’S BEAUTIFUL LINES ARE SO DREAMY (I’ve said it so many times but it’s because I am so shook and in love)
And he’s not just hot, he’s such a kind soul, and we didn’t find this out for a while and the end shocked me.
The vocabulary in this book is also INTOXICATING as I previously said, cant get over it, can’t get enough.
As someone who wants something with substance that I can obsess over this was MY SHAYLA
Pesh’s story, wow. That’s all. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
My heart. I’m crying. I’m so done with this book. Shantavia’s description of it, wow, so beautiful, so flowery, so emotional, so poetic. Wow. What a heart breaking story.
The tension in this book with Pesh and Shantavia is so hot I feel my body internally burning reading it. I feel so tense clutching my sheets, on edge the whole book, my heart was pounding. It’s so very stressful and fun.
Ah I love reading. And this book reminded me why I love reading.
I AM OBSESSED PEOPLE (๑>◡<๑)
READ THIS BOOK.
Please read this masterpiece and judge for yourself if you don’t have a good time.
I had such a good time.
→ REDACTED CHARACTER:
YES SOMEONE WHO KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT’S NAME IS REDACTED ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO OF THEM YES TWO but mainly one.
THIS SERIES ABOUT TO BE SOOO GOOOODDD!!!
→[ REDACTED ] :
Okay I must talk about a certain situation because HUH WHAT IS THIS REDACTED? WHAT COULD REDACTED BE? IS REDACTED IMPORTANT? SHOULD I HATE REDACTED OR SHOULD I ????
WHAT DOES REDACTED THINK REDACTED IS?
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE FUTURE OF REDACTED WITH REDACTED? (¬_¬")
WHY IS SOMETHING SO REDACTED GIVING ME TRUST ISSUES ?? BOOK 2 HAS TO COME YESTERDAY BECAUSE I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE ANSWERS AFTER THAT REDACTED ENDING
→ CRIMINAL ෴ my brain is “confuzzled” oh new word I learned form reading this book and i will be using this everywhere confuzzled confuzzled confuzzled so much fun lol ෴ ෴
“Google says:
Word Type: It is a portmanteau (a new word formed by combining two existing words and their meanings)”
(๑>◡<๑)
I feel so smart & stupid at the same time hehe
I actually had a lot of fun googling some of the words in this book, they are so unique and fun, some are like big words and others are like actual colloquial words I had no clue existed. I had to get my research in so I can keep up with book 2 & future books because I am a fan Rebecca okay (✿ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)⁾⁾
“For the love of the commoners.”
◕︵◕
“For the love of the commoners.”
(︶︹︺)
Throwing up. Goodnight.
THIS IS LIFE, JUST GO READ IT.
ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♡ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ
Finally, read this book if you enjoy:
✔️ Living
✔️ Reading
✔️ Not reading
If you’re a human read this or at least give it a try, finally, again, read this also if you enjoy:
✔️ yearning and more yearning
✔️ action and adventure
✔️ hunger games or uglies
✔️ maze runner or hp on steroids
✔️ if you like the unexpected or enjoy plot twists
✔️ dark academia (elite dystopian college)
✔️ anything stem related or high stakes
✔️ epic fantasy and elevated writing & banter
✔️ intelligent banter and brainy conversations
✔️ dystopian or elite school
✔️ math, science, english or any school subject
✔️ epic intricate world building (EPIC LOVED IT)
✔️ mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, fantasy
✔️ science fiction books and technology (a lot)
✔️ divergent or fourth wing (maybe)
✔️ If you like academia and school in real life
✔️ enemies and lovers or enemies to lovers
✔️ slow burn and also ya “feeling”
✔️ really intimate kissing scenes
✔️ specific words like “moon” or “golden”
✔️ burning tension and fun (っᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈ ς)
My recommendation is add this book to your TBR asap, it’s a lot of unexpected fun, and now your girl gotta go SCREAM.
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ · ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·
2026 Update: I was so lucky to receive an ARC!
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ · ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·
December 15, 2025
Already pre-ordered!!! CAN'T WAIT TO READ!!!
“Okay, whatever you say.” I hold my tears back.’
(-̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥᷄_-̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥᷅ )
NOOOOOO DONT TELL ME THATTTTT! I MISS YOU BEFORE I EVER EVEN MET YOU, IM CRYING THIS WAS MY HARDEST GOODBYE TO A BOOK IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Such a beautiful story of love and sacrifice and grief and fighting for a better future. At the heart of this story is this sister relationship. The flashbacks broke my heart and made my stomach boil as the feeling of dread just kept getting worse with each page.
I CANNOT HOLD MY TEARS BACKKKKKK THIS BOOK HAS RUINED ME.
”Make new friends okay?”
NO NO NO DO NOT TELL ME TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS NOOOOOO I WILL NOT. I WANT NO OTHER BOOK BUT THE COMMONS I WAS SO EMOTIONAL READING THIS BOOK.
”Deal.”
”Deal.”
(｡•́︿•̀｡)
“As your big sister, I’ve taught you to be brave and strong. And to never give up, not even in my absence, so don’t disappoint me.”
I’m crying, don’t talk to me.
(--_--)
You know that first feeling of leaving home of not having anyone, this book reminds you of that universal feeling and your heart doesn’t want to go on. It reminds you of being a child again. But like a child in an elevated world.
Everyday I see this book in my dreams since reading. I am so in love with these characters. Oh how I love them!
→ WORLD-BUILDING 〙〙〙
I am still in shock ╰། ◉ ◯ ◉ །╯
The world building is WOW, in fact it is so wow (∵) I do not even feel worthy to break it down. It is so clear and in depth and detailed. You simply have to experience it for yourself but it is so immersive. When they said a whole new world, they were not playing. This isn’t just a dystopian book, there’s a lot of world building and fantasy like elements that make it robust.
I am just so happy that I get to experience this world. It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I honestly feel chosen and lucky.
(๑*◡*๑)٩(❛ัᴗ❛ั⁎)ೄ
THE COMMONS WORLD
This book is set in a DYSTOPIAN SCHOOL***
It is NOT set in a dystopian ***world*** (at least that has not been revealed and in fact for me to tell you if it is a dystopian world or not would be a spoiler and there seems to be a lot of mystery going on here that I am dying to know)
If ever you think you can clock this book or predict it, it will clock you and throw you for a loop.
→ ROMANCE
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · PATRON PESH ─ ·ʚɞ·
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BOW HERE.
GO AHEAD BOWWWWW BABIES.
WELCOME TO THIS STAR OF THE STORY. Or should I say, moon.
(。ˇ ⊖ˇ）
(Because I need to talk about him 😭 I’m so obsessed)
It’s no news by now that the MMC’s lines are dreamy AF, that’s when he actually decides to speak. Because most of the time he’s being a mysterious Patron and we are told that he doesn’t even like “speaking to humans”. And yet to Tavia, he says a whole lot (when he wants to)
Here are some of his masterpiece of a line Ⴀ͡კႠ͡
“ The way the panels of fabric fold on others is simply design, but on you, it is simply divine. It is a reflection of the way every breath in me folds at the sight of you. ”
What is this boy on. Like what are these words.
The lines in this book are both so original and random and new and lyrical and almost like a fantasy dialect that is both so modern and chill but with a romantic old money yearning type situation-ship. This will make sense when you read it.
PESH
When this boy is not yearning or being ultra mysterious, he also just says casual things that are hilarious like…
“I’m bored. Your impression on me has expired.”
( · ❛ ֊ ❛)
He’s… bored what the - this was my girls exact reaction.
( · ❛ ֊ ❛)
Pesh, calm down I know you’re hot, I know you rule the world and you got billions (SCREAM) and your aura and intelligence is unbeatable, but please have mercy on us poor people, my poor Tavia, this man is just so HOT AND MYSTERIOUS and hilarious like what do you mean you’re bored was I not interesting enough or what the 😭
PESH is as the book says often “INTOXICATING”
The romance is very intoxicating!!
The vocabulary in this book is BEAUTIFUL. JAW DROPPING. MAJESTIC, SO MAJESTIC I WANT TO BOW AHHH I HAD TO MAKE THAT INSIDE JOKES FOR MY COMMONERS. AHHHHHHH TAKE ME TO THIS WORLD.
I don’t even know what you call this or if it ever existed but BRING BACK THIS KIND OF WRITING PLEASE, what a breath of fresh air. This book was so lovable and original. Not like anything I’ve read before. And yet so chill at the same time. I can’t explain the feeling of being a child at play when horror strikes. It was just fun and I really never knew what to expect both in the writing and in the story. What a fun adventure.
˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵
THIS BOY. THIS MAN. THIS PATRON.
THIS MAN IS MAJESTIC.
Actually, he is the GREATEST. PATRON. TO. HAVE. EVER. LIVED. (at this prime age of 22)
From the moment he comes in with HIS GOLDEN EYES and HIS SHADOWED HAIR (I still am in awe low key, wondering what he even looks like, this man looks ethereal to say the least, no art will ever do this man justice ever) and the way he is described when he came in, with “constellations” and all sorts of impressive language, I felt the air leave my lungs visibly. I felt the wind blow against my hair and my room light up with “THUNDER” AHHHHH (nothing everything’s fine, just ignore that)
THE FAMOUS PATRON PESH.
He is so wealthy and hot and cool and “ripped AF” and HIS MOUTH, THIS MAN’S BEAUTIFUL LINES ARE SO DREAMY (I’ve said it so many times but it’s because I am so shook and in love)
And he’s not just hot, he’s such a kind soul, and we didn’t find this out for a while and the end shocked me.
The vocabulary in this book is also INTOXICATING as I previously said, cant get over it, can’t get enough.
As someone who wants something with substance that I can obsess over this was MY SHAYLA
Pesh’s story, wow. That’s all. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
My heart. I’m crying. I’m so done with this book. Shantavia’s description of it, wow, so beautiful, so flowery, so emotional, so poetic. Wow. What a heart breaking story.
The tension in this book with Pesh and Shantavia is so hot I feel my body internally burning reading it. I feel so tense clutching my sheets, on edge the whole book, my heart was pounding. It’s so very stressful and fun.
Ah I love reading. And this book reminded me why I love reading.
I AM OBSESSED PEOPLE (๑>◡<๑)
READ THIS BOOK.
Please read this masterpiece and judge for yourself if you don’t have a good time.
I had such a good time.
→ REDACTED CHARACTER:
YES SOMEONE WHO KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT’S NAME IS REDACTED ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO OF THEM YES TWO but mainly one.
THIS SERIES ABOUT TO BE SOOO GOOOODDD!!!
→[ REDACTED ] :
Okay I must talk about a certain situation because HUH WHAT IS THIS REDACTED? WHAT COULD REDACTED BE? IS REDACTED IMPORTANT? SHOULD I HATE REDACTED OR SHOULD I ????
WHAT DOES REDACTED THINK REDACTED IS?
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE FUTURE OF REDACTED WITH REDACTED? (¬_¬")
WHY IS SOMETHING SO REDACTED GIVING ME TRUST ISSUES ?? BOOK 2 HAS TO COME YESTERDAY BECAUSE I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE ANSWERS AFTER THAT REDACTED ENDING
→ CRIMINAL ෴ my brain is “confuzzled” oh new word I learned form reading this book and i will be using this everywhere confuzzled confuzzled confuzzled so much fun lol ෴ ෴
“Google says:
Word Type: It is a portmanteau (a new word formed by combining two existing words and their meanings)”
(๑>◡<๑)
I feel so smart & stupid at the same time hehe
I actually had a lot of fun googling some of the words in this book, they are so unique and fun, some are like big words and others are like actual colloquial words I had no clue existed. I had to get my research in so I can keep up with book 2 & future books because I am a fan Rebecca okay (✿ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)⁾⁾
“For the love of the commoners.”
◕︵◕
“For the love of the commoners.”
(︶︹︺)
Throwing up. Goodnight.
THIS IS LIFE, JUST GO READ IT.
ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ♡ƪ(ˆ◡ˆ)ʃ
Finally, read this book if you enjoy:
✔️ Living
✔️ Reading
✔️ Not reading
If you’re a human read this or at least give it a try, finally, again, read this also if you enjoy:
✔️ yearning and more yearning
✔️ action and adventure
✔️ hunger games or uglies
✔️ maze runner or hp on steroids
✔️ if you like the unexpected or enjoy plot twists
✔️ dark academia (elite dystopian college)
✔️ anything stem related or high stakes
✔️ epic fantasy and elevated writing & banter
✔️ intelligent banter and brainy conversations
✔️ dystopian or elite school
✔️ math, science, english or any school subject
✔️ epic intricate world building (EPIC LOVED IT)
✔️ mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, fantasy
✔️ science fiction books and technology (a lot)
✔️ divergent or fourth wing (maybe)
✔️ If you like academia and school in real life
✔️ enemies and lovers or enemies to lovers
✔️ slow burn and also ya “feeling”
✔️ really intimate kissing scenes
✔️ specific words like “moon” or “golden”
✔️ burning tension and fun (っᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈ ς)
My recommendation is add this book to your TBR asap, it’s a lot of unexpected fun, and now your girl gotta go SCREAM.
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ · ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·
2026 Update: I was so lucky to receive an ARC!
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ · ʚɞ· ─ · · · ─ ·
December 15, 2025
Already pre-ordered!!! CAN'T WAIT TO READ!!!
June 2, 2026
Reading this book was honestly the most thrilling experience of my life! I am in tremendous shock from what I just read and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the book is over. And no, I am not OKAY. Nowhere close to Okay. I have not recovered!
If you are a true lover of literature, oh, you are going to have a TIME with this book. And I do not mean that in a fake-deep, “I read one classic once and now I think I’m better than everyone” kind of way. I mean if you actually like books that have important themes, rich writing and is doing something with language and expect you to bring your brain with you when you read. If you appreciate important dystopian themes, pretty prose, and stories that are not terrified of being shocking, this book is for you.
This is the kind of book where you need to slow down a little and let yourself actually absorb what is being said instead of racing to the next twist like you are trying to win something. Because if you rush, you are going to miss important things. The little interesting details that make the whole thing so good. And then you will be one of those people complaining about something the book VERY MUCH DID explain, you just did not pause long enough to catch it.
What I actually loved is that the plot itself is very good. It’s pretty rare that a plot is THIS good & writing THIS impressive! Yes I see the flex and I will be enjoying that flex every time. Because the writing is poetic. The prose has a unique visual style to it. And it’s so beautiful.
So having a plot that remains clear while the prose does its thing? That worked so well for me. I did not feel like one was fighting the other. I enjoyed both. I enjoyed the forward momentum of the story and the pretty language it was told in. That combination really hit.
And I hope this is not a spoiler, but I especially loved how the tragedy of the commons was explored here. I ate that up so bad. I love when a book is not just telling a story but also low key asking bigger questions about human nature, power, survival, and what people do when individual desire starts colliding with collective need. That was one of the smartest things about this book to me. It was making me think while still fully entertaining me.
And the plot just kept thickening. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, the book added another revelation and shift that made everything feel even more intense. I was deeply invested the whole time because it kept building in a way that felt organic and unpredictable.
And there was one major moment that genuinely shocked me. Like SHOCKED the living hell out of me. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so shocked in my life.
I am usually very good at predicting twists. Usually too good, unfortunately. But this one reveal left me shook! It was so well done by the Author that it was impossible to see from a mile away, yet hints were there that after discovering it all made sense.
I’m usually very good at predicting plot twists. Almost too good, unfortunately. But this reveal completely caught me off guard. It was impossible to see coming, yet perfectly foreshadowed. It was executed so skillfully by the author that I never saw it coming, yet looking back in hindsight, all the hints were there. And once everything was revealed, all the hints suddenly made sense.
There are also so many important themes running through this story like I said before and I’m not going to list them all because I do not want to drift into spoiler territory, but this really is such a well-rounded book. It has emotional depth, tension and important ideas.
The atmosphere of the school was also so crazy! It is just a very satisfying read on multiple levels.
And I SO LOVED our FMC, Shantavia! She is strong, but not in that exhausting cardboard-cutout way where “strong female character” just means she never feels anything and rolls her eyes every other page. She is strong, but also soft deep down which I liked. You can feel her fear and understand her motives. She felt like a real person to me, and that made it so easy to stay invested in her quest.
And our MMC, Pesh... Patron Pesh, he's my new obsession. Every time he was on the page, I could feel IT GET HOTTER. He brings this tension with him that makes everything sooo exciting, and he's sooo SMOOTH with it. He also knows getting too close to Shantavia is probably a terrible idea, and yet? he cannot help himself. YES. YES. YES. THAT'S ALL. You can feel how badly he wants her, even when he’s trying not to. And the obsession WAS OBSESSING! Every moment with Pesh felt like he was walking this fine line between restraint and giving in, and that made him so fun to read.
And their romance? Out of this world. THIS is what I mean when I say I want a slow burn. THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE. Not that fake slow burn stuff where absolutely nothing meaningful happens for 400 pages and then suddenly they are in love because the book remembered it had a romance subplot.
THIS was an actual slow burn!!! Every interaction with Pesh and Shantavia actually mattered and every look felt so weighty. The tension kept building brick by brick and I was out here losing my mind over crumbs. The progression was slow, but never stagnant. There was such intense buildup, ache and restraint with her and Pesh. And the payoff felt good and just made me want MORE.
Again, THIS IS A SLOW. BURN. There were so many moments where I caught myself thinking, “okay… something’s about to happen,” and instead of rushing it, the plot pulled back just enough to deepen the tension between Shantavia and Pesh. It never felt frustrating to me even though I desperately wanted them to be together every second and couldn’t stand when they were not. Their chemistry felt so natural and this is what I mean when I say “I need tension.” The little moments between them just stacked up until I was sitting there clutching my chest over a conversation and a glance!!! BAHHHH STAAP IT. The longing understood the assignment BADLY.
What I also appreciated is that the romance never overshadowed Shantavia’s personal journey or her hero story or the plot! She still had her own arc, growth, and her own internal battles & struggles to deal with. And because the romance was done so well, it made the entire story even stronger. It never felt like the plot had to stop so the romance could happen. It just added to the emotional tension and to the stakes and their vulnerability. It just really made everything hit so much harder!
This is also the kind of book I know I can reread soooooooooooooooooo easily. I really enjoyed annotating my advance copy, and that should already tell you everything you need to know because I usually never annotate or highlight anything really on a first read. If I am annotating like a madwoman, underlining lines, and immediately wanting to go back to my favorite parts, that means the book GOT me down BAD.
And I really, really hope this book becomes hugely successful. Because it deserves that, first of all. But also because I selfishly want to be able to say I was obsessed with it before everyone else. I want the deeply annoying privilege of being right early and watch everybody else discover it and lose their minds the way I did.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. What a delightful experience! I cannot WAIT to read the next one!
Please do not dumb down the writing. I am begging. I am so serious. I AM BEGGING.
Now let me go pre-order the hardcover and continue being insufferably loud about this book with all my friends. I may come back and say more when this book is out and I can actually write spoilers.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Reading this book was honestly the most thrilling experience of my life! I am in tremendous shock from what I just read and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the book is over. And no, I am not OKAY. Nowhere close to Okay. I have not recovered!
I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW!!! And yes, I will be back to write my full thoughts. I am still trying to process them...
If you are a true lover of literature, oh, you are going to have a TIME with this book. And I do not mean that in a fake-deep, “I read one classic once and now I think I’m better than everyone” kind of way. I mean if you actually like books that have important themes, rich writing and is doing something with language and expect you to bring your brain with you when you read. If you appreciate important dystopian themes, pretty prose, and stories that are not terrified of being shocking, this book is for you.
This is the kind of book where you need to slow down a little and let yourself actually absorb what is being said instead of racing to the next twist like you are trying to win something. Because if you rush, you are going to miss important things. The little interesting details that make the whole thing so good. And then you will be one of those people complaining about something the book VERY MUCH DID explain, you just did not pause long enough to catch it.
What I actually loved is that the plot itself is very good. It’s pretty rare that a plot is THIS good & writing THIS impressive! Yes I see the flex and I will be enjoying that flex every time. Because the writing is poetic. The prose has a unique visual style to it. And it’s so beautiful.
So having a plot that remains clear while the prose does its thing? That worked so well for me. I did not feel like one was fighting the other. I enjoyed both. I enjoyed the forward momentum of the story and the pretty language it was told in. That combination really hit.
And I hope this is not a spoiler, but I especially loved how the tragedy of the commons was explored here. I ate that up so bad. I love when a book is not just telling a story but also low key asking bigger questions about human nature, power, survival, and what people do when individual desire starts colliding with collective need. That was one of the smartest things about this book to me. It was making me think while still fully entertaining me.
And the plot just kept thickening. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, the book added another revelation and shift that made everything feel even more intense. I was deeply invested the whole time because it kept building in a way that felt organic and unpredictable.
And there was one major moment that genuinely shocked me. Like SHOCKED the living hell out of me. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so shocked in my life.
I am usually very good at predicting twists. Usually too good, unfortunately. But this one reveal left me shook! It was so well done by the Author that it was impossible to see from a mile away, yet hints were there that after discovering it all made sense.
I’m usually very good at predicting plot twists. Almost too good, unfortunately. But this reveal completely caught me off guard. It was impossible to see coming, yet perfectly foreshadowed. It was executed so skillfully by the author that I never saw it coming, yet looking back in hindsight, all the hints were there. And once everything was revealed, all the hints suddenly made sense.
There are also so many important themes running through this story like I said before and I’m not going to list them all because I do not want to drift into spoiler territory, but this really is such a well-rounded book. It has emotional depth, tension and important ideas.
The atmosphere of the school was also so crazy! It is just a very satisfying read on multiple levels.
And I SO LOVED our FMC, Shantavia! She is strong, but not in that exhausting cardboard-cutout way where “strong female character” just means she never feels anything and rolls her eyes every other page. She is strong, but also soft deep down which I liked. You can feel her fear and understand her motives. She felt like a real person to me, and that made it so easy to stay invested in her quest.
And our MMC, Pesh... Patron Pesh, he's my new obsession. Every time he was on the page, I could feel IT GET HOTTER. He brings this tension with him that makes everything sooo exciting, and he's sooo SMOOTH with it. He also knows getting too close to Shantavia is probably a terrible idea, and yet? he cannot help himself. YES. YES. YES. THAT'S ALL. You can feel how badly he wants her, even when he’s trying not to. And the obsession WAS OBSESSING! Every moment with Pesh felt like he was walking this fine line between restraint and giving in, and that made him so fun to read.
And their romance? Out of this world. THIS is what I mean when I say I want a slow burn. THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE. Not that fake slow burn stuff where absolutely nothing meaningful happens for 400 pages and then suddenly they are in love because the book remembered it had a romance subplot.
THIS was an actual slow burn!!! Every interaction with Pesh and Shantavia actually mattered and every look felt so weighty. The tension kept building brick by brick and I was out here losing my mind over crumbs. The progression was slow, but never stagnant. There was such intense buildup, ache and restraint with her and Pesh. And the payoff felt good and just made me want MORE.
Again, THIS IS A SLOW. BURN. There were so many moments where I caught myself thinking, “okay… something’s about to happen,” and instead of rushing it, the plot pulled back just enough to deepen the tension between Shantavia and Pesh. It never felt frustrating to me even though I desperately wanted them to be together every second and couldn’t stand when they were not. Their chemistry felt so natural and this is what I mean when I say “I need tension.” The little moments between them just stacked up until I was sitting there clutching my chest over a conversation and a glance!!! BAHHHH STAAP IT. The longing understood the assignment BADLY.
What I also appreciated is that the romance never overshadowed Shantavia’s personal journey or her hero story or the plot! She still had her own arc, growth, and her own internal battles & struggles to deal with. And because the romance was done so well, it made the entire story even stronger. It never felt like the plot had to stop so the romance could happen. It just added to the emotional tension and to the stakes and their vulnerability. It just really made everything hit so much harder!
This is also the kind of book I know I can reread soooooooooooooooooo easily. I really enjoyed annotating my advance copy, and that should already tell you everything you need to know because I usually never annotate or highlight anything really on a first read. If I am annotating like a madwoman, underlining lines, and immediately wanting to go back to my favorite parts, that means the book GOT me down BAD.
And I really, really hope this book becomes hugely successful. Because it deserves that, first of all. But also because I selfishly want to be able to say I was obsessed with it before everyone else. I want the deeply annoying privilege of being right early and watch everybody else discover it and lose their minds the way I did.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. What a delightful experience! I cannot WAIT to read the next one!
Please do not dumb down the writing. I am begging. I am so serious. I AM BEGGING.
Now let me go pre-order the hardcover and continue being insufferably loud about this book with all my friends. I may come back and say more when this book is out and I can actually write spoilers.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Reading this book was honestly the most thrilling experience of my life! I am in tremendous shock from what I just read and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the book is over. And no, I am not OKAY. Nowhere close to Okay. I have not recovered!
I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW!!! And yes, I will be back to write my full thoughts. I am still trying to process them...
March 7, 2026
Check out my full review @maddiisbooked on instagram and TikTok!! 🤯❤️📖
May 13, 2026
I'll be honest, I underestimated this book. Yep. I underestimated The Commons. I went into it expecting to predict most things, expecting it to read like books I've read before in this genre etc, but boyyyy was I wrong. This book is unlike anything I've ever read, from the voice, to the world-building to the romantic descriptions, to the plot, to the SCHOOLLLLLLL, to the mystery, the suspense, the TENSION! AND THAT TEST! Oh my God, I nearly lost my mind reading that one test, like I was physically sweating and going mad. We see things through our fmc, Shantavia's point of view, so we learn everything she learns in real time and oh my does she have a unique and compelling voice. Her voice is a bit like a rush, like when you take a burst of caffeine and suddenly feel invisible, like you can do anything (well, that's how I feel anyways). But I digress, I am actually laughing as I am writing this because some of the things that took place made me giggle quite a bit, and cry, yes, actual tears (omg, that one scene broke me) but the most important, this book had me losing my mindddd, because it was so ridiculously unpredictable, and unhinged, and wild, and a contraction in itself, so every time I opened up the pages, my heartbeat would escalate. I literally felt like the book was playing mind games on me the entire time and I wouldn't be shocked if book 2 flips everything I think I finally know on its head and makes me a fool, again. And, well this is the first book where I couldn't predict any of the plot twists. The way they just slammed into me had me squinting like, what on earth?? did. that. just. happen. I will be updating this as I annotated my entire ARC, thank you very much DEEP and Rebecca (though I am angry at you Rebecca, because why would you end the book after that?? do you not care for my heart!?) Anyways, I made the most unfiltered comments so stay tuned, lovelies. Or should I say, Commoners? hehe
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
And of course, I'll be back!
Previous
ABSOLUTELY 5 STARS!!!!!! (will be back in a moment!!!) 🤭
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
And of course, I'll be back!
Previous
ABSOLUTELY 5 STARS!!!!!! (will be back in a moment!!!) 🤭
May 26, 2026
Okay.
Okay.
WHERE do I even begin???
It’s genuinely so hard to talk about this book without spoilers, but I’ll try. Barely.
The world.
The characters.
The personalities.
The TENSION.
THE ROMANCE.
The worldbuilding.
The WRITING—oh my GOD, the writing.
Immersive. Addictive. Fast-paced. Unrelenting. SO. TENSE.
Like… white-knuckle, holding-my-breath, pacing-my-room tense.
I truly had no idea what was coming at any point in this book. To anyone who hasn’t read this yet: I am genuinely jealous of you. You are about to experience something unhinged in the best way!
This is not just a book.
I am fully convinced Rebecca laced these pages with some kind of addictive substance because tell me WHY I could not put this down or think straight while reading it??? My heart??? Was not okay. I was holding my breath the ENTIRE time.
The twists. The turns. And THAT REVEAL AT THE END—AAAAAAAAA. Like??? How am I supposed to function after that??? And then be told to WAIT for book 2??? Criminal. Actually criminal.
I will be back to write a full, unfiltered, borderline unhinged rave because I NEED to be on record saying I loved this before the rest of the world catches on.
Now. Our FMC—Shantavia.
She is genuinely a mind-boggling specimen. The way she pieces together situations that should be literally impossible had me staring at the page like, “HOW did you even THINK of that?” Her intelligence, intuition, and sheer determination??? I’m still processing it.
And then there’s our MMC… Pesh.
Dangerously alluring. Confidently himself. And let’s be honest—down bad for Shantavia. This man KNOWS he should stay away. He knows it’s risky. And yet??? Cannot. Will not. That internal struggle? That obsession? EXACTLY what we like to see.
One of my absolute favorite parts of this book is Shantavia’s grit, her resilience, and her unwavering devotion to finding her sister. It genuinely made me emotional. The way Rebecca wrote that love, that desperation, that hope—it hit deep.
And NOW.
The STAR of the show: the school.
The world-building here is actually INSANE. Like what kind of institution IS this??? The rules. The structure. The atmosphere. Completely unhinged in the most brilliant way. Chef’s kiss doesn’t even begin to cover it.
And that grading scale??? Horrifying. Stress-inducing. Brilliant. Like how does anyone survive this place???
This is a book that says something.
It sparks conversations about morality, control, power, speech, freedom—all of it.
I walked away from this book feeling like I learned something. Not just about the world or the characters… but about myself.
I WILL be back with a massive paragraph breakdown because this book deserves it. I just need time to emotionally, mentally, spiritually recover first.
God.
WHAT. A. BOOK.
Oh—and before I go try to recover from what I just experienced… even though I have read this multiple times now... AND LET’S not even mention THAT FINAL TEST!!!!!!!!!!
Because WHAT was that??? How is that even possible?????
I am NOT OKAY! How could I be after experiencing that madnessss???
A MASSIVE thank you to Rebecca for writing this MASTERPIECE.
Okay.
WHERE do I even begin???
It’s genuinely so hard to talk about this book without spoilers, but I’ll try. Barely.
The world.
The characters.
The personalities.
The TENSION.
THE ROMANCE.
The worldbuilding.
The WRITING—oh my GOD, the writing.
Immersive. Addictive. Fast-paced. Unrelenting. SO. TENSE.
Like… white-knuckle, holding-my-breath, pacing-my-room tense.
I truly had no idea what was coming at any point in this book. To anyone who hasn’t read this yet: I am genuinely jealous of you. You are about to experience something unhinged in the best way!
This is not just a book.
I am fully convinced Rebecca laced these pages with some kind of addictive substance because tell me WHY I could not put this down or think straight while reading it??? My heart??? Was not okay. I was holding my breath the ENTIRE time.
The twists. The turns. And THAT REVEAL AT THE END—AAAAAAAAA. Like??? How am I supposed to function after that??? And then be told to WAIT for book 2??? Criminal. Actually criminal.
I will be back to write a full, unfiltered, borderline unhinged rave because I NEED to be on record saying I loved this before the rest of the world catches on.
Now. Our FMC—Shantavia.
She is genuinely a mind-boggling specimen. The way she pieces together situations that should be literally impossible had me staring at the page like, “HOW did you even THINK of that?” Her intelligence, intuition, and sheer determination??? I’m still processing it.
And then there’s our MMC… Pesh.
Dangerously alluring. Confidently himself. And let’s be honest—down bad for Shantavia. This man KNOWS he should stay away. He knows it’s risky. And yet??? Cannot. Will not. That internal struggle? That obsession? EXACTLY what we like to see.
One of my absolute favorite parts of this book is Shantavia’s grit, her resilience, and her unwavering devotion to finding her sister. It genuinely made me emotional. The way Rebecca wrote that love, that desperation, that hope—it hit deep.
And NOW.
The STAR of the show: the school.
The world-building here is actually INSANE. Like what kind of institution IS this??? The rules. The structure. The atmosphere. Completely unhinged in the most brilliant way. Chef’s kiss doesn’t even begin to cover it.
And that grading scale??? Horrifying. Stress-inducing. Brilliant. Like how does anyone survive this place???
This is a book that says something.
It sparks conversations about morality, control, power, speech, freedom—all of it.
I walked away from this book feeling like I learned something. Not just about the world or the characters… but about myself.
I WILL be back with a massive paragraph breakdown because this book deserves it. I just need time to emotionally, mentally, spiritually recover first.
God.
WHAT. A. BOOK.
Oh—and before I go try to recover from what I just experienced… even though I have read this multiple times now... AND LET’S not even mention THAT FINAL TEST!!!!!!!!!!
Because WHAT was that??? How is that even possible?????
I am NOT OKAY! How could I be after experiencing that madnessss???
A MASSIVE thank you to Rebecca for writing this MASTERPIECE.
June 8, 2026
Some novels ask what it means to succeed. The Commons asks a far more unsettling question; what must be sacrificed in order to exist?
At its surface, the novel follows Shantavia, a young woman whose admission to the prestigious institution known as The Commons is motivated as much by grief and suspicion as by ambition deep down. The unexplained disappearance of her sister provides the narrative's initial mystery, but the novel quickly reveals that its true concerns lie elsewhere. What begins as an investigation gradually unfolds into a profound examination of conformity, surveillance, meritocracy, and the psychological cost of social acceptance.
The genius of The Commons rests in its central paradox. Within this carefully constructed world, excellence is not enough; students must excel in precisely the right way. To stand out is dangerous, yet mediocrity is equally unacceptable. The institution demands a performance of perfect commonness, transforming ordinary achievement into an act of self-erasure. In doing so, the novel offers a striking allegory for contemporary social structures that reward individuality rhetorically while punishing it in practice.
Shantavia is an effective guide through this landscape of contradictions. Her determination to uncover the truth about her sister grounds the novel emotionally, while her growing awareness of the institution's hidden mechanisms drives its intellectual inquiry. The supporting cast is equally compelling, particularly those characters who resist the homogenizing pressures of The Commons simply by remaining unapologetically themselves. Their presence introduces moments of warmth and humanity into a narrative otherwise defined by uncertainty and control.
The world-building deserves particular praise. Rather than overwhelming the reader with exposition, the novel reveals its setting through carefully measured disclosures, allowing each new detail to deepen rather than resolve the mystery. This restraint creates an atmosphere of constant tension, one in which every rule seems to conceal another beneath it. The result is a world that feels both familiar and alien, a distorted reflection of systems many readers will recognize from their own experiences with education, achievement, and social belonging.
Perhaps most impressive is the novel's emotional undercurrent. Beneath its speculative framework lies a story animated by longing: for family, for truth, for recognition, and for authentic connection. That yearning gives the narrative a depth that elevates it beyond its premise.
Few contemporary novels manage to be both intellectually provocative and gripping. The Commons accomplishes this balance with remarkable confidence. It is a work that entertains while inviting serious reflection, offering not only a captivating mystery but also a critique of the systems that shape identity and determine worth. Like the finest dystopian and speculative fiction, it leaves readers with the unsettling realization that its most frightening ideas may not be fictional at all. I would dare to say that this should be a modern classic, if time will let it.
And perhaps the novel's most fascinating achievement is the way it reimagines the concept of the "tragedy of the commons." Traditionally, the idea describes the destruction of a shared resource through individual self-interest. The Commons turns that framework on its head. The institution's greatest threat emerges from its relentless pursuit of sameness, creating a school in which difference becomes a liability and conformity becomes a form of survival. Rather than asking what happens when people take too much for themselves, the novel asks what happens when people are required to surrender too much of themselves. In this inversion, the book transforms a familiar economic and sociological theory into a powerful meditation on identity, belonging, and the hidden costs of collective uniformity.
***
okay i'm finally done working on my full review, i considered multiple possible directions, but decided to keep it simple and scholarly, if you want my more unfiltered thoughts❤️, i will be starting a book club soon, but for now, thank you to DEEP Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. i very much enjoyed this and i look forward to the next installment.
***
MAY 06, 2026
wow what in the world did i just read? i am so shocked, i don't even have the words to continue to speak, let alone compose a review, i'm gonna need a min, i did not see that ending coming, im not okay, full RTC.
At its surface, the novel follows Shantavia, a young woman whose admission to the prestigious institution known as The Commons is motivated as much by grief and suspicion as by ambition deep down. The unexplained disappearance of her sister provides the narrative's initial mystery, but the novel quickly reveals that its true concerns lie elsewhere. What begins as an investigation gradually unfolds into a profound examination of conformity, surveillance, meritocracy, and the psychological cost of social acceptance.
The genius of The Commons rests in its central paradox. Within this carefully constructed world, excellence is not enough; students must excel in precisely the right way. To stand out is dangerous, yet mediocrity is equally unacceptable. The institution demands a performance of perfect commonness, transforming ordinary achievement into an act of self-erasure. In doing so, the novel offers a striking allegory for contemporary social structures that reward individuality rhetorically while punishing it in practice.
Shantavia is an effective guide through this landscape of contradictions. Her determination to uncover the truth about her sister grounds the novel emotionally, while her growing awareness of the institution's hidden mechanisms drives its intellectual inquiry. The supporting cast is equally compelling, particularly those characters who resist the homogenizing pressures of The Commons simply by remaining unapologetically themselves. Their presence introduces moments of warmth and humanity into a narrative otherwise defined by uncertainty and control.
The world-building deserves particular praise. Rather than overwhelming the reader with exposition, the novel reveals its setting through carefully measured disclosures, allowing each new detail to deepen rather than resolve the mystery. This restraint creates an atmosphere of constant tension, one in which every rule seems to conceal another beneath it. The result is a world that feels both familiar and alien, a distorted reflection of systems many readers will recognize from their own experiences with education, achievement, and social belonging.
Perhaps most impressive is the novel's emotional undercurrent. Beneath its speculative framework lies a story animated by longing: for family, for truth, for recognition, and for authentic connection. That yearning gives the narrative a depth that elevates it beyond its premise.
Few contemporary novels manage to be both intellectually provocative and gripping. The Commons accomplishes this balance with remarkable confidence. It is a work that entertains while inviting serious reflection, offering not only a captivating mystery but also a critique of the systems that shape identity and determine worth. Like the finest dystopian and speculative fiction, it leaves readers with the unsettling realization that its most frightening ideas may not be fictional at all. I would dare to say that this should be a modern classic, if time will let it.
And perhaps the novel's most fascinating achievement is the way it reimagines the concept of the "tragedy of the commons." Traditionally, the idea describes the destruction of a shared resource through individual self-interest. The Commons turns that framework on its head. The institution's greatest threat emerges from its relentless pursuit of sameness, creating a school in which difference becomes a liability and conformity becomes a form of survival. Rather than asking what happens when people take too much for themselves, the novel asks what happens when people are required to surrender too much of themselves. In this inversion, the book transforms a familiar economic and sociological theory into a powerful meditation on identity, belonging, and the hidden costs of collective uniformity.
***
okay i'm finally done working on my full review, i considered multiple possible directions, but decided to keep it simple and scholarly, if you want my more unfiltered thoughts❤️, i will be starting a book club soon, but for now, thank you to DEEP Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. i very much enjoyed this and i look forward to the next installment.
***
MAY 06, 2026
wow what in the world did i just read? i am so shocked, i don't even have the words to continue to speak, let alone compose a review, i'm gonna need a min, i did not see that ending coming, im not okay, full RTC.
March 17, 2026
Ahh!! Okay! This was so good! I loved the first person point of view, and the ya storyline, and the characters. Oh how I loved them. And the plot twists. This author can definitely write an amazing plot twist because I don’t see them coming.
May 10, 2026
You must, must, must, musttttt READ THIS BOOK!!!
For now, I'll leave you with a glorious quote as you await my full review...
"One frivolous sight of your gaze is like catching a sight of the stars ablaze. One idle glance of your eyes is like looking at the firmaments across the celestial skies. One trivial touch of your hands is like grazing fire, like catching oceans, like flicking past lightning, like catching a glimpse of gold in human form."
I MEANNNN! I would give you nosy peeps more, but I don't want to spoil it! Oh! It's soo amazing. This author's writing was absolutely fantastic and was one of my favorite parts about this book. It is truly an absolute treat in literature. And I definitely had to google certain words she used, don't tell anyone🤫
My only gripe is that I don't have book two with such an ending! I know, petty. But once book two arrives, of course I'll give it five "incandescent" starsssss! ⚝⚝⚝⚝(book 2 soon plssssss ??+⚝)
I'm waiting on you Rebeccaaaaaaaa Ihim!!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For now, I'll leave you with a glorious quote as you await my full review...
"One frivolous sight of your gaze is like catching a sight of the stars ablaze. One idle glance of your eyes is like looking at the firmaments across the celestial skies. One trivial touch of your hands is like grazing fire, like catching oceans, like flicking past lightning, like catching a glimpse of gold in human form."
I MEANNNN! I would give you nosy peeps more, but I don't want to spoil it! Oh! It's soo amazing. This author's writing was absolutely fantastic and was one of my favorite parts about this book. It is truly an absolute treat in literature. And I definitely had to google certain words she used, don't tell anyone🤫
My only gripe is that I don't have book two with such an ending! I know, petty. But once book two arrives, of course I'll give it five "incandescent" starsssss! ⚝⚝⚝⚝(book 2 soon plssssss ??+⚝)
I'm waiting on you Rebeccaaaaaaaa Ihim!!
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April 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Commons follows Shantavia, who decides to enroll an elite college called The Commons to look for her sister after she abruptly stopped calling her. Shantavia already has some suspicions of the Commons when her sister accidentally let slip out the dangers of attending the school. She forfeits her plans to take a peaceful gap year after school in order to enroll in the Commons and find her sister. She undergoes a variety of unique tests and ultimately becomes enrolled. Now she must survive a series of six deadly tests, while making sure she does not stand out because the school only wants those who fit into the common standard. Additionally, she has to secretly gather information to find her sister, while also surviving the wrath of the patrons, especially Pesh. Shantavia has several encounters with Pesh, which often lead her confused on whether she can trust him or not to help her survive The Commons.
This book gives off major Divergent vibes, specifically with the theme of having to fit in with their standards. I missed reading dystopian books, so I was happy to enter back into this world. I also am a huge fan of trials and tests, and this book provides such unique challenges. I was rooting for Shantavia to survive these tests. I also love the tension and chemistry between her and Pesh, and I need more of them in the next book. One of things that I did not like was how Shantavia’s parents treated her. I personally felt like the parents’ excuse of being cold to Shantavia was not a good one to justify their behavior. But I am hopeful that they will be able to mend their relationship. Overall, this was a fun and exciting book to read! Thank you to Deep Publishing for the gifted copy of The Commons✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
The Commons follows Shantavia, who decides to enroll an elite college called The Commons to look for her sister after she abruptly stopped calling her. Shantavia already has some suspicions of the Commons when her sister accidentally let slip out the dangers of attending the school. She forfeits her plans to take a peaceful gap year after school in order to enroll in the Commons and find her sister. She undergoes a variety of unique tests and ultimately becomes enrolled. Now she must survive a series of six deadly tests, while making sure she does not stand out because the school only wants those who fit into the common standard. Additionally, she has to secretly gather information to find her sister, while also surviving the wrath of the patrons, especially Pesh. Shantavia has several encounters with Pesh, which often lead her confused on whether she can trust him or not to help her survive The Commons.
This book gives off major Divergent vibes, specifically with the theme of having to fit in with their standards. I missed reading dystopian books, so I was happy to enter back into this world. I also am a huge fan of trials and tests, and this book provides such unique challenges. I was rooting for Shantavia to survive these tests. I also love the tension and chemistry between her and Pesh, and I need more of them in the next book. One of things that I did not like was how Shantavia’s parents treated her. I personally felt like the parents’ excuse of being cold to Shantavia was not a good one to justify their behavior. But I am hopeful that they will be able to mend their relationship. Overall, this was a fun and exciting book to read! Thank you to Deep Publishing for the gifted copy of The Commons✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
May 14, 2026
I’m not even exaggerating when I say this book is exceptional! First off, the writing? The author writes exceptionally well. The voice is so strong and so easy to fall into, and everything felt very clear and intentional and the story just flowed in a way that made me want to keep reading and reading and reading. Nothing felt sloppy in any way shape or form. Genuinely so well written! And what I loved is that it’s easy to read, but not basic. Like I wasn't struggling to get through it, but at the same time I could tell there was real skill behind it.
I also loved Shantavia so much. I cared about her so much, I was invested in what was happening, and I felt like I could really root for her the entire way through. Her journey was so easy to connect to, and I really liked following her through everything that happened.
The plot was also done really well because it had a structure that made me feel grounded, like I could follow where things were going, but at the same time I was still getting surprised and mind blown by the twists. I loved all of those flashbacks as well as it added a lot of helpful context to the present. I took my time with this one, and I’m so glad I did because I wanted this book to keep going, I was so sad when it ended truly. There were so many moments that SHOCKED me, so many twists that I did not see coming. Frankly, I never saw any of the plot twists coming at all, and by the end I was just like wow. And the LAST LINE? REVOLUTIONARY. Literally such a strong ending. And the thing was, the twists didn’t feel random or thrown in just for shock, they were actually set up (when you go back and analyze), and when things started clicking, you realize the author planted those moments way earlier and you just didn’t catch it at first. That’s such a wonderful combination because it never felt all over the place, but it also never felt predictable.
There were multiple times while reading this book that I literally had to stop and be like "wait… hold on…" because everything I thought I understood just got flipped. That makes this the kind of book people will easily fly through and not be able to put down because you want to know what happens next. And then, when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don't.
I’m fully invested now. I need more of Shantavia’s story, because if this is how it starts… yeah this is about to be something special!
What a story!
Thank you to the Author and DEEP Publishing for the ARC!
⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰
Update:
OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!! THIS WAS BEYOND INCREDIBLE! By far my favorite read of 2026! 5 to infinity stars!
I also loved Shantavia so much. I cared about her so much, I was invested in what was happening, and I felt like I could really root for her the entire way through. Her journey was so easy to connect to, and I really liked following her through everything that happened.
The plot was also done really well because it had a structure that made me feel grounded, like I could follow where things were going, but at the same time I was still getting surprised and mind blown by the twists. I loved all of those flashbacks as well as it added a lot of helpful context to the present. I took my time with this one, and I’m so glad I did because I wanted this book to keep going, I was so sad when it ended truly. There were so many moments that SHOCKED me, so many twists that I did not see coming. Frankly, I never saw any of the plot twists coming at all, and by the end I was just like wow. And the LAST LINE? REVOLUTIONARY. Literally such a strong ending. And the thing was, the twists didn’t feel random or thrown in just for shock, they were actually set up (when you go back and analyze), and when things started clicking, you realize the author planted those moments way earlier and you just didn’t catch it at first. That’s such a wonderful combination because it never felt all over the place, but it also never felt predictable.
There were multiple times while reading this book that I literally had to stop and be like "wait… hold on…" because everything I thought I understood just got flipped. That makes this the kind of book people will easily fly through and not be able to put down because you want to know what happens next. And then, when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don't.
I’m fully invested now. I need more of Shantavia’s story, because if this is how it starts… yeah this is about to be something special!
What a story!
Thank you to the Author and DEEP Publishing for the ARC!
⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰
Update:
OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!! THIS WAS BEYOND INCREDIBLE! By far my favorite read of 2026! 5 to infinity stars!
June 1, 2026
I devoured this entire plot like my life depended on it. Oh this is nuts! My life now possibly depends on this series to survive this terrible slump I am in. Zavish! Filthy mouth, but I kindaaa.... (not really).
(That one Patron), Filthy rich, dangerous and villainous and I certainly wanna ...(Absofreakinlutely)
I won't say more about the one that I am actually desperate for, but I need a girl's group chat to vent about this book and all these characters because I'm kinda obsessed. Not kinda. My alter ego needs to shut uppp because I AM FOR SURE OBSESSED. BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT ENDING? I'M VERY HAPPY about it. Ok. I'm one of those. Here for the drama! I really enjoyed the fast paced plot. I appreciated how nothing dragged along. I also really liked Shantavia as the narrator. I loved how smart her brain was, and how she was able to navigate being in The Commons while trying to hold on to her morals and her beliefs. The Commons was a very interesting place to be, definitely keeps you questioning what is real and what’s not. I am interested to find out about all the other aspects of The Commons that has not yet been explored. Especially certain characters! This book taught me really important lessons and it asked a lot of really important questions! I wish I had more coherent thoughts but there are so many beautiful quotes in this MASTERPIECE. I highly recommend reading this to find out!
(That one Patron), Filthy rich, dangerous and villainous and I certainly wanna ...(Absofreakinlutely)
I won't say more about the one that I am actually desperate for, but I need a girl's group chat to vent about this book and all these characters because I'm kinda obsessed. Not kinda. My alter ego needs to shut uppp because I AM FOR SURE OBSESSED. BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT ENDING? I'M VERY HAPPY about it. Ok. I'm one of those. Here for the drama! I really enjoyed the fast paced plot. I appreciated how nothing dragged along. I also really liked Shantavia as the narrator. I loved how smart her brain was, and how she was able to navigate being in The Commons while trying to hold on to her morals and her beliefs. The Commons was a very interesting place to be, definitely keeps you questioning what is real and what’s not. I am interested to find out about all the other aspects of The Commons that has not yet been explored. Especially certain characters! This book taught me really important lessons and it asked a lot of really important questions! I wish I had more coherent thoughts but there are so many beautiful quotes in this MASTERPIECE. I highly recommend reading this to find out!
May 30, 2026
Oh I've heard so much about this one recently. Bets on? It was spellbinding. I am keeping a little vlog on this one so I will update this soon with all my thoughts but this was NOTHING like I was expecting. Whewwww somebody dispatch emergency aid on who I am going to be after this book series is over. What a story to be my first advanced copy. Thoughts soon. Stay tuned. I have A LOT.
May 12, 2026
I love the author of this book, she came to my school and displayed this book, i am obsessed with this plot it is so amazing! I NEEEEED MORE
May 7, 2026
this was unexpectedly an incredible work of science fiction, wow, this is indeed one to watch, brilliant, action packed, emotional, heart breaking, and a highly intelligent undertaking.
Want to Read
December 15, 2025the author came to my school and showed us the Preview it looks really cool and im Excited to Read it yaayy Yayayay😊💗!
February 1, 2026
AHHHH, this sounds INCREDIBLE! I CANNOT WAIT TO READ...
May 31, 2026
EXCUSE ME while I recover from being personally attacked by how good this book was. The story was so very heart felt, and the storyline was amazing. I love Shantavia so much and the romance! Whew. Swoon-worthy, so much chemistry, so beautiful and romantic 🌸, and unpredictable 😲
The world of The Commons is very clever, the worldbuilding is inventive, futuristic, grounded, and detailed. The world was so easy to picture in my head and somehow the author made an epic and detailed world seem very easy and carefree and fun especially with Shantavia as the narrator, this girl is hilarious. Some of the science fiction elements took me a while to grasp because of how smart they were and I felt proud of myself once I understood it all 😋 I was completely immersed and so very focused from the first page to the last line and the ending had meeee
Now I want to go to The Commons but I don't think I'd survive 🤔I really enjoyed it, it was such a cool story. Can't wait to read more of Shantavia's story!💗
The world of The Commons is very clever, the worldbuilding is inventive, futuristic, grounded, and detailed. The world was so easy to picture in my head and somehow the author made an epic and detailed world seem very easy and carefree and fun especially with Shantavia as the narrator, this girl is hilarious. Some of the science fiction elements took me a while to grasp because of how smart they were and I felt proud of myself once I understood it all 😋 I was completely immersed and so very focused from the first page to the last line and the ending had meeee
Now I want to go to The Commons but I don't think I'd survive 🤔I really enjoyed it, it was such a cool story. Can't wait to read more of Shantavia's story!💗
June 3, 2026
THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE COMMONS? the vibes?? so dreamy and emotional in a way that made me want to both scream into a pillow and immediately recommend this book to every person i’ve ever met. i genuinely need someone to study my brain chemistry after this book because WHY was i giggling, overthinking, rethinking, staring at the ceiling, clutching the book to my chest at 3 am.
from the VERY FIRST PAGE this book just grabs you by the throat in the best way possible. like hello?? i didn’t even feel like i was reading about the FMC. I WAS the FMC. every emotion hit SO hard. every save the world moment? me. every delusional romantic thought? ALSO me.
and can we PLEASE talk about the world building because WOW. actually insane. it was completely consuming without feeling overwhelming. every setting felt magical and alive like i could literally smell the air in the commons and see everything happening around me. yes it’s not magic it’s science, Pesh’s voice, but it felt magical. i fear i live in the commons now and i want to live in tavia’s head too.
and don’t even get me STARTED on the characters because i got attached WAY too fast. like these are my FRIENDS now. i would let them ruin my life. i would probably answer a mysterious terrifying text from them at 2am knowing full well it would end badly.
the writing was so addictive too. i kept saying “okay one more chapter” and suddenly it was 3am and i had work to do and responsibilities and a college thesis i was actively ignoring for this book 😭
overall this was such an enjoyable read from beginning to end and i’m actually upset it’s over because now i have to return to reality where the commons is not real and no pesh is dramatically yearning in the starry commonda waters around me. 4.7 stars, i’m emotionally unwell after that shocking ending and all my theories were wrong.
from the VERY FIRST PAGE this book just grabs you by the throat in the best way possible. like hello?? i didn’t even feel like i was reading about the FMC. I WAS the FMC. every emotion hit SO hard. every save the world moment? me. every delusional romantic thought? ALSO me.
and can we PLEASE talk about the world building because WOW. actually insane. it was completely consuming without feeling overwhelming. every setting felt magical and alive like i could literally smell the air in the commons and see everything happening around me. yes it’s not magic it’s science, Pesh’s voice, but it felt magical. i fear i live in the commons now and i want to live in tavia’s head too.
and don’t even get me STARTED on the characters because i got attached WAY too fast. like these are my FRIENDS now. i would let them ruin my life. i would probably answer a mysterious terrifying text from them at 2am knowing full well it would end badly.
the writing was so addictive too. i kept saying “okay one more chapter” and suddenly it was 3am and i had work to do and responsibilities and a college thesis i was actively ignoring for this book 😭
overall this was such an enjoyable read from beginning to end and i’m actually upset it’s over because now i have to return to reality where the commons is not real and no pesh is dramatically yearning in the starry commonda waters around me. 4.7 stars, i’m emotionally unwell after that shocking ending and all my theories were wrong.
May 13, 2026
I'm seriously so excited to get the opportunity to read the next big thing!!!!
May 12, 2026
very Amazing book best I've read !!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ 3.75
Thank you to the author and DEEP Publishing for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book took me on a ride that was equal parts thrilling, confusing, and completely unhinged in the best “what did I just read?” way.
This story is refreshingly unpredictable. I genuinely never knew what was coming next — and as someone who can usually see plot twists from space, that alone deserves applause. The world is wildly unique, the concept is fascinating, and the writing style stands out in the best way. Ihim’s vocabulary? Chef’s kiss. I love an author who isn’t afraid to flex a little.
Shantavia’s intelligence absolutely shines in the trials and in her problem‑solving. And the school system? Completely unhinged. Deranged. Borderline illegal. I adored every second of it.
And then… Pesh.
My beloved.
My downfall.
My emotional support morally questionable Patron.
Every time he helped her, protected her, or silently adored her while pretending he absolutely did NOT adore her, I screamed. His internal conflict? Delicious. His presence? Electric. His scenes? Inject them directly into my bloodstream.
But here’s where the 3.5 stars come in.
The plot has huge potential, but the execution sometimes left me blinking at the page like I’d missed a chapter. Twists came fast and hard, but not always clearly. The worldbuilding, while intriguing, often felt foggy or under‑explained, and I found myself wishing for more clarity.
Shantavia, despite her brilliance, sometimes felt emotionally flat or oddly naïve. Apart from one strong emotional moment, her inner world wasn’t fully fleshed out, which made her insta‑love toward Pesh feel sudden and not entirely supported by the narrative.
And Pesh — as much as I adore him — had moments that felt tonally off, especially the fight scene. His emotional swings were dramatic enough to give me whiplash. The romance overall had sparks, but also moments that felt uncomfortable or rushed.
Some of the trials stretched believability, and the writing (ARC caveat acknowledged) definitely needs polishing to smooth out the pacing and clarity issues.
But despite all that? I was hooked. The world is compelling, the concept is strong, and the story has so much room to grow into something truly special. I’m invested enough to want the next book, and I’m excited to see how Ihim develops this universe and these characters.
Thank you to the author and DEEP Publishing for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book took me on a ride that was equal parts thrilling, confusing, and completely unhinged in the best “what did I just read?” way.
This story is refreshingly unpredictable. I genuinely never knew what was coming next — and as someone who can usually see plot twists from space, that alone deserves applause. The world is wildly unique, the concept is fascinating, and the writing style stands out in the best way. Ihim’s vocabulary? Chef’s kiss. I love an author who isn’t afraid to flex a little.
Shantavia’s intelligence absolutely shines in the trials and in her problem‑solving. And the school system? Completely unhinged. Deranged. Borderline illegal. I adored every second of it.
And then… Pesh.
My beloved.
My downfall.
My emotional support morally questionable Patron.
Every time he helped her, protected her, or silently adored her while pretending he absolutely did NOT adore her, I screamed. His internal conflict? Delicious. His presence? Electric. His scenes? Inject them directly into my bloodstream.
But here’s where the 3.5 stars come in.
The plot has huge potential, but the execution sometimes left me blinking at the page like I’d missed a chapter. Twists came fast and hard, but not always clearly. The worldbuilding, while intriguing, often felt foggy or under‑explained, and I found myself wishing for more clarity.
Shantavia, despite her brilliance, sometimes felt emotionally flat or oddly naïve. Apart from one strong emotional moment, her inner world wasn’t fully fleshed out, which made her insta‑love toward Pesh feel sudden and not entirely supported by the narrative.
And Pesh — as much as I adore him — had moments that felt tonally off, especially the fight scene. His emotional swings were dramatic enough to give me whiplash. The romance overall had sparks, but also moments that felt uncomfortable or rushed.
Some of the trials stretched believability, and the writing (ARC caveat acknowledged) definitely needs polishing to smooth out the pacing and clarity issues.
But despite all that? I was hooked. The world is compelling, the concept is strong, and the story has so much room to grow into something truly special. I’m invested enough to want the next book, and I’m excited to see how Ihim develops this universe and these characters.
April 22, 2026
✨I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review✨
I really enjoyed this book! The plot was interesting and engaging. Loved the futuristic vibes!! Shantavia as the FMC was so fun to follow — she had a lot of personality and made the story even more entertaining. And Pesh as the MMC? Yeah..he was definitely hot🙂↕️
There were a few moments where the pacing felt a little jumpy and some dialogue didn’t fully land for me, but overall it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
I’m giving this 4 ⭐️ I had a great time with it!
I really enjoyed this book! The plot was interesting and engaging. Loved the futuristic vibes!! Shantavia as the FMC was so fun to follow — she had a lot of personality and made the story even more entertaining. And Pesh as the MMC? Yeah..he was definitely hot🙂↕️
There were a few moments where the pacing felt a little jumpy and some dialogue didn’t fully land for me, but overall it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
I’m giving this 4 ⭐️ I had a great time with it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
I read only the first chapter of this and know the writing of this author will not be for me. It reads as inexperienced and underdeveloped.
I read only the first chapter of this and know the writing of this author will not be for me. It reads as inexperienced and underdeveloped.
May 29, 2026
Thank you to Rebecca Ihim and DEEP Publishing for the physical ARC.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I feel like it wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite academia fantasy book of the year either. This might be some reader's cup of tea and it may be a great book for certain readers, but it definitely wasn't mine, and that's okay! Let's keep it cute in the reviews folks!
First off, I wasn't truly convinced that the romance of the "romantasy" gave "made for each other." The enemies was definitely there, but the bridge to "lovers" definitely didn't feel like it existed. It was like one portion of the book they hated each other and clearly didn't like interacting with each other, and they for the rest of the book they're just in love with each other with no build up to them being friends or anything like......this all happened way too fast and even she admitted that they had just met towards the end.....so how are y'all in love? IDKKKK and then some scenes between them were a bit more adult for a new adult book, but it was also so kiddy like a YA even though I KNOW it's a new adult book.
I enjoyed seeing her navigate getting in the Commons with kids who were raised to get in but a big issue in the book was characters being introduced but not really adding anything to the story. Also certain "relationships" were so unnecessary to the story like they didn't add anything at all lol.
It may just be me but the whole politics and setting of The Commons I'm the type of person that visualizes everything as I read, and I was soooo confused as I was trying to imagine how everything looked and where everything was happening. I also felt like there were some parts of the book that were explained way too thoroughly or not enough, like I feel like some of the world building just wasn't there/enough for me to be able to understand everything going on really clearly. There are also certain scenes where it doesn't give the reader time or a chance to think about what they had just read, it's just repeated as if I didn't just spend the whole chapter reading about the what had just happened.
I also didn't like a lot of the dialogue in the story. I felt like an editor was definitely needed, as were was an excess of exclamation points and question marks all throughout the book that made it hard to understand the tone of certain conversations since they were everywhere, and a lot of the slang that was used was a bet ehhhh. It was like a millennial or Gen X writing Gen Z dialogue. Like I get it was a new adult book, but "peeps," "effin," "what the F," "what the freak," "crap," "heck," and just about any other word for fuck and hell were used so much that I couldn't help but think it was YA even though it is a new adult book because no one older than thirteen talks like this 😭. I also didn't like that "urgh" and "argh" were used so much, as well as an excess of question marks and exclamation points. Editor please come to the front because.....you still have work to do sweetie.....
Other than some qualms I had with the dialogue, pacing, relationships, setting and world building, editing, and depth to the characters, even though it took me a little longer than usual to finish, it was slightly entertaining and the premise was okay, just not what I was expecting. It has a really interesting and good premise, it just wasn't executed well. I almost DNF'd this since it wasn't the most interesting, but due to the fact I'm lowkey a completionist I kept pushing through and finished it, but at what cost lol.
I probably won't be getting into this series or author at all, and after reading a passive aggressive bot review that was meant to boost ratings about other readers including me who rated the book low not deserving to receive the book, I don't plan on reading anything more again. When I say they had something to say about every valid critique I and other readers mentioned, I wish I was joking. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially in literature and in the book space. Not to police anyone about their reviews, but don't be an asshole about it, accept that people are entitled to their own opinions and move on. Not everyone will like your book and that's okay, but don't be weird about it. Be demure and keep it cute.
Sorrows and prayers for the readers who read the next five books of this six book series. If the books are anything like the first book.....yikes....🐸☕️
As much as I wanted to like this book, I feel like it wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite academia fantasy book of the year either. This might be some reader's cup of tea and it may be a great book for certain readers, but it definitely wasn't mine, and that's okay! Let's keep it cute in the reviews folks!
First off, I wasn't truly convinced that the romance of the "romantasy" gave "made for each other." The enemies was definitely there, but the bridge to "lovers" definitely didn't feel like it existed. It was like one portion of the book they hated each other and clearly didn't like interacting with each other, and they for the rest of the book they're just in love with each other with no build up to them being friends or anything like......this all happened way too fast and even she admitted that they had just met towards the end.....so how are y'all in love? IDKKKK and then some scenes between them were a bit more adult for a new adult book, but it was also so kiddy like a YA even though I KNOW it's a new adult book.
I enjoyed seeing her navigate getting in the Commons with kids who were raised to get in but a big issue in the book was characters being introduced but not really adding anything to the story. Also certain "relationships" were so unnecessary to the story like they didn't add anything at all lol.
It may just be me but the whole politics and setting of The Commons I'm the type of person that visualizes everything as I read, and I was soooo confused as I was trying to imagine how everything looked and where everything was happening. I also felt like there were some parts of the book that were explained way too thoroughly or not enough, like I feel like some of the world building just wasn't there/enough for me to be able to understand everything going on really clearly. There are also certain scenes where it doesn't give the reader time or a chance to think about what they had just read, it's just repeated as if I didn't just spend the whole chapter reading about the what had just happened.
I also didn't like a lot of the dialogue in the story. I felt like an editor was definitely needed, as were was an excess of exclamation points and question marks all throughout the book that made it hard to understand the tone of certain conversations since they were everywhere, and a lot of the slang that was used was a bet ehhhh. It was like a millennial or Gen X writing Gen Z dialogue. Like I get it was a new adult book, but "peeps," "effin," "what the F," "what the freak," "crap," "heck," and just about any other word for fuck and hell were used so much that I couldn't help but think it was YA even though it is a new adult book because no one older than thirteen talks like this 😭. I also didn't like that "urgh" and "argh" were used so much, as well as an excess of question marks and exclamation points. Editor please come to the front because.....you still have work to do sweetie.....
Other than some qualms I had with the dialogue, pacing, relationships, setting and world building, editing, and depth to the characters, even though it took me a little longer than usual to finish, it was slightly entertaining and the premise was okay, just not what I was expecting. It has a really interesting and good premise, it just wasn't executed well. I almost DNF'd this since it wasn't the most interesting, but due to the fact I'm lowkey a completionist I kept pushing through and finished it, but at what cost lol.
I probably won't be getting into this series or author at all, and after reading a passive aggressive bot review that was meant to boost ratings about other readers including me who rated the book low not deserving to receive the book, I don't plan on reading anything more again. When I say they had something to say about every valid critique I and other readers mentioned, I wish I was joking. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially in literature and in the book space. Not to police anyone about their reviews, but don't be an asshole about it, accept that people are entitled to their own opinions and move on. Not everyone will like your book and that's okay, but don't be weird about it. Be demure and keep it cute.
Sorrows and prayers for the readers who read the next five books of this six book series. If the books are anything like the first book.....yikes....🐸☕️
April 14, 2026
3.5⭐️! Such a fun book to be my first ever arc! I felt like I could see some similarities/perhaps some inspiration from the Divergent series. I loved the college setting and the tests all students had to partake in.
The concept of having all students be as ‘common’ as possible is such an interesting plot line. It was fun to see our FMC see how that was a flawed system and fight against what she knows is right.
I think the one thing that was not my favorite was parts of the romance element. I felt as though parts of the romance between our two characters was a little rushed and didn’t flow at parts, but it didn’t bother me enough to not enjoy the storyline.
In the end, I have to say I was more invested in the other two supporting characters rather than our main characters romance. But I’m very intrigued to see what will happen in book 2!
Thank you Deep Publishing for reaching out and having me as an arc reader!😁
The concept of having all students be as ‘common’ as possible is such an interesting plot line. It was fun to see our FMC see how that was a flawed system and fight against what she knows is right.
I think the one thing that was not my favorite was parts of the romance element. I felt as though parts of the romance between our two characters was a little rushed and didn’t flow at parts, but it didn’t bother me enough to not enjoy the storyline.
In the end, I have to say I was more invested in the other two supporting characters rather than our main characters romance. But I’m very intrigued to see what will happen in book 2!
Thank you Deep Publishing for reaching out and having me as an arc reader!😁
June 25, 2026
This book dismantled all my expectations and left me in a state of astonishment. I devoured it, obsessed over every revelation, and immediately found myself craving the sequel. I tend to scrutinize every detail and somehow The Commons kept me on my toes and I simply could not get ahead of the story. For a reader who predicts everything, I was seriously impressed.
The foundational premise of The Commons is basically an elite college where the students need to be perfect and ordinary at the same time. The world-building is mysterious, and utterly absorbing. I adored every moment of this novel from beginning to end. 💎💎💎💎💎 Five diamond stars.
The foundational premise of The Commons is basically an elite college where the students need to be perfect and ordinary at the same time. The world-building is mysterious, and utterly absorbing. I adored every moment of this novel from beginning to end. 💎💎💎💎💎 Five diamond stars.
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February 2, 2026This is a first person POV and is very much YA. I did enjoy the plot but struggled with the POV and the YA aspect. I can read both of those depending on the book but this book wasn't one for me. I felt the premise has potential but could use some more editing and more depth to the world and the characters.
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